Michael Graves Named 2012 Recipient of Driehaus Prize

Michael Graves, whose celebrated career redefined the architect’s role in society, has been named the recipient of the 2012 Richard H. Driehaus Prize at the University of Notre Dame. Graves, the tenth Driehaus Prize laureate, will be honored during a March 24 ceremony in Chicago.  As Founding Principal of the firm Michael Graves & Associates (MGA) and the Robert Schirmer Professor of Architecture, Emeritus at Princeton University, Graves re-introduced the principles of traditional and classical composition and also brought a dedication to urbanism to a modernist curriculum. Receiving the Rome Prize in 1960 as a scholar at the American Academy in Rome, where he is now a Trustee, Graves was influenced by “the timeless grammar” of architecture that he has applied to his own work. Members of the Driehaus Prize jury commended his commitment to the traditional city—in its human scale, complexity, and vitality—as emblematic of a time-tested sustainability.

Peter Halley Exhibits at DISJECTA, Portland, OR

Disjecta Interdisciplinary Art Center in Portland, Oregon presents Peter Halley as the final exhibiting artist in the 2011-2012 Curator-in-Residence season.  On view from Jan 22 – Feb 25, Halley’s site-specific installation at Disjecta is entitled “Prison,” and wraps around three sides of Disjecta’s 3000 square foot gallery space. The show represents Halley's first solo exhibition in the Pacific Northwest and will be the capstone show of Jenene Nagy's curatorial tenure.  Disjecta also hosted a lecture by Halley at Pacific Northwest College of Art, co-sponsored by the PNCA MFA Low Residency Program.

Buckminster Fuller's ASM Int'l Headquarters Named Best Renovation of 2011 by Wallpaper* Magazine

In its 2012 Design Awards issue, Wallpaper* Magazine named The Chesler Group’s renovation of ASM International Headquarters as Renovation of the Year.  Formerly known as the American Society for Metals, ASM International has “played a key role in the history of material science,” and the Headquarters was designed to reflect as much.  The main, semi-circular building was designed by modernist architect John Terence Kelly and sits on stilts above a landscaped piazza.  Above the main building, the campus is capped by a giant geodesic dome designed by Buckminster Fuller.  At 250 ft in diameter and 100 ft in height, the openwork dome is the largest of its kind in the world.  The renovation was such a success that at 50 years old, barely the minimum age for consideration, the building -  was named to the National Register of Historic Places.

Michael Graves' Portland Building Added to National Register of Historic Places

Michael Graves’ 1980 Portland Public Service Building, known simply as The Portland Building, was named to the National Register of Historic Places for its pivotal position in the history of Postmodernism.  Graves’ design emphasized engagement with the site’s physical and historical context and its stylized references to local colors and historical symbolism were among the earliest examples of tactics now considered definitive of Postmodern classicism.  Construction on The Portland Building was completed in 1982, and according to Graves, its opening marked the “first built example of a building that tried to break loose from the strictures of commercial modernism.”  It is widely credited with ushering in the rejection of modernist styles and pioneering a return to classicism in architecture.

Four SGLA Clients on 2011 Art + Auction Power List

Four SGLA clients were named to this year’s Art + Auction Power List, published in the December 2011 issue.  Philbrook Museum of Art trustee, GEORGE R. KRAVIS II, was named to the Design Power category for his industrial design collection.  Including pieces by Isamu Noguchi and Paul Schreckengost, the collection was featured in the Smithsonian’s show of “Pioneering Industrial Designers” and has been promised to the Philbrook.  JULIEN LOMBRAIL and LOIC LE GAILLARD, of Carpenters Workshop Gallery, were also named to the Design Power category.  Their Gallery, which now has branches in Chelsea, London’s Mayfair neighborhood, and Paris’ 4^th Arondissement, took first prize at this year’s inaugural NY Pavilion of Arts and Design Fair.  HENRY R. MUÑOZ III, was named a Power Player for his crossover influence in both the design and political spheres.  The architect and designer has been hard at work behind the campaign to launch the Smithsonian’s National Latino Museum on the Mall in Washington.

