Archive for August, 2005
August 27, 2005 at 12:36 pm · Filed under Design, Fashion, NYC
Never Felt Before! The extraordinary textiles of Claudy Jongstra
September 9-October 19
Opening night: Thursday, September 8, 2005 7-9 PM
Moss
152 Greene Street @ Houston Street
New York, NY
For those of you who have never experienced Moss in NYC, be sure to stop by on your next jaunt to Soho. The mecca shares the block with other renowned design outlets, but none come close to the selection, quality, and presentation carefully produced each season by Moss’s designerati team.
Moss’s next event is the debut solo exhibition of textile designer Claudy Jongstra. This Dutch-born fabric maven has constructed felts that include not only wool from her own flock of rare Drenthe Heath sheep, but also organza, rag linen, cashmere, and alpaca.
Her impressive cliente ranges from haute couturiers Christian Lacroix and John Galliano to industrial designers Hella Jongerius, Ettore Sottsass, and Jasper Morrison. She has also collaborated with architects Steven Holl and Will Bruder to create acoustic-enhancing materials for residential projects.
Jongstra will celebrate the the US launch of her first publication, Matter and Meaning, on the exhibition’s opening night. To be added to the guestlist, simply drop an email to: rsvp@mossonline.com.
August 20, 2005 at 4:36 pm · Filed under Design, NYC
Listening to the advance of SUPERNATURE, Goldfrapp’s upcoming album. It’s brilliant. “Lovely 2 C U” is the story of my week… the descending synth line on “Ride A White Horse” should make Felix da Housecat positively dance his pantalones off… and for those shaking their head at Miss Alison Goldfrapp for turning more electro, be assured that “Let It Take You” is a gorgeous ballad that will not disappoint.
I was rocked, quite literally, yesterday at work. The building in which I work experienced a great explosion around 10 am; it shook the entire building and sent flames and smoke rolling through the Ralph Lauren store on the ground floor.
I was working at the top of the building on the 35th floor of 1 Montgomery Place when I felt the massive jolt whicih shook the tower from underground. One of my co-workers working directly across the street saw a woman blasted from one side of the street to the sidewalk on the other side — the explosion lifted up the concrete from underground. We were instructed to evacuate, but since the elevators were full of smoke, we rushed down what felt like the never-ending flight of steps. I could smell the smoke and heard the wail of sirens and ambulances down the street. The entire area was shut down and taped off by the police.
The whole experience felt surreal and took us all by total surprise. I was reminded yet again that one never knows what will happen in the next moment.
Another day, and life is remarkably different: quiet and blissful. Went to the DWR sample sale in SoMA with a new friend, then off to Boogaloo’s for brunch. Dinner tonight with some close friends — yay. NYC is on my mind, can’t wait to get back there in September. For those living there: mark your calendars for my friend Mandi Baumgartner’s gallery opening on 24th Street in Chelsea… he’s celebrating 25 years of pioneering the contemporary art scene in NYC. I am sad to miss this party, so you must go and enjoy it for me! It is sure to be a smash. Press release following:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
25 Years: Selected Solo Exhibitions, 1979 – 2004
(Part Two of Two)
Exhibition Dates: Sept 9 – Oct 12, 2005
Opening: Sept 9, 6 – 8 pm
On the occasion of its 25-year anniversary, Baumgartner Gallery is pleased to announce an exhibition of select artists whom Baumgartner has championed over the past quarter-century.
Part Two of “25 Years: Selected Solo Exhibitions (1979 - 2004)” features signature pieces by Lydia Dona, Jonathan Lasker, Fabian Marcaccio, Matthew McCaslin, Joan Mitchell, Malcolm Morley, Catherine Murphy, Stephan Mueller, Bruce Nauman, Thomas Nozkowski, David Reed, Tim Rollins, David Seidner, Andres Serrano, Ophrah Shemesh, Pat Steir, Tony Tasset, Danielle Webb, and Martin Wong. Taken collectively, the works on display form a self-portrait of the gallery–a testament to the consistency of Baumgartner’s vision beyond the fleeting styles, movements, and intellectual fads of the past 25 years.
Baumgartner Gallery was one of the first contemporary galleries to have a space in the Meat Market District on 15th Street. It opened with Brazilian artist Fernanda Gomes and closed in 2002 with an exhibition titled “Large Scale,” featuring work by Malcolm Morley, Cady Noland, Tim Rollins & K.O.S., Ugo Rondinone, and Danielle Webb.
It took two years to find an appropriate space in Chelsea at 522 West 24th Street. The new gallery was designed by architect Craig Shillitto of Weeve Projects. The inaugural exhibition was given to John Cage and George Quasha. Today Baumgartner represents such artists as Rainer Ganahl, Marcia Hafif, Danielle Webb, Dana Carlson, and Fernanda Gomes. It still organizes group exhibitions that include both established and emerging artists from around the globe and dedicates its program to contemporary art.
August 15, 2005 at 12:37 pm · Filed under Architecture, Design, Fashion
It all started off with one architect’s broken heart and his desire to create something meaningful from his loss.
