

Posts Tagged ‘Nicole Bruce’
Timeless Objects Exhibit at The Future Perfect in Manhattan
The Future Perfect’s recently opened store on Great Jones Street is now showing an exhibit featuring works by Constantin and Laurene Boym set to run through the holidays until January 7, 2010. Their presentation of Timeless Objects includes a number of items created exclusively for The Future Perfect. Prior to the store’s installation, the Boym duo presented Timeless Objects to the public at Lisbon’s ExperimentaDesign in September, NYC’s Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in October, and in a personal exhibition last month at Wright in Chicago.

(Photo from Dezeen.com)

(Photo from Objectdesignleague.org)
As modern alchemists in their Brooklyn studio, the Boyms take ordinary objects and apply a coat of special, secret formula for a tough type of polymer that ends up looking like the dripping bronze of historical monuments. And voila! The mundane, discarded objects are now quite beautiful, giving new life worthy of a second look from the people who might otherwise disregard them in their everyday worlds.
Their handmade collection, a sort of commentary on the essential versus the trivial, challenges the commonplace with permanence and attempts to give the objects everlasting value. In line with the Boyms’ earlier projects, such as Recycle (1989), Searstyle (1992-94), and SalvationCeramics (2000-02), Constantin and Laurene Boym aspired to emancipate conventional objects from oblivion and neglect to give them new value and another life.
Visit the exhibit at The Future Perfect Manhattan outpost:
The Future Perfect
55 Great Jones Street (Bowery)
New York City, 10012
212-473-2500
Posted by Nicole Bruce
Archivia Books Pop-Up Bookstore Opens December 1
The Molteni Group and Archivia Books are joining forces to invite you to toast the holiday season with furnishings, kitchens, and books at Archivia Books’ pop-up bookstore, which opens tomorrow evening.
Co-founders Cynthia Conigliaro and Will Rogers opened the independent bookshop Archivia Books on New York’s Upper East Side in 2007 to specialize in illustrated books. The original Archivia: The Decorative Arts Book Shop was located on Madison Avenue across from the Whitney Museum from 1991-2001, and had established an international reputation. Now housed in a lovely, 800 square-foot space on Manhattan’s Lexington Avenue, Archivia Books features over three thousand titles on architecture, design, decorative arts, interiors, furniture, gardens, fine arts, fashion, and a miscellany of fiction and non-fiction. The store serves neighborhood clientele as well as a professional base of architects, designers, gardeners, collectors, museum curators and all those interested in the visual and applied arts. Designed by Cynthia Conigliaro herself, the shop also offers a physical space where customers seeking design inspiration, cultural exploration, and historical reference can discover and interact.

The Italian furnishing company Molteni Group opened the two-floor Molteni&C Dada Unifor Flagship Store in the Soho neighborhood of Manhattan. The store features Molteni’s modern home furnishings, the Dada kitchen collections, doors by Citterio, and the contemporary furniture built for work environments by Unifor. The New York Flagship Store is the first example of integration not just of technology and style, but also of retail between all the firms in the Molteni Group.

We are excited to present the opening of their pop-up bookstore this season!
Details about the opening:
Tuesday, December 1, 2009 from 6-8 pm
Molteni&C Dada Unifor
New York Flagship Store
60 Greene Street
www.moltenidada.com
RSVP by phone at (212) 673-7106 or email rsvp@moltenidada.com.
Posted by Nicole Bruce
Keep Warm Wherever You Go with Portable Fireplaces
Well, the weather outside isn’t quite so frightful here in New York City just yet. But, rest assured, winter is on its way. Air conditioners have come out of windows, heaters might be on for portions of the evening, and radiators are kicking on and rattling/hissing/clanging their old, obnoxious tunes. But turning up your heater (if you even have that option) doesn’t exactly have the same appeal as sitting around a cozy fire. Not everyone has the pleasure of owning a traditional fireplace in their home, and for the most part they are found in the living room area anyway. Who would have thought there would be other options for watching the mesmerizing flames flicker? And in whatever room you choose no less.
Now there’s a wide range of portable fireplaces that burn eco-friendly ethanol to replace traditional fireplaces. They offer that same inviting vibe, but can be used in any home, in any room, and can be taken with you when you move. So you can keep warm wherever you are in your home with these innovative, portable or wall mountable fireplaces that are as functional as they are stylish. While you may not exactly welcome the wet feet and cold digits that winter brings, you will be longing to fire up one of these once you’re back inside while curling up on the couch with a book and mug of hot chocolate for a toasty evening indoors.

