In search of vision, we looked to the sea. In search of inspiration, we studied the elements of nature. In search of renewal, we turned toward the light. In search of oneself, we yearned for home. - Michael GardnerOnce we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit. - E.E. Cummings (1894–1962) Seeing is feeling with the eyes. Embrace the light. —Axel Vervoordt Axel Vervoordt " Living with Light" is one of the most inspiring books of design I have seen in quite a long time... Axel Vervoordt's work continues to reduce rooms to their very essence, without the expense of the human touch, soul, and his imagination. Photography is by Laziz Hamani and the text by Michael Gardner... Where do we begin? At the beginning I suppose, but perhaps we've known all along? That is our biggest fear, and our greatest hope... Books like this give us this gift of seeing the light. Thank you Axel. - David John © Axel Vervoordt: Living with Light by Axel Vervoordt, Flammarion, 2013. Images are © Laziz Hamani, used with permission of publisher. "The inspired interiors featured in this book convey the concepts that compel the Vervoordt design team most, including time, space, and a strong luminous presence. Whether a historic estate in the country or modern home in the city, these projects are united by stories told through the serenity and sensibility of light. The Vervoordt Company creates a refreshing sense of awakening—with soft light, a clean palette, and arrangements of collected objects—that capture a pure and peaceful energy. Photographer Laziz Hamani brings into focus the details and carefully constructed interiors that form each striking setting and mood, many of which exhibit a tranquility that can be traced to the Vervoordt appreciation of Japanese Zen."."Art is the elimination of the unnecessary." - Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) © Axel Vervoordt: Living with Light by Axel Vervoordt, Flammarion, 2013. Images are © Laziz Hamani A mentor once told me that one of the pleasures of books is that they satisfy one of our fundamental curiosities: “We read in order to find out how other people think.” I believe that. I also believe that a very similar logic applies to the beauty of a book like this one. Driven by a cautious curiosity, we review these pages with a desire to learn how an interior designer thinks, and to enter the private lives of others to see how they live. It’s a window into the minds and lives of others, with the purpose of sharing experiences, knowledge, and light. - Michael Gardener------------- All photography, quotes and text taken from the "Living with Light," with permission of publisher. More information on this book here... In search of vision, we looked to the sea. In search of inspiration, we studied the elements of nature. In search of renewal, we turned to... Read more » 9:51 AM
Door handle & knob by Italian-born architect and designer Davide Rizzo "There is no typical Davide Rizzo design. The word “standard” is not part of his repertoire. Nevertheless, each and every turnkey concept carries his signature: enigmatic avant-gardism that revives the glamour of the 1920s and ’30s with “live” materials. Yet Davide Rizzo’s style is neither plush nor dated, but modern. He is inspired by the formidable architecture of Eastern Europe and the awe-inspiring objects seen on his travels through the former Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and the Ukraine. On his journeys to Central America he was particularly impressed by the works of Mexican architect and Pritzker laureate Luis Barragán. No doubt the impact of these impressions provides an explanation for his symbolically powerful designs that articulate a strong message. Contemporary trends, however, exert little influence on his work."more of Davide Rizzo's work here. ---------------- Door handle & knob by Italian-born architect and designer Davide Rizzo "There is no typical Davide Rizzo design. The word “stan... Read more » 6:30 AM
Seeing Things Invisible "Bess taught himself to paint by copying the still - lives and landscapes of artists he admired, such as Vincent Van Gogh and Albert Pinkham Ryder. From early childhood and throughout his life, Bess experienced intense hallucinations, which both frightened and intrigued him; in 1946, he began to incorporate images from his visions into his paintings. "Hammer Museum presents Forrest Bess: Seeing Things Invisible , focusing on the remarkable accomplishments of this under - recognized American painter. A singular figure in American art who experienced significant recognition and painful isolation during his life — and whose fame has waxed and waned since his death — Forrest Bess (1911 - 19 77) has recently become the subject of keen new interest. The first museum retrospective devoted to Bess in more than twenty years, Forrest Bess: Seeing Things Invisible present s 52 of the artist’s visionary paintings, dating from 1946 to 1970. This exhibition also includes a selection of correspondence, photographs, and articles by and about Bess chosen by artist Robert Gober for the 2012 Whitney Biennial as well as additional extended labels written by Gober . "Self - described “visionary” artist Forrest Bess (1911 - 1977) is a unique figure in the history of American art. For most of his artistic career, Bess lived an isolated existence in a fishing camp outside of Bay City, Texas. He eked a meager living fishing and selling bait by day. By night and during the off - season he read, wrote, and painted prolifically, creating an extraordinary body of mostly small - scale canvases rich with enigmatic symbolism. Despite his remoteness, Bess made himself known in the 1950s in New York (then the undisputed center of the art world). The prominent artist and dealer Betty Parsons represented Bess, dedicating six solo exhibitions to his work between 1949 and 1967. "---------------------- Seeing Things Invisible "Bess taught himself to paint by copying the still - lives and landscapes of artists he admired, such as Vin... Read more » 11:36 PM