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The Photography of James Hubbell By Laurel Costa, ArchivistPhotos by James Hubbell “Recent discoveries in the Ilan-Lael archive reveal a trove of photographs taken by James himself.” The world knows James Hubbell as a man of many talents: prolific poet, philosopher, sculptor, painter, designer, and builder. Not surprisingly, he was also a talented photographer….
James Hubbell and his brother, nicknamed Bert, shared a remarkably special connection. This spring they both left the earth within weeks of each other, reconnecting in the cosmos. They lived on opposite sides of the vast Pacific Ocean: James in Santa Ysabel and Bert and his wife Hiroko in an extraordinarily beautiful hand-built home in…
The early years… Harry Hubbell, whose family nickname was “Bert,” was James T. Hubbell’s brother. In 1952 Bert had an opportunity to travel to Africa with Charles Darwin’s great grandson, Quentin Keynes. Both young men were Darwinesque adventurers. After returning home, Bert was drafted into the Army and served until 1955 in a non-combatant role…
Ilan-Lael’s 40th anniversary this year coincides with 40 years since the passing of San Diego’s famed mid-century modern architect, Sim Bruce Richards. “Bruce,” as most addressed him, was the close friend, benefactor, and colleague of James Hubbell from the 1950s to the early 1980s. James contributed architectural elements, sculptures, carvings, lamp fixtures, and art glass…
Ilan-Lael’s 40th anniversary this year coincides with 40 years since the passing of San Diego’s famed midcentury modern architect, Sim Bruce Richards. “Bruce,” as most addressed him, was the close friend, benefactor, and colleague of James Hubbell from the 1950s to the early 1980s. James contributed architectural elements, sculptures, carvings, lamp fixtures, and art glass…
Recently, I received a phone call from a man named Tom Siiter, a retired video editor from Los Angeles. He told me he and his friend Tim Studley had worked on the construction of the Hubbell drafting studio in the early 1980s. But Tom wasn’t just reminiscing; he was cleaning house. After 40 years of…
In 2018, I was brought on as Ilan Lael’s Archivist to continue the project—organizing thousands of James Hubbell’s artworks—that Jeanie Radakovich so diligently began in 2010. Thanks to the efforts of Jeanie, Ed Shatz, Mary Ann Prue, and many others throughout the years we have a great many photographs and records of James Hubbell’s work….