Spaghetti Bale by Pablo Reinoso

Working in an idiom that does not preclude a purpose beyond formalist or subjective aims, design art is both celebrated and dismissed for embracing some form of functionality or usefulness. In addition to pieces by some of the most established names in design art such as Marc Quinn and Thierry Dreyfus, the show will feature up-and-coming proponents of the genre that blur and manipulate the line between formalism and functionality.

Lathe 1 by Sebastian Brajkovic

Sebastian Brajkovic, a celebrated young artist whose works subvert the recognisable forms of historical styles of furniture into surreal and dysfunctional sculpture, will be represented, along with Vincent Dubourg, another artist who uses traditional and found objects, weaving into them the most elemental forms from nature: branches of trees blend with cases, bureaus, chairs, or even a staircase, giving both nature and the objects a new identity and a new functionality.

Tree Table Lamp by Atelier Van Lieshout

Other artists like Ingrid Donat work with more traditionally identifiable objects, but Donat casts these in bronze to create pieces of sculptural monumentality. Still others, like Marc Quinn revel in the tactile qualities of glacially-smooth Carrara marble, glass and metal, creating ostensibly functional objects that simultaneously feel far removed from the practical and the everyday.

Design High will be complimented by a series of educational events which form part of the ongoing Louise Blouin Foundation Education, Science and Creativity Programme. Panel discussions, lectures and workshops will explore the ties and tensions that exist between form and function in design art. Workshops will be led by the participating artists. Leading academics, curators and critics will deliver talks and discussions which explore themes related to current views on design as an art form, the market for design and the future of functional art in an international market.

Design High is currently on view at the Louise Blouin Foundation until August 30, 2009 at 3 Olaf Street, Holland Park, London. Tel: +44 20 7985 9600

Here’re some of the gems you’ll find inside.

What is the difference between love and lust?
About three expensive dinners
And some oversized jewelry.

Flirting:
DO bat your eyelashes.
DON’T hit him with a bat.

Men & Women:
Men are from mars.
Women are from Godiva.

Diva Don’ts:
Never fly coach. Never fly commercial.
And most of all, never fly with Gonzo.

Dining out:
You are where you eat.

Fashion Credo:
If it’s expensive, it fits.

THE DIVA CODE is available at S*uce, Dubai Mall (+9714 3399696), Village Mall (+9714 344 7270) and Marina Mall Abu Dhabi (+9712 681 8650).

A note from Coagula Publisher Mat Gleason:
“A few years ago, I bought this cool Warhol-Basquiat poster on eBay. I never hung it up, just put it all rolled up on a shelf. It is 9 years later, now I am going thru all my junk and it has a little wrinkle but is otherwise good as brand new. It is a 1999 Tony Shafrazi reprint of the 1985 original, printed on great, thick paper. I bought it on eBay for $150 and I could sell it for that if I wanted to, but I want YOU to have it for free.”

“I also want you to see the new issue of Coagula Art Journal. After 17 years of being a freely distributed magazine, we have gone print-on-demand. You can download the issue as a pdf file at our http://COAGULA.net website. If you like it, you can buy the colour glossy Coagula Art Journal book online as well. Your entry has to be in by late July so get the details now. There is NO purchase necessary to win this poster, but I am thinking you might want to buy the print-on-demand issue of Coagula after you check out your free pdf download of issue #98. There is a lot to enjoy in it: our cover story interview of the artist collective Finishing School, art career advice from Alan Bamberger, the continuing saga of life as an artist from Gordy Grundy, Comics by Jim Caron, Gerald Locklin’s poetry, Bergamot Station Report Card, as well as photos and coverage of the Los Angeles art scene, and lots more.”

This contest is void where prohibited. It is quite simple to enter. Just download our free pdf of issue #98 and look for the contest rules as you catch up on the LowDown on High Art!

William Powhida
Post-Boom Odds, 2008
January Curator: Bengala

The gallery is taking its offbeat approach towards nurturing artistic talent further by presenting a unique concept– The Artist of the Month Club (AMC) which works like a subscription. Each month for one year, a different curator selects an artist to create an original artwork. These artists can be established or up-and-coming, but must represent what the curator sees as vital and long-lasting. Someone worth owning and worth knowing. Subscibers to the AMC will not know the identity of these artists beforehand, introducing Duchampian chance into the act of collecting. Artworks may take any form, though the standard will be a 17 x 22 inch print.

Each month, subscribers will receive the artwork by mail, accompanied by a signed and numbered certificate of authenticity. At the end of the twelve months, subscribers will have a wonderful twelve-piece collection curated for them by some of the most exciting curators in the art world. It will broaden the range of established collectors or be the perfect starter for a beginning collector.

Zoe Crosher
Almost Okinawa from ‘In & Around the Fronds’
The Reconsidered Archive of Michelle du Bois, 2009
February Curator: Amy Davila

The AMC is sold on a first come basis. There are no holds or reserves. All collectors have equal access to this coveted edition. The edition-by-subscription is limited to only 50 participants. Subscribers who sign up now will be brought up to speed, receiving all the works from January through June right away.

