eva zeisel

Solitary Refinement
By STEPHEN HEYMAN | NOVEMBER 21, 2011

A photograph of Eva Zeisel taken shortly after her arrest in 1936.

NY Times: On Nov. 13, the celebrated Modernist designer Eva Zeisel turned 105. As if this weren’t impressive enough, Zeisel marked the occasion by publishing a memoir about the 16 months she spent in a Soviet prison in the 1930s, during which time she tried to commit suicide by cutting her wrists with a copper wire pulled from a toilet. “For many years Eva did not want to make her prison experiences public, in part because she was afraid that the K.G.B. would come after her in the U.S.,” said her daughter, Jean Richards.

Zeisel, who was born in Hungary and moved to Russia in 1932, had been falsely accused of plotting to kill Stalin. (Zeisel’s childhood friend Arthur Koestler later channeled her experience when writing “Darkness at Noon.”) She was rounded up by members of the secret police and tossed into a Leningrad prison, where she spent months alone in a cell she describes almost cheerily as “a cupboard.” “I started to do gymnastics,” she writes in the memoir, published this month in the literary journal A Public Space. “I tried to stand on my head. This was rather easy in the cupboard because there is not too much room to fall.”

Zeisel now lives in Rockland County, N.Y. Brigid Hughes, the founding editor of A Public Space, visited her earlier this year to discuss some edits. “She’s very, very sharp,” said Hughes, who noted that even though Zeisel’s vision and hearing are fading, she was still at work on new designs, among them a little ceramic egg holder.

Eva Striker Zeisel (born Eva Amalia Striker, November 13, 1906) is a Hungarian born industrial designer known for her work with ceramics, primarily from the period after she immigrated to the United States. Her forms are often abstractions of the natural world and human relationships. Work from throughout her prodigious career is included in important museum collections across the world. Zeisel declares herself a "maker of useful things". Zeisel continues to design furniture as well as glass and ceramic objects.


More from Wikipedia.

anthology - holiday

Click here.

next year's fashion trends - autumn/winter 2012/2013

Mudpie : Garment Inspiration Myriad Career

Refined opulence and luxury provide the foundations for AW 12/13 as we look to the Middle East for inspiration, paying close attention to its ardency for decadent living and design. The current market for Muslim-inspired fashion is estimated to be worth over $96 billion per year, while major players, such as Gucci and Giorgio Armani, who serve up a pastiche of Middle Eastern influences on the runway, confirm a burgeoning global appeal. ‘Myriad’ absorbs these coveted themes in a sumptuous trend, stripped-back for contemporary appeal. An ultra-chic style ethos reigns as cutting-edge tailoring adopts a quietly exotic silhouette, employing subtle references from Western Asia and North Africa. Long-line layers are crucial, reminiscent of traditional hijab and djellaba robes. Ankle-grazing tailored jackets sport characteristic side vents while re-worked smock and nehru-collared shirts come in crisp organic cotton and silk.

Sparkle and embellishment are rendered sparingly, evoking the Arabian penchant for glamour and decoration; sporadic interwoven metallic threads and a peppering of micro crystals ensure a modern veneer. Fresh white, camel and Saharan twilight blue are used in clean blocks, occasionally softened with a hand-crafted finish. Here laser-cuts beadwork and tonal knit patterns mimic the hypnotising geometrics of Middle-Eastern design. Giorgio Armani’s Saharan nomad collection for SS11 proffers inspiration with shaded navy hues and a dusting of sequins referencing thematic ideas in a viable way. Luxury layers communicate an urban identity as tailored and jersey dropped crotch pants are teamed with contemporary staples such as a fitted leather biker jacket, while ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ becomes a fashion icon pushing desert utility looks. Flak-style vests, jumpsuits and silky cargo pants are integral items while tureg inspired head-wraps and cut glass jewellery finish trend-led looks.

www.mpdclick.com

judgement

As we go forth this holiday season, either shopping for bargains, cooking big meals or attending the myriad parties, conflict and stress can easily enter the picture.


"Often times, when we occupy the space of 'I'm right and you're wrong' it keeps us from seeing our own responsibility in matters. When we judge others' foibles and personality traits, what does it really say about us? What can we do to identify and get rid of judgment in ourselves and in our lives?"


Here's an excerpt from Gwyneth Paltrow's blog, GOOP, posted yesterday:

From Elizabeth Mattis-Namgyel:

"What I hear in this question is a common concern for all of us: we want to be able to respond to our relationships with skillfulness and clarity. But when we critically examine, say, a conflict we might be having with a friend or family member, we often find ourselves judging others based on 'right' or 'wrong.' So to me the fundamental question comes down to this: 'Is there a way of working with relationships without judging or ignoring?'

