A Guide to the Best of Southern California : BROWSING : Ahead of Their Time

It’s perfect timing for clock-watchers. More than 70 unusual timekeepers--designed by artisans from coast to coast--are on display at Gallery Alexander in La Jolla through Nov. 10.

Working in such varied mediums as ceramics, plastics and wood, they have created whimsical, sometimes humorous wall clocks, musical clocks, desk clocks, his-and-her clocks and even double-duty clocks--such as the wooden hutch that also serves as a grandfather clock. All of them run on batteries, on Pacific Standard Time (did you “fall back” Saturday night?), and prices start at about $100.

From the Midwest--where else?--comes F. B. Fogg’s handmade-paper clock of a black and white cow with a pendulous pink tongue. There’s a bevy of wooden bathing beauties surrounded with miniature sunglasses and sea creatures by Pamela Morin that would look right at home in a laid-back beach house. And, for the breakfast nook, Polly Frizell has whipped up a blue-plate special--bacon-strip “hands” revolving around a face/plate of eggs and hash browns--that’s bound to ease the morning blahs. But perhaps the most timely piece is Gail Roberts’ “biological” clock: In place of the numbers 1 through 12, the ages 31 through 42 circle its ceramic figures of a man and woman.

The clock collection will be on display through Nov. 10 at Gallery Alexander, 7850 Girard Ave., La Jolla; (619) 459-9433.