Christopher Janney Exhibits in Miami During ABMB 2011

Boston-based artist, architect and composer, Christopher Janney, exhibited in the Miami Design District during Art Basel Miami Beach in December 2011.  The exhibition, which took a retrospective look at Janney’s body of public art, was held in conjunction with the opening of Janney’s new public artwork in the Miami International Airport.  The installation piece, called Harmonic Convergence, replaces a previous work by Janney that was removed during renovations, the 72-foot-long sculpture draws on the colors and sounds of South Florida to welcome visitors to Miami.  Exhibition programming also included multiple performances by Brooklyn-based a cappella group, The Persuasions, and a panel discussion featuring Vito Acconci and architecture critic, Beth Dunlop.

"Quicktake: Stamps of Approval" At Cooper-Hewitt and Philbrook Museum of Art

“Pioneering Industrial Designers,” an exhibition made possible by the George Kravis Collection, will open at the Cooper-Hewitt Museum August 12, running through September 25 before touring nationwide. The exhibition will feature nine industrial design objects, from the collection of SGLA client George R. Kravis II, illustrated in the “Pioneering Industrial Designers” stamp collection released July this year by the USPS. Featuring the work of 1930s to 1950s American designers, the works on view will be among the pivotal designs that helped to shape the image of modern America. Please click here for more information.

Sorg Architects

Sorg Architects is a full service, international design firm offering architectural design services as well as interior design, urban planning, historic preservation and construction management.  Established in 1986 by Suman Sorg, FAIA, Sorg Architects is one of the largest woman-owned architecture firms in the United States.  Sorg Architects has completed projects in more than 30 countries throughout North America, South America, Eastern and Western Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Its extensive portfolio includes private and multi-family residential, commercial, educational, institutional and civic projects, often designed for repeat clients. It has received numerous commissions from the United States Department of State for many projects including U.S. embassy complexes in Afghanistan, Barbados, Finland, Indonesia and Kuwait.

Galerie Brigitte Schenk Presents Michael Somoroff's Photographic Series "Absence of Subject"

Galerie Brigitte Schenk is pleased to announce the first complete presentation of Michael Somoroff's series of photographs titled "Michael Somoroff / August Sander: Absence of Subject." The series includes forty silver prints, ten platinum-palladium prints and seven videos by Michael Somoroff as well as the August Sander photographs that inspired them. First exhibited in 1927, “People of the Twentieth Century” is Sander’s fascinating and renowned collective portrait of German society. In “Absence of Subject,” Somoroff has digitally erased the subject of Sander's photographs, retaining only the background demonstrating the persuasive power and esthetic of Sander's oeuvre even without the human subject. The exhibit will be on view from May 31st to June 15th at 153A Calle Del Cappello, located on Piazza San Marco during the 54th Venice Biennale.

"Venice in Venice--Glow and Reflection" Presented by Foundation 20 21

In celebration of "Pacific Standard Time: Art in L.A. 1945-1980"—an unparalleled collaboration of more than sixty cultural institutions across Southern California—Foundation 20 21 presents Venice in Venice. Curated by SGLA client Tim Nye, and Jacqueline Miro, Venice in Venice has been selected by la Biennale di Venezia as one of its collateral events where it will transport a group of revolutionary artists from the 1960s in Venice, California, to the city of Venice, Italy, for the 54th International Art Exhibition. The exhibition and events include work by seminal Southern California artists Peter Alexander, John Altoon, Charles Arnoldi, Billy Al Bengston, Larry Bell, Tony Berlant, Wallace Berman, Vija Celmins, Bruce Conner, Ron Cooper, Mary Corse, Laddie John Dill, Joe Goode, Robert Graham, George Herms, Robert Irwin, Craig Kauffman, John McCracken, Ed Moses, Kenneth Price, Ed Ruscha, and James Turrell. Venice in Venice runs from June 1 – July 31 at Palazzo Contarini Dagli Scrigni, Dorsoduro 1057/D 30123, Venezia.