For me this question opened up a query into the difference between discernment and judgment. When we look at another human being—or ourselves—we see that we are not 'one way.' Human beings are creative and destructive, cranky and kind, joyful and miserable…it's impossible to pin down a human being. We are always a 'work in progress.' So when we judge others (or ourselves) we are objectifying or seeing them in a one-dimensional way. There is a closing down around a negative idea, and simultaneously, there is a non-acceptance of the "fullness" of who they are. This is why, when we judge others, we experience first and foremost the negativity of our own mind.

One thing I like to do when I find myself in these situations is to try to remember at least two other qualities about the person whom I have just 'put in a box.' For instance, aside from what is irritating us, we may acknowledge that she is a good mother to her children. We may remember that she brought us soup when we were sick. In this way, all of us move out of our tendency to judge them—to form a solid picture of them—which in turn moves us out of our own negativity. This helps us see this person more fully, which, if we are honest with ourselves, is more accurate.

This doesn't mean that this person doesn't exhibit habits that challenge us. Nor does it mean that we shouldn't also find a way to work with or even communicate with this person, set boundaries, and so on… But when we don't shut down by making judgments, the atmosphere of our minds is open, gentle and non-reactive. This gives us a greater capacity for clear seeing and how to relate to them skillfully in order to obtain a positive outcome.

I deeply believe that seeing the fullness of others, in all their pain and glory, allows us to express the greatest love and respect we can offer. It is an unconditional kind of love. And this kind of love has a profound effect on our own minds.

Not long ago a dear friend of mine lost her father. She told me that after his passing, her family and friends began to praise and deify him. Although she adored and respected her father, this was hard for her. She said that her father was many things: he was intelligent and kind, but also sometimes rough and gritty, 'like a prickly pear cactus.' She had trouble listening to people describe her father in such a one-dimensional way. She felt that her love for her father included the fullness of his human-ness.

I found this touching because her love for her father was inclusive … she didn't have to forget or disregard him in any way. She could accept him completely for who he was. She was able to see him clearly and accept him fully, both at the same time.

We can have an inclusive stance that makes room for the full humanity of others. From this ground, we can respond to a parent, friend or co-worker without judgment. When we realize that we can be both open and discerning at the same time, we experience freedom from negativity and meaningfulness in our relationship with the world."

Elizabeth Mattis-Namgyel is a Buddhist scholar and the author of the book, The Power of an Open Question (Shambhala Publications).


Read more from other contributors here.

what your home’s interior design says about you

This is kind of fun. A guestpost on Let me be inspired by Philip J Reed, on behalf of Westwood College, attempts to psychoanalyze our interior design choices. Where do you fit in?

It’s often been observed that “the clothes make the man.” And, certainly, you can also tell a lot about a person from the company they keep, the films they enjoy and the issues that interest them most. But what about their home’s interior design?

Yes, you can also tell a lot about a person by the place in which they choose to live. Maybe they need a spotless kitchen before they feel prepared to cook, or maybe they look to a wall full of books for inspiration. How you decorate your home doesn’t just influence you, it also provides a window to your psyche.

The colors you choose, the styles you prefer and even the degree of order you impose on your surroundings speak volumes about who you are. Here are just a few ways to determine what your home might be saying about you.

Warm or Cool?
Warm colors are vibrant and inviting, while cool colors create an atmosphere of tranquility. Your home decor color choices say much about your desire for a stimulating environment or your preference for a calming retreat from stress. Color balances you, giving you a visual representation of what you crave. If you have a hectic life, you probably prefer soothing colors that let you relax into them. If you feel the need for more energy, then warm colors could give you the charge you need to start your day.

Neutrals also play a role in home decor. If your home contains plenty of white space, you admire simplicity; black accents reveal a love of mystery. Browns and taupes provide transitions between warm and cool hues, bringing balance to your home.

Simple or Ornate?
Whether you prefer clean-lined minimalism or Victorian ornamentation speaks to your worldly nature. If you appreciate modern design influenced by Japanese or Scandinavian styles that draw attention to the natural beauty of the materials, you tend to lead a more contemplative life. Lushly decorative elements like Louis XIV style furnishings or Victorian embellishments create a sensuous environment that appeals to your love of physical beauty. Books span the gap between contemplation and action. If you use books as a design element as well as a resource, you’re probably intellectually inclined and spend as much time thinking as you do dreaming or taking action.

