DOUGLASCAIN

Introducing my new 420 SEL. I think that the S Class of 1981-1991 are the most stately of the modern flagships. I have wanted what is denoted as the Mercedes W126, for years. Although commonly referred to as a W 126 which is available in many different models and engines , this example is technically classified by Mercedes Benz as a V126, denoting the 7" longer body of the SEL long body saloon. This body designed in 1979 by Bruno Sacco.

Its like a thoroughbred.

Thank you to Steve, Laszlo, and Ingrid at Moran Motorsport.

This also marks the end of Gretchen, my 1974 Mercedes W114, 280. Its been a good run, old girl. My love always.

All photos © Douglas Cain 2011.

Firework.

2011-03-04T00:01:00.000-08:00

All photos © Douglas Cain 2011.

ZUGHAUS Still Life. March 1, 2011.

2011-03-03T23:49:00.000-08:00

All photos © Douglas Cain 2011.

Blackout.

2011-03-03T23:41:00.000-08:00

All photos © Douglas Cain 2011.

And my Valentine is...

2011-02-15T19:28:00.000-08:00

Thank you to Ellen Shaffer and Sadie Barnette and Noele Lusano for making it happen!<3

I am in love with my 1961 Lowery Starlet organ! What a dreamboat!

Albany Hill.

2011-02-08T20:25:00.000-08:00

All photos © Douglas Cain 2011.

My Birthday.

2011-02-07T21:39:00.000-08:00

All photos © Douglas Cain 2011.

Berkeley Steel Co.

2011-02-03T00:18:00.000-08:00

All photos © Douglas Cain 2011.

A foggy night in Berkeley, California.

2011-01-17T21:11:00.000-08:00

All photos © Douglas Cain 2011.

Night on the Rooftop. Looking at Orion From California.

2011-01-13T00:00:00.000-08:00

All photos © Douglas Cain 2011.

Eames Tandem Seating.

2011-01-12T21:49:00.000-08:00

During my travels this holiday, I was presented by a personal favorite design, and perfection in contract furniture, and in modernist ideals. The Tandem Seating was designed in 1962 by Charles and Ray Eames and manufactured by Herman Miller for Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Used daily by millions of travelers few notice its simple solution to creating an accommodating personal space for travelers. Also valued for its modular and reconfigurable nature, the items are east to service, clean. Lastly, this reconfigurable design allows worn out components to be replaced. Personally I find them comfortable and considerately designed. My father reminded me though "You cant lie down on those!" I guess that they may have not thought of everything. Or perhaps they had...

All photos © Douglas Cain 2010.

Portsmouth, New Hampshire. December 2010.

2011-01-12T20:21:00.000-08:00

Portsmouth, New Hampshire. December 2010.
All photos © Douglas Cain 2010.

Happy 2011!

2011-01-12T19:46:00.000-08:00

I am finally home and settled in after a long and fantastic holiday season. I have been many places this last month, but none are quite like home. Its been a month of such amazing moments, and I am glad to bring those memories home. There are many photos and updates on their way. I hope that for everyone 2011 is a year where we chart our course for the horizon, and reach our destinations with wind in our sails.

New Years at Razi Vineyards, Napa California.

2011-01-01T15:24:00.000-08:00

All photos © Douglas Cain 2011.

My Christmas

2010-12-31T23:13:00.000-08:00

All photos © Douglas Cain 2010.

Sadie Barnette ~ Closing the 2010 ZUGHAUS Gallery Calander.

2010-12-18T03:45:00.000-08:00

Thank you again to everyone who helped make this and every show happen this year at ZUGHAUS Gallery. It has been a great year at ZUGHAUS Gallery and I look forward to the great things to come in 2011. For now, I relax and close the gallery for the holiday on a high note of another full year of great successes.

Photo © Douglas Cain 2010 .

Night on the Tracks 3.

2010-12-18T03:24:00.000-08:00

All photos © Douglas Cain 2010.

Night on the Tracks 2.

2010-12-16T21:50:00.000-08:00

All photos © Douglas Cain 2010.

Night on the Tracks.

2010-12-15T20:51:00.000-08:00

All photos © Douglas Cain 2010.

Gigante, meet Pantone.

