Thomas Kinkade

As many know, Thomas Kinkade, "The Painter of Light", passed away over the weekend. Many are familiar with his work, as it has been wildly popular and wildly marketed. Because of this success, it may come as a surprise to some to learn that his work has not been well received by the art establishment who, simply put, view it as unoriginal kitsch with a sketchy printing/sales approach. (As a sidenote, the discussion of whether or not his work is considered 'kitsch' is best not held in an actual Thomas Kinkade gallery, which I may or may not be guilty of). Every person has their own taste, which I respect, but as a matter of education, I have linked to a few articles to help explain exactly why his work was so controversial:

"Kinkade: Artist Drew Many Fans, Few Critical Raves" (Associated Press)
"Thomas Kinkade's Polarizing Legacy" (The Washington Post)
"Art for Everybody" by Susan Orlean (The New Yorker)

The 100 Day Challenge

In general, I have never been one to get caught up in New Year's resolutions. Partly, because I figure improvement shouldn't be saved for a certain time of year, partly because "New Year's Resolution" smells of exercise equipment and deprivation, and partly because writing goals down is akin to peeling off my toe nails. At any rate, a long while ago I jumped off the band wagon and decided to avoid the whole charade altogether.
Well, the other day I was perusing a friend's blog and found their "100 Day Challenge". After their son came home from kindergarten on his 100th day of school with a list of all that he had accomplished in that time frame, they were inspired to use that time period as a motivational tool for their own goals- and invited others to do the same. I have been highly inspired by this idea, and have been pondering it quite a bit the past week (rather, pondering whether I want to actually commit to a goal or not). This challenge appeals to me for two reasons: 1.) it is shorter than 365 days, and 2.) I love acquiring new skills with the attitude that some progress is great.
It is coincidental that I stumbled upon this challenge around the New Year, but timely, because I have been in need of a boost. Lately, I realized my creative growth has plateaued... something I have dubbed a "Creative Crisis." A little melodramatic, yes, but true nonetheless. For roughly the past year, as I've adjusted myself, my family, and my baby to a new routine, creative endeavors mostly fell by the wayside. But, routines have been formed, adjustments mostly made, and I now recognize windows of time that I can use for persuing creative projects again. And most importantly, I recognize that I should persue those efforts for my happiness.
Almost a year ago, I received a tablet and software for photo editing. It even came with tutorials for the software. At that time, my days did not allow the time I desired to sit down and learn the equipment. But now, it does. So...here's the part I hate... for the next 100 days (starting tomorrow), I plan to do something each day to further my proficiency with my tablet and software. My plan is to start by watching/rewatching all of the tutorials until I've mastered the concepts. We'll see where it goes from there. I'm not sure how much time each day will lend to this pursuit, but I feel confident that I can spend some time improving my skill each day. But let's be clear on one thing: This is NOT a New Year's Resolution.

Have you ever wondered what you can do in 100 days?

Design Friday: The Elements and Principles of Design

Continuing with the idea of making design relevant in our own lives, I thought I'd take a break from the regular approach, and try to highlight the basic foundation of design, aka: the Elements and Principles of Design. (My main resource will be "Interiors: An Introduction" by Karla J. Nielson and David A. Taylor).
You might think you must have an innate ability to have good design sense, and if you weren't born with it you have no hope. I don't think that's necessarily true. An innate sense certainly helps, but I think with enough studying and practice, anybody can develop good design sense. Design shows are fun to watch, but not always helpful in educating (at least the ones I've seen). If you know and understand the elements and principles, hopefully it can give you a way to verbalize what you like, don't like, or what's missing.

Principles

• Scale
• Proportion
• Balance
• Rhythm
• Emphasis
• Harmony

Elements

• Space
• Shape
• Form
• Mass
• Line
• Texture
• Pattern
• Light
• Color
  

For the next 15 weeks, I'm going to take time each week to highlight each individual element or principle to help give a better understanding of what makes successful design. It'll be a good review for me anyway.

I hope I haven't bit off more than I can chew!

Design Friday: Wassily Chair

I can't believe it's Friday already. Today, I am highlighting the Wassily Chair.

The Wassily Chair was designed by Marcel Breuer in 1927 while an apprentice at the Bauhaus. It is named after the artist Wassily Kandinsky (fellow Bauhaus instructor). The tubular steel frame was groundbreaking at the time for use with furniture, and was inspired by the handlebars on Breuer's bicycle, which he found to be strong, lightweight, and conducive for mass production. He states, "Mass production... made me interested in polished metal, in shiny and impeccable lines in space, as new components of our interiors. I considered such polished and curved lines not only symbolic of our modern technology but actually to be technology."



The chair is modeled after the traditional club chair, only simplified to its outline. While sitting, your body does not come in contact with the steel framing. Nonetheless, Breuer felt this chair was "my most extreme work . . . the least artistic, the most logical, the least 'cozy' and the most mechanical."


