DESIGNinTELL | The Official Blog of VandM.com

THESE WALLS CAN TALK: Five Coverings That Break the Right Rules

2010-03-15T23:56:00.000-04:00

1. Swedish designer Camilla Diedrich creates rich, luminous patterns that draw on her colorful past. Born to an oil-painter mother and a photographer father, three-year-old Diedrich went to art school with her mother while her father toured with a circus. “I remember being fascinated by all the colors and shapes and later all the people that looked cool,” she says. Her wallpaper line explodes with life and energy; just check out True Blue, inspired by British men’s pinstriped suites, and Nature Ray Charles, whose luscious blossoms seem to float and glow from within. Camilla Diedrich Walls, http://online.diedrich.se/

2. Finnish designer and long-time London resident Anne Kyyrö Quinn creates bespoke acoustic wall panels from industrial felt. The three-dimensional panels are more sculptural works of art than any substitute for other coverings, and the fireproof quality of felt means that they can also be used as space dividers and curtains in commercial spaces and residences alike. Offerings include beige Leaf, creamy blonde Round Tulip, red Rosette, and chunky Scallop in addition to felt blinds, lighting fixtures, and upholstered pillows and furniture. Anne Kyyrö Quinn, 44-20-7021-0702; http://www.annekyyroquinn.com/
3. From VandM dealer Cain Modern, Los Angeles-based artist Tanya Ragir knows your body is a wonderland. Her sculptures, usually cast in bronze, pay tribute to the human figure in all its peculiarities and unique forms. Rolling Hills channels an aerial view of soft mountain slopes, deep valleys, and groves of trees combined with the gentle curves of the feminine body, achieving an elegant ambiguity. Individually cast in resin and hand painted with oil, this 25-inch-by-40-inch-by-4-inch wall sculpture is one of nine editions and can also be specified in cast stone or cold-cast bronze. Cain Modern, 310-652-6045; http://vandm.com/CainModern

4. Launched at last year’s BKLYN Designs fair, Shanan Campanaro’s wallpaper line, Eskayel, features her own animal-inspired art work which she first began to digitally manipulate into wallpaper patterns while redecorating her apartment in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Her experimentations led to backdrops for her art shows, and the rest is history. The patterns of her most recent collection, Island, are inspired by watercolors that she painted in Bali, Indonesia and then showed in Iceland, which may explain the polar bear noses hidden in “Culebra Cubic,” the bear ears in “Bali Stripe,” and the kaleidoscopic bear faces in “Bear in Mind.” The collection’s nine designs are digitally printed onto 2-foot-wide rolls of water-resistant paper reinforced with latex and nylon. Eskayel, 858-531-9034; http://eskayel.com/.

5. With Maya Romanoff’s new Anniversary collection of three tie-dyed wall coverings, the pioneer in large-scale textile installations takes us back almost to the date of his company’s founding in 1969. The tie-dye designs are inspired by his 1970’s archived patterns and were created in collaboration of designer Amy Lau. In a launch earlier this month at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York, Romanoff revealed Half Plaid, Snowflake, and Crystal, all of which elevate their familiar craft to innovative, cutting edge environments. Maya Romanoff, 773-465-6909; http://www.mayaromanoff.com/

GIMME SHELTER: New Visions for 21st Century Environments

2010-03-15T23:37:00.003-04:00

By Tamara Moscowitz

Rahm/Aeration wooden structure under glass

Servo/Hydrophile underground city

Weathers/Wanderings glass bubble on grass

A cool exhibition, “Envelope,” – a word play on “enveloping” at the Pratt Manhattan Gallery on view through May 5 explores parallels between the architecture of the outer surface of a building and the outer layer of the human skin both of which protect against the environment. Eight internationally renowned architects/designers working in different disciplines designed a site for architectural innovation and sustainability by examining the relationship between systems – human, animal, plant, and energy and how they flow together. Accompanying each site are full-scale, interactive models, architectural drawings, computer animation, and documentation of process. Eco-friendly, humane, hopeful, it’s a look at a brave new world. http://pratt.edu/exhibitions

HAVE A SEAT: Top Studio Designers Transform A Perennial Favorite - The Chair

2010-03-15T23:25:00.003-04:00

by Tamara Moscowitz

Bold, imaginative, and embracing, the production of seating is the darling of innovative cutting-edge studio designers who have used groundbreaking technology to conquer new territories in aesthetics and function. Technical progress has transformed structure, paving the way for new forms of expression or object creation for a spontaneous, random configuration while designers’ research into materials to stretch (literally) the boundaries of shape with synthetics such as polyurethane has linked form to flexibility.

A season less perennial topping all annual trends, consumers with an eye to owning a collector’s item, seating becomes more than a function or a matter of taste as these examples of important, seminal chairs from the late 1990’s through to the first decade of the 20th century so aptly show.

The Knotted Chair, Marcel Wanders 1996

An early version of a lightweight, structural chair combining industrial techniques and handcrafting is constructed from aramid and carbon fibres knotted into the shape of a chair then saturated in epoxy resin and hung in a frame to dry. Part of the “Dry Tech I” project initiated by droog of the Netherlands. droog through http://vandm.com/droog

Hug Lounge Chair, Leif.designpark for De La Espada 2009

Embracing and serene The “Hug’s” upholstery is in a wool fabric with a base of timber wood for a tailored look. Launched at the London Design Festival this past fall, the Japanese based design studio’s aesthetic “mono (product) and zukuri (“making),” is a philosophy of crafting furniture that connects the product to the Japanese culture. http://www.delaespada.com/

Shadow Armchair, Gaetano Pesce for Meritala 2007

Working with “new materials that fit into the logic of construction,” polyurethane is used to expand directly in the textile covering to follow the body shape while solidifying the structure allowing the covering to twist in unpredictable ways. http://www.gaetanopesce.com/

Sponge, Peter Traag for Edra 2004

Want to sink in, bounce around, and have freedom of movement? Inspired by sea sponges, Traag worked with flexible materials like Lyrca and PVC that deforms as foam expands. Inside the flexible mould a fabric cover is placed which is oversized so that every time the foam is injected it can go its own way producing wrinkles serendipitously to mimic a well-worn classic armchair. http://www.petertraag.com/

Corallo, Fernando and Humberto Campana, 2003

Seating for two is only one highlight of this meticulously hand-sculpted bench by craftsmen at Edra. Irregular weaving of hand bent stainless steel wire with coral pink epoxy paint finish creates one-of-kind indoor/outdoor seating. http://www.mossonline.com/ or http://www.companas.com.br/

Photo: Daria Scagliola and Stijn Brakke
The Ear Chair, Studio Rianne Makkink and Jurgen Bey 2002

Ingenious and original, The Ear Chair has it. Limiting the visual as well as the unwanted acoustical element, The Ear Chair was designed for privacy in a corporate reception area. Made to order, the outer fabric is usually in a solid color, while the interior pattern changes to reflect the décor of each room. The armrest serves as a small table. http://www.studiomakkinkbey.nl/

A definite must have for the adventurous it will become even more so as the dialogue between art and industrial design defines the next generation of innovation.