2010-12-15T14:00:00.000-08:00

All photos © Douglas Cain 2010.

Drawing on the Spirit of Peter Voulkos.

2010-12-11T19:21:00.000-08:00

Peter Voulkos (January 29, 1924–2002), a name shortened from Panagiotis Voulkos, is an abstract expressionist artist whose revolutionary ceramic work forever influenced the genre. He is known for crossing the boundaries between craft and fine art. He has taught at Black Mountain College in Asheville, North Carolina, founded the art ceramics department at the Otis College of Art and Design (then called the Los Angeles County Art Institute), and University of California, Berkeley from 1959 until 1985. He is noted for his large ceramic and metal work and wild character.

My influence has been drawn from an unusual source. Upon moving into my live work ZUGHAUS Gallery, I found out that it is the old studio of Peter Voulkos. He primarily used the space as his family home and metal casting forge. It seems an appropriate site as we are surrounded by the Berkeley Steel Mill on the south, west and north sides, and the Union Pacific railroad to our east.

The stories about Peter Voulkos' character are remarkable. Stories of wild parties and Cocaine abound. I have heard numerous accounts of Voulkos avoiding trouble with the law by pulling quickly out of their sight by turning into our well hidden driveway along the railroad tracks; the perfect atelier for a renegade artist. Also, it is reported that in the front loft, Voulkos had cut a hole in the floor to raise large scale 2D artwork to the second floor. My favorite of the Peter Voulkos legends is the confirmed rumor that he housed crocodiles here in ZUGHAUS, in the downstairs room with a trapdoor in the ceiling to the living room. It seems feasible seeing as how there is a plastic covered window through the floor into the space, no doubt for watching these exotic pets. Also, the room features an unexplainable working faucet still in the room, yet no drain plumbing or a basin. Its hard to imagine a crocodile or two living in our loft, but it had been confirmed by the previous tenants, the owners of Trax Gallery, which had previously occupied our space.

I like to imagine the images of him casting metal were shot in my home and workspace, ZUGHAUS Gallery. They probably were.

Another Sunset on the Steel Mill.

2010-12-11T17:48:00.000-08:00

All photos © Douglas Cain 2010.

Announcing the launch of AnnSteinberg.com

2010-12-11T03:17:00.000-08:00

Design © Douglas Cain 2010.

Announcing the launch of Zughaus.com

2010-12-08T13:15:00.000-08:00

All Design © Douglas Cain 2010.

Fire's Magic.

2010-12-06T02:08:00.000-08:00

All photos © Douglas Cain 2010.

Brük Dunbar's New Work at ZUGHAUS.

2010-12-04T20:24:00.000-08:00

All photos © Douglas Cain 2010.

Holiday Sale at Creative Growth Art Center, Oakland, CA.

2010-12-03T21:22:00.000-08:00

(Brük and Luc at Creative Growth)

(Turkey by Tony Pedemonte, dimensions variable )

(Rug by Erin Punzel)

(Beyond words!!!)

(Sculpture by Tony Pedemonte, dimensions variable)

(Assorted sculptural works by Tony Pedemonte)

And of course my favorite, the AMAZING furniture that has been a long term collaboritive projects, involving many of Creative Growth's talented artists.

Creative Growth Art Center serves adult artists with developmental, mental and physical disabilities, providing an engaging environment for artistic instruction, gallery promotion and personal expression. this show was a wonderful celebration of their work, and an opportunity for the public to purchase work and meet the artists and staff. Be sure to check out this remarkable and unique community center and gallery.

355 24th Street - Oakland, CA, 94612
Phone:510-836-2340 x 15

Mon - Fri:11:00 am - 4:30 pm

creativegrowth.org

All photos © Douglas Cain 2010.

The Construction and Inauguration of Brasília in the Late 50's and 60's

2010-12-01T17:50:00.000-08:00

(Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek inaugurating Brasilia, 1960.)

Brasília (or Brasilia as commonly spelled in English) is a fascinating gesture of modernism, with a unique history. Amidst an intense competition to redesign Brazil's Capital, President Juscelino Kubitschek awarded the grand prize to Urban Planner Lúcio Costa. Under Costa, the Architect Oscar Niemeyer created some of the most impressive forms in wildly imaginative structures. Brasília was completed in the remarkably in 41 months, from 1956 when the plan was set in motion, to the grand inauguration April 21, 1960.

