Garden Pottery Exhibit at the California School of Art in the Summer of 1949

2012 May 30

tags: California School of the Arts, John Follis, Lagardo Tackett, Pottery

by MODERNICA

In the July 1949 issue of Arts and Architecture magazine there is a brief story in which ten advanced students of the California School of Art, under the guidance of their instructor, LaGardo Tackett, were asked to design, execute, and sell large-scale garden pottery through the Evans and Reeves Nursery.

The article’s photographs show the students making the pots, setting up the exhibit, and the finished exhibit with furnishings provided by fellow new designers Van Keppel-Green.

Looking at the photographs taken by fellow photography student Steven Pefley, one can hardly believe that this group of work is a student exhibit. Most of the pieces shown are items that have become iconic shapes in mid-century modern design. Two of the students, Rex Goode and John Follis, went on to have long and influential careers as designers. Both men have pieces in museums around the world and their work is considered highly collectible.

Editor’s Note: Evans and Reeves Nursery worked with Max and Rita Lawrence and it was under the direction of this couple that the new line of garden pottery went on to be marketed and sold under the name “Architectural Pottery”.