SHOW RECAP: Spring Pier Antiques Show + Interviews with Top Designers and Dealers

2010-03-15T22:56:00.004-04:00

Heavy rain might have downed trees and created power outages around the tri-state area, but it couldn't keep the crowds away from last weekend's Stella Pier Antiques Show, which was sponsored by VandM.com.

Internationally known and a staple among New Yorkers, thousands of shoppers visited over the weekend to shop from the over 500 exhibitors that were on hand. If you haven't visited before, The Pier Show is broken up into four distinct sections. Classical & Formal, Modern, Americana & Decorative Arts, and Fashion Alley. With the plethora of dealers and the wide assortment of goods, there has always been something for everyone, and this year didn't disappoint.

Several dealers had booths at the Pier Show, including Braswell Galleries, Leonard Davenport, TOJ Gallery and Terra Mare.

Braswell Galleries

Leonard Davenport Fine Arts

TOJ Gallery

In addition to the teems of shoppers that were scouring the aisles hoping to find that special antique, collectible, or vintage piece that they were going to take home with them, spectators gathered around VandM's booth to see us film some of the best architects and interior designers that exist in the industry. These include Amy Lau, Campion Platt, Christopher Coleman, Jamie Drake, and Paula Caravelli. We were awestruck by many of their interiors, as well as their openness talking with Bill Indursky, Co-Founder of VandM.com.

The wonderful Amy Lau, of Amy Lau Design

Campion Platt of Campion Platt

Bill interviewing Christopher Coleman of Christopher Coleman Interior Design

Christopher Coleman with his partner, noted fashion designer Angel Sanchez

Jamie Drake of Drake Design Associates

Paula Caravelli of Paula + Martha

Several VandM dealers stopped by as well, including Albert Joseph from Albert Joseph Gallery, Albert Sultan from Sultan Chic, Betty Bresler from Betty Bresler Inc, Leonard Davenport from LSD Arts, Robyn Branch from Absolute Fabrics and Home, and Susan Tillipman from TOJ Gallery.

VandM's Vera and Bill with Leonard Davenport from LSD Arts and Susan Tillipman from TOJ Gallery

VandM Dealer and Asian antiques specialist, Albert Joseph from Albert Joseph Gallery

VandM Dealer and artist, Albert Sultan from Sultan Chic, talking about one of his chairs

As you can see, it was a very busy weekend and we're very happy with the way The Pier Antiques Show worked out for everyone. Regarding the interviews, we're editing now, but rest assured, VandM.com will be the first place to catch the video when we're finished. Stay tuned.

BTW, if you bought something at the Show, we would love to hear what you found. Drop us a line.

Top Designers on VandM LIVE at the Pier Antiques Show this Weekend

2010-03-12T11:35:00.002-05:00

As the official Sponsor of this weekend's Pier Antiques Show in NYC (March 13th & 14th, Pier 94 @ 55th St and 12th Ave), VandM.com is pleased to present live interviews with A-list designers, architects and top dealers who frequent VandM.com. We'll be giving away VandM swag, our acclaimed 2010 trends guide, and even a special discount. Come take part in NY's largest, antiques, art, style & collecting event, sponsored by VandM.com.

Here's the scheduled line-up of guests coming to our stage at Booth 2403:

Saturday, March 13, 2010:

11:00am - Christoper Coleman of Christopher Coleman Interior Design
11:30am - Paula Caravelli of Paula + Martha
12:00pm - Robyn Branch of Absolute Fabrics and Home
12:30pm - Pamela Matiosian of Urban Totem
1:00pm - Jamie Drake of Drake Design Associates
4:00pm - Amy Lau of Amy Lau Design

Sunday, March 14, 2010:

11:00am - Susan L. Tillipman of TOJ Gallery
11:30am - Leonard Davenport of Leonard Davenport Fine Arts
12:00pm - Betty Bresler of Betty Bresler, Inc
2:30pm - Albert Joseph of Albert Joseph Gallery
3:00pm - Albert Sultan of Sultan Chic
4:00pm - Campion Platt of Campion Platt

The schedule is subject to change, and more guests are stopping by throughout the weekend, so keep checking here and make plans to come see us!

BAD TO THE BONE: Studio Furniture From Dutch Designer Joris Laarman

2010-03-12T11:05:00.000-05:00

by Meghan Edwards
Dutch furniture designer Joris Laarman’s recently opened show at New York’s Friedman Benda gallery comes with a pedigree. 31-year-old Laarman graduated from Design Academy Eindhoven in 2003, and just five years later his first two works created post college were included in MoMA’s celebrated exhibition “Design and the Elastic Mind.” His work is now part of the museum’s permanent collection, and the designer has since collaborated with heavy hitters Flos, Vitra, Swarovskki, and Droog. Friedman Benda presents his first U.S. solo show, up through April 10th, and debuts new work that uses algorithms to adapt organic elements of human bone and tree growth into furniture design. Friedman Benda, 515 West 26 Street; 212-239-8700; http://www.friedmanbenda.com/.

PICK UP THESE STICKS: New Nests for Spring

2010-03-08T19:00:00.002-05:00

by Meghan Edwards

Spring is so close we can smell it in the damp sidewalks and melting clouds. Sandals are on everyone’s mind and every store’s display, and very shortly the lovely ladies of New York will venture forth like long-legged ducklings perched on new roosts (inevitably while it’s still chilly enough for swaddling). Maybe all this springtime anticipation has something to do with the proliferation of twiggy and reedy design popping up in our inboxes…the birds are about, and they require swank nests.

1. The cranes, industrial ports, and archipelagos of fashion designer Annele Valkama’s native Helsinki inspired the silhouettes of her himmelis, a type of Finnish mobile made from reeds. Her product series Mennen Tullen, which means “come and go” in English, includes three mobiles handcrafted from reeds gathered on the shores of Enojärvi and Kilpilampi in the Häme region of southern Finland. The mobiles, each accompanied by a matching embroidered linen tablecloths or napkins, launched just last week at the Friends of Finnish Handicraft’s 130th anniversary exhibition, “Friends and Friends - 100% Finnish,” at Design Forum Finland. Annele Valkama, +358-40-5411387; http://www.creadesign.fi/.

Driftwood Floor Lamp from Dealer Albert Joseph Gallery

2. Perfect for a vacation house – or making your real house feel like a vacation – Albert Joseph designed his Taragon Twig floor lamp with a pull switch on the socket and a dimmer switch on the cord. Handcrafted from driftwood by artisans in Northern Thailand, the lamp can also be plugged into a socket that’s controlled by a switch in the room. The design is versatile, simple, yet charming – your country cottage awaits. Albert Joseph Gallery through VandM, 973-376-5400; http://www.albertjosephgallery.com/.

