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ROSE CUMMINGS LIVING ROOM

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Jeremiah Goodman's career has spanned decades, beginning in the 1950's at Lord & Taylor, where he created print advertisements, illustrating everything from fashion to furniture. A great bon vivant and charmer, Jeremiah has always had "fashionable" friends, circling the globe, including John Gielgud, Greta Garbo, Billy Baldwin, David Hicks, Mary Martin, and Elsa Peretti..... and early on, he began creating "interior portraits" of their favorite rooms. These intimate illustrations, begun in the 1940's, continue to be drawn today!!!! They have appeared in every major fashion and shelter magazine, and in 2007 Powerhouse  published a significant book of his "rooms," A Romantic Vision. This book is a "must have" in any design library!!!!

London art dealer Dean Rhys Morgan has "borrowed" several of his illustrations and created a collection of prints, making his work accessible to all of us!!! Design guru's John Dransfield and Geoffrey Ross, great friend of Jeremiah's, are the representatives for this fantastic collection. Printed in London, this limited edition evokes all of the same passion, vibrancy, and charm as the original ...... an "accessorator's" dream ...... imagine a library wall covered with these beautiful images......Delightful!!!!!

This past week, at the NY Armory Show, I continued my love affair with the work of African artist, Pascale Marthine Tayou, exhibited by the Galleria Continua, located in San Gimignano, Italy.

Born in Yaoundé, Cameroon in 1967, Tayou began his career in the 90's, when after abandoning his studies in law, he changed his birth name, Jean Apollinaire Tayou, taking a double name in the female form: Pascal(e) Marthin(e) and went abroad to begin his art career. His first exhibition was in 1994 in Cameroon, it was followed quickly by international recognition. Tayou refers to himself as "a lawyer not an artist" saying "I never intended to be an artist, but I'm curious." Currently living with his wife and children in Ghent, with trips to Africa, he says of leaving Africa "I never left my country, I am a traveler now."  The work, like his name, is fluid, easily transitioning between sculpture, drawing, video, and installation ..... purposely mobile .... reflecting his double-life, traversing two diverse worlds. In addition to the theme of movement between cultures, Tayou's work also explores the issues of the "global village."  

I saw Tayou's work for the first two years ago at the Armory and thought it was fantastic. These new pieces are equally stunning and for this "accessorator," his work continues to be among the most innovative and exciting at the show!!!!!!!!!

My passion for English ceramics began with artist Barnaby Barford, a 2002 graduate of the Royal Academy. He is an elegant storyteller, creating unique narratives, using mass-market and antique found porcelain figurines to weave his tales. "Cutting up, exchanging elements or adding to them and repainting then, to create sculptures which are often sinister and sardonic but invariably humorous."

His current exhibition at the David Gill Gallery in London reflects his most recent venture .... animated film ....... creating a world for his characters. "I've always seen my pieces as scenes from a film- I want viewers to make up what happened before and what might happen afterwards- so it felt like a natural progression to work on a film," according to Barford. The work at the gallery is inspired (never replicating scenes) by the animation, he sees it as a "final conclusion to the entire project." Each piece stands on it's own, part of a story, but seen as a complete work of art.

Barford's animated film, DAMAGED GOODS, commissioned in London by the Animate Projects and funded by the Arts Council England and Channel 4, tells the tragic love story of two figurines, who's whole world is lived within the shelves of a bric-a-brac shop. It explores the ideas of forbidden love, material wealth, class division .... all within the "society" of the shelves. The top shelves house the objects that are lavish crystal, silver and gold objects, while the floor is covered with the bits and pieces of broken, discarded ceramics. 

 The film is spectacular ..... charming, innovative, touching, divine ... take a look!!!.

N.Y. Magazine art critic, Jerry Saltz's review of the 2010 Whitney Biennial describes Portland-based artist Jessica Jackson Hutchins' piece "Couch for a Long Time," (top image), as "one of the best pieces here."  The sculpture, a "lumpy" sofa collaged with newspaper clippings about President Obama, cradles a series of "gnarly" ceramic objects. According to Saltz, "All the images together with the cracked pottery evoke intense pressure- the pressure that he, we, art and America are under."  In addition, Hutchins received kudo's from Holland Cotter in Friday's NY Times Whitney review, as well as being included in the Sunday NY Times T- Style section piece about "Whitney women" and ....... the Biennial has only been opened for five days!!!!! 

And if being included in the Biennial wasn't enough for last week .......... Jessica opened two simultaneous solo shows in New York City ...... at the Derek Eller Gallery in Chelsea and at Small A Projects on the Lower East Side!!!!! Her new work is still extremely intimate, very narrative, and a sublime blend of her favored materials ...... glazed ceramics, textiles, papier-måché, collage, and furniture!!!! The pieces are personal, adapting accessible and familiar ideas, sometimes including bits & pieces from her family. Both exhibitions feature a variety of works on paper, as well as a stunning selection sculpture. 

