I can't believe it's already this weekend! I am so excited and honored to be amongst the best of the best of west coast designers, artists and craftspeople! I'll be at booth 40 + 41 with my friend Jane Philipps who does these amazing paper collages:
design
the beach + west coast + design = easy love affair
in TRAVEL, INSPIRATION, STYLE, IN THE STUDIO
I grew up in Arizona, but would often spend my summers on the beach with my cousins in SoCal. Every year I'd look forward to the return to Bolsa Chica, where we would stake out all day and all night, arriving clean in our bathing suits and driving home with sand stuck in all our layers. I have always been drawn to the beach--the infinite sand, the sun that bakes, the resourcefulness of finding things you need when you forgot to bring them, the random assortment of people sharing the space, the predictable tide, the unpredictable wind, that bonfire smell that stays stuck on your hoodie forever, the shells you collect that inspire dreams, the infinite cycle of life.
The notion of a beach, the ocean, that massive body of water that separates land...is a hard thing to conceptualize, but I think it is precisely this complicated environment that has inspired much of what we call west coast design. Sustainability, mixed-media, industrial chic, casual function and inspired reuse are a few prominent themes at the New West Coast Design 2 (NWCD2) exhibit that just opened at the Museum of Craft and Design.
Featuring 60 works from artists/architects/interior, fashion, industrial designers/craftspeople of California, Oregon and Washington, the show is a nice sampler of what is currently going on in the world of west coast design. I was impressed by the variety of pieces and creators. The new museum space is just gorgeous, small enough to be intimate but big enough to wander a bit. Check it out (each photo below links to artist/designer) and then check out the West Coast Craft show next weekend to find even more designers--I'll be there with Etxe and my friend Jane who makes mixed-media collages.
West Coast Design 2 October 26, 2013 – January 05, 2014 Museum of Craft & Design
West Coast Craft November 16th & 17th 10am - 6pm Fort Mason Center Festival Pavilion
DO: CoastCoast collections blog launch party tonight!
I was standing in line at La Boulange last weekend in Hayes Valley (after a somewhat underwhelming Urban Air Market visit, save my favorite gems Pop Outerwear and L'Aromatica Perfume), and spotted the coolest crunchy soft silky jacket, and of course, asked the person wearing it if I could touch it. She said yes, and that's how I met Camilla.
Turns out, she got it at a thrift store and is part of a collective (four Parsons grads) that will soon be travelling the country (in small trips) to find similar unique pieces and display them online via styled photoshoots featuring local models and true Americana backdrops. With a blog, online store, and party CoastCoast hopes to connect past and present, promote reuse, and show how apparel consumption reflects a region’s culture. I love it.
The West Coast, CoastCoast launch party is tonight!
Californian Made Mercantile (formerly RAG) 541 Octavia St. San Francisco, CA 94102 September 20 7 - 10 pm
DO: The Art of Bulgari: La Dolce Vita & Beyond, 1950–1990 at the De Young
in TRAVEL, INSPIRATION, STYLE, IN THE STUDIO
The Art of Bulgari -- featuring 147 pieces spanning 5 decades -- opens this weekend at the de Young Museum. Born in Greece, Sotirios Voulgaris (1857–1932) came from a line of Greek silversmiths, and in his twenties moved away from his hometown to Italy, changing his name to the more Italian-sounding 'Bulgari' - trademark written for the brand as 'BVLGARI', using the latin alphabet (V=U).
His first store was in his hometown of Paramythia, Greece. In 1884 he founded BVLGARI and opened a store on via Sistina in Rome. In 1905, his two sons Costantino and Giorgio helped him move the store to via Condotti where the current flagship still stands.
Post World War II, during which Costantino Bulgari and his wife hid three Jewish women, Bulgari benefitted from the economic boom and became a leader in Italian jewelry design. They started using cabochon, shaped and polished gemstones, bold colors and heavy gold, releasing unique designs inspired by Greco-Roman classicism, a blend of old world style and new world creativity. By the 1970s, Bulgari pushed innovation even further and continued to create quirky, fun pieces that reflected the current trends and pop-culture.
With the death of Giorgio in 1966, his son Gianni led the company as CEO and grew it to international status by opening shops worldwide, focusing on product design and streamlining the watch business. By 1987 Gianni sold his stake in the company to his brothers Nicola and Paolo. In 2011, LVMH acquired Bulgari for $6.01 billion.
And so goes the story, hometown jeweler to worldwide brand name! I'd love to hear more about the family politics, inside inspiration and growth during the pivotal years. For now, I'll check out the exhibit on display at the de Young, feast with my eyes and dream about the drama behind the magic.
The Art of Bulgari: La Dolce Vita & Beyond, 1950–1990 September 21, 2013 - February 17, 2014 de Young Museum -- Golden Gate Park, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr 415-750-3600 Tuesday–Sunday, 9:30 am–5:15 pm until Admission: $20-$22 adults; $17-$19 seniors; $16-$18 college students with ID; $10-$12 youths 6–17. General admission is free the first Tuesday of every month and the first weekend of every month if you bank at Bank of America.