Category Archives: A Closer Look Series

A Closer Look: Plaster

January 13, 2012 hilairepickett

When you think of plaster, you probably think of a material smoothed onto walls. But this simple material – a mixture of powdered gypsum and water – can be magical in skilled hands. Alberto Giacometti, famous for his bronze sculptures, sculpted all of them out of plaster first:

In fact, plaster has been one of the most important artistic mediums for thousands of years – which is why I’m so impressed by the freshness of a new collection by Stephen Antonson.

Stephen Antonson Ledge

Using plaster as his main material, he sculpts all sorts of decorative objects. From mirrors to candlesticks and chandeliers, Antonson’s elevates this humble material to serene beauty. My favorite is his lamp for Dessin Fournier:

-Robert

image 1 & 3: West Elm

image 2: tumblr

images 4 : Stephen Antonson

A Closer Look Series

A Closer Look: Brancusi

December 16, 2011 hilairepickett

I love to notice how good art can inspire design and vise-versa. So you can imagine my delight when I saw the new “Zipper” sconce from Urban Electric Company.

Designed by Amanda Nisbet, the “Zipper Sconce” draws inspiration from the sculptural work of Romanian-born Constanin Brancusi. The undulating form is based on his “endless column,” a motif that appears repeatedly in his work.

Brancusi’s most famous sculpture may be “The Kiss”. Have you seen this one before?

One of my favorite sculptures by Brancusi is “Bird in Space” (below). I wonder what Urban Electric could turn this one into?

This is just one example of how the fields of Art and Design are not mutually exclusive. Take a closer look, and I’m sure you’ll notice many others.

-Robert

image 1: urban electric co, charleston

image 2: wikipeida

image 3: sheisfrench

image 4: guggenheim museum

A Closer Look Series, Branded Spaces

A Closer Look: Corporate Art Culture at SAS

December 9, 2011 hilairepickett

When I think of art collectors, names like Cosimo de’ Medici and Peggy Guggenheim come to mind. But art collecting these days is not limited to individuals and their families. In fact, many of the most impressive collections in the world belong to large corporations. The local software company SAS is among them. I spoke to Roxanne Hicklin, the director of Art and Scenic Operations at SAS, to find out more.

The Art department at SAS began with a love for artwork and creativity shared by CEO Jim Goodnight and his wife, Ann. The couple began avidly collecting art in the 80’s and 90’s, and soon after established an Art department at their company capable of managing the growing collection. They believe that art contributes to a pleasing environment for employees, inspiring creativity and enhancing productivity. They must be getting it right: for two years running, SAS has been named No. 1 on the Fortune 100 list of Best Companies to Work For.

SAS has a unique approach to supporting art. Unlike most companies, who simply buy art from outside sources, SAS chooses a more active role in the creative process. They strive to create from within, employing two prolific artists-in-residence to create many of the paintings on their 900 acre campus. The Art and Scenic Operations departments employ nearly 20 additional people with a vast array of capabilities: from CAD design and cabinet-making, to painting and framing. They even have metal welders, who can fabricate large-scale sculptures like this one at Wake Med Soccer Park:

Among Roxanne’s favorite pieces from the collection are three glass bowls by Dale Chihuly (below) and a mixed-media piece by Antonio Arellanes. But I discovered from her that the collection is not simply a group of objects; it’s also a way of enriching lives.

For more information about SAS’s art collection, visit the employee culture section of their website.

-Robert

images: sas.com and caryvisualart

A Closer Look Series

A Closer Look: Dorothea Lange

October 21, 2011 hilairepickett

Two of my favorite art pieces that will adorn the walls of the Chancellor’s House are by Dorothea Lange. An influential American documentary photographer and photojournalist, Lange was best known for her Depression-era work for the Farm Security Administration (FSA). Lange’s photographs humanized the consequences of the Great Depression and influenced the development of documentary photography.

The two photographs we selected are from the Gregg Museum’s Collection at NCState University. They depict scenes of depression-era North Carolina, including a tobacco barn and country store.

Lange’s photographs are haunting and beautifully-crafted works of art. We’re honored to include them as part of this project.