(Pictured above: Vauni Cupola)
Vauni’s Cupola is a wall-mountable fireplace made of light-weight aluminum, making it as easy to hang as a flat screen TV. Available in a black or white matte finish, the slender design looks like a modern sculpture even when it’s not lit. The Cupola is equipped with a bio-ethanol burner that allows for vent-less fires.
They also have a globe-shaped, free-standing hearth, powered by an advanced ethanol burner.

(Pictured above: Icoya Fireplace from Arkiane)
This steel fireplace from Arkiane can be wall-mounted or built into the wall, which is ideal for tight spaces. There are also many other modern designs worth exploring from Arkiane.

The Malle à Feu is a simple, white trunk that opens to reveal a two-flame ethanol fire inside. They also make a travel-size box, which might be nice for vacationing during cooler seasons.

(Pictured above: Zeta Portable Ventless Fireplace)
The Zeta Portable Ventless Fireplace is made of timber, leather and stainless steel with a stainless-steel swivel base. It burns denatured ethanol, an environmentally friendly, renewable biofuel.

(Pictured above: Ponton Fireplace)
The Ponton Fireplace has a glass cylinder body and is fueled with standard or bio alcohol and ethanol.

(Pictured above: Fredrik Hylten-Cavallius Piet)
Swedish designer Fredrik Hylten-Cavallius designed the Piet, a chimney-free indoor fireplace with a brass reflector that burns ethanol fuel instead of wood. Because it doesn’t give off smoke, there is no need for a chimney, making it versatile and portable. It also has a layer of rockwool fire insulation between the reflector and the outer shell, which keeps the outside ceramic body cool, so you can keep it close to walls and furniture without worrying.
Posted by Nicole Bruce
Elements of Style: The Ever Unifying Power of White Pottery
Ever wonder what on earth should go in a room to bring it all together? Whether it is in a corner beside a chair, on a bookcase in the library, or on the center of a table in the foyer for all to see, people are using clean, white ceramics of all kinds as focal points to draw in the room’s elements. We’ve scoured the internet for some great finds in the pottery world, and think that these accent pieces are just what you need for a space teetering on the edge of boredom. The truly great thing about this trend? No matter the color walls, bedspread, or furniture, these simple, yet elegant white pieces will fit in anywhere.

(Pictured above: Natural Stoneware Flowers by Caroline Swift)
Each of Caroline Swift’s stoneware flowers are delicate, sensitive works of art, just like nature. Hand-crafted in England, the flowers are made individually from charcoal or natural stoneware. The centers of the flowers are works of art in themselves; a honeycomb of delicate ceramic fibers can be removed or placed in the center of the flower as desired. These intricate blooms would look beautiful on a mantelpiece or as table decorations.
The sets of three charcoal flowers are presented in a black gift box, while the natural stoneware comes in a white gift box. All are tied with a porcelain rose and gift tag, embossed with the message “with love.” Would make for a nice gift, don’t you think?

(Pictured above: Porcelain Leaves by Caroline Swift)
These truly unique porcelain leaves are as thin as paper yet remarkably strong. Hang the three strands with approximately forty leaves together or separate them to hang individually. They would look beautiful on the wall or near the light where they have a ghostly translucence.

(Pictured above: Pine Cones by Coe&Waito)
Each of Coe&Waito’s porcelain pine cones are meticulously hand sculpted, capturing the intricate beauty of natural specimens. Prices and sizes vary by type of pine cone, but you can find them in four different kinds: black pine cone, white spruce cone, red pine cone, and white pine cone.

(Pictured above: Coral Vase by Coe&Waito)
This slip-cast porcelain vase shines with a creamy clear glaze.

(Pictured above: Asya Palatova Ceramics via Graphic-Exchange Design)
Influenced by her Russian upbringing in St. Petersburg and her graphic design experiences, Asya Palatova merges classical and modern to develop objects with a purity of form that compels people to touch and use them. All of her tableware pieces are porcelain and handmade in her Rhode Island studio. This plate could be used as traditional tableware or as a decorative piece on a coffee table or mounted on a wall.

(Pictured above: 410 Votives by Asya Palatova)
Translucent and paper thin porcelain, the votives glow gently with the standard votive-size candle. The unglazed, slip-cast porcelain will vary slightly in shape due to the hand-built process.

(Pictured above: Jung-Porzellan vases)
The German porcelain maker Jung-Porzellan handcrafts each of their pieces in their Berlin studio so no two items are alike. This vase puts a modern spin on the typical flower holder. They also have an amusing looking banana holder, which can be hung from the kitchen ceiling. Be sure to check out the rest of the items in their shop, as you’re sure to find a variety of handy and charming products.

