Ryoji Ikeda: Data Jockey

Once again, the Park Avenue Armory makes the most of its vast drill hall for a commissioned work of art. In ‘Transfinite,’ Japanese artist Ryoji Ikeda programs data from sources such as NASA and the Human Genome Project to create a mesmerizing, immersive, “visual and sonic environment …” Hey isn’t that what they used to call a sound & light show? Read more here.










The black, white, and gray of the Ikeda installation felt even more stark to me, having come directly from a very lively and colorful kids’ art show.
'French Toast' was one of the visual-pun sculptures fifth graders created.


Fourth graders all made collage self portraits
ala Stephen Kroninger.
There was a ‘sonic’ element to this art show too. I got to hear the school band perform a few numbers. They did an excellent rendition of Mercy, Mercy, Mercy. (Link is for the Cannonball Adderley original.)

Brimfield Blues

I have to believe that at some point during the Brimfield antique show's 50-year history, some dejected dealer, picking away at an unsold Gibson, came up with the Brimfield Blues. I’m imagining that it was in the 95-degree heat of July, or a solid week of rain. One thing I can say for sure, though, is that it was not written nor sung this year. I’ve never seen a happier bunch of dealers than the vendors at Brimfield last week. I’d say the report on sales ranged from happy to delirious. That’s how good business was—even after one day. I’m sure there’s a economic indicator in there somewhere …

But back to blue. My first treat of the day was waiting for me in the bushes right outside the front door. Four exquisite robin’s eggs, in an expertly crafted nest. Consummate perfection is definitely a good way to start the day.

We stopped at the Sturbridge Coffee House for refueling, and were greeted by this fabulous Plymouth Fury parked right in front. By the way they have very delicious muffin tops and a sign at the counter poses the question, "What's Your Cup Size?"
It was when I watched Terry get out of the car in her cerulean parka, that I realized there was a definite blue thing going on.
Here’s how the theme played out the rest of the day…

Roof level of a multistory toy parking garage










Aren’t these incredible? They were rescued from an old house in Massachusetts and were at the same Antique Therapy booth I wrote about the other day. So far, I haven’t been able to find anything about the Armand Art Studio of Detroit.

Blue eyeshadow--just the right accent for a pink cat. Don't you think?

Artist, Terry Rosen, was scouring Brimfield for vintage New England ephemera. When she hunts, she doesn’t just look on the tables, she looks under the tables. Which is a good thing because her eagle eye spotted this flea market equivalent of “today’s news, tomorrow’s fish wrap.”

'The World of Interiors' Covers

“I am not a library, I am not an archive.” That is the mantra I repeat as I struggle to let go of a stack of magazines or any other piece of paper I don’t have room for, or that I don’t “need.”

In the mid 1990s, I subscribed to UK-based The World of Interiors. I loved being surprised each month by the inventive design and quirky subject-matter, and I still cannot part with them. When I contemplate tossing them, from time to time, I flip “once more” only to find a piece of crucial information/inspiration. That’s all I need to call off the purge. Recently, when I thought, for a few minutes, that I could actually chuck them, these first two issues were the ones I thought I would keep just for the covers.

The bejeweled feet, above, gracing the March 2000 cover, are embroidered Moroccan slippers. How perfect they are on the staircase in the Tangier home belonging to antiques dealer and collector Christopher Gibbs.


The bold wool fabric, on the cover of the March 1998 issue, is not related to the longest, nor the most significant story in the issue. It is linked to a two-page story wedged into the listings section at the end of the book. Upcoming at a Sotheby’s auction, would be an archive of swatch books from the Calico Printers Association, a society of the many textile weavers and printers located during the 19th Century in Lanceshire’s Rossendale Valley. These amazing designs, which could easily be 1920s art deco, were actually produced in 1845.




I’m throwing in a few more of the covers from the late 1990s. These issues ran without cover lines, and in those days, the issues came wrapped, so there was no bar-code disturbance either.

