philly, by design

oh my my my my my my my...

blacklight danny partridge prints in the bathroom, umbrellas hanging down from above, fabric trim in lieu of soffits... fantastic stuff.

i'm embarrassed to say last night was my first glimpse at the fabric workshop & museum... unfortunate that until this point i've been missing out on all the fun. this is not old biddies knitting socks, people... creative, fresh-minded people- young and old, men and women- turn out some really great items here (in what i consider one of the better gallery spaces i've seen). and the people agree- last night was jampacked full of those in the know.

and i haven't even touched on the workshop's store, factory, or sidestage displays.

side note- louise bourgeois is the current exhibition, which includes both the obligatory fiberwork as well as a multimedia performance video. a very intriguing exhibit from an artist with a sculptural background... you may have noticed another work of hers in town recently- the giant spider on the steps of the art museum. absolute madness, i love it.

more info:

fabric workshop and museum website- mission statement, fantastic pics, reviews, artists-in-residence, how to support, their history, just tons and tons of useful info

philly weekly's recent article- the workshop et al vs the pa convention center spread

jorge pardo, the man behind their recent renovations- an artist/designer who gets it, very nice. ;)

"clean modern lines and a focus on environmentally-friendly materials" pretty much sums up the local design duo iannone:sanderson. featured at this years international contemporary furniture fair, the studio's innovative use of form and materials have been highlighted in several online and print publications. and for good reason: though green trends in design have been an recurrent theme in recent years, very few have been able to marry it with grace, style, and swagger like they have...

worth noting: the team is comprised of michael iannone and james sanderson, two young guys with a bfa in studio art and ba engineering/m.arch, respectively. educated out of state and building their biz here in philly, the two show that design doesn't have to be limited to select generations, degrees, or locales. very important to remember, if you ask me... are you hearin this, philly???

metropolis mag writeup

home and garden article

iannone:sanderson website- more links, photos, and bios too...

business meets nonprofit in the art furniture experience. benefitting both inliquid and habitat for humanity, the exercise asked local artists to enhance a simple chair provided by dane decor...




not bad, though i think the the most successful item is the least likely to get a high bid:

there's a push-pull of form/function going on in each of the entries, which really is what separates art and design, afterall... functionally, an artist slapping a print on a chair isn't terribly exciting- the graphic entries look pretty enough, but don't say much... formally, on the other hand, transforming a chair with overwhelming materiality and a sense of it's own entropy is kinda smart. i'd buy it, but a $200 opening bid is a little off my price point. maybe next year... ;)

dane decor - local contemporary furniture

inliquid- local art community news, links, happenings, etc.

habitat for humanity

post-mtv, the seaman's church institute has a new lease on life...

very excited to see the reincarnation of the once-garrish mtv house. while a somewhat traditional white cube gallery, the historic elements of the former church (like marble mouldings and crystal chandelier) offset and enrich an otherwise spartan interior. further, these transitional bits also play on the work displayed, creating an interesting dialogue between space and subject.

hmm... i'm not sure the space is presently too large-scale, however. perhaps the addition of sculptural works, seating, or even a mock-foyer could help scale it down?

of course, the current exhibition is fantastic still. make sure to check out dustin kemper's work on the second floor- really something else, that.

previous post, pre-renovation- includes info on f.u.el., the church, more pics, etc.

play with camera or dimension floor plans? hmm, tough choice.






just 2 more weeks till freedom...

why update your space with mass-produced trash when you can shop local and authentic???

"this popular, block-party style event features local arts organizations and 100+ artists showing and selling affordable artwork for every budget (nothing over $199), plus live music, raffle, food, and drink..." sounds like a good time to me!

saturday, june 10th 1-8pm @ the crane arts building, 1400 north american street.

inliquid- local arts non-profit with tons of pictures, links, events, biographies, and more

(formerly)

(interior)

(double-wide)

(view)

apparently the building hasn't changed much since 1936's belber trunk factory: exposed decking, concrete (with scattered masonry) walls, and tulipped columns remain. reconstruction is still in the early stages of rehabitation though, with floors 6 and above (seen in the 2nd interior pic) pretty much unrecognizable as condo-space...

major flaw: half walls for a two-bedroom apartment. per code, you can't have full height walls in bedrooms without windows. guess privacy can't be too high a priority for potential residents...

so-so, not bad: raised bedrooms and/or living areas. level changes make spaces feel more special, plus give you different eyelines throughhout... which could be good OR bad, depending on the quality of your interiors person.

good stuff: (tie) a super-fast glass elevator and some really nice views of the city.

more:

philadelphia historic photo archive- organized by location

orens brothers- developers

wulff architects- in chrage of renovation. check out the original plans for the building under multi-familt residential, yikes

situated in the middle of an otherwise-un-noteworthy strip of sansom street is a cozy haven for designers and tea aficionados alike. opened just last year, remedy tea reflects the personal aesthetic of sisters kristen and courtney kammerer in both offerings and environment:

i can't get enough of that chandelier...