Whether you have an interior design degree or just a good eye for style, you’ll probably combine the simple and the ornate in your home decor. This eclectic blend of styles indicates a balanced outlook that integrates both your inner and outer selves into a harmonious whole.

Neat or Messy?
Are you someone who can’t think in a messy room, or do you need some clutter to make a house feel like home? How you keep your house sometimes indicates your need for control. A spotless home means you feel the need to exercise control over your environment, while a somewhat chaotic environment means you’re willing to take life as it comes. This guideline is general, though; sometimes a messy home indicates nothing more than a busy week.

These are just a few of the ways that your home speaks for you. Before it says too much, take a good long look at your home’s interior design, and make sure it’s representing you accurately!

Images from: Alvhem & Stadshem

new e-mag

Check it out here.

first ladies

Washington showcases ballgowns of US first ladies

WASHINGTON, Nov 20, 2011 (AFP) - The slate-blue crepe dress worn in 1933 by Eleanor Roosevelt at her husband's inauguration ball and Michelle Obama's white silk chiffon gown are among treasures on display at a new first ladies' exhibit in Washington.

The National Museum of American History opened last weekend the exhibit of 26 dresses and over 160 artifacts including portraits and silverware that belonged to US first ladies that will refresh a longstanding section of the museum.

The highlight, however, is the inaugural ballgowns, such as a strapless lace number worn by Julia Grant (wife of Ulysses Grant) in 1869, the all burgundy velvet chosen by Caroline Harrison (wife of Benjamin Harrison) in 1889 and Nancy Reagan's white satin and lace from 1981.

"It's their debut, this is the dress of record, and the one which stays in people's memory," Lisa Kathleen Graddy, the exhibit's curator, told AFP, noting that it is a century-old custom for the dresses to enter the museum.

First ladies "on the public stage all the time and want to look appropriate because they are representing the nation," she added.

The term "first lady" is not official -- the first presidential spouse was known as "Lady Washington" and the term did not come into use until Dolly Madison, wife of James Madison, was buried in 1849.

For the inaugural ball, first ladies got a chance to make their statement through their dresses, according to Graddy. Lady Bird Johnson wanted hers to be made out of a fabric "that could stand the test of time," and the resulting yellow satin dress and matching coat was "very beautiful, but very simple," Graddy said. Also on display is Barbara Bush's blue velvet and satin dress from the inauguration ball in 1989 and the violet lace chosen by Hillary Clinton four years later.

But the display includes other dresses, such as the pale yellow silk evening gown that Jackie Kennedy wore in 1961 to the first state dinner hosted by JFK.

The ball gowns were also used to serve the nation. Lou Hoover (Herbert Hoover's wife), renowned for her elegance, was the first president's wife to be pictured in Vogue, and in 1929 she wore a cotton evening dress to promote the US textiles industry.

But not every first lady was as patriotic when it came to fashion.
Frances Cleveland (wife of Grover Cleveland) in 1895 bought a Jacques Doucet dress in Paris, while Edith Wilson (Woodrow Wilson's spouse) in the 1920s favored black robes from Worth, another French fashion house.

"It's a changing thing. Each first lady recreates the job to suit the president, to suit the needs of the country," said Graddy. "But there is also a constant," she added. "The first lady is a hostess and a representative of the nation at home and abroad, of her husband's administration."

The Jimmy Choo shoes worn by Michelle Obama at the event are on display in the new first ladies' exhibit as well as her jewelry and gown. The ensemble worn by the current first lady included earrings with a center cluster of briolettes, set in white gold, with a total carat weight of 61.

by Fabienne Faur

lounge act

A pair of vintage Eames Lounge Chairs at Moss are reupholstered in Repeat Dot fabric by Hella Jongerius for Maharam.

NY Times: Talk about a makeover. Among the latest offerings at the SoHo design mecca Moss is this pair of vintage Eames Lounge Chairs, which Murray Moss decided to re-cover in Hella Jongerius’s Repeat Dot fabric from Maharam. The chairs (which have been manufactured by Herman Miller since 1956) have a built-in pedigree because they’re made with Brazilian rosewood veneer, the material that was originally specified by Charles and Ray Eames, but which was discontinued in 1992 when Brazilian rosewood landed on the endangered species list. Jongerius’s eye-popping fabric, however, is what really makes them — it takes a design icon from the “Mad Men” era and catapults it into the 21st century. (As with many Moss creations, these don’t come cheap: the chairs are $16,000 each, or $30,000 for the pair.) They’re just the first (or first two) in a planned series of one-off furniture pieces on which Moss and Maharam will collaborate.

