When you look at the Norton Simon you might see a museum covered in a million chocolate bars, but you’d be wrong. Don’t think Heath bars; think/thank Edith Heath. She was a pioneer in mid-century modern ceramics. Her dinnerware caught the attention of Frank Loyde Wright and her tiles the attention of top architects including Eero Saarinen (St. Louis Gateway Arch). She petitioned the University of Berkley to create a course for the sole purpose of studying the chemistry of glazes. She then went on to develop her own glazes derived from locally based clay pits. What’s unique about Heath’s glaze formulations is that they fuse to the clay body creating the distinct speckle pattern she’s known for. Compare it to this cheap imitation It’s across the street on the grounds of the Ambassador College.
A side note; I retract my “vein” of clay statement. Clay does not show up in veins. It’s a layer of sediment; I think. Clay (of the earthenware variety) can be found in our deserts. If you find clay while digging for a swimming pool, it’s most likely the remains of a septic waste site.
……..
The actual number of Edith Heath tiles on the Norton Simon museum is 115,000. If you find this interesting, check out the links. Enlarge the image with Edith on it and you will be able to appreciate the variation of her tiles.
OMG, I just scraped off chocolate colored tiles around my fireplace. Could it be that I trashed Edith Heath tiles? (Now that would be a find for your Trash Tuesdays.) Can’t imagine that they would have used her tiles in a condo complex built in the 80’s…..
I want to sleep with King Hussein, Marlon Brando, and Edith Heath. (Oh please, you had to be there.)
Danish, PA, she was Danish. And ever so interesting. I just did the wiki thing. She didn’t believe tiles should look uniform and she loved to argue.
thanks PA, I LOVE that you pass this info on so generously because I don’t know where else I’d ever come across it…
As Pasadena Adjacent’s legal council, it is my duty to announce to the public that PA does not endorse acts of nechrophilia on this blog.
I was sort of wondering about the dead people love connection too, but if I may suggest, PA seems to keep most of her endorsements to herself. I mean except for the premise that her blog is about what she finds interesting, and wants to share? Because really no body is interrogating anybody here and I don’t really understand how you are using “endorse”, and who is not given easily to protecting one’s what we feel effection of, you know phlegmatics or such who we might embrace as loved ones or even the hated near the ocean, because I knew a person named Trudy Steiner once. She agonized and apologized for the over run of her mouth, and I thought, that’s just like me. People are like me I finally realized and you know I got my tongue up against the back side of my teeth, so suddenly I figure it, “what are these images really concerned with?” (PA’s whole thing) Opportunity to endorse what we love, which might be what others think about the dead, or the sensation of somebody lingering in your brain, a kinda pastoral care for strange bondage. I mean the dead are all ready tied up right. People we see plus places we go are remembered though too.
For QV: Yes Santa lives; but you may have just trashed your Christmas present: Edith Heath’s ceramic factory is still in existence, it was punched from Edith around the beginning of the year 2000 and they still sell factory tile over-runs. Edith died sometime around 2004. So yes those tiles could be in an condo built in the 80’s. Better start digging through you trash, there just might be enough money there to buy a pony.
For Hiker: Funny, she must be long lost kin; sound familiar? Another individual that likes things to look irregular and loves to argue. I just read about you whining over a beautifully glazed pot; is it half empty or half full?
It might not make a perfect bowl, but as a planter for your green thumb garden it could be a great planter with a drainage slice to let water out. On the other hand, do you know Peter Voulkos’ ceramics work? He aimed for what you though was a failure.
http://artscenecal.com/ArticlesFile/Archive/Articles1996/Articles0296/Voulkos2D.GIF
And btw, I’ve noticed you have no need for that 007 rake. And nature over nurture? Give me a break! I’ve seen an expensive garden hose lurking in your garden (of course I blew the photos up.)
PA, Great post!
Under orders from Pasadena Adjacent, “the author” prefers to keep Mid-Town G’s comment concerning Jesus adjacent in the Jesus post. You may visit it there. We apologize for any inconvenience this may incur.
The author will go to any links….
Does King Walter look like Merlin? And is he really saying “love the one you’re with,” even if the one you’re with is without?
Does Mid Town look like James Dean (when he was alive, I mean).
And are both the above simply other sides of PA? I’ve never seen the three of them in the same room together.
So whose your source? I want to know more about that clay deposit in the hills. Enjoyable entry.
R U saying, KB, all of these anonymous commenter’s with their pseudonyms are really PA??
Well, I think at least MTG is authentic.
These tiles look beautiful. I just moved to LA a few months ago and visiting the Norton Simon Museum is on my list of things to do. I’ve been putting off my visit because I really want to see the Zurburan still life which I know is at the Frick in NYC right now on loan. Does anyone happen to know when it will be back on view at the Norton Simon? (the museum website doesn’t give a date …)
I think the second wake up link gave me my greatest laugh all day. (And there were many funny things that happened today.)
CO, are you sure? Think about it for a second.
PA an AH know each other: Maybe I’m just a figment of their collective imagination, devised and created by both of them.
She looks just like the actress that starred in “Babette’s Feast”. I love the Norton Simon, and am glad to know about this ceramist.
Does anyone remember anything about the history of the Norton Simon Museum?
Before it was the Norton Simon Museum it was the Pasadena Museum of Modern Art. During my college days it was years ahead of LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) in programing. PMMA showcased Modern and Contemporary Art to die for. It was the place young artists went for exciting exhibitions, and engaging debates about what was new and exciting. It died about 1974 when Norton Simon bought it. It’s soul also died at the same time, and the Museum has never been the same to me or any other working artist who knew it and loved it.
