When birch tree forests are pruned or agricultural cultivations of fruit trees are picked, they are dispersed or burned. I have always been fascinated by these parts of nature, that continue to give off a grand expressive force, more powerful when they are combined with modern, perfect and industrial materials. They become mysterious, always diverse, unique, unrepeatable and somewhat sacred presences.
Trees, trunks and branches are part of our ancient culture but also of actual culture, because in the age of globalization, design searches to trace recognizable ‘anthropologoical’ platforms.
The collection, ‘Trees’ consists to place simple, everyday objects, books, and images next to the strange presence of branches and trunks, like in the reality of the world.

Andrea Branzi

In a short time, Carpenters Workshop Gallery in Paris has already treated us to a regular and rich demonstration of Design Art: in March Andrea Branzi will be given space to express himself as a free and committed thinker with this new collection « Trees ».

In a space that was once the Galerie de France, a place where contemporary art flourished, Catherine Thieck will come back to pose a few objects from her own collection on the shelves of Andrea Branzi. Works by Marcel Duchamp, Constantin Brancusi, Méret Oppenheim and Rebecca Horn will fill the shelves of an artist whose personality and preoccupations have remained consistently at the avant-garde of the architecture and design world.

The Italian architect and designer Andrea Branzi, born in 1938, was ahead of his time in Florence in 1966 when he set up Archizoom associati, the first, internationally renowned avant-garde group. In order to define this remarkable character, one must use the vocabulary of projects: theoretical research, new design, experimental laboratory, leeway, mass creativity, new organization… He also he coordinates and curates exhibitions, he regularly exhibits his personal work , publishes manifestos, teaches generations of students and participates in conferences all over the world.

« Trees » represents a continuation of his thinking on architecture. He creates a minimalist space of shelves, veritable pieces of micro-architecture made from aluminum that spread out in neo-plastic bursts like a Mondrian. However, through the splits in the frame, Andrea Branzi introduces trunks and twigs gathered in the wild. This strange encounter that began in the eighties with « Animali domestici », questions the duality of the nature-culture relationship. With « Trees », he adds a dimension, an extra slice of soul, as nature becomes art.

opening: saturday 10 march 4 > 9pm
exhibition: andrea branzi | trees
exhibition dates: 10 march > 16 may 2012
venue: carpenters workshop gallery | rue de la Verrerie, marais, 75004, paris | t / +33 (0)1 42 78 80 92
[ carpenters workshop gallery ]

Gatley here is a chip off the old Allner block. His recent work for clients such as Think Quarterly and The Times does what the best infograhics do: it conveys information and tells a story. Plus, and perhaps most notably, Gatley’s style is approachable, making even a bar chart on diabetes seem friendly.

about perrin drumm

John R. Eckel, Jr. was a patron of the arts. He was a dedicated and loyal collector with a distinct eye. Eckel acquired works with commitment, generosity and passion to amass a collection that conveyed the breadth and depth of the artists and designers he appreciated most. With more than a dozen works by Paul Evans, including an Argente sculpture and a custom wall-mounted cabinet, more than a half a dozen sculptures by Harry Bertoia, numerous furniture designs by the architect Richard Meier that Eckel had acquired to complement his Meier designed apartment in New York and multiple works by other designers, the collection demonstrates his zeal for building a comprehensive and dedicated assortment of works.
 
Highlights from the sale include a bundled steel wire sculpture by Harry Bertoia, a rocking chaise by Richard Meier and a three-piece Unicorn sofa set by Vladimir Kagan. A beautiful bush form by Bertoia and a galvanized metal sculpture by Isamu Noguchi also stand out within the collection. James Prestini, Maria Pergay, and Jean Prouvé are just a few of the other artists and designers who captured the eye of John R. Eckel.   

 
The Collection of John R. Eckel Jr. is comprised of more than 100 works of art and design. Each lot is featured in a specialized, full-color auction catalog [ view catalog online ]. Gallery preview runs through June 27th |10am – 5pm | 1440 West Hubbard Street Chicago | 312 563 0020 [ wright auction ]

Auction 28 June 2011  12 pm cst

design: tezuka architects

[ photography by Iwan Baan ]

Dutch designer Maarten Baas designed this five-meter high chair for human rights charity Amnesty International. Its titled “empty chair” because Liu Xiaobo could not accept the 2010 Nobel Peace prize in person because he was in prison.

Baas will present the piece in Amsterdam on Saturday to mark the the 50th anniversary of Amnesty International.

The information below is from Maarten Baas:

On invitation of Amnesty International, and in honor of the Chinese Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, Maarten Baas has designed The Empty Chair.

Amnesty International invited Maarten Baas to design a piece to support their campaign against the increased suppression of writers, journalists, artists and activists.

In 2010 Liu Xiaobo was awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize for his peaceful battle for fundamental human rights. Liu Xiaobo could not accept the prize in person, because he was in jail serving a 11 year imprisonment for ‘undermining of the state’.

Therefore, The Empty Chair of Liu Xiaobo became a symbol for repression.

The Empty Chair, designed by Maarten Baas is about five meters tall and will be presented during the 50th anniversary of Amnesty International on May 28, 2011 in Pakhuis De Zwijger in Amsterdam.

The design of “The Empty Chair” will soon be available in the form of an exclusive pin.

designer: maarten baas

artist: arthur buxton

about phil patton

Pipilotti Rist: Pour Your Body Out (7354 Cubic Meters)
November 19, 2008-February 2, 2009

The Donald B. and Catherine C. Marron Atrium, second floor

Pipilotti Rist’s lush multimedia installations playfully and provocatively merge fantasy and reality. MoMA commissioned the Swiss artist to create a monumental site-specific installation that immerses the Museum’s Marron Atrium in twenty-five-foot-high moving images. Visitors will be able to experience the work while walking through the space or sitting upon a sculptural seating island designed by the artist.

who is pipilotti?
Born in Grabs in the Swiss Rhine Valley, 1962

Studies of commercial art, illustration and photography at the Institute of Applied Arts in Vienna, Austria, 1982-1986
Studies of audio visual communications (video) at the School of Design in Basel, Switzerland, Professor René Pulfer, 1986-1988
Freestyle video / audio works and installations, since 1986
Freelancer as a grafic computer operator in different industrial video studios, 1987-1994
Member of the music band Les Reines Prochaines, concerts, performances and LP / CD’s, 1988-1994
Visiting professor at UCLA, Los Angeles CA, 2002-2003
From 2005 – 2009 she worked on her first feature film, ‘Pepperminta’

Lives and works in Zurich and in the mountains of Switzerland, since 2004

Her favorite number is 54. Against taboos and stereotypes with emotion and humor…

[MoMA]

editor’s note: this video, among others, is shown to art & design students. an inspiring example of an artist explaining the concept and pulling you in with analogies, metaphors, and their passion.