-Robert

image 1: wikipedia.org

image 2: rvision.com

image 3: wikipedia.org

A Closer Look Series

A Closer Look: Abie Harris

October 14, 2011 hilairepickett

As the Chancellor’s Residence at NC State University nears completion, I wanted to take a moment to recognize Abie Harris, a local artist whose works will grace its walls.

Abie had a long career as the Campus Planner for NC State University. Now in retirement, he is a tireless and prolific artist creating a variety of works on paper ranging from large abstract drawings to dreamy vignettes of Raleigh.

The Chancellor’s Residence will have a total of 6 works by the artist, including a large mixed-media drawing based on Johann Sebastian Bach’s Goldberg Variations.

Harris created numerous pieces in this series, which feature abstract interpretations of Bach’s music organized in numerous areas of dense linework. Sometimes, these works are created in real time, as part of a performance with musicians.

Abie’s beautiful and poignant work shows that a second career can shine as brightly as the first.

Thank you Abie, we look forward to hanging your work at the end of this month!

For more information on Abie Harris and other local artists, visit the Roundabout Collective in Raleigh.

-Robert

image 1: virtual pianist

image 2: rebus works

image 3: ncartblog.org

image 4: pasinfonia.org

A Closer Look Series

A Closer Look: In Honor of Steve Jobs

October 7, 2011 hilairepickett

“Most people make the mistake of thinking design is what it looks like. People think it’s this veneer, that the designers are handed this box and told, ‘Make it look good!’ That’s not what we think design is. It’s not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”

-Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs, the former CEO of Apple, passed away this week. As part of Apple, he was responsible for creating the first commercially-successful line of personal computers in the 1970s. More recently, Apple has become synonymous with incredible product design. In honor of Steve Jobs, here are my favorite examples of product design from the last 100 years – a list topped by the I-Phone.

File:IPhone 4 in hand.jpg

I-Phone: The first version was released in 2007 and quickly became one of the most popular phones in the world. The fifth generation I-Phone comes out this month.

Valentine typewriter by Olivetti: Olivetti made some amazing typewriters, but The Valentine is my favorite by far. This typewriter would certainly make the dull task of typing a bit more enjoyable.

Michael Graves Teapot by Alessi: Michael Graves, and architect based in Princeton New Jersey, is known for his whimsical designs and contributions to post-modern design. This tea pot is one of the best examples of his work.

Henry Dreyfus Telephone for Western Electric: Sometimes, design is so perfect that we can’t imagine the world without it. Take this simple phone deign that became one of the most important products of the 20th century.

Kodak Bantam Special: Just one example of Kodak’s innovative camera designs that brought photography to the masses. It was designed by Walter Dorwin Teague in 1936.

Marc Newson X for Ford: Just one of Marc Newson’s Many ifluential designs, the X Car unfortunately never made it into production. But its innovative design may give us a glimpse into our future.

-Robert

image 1: apple

image 2: wikipedia

image 3: studio international uk

image 4: bed bath and beyond

image 5: Yale Art Gallery

image 6: Design Icons

image 7 & 8: BLAAAG

A Closer Look Series

A Closer Look: Gaetano Pesce’s Unusual Chairs

September 16, 2011 hilairepickett

One of the advantages of mass production is consistency and predictability. But when it comes to home furnishings, what if we want something unique and personal?

Gaetano Pesce has come up with a solution to this problem in a most unusual way. An Italian designer known for his colorful resin furniture, Pesce enlists the help of furniture makers in determining the final look of his chairs. Each piece is manufactured according to a standard design, but there is alot of room for improvisation. The furniture makers ultimately choose what color the chairs will be.

Take a look at the examples in this post – all of these “Brodway” chairs start out the same, but they soon become as unique as their makers.

Pesce is achieving something that we at Design Lines strive for everyday: creating unique solutions that are personal and anything but mass-produced.

-Robert

A Closer Look Series

A Closer Look: Jackson Pollock

September 9, 2011 hilairepickett

In honor of my trip this weekend to New York, enjoy one of that city’s most famous (and largest!) paintings. Autumn Rhythm (No. 30) hangs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It measures over 17 feet long, and was painted by Jackson Pollock on unstretched canvas on his floor. Make sure to see this cultural treasure the next time you’re in New York. The Met has a ” pay what you wish ” policy every day, which means you can see it for next to nothing, though it’s worth over $100 million.

