JB Blunk: A look inside his work and legacy with Mariah Nielson

We’ll learn about Mariah’s research on artist JB Blunk, whose work with raw, salvaged materials represents an innate expression of, and conversation with, nature, often inspired by his surroundings in Inverness, CA. Mariah will also discuss her own artistic practice and work to create Blunk Space, a gallery hosting contemporary exhibiting artists who collaborate across time and disciplines, drawing from and honoring Blunk’s legacy.  

After the lecture, enjoy light bites, beverages, and casual conversation. 

This evening offers a unique opportunity to connect over the expression of nature through design. 

This event is outdoors, with a partial covering above (the 20th St. overpass). While the Dogpatch neighborhood is generally warmer than other areas of the city, attendees should bring layers as temperatures will drop into the evening.

Agenda 

5:00pm Mingle

5:30pm Lecture

6:30pm Q+A, Happy Hour, & Networking

8:00pm Event Ends

Speaker: Mariah Nielson

Mariah Nielson (b. 1978) is a curator and design historian. As the daughter of the pioneering American artist JB Blunk, her holistic approach was influenced by growing up in the Blunk House, the home he built by hand with salvaged materials in Inverness, CA. She was a curator at the Museum of Craft and Design, San Francisco, from 2009–2011 and director of the JB Blunk Residency from 2007–2011. In 2013, she completed an MA in Design History at the Royal College of Art and the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, under the direction of Glenn Adamson.

Mariah is currently the Director of the JB Blunk Estate, preserving and researching his practice, and Director of Blunk Space, an art and design gallery dedicated to expanding Blunk’s legacy by connecting his practice to that of contemporary artists all over the world. She is the editor of the first monograph about the artist, JB Blunk, which is now in its third edition.

Recent curatorial projects include Design is a State of Mind, with Martino Gamper, Serpentine, London, 2015; Blue Jeans & Brown Clay: Artists and Designers at the Blunk House, Kate MacGarry, London, 2020; JB Blunk: Muse, Kasmin, New York, 2022; Three Landscapes: JB Blunk, Anna and Lawrence Halprin, Blum & Poe, Los Angeles, 2022; and Same Blue as the Sky, with Studio AHEAD, 2023. Recent talks include “Alma Allen and JB Blunk: In Conversation”, Palm Springs Art Museum; “Natural Instincts” at Design Miami/, presented by Birkenstock; “Managing an artist estate” at Kunst Meran, in Merano, Italy; and an interview with Dr. Bridget Harvey for the podcast Getting Making. 

Host: Fletcher Studio 

Fletcher Studio is an innovative and award-winning collaborative landscape architecture and urban design practice based in San Francisco. The firm specializes in designing public space across all scales, toggling between big-picture, open space planning across entire urban districts and zooming into site-specific solutions for distinct neighborhood gathering spaces. The practice is rooted in the belief that people deserve to find value, meaning, and possibility in the outdoor places they encounter and occupy.