ceramics Archives | David Franklin

Late last year I was invited to install the Ghost School at the new Kohler Experience Center, Los Angeles. Kohler Company provided an incredible spot to install the sculpture that I had made at the Kohler Factory, in Wisconsin, in 2015. For the next year it will be prominently featured in the window of their new flagship showroom in West Hollywood, California on Beverly Bvld.

The Kohler Experience Center 8955 W Beverly Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90048

In November, I met my friend Ken Seger in LA, to begin the installation. The Experience Center was still very much under construction.

Two pallets of ceramic fish and sharks ready to become the Ghost School once again

We first installed the wooden framework and cables the school of fish was to hang from.

Installing the structure that the Ghost School is hung from — Installing the structure

We returned a few weeks later to begin the installation of the school itself. With hundreds of strings and fish and beads we recreated the sculpture fish by fish. After three long days of installing the sculpture was complete.

Kohler Company was kind enough to fly my wife in for the opening, and the Grand opening was a wonderful night to share with her. A dream come true. It was great to meet David Kohler again, and I am grateful for his kind words and actions toward me. It was David and Laura Kohler who embraced my work and made it a permanent part of the Kohler Company’s art collection.

The grand opening of the Kohler Experience Center LAX — The Kohler Experience Center LAX opened to a packed house in Dec 2017.

David Kohler speaking at the Grand Opening of KEC LAX

Kohler has some amazing people on their team. Tandra Sbrocco, Troy Opgenorth, Christopher Parrish, Angel Felix, and all of my friends in the factory whose names are etched into many of the fish that make up the sculpture. They bring back memories of times in Wisconsin with all those great people who helped make this piece of artwork happen. The Arts/Industry program is an incredible residency program for artists to work in the Kohler Factory. Thank you to Ruth Kohler and the kind people at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center for allowing me to take part in it.

The Ghost School installed at the Kohler Experience Center in West Hollywood, CA — The Ghost School Installed at the Kohler Experience Center in West Hollywood, CA. Made possible by the Arts/Industry program of the John Michael Kohler Art Center, and the generosity of Kohler Company and David and Laura Kohler.

So, if you happen to be in West Hollywood in 2018 please stop by and see The Ghost School! And learn More about KEC LAX here

You can learn more about the Ghost School here

David Franklin

This Tentacle installation has an interesting setting. It sits on a mantle I carved from fir in 2004 along with the panels on either side. The theme of the carvings were wind and water, with creatures from the water and the Moon on the right panel and creatures of the air and the Sun on the left panel. The mantle has wind and waves flowing out to their respective sides.

The Tentacles are a new contrasting sculptural element. They relate as a theme around the home and also to the carved Octopus on the top of the panel on the right. It is really amazing to work with such kind people who continue to appreciate your art as it evolves, and to see it all working together for a new effect.

The Ghost School at the New KEC LAX

The Old and the New