Lucy in Walnut Jeans
Our niece Lucy modeling a pair of low rise walnut jeans made by our master craftsman, Aaron.
And no, the abstract expressionist painting on the right isn’t a Robert Motherwell. Lucy painted it – when she was two years old!
Size Matters II
While on the subject of exaggerated size in art and design, these are two of my favorite images by French photographer Guy Bourdin (1928 – 1991). His surreal and often risqué photos for French Vogue and Charles Jourdan shoes explore themes of desire and alienation, and were way ahead of their time for fashion photography.
Size Matters
Now that’s what I call a big, full-bodied wine! We had a great time this weekend wine tasting in Napa with our pal Janet, who works for Caymus Vineyards. If you haven’t tried their wines you should. I’m no wine connoisseur, but I know a good wine when I taste it. Their award winning Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel are out of this world.
This enormous bottle of wine in their warehouse got me thinking about size in art and design. Why is it that familiar objects become more fascinating when oversized or miniaturized? Claes Oldenburg utilizes this to great effect with his gigantic sculptures of everyday items. In my showroom I display 1/8 scale models of my furniture designs and I’m pleasantly surprised by how many people respond to them. Vitra sells miniature replicas of modern classic chairs for hundreds of dollars. Size does seem to matter, although bigger isn’t necessarily better.
Magic Mushroom
On my visit to Toronto I picked up this trippy mushroom lamp from a vintage shop in Kensington Market. It’s German, from the sixties or seventies. I love this style of mottled glaze pottery and have acquired several vases over the years, but I’d never seen one quite like this. It’s one cool toadstool!
Stephen Burks at the Design Exchange
While visiting the Design Exchange in Toronto I checked out the Stephen Burks: Man Made exhibit. Collaborating with basket weavers from a village outside Dakar, Senegal, the New York based industrial designer created objects that “challenge the way that we think of traditionally crafted objects and contemporary design”.
Design Exchange
Housed in the former Toronto Stock Exchange building, the Design Exchange is Canada’s National Design Museum and Centre. A non-profit educational organization committed to promoting greater awareness of design as well as the indispensible role it plays in fostering economic growth and cultural vitality. Through their programs, exhibits, lectures and workshops they build bridges by improving communication between various design disciplines, educators, businesses and the general public. Right on!
Browsing through their extensive program guide, two that stood out were the Canadian High School Design Competition and Design Camp for kids. How cool is that?
On a recent visit I picked up a mortar and pestle from the shop and checked out the Stephen Burks: Man Made exhibit. Unfortunately, the main exhibit hall was closed for installation, but the staff was kind enough to give me a private viewing of the library, which houses the permanent collection of Canadian design. I especially liked the Clairtone G2 Stereo from 1966 (top center). Having admired it in the book The Art of Clairtone: The Making of a Design Icon, 1958-1971, it did not disappoint in person. It’s gorgeous, and those globe speakers on each side are the bomb.
Rescue Mission: Accomplished
These oak chairs were a sorry sight when I spotted them abandoned on the sidewalk outside of someone’s house. Although battered (broken stretchers, dents, worn out finish) it was obvious that they had beautiful lines and good bones. Made by “The Marble & Shattuck Chair Co.” of Cleveland, their original home was probably a library, but they had lost their way and fallen on hard times.
A rescue mission was in order. After extensive gluing, sanding, filling, a coat of primer and three coats of milk paint, they’re just like new and ready for many more years of use.
Mission: Accomplished
The Rug Company
Having visited their showrooms in London, New York and Los Angeles, and purchased a rug from them that I’m delighted with, it’s safe to say I’m a huge fan of The Rug Company. It’s not just the marvelous design and high quality of their handmade rugs that I’m enamored with, but the overall presentation that is so special. It’s rare to see the modern and the traditional mixed with such effortless style.
I also appreciate how The Rug Company collaborates with interior, product, and fashion designers to create beautiful designs, rather than as a marketing stunt, which is all too common these days. Pictured above is a small sampling of their rugs in inspiring settings by fashion designers Vivienne Westwood, Paul Smith, Mathew Williamson, Marni, Alexander McQueen and Diane Von Furstenberg. Have a browse through the Roomsets & Inspirations on their website for much more. Be sure to have a drool cup handy.
Parquet Table/Stool in Anthology Magazine
Our Parquet Table/Stool is in the Winter 2012 issue of Anthology Magazine! There it is, in the lower left corner. Each quarterly issue has a theme, and this time it’s “Handmade at Home” – celebrating artists, designers and makers of handcrafted goods. Featured are homes and businesses that utilize handcrafted products and methods, including San Francisco’s Sightglass Coffee. If you’re looking to get crafty and need some inspiration, check it out.
Big thanks to stylist (and author, designer & creative director) Meg Mateo Ilasco for including our piece in the shoot.