References:
- http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?object_id=2851
- http://www.knoll.com/products/product.jsp?prod_id=65
- http://www.dwr.com/category/designers/a-c/marcel+breuer.do

Design Friday: Noguchi Table

The Noguchi Table is our subject for today's Design Friday.

This table was designed by Japanese-American Isamu Noguchi in 1947, and is one of his most well known works. Trained as a sculptor, Noguchi approached all of his works as such- to shape space. He believed, "everything is sculpture. Any material, any idea without hindrance born into space I consider sculpture."

This particular piece was created for Herman Miller. It is modified from a table he had designed for English designer, Robsjohn-Gibbings, who allegedly slightly changed the design and claimed it as his own.

This happens to be my favorite coffee table of all time. I love its sculptural form, its simplicity, and the different shapes it takes on from different angles. It is a functional way to introduce art into a room. It's significant to me that something produced 62 years ago is still very much in style. This table is pretty versatile. It's as home here in this rustic/traditional architecture, as it would be in a more minimalist home. 

References:
- http://www.hermanmiller.com/Products/Noguchi-Table
- http://www.noguchi.org/furniture.html
- http://www.dwr.com/product/furniture/living/coffee-tables/noguchi-table.do?sortby=ourPicks

Design Friday: Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman

The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman are most likely familiar pieces of furniture to you. They are considered one of the most significant designs of the 20th century, are on display in museums, are very commonly used by designers, and I even spotted it in the background of Frasier's apartment on TV. (Look for it!)

photo from hermanmiller.com

The chair and matching ottoman were designed by Charles and Ray Eames* (a husband and wife team) for director Billy Wilder. It is very much a man's chair, no? They were serious designers that paid close attention to detail, and enjoyed problem solving through experimentation. They were pioneers of the molded plywood technology seen in this chair, in which they sought to create a club chair that had, "the warm receptive look of a well-used first baseman's mitt." What do you think? Did they achieve their goal? Apparently, this chair is famously comfortable. I have yet to sit in one and verify that, but from appearance I think it screams for you to sit down and take a load off. It is hand assembled and has been in continuous production for the public since 1956, by Herman Miller.

* This couple was a powerhouse in design. We'll be seeing more of them in future Design Fridays.
Refrences
- http://www.hermanmiller.com/Products/Eames-Lounge-Chair-and-Ottoman
- http://www.dwr.com/product/furniture/living/eames-collection/eames-lounge-ottoman-vicenza.do?sortby=ourPicks

Design Friday: Le Corbusier

Le Corbusier (pronounced: Lay Core-BOO-zee-ay) is arguably the most influential architect of the 20th century. He was born in Switzerland in 1887 as Charles-Edouard Jeanneret (he later chose his grandfather's name as his pseudonym). He was trained as an architect during the time that the Art Deco and Arts and Crafts movements were in full swing, and set out to reinvent architecture. He is famous for his belief that living spaces are a "machine for living", meaning homes should be built to function for people and their needs (such as sun, space, good ventilation, vegetation, insulation from noise, and controlled temperature) and should also use human scale as the measure of dwelling design.


He was the pioneer of the International Style, the key elements of this style being: to raise the building above ground on stilts which support reinforced concrete slabs that can serve as ceiling and floor. This allows exterior walls to hang as curtains and an open, free-flowing interior space which bears no structural load. Lastly, making use of the roof and the space beneath the building. This style largely influenced modern office buildings and skyscrapers, and his concepts were practiced by many architects.

perspective drawing for Domino House (Marseilles, France, 1914)

His approach to architecture also influenced his interest in city planning. He believed that "great cities are the spiritual workshops in which the work of the world is done," and worked at problem solving the inefficiencies in current cities such as poor traffic circulation and little space for recreation or exercise. His theory was to build "vertical cities" (for housing, and the business and service industries) connected by "linear-industrial cities" (which would be centers for manufacturing), with separate centers for agricultural activity. He did design a few vertical cities, such as the Unite d'Habitation (Marseilles, France) and created the master plan for Chandigarh (capital of Punjab, India).

Unite d'Habitation (Marseilles, France, 1945-1952)

Later in his life, he explored a more sculptural approach to architecture by utilizing reinforced concrete, as seen in the Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut.

Notre Dame du Haut (Ronchamp, France, 1950-1955)

References:
- Tansey, Kleiner, "Gardner's Art Through the Ages", 10th Edition, 1996
- www.time.com/time/time100/artists/profile/lecorbusier.html

Design Friday: The Portland Building

Today, I am highlighting the Portland Building. This building is a municipal building in Portland, Oregon that was built by Michael Graves in 1980.


