As Light as Marble

The Detroit Institute of Art today was the perfect way to spend a cloudy and cold post-holiday afternoon. I'm so inspired by the collection of the treasures inside this vastly underrated museum. The Diego Rivera court is a treasure; to think that it was almost white-washed, as a docent told me, is unthinkable. Although the work created such a controversy and the protagonism of Rivera's personal and professional life is debatable, the mural is Detroit. Industry is who we are, and Rivera illustrated this in the most enlightened way possible.

Among the Italy halls, I found a new favorite, one that I had not seen before. Embarrassingly, I don't even know the title or sculptor. But I was enraptured by its beauty, by the featherweight folds of her dress, by the light elegance of their dance, by the motion captured for the ages in stone. I had to keep reminding myself that this is made of marble, not fabric. I'm sure this picture doesn't do it justice, so go there and see it for yourself. You will be as amazed as I am, I guarantee. - l.o.d.

Dwell-ings

There's something visceral about the concept of a modern home. Some people would rather live in a bathtub than a steel and glass angular house. Others, like myself, find them intriguing, peaceful, and often more complimentary to the world around them than they're given credit. (Ironically, I currently live in a 140 year-old farmhouse where the word "contemporary" likely meant "indoor plumbing" when conceived...) As a long-time admirer of Dwell homes, I find a breath of fresh air in their designs and their place within surroundings; commanding yet modest at the same time. The architecture presents itself without much distraction; no sconces, Victorian ironwork, or elaborate moulding. Sleek as a stiletto, utilitarian as an army knife, perhaps for these very reasons, they compliment the setting rather than compete. Glamour comes from material rather than accoutrement. This concept is surely not for everyone, but it is definitely for me. In this Midwestern land of suburban sprawl and endless subdivisions, I'm pleased to show local spins on this theme. One day my home will be listed here too. - l.o.d.

Mies van der Rohe's Lafayette Park, Detroit

Dwell Scrap House northwest of Toronto

Dwell cottage near Manistee

Bold Color for Gray Days

I spent some time on the Marimekko website today, satisfying my need for bold color pops amidst today's gray day. I understand why this Finnish textile company is so popular and relevant in their home country and abroad; the illustrative use of pleasing color palettes and natural designs are uplifting, whimsical, and celebrate nature. The textiles are perfect accompaniments for our northern long winter nights; a table adorned with a playful cover cloth, windows brightened with a graphic theme, and a pillow demanding focus in a room. As we spend a great deal of time inside nowadays, it's fun to see such boldness liven things up.

Plus, I found a great nugget of fashion info to look forward to.  In February 2011, Marimekko is partnering with Converse shoes for a global release of a women's-specific line called "Converse ♥ Marimekko". These Converse shoes will feature designs from Marimekko's fabric line "Tarha", "Pikkusuomu", and "Kirppu". The release is just in time to beat the mid-winter blues. I will be first in line! - l.o.d.

Marimekko's "Taste of Christmas" table

Chocolate

Sometimes in the midst of a stressful work week, a busy schedule, and an upcoming holiday, the only acceptable coping mechanism is chocolate. Good, savory, pure melt in your mouth chocolate. Not a Hershey's kiss, puh-leez. Rather, the delectable For-a-Moment-I'm-in-Paris kind of escape. Truffles filled with curry or star anise or an Oaxacan blend with chili. Marzipan with apricot and fresh ginger or Sicilian pistachio. Burnt caramel chocolates sing on the taste buds. Ahhh, a sweet escape courtesy of artisan chocolate. - l.o.d.

Vosges Chicago boutique

Dean & Deluca Danish Marzipan

Recchiuti "Creativity Explored" Box Set

Desk Time

The approach of some much-needed time off from work and a start of a new year has sparked a major yearning to reorganize my Little Orange Desk space at home. It's not in need of a major re-do, just some "re-merchandising" as my old retail friend would say. I know that I'm a total nerd for getting excited about this project. The artist in me is excited by the idea of posting new art attacks on my wall and setting up some playful trinkets. The OCD in me is just pleased at the thought of de-cluttering and re-organizing. In any case, I've found these photos as inspiration for the type of modern clean-lined desks that work best for me. What type of desk works best for you? - l.o.d.

Blanca Gomez's desk, graphic artist from a previous l.o.d. post

CB2 catalogue

Floral & Events Designer's desk as featured on Design*Sponge

Friday Flock III

'Tis the season for joyful celebrations with loved ones, friends, co-workers, and extended family. I look forward to holiday parties because it's an excuse to dress up, have very delicious and non-diet foods, and make time for relationships. But I stress about the host/hostess gift. What to give? Wine is delightful but I like to incorporate some art + design in the gifts; something unique that they wouldn't buy for themselves. Today's flock of host/hostess gifts fit this mold nicely, bringing a little whimsy and joy into someone's home. I'm a huge fan of animals of all stripes and the avian world, so these shakers and openers are absolutely the bees knees. These recycled paper wine bags are a unique and sustainable alternative to the typical gift bag with a well-placed window. And what hostess won't fall in love with these iconic vases with bunches of red and green holly?  None will be forgotten after the New Year's ball drops, guaranteed. Have a great and festive weekend. - l.o.d.

