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 ›

Another MCM Reissue?

It appears that Dansk, a company known for their great midcentury design, have decided to re-release a series of their wonderful Jens Quistgaard designed pepper grinders. These classic shapes are fantastic and I wish retailer Crate & Barrel the best of luck in this endeavor ... but I have to admit experiencing a slight shudder going down my spine when I learned of this latest classic design to be introduced to a contemporary market. The source of my disdain is that the new line will be made of Acacia instead of Quistgaard's original specification to use Teak, much like Bauer Potteries' decision to sell Russel Wright's classic American Modern dinnerware re-release in their Fiesta Ware colors. I have serious problems with contemporary companies deciding they know better than the designer of the items they are for all intents and purposes knocking off. Call me a purist if you will, but reissuing a line should be done with the greatest respect to the talented designers of our past. Changing a designer's work is the most egregious disrespect in my opinion.

08.26.10
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Welcome, News-Gazette Readers

I just wanted to pop in and say hello to any of you who may be visiting from the News-Gazette article in today's paper. Please poke around and most of all participate in the discussion. A few things you might find interesting on the site that were mentioned in the article: an article on Gordon & Jane Martz from Marshall Studios, along with our interview from earlier this year; a peek at some of our Russel Wright finds; and Leslie Diamond's Modernmates furniture line for Conant Ball. Welcome, and enjoy! I'm glad you stopped by.

08.14.10
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Easier Living, by Design

Mary & Russel Wright's Guide to Easier Living is virtually singlehandedly responsible for advancing in-home entertaining into the Modern era. One-pot meals, buffet style service, and serving ware items with multiple purposes were all but nonexistent before the Wrights came on the scene, and their set of tools for contemporary life have become the cornerstone of today's casual dinner parties. A recent article in the New York Times titled Easier Living, by Design by Alexandra Lange is a wonderful introduction to Russel and Mary's work and housekeeping theories. From dinnerware to furniture, the Wrights influenced the way YOU live, even if you aren't aware of it.

08.03.10
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Picture Perfect: $45 Bucks to $200 Million

A 1937 fire in photographer Ansel Adams' studio was believed to have destroyed 5,000 of his photographic plates. But fortunately for Rick Norsigian, 65 of them apparently survived (video). Norsigian, who makes a hobby of picking through garage sales for unwanted treasures, purchased two boxes of photographic plates a decade ago for $45. Appraisers now believe this collection to be worth at least $200 million. The images date from between 1919 and the early 1930s, and most appear to have never been printed. A few, however, are nearly identical to some of Adams' most important work. Norsigian is currently trying to find buyers for the images. Just another reminder to keep digging, folks. There's still plenty of great stuff out there just waiting to be discovered! (via AquaVelvet)

07.27.10
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The Full Spectrum: Josef Albers

If the first video is any indication, Dwell's new video series titled The Full Spectrum should prove to be most interesting. Dwell editor Aaron Britt sat down with Nicholas Fox Weber, Executive Director of The Josef & Anni Albers Foundation, to talk about Alber's groundbreaking color theory experimentation. The Full Spectrum: Josef Albers is definitely worth a few short minutes of your time. And if you have a little bit more time, The Smithsonian's Oral history interview with Josef Albers, 1968 June 22-July 5 is definitely a must-read for anyone interested in the artist's life.