Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Books Are In


Karl Lagerfeld with quote by German Philosopher, Arthur Schopenhauer.

Books are good.

-S

Books Are In


Karl Lagerfeld with quote by German Philosopher, Arthur Schopenhauer.

Books are good.

-S

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Baker: Interior Trends 2010



Last Thursday, I stopped in to see the lovely John & Paul at the Baker showroom during Fall Market at the PDC. We got to talking about interior design trends for 2010, and decided to take an on the fly video blog to send their thoughts out into the blogosphere.

It's all in good fun, but I have to say that John & Paul really know their stuff. Not only did they offer news about the latest Baker designer collaborations (Bill Sofield & Andre Arbus,) but they also forecasted trends and color stories in interiors for the coming year.

-S

Baker: Interior Trends 2010



Last Thursday, I stopped in to see the lovely John & Paul at the Baker showroom during Fall Market at the PDC. We got to talking about interior design trends for 2010, and decided to take an on the fly video blog to send their thoughts out into the blogosphere.

It's all in good fun, but I have to say that John & Paul really know their stuff. Not only did they offer news about the latest Baker designer collaborations (Bill Sofield & Andre Arbus,) but they also forecasted trends and color stories in interiors for the coming year.

-S

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Reminder: All is Full of Love


A decade after its release in 1999, "All is Full of Love" is still as moving as ever. Directed by Chris Cunningham, the short film was not only a furtherance in special effects, but also a breakthrough in marrying the sci-fi genre with romance and real human emotion.

-S

Reminder: All is Full of Love


A decade after its release in 1999, "All is Full of Love" is still as moving as ever. Directed by Chris Cunningham, the short film was not only a furtherance in special effects, but also a breakthrough in marrying the sci-fi genre with romance and real human emotion.

-S

Monday, September 14, 2009

Rick Owens': Primordial Postmodernism



Rick Owens
Evolution

‘Biblical, Brutalist, Bauhaus and Bakersfield…’

In these pieces, Owens’ particular vision of beauty and his idea of an anti-utopian environment become apparent. Owens’ anthropomorphic chairs are at once organic and architectural, forming the basis of his design credo. These pieces combine basic geometric forms – rectangles, squares, and triangles – deconstructed into the abstract essence of form. Like in the work of Le Corbusier, function or at least the appearance of function takes precedence over ornament. These sharp modernist lines and mathematical shapes are juxtaposed with the biomorphic - antlers flow from plywood. This evolution from man-made to organic is a recurring theme in the furniture of Rick Owens and this contrast is echoed by his choice of material. The economy of plywood meets the luxury of fur, marble, and bronze. The work is alive with a conflict that in a single piece of furniture appears to resolve itself. With the work in this exhibition, Owens has given us a glimpse of a world that is somehow part of the past and of the distant future. - Sebastian+Barquet

Born in 1961 Rick Owens founded his own fashion label in 1994 and in 2002 presented his first runway collection at New York Fashion week winning the Council of Fashion Designers of America Perry Ellis Emerging Talent Award. In 2007 he was awarded the prestigious Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award. Rick Owens has emerged as a seminal figure in fashion and has stores in London, Paris, New York, and Tokyo. His furniture was first exhibited in Paris at Jousse Entreprise in the fall of 2007 and has subsequently been shown at art and design fairs including Design Art London, FIAC, Design Miami/Basel, and Design Miami.

If you're going to be in London or NYC, you can check out Owens' collection at Sebastian+Barquet

Rick Owens': Primordial Postmodernism



Rick Owens
Evolution

‘Biblical, Brutalist, Bauhaus and Bakersfield…’

In these pieces, Owens’ particular vision of beauty and his idea of an anti-utopian environment become apparent. Owens’ anthropomorphic chairs are at once organic and architectural, forming the basis of his design credo. These pieces combine basic geometric forms – rectangles, squares, and triangles – deconstructed into the abstract essence of form. Like in the work of Le Corbusier, function or at least the appearance of function takes precedence over ornament. These sharp modernist lines and mathematical shapes are juxtaposed with the biomorphic - antlers flow from plywood. This evolution from man-made to organic is a recurring theme in the furniture of Rick Owens and this contrast is echoed by his choice of material. The economy of plywood meets the luxury of fur, marble, and bronze. The work is alive with a conflict that in a single piece of furniture appears to resolve itself. With the work in this exhibition, Owens has given us a glimpse of a world that is somehow part of the past and of the distant future. - Sebastian+Barquet

Born in 1961 Rick Owens founded his own fashion label in 1994 and in 2002 presented his first runway collection at New York Fashion week winning the Council of Fashion Designers of America Perry Ellis Emerging Talent Award. In 2007 he was awarded the prestigious Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award. Rick Owens has emerged as a seminal figure in fashion and has stores in London, Paris, New York, and Tokyo. His furniture was first exhibited in Paris at Jousse Entreprise in the fall of 2007 and has subsequently been shown at art and design fairs including Design Art London, FIAC, Design Miami/Basel, and Design Miami.

