It's the final days of summer 2010 ........
And I'm off to the beach to catch the last rays of sun, have a picnic & play!!!!
Have a great Labor Day weekend!!!!
Recently in “Exhibitions”
R.F. Yamakawa makes these crazy colored molded plastic umbrella stands!!!!
I adore the colors and think they are seriously silly!!!!
Again, I hate choices ...... but, even I don't need 7 umbrella stands!!!!
Color, color, color ..... served up in style by Ladies & Gentlemen Studio in Seattle!!!
Vintage inspired 3 pc. serving set, available in orange, yellow & antique white .....
My biggest decision is ..... which piece should be in which color!!!!
I am a pillow queen supreme, I never met a pillow I didn't love!!!!
And I adore these pillows from Alexandra Ferguson ... they talk to me!!!
They are fabulous ..... bright, clever, modern & tasty ..... I need dozens!!!!
Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah ...... so much to say on a pillow!!!!
Handmade in NYC, Terrafirma Ceramics founded by artist Ellen Evans is soooo chic!!!
"One-of-a-kind" .... each piece is signed & dated by the artist!!!
They are the perfect new "accessoration" for my dinning table for Fall 2010!!!!!
Now I just have to decide the plate shapes & colorway ... and which patterns I want!!!
Very difficult choices, I want everything!!!
JOIN DESIGN, Seattle
OBJECT DESIGN LEAGUE, Chicago
AMERICAN DESIGN CLUB, New York
I am obsessed with new, innovative young designers and
am thrilled when they have the opportunity for exposure !!!!!
These three collectives, from three different cities,
bringing an eclectic collection of independent young designers to the Gift Show .....
are informative, energizing, and exciting !!!!!!!
WELCOME .... and please come back!!!!!!
I was to ill to leave my bed in Paris to see Jeff Koons at Versailles, but ........
I am definitely not missing Murakami!!!!
A collection of work by world renowned Japanese artist Takashi Murakami is taking up residence at the Château du Versailles beginning September 14, and continuing thru December 13. The exhibition includes 22 pieces installed throughout the estate and includes 11 that were made exclusively for this exhibition.
Text from Murakami .........
For Japanese, myself included, the Château de Versailles is one of the greatest symbols of Western history. It is emblematic of an elegance, sophistication and artistic ambition most of us could only dream of.
We understand, of course, that the fuse that sparked the fires of revolution led right through the centre of the building.
But in many ways, it all comes across as a fantastic tale from a kingdom far, far away. Just as the people of France might find it difficult to recreate in their minds an accurate image of the age of the Samurai, so too does the story of the palace become one that is, for us, diluted of reality.
Thus, it is that i have tried to capture in this exhibition.
I am The Cheshire Cay who greets Alice in Wonderland with his devilish grin, and chatters on as she wanders around the Château.
With my playful smile, I invite you all to the Wonderland of Versailles.
CHRISTOPHER ASTLEY, Groan Blind, 2010
Concrete & acrylic paint, 84 x 18 x 29 in
ROBERT BECK, The Family Photo ("Christmas 1968"), 1999
Fuiji pictography & deer leg frame, 14 x 16 in
KIMBERLY HART, Spectre, 2009
Fabric & feathers, dimensions variable
PIA DEHNE, Bow Hunter, 2009
Oil on canvas, 54 x 88 in
STEVEN & WILLIAM, Bunny Down, 2010
Archival paperboard, fabric, beads, & metal, 9 x 6 x 14 in
MICHAEL COMBS, Ecstasy of Saint Theresa, 2010
Carved wood, dimensions variable
HOLTON ROWER, Untitled, 2010
$$$ dollar bills, dimensions variable
SEBASTIÅN ERRAZURIZ, Twin Towers on Double Trouble, 2008
Plastic, wood, & acrylic, 23 x 22 x 6 in
ALICE HOPE, Stockpiling, 1009-10
Steel plates, magnets, & BBs, Dimensions variable
ROBERT NEUMAN, Lame Deer Big Eagle, 2007
Oil on linen, 51 x 42 in
GUERRA DE LA PAZ, Martyr, 2007
Mixed media, 120 x 96 x 14 in
"Hunt & Chase" at Salomon Contemporary, East Hampton was co-curated by Beth Rudin DeWoody and gallery owner James Salomon. Beth, known for her enormous passion for art, is the ultimate art collector ........ buying only what she loves without thought of profit (rare in this market!!), she adores both art and artists. She is excited by what she sees and inspires the creative process in the artists she meets. Having curated several gallery shows, this is her first collaboration. The exhibition is interesting and eclectic .... flowing easily, clearly the result of the compatible natures of Beth and James. Featuring over 30 contemporary artists in a variety of media including video, sculpture, painting, photography, assemblage, and works on paper the show will be on until August 15, 2010.