These photos I have collected are the works of Marcel Gautherot and René Burri. Gautherot, who was himself an architect, was an enthusiast of Le Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe. Gautherot was granted unprecedented access to the construction site of the building of Brasilia.

René Burri is a Swiss photographer noted for his photographs of political, historical and cultural events and also of key figures of the second half of the 20th century. His photographs of Brasília have become quite iconic.

My Photos of SONUS with ]BASIC, Christian Torres and Joe Bickle at ZUGHAUS Gallery

2010-11-29T18:39:00.000-08:00

All photos © Douglas Cain 2010 .

Live Drawing Wednesdays at Levende East, Oakland CA.

2010-11-19T06:00:00.000-08:00

Hosted by Obi Kaufmann of the Berkeley Times. Every Wednesday at Levende East, from 4-7, 827 Washington St., Oakland, CA.

All photos © Douglas Cain 2010 .

My Graphic Design for Zughaus Gallery with Sonus and ]Basic.

2010-11-19T01:38:00.000-08:00

A Ring Around the Moon!

2010-11-18T23:33:00.000-08:00

I am going to take this a s a sign of great personal significance. This has been a wild time for me but sometimes when I think it is all ending, I realize that it is all just coming full circle. Here's to new energy and completion of old cycles.

All photos © Douglas Cain 2010 .

Sunset on the Steel Mill.

2010-11-18T20:45:00.000-08:00

All photos © Douglas Cain 2010 .

Living Room Edit.

2010-11-05T17:07:00.000-07:00

All photos © Douglas Cain 2010 .

Baking Sweet Fig Bread with Ann.

2010-11-05T15:49:00.000-07:00

All photos © Douglas Cain 2010 .

ZUGHAUS Gallery.

2010-11-03T17:53:00.000-07:00

ZUGHAUS Gallery is a collective group of contributors, curators, musicians, and artists who come together at my live/work space on the last Friday of every month, to celebrate a new opening. Originally opening our doors in 2009, we are approaching our third year! I have been so happy to have seen the idea grow from just an individual speculation to what we could all make happen together. Happen it has...

Check out what I have been up to recently at ZUGHAUS Gallery.

Vintage Dansk Kobenstyle Enamel Cookware Designed By Jens Quistgaard.

2010-11-01T21:24:00.000-07:00

Dansk Kobenstyle Enamel Cookware has become a new infatuation for me these days. I had first admired my friend Ann's blue enamel baking pan for its simplicity of design, ease of use and beautiful form.

These early vintage pieces by Dansk International Designs have become modernist icons, finding their way into the collections of MOMA New York, The Louvre, and the Smithsonian Institute. Originally designed in the early 1960's, and in perpetual production until the 1980's.

The most clever design solution displayed in these items is the handle to the lid, which when hot can be simply lifted by inserting a spoon under the handle, where it rests snugly allowing you to safely open the hot dish with the utensil.

Dansk Kobenstyle Enamelware was originally manufactured by the Danish company Glud & Marstrand, but by 1966 had been transitioned to manufacture by a French supplier. The cookware is most often compared with French manufacturer Le Creuset, although lighter and more modern. The most sought by collectors are the Danish examples, exhibiting Dansk's original "Four Ducks" logo. The initials "IHQ" are the mark of Designer Jens Quistgaard.

Jens Harald Quistgaard (April 23, 1919 – January 4, 2008) was the Danish Industrial Designer who with entrepreneur Ted Nierenberg founded Dansk International Designs. He is known for his imaginative use of functional materials like exotic woods, stainless steel, and enamelware.

Jens Quistgaard has been awarded for his designs by such credible organizations as the Lunning Prize in 1954 and won 6 prizes at the Milan Triennial.

To Clean Dansk Enamel Kobenstyle Cookware like new -

-Boil a large stock pot, large enough to submerge the piece of cookware to clean in boiling water.
-Add 3-5 Tablespoons of Baking Soda to the water and allow the cookware to sit submerged in the -boiling solution for 10 + minuets.
-Next, remove carefully from boiling pot and wash in hot soapy water and scour with a nylon (not metal) scouring sponge.
-Rub with white vinegar to restore finish to the enamel after the item has cooled.

