Uploaded May 2018 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
J.B. Blunk: Nature, Art & Everyday Life is on view April 21–September 9, 2018
Discover northern California’s best kept secret in design and craft: J.B. Blunk (1926–2002), a mid-century artist whose connection to nature governed his daily life. Inspired by Japanese philosophies of nature and art’s inseparability and influenced by rural utopian communities, Blunk’s muse and often his source of materials was the beautiful natural environment of Inverness, California. Blunk’s home property was his ultimate work of art, filled with his handcrafted furniture, ceramics, sculptures, and other functional objects used by his family. His remarkable craftsmanship also took the form of large-scale public works of art, including The Planet, a redwood sculpture commissioned by the Oakland Museum of California in 1969. J.B. Blunk: Nature, Art & Everyday Life brings together a comprehensive survey of the artist’s work. See northern California’s landscape anew through Blunk’s eyes and get inspired to find the beauty of nature and art in your own daily life.
museumca.org/exhibit/jb-blunk-nature-art-everyday-life
J.B. Blunk: Nature, Art & Everyday Life is on view April 21–September 9, 2018
Discover northern California’s best kept secret in design and craft: J.B. Blunk (1926–2002), a mid-century artist whose connection to nature governed his daily life. Inspired by Japanese philosophies of nature and art’s inseparability and influenced by rural utopian communities, Blunk’s muse and often his source of materials was the beautiful natural environment of Inverness, California. Blunk’s home property was his ultimate work of art, filled with his handcrafted furniture, ceramics, sculptures, and other functional objects used by his family. His remarkable craftsmanship also took the form of large-scale public works of art, including The Planet, a redwood sculpture commissioned by the Oakland Museum of California in 1969. J.B. Blunk: Nature, Art & Everyday Life brings together a comprehensive survey of the artist’s work. See northern California’s landscape anew through Blunk’s eyes and get inspired to find the beauty of nature and art in your own daily life.
museumca.org/exhibit/jb-blunk-nature-art-everyday-life










![In the Kitchen With Tanya Holland: Roasted Carrot Soup
We are In The Kitchen with Chef and restaurant owner Tanya Holland. Tanya is featuring her recipe for a Roast Carrot Soup with an Oat Seed Crumble! The crumble makes an ample amount but it’s so good, you could also use it to top fruit and yogurt! We are excited to bring you this recipe and can not wait to welcome you to Town Fare By Tanya Holland, opening in 2021 at OMCA.
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Roasted Carrot Soup with an Oat Seed Crumble
Makes 4 to 6 servings
Sunflower seed crumble: [makes about 1 cup]
1/3 cup sunflower seeds [can substitute chopped almonds or pecans]
2 tablespoons old-fashioned rolled oats
2 packed tablespoons chopped pitted date, ideally soft medjool (about 2 medium dates)
1 tablespoon melted coconut oil
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
Roasted carrot soup: [makes about 6 cups]
1 tsp sweet paprika
1 tsp ground cumin
1/8 tsp ground ginger
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 lbs carrots (about 8 large carrots), trimmed and peeled
1 small or 1/2 large sweet onion, chopped
Extra-virgin olive oil
4 to 5 cups low-sodium vegetable stock (homemade or purchased)
To make the crumble, on a cutting board using a large, sharp knife, chop together the seeds, oats, and date until finely chopped and starting to clump together. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the coconut oil, cinnamon, and salt. Mix well.
Preheat the oven to 375F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread the crumble in an even layer and bake, stirring once or twice, until fragrant and lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to the bowl to cool completely.
Increase the oven temperature to 425F. In a bowl, mix together the paprika, cumin, ginger, cinnamon, 1 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper. Cut the carrots into thick spears, all roughly the same size (halved crosswise, and halved or quartered lengthwise). Add the carrots and onion to the baking sheet and drizzle with a few tablespoons of olive oil. Sprinkle with the spice mixture and toss well to combine. Roast until the carrots are very tender and slightly caramelized, turning once or twice, 25 to 30 minutes.
Transfer the carrots to a blender and add 4 cups stock (do this in batches if necessary [I did this in 2 batches]). Puree until very smooth. Transfer to a saucepan. Thin with a little more stock to the consistency you like, as needed. Warm over medium-low heat, stirring, until hot. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. Serve in soup bowls, garnished with the sunflower seed crumble. In the Kitchen With Tanya Holland: Roasted Carrot Soup](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/s61tFcS1N_I/mqdefault.jpg)