Paul Kotula Projects is pleased to present A View of Earth: The Architect's Eye, Selected Ceramic Art from the Collection of Anne and George Crane November 23 through January 11.The exhibition features vessels and sculpture made by many noted figures in the canon of Contemporary Ceramics. It also celebrates Anne Crane (1924-2012), a pioneering Modernist architect who worked for the famed Japanese American architect Minora Yamaski from 1950-1954.
A View of Earth: The Architects Eye includes the work of such luminaries as Toshiko Takeazu, whose traveling retrospective Toshiko Takeazu: Worlds Within is currently on view at Cranbrook Academy of Art. It also includes the work of Ralph Bacerra, Anne Currier, Val Cushing, Ruth Duckworth, John Gill, John Glick, Jun Kaneko, Beate Kuhn, Marilyn Levine, Michael Lucero, Jim Melchert, Ron Nagle, Otto Natzler, George E. Ohr, Gustavo Perez, Robert Turner, Peter Voulkos, Kurt Weiser, Marie Woo and more. Together, the grouping reflects Crane's astutely trained eye and adventurous spirit.
At a time when few women entered the profession of architecture, Anne (Krebs) Crane (b. 1924, Belleville, IL; d. 2012, Groose Pointe, MI) attended the University of Illinois School of Architecture earning her degree in 1946. Her early designs captured the attention of internationally renowned architects including Minoru Yamasaki. She moved to the Detroit area in 1950, hoping to study at Cranbrook Academy of Art under Eliel Saarinen; unfortunately, he died that summer. She accepted a position with Hellmuth, Yamasaki and Leinweber as an architect registered in Illinois, Michigan and Missouri and worked on numerous designs, including many of their residential commissions. She left the firm in 1954 when Yamaski prioritized commercial buildings. In 1955 she partnered with Lester Fader (who would later join the Architecture faculty at the University of Michigan) to create the firm Krebs and Fader. Together they created numerous commercial buildings and modern residences throughout Metro Detroit and the United States. Their work incorporated innovative building techniques that were popular during the mid-century modern era - extensive use of glass, open floors plans, and zigzag roofs.
Crane later formed her own private practice in conjunction with her husband, George Crane, of the Crane Construction Company. She designed numerous residences and other projects, in southeast Michigan and elsewhere, until her retirement in 1991.
In 1958 Anne Crane designed and George Crane built a home at 15 Moorland Drive in Grosse Pointe, MI. A ceramics studio, designed by Anne, was added later. Anne and George raised their family and lived the rest of their lives there.
Crane studied ceramics at Detroit's historic Pewabic Pottery where she also served on its Board of Trustees (1981-2008; President 1993-1996) and Exhibition Committee and where her passion for the art form grew.
The Cranes's early neighbor was W. Hawkins Ferry, who became a noted art patron and architectural historian. They designed and built his first home at 25 Moorland Drive. The three remained friends until Ferry's death in 1988.
For many years Anne indulged her passion for travel, visiting 72 countries and seven continents, often collecting treasures along the way. Anne was a leader in her community. In addition to her many roles at Pewabic, she was a founding member of both the Grosse Pointe Human Relations Society and the Northeast Guidance Center, where she served as Board President for two years.