Trust me, I have tried many things to clean Dansk Kobenstyle Cookware, and this handy trick from Dansk's website had my vintage pans looking like new quickly. Enjoy!

All photos © Douglas Cain 2010 .

Peas.

2010-11-01T19:30:00.000-07:00

All photos © Douglas Cain 2010 .

Finished - 8 Piece Vintage Massimo Vignelli for Heller MAX Dinnerware Set.

2010-10-24T18:07:00.000-07:00

"I like to design to be semantically correct, syntactically consistent, and pragmatically understandable," said Massimo Vignelli. Massimo Vignelli is an architect-designer known for his graphic design, including the 1966–70 subway map and sign system for the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority. The most successful product designed by Vignelli and Associates, Heller Dinnerware was an instant classic. The most compelling part about the set is its ability to stack. All pieces are made in standardized sizes so that they all nest together and stack neatly. Part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art New York. The set of dinnerware won the Compasso d’Oro award for good design in 1964.

I have painstakingly collected this set piece by piece over the last few years since I moved to California. With each new piece found I was one step closer to my goal of an eight piece serving. I have finally amassed an 8 piece serving set, but want to develop my collection of white pieces so that I have a serving for four in white, and develop my color collection so that I have a full serving for 8 in all colors totaling a serving for 12. I am very happy for now though, and want to have a dinner party soon to use the set.

Crow is a reproduction of an original owned by Charles and Ray Eames, and manufactured by Vitra.
Dining chairs by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen, manufactured by Fritz Hansen for Knoll Studio.

All photos © Douglas Cain 2010.

Recent Zughaus Gallery Press

2010-10-22T20:56:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Obi Kaufmann at The Berkeley Times.

Interior Inpiration, Verner Panton.

2010-10-19T21:06:00.000-07:00

Above is a collection of interior spaces by Verner Panton, collected from many locations and periods in his great career. Verner Panton (13 February 1926 – 5 September 1998) is an incredible industrial and interior designer, considered one of Denmark's most influential. A noted point of Panton's early career and formative influence was a 2 year employment from 1950-1952 with Arne Jacobsen. Panton was the first to conceptualize the single injection mold chair in plastic, and imagined such things as a Collapsible House (1955), and a Plastic house (1960) (I die!).

Winter Activities ~ Baking Bread. Here is my recipe.

2010-10-17T13:33:00.000-07:00

~In a large mixing bowl, Combine:

1 1/2 Package of active dry yeast, 2 cups of warm (NOT HOT) water, and 1/2 cup sugar,

(I used brown sugar) and stir until all dry goods dissolved.

~Let the mixture proof (yeast will develop foamy "head" like a beer. See photo following) for 10-15 minuets, or until head develops. While this is happening I prepare the herbs I intend to use in the bread. Chop finely and wash well before using.

~Sage is nice, I only use fresh grown herbs, because they taste so differently compared with dried packaged herbs.

~Rosemary is also great for adding to a bread to give it some flavor. I think it is imperative to grow your own though.

~ Be sure to wash your herbs, especially if you live adjacent to a steel mill.

~ Now that your yeast has proofed, add:

5 cups of flour, 1/4 cup of Olive Oil (optional), and 1 teaspoon sea salt and herbs,

...incorporating ingredients slowly. You may need to adjust the recipe by adding or subtracting flour to achieve the perfect texture of the dough. It should be soft and mailable but not sticky when it is ready to knead...

~ Knead for 10 minuets, or one really good Kraftwerk tune... Put your back into it!

~When your dough is ready to let rise after kneading, it should look like this...

~ I like to roll some sliced garlic and herbs into the bread before I let it rise, this way, I do not have to do this later and loose the fluffy texture it gains when rising. Also, you can add some salt and spices here. I like Organic Pacific Sea Salt.

~Separate into loaf sizes and place in a well oiled baking dish (I use Olive Oil), Let sit covered with a dampened cloth for 1 hour. Keep away from cold drafts, and be sure to keep covered so no moisture is lost.

~With 10 minuets remaining for dough to rise, Preheat oven to 375 *

~Bake for 30 minuets, or until golden brown.

