Author: designevangelist

Opposites Attract: Cole Haan Soho Launches Mismatched Colorful Wingtip Oxfords

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  This weekend, as I passed the Cole Haan shop in Soho, a table of brightly colored oxfords caught my eye though the window. With color on my radar for spring, I couldn’t help but venture inside. It just so happens that Cole Haan was hosting a preview of their latest collection, a series of vibrant colored oxfords available in several variations for men and women. The style that I found most interesting was a unmatched pair comprised of two shoes with color dispersed in opposite areas of its mate. While I consider myself fairly forward-thinking in terms of fashion, I have never considered wearing two different shoes up until now. The more I think about it, the more it grows on me. It is like a wearable art exhibition. However, if you are not ready to brave the new trend, they have a remarkable assortment of solid colored wingtip oxfords available in rich shades of green, navy, and pink. These special edition styles are now available in limited quantities exclusively at Cole Haan 128 Prince Street, New …

Sticker Shock

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What will you get if you give thousands of stickers to thousands of kids and let them loose in a confined space? You will get the Obliteration Room, an instillation created by Yayoi Kusama at the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art. Kusama transformed a blank gallery into a domestic—style environment, then painted everything entirely white to enable it take shape as a canvas. Over the course of two weeks, the museum distributed colored dot stickers to children visitors encouraging them to take part in the creative transformation of the space. The result was visually extraordinary. Truly unexpected artistic chaos in its finest form. It is amazing what can take shape as a result of collaboration without boundaries. The Obliteration Room is a part of Kusama’s Look Now, See Forever exhibition that runs until March 12.

Patterns from Above

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Lately, I have been finding inspiration from nature and our surroundings. Sometimes it takes abandoning conventional methods of thought and looking at things with an abstract perspective. That is exactly the approach that Brent Yaggi & Sarah Hicks, a couple from Colorado took. Over the past 3 years they have traveled across the country to photograph North America from above. In a Cessna 172  2,000 feet high, they captured the abstract beauty of the landscape below. To see more and to purchase, visit their site: Patterns from Above via Because I am Addicted

Molas: Kuna Textiles of Panama

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I just returned from Costa Rica. As usual, I was on a hunt to satisfy my textile obsession. While the indigenous communities of Costa Rica are not known for textile production, I managed to discover a group that is, just over the border in Panama. The Kuna Indians, a tribal community occupying the San Blas islands off the Eastern coast of Panama are recognized for their colorful geometric cotton panels referred to as Molas. The elaborate, artistic textiles are created utilizing a reverse appliqué technique applied to several layers of different color cloth, through which designs are carved. Molas have become a part of the traditional dress of the Kuna women. They are attached to the front of blouses and skirts as a form of artistic expression and a celebration of the culture.

The Human Kaleidoscope

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Ok Go collaborated with the renowned experimental dance company, Pilobolus for their latest video All is Not Lost. Known for pushing the boundaries in the realm of music videos, Ok Go has taken it step further to produce a piece of work that is more a digital masterpiece than a music video. With a little help from Google Chrome and their master programmers, synchronized dancers take shape as a human kaleidoscope. View the full experience through your Google Chrome browser here www.allisnotlo.st

The Most Beautiful Parking Garage in America

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The Michigan Theatre parking garage built in 1925 by Rapp & Rapp architects once existed as Detroit’s most extravagant concert house. The theater closed in 1967 as a result of declining attendance, and in 1976 it was converted into a 3 story parking garage as it stands today. To preserve the structural integrity of an attached office building, it was necessary for the shell of the original building to stay intact. Today, remnants of the magnificent Neo-Classical architecture remain surrounding the space. Upon glazing at the ceiling you can just about make out the holes where decadent 10ft chandeliers once hung. The unexpected juxtaposition of the ornate, gilded details against the cement floor and surrounding brick walls make it truly visually extraordinary. via The Coolist

The Eye of the Sahara

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What seems to resemble an abstract painting is actually the eye of the Sahara desert photographed from above. The 31 mile wide bulls-eye referred to as the Richat Structure is believed to have been formed by erosion. The abstract beauty found in nature continuously astounds me. More often than not, we get so wrapped in our day to day lives that don’t realize the beauty of our surroundings that is right in front of us. via But Does it Float

The Art of Collaboration: Bottega Veneta Fall-Winter 2011/2012 Ad Campaign

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I can’t help but take my eyes off Bottega Veneta’s fall/winter 2011 ad campaign. It is the latest endeavor from world renowned architecture photographer Robert Polidori as part of “The Art of Collaboration” series that aligns Bottega Veneta with celebrated artists and photographers. The campaign was shot this past spring at the Palazzo Papadopoli in Venice,Italy. The photos are truly remarkable compositions that represent a brilliant fusion of art, design, and fashion. It is has been quite sometime since I have seen an advertising campaign of this caliber from a major fashion house. Take a look at the behind the scenes video. It is nothing short of inspirational.

Wharton Esherick

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Wharton Esherick, known for his exquisite mid-century designs was a woodworker that created expressionistic furniture and interiors. He focused on the shape of his creations, treating each piece as a unique sculpture. He created curvilinear free-form designs that elicited fluid movement and emotion. His approach garnered him significant recognition for bridging the gap between art and craft. His wooden art spans a fifty year period from 1920 until his death in 1970. Though, it was not until around 1930, when he was in his 40’s that his emphasis turned to furniture design. He spent his early years painting Cubist and Impressionist landscapes and portraits, as well as, designing prints, posters and theater sets. Wharton Esherick has been called the link between the Arts and Crafts Movement and the revival of furniture making following World War II. His legacy lies as the dean of American craftsmen and the pioneer of the Studio Furniture Movement where he was joined by George Nakashima, Sam Maloof, James Krenov, Tage Frid, and later, Wendell Castle. His hilltop studio/residence, now a National Historic Landmark for …