"Immortalize" at RH Gallery

SGLA client RH Gallery is pleased to present Immortalize, featuring new works by Harry&Camila Studio as well as Fredrik Färg. The title of the exhibition refers to the immortalization of natural elements, forms and movements exhibited in these designers’ recent work. Harry&Camila Studio will present three textiles from their Encapsulated Nature series and Dr. Bubbles on the Rocks, a chair cast in aluminum. Fredrik Färg will unveil new stools and ottomans from his Succession series.  The exhibit runs from May 10 – June 23, 2011 at RH Gallery, located at 137 Duane Street, New York, NY 10013.

Grimanesa Amorós' "Uros House" in Times Square for Armory Show

Uros House, a site-specific, lighting sculpture installation by artist (and SGLA client) Grimanesa Amorós, will be part of the Times Square Alliance’s Public Art Program/Armory Show exhibition (March 1-7, 2011). Uros House, made of polyethylene, steel, metal and computer controlled LEDS, was inspired by structures built by the Uros Indians in Peru, and will be on view at Duffy Square and the Broadway Plaza between 46th and 47th Streets. Work by Tom Otterness, David Kennedy Cutler, and Niki de Saint Phalle is also included in the exhibition. There will be a reception on Friday, March 4 from 7-9 PM at the Times Square Visitors Center. Please click here for further information.

Michael Graves: "Landscapes and Still Lifes"

"Landscapes and Still Lifes," an exhibit of work by SGLA client Michael Graves, is currently showing at the Rider University Art Gallery in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Many people think that architects only create images that directly relate to architectural design. However, from an early age Michael Graves has been drawing and painting architectural forms and structures, still lifes and landscapes. The exhibition at Rider focuses on Graves’ landscape paintings, and this is the first time in Central New Jersey that the general public will see a gallery exhibition dedicated to this work. The exhibit runs through February 27, 2011.

"Orange Sky" and "The Salon" at RH Gallery

SGLA client RH Gallery is pleased to present Orange Sky, featuring new works by Atsushi Fukui, Hideaki Kawashima, Naoki Koide and Katrina Vonnegut. Concurrently, The Salon will be on view in the back room with works by Lynn Chadwick, Alex Katz, Henry Moore, Robert Motherwell, Muntean / Rosenblum, David Nash and Tony Scherman. The exhibits run from January 19 - March 1, 2001 at RH Gallery, located at 137 Duane Street, New York, NY 10013.

[Image: Atsushi Fukui - Untitled, 2009. Acrylic on Canvas. 146cm  x 162cm.]

"A Change of Taste" at Julius Lowy Frame & Restoring Company, Inc.

A CHANGE OF TASTE: From the Gilded Age to the Craftsman Aesthetic, an exhibition that chronicles the momentous change of taste in American picture frames from the mass produced ornamentation of the 19th century to the elegant artistry of the Arts and Crafts Movement, will be on view at Julius Lowy Frame & Restoring Company, Inc., 223 East 80th Street, from January 24–April  15, 2011. Most of the 78 frames in the exhibition, many of which are signed and dated or labeled by their  makers, come from Lowy's extensive collection. Please click here for more information.

[Image Credit: American carved and gilt cassetta frame with basketweave outer corner designs and arabesque design in panels leading to corners and centers in the Renaissance style by the Newcomb-Macklin Company. Early 20th century.  20⅞" x 14¼" x 7⅛".]

Architect Daniel Arsham For Building Fashion at HL23

Building Fashion at HL23, a series of temporary installations celebrating architecture and fashion design, recently featured a retail space created by architect (and SGLA client) Daniel Arsham for designer Richard Chai. Arsham and his frequent collaborator, artist Alex Mustonen, who work together under the name Snarkitecture, carved The Richard Chai Store's space from the confines of an existing structure beneath the High Line in New York City, enveloping visitors within a glacial cavern excavated from a single material. The store featured collections for men and women and was open to the public from October 21st - October 31st.

[Photo Credit: Lexie Moreland] 

The DEPART Foundation Presents: "What Ever Happened to Italian Architecture?"