More here.

Here's the original. Available for a mere $5,550 - $6,700 - such a deal!

friday wisdom

sweet paul - winter 2011

I love this e-mag. See it here.

gift giving

Need some ideas for gifts? Check this e-mag out here.

poster boy

Shepard Fairey’s “The Future is Unwritten” was commissioned by the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation.

NY Times: Shepard Fairey, the influential street artist who last month designed an invitation for an Occupy Wall Street party in Times Square, is once again unfurling the income equality banner, this time to raise money for the homeless. The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation selected Fairey to inaugurate its Artist as Activist series; 100 signed prints of the new Fairey poster, “The Future is Unwritten,” is available for purchase at artnet.com/auctions, starting at $1,250. Almost all of the proceeds benefit the nonprofit organization Coalition for the Homeless, which provides soup kitchens and job training for destitute New Yorkers. Fairey said that his poster references Depression-era styles like Art Deco, and that its title comes from Joe Strummer of the Clash, whom he called “a dedicated advocate for the working class.”

to the crazy ones

A nice way to end the week.



This was a 1997 Apple commercial that kicked off the "Think Different" campaign. It originally aired with a voice over by Richard Dreyfuss. Steve Jobs did a version but it was never used. After Jobs death Jeremy Abbett remixed it with the Jobs narration. Very poignant.

Click here for the original version.

I found this on Richard Branson's blog. (You'll notice he's in the commercial). It's really great. Check it out here.

11.11.11 - veterans day

poppy photo by irving penn

Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice.

friday wisdom

back on the market

Tucson, Arizona
STATS
2 bedrooms
2.5 baths
1,540 sq. ft.
$875,000

Pedigree: Designed by architect Rick Joy for a San Francisco art dealer, this award-winning 2005 residence (christened the Desert Nomad House) consists of three separate structures positioned in the landscape for optimal light and to create a shared courtyard. Clad in weathered steel, the rectilinear volumes contain an office/guest room, a master suite, and a combined living/dining/kitchen area, respectively. Maple paneling and glass partitions define the interiors.

Property Values: Towering saguaro cacti grow wild across the five-acre plot, which sits at the base of the Tucson Mountains.

Talking Point: Floor-to-ceiling windows frame sweeping vistas of the surrounding wildlife and nearby range.

Contact: Crosby Doe Associates, 310-275-2222; crosbydoe.com

More Rick Joy images here.

latest lonny

Click here.

room dreams

From photographer Eric Piasecki.

andy rooney - good night

Andy Rooney, Mainstay on ‘60 Minutes’, Dead at 92

Andy Rooney, whose prickly wit was long a mainstay of CBS News and whose homespun commentary on “60 Minutes,” delivered every week from 1978 until 2011, made him a household name, died Friday in New York City.

CBS News said in a statement that Mr. Rooney died after complications following minor surgery.

Read more here.

in case you missed it

A Sister’s Eulogy

By MONA SIMPSON
Published: October 30, 2011

Mona Simpson delivered this eulogy for her brother, Steve Jobs, on Oct. 16, 2011, at his memorial service at the Memorial Church of Stanford University.

I grew up as an only child, with a single mother. Because we were poor and because I knew my father had emigrated from Syria, I imagined he looked like Omar Sharif. I hoped he would be rich and kind and would come into our lives (and our not yet furnished apartment) and help us. Later, after I’d met my father, I tried to believe he’d changed his number and left no forwarding address because he was an idealistic revolutionary, plotting a new world for the Arab people.

Even as a feminist, my whole life I’d been waiting for a man to love, who could love me. For decades, I’d thought that man would be my father. When I was 25, I met that man and he was my brother.

The rest is here.

friday inspiration

Amazing holographic 3d image of Kate Moss floating during the Alexander McQueen Fall/Winter 2006 runway show. It is set to the exquisite theme from Schindler's List. It was later shown at the incredible exhibit Savage Beauty at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.



Update: the violin soloist is Itzhak Perlman, music by John Williams

friday wisdom

eames: the movie

Mid-century design all-stars Charles and Ray Eames are getting the documentary treatment this month, with the release of Eames: The Architect and the Painter, showing at the Laemmle Music Hall starting November 18.

The film includes never-before-seen 'cache of archival material, visually-stunning films, love letters, photographs and artifacts' from over 40 years of work and collaboration.

make tacos

Designer Barbara Hill lives in a restored dance hall in Marfa, Texas. Look closely at the area above the sink.

I love this!

See more of her house here.