Mosaic L.A.

Sunday the L.A. Conservancy and the J. Paul Getty Museum held their self-guided tour, Mosaic L.A. It was FABULOUS! All of our various mosaic events in the past month led up to this day. The brochure for the tour is outstanding. Of course, Mr. Larry took exquisite photos and Amy Inouye of Future Studio designed a beautiful brochure. It's definitely worthwhile to order this brochure from the Conservancy so you can conduct your own tour of these magnificent mosaics in our beautiful City.

Millard Sheets, Home Savings & Loan, Hollywood

Sunset and Vine

Close-up of Bette Davis

We started our tour at the former site of the Home Savings and Loan (now Washington Mutual) on Sunset and Vine in Hollywood. This mosaic depicts legendary movie stars and is a nod to the site's history as the location of the filming of Hollywood's first full-length motion picture, "The Squaw Man." When you are inside the bank, looking toward the parking lot, a magnificent stained glass window is visible too.

Stained Glass Inside Hollywood HS&L

Joseph Young, Parker Center, Downtown L.A.

Our next stop was Parker Center (designed by renowned L.A. architect, Welton Becket). The LAPD is building a new headquarters and will soon be vacating this building. Hopefully, they will take this magnificent mural with them. It's a mid-century modern depiction of the L.A. skyline. It is somewhat obstructed by security gates, but this was my favorite piece of the entire tour. I'm just crazy for L.A. landmarks and that graphic/modern style of Joseph Young.

Mosaic Abstraction of Chinese Theater, Red Car, etc.

We met up with Mary Jo and David at this stop and spent a majority of the tour with them. Check out Mary Jo's site for more photos! David is a costumer who works in tile on the side. He was most informative about what we were viewing.

Simon Rodia, Watts Towers, L.A.

We hit the Harbor Fwy. from Parker Center and traveled south to Watts. Simon Rodia's Watts Towers is just east of the Metro Line, off Century Blvd. When you approach the Towers and the park surrounding it, it just looks like a gray steel conglomeration of spires. When you walk closer, you can see all of the mosaic decoration that Rodia used, including broken tableware, figurines, glazed tiles, bottles of 7-Up and Milk of Magnesia, mirrors, seashells, rocks, telehpne insulators, etc. It's an inspiring piece. The shape has a boat-like quality to it. This masterpiece is respected in the neighborhood. They hold tours on the weekend. It's definitely worthwhile to visit.

There is this boat-like quality to the interior
Larry, Mary Jo, Ellen & David @ The Towers

We were starving after seeing the Towers, so we hopped back on the Harbor Fwy. north and went to lunch near our next stop, St. John's Episcopal Church.

Mercado Paloma

We had lunch at Mercado Paloma on Grand Ave. near Jefferson. It's actually a delightful food court and small shopping plaza. We all ordered lunch from the Chichen Itza stand....quite yummy, as you can see.

St. John's Episcopal Church, University Park

Romanesque Bell Tower @ St. John's
Interior Archway & Tile Work

The exterior of St. John's was never finished. It is made of simple cast concrete. Architecturally, it is in the Romanesque-style. When you walk inside, you can see the mosaic. There is one area near the front of the church that is primarily gold, glittering tiles. The ceiling is really gorgeous too. I want to return to this site to examine it further. My photos are really inferior compared to the grandness and intricacies of the tile work here.

We left David and Mary Jo at this point...they continued on to Hollywood. Larry and I went to our last stop (which will probably be our last stop in life), Forest Lawn.

Birth of Liberty, Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills

The Birth of Liberty Mosaic

This is the largest historical mosaic in the country. It's 162 feet long. It portrays scenes of important moments in American history. There are many other startling mosaics at the Park. I was most impressed with the impressionist quality of the water under George Washington's boat...so many gorgeous colors to show the icy waves!

Detail of the icy Potomac

This was the end of our tour. HOWEVER, Larry and I were so intrigued with the Millard Sheets mosaic in Hollywood, that on the way back we went to my home-town, Beverly Hills to view two more Millard Sheets Mosaic Murals. One is at the corner of Rexford and Wilshire and the other one is two blocks east at Wilshire and Oakhurst. I even stopped by the former H.S. & L. here in Santa Monica today just to view that gorgeous mosaic. I must say, Millard Sheets was a genious.

Millard Sheets Mosaic - Rexford & Wilshire, Beverly Hills

Detail, Millard Sheets, Oakhurst & Wilshire, Beverly Hills

Millard Sheets Mosaic - 26th & Wilshire, Santa MonicaSanta Monica Mosaic - Detail

I'm on a quest now to view and photograph as many Millard Sheets Mosaic Murals as I can find around the Southland!

There is so much beautiful public art in Los Angeles. Please go see it!!!!

Get Your Tickets - Mosaic Tour

Got Extra Pan Tops? Add them to your Garden Mosaic Wall!

Coming up, Sunday, March 21, 10-4, the L.A. Conservancy along with partners the J. Paul Getty Musuem, are sponsoring a day-long, self-driving tour showcasing Los Angeles' mosaic legacy. You can get tickets by contacting The Conservancy.

