Comments
6 Top Design Events: Oct. 21-Nov. 12, 2011
Mark your creative calendars! See what's on the Houzz list of things to see and do
Janet Paik
October 21, 2011
Houzz Associate Editor. Passionate about creative homes and the people behind them. Loves thoughtful design, improving her family's 1950s fixer-upper and VW buses. Former designer at the San Jose Mercury News.
Houzz Associate Editor. Passionate about creative homes and the people behind them.... More
Tour the back streets of Chicago on two wheels on the Eccentric Roadside Art Bike Tour, or see the latest in Swedish design from emerging artists. If you're in the Big Apple, attend a forum to learn about Japanese architecture trends, or a panel that explores the reasons behind The Return of Modernism. If you're looking for ways to be inspired, or just enjoy getting out amid other design lovers, here is our shortlist of events from around the country.
EXHIBITION — Oct. 21, 2011 – Jan. 8, 2012
Second Lives: the Age-Old Art of Recycling Textiles
The Textile Museum
Washington, DC
See how textiles from around the world have taken on a second life in an exhibit on display through early next year. Throughout the world, textiles were historically regarded too valuable to discard. The collection highlights how various cultures have repurposed fabrics to create beautiful new textile forms. Examples in the exhibit include a rare sutra cover made from a 15th-century Chinese rank badge, a vest fashioned from a Pacific Northwest coast Chilkat blanket (pictured), and a large patchwork hanging from Central Asia stitched together from small scraps of silk ikat and other fabrics. Also featured are a pictorial kantha from India embroidered with threads recycled from old saris, a coat from 19th-century Japan painstakingly woven from rags, and other recycled textiles.
Second Lives: the Age-Old Art of Recycling Textiles
The Textile Museum
Washington, DC
See how textiles from around the world have taken on a second life in an exhibit on display through early next year. Throughout the world, textiles were historically regarded too valuable to discard. The collection highlights how various cultures have repurposed fabrics to create beautiful new textile forms. Examples in the exhibit include a rare sutra cover made from a 15th-century Chinese rank badge, a vest fashioned from a Pacific Northwest coast Chilkat blanket (pictured), and a large patchwork hanging from Central Asia stitched together from small scraps of silk ikat and other fabrics. Also featured are a pictorial kantha from India embroidered with threads recycled from old saris, a coat from 19th-century Japan painstakingly woven from rags, and other recycled textiles.
EXHIBIT — Oct. 22, 2011 - Jan. 29, 2012
17 Swedish Designers
American Swedish Historical Museum
Philadelphia, PA
Explore the works from 17 up-and-coming female Swedish design professionals on display at the American Swedish Historical Museum. In what is historically a male-dominated field, these emerging designers are all early in their careers, and follow in the strong tradition of Swedish design exhibiting form and function, streamlined aesthetics, and relative affordability. The exhibitions consists of 3-10 products from each designer, ranging from small items, such as porcelain and glass to larger textiles and furniture pieces. Their works were originally shown at Gallery Pascale, Stockholm's first gallery devoted exclusively design, and subsequently inspired a book and traveling exhibition of the same name.
17 Swedish Designers
American Swedish Historical Museum
Philadelphia, PA
Explore the works from 17 up-and-coming female Swedish design professionals on display at the American Swedish Historical Museum. In what is historically a male-dominated field, these emerging designers are all early in their careers, and follow in the strong tradition of Swedish design exhibiting form and function, streamlined aesthetics, and relative affordability. The exhibitions consists of 3-10 products from each designer, ranging from small items, such as porcelain and glass to larger textiles and furniture pieces. Their works were originally shown at Gallery Pascale, Stockholm's first gallery devoted exclusively design, and subsequently inspired a book and traveling exhibition of the same name.
