Check out these amazing recycled cardboard cacti creations made by designer David Stark. See them here.
Image via Inhabitat
Decorative Arts
House's New Prints
The type gurus at House Industries recently announced the release of some new silk screened prints on paper and plywood, featuring sweet "Mod" typographical designs. Check them out here.
Image copyright House Industries
If You're Looking For Shark's Teeth Or Wright Windows...
When Raleigh Was The Center Of The Design Universe
Console @ 54
Chicago-based designer and craftsman, Randall Kramer was nice enough to share a new piece that he just delivered to a Modern Chicago high-rise building. Randall explains:
"The Interior Design firm of Handman Associates were the genesis of this design and I made it. I really like how the hammered texture of the tapered angle iron legs appear with the black patina and the coating of the matte sealer. The custom cabinet handles were fabricated the same manner."
The piece is truly beautiful, embodying a Modern nod to both the Arts & Crafts and Art Deco era. Check out Randall's other work here.
Images copyright Randall Kramer
Pepper Comeback
Motawi's Magic
Here's an article from the Detroit News about the studio artisans and how they work their magic at the Motawi Tileworks in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Read it here.
Image via detnews.com
Speaking Of Art
I recently heard from a college friend of mine, Michael Wille, who now teaches at Illinois State University in Normal, IL. I cruised over to his website to check out his recent work and was loving his abstract and engaging geometric paintings. I can imagine what a show of his abstract work would look like at the Price Tower Arts Center or some other appropriate venue. Check out more of Mike's paintings here.
Image copyright Michael Wille
Hip Stuff On The Square
PrairieMod reader, Scott T. sent me some great info on the Art Fair on the Square (Madison) that he and his family attended this past weekend. They picked up some original and repro works from artist Dolan Geiman. They also saw the art of architect/graphic designer/painter Justin Racinowski, which included a painting of the Imperial Hotel. Follow the links to check out more of their work. Thanks Scott!
Image copyright Dolen Geiman
Depressing News About Depression Era Sculptures
I'm currently enjoying pouring over the new book all about the life and work of Edgar Miller. I recently read the section about his work on the "Animal Court" sculptures he worked on in the 1930s for the Jane Addams Homes public housing development on the city’s Near West
Side. It reminded me that there was an effort to restore these beautiful modernist sculptures, so I figured I'd check-up on the progress. My search turned up a depressing story from May 2010 about funds running out for the project and the sculptures now stuck in limbo. Hopefully something can be done to save these important works. Read more here.
Image via the Chicago Journal
San Diego Delivers
We put the call out to San Diegans to send us a photo of the Alfonso Iannelli-designed upper-corner sculptures on the Golden West Hotel. Well, Sam Bryant pulled through and send us a few pics so that we could all get a better view at these interesting cubist sculptures. Thanks Sam! Read the original post here.
Images copyright Sam Bryant
Good Design Is Smart
Mid-Century: Good Design in Europe and America, 1850-1950 is a new exhibit put together at the University of Chicago's Smart Museum of Art. The exhibit features objects from its collection exhibiting the show's namesake including several Frank Lloyd Wright works of furniture and art glass. Read more here.
Image via Chicago Sun-Times
Detective Work Brings Table Back To Greycliff
A missing leg, a rare piece of furniture and a little detective work? No, it's not the plot to an Agatha Christie novel. It's the story behind how a lost 12-legged table designed by Frank Lloyd Wright made it back to its home at the Graycliff Estate in Buffalo, NY. Read more here.
Image via the Buffalo News
Miller In Modernism
The newest issue of Modernism Magazine has a great article about Chicago's "handmade residences" by Edgar Miller. Reading about this amazing Modern Renaissance man and his work in Chicago made me really want to pick up a copy of the new monograph about him to learn more. Sounds like a trip to the bookstore! Read more about the magazine article here.
Edifice Models
Looking for an architecturally stylish way to keep your books standing-up straight? Then check out these very cool building bookends by Edifice Models. Choose between Unity Temple, Hollyhock House or their newest edition, the Martin House. More to see here.
Image via edificemodels.com
A Touch Of Sullivan
Fair Oak Workshops has brought back their line of indoor/outdoor urns, frieze panels and jardinieres which feature detailed Sullivanesque ornamentation. Check them out here.
Image via fairoak.com
Pics Of Pickwick
Over the weekend I took a little trip up to Park Ridge, IL to check out the beautiful Pickwick Theater. With amazing Art Deco features inside and out by the artist/designer Alfonso Iannelli, the theater is an architectural gem and well worth a visit. Check out a photo tour after the jump...