Enjoy!!!! Also, its easier to loosen the loafs once the bread has cooled and set for a bit. I let them sit by the window to cool...

Loaf pans by Massimo Vignelli for Heller.

All photos © Douglas Cain 2010.

My Room, Updated.

2010-10-17T12:04:00.000-07:00

New color, new energy, new period in time. My bedroom now in Benjamin Moore "Catalyst Steel."

All photos © Douglas Cain 2010.

A night in.

2010-09-22T20:29:00.000-07:00

Amazing buildings, Ryugyong hotel, Pyongyang, North Korea.

2010-09-22T19:08:00.000-07:00

The Ryugyong hotel, Pyongyang, North Korea has always been interesting to me. Just the menacing form against the skyline of Pyongyang is enough to take note. The Ryugyong hotel, in Pyongyang is 105 stories of asperation and overambition. Construction originally started in 1987 but due to the dire economic situation in 1992, construction halted. This was in time with the fall of the soviet union and North Korea's loss of its chief financial supply. It stood a naked concrete shell for fifteen years rotting. It was often removed from photographs by city official, and was not included in maps. Construction did resume in April 2008 by a contractor from Egypt. Plans have this building completed in 2012.

Note the 5 (5!) revolving restaurants on the top!!!

KQED reviews my gallery, ZUGHAUS!

2010-09-21T17:51:00.000-07:00

KQED has featured ZUGHAUS Gallery in the Visual Arts section of their web site! Thank you Carmen Winant for the mention! Find the link below...

The 'Living' Gallery by Carmen Winant on KQED.

Midnight Snack... Heller, Rosti and Kartell dinnerware.

2010-09-16T02:37:00.000-07:00

This is the first meal that I have eaten since finishing my 8 piece dinnerware set of Heller Melamine designed by the great Massimo Vignelli (in 1964). The tray is vintage 1970s Anna Castelli Ferrieri for Kartell. Orange melamine mixing bowl by Rosti of Denmark. Various assorted vintage fiberglass serving trays.

About the dinnerware set, "I like to design to be semantically correct, syntactically consistent, and pragmatically understandable," said Massimo Vignelli. Originally manufactured in Italy, this stackable dinnerware won the prestigious Compasso d'Oro Award for Good Design in 1964. In 1971, manufacturing moved to the United States, and Heller Dinnerware became the first product made by Heller a company that went on to produce many beautiful designed objects. I love this set and am glad to have amassed my full serving. Photos of a dinner to come!

Up and away...

2010-09-16T02:29:00.000-07:00

Peter Max!

2010-09-08T14:18:00.000-07:00

This week I stumbled across a treasure by a favorite of mine, the amazing Peter Max. This is the original printing of the treasured out of print vintage "Peter Max Poster Book". The overall size of the Book measures 16 x 11.5 inches. Amazing! 1970. Crown Publishers, Inc., NY.

Night on the Rooftop. Zughaus.

2010-09-07T13:13:00.000-07:00

Home is where the heart is.

2010-09-06T23:06:00.000-07:00

Sonus, Tuesday August 31. Berkeley CA.

2010-09-01T02:27:00.000-07:00

Some dear friends have been hosting a wonderful electronic music night in Berkeley. Check it out if you are curious... http://www.facebook.com/s0nus

About Sonus:: Sonus was launched in May 2009 with the intention of exposing like minded, up and coming artists in the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as expanding the presence of forward thinking electronic music in the East Bay.

Cave at the Cliff House Ruins, San Francisco, CA, August.

2010-08-31T03:50:00.000-07:00

Today.

2010-08-31T03:32:00.000-07:00

Grizzly Peak Blvd, August, 2010.

2010-08-30T03:19:00.000-07:00

Treasure Island, August 2010.

2010-08-29T04:35:00.000-07:00

My Hometown - Newburyport, Massachusetts.

2010-06-21T00:29:00.000-07:00

And finally, a little about my hero from historic Newburyport, Lord Timothy Dexter, an increadibly wealthy and lucky businessman, who was both highly eccentric and friend of George Washington. Dexter bought a huge estate in Newburyport and decorated it with minarets, a golden eagle on the top of the cupola, a mausoleum for himself and a garden of 40 wooden statues of famous men, including George Washington, William Pitt, Napoleon Bonaparte, Thomas Jefferson and of course, himself. It had an inscription "I am the first in the East, the first in the West, and the greatest philosopher in the Western World."

