Meet Andrea Branzi & His Portali Collection

I quite accidentally came across this amazing collection of limited edition ceramic vases for SUPEREGO by the famous italian architect Andrea Branzi. Each piece is designed to hold flowers but is much more than that. Small sculptures and unique art that interacts with the organic flowers within them.

Take a look at some of my favorites:










Buy one here before they're all gone!

About the Artist:

Andrea Branzi, architect and designer, born in Florence in 1938, where he graduated in 1967, lives and works in Milano.

From 1964 to 1974 he was a partner of Archizoom Associati, first vanguard group internationally known, whose projects are preserved at Centro Studi e Archivio della Comunicazione in Parma and at Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris.

Since 1967 he works in the fields of industrial and research design, architecture, urban planning, education and cultural promotion. He is also a Professor at the Third Faculty of Architecture and Industrial Design of Politecnico di Milano.

Since the beginning Andrea Branzi’s work has dealt with urban planning, architecture and design, meant as professional activities integrated and engaged in the production of innovation.

In this sense there has always been a close relation between project and research, meant as activities engaged to foster knowledge and critical reflection about design and its historical context. Since the birth of the radical movement (his graduation thesis is preserved at Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris), to his present educational and research activities about the models of weak urbanisation.

His archive is preserved at Centro Studi e Archivio della Comunicazione in Parma (Italy), while the photographic archive of Archizoom Associati is at Centre Georges Pompidou

To read more about the artist, click here.

The Classic Nelson Platform Bench Gets A Modern Makeover

above: The Classic George Nelson Platform Bench manufactured by Herman Miller and originally designed in 1946

Forgive me George, because I will forever be a fan of your slat bench, the Nelson Platform Bench, as it's formally known.

However, Simply Italian's maple and stainless steel legged slat bench is clearly an hommage to yours with a few proportion and material differences. (manufactured by Cumin).

And they did a pretty darn nice job.

Below: Simply Italian's Modern Bench



Buy Simply Italian's bench here.

Buy the classic Nelson Platform Bench Here.

Meredith Dittmar's Polymer Musings

Meredith Dittmar is an artist living and playing in Portland OR. Born near Boston Mass, she grew up in a world of pet pigs, horses, hay-forts and spy games . Follow this with an education in computer science, a career in interactive design, a compulsive need to create, and a drive to Seek and you get the major elements of her person and work.



Dittmar's human-animal-plant-energy amalgams contain threads of common elements and colors to express deep levels of union across themes of biology, technology, and consciousness . Her characters are frequently involved in quiet expressive moments, or lounge facing their audience so they can share their inner space. Dittmar believes it is this space we recognize in ourselves, and through convening in that space, the interconnectedness of all things is revealed. She sees the act of spontaneous artistic creation as part of a larger practice of being present, and a way to better understand herself and reality.


Above: Meredith at work

Dittmar's work is featured in the books Dot dot Dash and Mascotte 2, along with numerous magazines and online publications. In conjunction with her artwork she works as an independent character designer and maintains her company Corporatepig, through which she continues to create thousands of unique handmade characters called "My Guys".

Each is approximately 4" tall and is 'one of a kind'. They sell out immediately upon posting (you have to be on her e-mail list) because the pirce for these sweet little 'guys' is only $18 a piece for the originals.

Here are some (sold already) pictured below.




In addition to these "one-offs" she sells "clones' too on her site.. Multiple versions of the same sweet creatures. These are only $12 a piece and although not as unique, equally adorable and incredibly affordable at only 12$ a piece. Here are a few of those:




Lest you think she only makes cute little "guys', her art, polymer mounted on plexiglass, is something to behold as well:






Above: detail from artwork above

About Meredith:

Meredith Dittmar was born outside of Boston Mass. A self taught artist - she first started sculpting at UMass while trying to avoid getting her computer science degree. After graduating and several years pursuing the backcountry on her snowboard she worked as an interactive designer/programmer - her digital works having been shown in international film festivals, exhibits and magazines.

She has since put the digital realm on the back burner to pursue 3-dimensional passions. Over ten thousand completely UNIQUE "guys" have been created and successfully adopted in the last 10 years. Along with her 3d "doodles" she creates larger hung environments inspired by nature, Consciousness, and the various diverse music scenes she has participated in over the years. Meredith currently lives, explores the outdoors, and seeks the zone in Portland Oregon with her husband Randy, dog Oscar and crew of amazing peeps.

Her present show:

The Evolution of Psychepolymereganics by Meredith Dittmar
OCT 04 - 31 2007
Reception: Oct 4th @ 7:00pm

click here to see her newest pieces for sale!

Aaron R. Thomas Gallery Opens in Costa Mesa

My regular readers may recall that I did a post on Aaron R. Thomas' acrylic pieces way back in March.

And, as my uncanny ability to predict trends proves, yesterday's LA Times featured a story on the new opening of their California gallery.