-Robert

image 1: the slide projector online

image 2: artchive.com

A Closer Look Series

A Closer Look: The Furniture of Franz West

September 2, 2011 hilairepickett

FRANZ WEST Divan, 2004 Metal, foam, linen, 38 3/16 x 98 x 32 5/16 inches, (97 x 249 x 82 cm)

It doesn’t matter what art looks like, but how it’s used.
–Franz West

Franz West

Franz West is an Austrian artist whose work began as a reaction to the Action and Performance Art of the 1960s. Instead of making objects to be viewed, he created sculptures to be touched. His “adaptives” were sculptures meant to carried around the gallery, so that viewers could observe how they “adapted” to their bodies.

FRANZ WEST (b. 1947)

More recently, West began creating “adaptives” of a different sort – this time they took the form of furniture. In his chairs, couches, and light fixtures, West blurs the line between furniture and art. I like how his efforts pay off – art objects become familiar to the viewer on a more personal level, though they always maintain the presence of a sculpture. One of my favorite pieces is his floor lamp (below) made of rebar topped by a bare lightbulb.

West’s furniture, like his sculptures, have an awkward and sometimes grotesque appearance. But at the same time, they are surprisingly elegant and beautiful. Take a look. See how they change the way you look at furniture.

-Robert

image 1: Gagosian Gallery

image 2: New York Times Magazine

image 3: Christie’s

image 4: Phillips de Pury & Co

image 5: Artnet

A Closer Look Series, Community Involvement, Current Projects, Resources

A Closer Look: Art Inspiraton for the Chancellor’s House at NC State

August 26, 2011 hilairepickett

The Chancellor’s house at NC State is coming along nicely, and we’re starting to think about the decorative touches that will make this house feel like a home. In such a large house, with both public and private areas, we had to get creative about where to find the right pieces.

We’ve mined the University Archives, Gregg Musuem, and the work of local artists to find the perfect collection worthy of such a grand building. Below are some pieces that have inspired us….

Mining the Musuem

One of the best sources of art for the Chancellor’s house is the Gregg Museum at NC State. We will adorn the walls with several loans from their permanent collection.

Some of my favorite pieces are the photographs of esteemed North Carolina Photographer Elizabeth Matheson (above). Her work is currently in a show at the North Carolina Museum of Art, and we hope to place similar work on the main floor of the Chancellor’s House.

Another great artist in the Gregg Collection is George Bireline, whose abstract expressionist painting (above) will look amazing in the Chancellor’s study.

Mining the Archives

Another great source of art will be reproductions made from the University Archives. This vast collection includes all sorts of wonderful images.

An illustrated Entomology book by E.A. Seguy (above) is one of our favorite finds. These large prints of insects and butterflies are striking.

We also discovered the archive’s collection of printed sports memorabilia. We’d love to incorporate some of this fun and colorful artwork.

The university also has an impressive collection of glass slides from botanist B.W. Wells. He used these hand-colored slides to instruct his students on the biodiversity of natural ecosystems. These slides can add a touch of beauty to the house, while also bringing to mind NC State’s role in the sciences.

Finding Local Talent

One of our main goals was to incorporate the work of local artists. Below are two examples of the artists who have inspired us, and who we hope to work with.

Ashlynn Browning (above) is a talented painter based in Raleigh. Her bold, colorful paintings are masterfully produced, and can add a punch of color to any wall.

Steve Staresina (above) is a local artist who creates large-scale frescoes. He is creating a large-scale work commissioned specifically for the Chancellor’s Parlour.

Decorative Touches

To round out the collection, we’re looking to additional sources to add diversity to the collection.

We love the (above) wall piece from Ironies. Cast resin painted with a metallic pigment make this wall-sculpture look like formed metal.

Another great source for decorative pieces is Natural Curiosities. They offer many interesting works in a variety of formats, and can add a sophisticated touch to any home. The abstract paper collection (above) is one of our favorites.

The Jean Baptiste Collection (also from Natural Curiosities) is another collection we’d like to use in the home (above). The same set of prints was featured in this month’s issue of House Beautiful magazine (below).