Sight Unseen Presents Noho Next Design.

The Noho Design fair tends to bring new designers and objects into the world presenting in various locations in the Noho (North of Houston) neighborhood. The selection of work at 45 Bleeker street is meant to highlight new designers. There were a few gems in this space presented by Sight Unseen and  Jawbone.  Misha Kahn was showing a neon table, a shingled chest of semi-functioning drawers (you have to decide if you want the cabinet open or not) and porcelain bubble lamps.  He is a recent recipient of a Fulbright scholarship,  a graduate of RISD and working on his Masters in Design from the Bezalel Academy in Israel.  

Eric Trine, the Portland based self described “Maker of Things” created a vignette that reminded me of the pictures in the old photo albums of my grandparents.  I really love geometric wire plant stands which are available at Poketo in Los Angeles.

Another new addition to the design world is Caitlin Mociun.  She is a jewelry and textile designer based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.  Among other things, she was showing these triangle pillows which are perfect to rest your tired little wrists from all that mouse clickage.  Check out her store and website at Mociun.com

Noho Design “Marbelles” by Guillaume Sasseville

This week is NYC Design Week. ICFF, Wanted Design and Noho Design all run fairs in tandem.  I had the opportunity to visit 2 Bond Street, a temporary store and space that is showing new design objects in the Noho Design District.  One of the objects I found most interesting are these “Marbelles.” They are solid marble dumbbell weights created by Guillaume Sasseville, a French-Canadian designer based in Montreal.  The weights each are around 5lbs, and will be inscribed with 2kg etchings on the end.  Sasseville collaborated with Josee Lepage of BondToo after she saw a table he made of marble which is on view at the Wanted Design Fair this week.  She thought, “wouldn’t it be cool if this were even smaller, like a dumbbell?”  They haven’t quite determined a price yet, but the dumbbells will run you around $2,000.

Kinder Modern: Design for Kids at Collective Design Fair

Founded by Lora Appleton and Bachman Brown Clem, Kinder MODERN is a New York City-based gallery showcasing vintage children’s design of the 20th century. The collection is edited with a playful eye and functional view, featuring both American and European design. They feature designers such as Hans Wegner, Marc Berthier, Friso Kramer and Ernest Igl.  I love this child’s desk which comes complete with original sheepskin seat cover.  Visit them today at the Collective Design Fair, now through May 11th.

Artbook: Collective Design Fair

I had the pleasure of finding the best books about design to include in the first ever Collective Design Fair taking place right now through May 11th.  Artbook asked me to transform a former parking garage and municipal storage facility at pier 57 in Manhattan, into a pop-up shop selling the best design books you can buy.  On Friday at 2:00, we will be having a book event with the author Jeffrey Head about the artist/designer Paul Evans.  Get a copy for yourself at the fair or online using my special Popular Offerings reader discount code ARTBOOK25.

Jason Rens: West of Memphis

Designed by Jason Rens

Jason Rens joins a new movement of designers who aim to improve, or explore the opportunities of Memphis, the design movement created by Ettore Sottsass, Alessandro Mendini, Nathalie du Pasquier and many others. Sottsass which I have written about before, was the forefather of the Memphis Group the colorful geometric design style of the 80s which died in 1988 when trends changed, and designers began to experiment with other forms.  However, Jason Rens (Portland) along with people like ROLU (Minneapolis), Alma Allen (Joshua Tree) are using some of the shapes and colors of the Memphis Group, but are experimenting with new materials.  Much of the new look is very west coast, with earthy colors and southwestern native prints and raw materials.

Shiva Vase by Ettore Sottsass

Knew Vase Collection by Jason Rens

Bookends by Jason Rens

California Style: Steven Harrington

The California based artist Steven Harrington has created a very unique lamp in an edition of 12.  His whimsical, colorful, tribalish work is very Cali, and reminds me of cheerful little hobbit men living in the base of a big redwood tree.  I love the turquoise paint splattered shade, do I sense a DIY project coming on?  The lamp is his first project with wood, and is in collaboration with Case Studyo.

Design Openings: R20th Presents

The design gallery, R20th Century will have two new shows opening March 5th.  “Contemporary Korean 2” features the work of four of Korea’s top contemporary designers: Hun Chung Lee, Bae Sehwa, Zong Sun Bahk, Myung Sun Kang and Byung Hoon Choi.They are also opening an exhibition of “Christian Wassmann: 5 Platonic Objects” Christian Wassmann is a New York-based architect and designer. The exhibition will feature objects, furniture and drawings inspired by five unique geometric forms, the platonic solids.

Design Inspiration: Karl Lagerfeld shoots Cassina.

Designer and fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld was invited by Cassina the famed Italian design casa to photograph 30 different furniture pieces from their collection. Lagerfeld chose works by Le Corbusier, Albini and Gio Ponti.  His editorial eye truly makes the furniture pop.

Design Inspiration: Wendell Castle

The first exhibit of Wendell Castle’s work in over 20 years is now on view at R20th Century Gallery in Tribeca until February 24th.  On the occasion of Wendell’s 80th birthday, R20th has also released a book of his work.  The beautifully formed wooden sculptures are trippy, colorful, and deceptively simple.

Light Sculptures, Fiberglass -Wendell Castle

Wood Sculpture, Wendell Castle

Wooden Table, Wendell Castle

Wendell Caste Book Available at artbook.com $60.00

Hotel Droog: Amsterdam, has only one bed for slumber.

Droog is a design house based in the Netherlands started by Renny Ramakers.  She has championed the designers Maarten Baas and Tejo Remy, to name a couple, and has now opened a conceptual department store called Hotel Droog.  The hotel is the services and lifestyle you would expect from any hotel, but it only has one bed.  There is an exhibition gallery, fairytale garden, dining, a Droog store, a beauty store by Cosmania, Fashion at Kabinet, and Dutch products at Weltevree and one bedroom to sleep (it is booked every night).

“The concept of a hotel has been reversed. Whereas a hotel is usually mostly about sleeping, here we have enlarged and emphasized all the aspects that many hotels also offer and made them central to the hotel experience—and it even has a room to sleep in,” says Renny Ramakers, co-founder and director of Droog. “Hotel Droog brings all of our activities under one roof—from curation to product design, exhibitions and lectures—and invites people to plug in as they choose.”

 While you are there, make sure to check out new furniture pieces created by Mark van der Gronden.