June 1997

July 1998

October 1996

May 1997

December 1998

Andree Putman: The Ambassador of French Style

The first retrospective in France of the work of the design diva Andree Putman, is currently on view at the Hotel de Ville, Paris. The exhibition features copies of furniture, and re-creations of rooms that she designed such as the famous bathrooms at the Morgans Hotel in New York, the interior refurbishment of Concorde and many other places.

Born in 1925, Andree Putman career spans more than 4 decades and she was designated "Above taste" by the German publication Süddeutsche Zeitung. In the 1980s, she rediscovered several major designers- Eileen Gray, Robert Mallet-Stevens, Mariano Fortuny- and launched the company Ecart International to manufacture and market these modern classics. At the same time, Mme. Putman invented the "Boutique Hotel" for Ian Schrager with Morgans in New York and then the Wasserturm in Cologne and Pershing Hall in Paris.

Eclectic projects have ranged from the Fine Arts Museum of Rouen to the CAPC in Bordeaux, from the movie sets for Peter Greenaway to the Concorde for Air France. Recent work in product design include an important silverware and jewelry collection with Christofle, a champagne cooler for Veuve Clicquot and an ultimate evolution of the legendary Steamer Bag from Louis Vuitton.

Simplicity, elegance and the use of black and white (her famous chequerboard designs were a huge success in 1984) is found in both old and recent works.

Andree Putman@Xavier Bejot-Tripod Agency

Bathrooms, Morgans Hotel, 1984@Deidi Von Schaewen

Morgans Hotel, 2008@Nicolas Koenig

Concorde@Deidi Von Schaewen

Private apartment, San Sebastian@Deidi Von Schaewen

Andree Putman's apartment@Deidi Von Schaewen

Gildo Pastor Center, Monaco, 1996@Deidi Von Schaewen

Milky Way Piano@Marc Abel

Elephant Bench@Archives Andree Putman

Crescent moon@Archives Andre Putman

Croqueuses de diamants@Archives Andree Putman

All images, courtesy of Andre Putman  and Hotel de Ville, Paris

Andree Putman retrospective is currently on view until February 26, 2011

Barton’s Sweet Spot

Founded in 1940 by Viennese chocolatier Stephen Klein, Barton’s Bonbonniere was known for selling kosher chocolates. Bringing a box or tin of Barton’s chocolate was standard when visiting friends or relatives on Jewish holidays. (Remember the illustrated black tin of Almond Kisses?)

The first Barton's store was located on 81st St. and Broadway in Manhattan, and was designed by Victor Gruen, who, like Klein, was originally from Vienna. He went on to design eleven of their stores including the 50th store in 1952.

This colorful store interior appeared in the August 1952 issue of Architectural Digest. Alvin Lustig consulted on the graphics.

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year of 5771, begins tonight. It is customary to celebrate by eating sweets and wishing others a “sweet” year.

May it be a sweet and peaceful year for all.

Via Mondoblogo, via sandiv999

Luxuriously Green- Stephanie Odegard and California Homes Magazine at Design San Francisco 2010

A panel discussion featuring Stephanie
Odegard, President of Odegard,
 Barbara
Beckmann, President of Barbara
Beckmann Designs and Sylvia Kwan, AIA and Principal, Kwan-Henmi of Architecture and Planning, moderated by California
Homes Magazine.

Join nationally acclaimed experts as they discuss sustainable
and environmentally responsible design and how incorporating lasting
craftsmanship with eco-friendly approaches in building and product design is
redefining today's luxury market.

Other speakers include topics from The Basics of Building your
Brand, LED: New Energy Efficent Technology,
Organic Materials in Modern Design to Green
and Bold:Sustaining a Vision of the Future for the Bay Area

This event is part of Design San Francisco 2010, at the SFDC Showplace Building. A celebration of creativity,
Design San Francisco will inspire you with a stimulating mix of speakers,
discussions and showrooms filled with new ideas.