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Design writer and curator
Design writer and curator based in Los Angeles, California
PROFILE
Mallery Roberts Morgan
Guest
FROM Mallery Roberts Morgan
Design and Architecture
Ringing in the Changes in Los Angeles This year on DnA you heard about new developments at the LA River, the opening of The Broad and the Petersen Automotive Museum... the launch of a new e-car company, and Santa Monica's new bike share program... changing attitudes to water capture. . .global money flowing into expensive, empty houses... and, possibly, the birth of a new Pershing Square. In this look-back at the changes in Los Angeles, we also hear about the good and the bad of continued growth; the significance of the demise of Kitson and the rise of private clubs; and, post-Paris, the "genius" of Governor Jerry Brown at communicating climate change.
Design and Architecture
Transformations in Wood Stefan Bishop is a real estate developer turned designer-maker who works in a spacious studio in Glassell Park near Mount Washington. There he creates objects at the intersection of art and design, from tall sculptural pieces to functional items like coffee tables or shelving. But each is made in the same way, carved out of salvaged wood. He talks about a series of sculpted towers that he calls Monoliths. Mallery Roberts Morgan covers the decorative arts and interior design for the Hollywood Reporter and French Architectural Digest, and DnA. She says that Bishop’s "noble and beautiful" pieces are the kind that interior designers use as a visual anchor in a design scheme. His work is painstakingly crafted and priced accordingly, costing thousands of dollars, but the pieces lend themselves to becoming heirlooms – that quality is reinforced by the mighty age, scale and elemental nature of the wood they are made of, as Mallery found out when examining a soaring 11 foot "Monolith." Black fir monolith Photo Stefan Bishop Monolith on its side in Bishop's studio Photo courtesy Mallery Roberts Morgan Morgan talks with Bishop about his art and functional pieces carved from solid pieces of wood. Although his path to Glassell Park sounds smooth, there were some bumps along the way. Bishop's first line of furniture for production launches this summer; his limited edition can be found at Blackman Cruz in Los Angeles. He has also made available two end-tables exclusively to KCRW members, in DnA Design Picks at KCRW's Store.
Design and Architecture
Designer Spotlight: Commune DnA is expanding and we are going to shine a weekly spotlight on designers and makers in Los Angeles. First up, Commune , designers of numerous projects including Heath Ceramics, Ammo, Farmshop, Mattison and the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs. Mallery Roberts Morgan covers LA design for the Hollywood Reporter and French Architectural Digest and has followed the company for many years. Roman Alonso and Stephen Johanknecht came to LA after working in “creative services” during the 1990's glory days of Barneys New York; Ramin Shamshiri and Pamela Shamshiri previously worked in production design. So all four see projects in terms of storytelling, for example the Ace Hotel has not necessarily a look but a narrative. A dominant feature of Commune’s work is a return to the handmade, and fine craftsmanship is a resource in no short supply in Southern California. Heath Ceramics store designed by Commune in Los Angeles, photo by Corey Walter Commune's office space Fireplace by Stan Bitters in a Los Feliz residence, photo by Corey Walter Top image: Commune portrait by Amy Neusinger
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