what was once an abandoned storefront has been made truly invigorating by the duo. a large space is made comfortable and more inviting by the use of varied materials and bold colors. chocolate wood tones, antique whites, lime green and -my personal fave- electric orange metallics all combine to make for an uplifting, yet comfortable experience. add modern furnishings, raw concrete, & auction-bought chandelier too??? fantastic stuff.

my drink of choice is their take on the cosmo... with passionfruit iced tea, cranberry juice & lime juice, mmm...

remedy tea online- history, press, and menus... enjoy!

this ain't basket-weaving and faux finishes people...

kinda makes "first unitarian" sound a bit boring, doesn't it?

however eyecatching, the name's deceiving: what was once hallowed ground has long been de-sanctified, so it doesn't even get the title "church" any longer. instead, the space has played host to a number of secular businesses in the past and has been vacant for almost a year now. however, the site at 22nd and chesntut streets recently acquired some new tenants.... and through the generosity of a good friend (thanks chris!), i was able to attend their much-anticipated welcoming reception last night.

but before i offer up the requisite photos, let me prelude with this:

while the outside remained true to the original, walking by i could only imagine what was left of the guts of the space. developers of corporate culture, as sensitive to architectural history as they can be... yeah right.... very easily have covered, removed, and even destroyed the works of long-forgotten artisans and craftsman time and time again. at the risk of sounding melodramatic, i was sure the space had been ruined forever...

all i can say is, i'm glad i was wrong:



mark b thompson architects- also behind the renovations of the waterworks and reading terminal

philadelphia area buildings- pictures and history of the site, membership required

corporate facilities inc- new tenants who throw a damned good party ;)

from may 3-july 30, candida hofer's "architecture of absence" will be on display at the institute of contemporary art at the university of pennsylvania. her advert/postcard reads in part:

[she] photographs grand interior spaces overtaken by an exquisite sense of stillness... absence is signaled everywhere by empty chairs, podiums, and arenas around the world that call out to be occupied.

the only way i can describe her work is as if i'm on the precipice of seizing... it's absolutely *sick* (slang, a good thing) the way she's able to capture this odd, biological nature of a space without a human population. it's a great marriage of art, architecture, and interior design, in my opinion. i can't wait to see her work in person, and wish me luck sneaking into the opening night... ;)

more eye candy:
former exhibition pics with bio
upcoming show at the institute of contemporary art

(pictures courtesy ica and r. bransten)

on my daily commute...




society created to reduce urban blight- local philly group! contains everything you need to know about billboards and other pollution in the city. pics, links, cases, press and more... good stuff.

scenic america site- the good guys

outdoor advertising association of america- the bad guys

"culture jamming"- spinoff topic, using billboards to combat advertising

(employee lounge)

(principals' office, yes there are two people here!)

(individual office complete with tiki theme)

(bahdeebahdu light sculpture in living/conference room)

(rt's awards displayed)

pretty damn cool, huh? kinda makes you even less thrilled (if that's possible) to drag yourself to the office tomorrow... sorry.

design-wise, i'm fond of the heavy use of art and industrial designs in the space. i saw matte-black bikes on walls, totem-like objects d'art in halls, as well as a whole wall of vintage radioes on display. further, halogen lights (like the kind you have at home) are interspersed throughout. and the curved-back sofa & coffeetable/conference area??! my my my...

a relatively recent trend in office design is the push for residential materiality and ambiance. rather than create an environment of laziness and inefficiency, the thinking behind this is simple: make the space comfortable and people will stay there longer. longer time in the office=more work achieved. it does a helluva lot for employee satisfaction and reduced turnover as well, i'm sure.

either way, i called a graphic designer friend immediately after my tour and forced him to submit his resume... live vicariously much?

agoos-lovera- local architects with style

bahdeebahdu- hip lighting design

in between design events this week, i managed to stop in the bo concept store that opened just last month. one of several new design stores in philly, bo stands out with its mid-to-upper level modern selections. while the store itself is worth a visit for retail design aficionados (remember the parade of shoes there last year?), if nothing else you have to stop by the website. besides having a great layout and all the requisite functions, listings, and links there's also a program available to let you design and layout your own space three-dimensionally... pretty damn cool. ;)

bo concept philadelphia
1719 chestnut street
(ask for peter!)

design philadelphia homepage

i know i'll regret sharing this shopping secret...

one part thrift store, one part curio cabinet, the circa gallery is set apart from others in both its sheer volume and material focus. greeted by collectors & dumspter divers alike each and every day, the owner hand-selects the pieces he wants to purchase for his store. what impressed me most here is the theme he's created with his taste, which lies somewhere between pack rat and industrial designer... small, detailed, balanced, and curious items line the floor, walls, surfaces, and ceilings in this cramped little store. amongst the wares included are: pots, toys, figurines, souvenirs, cast-offs, mechanical items, picture frame, boxes of all sizes, old cameras, perfume bottles, boas, desk accessories, and much much more.

i picked up the fancy mirror below for just $30. it's detail & shape offset the modern lines of my apartment while giving me a place for my mail, keys, and coat at the same time. good stuff.

circa gallery's located on sansom street between 20th & 21st... open monday thru saturday 11-6. happy hunting!