3. The 13th consecutive installation on the Cantor Roof Garden at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art will soon take shape as an evolving bamboo jungle, courtesy of the New Jersey-born identical twin brothers Doug and Mike Starn. Known for art that defies categorization, the brothers have been invited by the museum to adapt their site-specific installation Big Bambú against the backdrop of Central Park and the NYC skyline. Starting April 27, visitors can watch the Starns work with a team of rock climbers over the course of the spring, summer, and fall to construct a giant bamboo structure ultimately measuring 100 feet long by 50 feet wide and 50 feet high. Built from a complex network of 3,200 fresh-cut, interlocking 30 and 40-foot-long bamboo poles, lashed together with 30 miles of nylon rope, Big Bambú will combine sculpture, architecture, and performance – a museum-worthy spectacle further enjoyed by sipping chilled wine in the sunshine. Metropolitan Museum of Art, 212-535-7710; http://www.metmuseum.org/.

Nest House from Dealer Droog

4. Droog has teamed with Barcelona-based design collaborative Azuamoline to produce what might be used as a child’s hanging seat, a toy, or a sculpture. Any way you look at it, Nest House is clearly inspired by birds whose natural instinct is to build a house using the resources at hand. The nest’s steel structural frame is suspended by rope and wrapped with natural branches and leaves for a tempting hideaway for daydreaming or perhaps contemplating the differences between plant, animal, and human life. Droog through VandM, 212-941-8350; http://www.droog.com/.

5. As anyone whose received one at a housewarming can testify, candles are a perfect way to, well, nest. Marsia Holzer Studio’s two Bird’s Nest candleholders are made of glass wrapped in either bronze or aluminum and measure 4.25-inches-high and 7-inches-wide, accepting a 3 to 4-inch-wide candle. And there’s more where these came from. Holzer’s studio produces furniture, lighting, sculpture, and custom interior finishing for the likes of David Rockwell, Jeffery Beers International, Thom Felicia, Victoria Hagen, Brad Ford, and Thomas Jayne. Marsia Holzer Studio, 212-431-9343; http://www.marsiaholzer.com/.

L’ENFANT TERRIBLE: A Bad Boy Visionary Revisited - Ron Arad

2010-03-08T18:47:00.001-05:00

by Tamara Moscowitz

Ron Arad is referred to as a “design world punk rocker,” “self-indulgent,” or “genius inventor,” labels that only enhance this Israeli-born industrial designer, artist, and architect’s reputation as a maverick daredevil who pushes the boundaries of artistic disciplines.

A major retrospective in the UK of the London-based artist’s work, Ron Arad: Restless is on view at the Barbican Art Gallery in London through May 16, 2010, affording visitors a serious first look at his constructions at various stages of development - idea, process, end product – of nearly 120 one-of-a-kind objects spanning thirty years of the artist’s productivity.

Bold and experimental, Arad’s initial use of sheet steel turned his early post-punk assemblages of ready parts into highly polished sculptural furnishings coveted by collectors and eyed by design factories - Alessi, Kartell, Moroso, and Vitra, among others. Considered to be at the top of his game, Arad keeps moving neither losing his originality or chutzpah.

Bodyguard, 2008. Edition by The Gallery Mourmans, The Netherlands

Photo: Ron Arad Associates, courtesy Timothy Taylor Gallery, London

Want to rock’ n’ roll? Swivel around? Designed as a moving, omni directional sculptural object Bodyguard represents a pitch perfect blend of function, art, and technology. One in a seven-piece Limited Edition collection made from highly polished aluminum is as shining and alluring as a mirror.

Lolita, 2004. Edition by Swarovski, Austria
Photo: Spencer Tsai, courtesy Ron Arad Associates

Lo’li’ta. Seductive, dizzying, and mesmerizing. Arad was inspired when as one of several designers he was asked to reinvent the chandelier. Working with an engineering mastermind, Waldemeyer, Lolita is made up of 1050 LED lights embedded within 2100 crystals and the first to have its own mobile phone number. Text messages sent via SMS appear at the top, wind down on the spiral crystal. As it curves the impression is one of spinning. Oh, Lolita you are gorgeous!

Gomli, 2008 Composite material and ballast
Photo: Todd White Art Photo, courtesy Ron Arad Associates

Vertical it’s pure sculpture; laid down horizontally this figurative piece becomes a chaise lounge chair. A good-humored reference to his friend English sculptor Anthony Gromley who uses his body as a model for his art, Gomli represents the universal seated figure. As the physical embodiment of the invisible sitter, it enables Arad to design pieces to seat every individually comfortably.

Oh, the Farmer and the Cowman Should Be Friends, 2009.

Edition Ron Arad Associates Photo courtesy Ron Arad Associates

The Rodgers and Hammerstein show tune of the same name (I presume) from their 1943 musical masterpiece “Oklahoma,” is humorous, clever, and pure Americana. Each state on a map of the US contains a set of books giving the largest state, Texas, the obvious edge. Made from Corten (weathered steel) and mirror polished stainless steel.

Exterior courtesy of Design Museum Holon (Israel)

Arad’s first large-scale (workable) commercial project in his birthplace, the $18 million museum is two rectangle blocks encircled by red/orange ribbons swooping down to the base. Made of steel baleen. Opened in February 2010.

A Vintage Original "Flying Saucer" Lounge Chaise/Chair From Dealer Viva Hollywood

A blast from the past? Or is it…? Arad’s work is often likened to 60’s Pop Art craze characteristics of which are embodied in This Flying Saucer Chair, a large playful, vintage double seater on casters. Viva Hollywood through http://vandm.com/

REAL OR IMAGINED? A New Twist on Everyday Objects

2010-03-08T18:27:00.000-05:00

by Tamara Moscowitz

When is your favorite chair, lamp, vase, no longer an object of comfort, beauty, or function? Confused? Not so for Danish-born artist Anders Ruhwald. His small, thoughtful exhibition “Temperance!” at Miyako Yoshinaga art prospects gallery on view through March 13, showcases ceramic shaped forms associated with the home – lamps, vases, mirrors. Ruhwald liberates these objects from their utilitarian uses by installing them as individual sculptures – glazed earthenware in a single color appear as stage props or even characters waiting for an audience. Mischievous, playful, allowing the viewer to interact with the object makes a quick trip to Lower Manhattan a fun, worthwhile encounter. http://myartpropspects.com/

FACE IT: The new VandM.com ad campaign + ENTER TO WIN one of the items featured

2010-03-08T11:25:00.092-05:00

The newest ad from VandM.com has hit the newstands and it should appear in this month's ELLE DECOR and NEW YORK SPACES MAGAZINE. The new ad is based on the famous "human fruit" painting from Giuseppe Arcimboldo, a 16th-century Italian painter who loved doing portraits comprising of fruits and vegetables. You can see all the items we used to recreate the painting below as well as ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN one of the items from the ad.