The DEPART Foundation and the Istituto Svizzero di Roma (ISR) present What Ever Happened to Italian Architecture? Critical Positions on the Past, the Present, and the Future, at the ISR on October 15 and 16, 2010. Curated by Reto Geiser, the two-day symposium will bring together emerging and established architects, architectural historians, and critics from both Italy and abroad to present and debate their intellectual positions and practical approaches to Italian architecture from the past to the present. Alberto Alessi, Sandy Attia, Pippo Ciorra, Fabrizio Gallanti, Francesco Garofalo, Filip Geerts, Joseph Grima, Mark Lee, Elli Mosayebi, Matteo Scagnol, Paolo Scrivano, Martino Stierli, Pier Paolo Tamburelli, and Mark Wasiuta will look at the last sixty years of Italian architecture, considering contemporary developments and positions in order to debate future potentials. Please visit the DEPART Foundation for further information.

[Image Above: BBPR, Torre Velasca, Milano | Author: Filippo Scarpi]

Thomas Gentille at Gallery Loupe

[Image Above: Untitled Pin by Thomas Gentille | Pigmented Resin Cork, Cherry Wood and Metal | 106mm x 76mm]

MoCA Miami Presents Shinique Smith

The Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami (MoCA) will present Shinique Smith's first large-scale U.S. museum exhibition from September 16 - November 19, 2010. In this exhibit, Shinique Smith: Menagerie, the New York-based artist will use MoCA's flexible gallery space to explore new ways of working and installing her work. Since bursting onto the scene in 2002, Smith has produced works that combine complex social and cultural references with a broad array of art historical sources, including Abstract Expressionism, minimal sculpture, and Japanese calligraphy. Her sculpture and installations are composed of collections and accumulations of found objects and second-hand clothing, which she ties together to form minimal cubes or wraps into bulbous bundles. Hardly any of the works from Menagerie have been shown together before now, and although the selection represents a variety of family types--bales, totems, reclining figures, and calligraphic gesture--the juxataposition emphasizes each work's individuality and personality. Shinique Smith: Menagerie will have its opening reception from 7 -9 p.m. on Thursday, September 16. Click here for more information.

[Image Above: Bale Variant No. 0012 (2005) by Shinique Smith | Mixed Media (Clothing, Twine and Wood) | 72" x 33" x 33" | The Martin Z. Margulies Collection, Miami | Image Credit: Yvon Lambert Paris, New York]

RH Gallery's Debut and Inaugural Exhibition: 'The Third Meaning'

Founded by Rebecca Heidenberg and Adam Taki, RH Gallery is a new venue for contemporary art and design that will open on September 25th, 2010 from 6-9 p.m. at 137 Duane Street in TriBeCa. The inaugural exhibition, The Third Meaning, which will be on view until November 10th, reveals layers of meaning through process and form. The exhibition will feature artists Paul Edmunds, Wolfgang Ellenrieder, Daniel Escobar, Fredrik Farg, Parastou Forouhar, Michar Ganske, Dante Horoiwa, Rick Leong and Kirstine Roepstorff. Visit RH Gallery for further information.

[Image Above: Dante Horoiwa's Morphine (2009) - Mixed media on canvas - 67" x 39" - Courtesy of RH Gallery]

Harrison Atelier and Jonah Bokaer Present 'ANCHISES'

ANCHISES, a collaboration between choreographer Jonah Bokaer and the multi-disciplinary design firm Harrison Atelier gives  visual and physical expression to the themes of aging, use and reuse of materials, and the role of space in determining the body's range and potential. Featuring an inter-generation case of five, ANCHISES stages new choreography by Bokaer in original stage designs by Harrison Atelier. The 70-minute work is set to a commissioned score by Loren Dempster, and performed by a cast  including Valda Setterfield, Meg Harper, Catherine Miller, James McGinn and Jonah Bokaer. With lighting by Aaron Copp and costumes by Christophe de Menil, the production receives its world premiere on October 6 at the newly opened Pavilion Dance in Bournemouth, UK, and its US premiere in New York at the Henry Street Settlement's Abrons Art Center on November 17. Click here for further information.