One day he began to wonder what people would say about him after he died. He proceeded to announce his death and to prepare for a burial. About 3,000 people appeared for the wake. However, Dexter's wife refused to cry for his passing, for which he later caned her, and so he decided not to appear to his guests at all. Timothy Dexter actually died in 1806.

Rayleight-Taylor Instability

2010-06-17T14:45:00.000-07:00

RT fingers evident in the Crab Nebula

"The Rayleigh–Taylor instability, or RT instability (after Lord Rayleigh and G. I. Taylor), is an instability of an interface between two fluids of different densities, which occurs when the lighter fluid is pushing the heavier fluid. This is the case with an interstellar cloud and shock system. The equivalent situation occurs when gravity is acting on two fluids of different density — with the dense fluid above a fluid of lesser density — such as water balancing on light oil. " Wikipedia.

Announcing June Last Friday- gray matters - a solo show of the work of Ann Steinberg

2010-06-13T22:57:00.000-07:00

Graphic Design by Douglas Cain.

New Work, Douglas Cain

2010-06-07T14:54:00.000-07:00

"Seconds" Written by The Human League

"What Have You Done For Me Lately" written by Janet Jackson

Summer Finds

2010-06-06T19:43:00.000-07:00

Glasses- Giorgio Armani

Scarf- Lanvin

Shirt- Yves Saint Laurent

New Dior Trench.

2010-05-20T19:45:00.000-07:00

The Mysterious Abandoned Pod City of San Zhi

2010-05-09T18:20:00.000-07:00

Flowers, by Douglas Cain. 2010.

2010-05-01T19:58:00.000-07:00

ZUGHAUS: Loft 2

2010-05-01T03:52:00.000-07:00

Gigante in her pearls. How darling.

2010-04-28T18:52:00.000-07:00

Flowers...

2010-04-25T04:27:00.000-07:00

Flowers...

2010-04-25T04:26:00.000-07:00

Flowers...

2010-04-25T04:23:00.002-07:00

Flowers Progress Part 2

2010-04-20T22:20:00.000-07:00

Flowers Invitations

2010-04-20T22:19:00.000-07:00

Hand made edition of 20. Each unique.

Fun with my dear friend Ann.

2010-04-15T18:40:00.000-07:00

Ann has become a wonderful accomplice these days. She is the new vintage bandit.

Ann wears -

Blouse - Christian Dior

Pencil Skirt - Emanuel Ungaro

Bag - Chanel

I wear-

Top - Kenzo Homme

5 Pocket Trousers - Cheap Monday

Blazer - Givenchy

Fez- Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gouche

Accesories - Vintage

Pictured on top are Ann's very narrow Ferragamo shoes. Why are they all so narrow?

Flowers Progress

2010-04-03T21:06:00.000-07:00

Here are some progress concept photos from the making of "Flowers"

And the invitation below. You are cordially invited...

Recent work with Citizen : Citizen

2010-03-24T00:02:00.000-07:00

My internship with Citizen : Citizen has been amazing. heres photos from a project that I assisted on for Levis and Opening Ceremony. These objects were promotional items used in a guerrilla marketing approach to get people questioning the nature of these objects, clad in the fabrics of the collection to be launched... I love what I have been doing.

And the man himself, Philip Wood.

Wendell Castle's 10 Adopted Rules of Thumb

2010-03-21T17:02:00.000-07:00

Wendell Castle's 10 Adopted Rules of Thumb

1. If you are in love with an idea, you are no judge of its beauty or value.
2. It is difficult to see the whole picture when you are inside the frame.
3. After learning the tricks of the trade, don't think you know the trade.
4. We see and apprehend what we already know.
5. The dog that stays on the porch will find no bones.
6. Never state a problem to yourself in the terms it was brought to you.
7. If it's offbeat or surprising then it's probably useful.
8. If you do not expect the unexpected, you will not find it.
9. Don't get too serious.
10. If you hit the bulls-eye every time, then the target is probably too near.