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1 - Group Of Three Late 19TH / Early 20TH Century Blue & White Japanese Imari Bowls from Dealer Fairfield Home Collection

2 - Imari Punch Bowl from Dealer Fairfield Home Collection

3 - Chandelier from Dealer Filament Lighting [NO LONGER AVAILABLE]

4 - Mounted Industrial Mold from Dealer Bob Graham [SOLD]

5 - Pair of French Hall Porters Armchairs from Dealer Silvia Petroccia Antiques
6 - Secessionist Forest Vase By Paul Dachsel of Amphora from Dealer Terra Mare [SOLD]
7 - Axel Salto Double Gourd Studio Vase from Dealer TOJ Gallery
8 - Antique Japanese Kutani Enamelled Ceramic Vase from Dealer Vintage Views Consignment & Consulting
9 - 70s Sputnik Chrome Ball Chandelier from Dealer Center44
10 - Vintage Kittinger Tulip Table from Dealer Center44
11 - Antique Beaded Bowl Chadelier With Swags from Dealer Victorian Revival Vintage Lighting
12 - Abstract Metal Sculpture The Labyrinth 1st edition by Curtis Jere, 1968 from Dealer Groovywares
13 - Art Deco Hutch from Dealer Showplace Antique Center
14 - Antique 1900s Saltillo Sarape Mexican Blanket from Dealer Hacienda
15 - Mexico Silver Amethyst Bracelet Fred Davis Design from Dealer Hacienda
16 - Detail From an Old Stupa from Dealer Weisshouse
17 - Matl Salas Sterling Amethyst Turquoise Mexican Bracelet from dealer Hacienda
18 - Carnival Game Wheel from Dealer Opus
19 - Exotic 1920's Art Deco Flapper Chandelier from Dealer Opus
20 - Standard Glaze Whiskey Jug by Rookwood Pottery from Dealer Vintage Views
21 - Pair of Diamond Pearl 18K Gold Earrings from Dealer Betty Bresler
22 - Sapphire & Diamonds Set in Platinum from Dealer Betty Bresler
23 - Vintage Pin Gold Diamonds by Van Cleef & Arpels from Dealer Betty Bresler
24 - Art Deco Inspired Table or Desk Lamp from Dealer Bob Graham
25 - Antique Painted Wooden Plates from Dealer Albert Joseph Gallery
26 - Baroque Style Three Arms Chandelier from Dealer Antiguidades Francisco
27 - Four French Pottery Plates from Dealer Center44
28 - English Delft Plate With Chinese Garden from Dealer The Dongan Collection
29 - Navajo 1940's Quill Design Weaving for Dealer Eric Berg's Early California Antiques Gallery
30 - X-Ray Articulate Arm Light Lamp from Dealer Found Objects of Industry
31 - Tibetan Saddle Rug from Dealer Hudson Supermarket
32 - Louis XV Small French Mirror from Dealer Joseph's Antiques on La Brea [SOLD]
33 - Abstract Tree Sculpture Wall Art 1970's by Curtis Jere from Dealer Rubbish Interiors Inc.
34 - Pair of 7" Diameter Rock Crystal Spheres with Silver Gilt Pedestals from Dealer Vintage Views
35 - Panton Pendant Ball Light from Dealer Uber Modern
36 - Large Palissy Wall Plate from Dealer Terra Mare
37 - French Antique Terra-cotta Bust from Dealer Silvia Petroccia

ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A LAMP FROM DEALER BOB GRAHAM

Fill out the Sweeps entry form for a chance to win this lamp from Dealer Bob Graham [a $375 retail value].

Art Deco Inspired Table or Desk Lamp from Dealer Bob Graham

V&M #: 145550
Wood and brass Art Deco inspired table or desk lamp with faux bois painted grain. French polished finish with solid brass fittings and vintage marble base. 3 way socket . 13" gold lined opaque paper shade.
Overall Dimensions: 25.5" H X 5" W X 5" D
Retail Value: $375

Click here for contest rules

THE GRAPHIC VANGUARD: Japan Society Shows Graphic Posters Of Old

2010-03-04T11:08:00.003-05:00

By Meghan Edwards

New York’s annual Armory Show and its feisty swarm of spin-offs, all happening this week, are one tough and trendy act to follow. So perhaps it’s fitting that the city’s Japan Society called on a centuries-old master to do the trick. Opening there next Friday, March 12, and on view through June 13, “Graphic Heroes, Magic Monsters: Japanese Prints by Utagawa Kuniyoshi from the Arthur R. Miller Collection” showcases Japan’s most daring 19th-century Ukiyo-e master with 150 color woodblock prints. In addition to the period’s traditional subjects like landscape, kabuki, and lovely ladies, Kuniyoshi incorporated unusual subjects for his time; his thrashing sea creatures, giant skeletons, personified animals, and action-packed tales prefigure contemporary Manga art. After the wonderland of Armory week, such a lucid conversation with history is refreshing – and a feast for the eyes.

THE GLASS EYE: Keen on One of the Year's Hot Trends - Art Glass

2010-03-01T11:25:00.002-05:00

By Tamara Moscowitz

What’s hot? The ever popular, coveted object - Art Glass - tops all early indicators of 2010 trends to watch. Its high rank is attributed to advanced technologies and the influence of artist as creator and inventor transforming this one-of-a-kind artwork from the traditional to the multi-dimensional to dazzling abstract glass sculptures.

Art glass in new forms and new materials were dramatically evident in the collections at the recent Ambiente 2010 exhibit in Frankfurt and Venini’s new line showcase several stunning examples of how melding the artist’s imagination to innovative techniques are pushing boundaries in workshops and Ateliers. And, the Art Nouveau style lives on in the form of glass cast vessels manufactured by Tittot in Taiwan. Eye-catching, fun, and superb craftsmanship partially answer the “why” of why Art Glass heads the list.

Who am I? “Angelo Guerriero,” an angel warrior of course. Designed by Alessandro Mendini at the Murano Glass factory in Venice for Venini, Mendini used a technique that employs natural stone to give the surface a graphic signature rich in detail. New color combinations are hip and quirky. As warriors he (or is it she?) must observe the enemy carefully and for this reason four blue eyes are watchful and waiting. Blurring gender, dangling gold hoop earrings are surrounded by clusters of semi-precious stones with a Jade cut in double cabochon then set in a yellow gold composition. The translucent stones are luminous lending the mysterious sculpture a unique personality and piercing gaze. http://venini.it/

Thinking of hiding your treasures? Sweden’s Matti Kenell designed “Birds,” a glass collection for iitala inspired by Magpies whose wicked behavior hides jewelry or any shiny objects. Kenell’s “Birds” comprise several separate parts and to hide your secrets just drop them into the small container at the bottom. The birds are mold blown to get a similar shape, but with a high level of craftsmanship, no two birds look alike. Kenell collaborated closely with the skilled staff at Finland’s Nuutajarvi workshops. Clever? You bet. http://iitala.com/

Who needs a fortune cookie when you can own the “The Good Fortune Always Bowl.” Manufactured by Tittot in Taiwan, a company that revived the Low Wax Casting technique favored by French artists during the Art Nouveau period. The highly artesian work requires nearly 50 intricate and interconnected steps. Bold, daring, and complicated to execute, a branch topped with small squirrels crosses the diameter of the bowl and a swirl of color in the center are elements finely crafted in exquisite detail. Limited Edition, numbered and dated, accompanied by a certificate of authencity. Good fortune? Let’s hope. http://mossonline.com/

Art Nouveau Snake Vase by Loetz c.1910 from Dealer Terra Mare

The Art Nouveau Snake Vase by Loetz c.1910 is a fine example of the Art Nouveau style. The art glass gourd shaped iridescent vase with the applied snake was manufactured at the famed Loetz factory in Bohemia in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The 100-year span between the manufacture of “The Good Fortune Always Bowl” (above) and the Loetz vase dramatizes how rapid technical advances combined with skill and daring have elevated Art Glass to its current popularity. Terra Mare @ vandm.com