Michael Zelehoski's "Objecthood"

Artist Michael Zelehoski's New York solo exhibition debut, Objecthood, opens at Christina Ray this coming Thursday, September 9, with a reception from 7-9 p.m. Zelehoski, who was voted the "Next Great Artist" by the Huffington Post, has transformed the gallery space, located at 30 Grand St. in Manhattan, with a series of found objects -- including a picnic table and two ubiquitous police barricades -- that have been disassembled and compressed into visually stunning, two dimensional sculptures. Zelehoski works almost exclusively with everyday objects that he deconstructs and then reassembles, giving them autonomy and internal coherence and revealing their intrinsic value as art. He has exhibited nationally and internationally, most recently with a solo show at The Berkshire Museum. Objecthood runs through October 10, 2010.

[Image Above: Picnic Table by Michael Zelehoski (2010) - Mixed media assemblage with deconstructed picnic table, found wood and plywood - 49" x 72"]

Daniel Arsham and Harrison Atelier in Hudson, NY

On Saturday, August 14th, SGLA supported clients (architect) Daniel Arsham and (design firm) Harrison Atelier as they joined award-winning choreographer and media artist Jonah Bokaer for a preview of new works at a space on the Hudson River in Hudson, New York.

Brooklyn-based architect Daniel Arsham previewed works to be featured in his upcoming solo exhibition with Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin, which is scheduled to open at Art Basel Miami Beach in December 2010. Arsham, who has exhibited at PS1 in New York and The Museum of Contemporary Art in Miami (among other places), rethinks the the surfaces that define a space: floors, walls, and ceilings. Arsham's multifaceted practice and penchant for collaboration spans the fields of art, architecture, and performance.

Harrison Atelier previewed "ANCHISES," a collaboration with Bokaer that gives visual and physical expression to the themes of aging, use and reuse of materials, and the role of space in determining the body's range and potential. "ANCHISES" -- a 70-minute work featuring an inter-generational cast, new choreography by Bokaer, and original stage designs by Harrison Atelier -- will have its US premiere in New York at the Henry Street Settlement's Abrons Art Center on November 17.

James Dyson Award Event

On August 12, the James Dyson Award, hosted by Humanscale and Designer Pages/IDNY, held an event to announce the 2010 JDA Winner. The evening included a lively panel discussion with New York-based luminaries about the state of industrial design today. Panelists included Katarina Posch, Associate Professor of History of Art & Design, Pratt Institute; Cara McCarty, Curator of Decorative Arts, Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum; Mark McKenna, Design Director, Humanscale; and Scott Henderson, Founder, Scott Henderson Inc. The James Dyson Award is an international design award that celebrates, encourages and inspires the next generation of design engineers. It’s run by the James Dyson Foundation, Mr. Dyson’s charitable trust, as part of its mission to inspire young people about design engineering. The 15 international finalists will be announced to the public on September 14, with the winner revealed on October 5. (All photos via Guest of a Guest)

1500 Gallery Presents: Bruno Cals' "Horizons"

Running through July 31, 2010, at the 1500 Gallery in New York City is Brazilian photographer Bruno Cals' stunning collection of architectural photographs, collectively titled Horizons. The six photographs in the exhibit are part of a personal artistic project that Cals, a well-known fashion/advertising photographer based is São Paulo, has been working on since 2008. The photographs in the Horizons series are suggestive of something beyond the record presented. The images of the buildings in São Paulo, Tokyo and Buenos Aires explore the limits of two-dimensionality, and articulate a radically different perspective on a commonplace visual scenario.  In expressing this fresh point of view, Bruno Cals has invoked contrasting themes of possibility versus impossibility, presence versus emptiness, and search versus satisfaction. For further information on Horizons please click here.

