Welcome To Ars Longa ...

a journal of fine arts, modernist design, and thrift shop archaeology. Nicely designed objects and beautiful artworks can be affordably attained by everyone, you just have to know where to look ... read more ›

Story Time

Several years ago, back when I still lived in Minneapolis, I used to frequent a thrift store downtown that was a great source of both objects and stories. There was always some sort of fracas going on in or around the store. Aside from those fun (and sometimes harried) memories, one more thing about this store particularly stands out to me: the chair in their shoe department. It was marked with the dreaded "NFS" scrawled indecorously across its wooden back, and no matter how hard I tried I couldn't get them to part with it. Even though I wasn't aware of it then, I now know this is an important design by the Danish designer Ib Kofod-Larsen. I'm still looking for another of his chairs in the thrift stores I visit. Until that happens, I'll just have to be happy to continue researching his great designs so I know what else I need to be looking for. Happy hunting!

02.03.10
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Eames Home Tour Contest

This has been making its way quickly across the internet today, but with a prize of this magnitude I can't help but help pass the information across to you all. House Industries is giving away a chance for 3 lucky mid-century modern enthusiasts to tour Charles and Ray Eames iconic home in the Pacific Palisades. Charles and Ray designed their home as Case Study House number 8, built as part of a long-running experiment in Modern design, materials, and techniques, and is among the most important Modernist structures in the United States. If we weren't expecting a new baby any day now, I'd definitely be entering for the opportunity myself. But since we'll likely not be taking any trips until this spring you'll just have to win in my place ... then report back with lots of pictures. (Seriously, if any of you win and would like to write a guest article for Ars Longa I'd be thrilled!) Good luck!

02.02.10
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Who Am I?

This weekend I received an email from a new Ars Longa reader, Brian, which mentioned a very interesting lamp he found (see the photo here). Initially he thought it was a Florence Knoll design, but a visit to the Knoll Furniture Museum disproved that attribution. Many other designer's names came up in our short discussion: Greta Grossman, Arthur Umanoff, Tony Paul. So far, however, neither of us has been able to positively ID it, and there aren't and markings or labels that give the manufacturer away ... so I'm turning to you, dear reader. If you have any ideas of whom may have designed Brian's lamp, I'd really appreciate you letting me know. It's an interesting shape that I'd really like to be able to put a name to. Thanks for your help!

01.25.10
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Photographing Russel

The amount of good information online about Russel Wright's work is significantly lacking, in my opinion. With the exception of the Russel Wright listserv mailing list, there isn't really a central pool of information or discussion about his designs. Because of that, I'm excited to let you know about a new Flickr group dedicated to Wright's career. It's still a fairly new group, but there are lots of beautiful photographs including a good number of rare Wright designs. Please come and join us, either to contribute photos of your collection or just to ogle. All are welcome!

01.22.10
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Goodhearted Greenville Goodwill

When employees at the Greenville, SC, Goodwill store came across a metal box while sorting through donations, they knew they had found something special. The ordinary-looking container was filled with personal papers as well as World War II Purple Heart and Bronze Star medals ... items that typically wouldn't be donated to charity because of their very personal value. The box made its way to Tony Liller, Goodwill's vice president of marketing, who tracked down the daughter of the original owners of the box. Cathy Innerst's mother and step-father have passed away, but at least now she still has these precious objects they once owned. Bravo, Goodwill! (via @GoodwillIntl)