Itching for Etching

Heath Ceramics newest collaboration with Alabama Chanin textiles is one that is sure to fly off the shelves. The new collection of ceramics, organic tablecloths, napkins and placemats are so understated and beautiful—each piece fits in perfectly within the company’s aesthetic. What is perhaps more interesting is the unique “etching” technique that is used to create the pattern onto the ceramics themselves. Closely related to the  “sgraffito technique used to decorate walls since the Classical era” says the New York Times, a white glaze is sprayed over a colored base coat, an artist then scratches through the top layer with a metal point, exposing the color below. The result, a made in America artisanal product we can’t wait to get our hands on.

(Image courtesy of Spencer Higgins/NYT)

Living In A Modern Way

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is gaining much acclaim for their newest exhibition— “California Design, 1930-1965: Living In A Modern Way.” The show focuses on more than 350 objects, including furniture, fashion, film, graphic and industrial design, ceramics, jewelry, architectural drawings and photography of the period. The must-see exhibit highlights California’s rich design history and hits a high note with a full-scale re-creation of the Eames’ Case Study House #8, which was the couple’s own home in Pacific Palisades. The Eames Foundation lent hundreds of objects for the exhibition which offersn an extremely rare glimpse into the life of such profound tastemakers. The show runs through March 25th, 2012 and is said to be “the first major museum survey of California design” by the New York Times. All that being said, run don’t walk to see this truly inspirational exhibit.

Image courtesy of New York Times

A Fuller Lifestyle

From March 31 through July 29, 2012, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) will present The Utopian Impulse: Buckminster Fuller and the Bay Area, the first exhibition to consider Fuller’s local design legacy. The presentation will feature some 65 works, including prints, drawings, photographs, documentary video, books and models representing some of Fuller’s most iconic projects alongside those by Bay Area designers inspired by his body of work.

The Utopian Impulse opens by introducing Fuller, primarily with prints from Inventions: Twelve Around One portfolio (1981), as well as several key works on loan from the R. Buckminster Fuller Archive at Stanford University. Pairing the Fuller’s own drawings of projects dating from the late 1920s through the mid-1970s with iconic imagery of built work, the exhibition  commemorates his most well-known ideas, such as the 4D House (1928), a hexagonal autonomous dwelling meant to be optimally resource efficient and mass producible from factory-made kits that could be easily shipped anywhere and quickly assembled on site.

The exhibition also presents several of Fuller’s big-picture ideas, including his World Game (1969–71) project, a data-visualization system intended to facilitate global approaches in solving the world’s problems—or, in Fuller’s own words, to “make the world work, for 100 percent of humanity, in the shortest possible time, through spontaneous cooperation, without ecological offense or the disadvantage of anyone.”

Here at K2 we have been hugely inspired by Fuller’s thinking and can’t wait to see an amazing exhibition that celebrates his Bay Area endeavors.

Thanks to the SFMOMA for the heads up on this amazing show.

Blek Future

Here at K2 we appreciate art, good art that is in all forms—whether high brow or low, street art or fine, if there is soul and passion behind it, so are we. That’s why Saturday November 19th we will be heading to Nine Four One Gallery in San Francisco for the Godfather of stencil art, Blek le Rat’s opening. His biggest show to date is entitled 60/30 and is being called “one of the most historically significant the street art community has seen” by the gallery as well as marking the 60th birthday of the artist and the 30th anniversary of the birth of his art.

Nine Four One Gallery explains: “Thirty years ago, when Blek le Rat first started to paint his local streets, this was certainly not the case. Unaware of the eventual prominence his style would gain and motivated by the idea of using art to spread ideas of social consciousness, Blek’s first major move was the flooding of Paris with his signature piece, the silhouette of a rat. These vermin spread from the subways of the Périphérique to alleyways of Montmartre and could be seen all throughout the city and soon thereafter, in surrounding cities as well. The traveling plague was a warning and also a call to awareness- rats are one of the last wild animals that thrive in the city, and even though they may not be seen, rest assured, the city is filled with them. ‘It is about uprising, a signal of rebellion. It’s our revolution,” Blek once explained in an interview.

Stencils are now a widely used form of art and expression made increasingly popular by UK artist Banksy and others but if you want to see where it all started we suggest you check out this show going through January 7, 2012.

If You Leave

In 2009 photographer Laurence Von Thomas started the blog If You Leave with a simple mission, to be a place where photographers can submit their work that focuses on images with a single impact. The blog grew quickly in size and became a place where stunning photography mostly centered on the ideas of peace, solitude and loneliness (as they tend to pack the biggest punch visually) were displayed. In 2010 Laurence released a book featuring the moving visuals on his site, which was immediately snatched up. Today he releases his second book and Dazed Digital has a great interview with him. Here’s the scoop.

Adeline Mai

Tara Violet Niami

Menswear Meets Wallcovering

Recently a few team members here at K2 made a fab trip across the pond to London for the Decorex International design show. It was our first time attending the amazing show, featuring the best and brightest of high-end design. One of the highlights for us was the Weitzner Limited/Pollack booth. They had an amazing energy and some beautiful products that really stood out from the rest. One of our favorites was Weitzner Limited’s Madison Stripe wallcovering. There seems to be a wonderful trend of men suiting materials, techniques and vibe crossing over to the interior design world and this product fits right in. The quilted faux suede stripe was shown in a pale grey with a faint stripe and a sumptuous hand, curiously enough, made from a super durable nylon microfiber.  It was truly stunning in person and we could imagine it anywhere from an elegant study or library to the hottest club in Vegas!