CUT IT OUT: Paper Lamp Big On Style Low On Price

2010-03-01T11:04:00.000-05:00

by Tamara Moscowitz

Simple, minimalist and eco-friendly, the “Papo,” a handmade paper lamp is a novelty that goes beyond its design. The idea is basic. Martin Schmid of the German-based Cocage group, designed a low-cost, sustainable lamp, made from paper - wallpaper, wrapping paper, or bond for variety in design that “lights up” with a 25-watt bulb to add the right subtlety and mood to any room. The lamps’ small hat on a cone shaped stand is reminiscent of the Japanese Koheshi Dolls whose simple trunk and large head are whimsical and playful. The Papo comes in two sizes; 12.9” and 8”. http://www.cocage.de/

DEEP FELT: The Use of Felt In Today's Modern Designs

2010-03-01T10:53:00.001-05:00

by Meghan Edwards

Ever since New York’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum exhibited “Fashioning Felt” last year, our affection for this ancient and versatile material has grown from playful fling to solid steady. And we’re not the only ones – cop a feel of these five recent swoon-worthy furnishings from a lineup of smitten artists and designers.

1. American sculptor Michelle Jaffé brings us the raw beauty of the Scandinavian landscape and the region’s utilitarian design aesthetic with her limited edition Fjord Collection of felt nesting bowls for Artware Editions. As with much of Jaffé's larger-scaled sculpture, the bowls’ curves and tucks remind us of clothing and the geography of the human body: the neatly buttoned sleeve of a wool suit, the graceful slope of a bell-shaped skirt, the sharp angle of a defined shoulder. Jaffé has transformed a humble material into volumetric perfection with two limited edition sets of 40, each comprised of three nesting bowls in different colors: navy, periwinkle, and magenta or graphite, gray, and orange. Artware Editions, 212-463-7490; http://www.artwareeditions.com/.

2. Better known for his trendy screen prints of orcas, leopards, and the like for his clothing and accessories line Salvor, Manhattan-based designer Ross Menuez now brings us a ceiling fixture. Like Meret Oppenheim’s notoriously Surrealist fur-lined teacup, Icosa surprises: at first glance it appears to be made from hard plastic. But the 12-inch-cubed crystalline shape is actually 100 percent wool felt, its composition inspired by Buckmunster Fuller’s iconic Geodesic dome. The off-white felt diffuser filters fluorescent light into a warm Mediterranean glow for a soft and snuggly fixture all around. Areaware, 212-226-5155; http://areaware.com/.

3. Since even starchy staples appreciate delicious digs, Josh Jakus designed his Avva breadbasket for Connecticut-based modern tableware manufacturer Teroforma from 100 percent wool felt. Reminiscent of a food delivery container or savvy product packaging, the basket ships flat but when folded up two tabs tucked into slots transform angles into graceful curves. The thickness and texture of the felt makes the container surprisingly sturdy and connects its form to the angular themes of Teroforma’s Avva line of tumblers, dinnerware, and wooden serving boards. Capable of holding four bagels or similarly sized breads, the basket comes in white, green, brown, or gray. Stay tuned for an autumn color range launching later this year. Teroforma, 877-899-1190; http://www.teroforma.com/.

4. Toys, design objects, and natural oddities all at once, these Felt Rocks from Molo are strangely compelling. During optical lens manufacturing, small tufts of wool gather on the polishing wheels and are then spun in a drum container with steam and pressure until pieces combine to make organic, stone-like shapes. Molo then hand picks each castaway felt rock for its collection, adds some custom finishes, and packages them in gray wool felt bags in sets of six, with each rock measuring four to six inches across and dyed grey or natural, including one split rock per set. Just like their counterparts in nature, each one is completely unique. Molo through Unica Home, 888-898-6422; http://www.unicahome.com/.

5. Part of the MoMA Design Store’s upcoming Destination Series showcasing emerging and established Portuguese designers, Fernando Brizio’s perky felt-covered stool, Handle, is produced by Temahome with a sturdy Nordic birch frame wrapped in black, red, yellow, orange, purple, green, turquoise, or pink felt. Previous Destination Series have included Brazil, Seoul, and Japan as themes; this one will launch 100 Portuguese-designed products in May for a limited run of several months. Temahome through MoMA Design Store, 800-851-4509; http://www.momastore.org/.

OLYMPIC SIZE RECYCLING: 3M To Recycle Olympic Waste

2010-03-01T10:24:00.003-05:00

by Meghan Edwards

As the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games draw to a close, we can’t help but wonder what happens to the vast amount of waste generated from this fathomless blockbuster event? Gold medalists in eco-sensitivity, flooring manufacturer Mannington Commercial and 3M Canada Company are reclaiming 200,000 square feet of 3M graphics used on vehicles and key venues such as the Richmond Olympic Oval and the Pacific Coliseum and transforming them into flooring. Mannington, which claims to have developed the “first known way to recycle post-use adhesive-backed graphic materials into hard-surface flooring,” will add the landfill-poached graphics to the composition of their Premium Tile, which already incorporates post-consumer waste streams such as drywall reclaimed from renovation sites. Certified as an Environmentally Preferable Product by the National Science Foundation, the tile is a popular choice for commercial, healthcare, education and retail applications. Let the recycling games begin!

ROMANCING THE MUSEUM

2010-02-23T14:20:00.000-05:00

By Meghan Edwards

Two years ago, Ico Migliore and Mara Servetto of Migliore + Servetto Architetti Associati won over 31 other architecture and design firms in a competition to transform

Warsaw’s16th-century Ostrogski manor into a contemporary haven for the world’s largest collection of objects relating to virtuoso pianist and Romantic composer Frédéric Chopin. Sponsored by Poland’s Minister of Culture and National Heritage, Bogdan Zdrojewski, the Chopin Muzeum opens next month in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the composer’s birth. On permanent view will be over 5,000 items including musical manuscripts, printed scores, letters, diaries, biographies and critical commentaries presented in an interactive multimedia format and spread across 70 interactive stations speaking 8 languages. The common denominator? Music, of course.

INSIDE/OUT

2010-02-23T13:33:00.002-05:00

By Tamara Moscowitz

Art aficionados known for pondering, probing, and dissecting the meaning of objects in its relationship to art, other objects and the viewer can evolve their thinking at The Inner Life of Things, an edgy group show on view through April 25, 2010 at the Frankfurter Kunstverein, in Frankfurt, Germany.

