Studio Inspiration: Louise Bourgeois' Fabric Works
I've been working on some weavings of paper in the studio, which I promise to post some images of next week - it will be interesting to see how they evolve into some new prints I'm planning. I came across some images of Louise Bourgeois' fabric collages and drawings - they are so beautiful. All the images below are from an exhibition at Hauser and Wirth in London back in 2010.
Studio Inspiration: Sarabhai House
I picked up a book recently - Le Corbusier: Sarabhai House, Ahmedabad India 1951-55, edited and photographed by Yukio Futagawa. Something about a house surrounded by tropical forest sounds pretty appealing right now. Corbusier's conspicuous use of materials, pops and plains of color and lovely formal, geometric compositions don't fail to make the house quite handsome either.
The house was built between 1951-55 for the Sarabhai family - who were in textiles. I think the house is now used as an informal artists' residency or retreat, which explains some of the glimpses of quite special and unexpected art work here and there, and the photos do indicate that it is not used as a current residence and is showing some age.
The southwest veranda - I love the vaulted brick ceilings.
The house features several doors that pivot open - often opening up to various verandas adding to blurring of the line between inside and outside.
I love the slate floor and poured concrete trusses.
Stairway from the first floor.
The pops of color and use of wood through out the house are so beautiful. The eclectic furniture and textiles may not be so intentional given the house isn't in regular use, but I'm always glad to see images of a residential space that aren't so overdecorated or formal.
Futagawa's photographs capture the grounds and vignettes of the rooms very beautifully - pick up the book for many more images and more info about the house.
Film Friday: Cul-de-sac
Cul-de-sac, Roman Polanski's 1966 black and white, psychological thriller.
BKLYN Designs
Thanks so much to everyone near and far who came out to BKLYN Designs - I was thrilled to introduce some new designs, meet lots of interesting folks and I am really excited about how the collaboration with Peg Woodworking and Matthew Ward Studio came together. We are all really looking forward to doing more together - there is a lot floating around...from pop-up shops to a more permanent store to other trade shows in the future. I'll be sure to keep you posted.
Studio News: BKLYN Designs Planning and New Fabrics....
Man - things have been pretty busy around here....finishing taxes, getting ready for BKLYN Designs and launching our new collection, well, really soon! Last week the sample yardage arrived from our printer and I am pretty excited about how the new fabrics are looking. This week, I'm working on sample making and cutting - getting ready to photograph all the new fabrics and pillows.
Also, last week I met with the organizers and my fellow exhibitors at BKLYN Designs to see the space and talk about logistics. There's a lot to do in the way of planning for Matthew Ward, Kate Casey and I, but I think the space is really inspiring, the location in Greenpoint is great and there will be so many cool events and exhibitors to see - registration is open by following the link above.
Studio Inspiration: Marianne Brandt
I've been thinking about Bauhaus designer Marianne Brandt's work lately and how influential it continues to be - here are a handful of my favorite pieces of hers. I think all of these were exhibited at the Bauhaus exhibition at MoMa in 2009.
Marianne Brandt, Coffee and Tea Service, 1924. Silver, ebony and glass. Bauhaus-Archiv, Berlin.
Marianne Brandt, Ashtray, 1924. Brass and Nickel Plated Brass. Collection of MoMA.
Marianne Brandt, Ashtray (MT 36), 1924. Brass and nickel-plated brass. Private collection.
(L) Marianne Brandt, Ceiling Light (ME 94), 1926. Frosted Glass and Pressed Aluminum. Stiftung Bauhaus, Dessau.
(R) Marianne Brandt, Celing Light, 1926. Brushed aluminum. Bauhaus-Archiv, Berlin.
I picked up this post card when my husband and I traveled to the Bauhaus-Archiv in Berlin and to Dessau, Germany to see the famous Bauhaus buildings in 2007. In addition to the main studio building in Dessau, there was also a dormitory building and the Meisterhäuser or teachers' housing where some of the Bauhaus faculty lived and worked (the housing included studio space - awesome, I know!). This image is of László Moholy-Nagy's studio - you can see one of Brandt's light fixtures - the ME 104a, hanging over by the window.
SPRING SALE!
We are having a spring sale! 30% off on most of our pillow collection! Often, there are just one or two left, so if there is something you've had your eye on, now is the time to snap them up! Sale runs through April 3rd.