EXHIBIT — Oct. 22, 2011-Jan. 8, 2012
David Smith: Cubes and Anarchy
Whitney Museum of American Art
New York, NY
If you're a sculpture fan, stop by the Whitney to explore more than 60 works, including sculptures, drawings, paintings and rarely-seen sketchbooks by the great American sculptor David Smith (1906–1965). The exhibit Cubes and Anarchy offers new insight into the artist’s career-long involvement with geometric forms. Traditionally, the simplified geometry of Smith’s monumental Cubi and Zig sculptures of the 1960s had been seen as a departure from the Surrealist and Expressionistic tendencies of his earlier work. This exhibit reveals the artist’s iconic late masterpieces to be continuations of his long-standing explanation of geometric abstraction.
David Smith: Cubes and Anarchy
Whitney Museum of American Art
New York, NY
If you're a sculpture fan, stop by the Whitney to explore more than 60 works, including sculptures, drawings, paintings and rarely-seen sketchbooks by the great American sculptor David Smith (1906–1965). The exhibit Cubes and Anarchy offers new insight into the artist’s career-long involvement with geometric forms. Traditionally, the simplified geometry of Smith’s monumental Cubi and Zig sculptures of the 1960s had been seen as a departure from the Surrealist and Expressionistic tendencies of his earlier work. This exhibit reveals the artist’s iconic late masterpieces to be continuations of his long-standing explanation of geometric abstraction.
BIKE TOUR — Oct. 23, 2011
Eccentric Roadside Art Bike Tour
1 p.m. - 6 p.m., $20 / $15 Intuit Members
Chicago, IL
Get your pedal pushers ready for a back-alley bike tour through the North Side of Chicago. In a collaboration between Chicago Neighborhood Bike Tours and INTUIT, you'll be riding under freeways, alongside viaducts, and through parks to see some fascinating artwork. Rain or shine, the 12-mile tour will start at INTUIT with a guided tour of the exhibitions before winding through Chicago neighborhood streets. Taking inspiration from the work of Von Bruenchenhein, this tour will place emphasis on the eccentric: architectural curiosities, funky hand painted signs, intriguing murals and memorials, peculiar decorations in community gardens, and bizarre yard art. The bike tour will end at the Roger Brown Study Collection concluding with a guided tour featuring Brown’s extensive collection of roadside ephemera and work by Chicago self-taught artists.
Eccentric Roadside Art Bike Tour
1 p.m. - 6 p.m., $20 / $15 Intuit Members
Chicago, IL
Get your pedal pushers ready for a back-alley bike tour through the North Side of Chicago. In a collaboration between Chicago Neighborhood Bike Tours and INTUIT, you'll be riding under freeways, alongside viaducts, and through parks to see some fascinating artwork. Rain or shine, the 12-mile tour will start at INTUIT with a guided tour of the exhibitions before winding through Chicago neighborhood streets. Taking inspiration from the work of Von Bruenchenhein, this tour will place emphasis on the eccentric: architectural curiosities, funky hand painted signs, intriguing murals and memorials, peculiar decorations in community gardens, and bizarre yard art. The bike tour will end at the Roger Brown Study Collection concluding with a guided tour featuring Brown’s extensive collection of roadside ephemera and work by Chicago self-taught artists.
ARCHITECT'S FORUM — Nov. 10, 2011
New Japan Architecture: Recent Works & New Trends
Japan Society
New York, NY
Join architect Edward Suzuki and Dr. Geeta Mehta, Adjunct Professor of Architecture at Columbia University, as they discuss the latest in residential, public and commercial architecture projects in Japan. Japanese architecture has always been noticed for its global trends: pure white cubes, daring forms, technological innovation and a move towards sustainable design. The techniques and forms of traditional Japanese architecture are informing a whole new generation of cutting-edge design. Participate in this forum as they follow and trace the emergence of trends coming from Japan. A book signing and reception will follow.