Rem D. Koolhaas, the punky nephew of Pomo megastar Rem Koolhaas, has launched a new shoe company called United Nude. Each shoe is inspired by a mid-century modern design concept. This is reflected in every step of the design process, from conceptual charrettes through the customized packaging of each shoe.
Take for example the heel of the ‘Eamz’ shoe, which gives direct reference to a chair by Ray and Charles Eames. Also in the collection is the Mobius shoe, whose lines are literally translated from the Barcelona Chair, designed by former Bauhaus director Mies Van Der Rohe for the International Exposition in 1929.
My personal favorite is the ‘Porn’ shoe. This sexy design features two independent pieces: a highly arched footbed that slides into a wide loop which provides both heel and upper support.
www.unitednude.com
August 13, 2005 at 7:55 am · Filed under Music
Enough with the album reviews after this week, I promise I’ll go back to design and fashion soon. But I’m positively tipsy over Arpanet’s newest album; and for all of you minimal electroheads out there, it’s a serious *must-have* for 2005.
Arpanet is one of the most esoteric names in the electronic music scene. The mystery surrounding this Detroit-based act is as interesting as the beautifully scientific approach used in the production of its sound. Gerald Donald, the principal force of Arpanet, has also been linked with Dopplereffekt, Der Zyklus, and perhaps the best known of all, Drexciya.
The new album is released by Rephlex — a label co-founded by Aphex Twin’s Richard D. James along with Grant Wilson-Claridge. If you’re in the US, you can soon order through Forced Exposure, Rephlex’s main US distributor: www.forcedexposure.com. The US release is set for August 23.
August 11, 2005 at 10:48 am · Filed under Architecture, Design
Imagine stepping into your shower, switching on the water, and feeling the gentle cascade from the shower head above. You look up to be greeted by a water column created by 270 spray jets, each individually illuminated by fiber optic and colored halogen lighting. Opulent Swavorski crystals channel a myriad of colored rays into the water, and a fully adjustable color wheel allows you to transform your environment between varying shades of white, yellow, green, and blue. Your senses are both soothed and delighted; relaxation begins immediately.
Welcome to a new level of ritual cleansing: the Krystal*ELS is not just a shower head, it elevates the bathing experience to an ultra-decadent therapy session defined by the exquisite combination of light, color, and water. This latest installment in Ondine’s Electronic Shower System (ESS) series can be custom-programmed to meet your preferred shower temperature, pulse/pressure, and duration. Available in polished gold or chrome, fixtures within this limited edition of 50 are priced between $10,000-$15,000. Each is individually numbered and arrives with a certificate of authenticity from Ondine.
Makes you want to shampoo, rinse, and repeat not just once, but twice…
Krystal*ELS
by Ondine
August 8, 2005 at 7:53 pm · Filed under Music
Ahhh… Andrea Mangia strikes again. His second full-length release, Queue For Love, features Doseone of cLOUDDEAD and Matilde of Studio Davoli.
This is fresh, delicate IDM that exudes all the warmth of your favorite jazz or hiphop record. The freeform layered samples weave in and out of classical guitar melodies and whimsical glockenspiel effects. Not too shabby for a youngster who recorded the entire album in his own apartment bathroom!
All this brought to you by one of Berlin’s best labels, Morr Music.
August 5, 2005 at 1:08 am · Filed under Architecture, Design
I love this man. Not only is he an extraordinary cinematographer (think of the critically acclaimed ‘Okay‘ and ‘Aftermath‘), he’s also snapped some of the most beautiful spaces in Denmark.
His summer home on the east coast of Jutland is also a classic Danish masterpiece. It was designed by Mette Nygaard and Morten Schmidt of Schmidt, Hammer & Lassen, one of my favorite Danish design firms.
www.zappon.com
www.shl.dk
August 4, 2005 at 7:13 pm · Filed under Architecture, Design
Miura Stool .::. Konstantin Grcic for Plank
www.planck.it
The latest to stir up buzz from Grcic is a stackable stool made from reinforced polypropylene. But don’t be fooled; it really looks stunning on its own as a sculptural work and is best viewed from multiple angles. I love the little details that are thoughtfully incorporated: a tiny row of teeth keep feet in check along the crossbar; the canted waterfall seat relieves pressure from lower lumbar area. The pictured prototype was most recently on display at the IMM/Cologne Furniture Fair 2005.
Foster’s Latest Superwork
www.viaducdemillau.com
Sir Norman Foster has outdone himself again. This time he’s completed the Viaduc de Millau, the longest cable-stayed bridge in the world. It’s taller than the Eiffel Tower runs through southern France, allowing travelers to escape to the Mediterranean.
Alyson Shotz .::. Light, Sound, Space
www.derekeller.com/alysonshotz.html
For all of my light-obsessed friends: if you haven’t heard of Alyson Shotz, Google her now! She is a master of manipulating mirrors, glass, and prisms to create unique sculptural installations that command an impressive scale. Her latest exhibition at the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum included an enormous wall of 18,000 hand-cut Fresnel magnifying lenses, each of which produced thousands of subtle reflections of light and shadow while in gentle sway.