If you're going to be in London or NYC, you can check out Owens' collection at Sebastian+Barquet

Let There Be Light


They say that you can't buy happiness, but I don't buy it. Personally, I'd even settle for putting happiness on layaway!

Let me be so bold as to say that anything created by the hands of Michael Anastassiades will instantly bring joy to your life, and rid you of all pain and negativity.

Michael Anastassiades explores contemporary notions of culture and aesthetics through a combination of product, furniture and environmental design. Positioned between fine art and design, his work aims to provoke dialogue, participation and interaction. He creates objects that are minimal, utilitarian and almost mundane, yet full of a vitality one might not expect.

-S

Let There Be Light


They say that you can't buy happiness, but I don't buy it. Personally, I'd even settle for putting happiness on layaway!

Let me be so bold as to say that anything created by the hands of Michael Anastassiades will instantly bring joy to your life, and rid you of all pain and negativity.

Michael Anastassiades explores contemporary notions of culture and aesthetics through a combination of product, furniture and environmental design. Positioned between fine art and design, his work aims to provoke dialogue, participation and interaction. He creates objects that are minimal, utilitarian and almost mundane, yet full of a vitality one might not expect.

-S

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Zenith Chair & Galerie Kreo


It's Saturday, the perfect day to unload the essential information I've managed to save in my brain until this very moment. Two things I wanna put on the table: Mark Newson's Zenith Chair & Galerie Kreo.

Ok, The limited edition Zenith chair by Mark Newson is an instant favorite! Here's the thing, I love aluminum, and I love limited edition. Limited edition, not in the sense of it being exclusive but in the sense that it's furniture expressed as art...real art.

Most importantly on the hunt for the Zenith Chair was that I stumbled upon Galerie Kreo. What is Galerie Kreo, here goes: Galerie Kreo is dedicated to artistic exploration in design, and has exclusive international rights to remarkable limited edition pieces by such luminaries as Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, Pierre Charpin, Hella Jongerius, Jasper Morrison, and Martin Szekely. Galerie Kreo sees itself as a 'research laboratory'. In Paris, of course.

-S

SYI- Initially when I saw the Zenith chair, I thought it was furniture by Jeff Koons. Kinda reminds me of his statues.

Zenith Chair & Galerie Kreo


It's Saturday, the perfect day to unload the essential information I've managed to save in my brain until this very moment. Two things I wanna put on the table: Mark Newson's Zenith Chair & Galerie Kreo.

Ok, The limited edition Zenith chair by Mark Newson is an instant favorite! Here's the thing, I love aluminum, and I love limited edition. Limited edition, not in the sense of it being exclusive but in the sense that it's furniture expressed as art...real art.

Most importantly on the hunt for the Zenith Chair was that I stumbled upon Galerie Kreo. What is Galerie Kreo, here goes: Galerie Kreo is dedicated to artistic exploration in design, and has exclusive international rights to remarkable limited edition pieces by such luminaries as Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, Pierre Charpin, Hella Jongerius, Jasper Morrison, and Martin Szekely. Galerie Kreo sees itself as a 'research laboratory'. In Paris, of course.

-S

SYI- Initially when I saw the Zenith chair, I thought it was furniture by Jeff Koons. Kinda reminds me of his statues.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

MAGNI GOES METALLIC




With NYC's Fashion Week now upon us, it felt oh so appropriate to cover James Magni's latest creation: The Carlyle "Sting Ray" armchair.

The MAGNI Home Collection unveils the "Sting Ray” armchair in select designer showrooms this Fall. As you may know, James Magni's home pieces are inspired by fashion, and he often uses details such as "cufflinks" on armchairs or "stilettos" on legs to communicate this. The "Sting-Ray" armchair is keeping with the metallic trend we saw at NY's fashion week for fall/winter 09/10. From classic Carolina Herrera to Phillip Lim, Michael Kors, and Erin Fetherston, fashion's finest paraded metallic’s down the runway, lending a shiny luster to the year ahead. I thought you might enjoy seeing a comparison between the “Sting-Ray” armchair and the show stopping Carolina Herrera metallic gown (fall/winter 09/10 ready-to wear.)

-S

MAGNI GOES METALLIC




With NYC's Fashion Week now upon us, it felt oh so appropriate to cover James Magni's latest creation: The Carlyle "Sting Ray" armchair.