Furniture, either found or from her own home, is a major element in Jessica's work. In a number of pieces the furniture becomes the base for a combination of collaged elements that create "figures" holding ceramic vessels. In several pieces ...... including "Recliner,"  a recliner covered in papier-måché, collaged in color photographs and magazine images or "Leaning Figure," another similar work that has been collaged in a combination of paper, fabric, and paint ...... the furniture becomes an invisible armature. The piece "Kitchen Table Allegory" is the actual dinning room table from Jessica's home. It has been gouged and cut, is covered with colored ink residue, and has been pulled apart, as if waiting for a leaf ...... instead a ceramic vessel sits in it's center. Prior to being a "complete" art work, the table was gouged to create the "plate" for a series of collaged mono-prints that appear in both shows. The piece "Couple," a worn loveseat with two papier-måché, spray painted mounds and a ceramic vessel nestled between them, is another narrative work that intrigues the viewer and allows numerous interpretations. In addition, there are several anthropomorphic ceramic pieces that are monuments to human fragility, "Infinite Break" a reference to Tiger Woods, and "Disgraced Skater," a slumping athlete. 

For those of us who grew up in the 60's, the most important "accessoration" on our polo shirt's was the embroidered Lacoste "alligator" ..... it is an iconic logo and the forerunner of penguins, bears, horses, etc, and the giant Ralph Lauren Polo Player!!!!! Lacoste is trying to breath new life into the alligator with the help of world renowned Brazilian designers Fernando & Humberto Campana. The brother's have designed 4 limited-edition shirts that were hand-made at the Coopa-Roca Women's Co-operative in Rochina, Brazil, updating a traditional "accessoration!!!"   

Available at Moss and Moss Online, the 4 shirt styles are ...... women's all-over lace-applique (edition of 12), men's all over lace-applique (edition of 12), men's "alligator pools" (edition of 125), and women's "lianes" or "vines" (edition of 125). The pattern of "alligator pools" on the mens shirts is influenced by the "anavihanas", small fluvial islands in the Amazon; and the women's shirt is influenced by the "vines" that grow in the trees in the tropical rain forests.

I think this "accessoration" project is extremely innovative and it also serves an important purpose ...... it engages the women of the co-op in a project that enables them to improve the quality of their lives and the lives of their families, and it continues the development of the traditional Brazilian hand-craft techniques. Giving back is the most important "accessoration" of all!!!!!

This work is deigned by innovative San Francisco industrial designers, Mike & Maaike. The reclaimed, hardwood shelf is combined with books selected by curator Athmeya Jayaram.  Titled Juxtaposed: Power, the shelf has slots specifically cut to house seven seminal books about power and society. The "sculpture" includes 2,451 pages, 2390 years, 2251 wars, 432 revolutions, 90 empires, 7 books, 1 shelf. The piece is offered in a limited edition of 50 and is the second in a series of curated bookshelves, the first work was a collection about religion. Both "shelves" were produced by design company Blankblank.

My favorite "accessorations" are books and art, and this is a spectacular design that incorporates both, as well as the idea of perfect minimalism (not something I am very familiar with!!) You have the perfect tomes on the perfect shelf, and are never overbooked, as I am!!!!!! Tables, chairs, the floor and sometimes even my bed are covered......no place to eat, sit, stand, or sleep!!!!!

Catalonian Marti Guixé, living between Barcelona and Berlin, calls himself an "ex-designer." He is extremely outspoken in his "disregard" of design and works hard at pushing boundaries between design, art, and performance. Firmly ensconced in the contemporary movement, often using cheap or disposable materials, looking forward rather than backward, and forfeiting traditionalism ...... results in his more playful, less commercial, approach to design. An important example of his work is this installation, "Respect Cheap Furniture,"  an edition of 50 hand painted plastic Monoblock chair that are painted with the name of the edition. This well-known, inexpensive chair, universally accepted for it's good design, is an important addition to his series "stop discrimination of cheap furniture" begun in 2004.

I think that these chairs, part of an exhibition last fall in Berlin, are a wonderful reference to my view of our current design climate ..... nothing has value and everything is valuable!!!! Seems like an "accessorator's" dream ...... or is it a nightmare???????

Jody's pictures are film strips, a chaotic mix of beautiful and darkly funny images. She says her work is "a story composed of poured colors, geometric curvaceous shapes, large brush strokes and Freudian dream-like sketches." Jody, a part of the downtown New york art scene,  considers herself a "student of the streets absorbing everything I see."  The show , Dig it!, is a "personal excavation" of her work. Jody's influences include "street art, grafitti, advertising, movies, Africa art, and fetish objects" ...... a melange of images and objects that help her create paintings and sculptures ....... her "urban hieroglyphics." 

When I look at Jody's work, I immediately think of the Bay Area artists who's work I adore and covet ...... Chris Johanson,  Barry McGee, Clare Rojas, and the late Margaret Kilgallen ........ putting her in excellent company!!!!!