Pasadena Museum of Modern Art: RIP
This on the directive of Pasadena Adjacent; While a student at Carver Elementary, PA attended the Pasadena Museum of Art although regrettably AFTER the Marcel Duchamp retrospective. It was her first exposure to Franz Klein. The museum was located in what is today known as the Pacific Asia Museum. The Norton Simon “allegedly” owns a great collection of modern art that it keeps locked away or has “allegedly” sold through the years to acquire works of antiquity.
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art before moving to it’s current location, was housed alongside the ancient Mastodones inside the Museum of Natural History at Exposition Park.
I usually have a clear idea of how to conclude a post but maybe not this time. Edith Heath was someone I became aware of a few years back through my study of ceramics. She’s joined my inner circle of favorite female artist’ (Louise Bourgeois, Kim Abeles, Charlotte Salomon, Zaha Hadid) Since then, I often visit the lush exterior of the Norton Simon instead of entering it. There is so much more variety between her tiles when you compare it to the Ambassador Science building across the street. Here is an estimated 689 Heath tiles
QV: I remember your tiles. I think they lean more towards the side of poor imitation. Heath lived up to the year 2005 to the age of 94
AH: Edith the Dane? If she’ll have you. King Hussein and Brando…never N-E-V-E-R. Hisssss. Did you look at the Chef-King-Walter Merlin link I embedded in your comment? Hurry, I plan on removing it…More Edith
Mary: I consider it an even trade
Wake Up: WU Is my legal council; inherited through the estate of Palm Axis who disappeared under mysterious and suspect circumstances.
Chef-King-Walter: I do post those things I have affection for living and dead. Oftentimes dead (at least on this page of posts; Tasmanian Tigers, Tony Duquette, Jesus and Edith Heath). There is something among bloggers that I refer to as “Bloggers Regret” An oddball comment that comes off badly. Like Trudy Steiner we’re all guilty (except in the case of Ms Havisham). You’ve stumbled upon an inside joke between the hiker and myself over that issue. Despite doing so, your Trudy Steiner story is very relevant to “bloggers regret”.
Mid-Town-G: I don’t think Santa came down her fireplace. I gave QV one of my flea tiles and I expect to see it prominently displayed as the center tile adorning her fireplace (QV is my sister). The Hiker is a Swede. As far as the ancestors are concerned, they should hate each other (at least thats what I remember in some Max Von Sydow movie). I missed her hose but I did see those high-end clippers. Have you seen Voulkos’ hideous bronze work displayed at the Pomona outdoor mall? just my opinion
John E: That story was a misunderstanding on my part. I went back and did a retraction. I know nothing.
CO: yeah yeah yeah…Now take a cue from Elaine and lets get back to the topic. What do you think about Edith Heath’s contribution to this Pasadena landmark?
Vanessa: I’m impressed with how much you’ve seen since arriving. Well, there is much to see this way. Keep a look out for art night in Pasadena. All entrance fees are waved; .Side Street Projects, the Armory, California Museum of Art and the Norton Simon. Also visit the Police Museum in Highland Park…weird and fun
http://www.pasadenaartweekend.com/
Elaine: Great to hear from you! My stats lead me to believe you opened up the links. They really do make a difference in understanding the stylistic importance of her work. Her factory is up north and still doing business. She did the tile work for the Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco. Heres a link to the company
http://www.heathceramics.com/go/heath/
Mid-Town-G: The Norton Simon has finally been bringing out part of their contemporary collection. I missed this show but for what it’s worth, heres the link to a recent Duchamp exhibition at the NS
Damn, I missed the 2008 Duchamp exhibition. I have however seen the real deal in Philadelphia. I also missed the one in 1963, I was still doing time in high school, while you were serving time in elementary. But I did see a lot of contemporary work at the The Pasadena Museum of Modern Art while in College, a couple of years before it died.
Do you know how long it existed? It goes back a long time and went through many incarnations. I think it first grew out of the Pasadena Institute (before our time,) then it became the Pasadena Art Museum (probably where you went.) Finally, what is now the Norton Simon Museum (the building) housed the Pasadena Museum of Modern Art (where I saw it’s final years.) And that new building (the one with the Edith Heath tiles is part of what killed them financially.) That and the snobbish attitude of S-O-M-E of the supporting Pasadena Art patrons, the ones who hated Contemporary Art, and were not willing to support it.
Of course I haven’t seen Voulkos’ bronze work displayed at the Pomona outdoor mall. I hate, I hate, I hate: Malls.
And I don’t much like Pomona either. So I’ll never see it since I won’t drive, take a bus or train there. I’ll only see it if you happen to have photo handy… and who knows, I might agree with you. Or not.
That “more edith” is a beautiful photo. I’ll be stopping by to praise her tiles this week. True story.
Fantastico
Thanks for the suggestions! I added them to my list.
This link leads to a virtual tour of Heath Ceramics if your interested in the process
http://www.heathceramics.com/go/heath/sausalito/view-our-kilns/
Took the tour. I want one of those boxes.
Vanessa,
The Zurbaran should be back on view in late May.
Mid-Town-G,
Wayne Thiebaud print exhibition is coming to the Simon in June.
I’ve invited the work of Edith Heath to spend the summer with us. She’ll be arriving at the end of May. Make a note of it.