It is deemed the first major postmodern building, meaning it rejects modernism (which is a rejection of the past and deals wholly in abstraction). Because of its unconventional style and color, you can imagine it was met with criticism from the community. As time has progressed, it has been criticized as being an inefficient building to work in. It is guarded by "Portlandia", a sculpture based on the city's seal.

Whenever I meet someone who has been to Portland or lived there, I always ask them if they have seen this building. No one that I know has seen it or knows what I'm talking about from my description. It's a pretty unique building, so I don't know if it's in an obscure location or what, but if you find yourself in Portland, take the time to look for and appreciate this building.


References: (I've actually forgotten how to do this, but here's my best attempt!)
* Tansey, Richard G., Kleiner, Fred S., "Gardner's Art Through the Ages", Harcourt Brace College Publishers, 1996
* www.greatbuildings.com
* www.architectureweek.com

Design Friday: The Egg Chair

Welcome to my very first Design Friday. This is my opportunity to highlight furniture, architects, and all things "design" that I love and find inspiring. Hope you enjoy it too. And without further ado....

... I would like to introduce you to my favorite chair of all time. Meet the Egg Chair.

photo from scandinaviandesign.com

This is a chair that I one day hope to own- but will probably not anytime soon- as it is the price of a small car. But, isn't it beautiful? I fell in love with this chair while studying interior design in college. It was designed by the Danish architect, Arne Jacobsen, in the 1950's for the Royal Hotel in Copenhagen. (I love this chair so much, I even wanted to name my first son Arne, but my husband felt differently). Arne was a very successful architect that would also design the furnishings for his buildings: including door handles, lamps, fabric, and even silverware. He is what you would call a "Complete" or "Total" designer.
Anyway, as you can see it has a very sleek, modern feel with interesting, curvaceous lines- obviously named after the shape it is derived from. I have never had the honor to sit in one, but It looks like a comfortable chair to curl up in and read a book.
Perhaps you are uncomfortable with modern furniture, because you feel you have to have an equally modern, minimalist home to accommodate it. Not so. The thing about modern furniture is that it has such clean lines that it is actually pretty easy to work into traditional settings. Take the room below. It is a pretty traditional room. But, can you see the egg chair hanging out in the right hand corner of the room? I think it looks right at home back there, and complements the rest of the furnishings well. I think it also adds a little personality to the room.

photo from "Architectural Digest"

The Best Design Advice Ever Given

When I was in college, I was a T.A. for the "Introduction to Interior Design" class one semester. The teacher was a very successful interior designer, who co-authored the book for the class (which is also used in programs nation wide). She looked a little bit like Lily Tomlin, spoke very quickly, said whatever she was thinking, and was very high energy. I found her very informative and very amusing.
One day, she was teaching the class about the many hats that interior designers must wear- one of which is being a mediator. For example, when working with a husband and wife, both may have completely different taste and strong opinions for what they want. As you can imagine, this can lead to conflict. It is the interior designer's job to find the happy medium between the two, with as little conflict as possible. She shared with us the fact that women tend to like floral fabrics, while many men have problems with floral prints in the bedroom (apparently, sleeping under a pink, cabbage rose comforter can threaten their masculinity?). She then shared with us the counsel she has given to male clients in the past, "If you make your wife feel more like a woman, she'll make you feel more like a man."

Permission to Decorate Freely

As an interior design student, sometimes I would be conflicted over the importance of my field. I spent countless hours (and many an all-nighter) rendering concepts, assembling design boards, and drafting floor plans. Often, I would sit back and wonder if I was channeling my energies in a meaningful direction. I mean, people are starving and homeless all over the world, and I was... choosing fabric for a chair?
Is spending money on our homes a frivolous, vain pursuit that should be battled and put behind bars? Is it hard to justify making purchases for our homes? Here are two passages that helped put my insecurities to rest (and ammunition you can use with your spouse!):

"[The temple is] a place where the Lord may come, it is the most holy of any place of worship on the earth. Only the home can compare with the temple in sacredness." -Bible Dictionary ("Temples")

"As we recall the commandment to stand in holy places, we should remember that beyond the temple, the most sacred and holy places in all the world should be our dwelling places." -President James E. Faust

Now, I realize that there are many reasons why the temple is sacred, most importantly being the work that is done there, but have you ever thought about how the temple's interior effects you? The temple is a place of peace, and I strongly believe the decor and design within the temple strongly contribute to that atmosphere. So it is with any room or place we find ourselves in. Compare how you act or feel inside the temple vs. a warehouse, Nordstrom vs. Wal-Mart, or a fine restaurant vs. McDonald's. Our surroundings influence us and our ability to feel the spirit.
And so, while I'm not promoting extravagance or not budgeting appropriately, we can find meaning and importance in making our homes a home... without the guilt. It is, after all, the second most sacred place on earth.