The work of seven artists - Nina Cantell (Sweden), Andreas Wegner, Till Krause, Bettina Lauck, and Florian Haas (Germany), Egill Saebornsson (Iceland), and Yoon Jean Lee (Korea) present their film and photographs on everyday objects from balls, stones, bottles, tools, and examine them along side similar objects they selected from the Museum der Dinge/Werkbundarchiv in Berlin. For those who want to stretch their mind go to http://fkv.de/

SWEET AND SALTY

2010-02-23T13:10:00.002-05:00

By Meghan Edwards

Since the 1960’s, New York’s South Street Seaport Museum has been a stalwart proponent of historical preservation and maritime culture. By the time it was founded in 1967, the surrounding Seaport District along with its row houses and commercial spaces had fallen into such disuse and neglect that they were planned for demolition. Prompted by the pending destruction, a group of locals founded the museum and swiftly pulled together the cash needed to buy back eleven blocks of historic buildings. A decade later, the museum launched a 268 million project to restore and revive the Seaport, where, luckily for us, it has been churning out dozens of nautically-inclined exhibitions ever since. We’re betting that the museum’s latest show, which opened just last week, will bring well-deserved gratitude to one of New York’s finest.

On view through January 31, 2011, “Decodance: Legendary Interiors and Illustrious Travelers Aboard the SS Normandie” returns us to the 1930’s when transatlantic ocean-liner SS Normandie set a new standard of industry and luxury. Touted as the most powerful steam turbo-electric propelled passenger ship ever built, the Normandie operated for the French line Compagnie Générale Transatlantique from 1935-1940 and made hundreds of commercial trips between France and New York. During the German occupation of France, the US took control of the ship and renamed it the USS Lafayette. As it was being converted into a military vessel in 1942, the ship caught fire, sank in the New York Harbor, and in 1946 was eventually scrapped.

But at its zenith, the ship’s epic Art Deco interiors were rivaled only by their illustrious passengers, the likes of Ernest Hemmingway, Marlene Dietrich, Walt Disney, Salvador Dali, James Stewart, and Bing Crosby. The exhibition, incorporating over 100 objects, vivid photos, and recreated interiors showcasing the work of René Lalique, Hermés, Jean Dupas, Jean Patou, and Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann, does its best to recreate an nautical world of sumptuous decadence. Divided into two sections, the show begins with “The Ultimate Ocean Liner”, which mimics the experience of traveling on the ship via promotional pamphlets and travel posters that lead into re-created sections of the ship, interior renderings, and souvenirs from its maiden voyage.

The second section, “Art Deco Luxury Afloat”, focuses on the interiors by filling three galleries with furnishings taken from three spaces on the ship: the Grande Salon, the First Class Dining Room and the Suites de Grand Luxe. The ship’s grand perspectives, spectacular entryways, and stunning long, wide staircases are effectively recaptured in photography, film footage, artifacts, and furnishings. Highlights include chairs from the Grand Salon, the baby grand piano from the Deauville Suite, bronze plaques, etched glass wall panels, silver, crystal and textiles.

The exhibition’s two merchandising partnerships highlight the spell Art Deco still casts on contemporary design and aesthetics. Renowned manufacturer of French decorative objects and crystal, Lalique, is reintroducing a limited run of its 1931 Cabochon ring, a popular design during the time of the Normandie. In honor of the exhibit, the ring will be offered in three colors in the museum store and through Lalique. A playful exhibition-themed t-shirt by fashion designer Jeremy Scott is also available.

On its website, the museum states its purpose as telling “the story of New York and the Seaport through the interpretation of its buildings, streets, ships, and salty history.” Never has the incarnation of this goal been so sweet; the exhibit returns us to an era of unabashed indulgence in beauty and luxury. These days don’t we all deserve a little decadence?

South Street Seaport Museum, 212-748-8733; http://www.southstreetseaportmuseum.org/ .

FIRE AWAY

2010-02-22T22:47:00.002-05:00

By Tamara Moscowitz

Looking for the perfect gift that combines art and function, or the right accessory to decorate a dull room, or an eccentric conversation piece for you to lovingly adore and your sophisticated friends to look at with envy? Topping the list should be porcelain vases or vessels, one of the most popular decorative objects favored by artisans, collectors, and consumers with a discriminating eye.

The making of porcelain has a long, rich history beginning with pot making fired from clay that originated in 10,000 B.C., and as an aesthetic representation of an epoch, porcelain with its ornamentation, mixed styles and imagery, reflect the social mores of a culture. A few examples from the 18th century to the present-day offer traces of cultural and historical influences as porcelain is transformed from clay pots into its contemporary sculptural form.

Trendsetters David Klein and James Reid’s Long Island City atelier is where the pair talk -color, texture, pattern and function, use a hybrid of new and old techniques to shape and mold in clay, then fire up their exquisite handmade porcelain designs. The new collection, “Aubrey,” was inspired by the illustrations of the 19th century British artist and author Aubrey Beardsley. A departure from the smooth glazed surfaces, the “Aubrey’s” finely carved raised patterns can be referenced back to earlier pieces made in the 1990’s and the 2004 “Stilllife with Flowers” collection, but the craftsmanship by deft hands is far more apparent. www.kleinreid.com

Want to safe keep your tea leaves? A stunning late 18th century Chinese Celadon Temple Jar (a slight departure from a vase was selected for its sheer beauty) from the Jiaqing Period (1796-1820) is made from earthenware with celadon porcelain glaze and white porcelain with an overlay of a raised floral motif. The metal band and lock secured the treasured rare tea blends from the prying eyes of members of the Royal Household. vandm.com dealer John J. Nelson Antiques, 310 652 2103.

Having trouble focusing the eye as you gaze at Danish designer Agnes Fries’s playful collection of vases for Bottino? Moving around shapes and graphic decorations resulted in new patterns and shapes. Standing the vases side by side loses the focal point for the viewer for dizzying effect. The technique of applying overglaze accent color on top of fired porcelain is a technique mastered by the Chinese. Kahlerdesign.com

As simple yet complicated as the Agnes Fries designs appear, the bold, dazzling Ovid shape Art Deco vase from the 1930’s atelier of Charles Catteau of the famed Boch Freres Keramis factory in Belgium, dazzles in its decoration of printed contours traced with ochre slip, filled with matte cobalt, orange, watery green and black enamel on a white background. Catteau introduced decorative influences as disparate as cubism and Japan. TOJ Gallery, susan@tojgallery.com , 410 626 0770

For the connoisseur these fine examples of 19th century Neoclassical Sevres Style Porcelain Lidded vases “pop ” in its mix of bleu celeste grounds, with Neoclassical female caryatid handles and painted reserves depicting flowers and cherubs. The Sevres factory in France was a large producer of porcelain for nearly a century. vintageviews@optonline.net, http://vandm.com/VintageViews 201 216 1544

Seamlessly executed and architectural with its long neck and rounded base, this 1960’s red/orange ceramic vase by Toni Raymond is the epitome of mid-20th century design. vandm.com dealer Cain Modern cain@cainmodern.com, 310 652 6045

A small sampling, but the marketplace offers a variety of styles from affordable to over-the-top high-end prices tags for collectibles.

GUIDING LIGHT

2010-02-19T17:14:00.000-05:00

Tired of staring at your same old décor? Have an urge to redecorate but want to spare the expense? Some of the best in current lighting design is malleable lights that allow you to constantly change the scenery in your space. From a hanging light that allows you to store your own personal objects in its clear base and a floor lamp that can morph into eight different versions of itself to a flower like fixture that actually open and closes like a bloom you’ll never get bored with your surroundings. Get smart with these freethinking fixtures.