Highlights of the upcoming Mosaic L.A. tour include: The Towers of Simon Rodia, Watts Towers, an L.A. icon and folk mosaic built by one man over thirty years using everyday objects; St. John's Episcopal Church, site of a Byzantine-inspired ecclesiastical mosaic designed by the artisans of the historic Judson Studios; Murals in downtown Los Angeles by Joseph Young, including a 36 foot panel depicting Los Angeles' architectural history; one of the extraordinary mosaic facades by Millard Sheets on a former Home Saviings and Loan building in Hollywood; and The Birth of Liberty mosaic at Forest Law Memorial Park, the largest historical mosaic in the United States! At each stop there will be docents discussing this amazing artwork.

Mosaic House Patio

To kick-off this tour, there was a Cornerstone Member event this past Sunday at my favorite Mosaic House in Venice. Since I suggested that the LAC utilize this folk art treasure in Venice for the upcoming tour, Larry and I were invited to this exclusive event! Laa Dee Dah!!!

Studio, Ready For Visitors
Salsa Dancing in the Studio
Ellen - Mosaic House Bathroom

I just love hearing everyone's comments as they tour Cheri's and Gonzalo's house and studio!

L.A. Conservancy Guest in the Kitchen

Photographer, Larry Underhill with Owner/Artist, Cheri Pann

ANOTHER Mosaic House

Santa Monica Mosaic House

I really like mosaics. If you read my blog, you know that I like to feature them often. People have told me about this house, and today, on my lunchtime travels, I stumbled across it. This is a lovely mosaic house on the corner of 26th Street and California Avenue in Santa Monica. I love how they painted the curb under the low garden wall blue.The house appears to be of the post-war era with many remodels popping out on it's corners. The landscaping is lush and the mosaic has an aquatic theme.

Jumping Mosaic Porpoise

The stairs are made of stone mosaic!

close-up of low wall around property

I'm going to keep my eye on this house to see if they add more mosaic features.

The Mosaic House

Cheri & Gonzalo, Front Patio of Mosaic House

This coming Sunday, 11/22, is the Fall Art Show at The Mosaic House. The artists and owners of this must-see house are Cheri Pann and Gonzalo Duran. Both are marvelous painters and sculptors. Cheri and Gonzalo have transformed their little Palms boulevard post-war tract house and studio into a whimisical mosaic extravaganza, inside and out.

Cheri and Gonzalo used to open up their studio every single Saturday to visitors. I suppose they wanted some privacy, so now it's only open for the art shows and by appointment.

I'm a big fan of California tile. I love Malibu Tile, Claycraft, Catalina, Batchelder, etc. Los Angeles architecture is rich in tile. I grew up with tile. I love the vivid images. A marvelous example of Malibu tile is the Adamson House. The Adamsons and Rindges owned and operated Malibu Potteries in the 1920's and 1930's. Their beach house is an exquisite example of the medium. I urge you to tour this magnificent home and see examples of classic California tilework.

Waaaaay on the other side of classic California-style tile is The Mosaic House. When you see Cheri's and Gonzalo's house from the street, you are amazed at the garden. Wait until you walk inside the house! Gonzalo has covered almost every inch of the place with tile and color, from the kitchen to the bathroom to the studio...it's a frenzy of color, shape and texture.

The stove in the kitchen is purple!

Cheri's Multiple Portraits of Gonzalo

In the huge studio are Cheri's and Gonzalo's painting and sculptures. Many items are very reasonably priced. However, there is no pressure to buy anything. Just go and experience this eye-candy.

"Skyline-2" by Gonzalo

They call him the 'Chagall' of Mexico

You can read about Cheri and Gonzalo here. Years ago, when I first visited The Mosaic House I asked Cheri how she met Gonzalo. It's a most romantic story. Cheri buys paint at Nova Color in east Culver City. Gonzalo has worked there for years and he always waited on Cheri when she came into the store. One day, Cheri and Gonzalo were in the back of the store, looking for a particular color that Cheri wanted. They started kissing. They've been together ever since! LOVE that story!!!!

One of Gonzalo's Shoe Sculptures

Cheri's 'Nude' Plate

Gonzalo & Cheri in the Studio

See you on Sunday at the Mosaic House, 1116 Palms Boulevard, Venice CA 90291(between Lincoln Blvd & Penmar Ave). All photos in this post are from Cheri's and Gonzalo's website.

Immersion

Kitchen Prep

Immersion is the word for our activities this past Sunday. The owner/artists of The Mosaic House in Venice, Cheri Pann and Gonzalo Duran invited us and a few of our friends to their home yesterday. Cheri visited Japan last year and was entertained by her friends. This year, a group of about 25 of people from Japan were on a language immersion tour of Los Angeles. We were invited to practice speaking English with the guests.

Gonzalo, Nancy and Guests

Ana and Friends

In the Studio

Larry and T.K.

Ana's Handknit Socks Match the Mosaic

In addition to speaking English and eating lunch, we all toured the amazing Mosaic House, which led to much English-speaking interaction. My friends, Joan, Ana, Nancy and T.K. joined us. It was a fun afternoon and we all learned alot. Joan learned the intricacies of origami.

Learning OrigamiOrigami Success!

Many thanks to our guests from Japan and for the gifts they gave us. Also, thanks to Cheri and Gonzalo for including us in this fun day!

T.K. @ Gonzalo's Tribute to Watts Towers

If you'd like to tour the Mosaic House, they are open on the second Saturday of every month. Call for a reservation (310) 399-1469.

To view some amazing historic mosaic tile work, check out the L.A. Conservancy's "Mosaic L.A." tour on Sunday, March 25th.