The MAGNI Home Collection unveils the "Sting Ray” armchair in select designer showrooms this Fall. As you may know, James Magni's home pieces are inspired by fashion, and he often uses details such as "cufflinks" on armchairs or "stilettos" on legs to communicate this. The "Sting-Ray" armchair is keeping with the metallic trend we saw at NY's fashion week for fall/winter 09/10. From classic Carolina Herrera to Phillip Lim, Michael Kors, and Erin Fetherston, fashion's finest paraded metallic’s down the runway, lending a shiny luster to the year ahead. I thought you might enjoy seeing a comparison between the “Sting-Ray” armchair and the show stopping Carolina Herrera metallic gown (fall/winter 09/10 ready-to wear.)

-S

REDHEADS by Joel Meyerowitz


On any given weekend, you might find me at one of the many mom n' pop used bookstores here in greater L.A . I like to collect out of print art books, and although Amazon has an nice inventory online, I prefer the action of rummaging through the shelves and piles. I mean, in this technological age, the used bookstore is like stepping into a time machine for an adventure. When you find that gem, it's really a satisfying experience.

Just last week, I found this old Rizzoli book called Redheads at Brand Bookshop in Glendale (yes, Glendale!) In any case, it's a wonderful photography book just begging to sit on a coffee table.

Redheads by Joel Meyerowitz is a collection of photography highlighting the unusual, exotic, and often flamboyant qualities of redheads. His fascination came from spending a summer in Cape Cod, a town with a disproportionate number of redheads. The intention was to photograph this slender slice of the genetic pie (only 2-3% of the population) to show the familial connection between a group of strangers.

Long story short, visit your local bookstore. Even better, send me an email if you know of a shop that should be on my radar, please.

-S

REDHEADS by Joel Meyerowitz


On any given weekend, you might find me at one of the many mom n' pop used bookstores here in greater L.A . I like to collect out of print art books, and although Amazon has an nice inventory online, I prefer the action of rummaging through the shelves and piles. I mean, in this technological age, the used bookstore is like stepping into a time machine for an adventure. When you find that gem, it's really a satisfying experience.

Just last week, I found this old Rizzoli book called Redheads at Brand Bookshop in Glendale (yes, Glendale!) In any case, it's a wonderful photography book just begging to sit on a coffee table.

Redheads by Joel Meyerowitz is a collection of photography highlighting the unusual, exotic, and often flamboyant qualities of redheads. His fascination came from spending a summer in Cape Cod, a town with a disproportionate number of redheads. The intention was to photograph this slender slice of the genetic pie (only 2-3% of the population) to show the familial connection between a group of strangers.

Long story short, visit your local bookstore. Even better, send me an email if you know of a shop that should be on my radar, please.

-S

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Andrew Bush @ M+B, Sept. 12th


M+B's newest exhibition of color photographs by ANDREW BUSH titled VECTOR PORTRAITS, will open on September 12 and run through October 15. Don't miss the reception and book signing by the artist on Saturday, September 12 from 7 – 9pm.

Vector Portraits is Andrew Bush’s series from 1989 to 1997, shot in and around Los Angeles using his car as a tripod and capturing Angelenos vis-à-vis their unique relationships with their automobiles.

Los Angeles, described as “72 suburbs in search of a city,” is known for its miles of freeways, surface streets and legendary traffic. Because of that time spent in cars there is an ambiguous space, neither public nor private, that is conjured up in these air-conditioned living rooms on wheels. Bush describes this twilight space of driving as the amalgamation of “the maneuvering and direction and the speed . . . [making one] feel they are untouchable, in control of their destiny, in a private world of their own”. In this series, Bush captures a cross section of the city in this illusory state.

-S

Andrew Bush @ M+B, Sept. 12th


M+B's newest exhibition of color photographs by ANDREW BUSH titled VECTOR PORTRAITS, will open on September 12 and run through October 15. Don't miss the reception and book signing by the artist on Saturday, September 12 from 7 – 9pm.

Vector Portraits is Andrew Bush’s series from 1989 to 1997, shot in and around Los Angeles using his car as a tripod and capturing Angelenos vis-à-vis their unique relationships with their automobiles.

Los Angeles, described as “72 suburbs in search of a city,” is known for its miles of freeways, surface streets and legendary traffic. Because of that time spent in cars there is an ambiguous space, neither public nor private, that is conjured up in these air-conditioned living rooms on wheels. Bush describes this twilight space of driving as the amalgamation of “the maneuvering and direction and the speed . . . [making one] feel they are untouchable, in control of their destiny, in a private world of their own”. In this series, Bush captures a cross section of the city in this illusory state.

-S