If you’re having trouble finding place for some of your sentimental old chotchkes or your children’s toys that you can’t bear to let go of then look no further than Chen Karlsson’s brilliant Favourite Things lamp. This plastic hanging lamp has a transparent tank beneath the light source with a slight opening in the side allowing you to highlight your treasured objects in the lamp. Of course, the beauty is that you can constantly change the look by changing the object inside. We love the way they suggest using old toys, but we can also imagine this fun decorative piece with a beautiful flower inside or even a favorite pair of retro sunglasses. The fun to be had with this particular lamp is endless.

For a fantastic and versatile floor piece take a peek at New York City based designer Forrest Jessee’s Push Pull Lamp which allows you to creatively mold the lamp in whatever position suits your mood. Made of wooden slats that are fashioned in different patterns, the lamp can be pushed, pulled and even twisted to create different patterns with the various slats. While the photo suggests eight different options, the possibilities are endless, thus allowing you to recreate the look and lighting of your space as often as you please.

Christian Kocx’s Flower_001 lamp however, has a mind of its own. Netherlands designer Kocx, has created this incredible lamp to mimic the way the sun affects a flower’s bloom by responding to the heat produced by the actual light. The lamp’s petals slowly fold open to bloom from a bud to a flower the longer the light stays on. We’re currently envisioning this beautiful number as the fixture for a dining room and the talk of many dinner parties to come.

While Scottish design company, Zero’s Umbrella lights don’t actually transform, they can be arranged multiple ways along the ceiling or wall allowing you to get creative with their display. The light fixtures actually follow the shape of an umbrella, but we think they ultimately look like an array of honeycombs. Either way, we’d be happy staying in on a rainy day beneath these beauties.

If you prefer to buy vintage we’re sure this 1970’s chrome adjustable table lamp from 20C Design in Dallas will have you twisting and shouting. You can swing the arms in various directions for a new look or keep them all aligned for a more uniform way of lighting the room.

Anyway you move them, these lamps are sure to illuminate your life and your mind.

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This article was written by Paige Reddinger. Paige Reddinger is a freelance writer based in New York. Prior to venturing out onto her own to do freelance she worked as a writer at TIME Magazine's Style & Design issue under Kate Betts for two years. Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama she graduated from Penn State University with a BA in English and French in 2005. Four the past four years she has resided in New York's East Village.

HOT AND STEAMY

2010-02-15T22:36:00.000-05:00

The term “steampunk” either means nothing to you, or you’re thinking we’re a bit late to the nerd fest. In case you haven’t heard, the movement originated in the 1980s, riffing on “cyberpunk” and encapsulating art and design using found and repurposed objects that were mostly mechanical and inspired by steam engineering and antique locomotion. Although the levels of stringency in interpreting steampunk vary, most people agree that it’s rooted in the science fiction novels of 19th-century Victorian England (think Mary Shelley, H.G. Wells, and Jules Verne). In recent years the aesthetic has grown from underground to prolific: films such as 2003’s The League of Extraordinary Gentleman and 2009’s Sherlock Holmes are joined by video games like BioShock, theatrical productions like Wicked, and a slew of websites dedicated to the movement. Artists and designers adapting old school, 19th-century materials to contemporary technology include industrial designer Jake Von Slatt, Swiss watch designer Vianney Halter, and mechanical engineer Jos De Vink. Opened just this winter, New York’s Way Station even claims to be “Brooklyn’s First Steampunk Bar.” And through February 21st at the Museum of the History of Science in Oxford, UK, an entire exhibition has been dedicated to 18 artists from around the world all seduced by exposed gears, clockworks, gas lamps, solid wood, and ancient brass. Further ambassadors of eccentricity, these 5 steamy numbers have us punk’d:

1. Curator of the aforementioned “World’s First Museum Exhibition of Devices + Contraptions Extraordinaire”, Southampton-based artist and lighting designer Art Donovan says “Steampunks believe that the form must be as equally impressive as the function. It’s the effort of ornamentation that one puts into an object that lends importance and grace to the work and demonstrates its value to the user.” Compelling evidence of Donovan’s effort surfaces in his own lighting series, including this striking Bibelot pendant fixture and solid brass table lamp. Donovan Design, 631-283-8175; www.donovandesign.com.

2. Punky picks from VandM Dealer and lighting designer Bob Graham have been selling like hot cakes. All crafted in his studio in Cooperstown, New York, the steel table lamp made from an early 20th-century automobile light and large-scale wooden industrial mold have already sold, but Graham’s constantly evolving inventory now includes this pair of table lamps incorporating 19th-century brass clock gears and a lamp base crafted from a vintage artillery shell. Bob Graham through VandM, 607-376-2069.

3. In an unexpected aesthetic connection, Korean kinetic artist U-Ram Choe’s sculptures don’t seem entirely out of context here. From February 19 to May 16, seven of Choe’s works will be on show in “U-Ram Choe: New Urban Species” at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts in Nashville. Choe’s sculptures are driven by motors to expand and contract and suggest the autonomic motions of plants and single-celled creatures. The delicate intricacy of Choe’s sculptures certainly brings an old-world craftsmanship to evocations of futuristic genetic engineering, prosthetic technologies, and robotics for a mesmerizing duality. Frist Center for the Visual Arts, 615-244-3340; www.fristcenter.org.

4. Indicative of the substantial underground web culture fueled by the movement, this vintage Fortis ring on Etsy is handcrafted from the parts of an old Swiss Fortis wristwatch. It has seven jewels embedded in the metal, and its face measures approximately ¾ inch in width and one inch in height. It’s one of many similar styles on everyone’s favorite handmade haven; just try searching for “steampunk” and you’ll find endless offerings, from jewelry and goggles to corsets and clothing (some more successful than others). www.etsy.com.

5. As you might guess from its name, VandM Dealer Found Objects of Industry in Hamburg, Pennsylvania is a treasure trove of machine wreckage transformed into surprisingly elegant furnishings. This restored operating room floor lamp from the early 20th-century looks like a transport straight from Shelley, rivaled only by a converted dental x-ray arm from the 1940's. Found Objects of Industry, 610-944-1711.

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This article is writen by Meghan Edwards is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in Interior Design and Metropolis magazines. She has worked in Special Collections at Christie’s and presently holds a full-time editorial position at Interior Design. Born and raised in rural Washington State, she graduated from Brown University in 2006 with a BA in the History of Art and Architecture. Ms. Edwards has studied and worked in France and Portugal and currently resides in Brooklyn, New York.

A SMART, SEXY SENS(OR)

2010-02-15T19:17:00.000-05:00

The brainchild of Holland’s ubiquitous design icon, Marcel Wanders, the Wattcher is a high-tech sensor, an energy saver that gauges the use of electricity in the home or office. Simply plug it in and “watch” the display unit convey electricity levels to measure energy consumption. A clever feature, one surely to appeal to goal-oriented number crunchers is a percentage appears on the display to indicate the difference between actual usage within 24 hours and your targeted daily goal. The Wattcher, available only in Europe, runs on 220 v so enthusiastic Americans will have to wait for it to go global. The how to’s on this super cool product is detailed on watcher.nl

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This article is written by Tamara Moscowitz a freelance writer whose work on architects and design projects have appeared in Florida Design and Florida Designers Review (FDR). She was a contributor to creativeabode.com and presently writes for Woman Around Town.com on home furnishings and design. Born in Berlin, Germany, Ms. Moscowitz was raised and educated in New York City where she currently resides.