Loop the loop

From the creative mind of Victor Aleman and kerozenedesign comes a chaise lounge with a fundamental design that we can really get behind. Made from a single piece of  Birch, Beech, Maple or Red Oak, the “Loopita”  takes its design cues from a tunnel or skate ramp. The loops allow for two or more people to lounge comfortably while facing each other. A high density foam covers the inner level for a comfortable resting pose and more interestingly multiple Loopitas can be arranged together for a really striking organic outdoor look. Here at K2 we feel design should come from an intuitive place and what could be more intuitive that a design based on the double helix—now how to fit one through our office doors!

Love Bomb

When artists cross mediums of expression the result can usually go one of two ways, thankfully for artist and furniture manufacturer Allan Switzer the result is more than successful. While Switzer’s family may be known as a pre-eminent source for antique reproductions with quality craftsmanship, Allan has made a name for himself in the art world for thought provoking pieces done in style. Here is a new piece from the Canadian star called “Love Bomb”, the thing we most admire about Alan’s work is the attention to detail—the obscure message behind the perfect placed geometric pattern that almost works the viewer into a psychedelic trance. For more on Allan Switzer’s inspiring artwork visit Saatchi Gallery at saatchionline.com

Setting Your Sights Local

Here are K2 we are interested in all things beautiful, made with a great purpose and a soul to them. While most of the time that interest lends itself the to the international design world, we sometimes forget to step back and appreciate what is wonderful about our own backyard.  While recently in San Francisco’s Ferry building we fell back in love with one of nature’s finest pleasures—cheese. That gooey, earthy delight that when done well is unlike anything else.

Our current favorite is local producer Cowgirl Creamery—started in a barn in Point Reyes and now shipping worldwide. Their signature triple cream, Mt. Tamalpais cheese is out of this world and much like a fine wine, the cheese is made from a small-scale farm that respects the process, the animals and the surrounding local agriculture. Here’s our recommendation: Visit their shop at the Ferry Building, buy a round of your favorite cheese, pick up a fresh baguette at the Acme Bakery next door for the perfect afternoon.

Time Travel

A sliver of a space has opened up in NYC’s lower East side displaying beautiful artisan watches, like none you’ve seen before. The Orchard Street outpost is Japanese brand Dedegumo’s, first shop outside of Kyoto. Upon stepping inside you will find etched, engraved and textured one-of-a-kind timepieces all made in-house and completely customizable to your liking. We just can’t get enough of the unique displays in terrariums, beautifully wrapped boxes and small scale appeal of each watch. Sure to be collectors’ items, visit Dedegumo at 188 Orchard street if you’re in the area.

(images courtesy of Racked)

Love and Haight

Designer Sondra Alexander always seems to straddle the line between fashion and product design very well. Never following trends, yet somehow perfectly on point with her designs that are classic but fresh at the same time. Her new collection, Haight Ashbury, brings the San Francisco 60’s vibe of hand-dyed wallcoverings made from organic rice paper and water based inks to an elevated level with the moody color palette and unfussy aesthetic. We can’t get enough of the wallcoverings because of their versatile usage and how seamlessly they would fit in with Proenza Schouler’s spring collection! Check out all the wallcoverings at yangki’s redesigned website: www.yangki.com

(Runway image courtesy of Glamour)

Rock Star

When it comes to creating luxurious textiles and surfaces with soul, Wietzner Limited is our go to designer. The new Nature Collection doesn’t disappoint with its seven styles of wallcovering based around the elements of earth, water and light. The beautiful papers use unique materials such as stone and pulp to create slightly raised surfaces that shimmer and shine in various lights. Made from thinly sliced layers of stone and then backed on paper, “Quarry” and “Stratum” have been garnering much media attention. Imagine the possibilities…

The Baroque Papers

Known for creating exquisite colors, detail and historical charm, Farrow & Ball  http://www.farrow-ball.com have released a beautiful collection of wallpapers that bring an old world flavor with a kicked up palette. The collection is comprised of three different designs in twenty-one colorways, all inspired by the artistic style of the Baroque period. The dazzling large scale papers preview this month and are appropriately titled “The Baroque Papers”. We’re loving the dramatic designs that would be suitable in just about any space.

Talking Turkey

Recently we have come across an amazing Turkish brand, Gaia & Gino that specializes in unique designer collaborations and luxurious objects and gifts. While no one wants to admit that summer is coming to an end, the holidays will be shortly creeping upon us so here at K2 we like to keep you on the up and up. Glass undulating candlesticks, funky dog objects, beautiful vases and more are being produced by this whimsical company located in Istanbul, yet here in the states their goods can be found at Barneys, MOMA, Conran Shop and many more. Visit their site to see more work by Gaia & Gino www.gaiagino.com and some of our favorite designers such as Jaime Hayon and Harry Allen.

(Image courtesy of Gaia & Gino)

Pour Some Vinegar On Me

When a fantastic seasonal menu combines with a transporting ambiance on a small cobble street near the Brooklyn Bridge, New Yorkers take notice.  This weekend K2 took a short train ride to DUMBO in Brooklyn to check out the celebrated restaurant that is Vinegar Hill House.

Placed on a captivating, quiet street, Vinegar Hill House has an antiqued hip charm that evokes a mom and pop feel. A wood burning oven, exposed copper pipes and a killer streamlined menu hit all the high points. We noshed on a fluffy sourdough, ricotta and blueberry pancake with caramelized banana and coconut water right out of the nut itself. Do yourself a favor and slow down for a few minutes to enjoy this undeniably charming spot.

(Image courtesy of Hannah Whitaker/New York Magazine)