Homme/Femme vases

Recycled Paper Wine Bags

Carved Wood Bottle Opener

Sparrow Salt & Pepper

The World on your Shoulders

After a great deal of schlepping Items of Unknown Consequence back-and-forth to work, home, gym, class, store, grocer, and friend's house, a girl needs to have a new cute set of tote bags at her fingertips. (This girl is me.) I'm a bit tired of using reusable totes that advertise for stores. And fancy fashion bags make me feel guilty when I pile my snow-covered boots or dirty gym clothes in them. I've found the perfect solution for a cute, economical and environmental transport system. Check out these city totes from Maptote. I'm seriously thinking of giving a few of them to myself as a present to survive winter. I love the fanciful cartographic artwork and the fonts that are well-designed for each place. They have a Detroit version too, yea!  Simple, purposeful, and fun. - l.o.d.

Nigella's Artistry at Work

Nigella Lawson was on NPR's Morning Edition this past Monday, bringing a goofy smile to my face in spite of a treacherous commute and flat tire warning light in my car. She has that lovely, distinctively British way of making all her words seem magical and delicious. I'm not the only one under her spell; it's clear that Steve Inskeep has a crush, too. He giggles. It's cute.

What does this have to do with art + design, you ask? Well, since the holidays are rapidly approaching, guests are being confirmed, and menus are being crafted in many homes, a well-planned party is an art in itself. Nigella is the only chef who has a recipe (Guinness chocolate cake) that I made and actually tasted good, and dare I say was easy. She peppers her menus with head-slappingly simple concoctions that anyone can make like gingerbread sauce-spiked prosecco and sauteed chorizo coins. Seriously, doesn't that sound like art? And the real artistry of her cooking skill is that she remains laser-focused on the primary reason for the meal: her guests and their enjoyment of shared company. Nothing outshines the conversation, not even the delicious, colorful and beautiful food. - l.o.d.

A Pretty Picture of Giving

The art scene and charitable giving often cross paths at benefit galas, major donations, and auctions. All too rarely, however, is original artwork approachable for everyday folks on a budget while still making a philanthropic statement. This is what makes Collect.Give such a phenomenal site. Photographers from around the country sell copies of their original prints at extremely affordable prices and dedicate 100% of the profit to a charity of their choice. They've raised over $19,000 since last year, which means a lot of good is being done while great contemporary photography is being enjoyed and discussed around the country. Here are a few of my faves from the current lists. What are you waiting for? Go shop guilt-free! - l.o.d.

Old Havana Street, Cuba, 2000

Hammock

Del Oro Theatre, Grass Valley, CA

Lightness for Dark Days

Today I'd like to introduce you to Katherine Bowling, a painter I discovered over the weekend in an Elle Decor article. I was immediately taken by her approach to light; the simple yet luminescent orbs that pepper her paintings, the grandeur of nature blurred into shadows and shapes. It reminds me of how Monet would paint were he still alive today. She uses nature in the same meditative way as he did; a quiet observer of the seasons, of small details that otherwise go unnoticed but through a painting makes them famous but still incredibly anonymous. Her paintings are luscious and iridescent. Fascinatingly, she uses a technique born of older times; wood panels covered in layers of vinyl spackle, mimicking fresco plaster. This allows the light to shine from within. So as we summit the shortest days of the year and live in more darkness than we enjoy, let these pieces of fine artwork create some light within. - l.o.d.

Friday Flock II

As much as I love the app geekery of my phone, crave an ipad, look forward to an upcoming mac purchase, and enjoy this blog, I find respite in paper. Magazines abound in our house whose pictures are torn out and posted on idea boards. Books flop on my nightstand; no Kindle here please. A paper calendar hangs by our back door. Post it notes attach themselves to the Little Orange Desk. A satisfyingly great design project is wonderful online, but it is one hundred times more so when printed in living color. This week's posts all saluted paper in some way. Naturally I decided to round-out the week with a Friday Flock of well-designed art deco paper goods that I think are just great. Enjoy your weekend, I'm off to make a long-overdue post in my paper journal. - l.o.d.

The Great Gatsby

Bradbury wallpaper

Wrapping paper

Calling Card

Watercolors

Last night was my second-to-last watercolor class for this term. As much as I enjoy the resurgence of celebrating others' creativity that this blog has brought back into my life, the watercolor class has been a much-needed weekly reminder that I myself can be creative too. I am making a commitment to continue this class in the winter. I truly don't want to stop feeling so well-rounded in my life.

Today's post is of two works that I feel are worth showing here. Both are first steps in a line of many versions that I'd like to do. And both were a lot of fun to create. My previous watercolor classes have all been based in abstract. Those classes were tons of fun and very experimental (using bubble wrap, saran wrap, salt, mixed media.) But they lacked the instruction and tips on how to paint realistic items or landscapes. This class has taught me a great deal and with that knowledge comes even more appreciation of the medium. The birch trees' bark, for instance, was created with the edge of a credit card. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. - l.o.d.