New Japan Architecture: Recent Works & New Trends
Japan Society
New York, NY
Join architect Edward Suzuki and Dr. Geeta Mehta, Adjunct Professor of Architecture at Columbia University, as they discuss the latest in residential, public and commercial architecture projects in Japan. Japanese architecture has always been noticed for its global trends: pure white cubes, daring forms, technological innovation and a move towards sustainable design. The techniques and forms of traditional Japanese architecture are informing a whole new generation of cutting-edge design. Participate in this forum as they follow and trace the emergence of trends coming from Japan. A book signing and reception will follow.
PANEL — Nov. 12, 2011,
3 p.m.
The Return of Modernism
Museum of Arts and Design
New York, NY
Secure a seat at a panel discussion exploring why the go-to Modernism style from the 1960s, including the rise of designers Russel Wright, Eero Saarinen and Charles and Ray Eames, is now experiencing a unique revival. Organized by the New York School of Interior Design in partnership with the Museum of Arts and Design, the panelists include Vladimir Kagan, Jack Lenor Larsen, Evan Snyderman, and Anna Hoffman. Engage in the discussion as the panelists — who were involved in both the original revolution and current revival — offer answers to the question, "Why now?" The panel will be moderated by Judith Gura, Professor of Design History at the New York School of Interior Design.
No reservations required; seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
More design events:
Oct. 7-28, 2011, Oct. 14-Nov. 4, 2011
What's on your calendar this month? Let us know about your favorite upcoming design events below!
3 p.m.
The Return of Modernism
Museum of Arts and Design
New York, NY
Secure a seat at a panel discussion exploring why the go-to Modernism style from the 1960s, including the rise of designers Russel Wright, Eero Saarinen and Charles and Ray Eames, is now experiencing a unique revival. Organized by the New York School of Interior Design in partnership with the Museum of Arts and Design, the panelists include Vladimir Kagan, Jack Lenor Larsen, Evan Snyderman, and Anna Hoffman. Engage in the discussion as the panelists — who were involved in both the original revolution and current revival — offer answers to the question, "Why now?" The panel will be moderated by Judith Gura, Professor of Design History at the New York School of Interior Design.
No reservations required; seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
More design events:
Oct. 7-28, 2011, Oct. 14-Nov. 4, 2011
What's on your calendar this month? Let us know about your favorite upcoming design events below!
Related Stories
Landscape Design
Outdoor Flooring, Turf and Tile Products for 2024
By Julie Sheer
See the latest materials for patios, decks and yards displayed at the recent Surfaces trade show
Full Story
Houzz TV
5 Trends for Kitchen and Bath Products in 2024
See fascinating new features for showers, tubs, faucets and more launched at the 2024 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show
Full Story
Laundry Rooms
5 Fresh Laundry Appliance Trends for 2024
Check out the lean, green, powerful and smart washers and dryers showcased at the KBIS 2024 trade event
Full Story
Trending Now
5 Trends in New Engineered Countertops and Surfaces for 2024
See the latest styles and features for quartz, porcelain and sintered stone showcased at the recent KBIS 2024 trade show
Full Story
Kitchen Design
8 Clever New Kitchen Appliance Features
We didn’t know we wanted or needed these food preservation, cooking and cleanup gizmos until we saw them at KBIS 2024
Full Story
Kitchen Design
10 Trends for New Kitchen and Bath Faucets and Fixtures in 2024
See the latest in colorful sinks and tubs, innovative shower features and more launched at the KBIS 2024 trade show
Full Story
Kitchen Design
12 Trends in Kitchen Appliances for 2024
See the latest styles and features in refrigerators, ovens and other kitchen appliances at the KBIS 2024 trade show
Full Story
Trending Now
10 Design Trends for New Kitchen and Bath Products in 2024
See the latest shower features, countertop looks, faucets, appliances and more that debuted at the KBIS 2024 trade show
Full Story
Materials
5 Trends to Watch From London’s 2024 Surface Design Show
Find out about new surface materials and products displayed at the annual trade event
Full Story
Materials
5 New Trends in Flooring for 2024
By Julie Sheer
See the latest looks in luxury vinyl, engineered wood, porcelain, laminate and other products debuting this year
Full Story