Calling All San Diegans!
PrairieMod needs your help, San Diego. If any of our readers there could snap a detailed photo of one of the upper corner sculptures on the Golden West Hotel, we'd be much obliged. The sculptures we executed by famed artist and designer, Alfonso Iannelli and we'd like to get a better look at them (and share with PMod readers as well!)
Image via Google
16th Workshop
We got an email from Chris Armes, who with his wife, run the 16th Workshop in Seattle, WA where they design and build hand-made modern
furniture. I checked out their stuff on their website and love the use of natural materials, the supple organic forms, the Mod sensibility. In short, very PrairieMod. Check out 16th Workshop for yourself here.
Image copyright 16th Workshop
Case And Grain
PrairieMod reader, Paul R. sent me a link to an amazing furniture design studio called Case and Grain located in Los Angeles. Their custom work uses the beauty of natural materials and features clean lines and subtle forms. Check it out here.
Image via caseandgrain.com
A Friend Of Modernism
Sebastian Smee of the Boston Globe reviews the current (if small) exhibit of Machine Age sculptures by artist John Storrs. Read it here.
Image via the Boston Anthenaeum
Copper For Father's Day
Cobre Copper has some great ideas for Father's Day gifts, including their new "soft square shouldered" vase. Check out more here.
Image via Cobre Copper
Wisdom Furniture
PrairieMod reader, Kevin B., sent us a link to some really great furniture and home decor items designed by Wisdom Furniture, Inc. I'm especially digging the "Forest Floor" LED lamp. Check out all the items here.
Image copyright Wisdom Furniture, Inc.
Get Hinged
Some friends and I visited the Chicago Antique Market this weekend and came across some very cool stuff. One of the cool things we discovered was Hinge. Hinge is a design community of local Chicago artists, furniture designers and antique dealers that use found, reclaimed, vintage and natural materials to make a sophisticated selection of home decor items. Check out their site, mission and products here.
Image via hingedesignstudios.com
Pittsburgh Paints' Atmospheric Collection
PPG Pittsburgh Paints recently announced the release of 100 new neutral colors in their "Atmospheric" Collection. While "Atmospheric" includes a full slate of the grays, khakis and beiges
most people associate with neutrals, the palette also includes a soft
blush pink (Adorable ATC-3), Pinot Noir (ATC-75), and a signature
background color used by Frank Lloyd Wright in designing Fallingwater -
Cherokee Red (ATC-5). Read more here.
Image via PPG Pittsburgh Paint
Wright Rug Sold
The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed rug up for auction at LAMA on Sunday May 23, 2010 fetched only $16,000—a far cry from the $40,000 to $60,000 estimate. Wonder where it went to. Details here.
Image via LAMA
Wright Rug Auction Approaching
Los Angeles Modern Auctions is set to auction off the Frank Lloyd Wright designed rug for the David Wright House on May 23rd. The estimate is set at $40,000 to $60,000 and the rug could potentially command much more. Hopefully a reputable public institution will be able to acquire it, preserve it and display it for public enjoyment and study. Read more about the rug here and see the auction listing here.
Image via LAMA
Lloyd's Of Chicago
Join Unity Temple Restoration Foundation on their next Break::the::Box event with a visit to the S. Lloyd Natof furniture making workshop in Chicago's West Loop. Lloyd will present a collection of observations and commentary on Wright's furniture along with a tour of his studio. Lloyd is uniquely equipped to offer such information: as Wright's great-grandson, he has been living with and thinking about Wright's furniture all of his life. Tickets are $15 for UTRF members, students and seniors; $20 non-members. Space is limited to 25; registration required. Light refreshments and dessert will be served. Order tickets here.
Image via UTRF
Arts & Crafts Show In Chicago
Mark your calendars for May 29-30, 2010! The 5th annual Arts & Crafts Show and Sale in Chicago will be taking place at Concordia University in River Forest, IL. This show is always a treat and is your chance to see some the best A&C antiques, dealers and artisans in one place. More details here.
Image via eastwoodgallery.com
Sullivan In Print
Fair Oak Workshops has an exclusive new Louis Sullivan giclee print available, featuring a multi-colored stencil design that appeared in the Trading Room at the Chicago Stock Exchange building (prior to its demolition in the 1970s). Presented in a Dard Hunter frame, it makes a handsome gift. Check it out here.
Image via fairoak.com
What Randall Has Been Up To
I checked-in with Chi-Town designer, Randall Kramer, recently to find out what he's been making lately. See his stuff after the jump...