WHO KNEW? The Artistic Furniture of Charles Rohlfs

2010-02-15T18:48:00.002-05:00

The Artistic Furniture of Charles Rohlfs, is an exhibition that offers a rare opportunity to examine the influence of an American original in context of the Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts movements and as a trajectory to 21st century furniture design. Charles Rohfls (1853-1936) abstract furniture, virtuosic carvings and imaginative silhouettes relating to the naturalism of Art Nouveau styling, contributed to a new chapter in the history of American furniture.

The exhibition features more than 40 pieces of furniture and objects, many displayed for the first time will be on view at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh through April 25, 2010, ending its tour at Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Charles Rohfls, an individualist visionary, resisted labels and used innovation to create furniture in remarkably inventive ways. He is known for his sophisticated design vocabulary, use of Quarter Sawn White Oak, fully expressed joinery and decorative patterns. Rohfls’s restless intelligence and skilled craftsmanship lead him to experiment and incorporate a wide range of international design elements from Islam, Japan, China as well as Europe’s Renaissance and medieval periods.

While the exhibit offers a number of exotic furniture pieces, two are exemplary - an abstract lamp that defies categorization and an imaginative chair with elaborate fretwork and flowery Art Nouveau decorative patterns, that, unwittingly, has resurfaced with a 21st century sensibility.

“17 Lamp” ca. 1904 Private Collection

“The Lamp” (ca. 1904) is an out-of-the-box functional object that brilliantly combines form and ornament. Constructed from sheets of hammered copper and decorated with coils of tubular metal, the kappa seashells from China are supported by four cooper arms.

Arts and Crafts Lighting Fixture available from Victorian Revival Vintage Lighting

This atypical style is in sharp contrast to the characteristics of a light fixture from the early 1900’s. Grounded in clean lines, simple dark, hand hammered brass patina, can clearly be attributed to the Arts and Crafts movement.

“4 Corner Chair” ca. 1898-1899 from the Dallas Museum of Art

A charming “4 Corner Chair,” (one of four) ca. 1898- 1899, carved from oak with elaborate fretwork above and below the seat was intended to fit under a specially designed table where the legs were in the middle, leaving the corners free.

Vitra's Vegetal Chair

Fast forward a century to view Vitra’s Vegetal chair designed by the brothers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec. Inspired by 20th century historical gardens where trees grow into furniture like structures, the chairs’ contours are borrowed from nature. The brothers developed a process to weave flat branch structures in three levels to form a round irregular seating shell. Made from polyamide, the Vegetal is light, stackable, and suitable for indoor and outdoor use. Its “whiplash curves” refers back to the Art Nouveau era, but this trendsetter is thoroughly modern.

Charles Rohlfs designs stand along side his better-known contemporaries Frank Lloyd Wright and Gustav Stickley. Never commercially viable, Rohfls had a short run as a furniture designer and closed his studio with the demise of the Art Nouveau movement on the eve of World War I. A few years ago a Rohfls chair sold for $200,000 to a private collector. As the title says, “Who knew?”

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CASTLES IN THE SKY

2010-02-12T13:16:00.002-05:00

The bilder
Watercolor on paper
40 x 48 in.
2009

By Meghan Edwards

Chipped paint, sagging roofs, and shattered windows abound in a series of new paintings by Canadian artist Tristram Landsdowne, whose first solo show, “Refuge,” opens on Saturday, February 13 at Joshua Liner Gallery in New York. In Lansdowne’s watercolors, discarded chunks of landscape, mysterious cavities, and ambiguous spaces cling to the bases of decrepit buildings, exposed like floating cross sections against backgrounds of white paper. The architectural constructs are nostalgic, punctuated by weathered billboards and old wiring, making us ponder themes of permanence, decay, and function. Fifteen medium and large-sized works on paper will be on view through March 13 – a bit glum for winter’s bitter end, but so mesmerizing we can’t pass them up.

More Info: Joshua Liner Gallery - Tristram Landsdowne

CREATIVITY'S CONSTELLATION

2010-02-08T13:10:00.001-05:00

Born of Venice’s world-renowned glass blowing industry, art lighting manufacturer Andromeda International boasts an impressive portfolio of dramatic lighting schemes for hospitality, residential, retail, and cultural projects across the globe. To name just a few, they’ve created chandeliers for New York’s Gramercy Park Hotel; fixtures for Atlanta’s W hotel and the Grand Hyatt in Dubai; and lighting for Jean Paul Gaultier boutiques in Paris, Cannes, and New York.

Andromeda (a name shared by Greek mythology’s Ethiopian princess and by a northern star constellation) has high hopes for its impact: in a press release, it calls its work “beyond the established canons and classifications.” It considers its lighting installations nothing short of “inspirations which are gradually defining a new environment where art, design, and the highest manual skills dialogue.”

These kinds of lofty aspirations require talented teamwork, the likes of which are embodied in the company’s most recent project unveiled this winter in Rome. A swaying, shimmering luminosity, Fluxus is a glass and steel canopy suspended beneath a long sky light in the city’s new White Gallery, a multipurpose lifestyle store and contemporary art venue inside the restored Palazzo dell’Arte Moderna museum complex. In line with Andromeda’s focus on originality and advancement, the gallery is part of a wider master plan for developing Rome’s EUR business and residential quarter that includes a sculptural, cloud-like congress center by Massimiliano Fuksas Architetto and a mixed-use complex by Renzo Piano Building Workshop.

Fluxus could be hailed as the first completed work in this vast sea of innovation, and it has celebrity claims of its own: Karim Rashid designed the sculpture’s so-called “knit”, a series of 80,000 hand-made Murano glass loops woven together and hanging from a sort of grid of cross beams and mirrored, laser-cut steel tracks. According to Rashid, “Our living spaces and objects should ideally be organic, transformable, flexible and allow objects and furniture to breathe - to shape the personality of the space, and ‘knit’ is the fabric of light itself, to forever keep space dynamic, luxurious, and inspiring.”

Collaborating with Rashid, artist Michela Vianella conceptualized the wave’s shape and form, a suspended, sinuous canopy she describes as, “fluctuating, soft and enveloping, flowing between well defined points and lines to… achieve complete visual equilibrium.” Vianella, who has studied optics and kinetics, faded the 650 square feet of colored glass from white and through 3 shades of gray into black. Andromeda’s in house team developed the technology used to attach each loop to the grid, resulting in a hovering mass of steel and glass that weighs over 13,000 pounds. The entire canopy is backlit by a network of 5,000 tiny halogen lamps distributed across the wave’s upper surface.

The effect is stunning, especially when captured in the black and white imagery of photographer Cristiano Corte, selected by Andromeda president Gianluca Vecchi to document the entire project. Capturing the result of two years of research and seven months of development and installation, the documentation initiative, says Vecchi, narrates “the soul of Italian know-how in general and the world of the Murano glassworks in particular.”