Photo: Bruno Cals | Palermo 02 | Digital C-Print | 35.4" x 47.4" or 70" x 93.6"

1500 Gallery | 511 West 25th Street #607 | New York City | +1.212.255.2010

Special Event: Daniel Arsham & Snarkitecture's Viewing of Works in Progress

On June 5, artist and architect Daniel Arsham will unveil a number of new and in-progress works in Hudson, New York. The one-day event also includes the debut of furniture prototypes by Snarkitecture, a collaborative practice between Arsham and artist/architect Alex Mustonen. Last, Jonah Bokaer, an award-winning choreographer and media artist, will preview his latest in-progress performance piece. Arsham has been busy of late, having just wrapped up a show in Paris and looking forward to two commissions for the new Florida Marlins ballpark in Miami. Come out on 6/5 from 4:00 p.m. -- 8:00 p.m. to 73 North 2nd Street in Hudson, NY to check out some other things he's been working on.

Architect Andre Kikoski Wins Prestigious Award

Congratulations to architect and SGLA client Andre Kikoski, who recently won the 2010 James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Restaurant Design for his The Wright at the Guggenheim. Other winners included Ed Levine's seriouseats.com for Best Food Blog, New York City's Marea for Best New Restaurant, and Arlane and Michael Batterberry, founders of Food & Wine and Food Arts, who were honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

New Exhibit Opens at Contrasts Gallery

This evening (April 30) will mark the start of a new group exhibit at Contrasts Gallery in Shanghai, China. Curated by Gao Minglu, "Maximalism in Contrasts" features the work of four renowned Chinese artists. The focus of the exhibition is Maximalism, the philosophical core of Chinese abstract art. Maximalism places an emphasis on the spiritual experience of the artist in the process of creation. Its primary objective is to question and overthrow assumptions about the meaning of art. This exhibition is in keeping with Contrasts Gallery’s mission to present art influenced by Chinese literature and art theory. There will be a celebration party on 22nd May, 2010, 5-8pm, and the exhibit will run through June 17th. Please click here for further information.

Michael Wolfson to Show at Zona Tortona 2010 in Milan

Designer Michael Wolfson is excited to announce that a half-dozen pieces from his TWISTED collection will be displayed at Zona Tortona 2010, which is being held from April 14--April 19 at the funky and modern Nhow Hotel in downtown Milan, Italy. TWISTED is a collection of works made out of HI-MACS® Natural Acrylic Stone that were first featured last year at The Dock gallery during London's Design Week. For Zona Tortona, they will be reworked into an entirely new installation: ’IMAGINARIUM’, designed by Italian architect Francesco Lucchese. For further information on the event please click here.

James Dyson Interviewed in Metropolis Magazine

This spring, innovator, engineer, and SGLA client, James Dyson, will release his latest game-changing invention: a bladeless Air Multiplier™ fan that utilizes patented technology to “draw in air and amplify it 15 times, producing an uninterrupted stream of smooth air.” Ahead of the fan’s arrival in stores this month (they're already available to purchase online), Dyson was gracious enough to grant a brief interview to Metropolis Magazine for their special March 2010 “Product Issue”. In the interview, Dyson hits on a number of topics – from engineering to music to protecting one’s ideas and saving the world. Included below are a few key quotes from the conversation.

• Why do you do what you do?: "Engineering is in my blood. I try to encourage others, especially young people, to get involved with design. We run an award that gives young designers and engineers a platform for their inventions—there’s a lot of up-and-coming talent."

• World-saving mission: "To get people interested in engineering. Where would we be without Edison, Ford, Faraday? As a society, we’re so affected by engineering yet so out of touch with it. Businesses need to recognize that research and development is vital to future success."

• First act as “design czar”: "Introduce people to the importance of engineering at a young age; change curriculum in schools to put more of an emphasis on making things. My second act: make all museums free of charge."

• Most useful tool: "In addition to my sketchbook, a Rotring pencil. It’s an engineer’s pencil I use to do my drawings. It’s not styled in the least, but it’s comfortable and does the job."

• Learned the hard way: "Nothing learned is ever easy. My first vacuum took over 5,000 prototypes to get right. But designing something that solves a problem is always worth the effort."

• Command-Z (undo): "Patents are vital to protecting ideas. I invented a wheelbarrow that used a ball, but I didn’t patent it under my name. Big mistake—I lost all rights to it. It was a tough lesson, but we now know how to ensure our future technology stays protected."