"The exhibition focuses on both the accessible and unobtainable with works that demonstrate the hunt and chase of humans, animals, objects or the intangible: and illuminates emotions and subjects associated with the persuit- impulse, fear, desire, competition, force, and endurance." The work varies from classically literal pieces with a twist, to more abstract applications of the premise. Going beyond the expected hunting imagery, the works are often provocative and unusual ...... beneath the surface of the usually associated imagery.
In June, I was fortunate enough to see Jasleen Kaur's Royal College of Art graduate show.
It was found it intelligent, innovative, smart ...... and extremely thought provoking!!!!
I was particularly intrigued with her installation "Tools for Living." Branded "britesh made" with a well-designed logo, the project "explores how cultures continually evolve and adapt to new environments wilst keeping their traditions and subtle habits." This series of re-configured objects represent the melding of two cultures ...... blending them, rather than obliterating one or the other. They are displayed on brackets attached to pegboards, giving the illusion of being for sale in a hardware shop ....... a reference to her great granddad's peddling from door to door, and her family's current business.
Jasleen's project relates to her great granddad's move to Britan in 1950, referring to how he acclimated to living in the U.K., while continuing to honor his Indian culture. Her relationship and connection with him are also part of the project. Her "utensils," re-formulated from two distinct objects, are symbols of binding the two traditions and cultures. A prime example is the everyday stainless steel curry tray's (thaali) that are subtly changed with the addition of silver handles ........ Indian functionality joins traditional English formality.
"He made a living from pushing a homemade cart from door to door selling goods or spotting construction sites from afar and turning up to see if there were any jobs going. He dressed like a real gentleman, like one of those proud to be British types, with a well kept moustache and tweed hat (a modern replacement for his once traditional turban). He was an in-betweener, a hybrid of both Indian and British and in his undecided state, functioned beautifully in his new surroundings."
"The thing I observe and make are how I see my great granddad and myself Although constructed from many things, they just work. Because cutlery is not really used in Indian cusine I am making a series of "tools for living" that reference everyday habits rather than etiquette. They are built for how we do things, not for how we should do thing."
Jasleen's graduate project, "design as a cultural unifier," teaches us how generations adapt and evolve in new surroundings, while maintaining their cultural roots. Her great granddad's door-to-door business evolved into a chain of family-run hardware shops in Glasglow.
Pablo Reinoso HUGE SUDELEY BENCH Painted Steel
Conceived in 2010, Edition of 8 + 4 AP's
Atelier Van Lieshout WELLNESS SKULL Fiberglass, Polystyrene & Plywood
Conceived 2007, Edition of 3
Sebastian Brajkovic LATHE X Aluminium
Conceived in 2010, Edition 8 + 4 AP's
Lionel Scoccimaro GIANT JAR Painted Aluminium
Conceived in 2010, Edition of 8 + 4 AP's
Studio Job POURING JUG Polished & Painted Bronze
Conceived in 2008 & Cast in 2010, Unique
Marcel Wanders BON BON GOLD Resin, Rope, & Precious Metal
Conceived in 2010, Edition of 20 + 2 AP's
This exciting "selling exhibition," a joint venture between Sotheby's UK, Studley Castle, and Carpenters Workshop Gallery showcases a series of one-off and limited edition pieces by leading international contemporary designers and artists. The works are utilitarian pieces that can work as functional objects or pieces that can be appreciated as works of art with "profound aesthetic appeal."
According to Alexander Planton & Simon Stock, Sotheby's curators of the Sudeley exhibition "Contemporary design is an area of the international art market that ha been making waves in recent years and the Sudeley show will present works by some of the boldest and most visionary talents in the field of design today."
Carpenters Workshop in London, one of the premier galleries featuring contemporary design, is know for encouraging up-and-coming young artists, as well as presenting extraordinary works from established artists such as Ron Arad, Marteen bas, Wendell Castle. This joint venture is the latest project that the gallery is involved in "to promote the careers and foster the careers of contemporary designers through exhibiting unique and limited-edition works in solo and group exhibitions and at international art and design fairs. It also aims to expose the public to the latest design aesthetic, enriching and enlightening the contemporary design landscape and discourse."
Sudeley Castle is located in the Cotswold Hills in Gloucestershire. It was the royal household of Queen Katherine Parr during Tudor times. It is currently the home of Lady Ashcombe and the Dent-Brocklehurst family, who are dedicated to the restoration of the castle and it's gardens, with a particular emphasis on environmental sustainability. Mollie Dent-Brocklehurst has presented several exhibitions at the castle and says of this installation ..... "A thousand years of history at Sudeley represents a thousand years of design and creation and it is wonderful to be presenting such a current and visually exciting exhibition that is in such striking contrast to the historic castle itself."
I think this unique exhibition ..... the scope of the work is brilliant,
and the stunning surroundings add an extraordinary dimension to the collection!!!!