Curators taking part in this edition of the AMC hail from all corners of the art world including the Whitney Museum of American Art, The Swiss Institute, Ballroom MARFA, the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University, Participant Inc., and White Columns among others.

Curators selecting work for this year’s AMC are– Bengala, Amy Davila, Lia Gangitano, Matthew Higgs, Ana Finel Honigman, Gianni Jetzer, Lisa Kirk, Risa Needleman, Alicia Ritson, Shamim Momin, Barbara Thompson and Anton Vidokle.

The 2009 ARTIST OF THE MONTH CLUB is available for $200/month, which includes shipping and handling. This edition is composed of twelve original artworks by twelve different artists, exclusively available through this project.

Portland, known for its charming bohemian neighbourhoods and bike culture, was recently voted as one of the most creative cities for urban yuppies with its myriad cafes and cultural activities. The Original reinforces the reputation further. With just the right dose of sophistication, machismo and elegance, the restaurant is a nod to Mid-Century design and presents the classic American diner with a contemporary twist.

The Original playfully mixes the best of the mid-century diner cuisine with a modern interpretation of the “googie” architecture that thrived in post WW II car culture. The concept for the modern American diner was inspired by the “rat pack” antics of entertainers like Frank Sinatra and others in mid-century Las Vegas and Southern California. The restaurant surprises on all levels with a playful diner menu and a design featuring a two-story atrium, gray felt walls, an open staircase and cactus garden.

The design team blended the best of mid-century “space age” diners with Portland’s vibrant art and music community. The Original’s design is elevated beyond a typical diner with the use of elements such as a floating “orb” fireplace, polished chrome, smoky mirrors, black vinyl and a two-story tufted wall behind the bar. A DJ booth is artfully hidden in the wall for the late-night crowd. The exterior made of aluminum and glass with a large attention-getting sign is both eye catching and a tribute to an earlier car culture when architects opted for the “space age” look to attract customers.

A nod to Portland’s artistic and music community is noted in the tall white pillars decorated with local playbills and music fliers. An art wall in the back of the restaurant displays a rotating collection of Polaroid photos, artwork and other memorabilia contributed by guests. “Portland has such a strong artistic community so the restaurant design appeals to the diner who wants to be part of an ongoing conversation about art, music and food,” says Meaghan Goedde, general manager of the restaurant. “People can gather at The Original for a meal, cocktails around the fireplace or at the bar, or hang out at the counter seating along the window. There is a place for everyone.”

The Original is located in a building designed by SERA Architects and which has applied for Gold LEED certification from the US Green Building Council. The restaurant will implement a variety of eco-friendly practices including recycling and composting. Additionally, the kitchen grease will be recycled into biodiesel fuel. Employees are encouraged to use alternative transportation to work and bicycle storage and changing rooms are available.

The menu by Chef BJ Smith is as creative as the interiors. The “do-it-yourself” trend is also popular on the menu with Make Your Own Salads, Burgers with an assortment of “fixins” to choose from and a Sundae Bar with toppings like pop rocks and hazelnut brittle. Many of the menu items reflect local producers such as Grand Central Bakery, Kettleman’s Bagels, Stumptown Coffee, Cascade Natural Beef, Voodoo Doughnuts, Ota Tofu, Ayer’s Creek corn meal, and local spirits, wine and beer.

The Original is located at 300 SW 6th Street, Portland, OR 97204; tel 503-546-2666.

The striking architecture and landscaping called for artworks that struck a balance between elegance and grandeur while keeping a contemporary tone. Lamont’s diverse portfolio boasts of collaboration with such designers as Christian Liaigre, Barbara Barry and Bill Sofield, and interior projects for the Mandarin Oriental Hotels, Chedi Hotels, Aman Summer Palace and The Setai in Miami Beach.

The Y laptop sleeve features a sturdy black elastic herringbone which is designed to embrace your magazine, newspaper or the perfectly suited U add-on pouch. One snap reinforces the tuck-in opening flap making sure your MacBook or MacBook Pro stays put. Y Laptop is available for the MacBook Air, 15” MacBook Pro, 17” MacBook Pro and 13” MacBook, at AED 465.

U Add-On Pouch is designed to be perfectly hugged by the Y laptop sleeve but also a handy accessory on its own. A single snap closure keep your cables, passport, sat-nav, charger, camera etc safe and a slim external leather pocket fits your iPhone/phone or iPod touch perfectly. Not forgetting a clever loop to keep a pen handy. U Add-On Pouch is available at AED 310.

The Y moleskine hold is a sturdy black elastic herringbone which is designed to embrace your precious black book acting as a vertical page holder with a loop for your pen. Available for AED 100.

For more details, call shelter at tel: +9714 375 8078