Aaron R. Thomas to open a.r.t.a.e. gallery October 11, 2007


Furniture designer Aaron R. Thomas, known for bent acrylic tables and chairs beloved by fans of Hollywood Regency and 1970s design, will open the gallery a.r.t.a.e. on Saturday.

The new 4,000-square-foot space, a collaboration with artist Anne Ewen, is not only a showcase for pieces such as the Waterfall table ($1,825), shown above with the new silk-screened Antiquities umbrella holder ($380), but also a venue for Thomas and Ewen to exhibit their ethereal abstract paintings.

Event runs 7 to 11 p.m.
2777 Bristol St., Suite D,
Costa Mesa; (714) 434-1113;

www.aaronrthomas.com.

If you can't make it to the actual opening or new gallery, you can shop their products online here.

Way to go guys! Congratulations!

Saarinen's Tulip Chair & Table Go Platinum

To Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Eero Saarinen's now iconic collection, Knoll has introduced these tables, chairs and stool with a platinum finish as well as re-introducing the wood (rosewood and teak) tabletops.





Above: The original Saarinen table from Knoll in my own dining room. The table belonged to my parents who bought it in 1958. The chairs are actually Burke reproductions and the cushions are the originals from Knoll in sunshine yellow vinyl with cotton and velcro backs.

Design Eero Saarinen, 1956.
Aluminum base, fiberglass, upholstery.
Made in USA by Knoll.



History
In 1956, Eero Saarinen addressed the “ugly, confusing, unrestful world resulting from the slum of legs underneath typical chairs and tables. In 1957, Knoll unveiled the Pedestal Collection by Eero Saarinen, known today as the Tulip Collection, which has evolved into a symbol of mid-century modern design and a mainstay of the Knoll design legacy.

See the original 1958 Press Release from Knoll here.


Above: The original chairs

Commemorative Edition
To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of this iconic collection, Knoll is adding a platinum base finish and reintroducing rosewood and teak table tops. These new finishes will be a permanent addition to the line.



Above: The special platinum edition
In addition, all Tulip pieces ordered between August 1, 2007 and August 1, 2008, in any finish, will ship with a commemorative medallion and special certificate of authenticity.

Where To Buy
Several Knoll Space retailers are promoting the Saarinen 50th Anniversary collection. By visiting these retailers, you can preview the commemorative medallion and obtain literature on the Anniversary Collection.

The Tulip Collection, in any finish, can be purchased through all Knoll Space retail locations or dealers in North America. Find a Knoll Space retailer near you.

Awards
The Museum of Modern Art Award, 1969
Federal Award for Industrial Design, 1969
Design Center Stuttgart Award, 1962



Construction
Chairs and tables feature a heavy, molded cast aluminum base with a strap polished finish. Black and white chairs and tables are rilsan coated. Platinum finish consists of a high-resilient polyurethane enamel wet coat with a clear satin finish.
Shell is molded fiberglass with a reinforced, plastic bonded finish
Chairs are available with or without arms in a fixed position or with swivel action.



Upholstery
Available with a seat cushion only or with upholstered inner shell
Available in a variety of Knoll Textiles or Spinneybeck leather
Seat cushion is removable and is encased with a zippered cover and fastened to the shell with velcro
Platinum shell finish is not available with inner shell upholstery


Above:20" Side table with timeless teak top and platinum base is accompanied by an oval Rosewood coffee table

Finishes
Base and shell finishes are available in white, black and platinum
Table top options include white laminate and various marble, veneer and granite options

Sustainable Design
All Knoll Studio seating is GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified® for low-emitting products


Above: Original Print ad from Knoll, 1958

More history and information as well as retailers and other places of purchase.

Funky Find of The Week: Marcel Wander's Gold-Plated Clown Nose Necklace

This has got to be up there with the weirdest items on the market.

For $853 USD you can wear this 'nose necklace' around your neck and actually put it on and look like Bozo with a gold nose.

Hmmmm...

Click on the above image to purchase.
And if you do, let me know... I'm dying to know if any of these have ever sold!

Lucite & Stainless Steel Luxury Tub: The Rossovivo

I'm not sure if I like this tub or hate it, but admittedly it's an original design and certainly functional. I suppose if you had a modern loft or cement floors, it could be very cool and appropriate.




Rossovivo is made of Lucite IceTM, a semi-transparent material that is pleasant to the touch, available in Ice Red, Ice Blue and Ice White. The unusual and exclusive frame – that makes a definite statement – is in stainless steel.14 Airpool jets, that can be activated by the remote control, provide a gentle massage to the whole body and can be mixed, if desidered with ozone.
The inspection panel gives immediate access to the mechanical and hydraulic components beneath the tub. Two soft headrests in Technogel complete the equipment.

The tub is also available without hydromassage system.



1. Gentle, all-over massage with ozone
2. Ergonomic headrests Technogel
3. Remote control
4. Steel frames
5. Bathtub in Lucite™ transparent material
Read more about it here.