Hubbells Welcome Visitors to Open House

James Hubbell

By Ruth Lepper

Hundreds of visitors turned out on June 11 for an open house hosted by Anne and James Hubbell.

The event served as a fundraiser for Ilan-Lael, a nonprofit foundation started in 1982 by the Hubbells.

The open house had been an annual event for several years, serving as a way to show off Hubbell’s magnificent works of art and architecture. The Cedar fire in 2003 destroyed four of the eight buildings which composed the Hubbells’ working and living spaces. Three other buildings were badly damaged. The structure known as The Boys House escaped the fire and later was to become Anne and James’ temporary living quarters.

The studio where artists work with James Hubbell on his artistic creations can still be used, despite some damage by the fire.

This was the first time since the fire that the Hubbell compound has been open to the public. The open house allowed visitors to witness the havoc wreaked by the fire and also to see what has gone on since then.

A new addition to the Hubbell compound is the Passage Garden, designed and cared for by Bonnie McGee, garden and grounds manager for Camp Stevens in nearby Julian.

A shell of the family’s main living quarters is all that was left after the structure was destroyed by the Cedar fire in 2003.

"It’s all organic," McGee said. "We’re growing vegetables for the Hubbell family and the workers at the studio. The summer crop was just put in.”

There also are sculptures in the garden that were created by Hubbell and the irises are in full bloom.

Some of the other sculptures on display for the open house were chunks of glass, melted from the fire, that have been set on stands or used in some way in new creations. The shower door in the master bedroom has incorporated pieces of glass and broken china from the fire. The china once belonged to James’ grandmother.

Passage Garden was designed by Bonnie McGee.

Hubbell’s unique works of art are made from glass, metals and wood, along with concrete and stone. His artwork has been on permanent display in public buildings, as well as in private homes.

He designed the entry gates for the new library in Julian and a monument at the beginning of the hiking trail on Volcan Mountain. He currently is working on a series of parks for the Pacific Rim and has completed parks on Shelter Island in San Diego and in Russia, China and Tijuana.

The fireplace stands alone amid the rubble.

Hubbell also is a poet and an artist. Several books have been published containing his drawings and writings.

The rebuilding efforts taking place at the Hubbell compound will be partially funded by the money raised from the open house.

Photos by Carol Kinney