Light Bulb Terrariums
Reuse those old light bulbs and make some terrariums. Check out the link here.
Image copyright Instructables
Freaky Furniture
Check out this article on Arts & Crafts-era furniture icon, Charles Rohlfs, and the traveling exhibit that features his unique designs. Read it here.
Image via www.buffalonews.com
Alexander The Great
Among the many cool things I got for my birthday this year was a great set of note cards featuring the designs of Alexander Girard. Interest and appreciation of this Modernist is growing, thanks to places like Flor, House Industries, DWR, Chronicle Books, etc. One thing you might not know about Girard is that he did an extensive amount of design for the now defunct Braniff International Airlines. Read more about it here.
Image via Braniff Pages.com
Crafted Wright
Stafford Norris is quickly becoming known as THE name in Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian restoration and furniture reconstruction. His amazingly fine craftsmanship skills are on display at both the Willey House in Minneapolis, MN and now the Lamberson House in Oskaloosa, IA. Check out his website for a ton of great photos of his work and how to contact him to make your dream house a reality.
Image copyright Stafford Norris III
Robie House Tile
Motawi Tileworks has produced a special exclusive tile in honor of the Robie House centennial. Get yours here.
A Day Of Fun Stuff: Part 2
Following-up on the Mod Doll House post, here's a link to artist/designer Mark Giglio's painted wooden dolls as seen on his website: pen pencil stencil. The abstracted forms and bold color designs are reminiscent of Alexander Girard's wooden dolls he created for his Santa Fe home. See more of Mark's work here.
Top image copyright Mark Giglio/bottom image copyright Vitra
Etsy Searches: Roycroft
Looking for something to dress-up your Arts & Crafts Bungalow? Put in the word "Roycroft" into the etsy.com search and there's a handful of interesting things that pop-up, including this Roycroft Renaissance tablehere. runner. See more here.
Image via etsy user paintbythread
Talking About Textiles
Toronto-based artist Bev Hisey's carpets, runners, cushions
and other domestic textiles combine interesting themes with striking nature-inspired colors. Read a MocoLoco.com interview with the designer here.
Image via MocoLoco
Wright's House Beautiful
Interested in how the Arts & Crafts Movement impacted the ideas and living spaces of Frank Lloyd Wright? Find out more after the jump...
Learn Your Leaves
Here's a really fun way to teach kids about identifying different leaves in advance of Spring. This wooden leaf puzzle by Etsy user justhatched contains six leaf shapes - Oak, Beech, Ivy, Dogwood,
Maple and Cottonwood. Beneath each piece is the name of the leaf. See more here.
Image copyright justhatched
Talkin' About Saarinen And Knoll
Nationalpost.com sums up the first events kicking off this year's Toronto International Design Festival, which was a talk at the Design Exchange, given by Eero Saarinen author and Knoll expert Brian Lutz on the designer and the patron. Read more here.
Image via nationalpost.com
Limited Valentype Blocks By House Industries
House Industries is offering a very hip set of Maple Valentype Blocks for $50 until Feb. 14th, 2010.
Forget the amazing fonts, I love the "extras" that these guys always pull out!
Image copyright House Ind.
Blik Your 2010
The folks over at Blik are working hard to make sure that surface graphics aren't just a fad of the Aughts. I do still love the super-cool vinyl graphics that grace the walls of my abode.
To check out what they're doing in 2010, follow the link.
Image copyright Blik
It's About Time
These stylishly Mod ceramic clocks were designed in the early 1950s by George Nelson and developed as
far as the production stage. For reasons unknown, however, they never
made it to the production line. Based on the original plans and
prototypes, the Vitra Design Museum is now, for the first time ever,
bringing these original quartz movement clocks to the market. They are pricey, but nice, nonetheless. Check them out here.
Image via Vitra
A Girard Christmas
One of the best Christmas presents I got this year was a limited edition book about the development of the various Alexander Girard-related typefaces and products by font gurus, House Industries. Follow the link to learn more about their various Girard projects and watch a short film.
Image via House Industries
Buildings For Your Table Top
Check out these beautiful blue Skyscraper vases by designer Constantin Boym. A former architect, Boym retains his interest in building things—only now he focuses on the landscape of the tabletop. See more here.
Image via MocoLoco
Agent Gallery Chicago
Looking for something different, unique or maybe just odd? Then check out the salvaged offerings at Agent Gallery Chicago. They have a little bit of everything and some very cool vintage lighting and architectural elements. Explore here.
Image copyright Agent Gallery Chicago
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