Low-tech materials meet traditional craft skills, in Dutch designer Tord Boontje's innovative "tatted" raffia lighting pieces exhibited at Marsden Woo Gallery, London. "The Lacemaker," this installation of Boontje's latest works, rethinks our traditional concept of what lace is. According to this world renowned designer, also the Head of Design products at the Royal College of Art, "With lace, all the value is invested in the labour and so it seemed a good idea to start working with cheap materials ... but also, by changing the material you can change the references." In addition to the lighting pieces, the exhibition has a collection of other "lace" works ...... a black webbed sofa, lace screens, a raffia trimmed mirror, a raffia dress, and a selection of jewlery.
This collection is inspired by Boontje's participation in an exhibition at the University of Philadelphia's Design Center, "Lace in Transition." He spent three days immersed in the Center's archives, studying the collection of the Quaker Lace Company, resulting in a unique collection of his own designs.
I love Boontje's simplicity of materials & innovative designs ......
used to create these fabulous "accessorations."
They pieces are modern in visual and vintage in inspiration!!!
I am a collector supreme & collections are one of my favorite "accessorations" ......
Of course, I think two or more of anything is a collection!!!
I know building a collection takes time .... but if you're in a rush .... I've found a quick fix!!!
Internationally known, Cuban-born interior designer and author Vicente Wolf can be a big help!!!! His 3000 sq. foot Manhattan loft features VW HOME, an internationally sourced selection of furniture, lighting, & accessories all reflecting Vicente's style ........ and includes a series of "collections of collections"!!!!
So, if time is of the essence and you don't really want to "collect".....
But, would rather "accessorate" immediately ....
this is the place to go!!!!
My friend Ani Antreasyan is an "accessorator's" dream!!!
She is a fabulous "garden guru" and the purveyor of all things "accessoration" .....
from antique stone Turkish garden pieces to 1950's tables & chairs ...
and all things in between!!!
Part of her collection can be seen this weekend at the Bridgehampton Antique Show at the Community Center ...... where her booth is an eclectic mix of the most stunning design elements and the way they are "put-together" is an inspiration for all "design divas!!!"
The "accessorator" loves to constantly change and rearrange .... and this chair fits the bill!!!
Reminding me of the flip-books of my childhood ..... it's always in motion!!!!
And I love the idea of changing the patterns endlessly!!!!
Last month at Design Miami/Basel 2010 Dutch design company Droog (see blog 12/1/09 & 12/3/09) presented New York-based designer Stefan Sagmeister's "Darwin Chair." The chair is a free swinging structure that is made up of over 200 sheets of printed Tyvek paper. Functionality is a major attribute of this chair ..... as a page gets dirty, or the owner gets tired of the pattern, it can be changed easily by flipping the pattern to the back or by tearing the page off at the perforation. The concept is similar to a large note pad, where you tear off a page and a new sheet appears with a different pattern. In addition, after tearing the pages off, the remaining perforation builds up to form a comfortable headrest!!!
Labour & Wait, Shoreditch
Petersham Nurseries, Surrey
Michael Costiff's World Archive
Undercover Co. Ltd., Japan
Lanvin installation
On July 14, 2010 "tachiagari" starts at Rei Kawakubo's wonderfully curated shopping delight, Dover Street Market. The literal translation ..... "new beginnings" ....... refers to the three days when the store is closed for it's bi-yearly "re-do" ...... followed by it's re-opening with the new fall/winter designer collections, a selection of new resources, and inspired new shops!!!!
But, before this metamorphous begins, I thought a final reflection on the current
spring/summer 2010 presentation would be appreciated!!!
The current fashion & accessory selections are extraordinary and it is fascinating to see each designer's shop reflecting the individual "personality" of their collection. I am particularly charmed by the Lanvin display ......... soooooo chic, so tasty, soooo Lanvin!!!!
The eclectic and innovative "non-fashion" installations are smart and stylish. Petersham Nurseries' main floor cut-flower stall is charming, while the fourth floor includes a chic garden shop featuring a variety of eco-friendly potted plants, as well as a unique collection of vintage & new Venetian glass vases, glasses, and paper weights. The outpost of Shoreditch's "functional products emporium" Labour & Wait has a vintage feel .... but with a modern twist. The unique World Archive collection from Michael Costiff is a treasure trove of fabulous finds from everywhere, and the center piece of Jun Takahashi's Undercover shop is a fabulous re-purposed vintage light bulb installation ........ the black, charcoal, & silver stenciled walls are stunning too!!!
What's more "au courant" than ecology, sustainability, uniting the world, and beauty, form & function!!! This current "incarnation" is fabulous ....... but, I can't wait to see the newest "new beginnings" on July 17th!!!!
I adore shopping at London's Dover Street Market .....
And I love that it closes for "re-invention" .....
That's the ultimate "re-accessoration"!!!!
- “It all comes down to the accessories.....
- It’s not the first thousand dollars that make the room, it’s the last hundred!!”
- - judi roaman
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