Richard Misrach Exhibition
Posted by Vicente in Photography on February 27, 2010
Last Saturday I visited the Pace /MacGill Gallery in New York and was lucky enough to see an absolutely extraordinary photography show by American photographer Richard Misrach.
Unfortunately the exhibition closed that night but you can still see some of the images online. I was blown away by the beauty of this truly exquisite show.
Kips Bay Show House – 2010
In 1991 I participated in the Kips Bay show House and I haven’t done Kips Bay since. Ladies and Gentlemen…this is the year that I re-enter the arena! I will be in the next showhouse (running April and May 2010), this Spring.
I’ve been allocated the dining room and I am going back and forth in my mind about whether to make an artistic creative statement or a room that is something the viewers will relate to.
What made the Paris exposition of the 1920’s so memorable was that all the creative people involved were breaking creative ground. Most show houses are done as ways of trying to promote a designer’s work and I am in a quandry about whether to go out there and do something non-commercial that is more of an artistic expression as opposed to an interior design one. From editors I’ve gotten the advice that I should do something that people relate to as the people walking through a show house is there wanting ideas.
The presumption is that when they see something out of the interior design realm they’re not interested. What is your theory about this? What do you recommend I do with this dining room?
Photography film results
Posted by Vicente in Photography on February 25, 2010
I’m always apprehensive when the film from my travel (yes film, not digital!) arrives from being processed. Will they come out? Will they be in focus? Will it be the right thing or not…?
On this trip I also photographed a beautiful job (not one of mine, but a home that I had seen) in Bali for publication.
So I usually sit there with the light box, kind of apprehensive, before opening the film box. I’m always surprised, not always pleasently, but seeing the images of the experiences that I lived in my travels come alive again is wonderful, regardless.
With the written text, this trip to Mali will hopefully end up as a chapter in a future book. I’ll share some of the travel notes with you in the upcoming days to give you a taste of this fascinating place.
Fabulous dinner
On Monday night Preston Bailey hosted a dinner at my apartment (I was invited, of course). It’s always so nice being a host when you don’t know anybody and you don’t really have to do much. And this was like magic. His crew came in and set up the table for 20 people with the most extraordinary center pieces and attention to detail.
Again, proof to me of Preston’s great talent and his ability to transform a space. I’m sure you’ll agree.
Travel Journal – Lisbon
Posted by Vicente in Photography, Travels on February 23, 2010
Many of you have asked me to share some of the photos I took on my recent trip, so I decided to share extracts from my travel journey here, along with some of the photos. I’ll start with my first port of entry, Lisbon, today and give you a couple more impressions over the next few days. Please let me know if you’ve been to any of these places and share with all the readers what you liked most about all these destinations. I think that by sharing our experiences, we make travel so much more accessible to everyone. (Click on the photos to see a bigger version.)
Lisbon – A city of tiles
Small in comparison to other European capitals, Lisbon makes up for what it lacks in size with its charm, its many hills and the churches that are scattered throughout and that expose the high Rococo style.
All over the city, the shimmer of gold leaf and the wealth it gathered with the colonization of India and Brazil is evident. Gold, silk, spices and precious woods were brought here and a maritime nation was launched with the exploration of Vasco de Gama and his men, who found a sea route to India.
My favorite parts of the city are the great museums – small in size, but rich in objects and art. The best of all of these is the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, which houses an outstanding Lalique collection. The architecture of the building and the area where it is located, is just great. It is part of the Museo de Arte Moderno.
Because Lisbon is by the sea, fresh seafood reigns in their cuisine – and I indulged in daily fresh offerings during my visit.
I also loved seeing how tiles have been used throughout the city – in the facades of the buildings, in the hallways and in churches. It brings tilework to a very high art.
The churches throughout the city are quite magnificent, embellished with gold mantles, carved wood and frescos which, when combined with the color of the local Travertine and marble, ends up with a very soft coloration which is augmented with the Rococo swirls and fantasy.
Avatar
While I was in Bangkok in January I went to see the movie Avatar.
I thought it was really a such an incredible visual feast and it opens your mind’s eye to imaginative usage of lighting and just…pure fantasy.
Highly recommended – even if it’s just as a creative experience.
Book Three
Crossing Boundaries
Learning to See
Today I see the galleys of my new book and I’m really nervous as each book one does has to be better and say something different from the one you did before. With each one it gets harder to find that unique angle, something that has not been done by everyone else. I hope this one will by showing the progress of jobs, new travel experiences and quite a few different elements from the last two books.
Keep your fingers crossed!
Why blog?
This past week I got a phonecall from Newell Turner Style Direcgtor at House Beautiful to discuss some facts about a story of mine that may be appearing in House Beautiful. I am flattered to say that Newell is a regular reader of this blog and we got onto the topic of what Newell calls ‘Stage Two Bloggers’.
Many bloggers are now questioning the purpose of maintaining a blog. Is it bringing in any money? No. So why do it? I think that it is something really worth questioning. Personally, I have found this blog to be a platform where I can share my experience with fellow designers, discuss our mutual problems, share inspiration and solve problems in a safe space where we can have a dialogue. It’s not about making a buck.
Initially I had my doubts about starting a blog, but I have found the feedback and the benefits very satisfying and worth the input. I think it’s a great to have this place where we do not have to question what we say – here I can express my feelings and get honest feedback on it. What is the best part of blogging and reading design blogs for you? What do you get from blogging? What else would you like to see on my blog? Would love to hear your input on this!
Orchid Dinner
Apologies for the silence from this end, but since I returned on Sunday night, it’s been rather busy. So far this week I’ve fitted in presentations to two prospective clients, two video shoots for a new show on HGTV, the birth of my very dear friend’s baby this morning (well, I didn’t actually do that, but I did send her all my positive thoughts!), getting back into my training program and dealing with the jetlag and the attention-deprived Nene (my cat at home).
One more thing that happened was that I was asked to do a table setting for the Orchid dinner which benefits the NY Botanical Gardens, which was being put together the day after I returned from Bangkok. As an orchid collector, the annual Orchid Dinner is a wonderful event that I’ve supported over the last four years. Veranda and Tiffany & Co sponsored the event and it was hosted at the Mandarin Oriental, with wonderful views of Manhattan.
In doing these table settings my idea is to think it fast and do it simple. I utilized a structure which is used on the tops of stupas in in Burma which I bought there years ago. We covered it with green cymbidium orchids, did a lime green overlay over a fuschia undercloth and the result was quite exotic.
The dinner, which I attended, was very Waspy, but all 28 tables were done by different designers and just completely exotic. I sat at the Veranda table which was done by Baccarat and in my jetlagged state, I admit that I don’t fully remember all the conversations of the evening. That said, there was food and wine and dinner and licquor and the evening raised $600,000, which is remarkable.
The Orchid Show is about to open at the Botanical Gardens in a few weeks. The theme is ‘Cuba In Flower’ and it was all designed by a well-known Cuban landscape designer. I’ll be there, be sure you go check it out!
On my way back to NYC
After seven weeks of traveling (I’ve been to Mali, Timbuktu and Lisbon, to name a few places), I am finally returning to New York this weekend. Getting back into the big city and the usual routine is not going to be an easy thing, but on the other hand, 2010 is a new year with a lot of new possibilities. I have an optimistic sense and am looking forward to receiving all the things I bought for VW Home.
Not even back yet, I’ve already started planning my next trip for December 2010. This year I’m heading to Uzbekistan. I like to have these annual trips to look forward to all year – it’s like dangling a carrot in front of the donkey’s nose. Have you ever traveled the Silk Routes? What comes highly recommended? And what does not?
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