Mantra of the Day

Ambiguity and uncertainty can create compelling, intriguing, even life-saving ideas.  Seductive ideas rest on our ability to spark the kind of intrigue that will keep the imagination engaged.

“In the states of temporary inactivity or quietude Zen artists see the very essence of creative energy.  The human spirit is by nature indefinable, the power of suggestion is exalted as the mark of a truely authentic creation.  Finiteness is thought to be at odds with nature, implying stagnation which is associated with loss of life.” -Matthew May

Art for Wear

Some of my favorite jewelry have been ones which challenge the idea of what the object can be and bring it daringly to another level of potential.  Although temporary, jewelry can be like a tatoo, a branding of one’s own expression and beliefs.  Here are a few of my favs jewelry designers whom attempt to do so.

Artist Tom Binns has been designing, manufacturing and distributing jewelry for over twenty-five years.  Binns was and remains inspired by the early twentieth century Dada movement, the main theme of which includes deliberate irrationality, anarchy, and the rejection of standard beauty and social organization.

Some of my favorite jewelry by Binns are his archival pieces,  handcrafted, one-of-a-kind couture pieces which all unite elegance with anarchy. The materials used for these pieces range from anything to everything, precious and non-precious, at times featuring materials such as sea glass and reconstituted costume jewelery.  These pieces  for sure inspire and engage his other collections.  Binns has been a pioneer and leader to some more thoughtful jewelry designers. As well as the lazy, Mr. Binns’ utterly unique jumbled clusters of gem were very much copied over and over again this past year.

As far as high-impact jewelry design goes Binn’s up there.  Another recent favy has been Eddie Borgo his cleaner, tougher wares offer a bold new chapter. Although his jewelry looks a little too trendy; it will be interesting to see how this designer fares in the future. He’s been one of the designers at the helm of the spikes-and-studs movement, debuting his first collection just a year ago alongside Phillip Lim. Since then, the NYC-based Borgo has skyrocketed, leading to a CFDA nomination and custom collections for Marchesa, Frank Tell, and Joseph Altuzarra . I’m a bit jealous.

I titled this post Art for Wear because I really believe in jewelry and some design objects as art.  I know some disagree with me, holding onto the stance Art is Art and Design is Design.  But, I believe the lines between art and design can be blurred: I’m not saying Eddie Borgo is doing this, or that Tom Binns has mastered it, but simply engaging the idea that it is possible. Murray Moss once said, ”Art was meant to be regarded, design was meant to be used.  Our perception and our means of evaluating art and design have changed….The people making art and design are willfully crossing that fine line, appropriating all that they can freely grasp, and in doing so, freeing us from our simplistic, systematic way of categorizing work, and demanding of us a more complex reaction.”

If you have a chance make your way to Moss store in NYC, they have a bunch of Tom Binn’s archival work up temporarily, and it is truly magical.

UNIQLO

Nicole Nadeau is the face of UNIQLO Fall 2010 fleece campaign. Chosen by UNIQLO as the sole designer/artist to represent them in their global fall campaign. UNIQLO’s appeal for design-conscious consumers pick top industry faces, designer collaborations, celebrity, of-the-moment models and top photographers to give the brand their identity.

Symmetry

Symmetry is such a fundamental characteristic of the natural world -0f the universe as we believe it to be- and plays such a big role in whatever we think or do, that we often overlook it’s importance.  Until it is absent.

My favorite symmetry is fractals- patterns of nature- an order arising out of chaos.  What’s so fascinating about fractals is that things in nature that appear completely random and chaotic actually are mired in layered patterns of intricate, symmetrical design.  Fractals do not emerge out of order, they arise out of disorder, aligned with a few extremely simple, unchanging relationship rules.  These minimalistic rules create surprisingly organized structures that are wonderfully beautiful.

Something learned from fractals: extremely simple rules create surprisingly powerful outcomes, and the incredibly efficient self-ordering effect of adhering to these rules can achieve something far superior to anything imposed order or control can.

TOPO Rings

Giving brass knuckles new meaning!

As seen on me @ Work of Art,  KNS TOPO Rings use GPS topographical maps to take a section cut of the Himalayas and assimilate it into a wearable piece (with engraved exact longitude and latitude).  Now available online at Burkedecor!

Survey Says….

Which of KNS bracelet TOPO Cuffs would you wear? Acrylic, Glass (1 off original), or Brass ????

KNS TOPO Rings now available @ Burkedecor

Mantra of the Day

Thirty spokes share the wheel’s hub,

It is the center hole that makes it useful.

Shape clay into a vessel,

It is the space within that makes it useful.

Cut doors and windows for a room,

It is the holes which make it useful.

Therefore profit comes from what is there,

Usefulness from what is not there.

-Lao Tzu

TOPO Cuffs

KNS, my co-founded collective, just had photoshoot for their new objects! Here’s a sneak peak! Glass TOPO bracelet cuffs, topography referenced from GPS maps of glacier in Patagonia:

Art is Infinitely Curious

MSN and fashion fragrance guru Thierry Mugler from Paris asked me to write a piece about art and exposure on their new platform womanity.com.  I titled it “Art is Infinitely Curious”.  It’s translated into 7 languages.  Read and share it at:

www.womanityglobal.us

My 7 Design Tips

Glo, a leading msn lifestyle site for women covering the best in style, beauty, & living, asked me to share with their living section my secret tips for design. Voila!

1. Look at the object, not the author

Keeping your space free from trendy designers can be very liberating and will help make your home look different from everyone else’s. Try to acquire a taste that is free from trends or names. You will discover that soon you won’t need a brand to see what’s great. While name brands are easy fallbacks, you should go out on a limb with some lesser known finds from stores that you happen to stumble upon.

2. Consider vintage

I love design furniture from the ’50s. Some of those pieces can really stand alone in a room. Look at the date of an object because it may tell you a lot about its value and provide a centerpiece around which to build a room.

3. House first, design second

Design definitely depends on the type of house you’re in, so use that as your starting point.  Look at the unique aspects of the house to guide you. Limits in design or art can be the secret for creativity.  If the house is tiny, work with that and focus on pieces of a petite nature rather than trying to camouflage the limited space.

4. Don’t be afraid of empty space

An empty space can be more meaningful than the object. Treat the space well and realize that you don’t have to fill it completely. For example, a striking chair or large bed with a unique headboard may not require additional accessories or accents in a room.

5. Think different

When looking for furniture or rethinking a space, challenge yourself and see a room from different angles.  What if a bedroom was not a bedroom, what if the most important areas were not the one one might think of.

6. Less is more

It’s true in life and in design. You don’t want your house to be a showroom that is packed with every accent and furnishing. Instead, recognize when you’ve gone overboard and don’t be afraid to pull back or move pieces out of a room to “let it breathe.”

7. Add contrast to each room

Instead of sticking to one style throughout the house, embrace a more eclectic look in each room depending on the function. Throw a modern chair into a vintage mix;  mixing styles like raw, industrial spaces with soft accents is very chic. But beware: Don’t have too many strong design pieces because your eye won’t be able to rest on one.

Full Interview via Glo.msn.com