(Pictured above: Siblings, 2007 by Karen Swyler)
Karen Swyler’s work is quiet, subtle, and transitory. Her pieces are evocative because they function on many levels. The sensuous surfaces, muted colors, and fluid forms create quiet relationships meant to entice people visually and physically. Surface, line, and color bring attention to the delicate and subtle elements of design.

(Pictured above: Touch, 2009 by Karen Swyler)
Due to their understated nature, the nuances of Karen’s pieces take time to notice as they require the close attention and a heightened level of involvement from the viewer. Closer exploration gives way to different colors, while surfaces reveal themselves and hint at a more sensually profound level.

(Pictured above: Bowls by Nathalie Derouet)
French ceramist Nathalie Derouet has created remarkable fixtures for a home. Beautiful, elegant and fragile, she puts a twist on the everyday bowl shape that’s hard not to admire. Sophisticated with style and functionality, her bowls and vases can literally be used anywhere to yield a Zen-like atmosphere.

(Pictured above: Dentelles by Nathalie Derouet)
With the intricacy of lace, these contemporary dentelle pieces are sure to lead to conversation. Some of her other medusa (or jellyfish) designs have a haunting quality that will leave a lasting impression on any beholder.

(Pictured above: Round Textured Vase by Heather Knight via Etsy)
The serious quality of texture of each and every attention-grabbing porcelain treasure from the hands of Heather Knight is highly regarded. Delightful and appealing!

(Pictured above: Textured Wall Tiles by Heather Knight via Etsy)
The North Carolina-based artist has both sculptural and functional pieces, like these textured tiles for your wall. Visit her site for enlarged images of her entire wall tile collection, where you can also find all of her other fabulous designs for around the room.

(Pictured above: Williams-Sonoma Pierced Porcelain Gourd Candlelight)
Light up your room with Williams-Sonoma’s white porcelain candleholders! They evoke autumn gourds, and their glossy hand-applied glaze enhances the glow. Each candleholder has a cup for a tea light. Or, Lekker also has a larger Dutch designed porcelain lantern available for instant ambiance.

(Pictured above: VivaTerra Porcelain Origami Crane)
There’s something mesmerizing about the Japanese art of paper folding, particularly cranes, but folded porcelain? That’s just crazy! Traditional figures of serenity and peace, these unglazed porcelain origami cranes add a sculptural touch of nature to your holiday tree. Exquisitely rendered, they hang from a white silk ribbon, and come in a set of 4.

(Pictured above: YLighting Egg Vase from Moooi)
These little, lumpy vases were developed by Marcel Wanders for Droog Design. Made in the Netherlands, they come in three sizes. The white porcelain Egg Vase has a rather unique source of inspiration: the design was originally conceived by stuffing hard-boiled eggs into a latex condom! While that might sound a bit racy, there’s no denying the outcome is intrinsically endearing.
Posted by Nicole Bruce
NYC’s Storefront Presents The BLDGBLOG Book Event
Storefront for Art and Architecture, the New York City nonprofit organization founded in 1982, is committed to helping progress pioneering thinking in architecture, art and design through their acclaimed exhibition program. With exhibitions, artist talks, film screenings, conferences, and publications, the organization initiates conversation “across geographic, ideological and disciplinary boundaries.” Because of its location in the Chinatown/Little Italy/Soho area of New York City, three considerably different cultural neighborhoods, Storefront has been known to attract a diverse audience.



This Saturday, September 26, the public forum for emerging voices is inviting readers, artists, thinkers, builders, visionaries and the like to The BLDGBLOG Book Launch. Author Geoff Manaugh of The BLDGBLOG Book (Chronicle Books; Paperback; On-sale now) has been a voice in speculation about architecture, landscape, and the built environment since 2004. Enhanced by stunning images, The BLDGBLOG Book cultivates Manaugh’s distinct vision, offering an inspirational and entertaining idea-filled guide to the future of architecture.
It’s a free and open to the public day-long event of presentations covering architectural conjecture, urban speculation, and landscape futures, by many of the writers, thinkers, and practitioners whose work is featured in The BLDGBLOG Book at Storefront for Art and Architecture.

For more information on Storefront for Art and Architecture and this event, please visit Storefrontnews.org.
To purchase or read more about The BLDGBLOG Book, visit the Chronicle Books site.
Photos of Storefront for Art and Architecture by Rasmus Norlander found on Storefrontnews.org.
Posted by Nicole Bruce




















































