Occasionally you see something so incredibly beautiful and resonating that it simultaneously breaks your heart and pastes it back together again within the same moment. This is that something. Spaghetti bench from Argentina-born, Paris-dwelling artist and designer Pablo Reinoso. Gorgeous.
Happening upon a window installation of Portland artist Hillary Pfeifer is to be instantly delighted. Her Bunnywood exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Craft last winter was our favorite of the season, producing smiles at every passing. Wander past Guardino Gallery this month for some further friendliness.
A swell little portrait of Sweetpea Bicycles, Members of 1% for the Planet and the Portland cycling community. Portland is home to many that are creating their own brand of success, and it’s not hard to see why women are drawn to the Sweetpea experience (hint: it’s not the dog).
Organ Tools
A tool chest made by a gentleman named Studley in the 1800s. He was an organ and piano-maker and obviously a phenomenal carpenter. Seeing this incredible tool chest reminded me of a more contemporary work by artist Tom Sachs. His piece is called “Hardcore.” It’s a really crude-yet-astonishingly-wonderful cabinet of weapons that are also made by Tom Sachs. They are all constructed from common plumbing supplies and general hardware store materials. My understanding of the story is that the NYC police had a program by which they would collect weapons at precincts, no questions asked, and give something like $75 for each weapon turned in. Tom Sachs and company were making these crude guns out of scrap and turning them in for cash.
(Interesting to note that Tom Sachs has tried his hand at piano-making with a piece called the Bösendorfer. I had a chance to play this with Mr. Peter at the Sperone Westwater gallery in NYC and it’s really incredible! I think it’s made out of road barriers and plywood.)
Highly superfluous and strangely covetable are these designer…axes. Hand forged in Maine then shipped to New Jersey for paint and polish in a “small workshop environment.” Upscaling an everyday utilitarian object into a finely honed display accessory….we hate ourselves for loving them, yes. (Thank you Austin)
DIng! Ding! Transport bike sensibility – long neglected by the cycling industry – is now the hot, hot category. Right on time, Oregon Manifest has created the first ever Constructor’s Design Challenge, charging framebuilders, designers, and engineers to conceive the next-wave multi-functional cycling rig. The Design Challenge will pit the unique sensibilities of each builder against another’s within very specific criteria: youngblood against old guard, steel against carbon…and if we are very lucky, a Truly Sensational Solution. Ready to be amazed? Yes.
Objects of utility become something else entirely when imbued with the care, aesthetic, and hand of their maker. You own mass-produced objects; you develop relationships with an object made by the hand of a known individual.
Two items worth entering into a relationship with: bespoke woodgrain spectacles from Urban Spectacles and solid walnut pizza peel from the Goodtimes woodshop (dough recipe included).
“Sense from Nature.” Beautiful wood cairn stacking game that feels more like a Noguchi sculpture…a very appealing desk distraction. From Design office A4 in Japan, produced by Umbra, looking good on your coffee table.