The goal of the Selyn Socio-Economic Development Foundation is "to foster the intellectual, social, ethical, moral, spiritual, and emotional development of the less fortunate children of Sri Lanka, by assisting them in all aspects to become competent and employable and we will create sustainable and practical socio economic opportunities for rural women in order for them to achieve life long success." Created by Hamburg based designer Alexa Lixfeld (12/14/09 post) in a joint venture with Selyn, a private initiative, manufacturing and exporting handloom textiles, toys, and handicrafts, the Foundation's goal is to raise funds for a school for the children of the area, as well as provide jobs for local women, the foundation's first project was this collection of dolls.

Working with local children, Alexa helped to create a collection of dolls adapted from the children's drawings. Designed by students from Grades 1,2, and 3 of the Royal International school in Kurunegala, Sri Lanka, the drawings were transfered exactly drawn, onto 100% natural hand dyed, hand woven fabric and sewn by the women of the collective. "All dolls are truly unique and has the name of he child who made it or a name that was given to it by the child." These fabulous dolls are available at Rossana Orlandi, Milan; Mint, London; and TOUCH, Los Angeles. 

According to Alexa, "the design of this project is a project design, rather than only a product design. It involves all aspects of the social and cultural facts found in Sri Lanka and involves all aspects of the manufacturing methods of the company, as well as the dreams and visions these people have."

This project is spectacular and it is imperative that we support this project and continue to empower these women and children.

I adore the Campana Brothers collection for Alessi in stainless steel ...... the pieces reminded me of Cornelia Parker's blown-up shed in the permanent collection of the Tate Modern ...... this weekend Alesssi is previewing a new version at Maison et Object, in hand-finished natural bamboo ..... even closer to the Parker piece!!!! Don't worry, if you're not in Paris, you can see the Blow Up collection next month at the N.Y Gift Show ...... looks great doesn't it!!!!!!! 

Gavin Turk "Mappa Del Mundo," 2008

Julie Verhoeven "Far From The Maddening Crowd," 2008

I am in love with this light fixture ....... I saw it hangs in a double high, glass walled media room on the water in East Hampton!!!! Created by artists Wade Guyton and Kelley Walker, the duo who make up the artistic tag-team Guyton/Walker. The fixture was part of a 2009 exhibition at Greene Naftali Gallery. The chandelier hangs approximately 5 feet long and is a combination of porcelain, light bulbs, sockets, and electrical wires. Each coconut is a ceramic mold, and each mold is created from a different, real coconut!!! The result is that each porcelain coconut is unique!!!! The piece draws reference from previous works that the pair did that included silk screens and inkjet paintings.

Brrrrrrr it's soooooo cold outside ........ and as anyone who knows me knows, I never leave the house from January to April!!!! But, Saturday, I braved the elements and went to the opening of "The Language of Flowers," an exhibition at CRG Gallery. And, I have to admit that this visually stunning show was definitely worth the effort!!! 

The show, incorporating some 25 artists, who use the flower as a common point of departure, features a variety of generations ........ from the influential 20th century painter Fairfield Porter, to the newly emerging painter Steven Bindernagel. The senses are touched by artists who incorporate a wide range of mediums including ...... the beautiful, hanging tape and tar paper collage, Latin Rose (1989) by Jim Hodges; Tonico Lemos Auad's plant and carved stone Medusa (2007); Petah Coyne's Untitle #1292 (Scarlett), a waxed flower piece that incorporates a taxidermy bird. There are stunning exploding flower photographs from Ori Gersh; as well as photographs by Colby Bird, Carter Mull, Bob Beck, and Lyle Ashton Harris. The extraordinary selection of works on paper includes artists Andy Warhol, Bruce Conner, Lisa Sanditz, Hannah Wilke, and four obsessive ball point pen drawings by Butt Johnson. I adore sculpture and this show includes amazing works by artists Hannah Wilke, Nayland Blake, Kathy Prendergast, as well as two divine pscyho-sexual pieces from Japanese artist Tetsumi Kudo, that I would kill for!!!!! 

This collection, of 15 conceptual birdhouses, is by Spanish industrial designer Roger Arquer. The project, Birdland, created in his London studio, continues Roger's exploration of "variations." Beginning with an iconic object, in this case a birdhouse, he redesigns the object to satisfy a variety of factors, not thought about in its original design. In this case the factors include weather, hierarchy, geometry, and the number of the bird family-members!!! Although he has individualized each "house", he relates them together to create a "family." Currently,  the birdhouses are exhibited in Tokyo, at the Spanish Embassy, in an exhibition titled "I'm In Love."

Fishbowl, a project in which Roger created 15 variations of the classic fishbowl, is also part of his design exploration. He gave the fish human characteristics and then solved problems that "human" fish might have living in the classic bowl. The variations are clever and funny ....... including "Under Candelight" about floating on water for a romantic evening; "Private Matters" about privacy for the fish; and "Above Water" about sharing the water between the fish bowl and a plant.

I think that the thought, wit, and charm infused into Roger's work is magical and would love to have a Birdhouse and a Fishbowl ......... or even one of his three MouseTraps (yep, there are even mousetraps!!) in my collection!!!!