Robert Venturi and Denise Scott-Brown

(...images from here and here and here and here...)

(...Oh - and here is one other good example...)

This post from Design Observer the other day reminded me of these chairs by Robert Venturi and Denise Scott-Brown (here is their studio). I remember way back in my design history class our professor showed us a slide of one of these and I was totally sold. I was really intrigued with the whole postmodern architecture thing altogether and I have been meaning to read Venturi's book Learning from Las Vegas ever since then. I am now on a mission to find it and read it once and for all.

Here is a little description of the second chair:

"Its shape refers to the traditional Chippendale chair, and its laminated surface is patterned after an old-fashioned tablecloth. Multiple historical references are a hallmark of the Postmodern movement, which was popular at the end of the twentieth century."

The thing going on here which I think is really interesting is how the mixing and matching of period styles, (with the reinterpretation of the "classic" chair design (Chippendale), the reference to 50ies laminate countertops and the eighties pastel pattern) - results in a perfectly contemporary piece. AND these chairs were made twenty-odd years ago which is maybe even weirder. What did people think of them then?? Maybe they were just born a decade or two before their time (the chairs not the people!).

In any case. I think they are great. And I think this design duo brought up alot of interesting things to think about...

Crests Crests Crests

I was doing some research the other day and I found all these great crests. I am really crazy about that first one. Something about the brown and green and white...It really makes me want to design one of my own. Or just make a patch or an enamel pin out of one of my drawings...

Actually I noticed the other day that Tamara Shopsin had made this funny "Honest Abe" pin for her shop. I am a little sad she beat me to the punch but I still might give it a go when I have a chance. How cool would that be?? A little pin or embroidered patch with a cool design on it?? Jeez. I really want to do it now...

I Almost Forgot About This! (European Rooms In Miniature)

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This was such a great find - I actually almost forgot that I had taken these pictures to show you! I also found this website which shows all the photos in colour and there is a link to see them really large (click on "selected works" and then click on an interior shot). I am so glad I found that webpage because as usual my book pictures are a little blurry...might be time for a new camera soon(ish)...

Where did the Week Go?

I am not sure what happened this week. One day it was Tuesday and then the next day it was the weekend already. Scary when that happens. For once I don't seem to have that much to yak about so here are some more links for you to check out.

...more pictures of the New Museum (I am crazy about those bathroom tiles!) and I also see that they have these amazing chairs I spotted at last year's Armory Show...
...I thought these were kind of cool illustrations...
...a fun site if you are someone like Anna...
...Have you heard of Friends With You yet? They made these awesome Skywalkers (and here is a videotaped interview with them at the Walker Centre)...
...I thought this was an interesting blog that Hoping for Happy Accidents pointed out awhile ago...
...The Launderette looks good for fashion-y folks - they also have a little interview with Jessica Williams who I really like...
...I think Camilla may have posted this before - I can't remember! But Wow - check this out!...

Hope you are having a good one...!

Today is Like Blah.

I am trying to cheer myself up with some pretty pink pictures from my inspiration set on flickr....it is kind of working.

Anyway - I have some links to share for the first time in awhile. So I hope that keeps YOU happy at least for a little bit...!

...Harry C. Doolittle via Robin...
...Butterfly Alphabet (you can buy them as a set of flash cards!! I am getting them for sure.) via Design Observer...
...The New New Age at Cosmic Wonder...
...A little book that I would like to have (more of the new new age)...
...a seemingly perfect combination - Philip Glass and Sesame Street via Debbie Millman...

Hmmm...all my links today seem to have a bit of a higher calling. Must be that time of year when you need to feel like there are some other forces at work besides your own...

Chris Ofili is the Man.

I saw this amazing show by Chris Ofili a few months ago, I think in October sometime, and I wish I posted about it while the show was still on but I got behind as usual. Anyway, I thought the show was so inspiring! I have been a fan of Ofili's for awhile now (scroll down on that link and you will see some of his watercolours), so it was really interesting to see this direction that his work has taken.

I really loved the colours, the loose gestures and the kind of romantic and ultra feminine subject matter. The paintings in particular had a real art nouveau, Kirchner kind of thing going on (like here, here and here). There were also several etchings in the show, which I was particularly thrilled about - I love seeing good contemporary printmaking! They were so subtle and beautiful with trailing lines and delicate flowers and leaves. I thought they were really breathtaking.

Anyway - here are the rest of the (500 million - again) photos I took of the show if you are up for it! Hope you all have a great weekend.

From the Vaults Session Two...

(...click to enlarge...)

I can't believe it but it has been a year and a half since I designed these spreads for the Worn Fashion Journal (issue #3). They feature the lovely Dana looking stylish and cute in her equally stylish and cute Montreal apartment. Worn editor Serah-Marie took all the photos (a woman of many talents!). In the end a more pared down and less collaged version of these spreads is what ran in the Journal, but I myself much prefer this wild and flowery version...

I Paid a Single Dollar for This Great Book...

I think it was the best dollar spent in a long time. I love old interior design/craft books like these! I knew as soon as I saw the cover that it would be a goldmine - filled to the brim with imagery and ideas to steal for future projects...

I took a zillion (sorta blurry) photos. Here are the rest...!

Crazy for Patterns: Ikat, Batik, Tie-dye, and African Prints PLUS Damian Hirst's Spin Paintings...

(...images from here...)

I am really into all sorts of crazy patterns these days. I think it might be the myspace thing I mentioned earlier and maybe my growing love for M.I.A.. Here is a beautiful example of an ikat textile and here is an great picture of one being woven...

In the same vein are the ever wonderous tie-dye prints and amazing African textile prints. The African ones in particular I can never get over. I think it is so great that A Ervilha Cor de Rosa has been using so many of these colourful prints when making her dolls and baby slings. I have bought a few meters of different African patterns myself the last month or two but I still haven't made anything with it. I keep waiting for that right weekend to buckle down and get to it...

All these colours and prints (especially the Ikat prints) also remind me of these spin paintings by Damian Hirst - I saw one in real life the other day - they are huge! (and spectactular...)

(...images from here...)

Wow. I think I was a bit over ambitous with this post (again)! Hope you had a good Monday...

Bye!