Birch in the Early Fall

Sunset

Make a Date on Paper

And for even more about the subject of paper, it's the time of year to start planning your 2011 calendar purchases. For those of you who only use calendars of the electronic kind, let me make a plea for paper dates. A good old paper calendar is a pragmatic solution for family organization. No Google calendar will ever be as convenient for everyone in the household, especially those with kids, pets, and technophobes. Have a hobby, favorite dog, cat, color, boat, car, motorcycle, travel destination, etc? There's a calendar out there for you. No file sync, charger, or battery back-up required. Of course you can make your own with photos but that seems like a lot of work, no?  Instead, why not brighten your wall or desk with one of these unique date-markers, all available on Etsy. - l.o.d.

thomas demand

Speaking of books on my post yesterday made me think about paper and what I know about its form and function. There is no better challenge of those ideas than the artist Thomas Demand. This contemporary German artist uses photography of news events and scenes as a model for recreating the scenes using paper and cardboard. He then photographs these life-sized models for larger than life photographic works. I like the contradiction; photos to paper back to photos. The very idea of what is real is turned completely on its head, and then turned sideways, for a richer, deeper look into our world.

Yes, everything is made of paper. Makes you really look at your notebook in a different way, doesn't it. - l.o.d.

For the Love of a Good Book (cover)

This weekend I was among the throngs of shoppers enjoying the Ann Arbor area's Midnight Madness party where all the stores in town stay open until midnight with sales and other festivities.  It was a great way to get into the holiday spirit, if one can avoid becoming claustrophobic amongst the crowds. A wine tasting in Kerrytown followed by outdoor bonfires, wreath craft tables, sales, hot coffee and a chilly night made a very memorable evening for us.

My favorite local boutique, Vintage to Vogue, always has most delicious in-store displays of great clothing, home goods and design accompaniments. One of their tables had on display the most clever book cover and I immediately went over to touch it. It's a Penguin Hardcover Classic of Alice in Wonderland, isn't it charming?

I can't help myself, I must have it. Luckily I am overdue to reading this classic novel again and this editions includes illustrations by John Tenniel which are fabulously burlesque in their own right. What appeals to me the most about this cover is the graphic element by the fabulous Coralie Bickford-Smith, a senior designer at Penguin. Read her interview on a post about this very topic from Design*Sponge last year (ok, so I'm late to this topic but design happens when it happens.) There are many other classic works that have been reinvented. It's the perfect gift for those who proudly display books as art in their homes. - l.o.d.

Friday Flock

TGIF to everyone! There were so many fun gift lists from the online world this week. Everyone is publishing a "best gift" guide of some sort with really cool and unique ideas. I'm impressed with people suggesting items off the beaten path. I though that this Friday Flock of gift ideas would be fun to post. Here are a few of my favorite contemporary versions on traditional gift ideas. Enjoy your weekend! - l.o.d.

Assouline Books, Art Gift Set

Couleur Nature, Kantha Throw

CB2, Russian Nesting Dolls

Safe Radio

Holga, Camera

Mark Innerst Paintings-Page 2

Today was a busy day outdside of blog-land for me, so I apologize that this post is short. I want to share an artist that I recently saw in the pages of Elle Decor magazine; Mark Innerst.  

His paintings really showcase vertical light in all of it's glorious colors; from skyscrapers in the city to a Ferris wheel elsewhere. He evokes a sense of another time, the heyday of the 20's combined with the study of light of impressionism. Not what you'd expect from a contemporary painter. I find it very refreshing. - l.o.d.

Ikat

I have a confession. I had absolutely no idea what 'ikat' is all about. I've been seeing the design announced in a lot of fashion magazines and retail promotions lately as a hot trend this winter, but I really don't know what defines it as a style, where it comes from or why it's coming up so often. So with blog idea in hand, I did some research. Here's what I found, in case you're feeling a bit lost in the ikat world like me.

Ikat is an Indonesian word meaning "to bind" or "to tie" for the method of using resist dyeing (similar to tie-dye) and then weaving the threads together. In other words, the material is dyed first and then woven into the final fabric pattern. Many world cultures use the ikat technique and it represents just as many things to those peoples. Some believe that the fabric has magical powers because of its difficulty. You can read more about ikat and its history here.

What I see, from a design perspective; ikat has a structured, linear, repetitive pattern which makes the motif seem very ritualistic and tribal, although abstract enough for wide appeal. The colors are bright and bold, often pleasingly complementary. And the designer's ever-favorite negative (white) areas are as important as the color in the patterns. My hunch is that the onset of winter's gray coldness coupled with the downtrodden economy makes the exotic warm comfort of the ikat pattern right on trend. Here are a few of my recent favorites, both traditional and contemporary. - l.o.d.