• Dream job: "Luckily enough, I’m doing it."

Contemporary Korean Design Opens at R 20th Century in New York City

R 20th Century has announced the opening of Contemporary Korean Design, an exhibition featuring works by Byung-Hoon Choi, Hun-Chung Lee, Dae-Sup Kwon, Zone-Sun Bahk and Jin Jang. The inaugural United States collaboration between R 20th Century and the renowned Gallery Seomi in Seoul, Korea, marks the New York debut for many of these artists and will showcase never-before-seen pieces. The opening will take place on Monday, March 1st from 6pm until 8pm at R 20th Century, 82 Franklin Street. For further information please click here.

Joris Laarman Unveils New Works at Friedman Benda

We are pleased to announce that revolutionary Dutch designer Joris Laarman will be holding his first U.S. solo exhibition from March 4-April 10 at Friedman Benda in New York City. Perhaps best known for his bone chair (shown), which after showing at the MoMA become a fixture of the museum's permanent collection, Laarman has spent the past five years working on a number of new works that attempt to translate science into functional--and beautiful--objects. Standouts will include Skyline Storage, Fractal Bookshelf, Stair Cabinet, and Half Life Lamp, a sustainable lamp made from living cells.  For more information on the exhibit click here.

Jonathan Levine Gallery Celebrates 5th Anniversary

Tomorrow evening (2/27), Susan Grant Lewin Associates will support friend and client, Jonathan LeVine, as his prominent Chelsea gallery celebrates its 5th anniversary. The commemorative group exhibition, which will run through March 27, 2010, features new work from 40 artists who are either currently represented by the gallery or have shown there previously. Those artists include, AJ Fosik, Andy Kehoe, Blek le Rat, Invader, Jeff Soto, Mars-1, Ron English, Shepard Fairey, Tara McPherson, WK and more. The opening reception will be held on Saturday, February 27 from 7-9 p.m. at 529 West 20th Street, New York, NY 10011. For more information on the Jonathan LeVine Gallery (212-243-3822) please click here.

Circa '10 Puerto Rico

From January 29-February 2, 2010, the fifth annual Circa PR art fair will be taking place at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in the heart of San Juan. Long known for its intimate atmosphere and wide selection of carefully curated local and international emergent art, the festival will up the ante this year with a new component: Circa Labs. Under the direction of renowned artist-curator, Pablo Leon de La Barra, Circa Labs strives to promote interdisciplinary and alternative artistic proposals. It will offer a cross-cultural experience in which urban art, live music, performance, styling, skating, tattooing, and product customization collide. For ticket and exhibitor information please visit their website. Photo credit: CIRCA Puerto Rico

Architect Andre Kikoski's The Wright at the Guggenheim Restaurant

On December 8, 2009, Susan Grant Lewin and Associates proudly supported architect Andre Kikoski during a successful press event that marked the opening of The Wright, a restaurant he designed at the Guggenheim Museum in celebration of its 50th anniversary. Named after and inspired by original Guggenheim designer, Frank Lloyd Wright, the restaurant's modern and elegant architectural space captures the cosmopolitan excitement of today's New York. By using nearly all-white in its design, Kikoski created a contemporary yet chic decor that features regular seating for 58, as well as a communal table and European-style bar for more informal and lively dining experiences. Some features of the 1,600 square-foot space include a curvilinear wall of walnut layered with illuminated fiber-optics and a sweeping banquette with vivid blue leather seating backed by illuminated planes of woven grey texture. Additionally, the Guggenheim commissioned British-born artist Liam Gillick to develop a site-specific sculptural installation, which only adds to the unique dining experience (the colorful horizontal planks in the photo above). An architecturally-rich restaurant would be useless without excellent food, so The Wright hired David Bouley protégé, Rodolfo Contreras, who created a menu that has an emphasis on seasonal, local and sustainable ingredients. Standouts include the diver sea scallops, slow roasted suckling pig, and the spiced pumpkin and chocolate cake. The Wright at the Guggenheim opened for lunch Friday through Wednesday (11:30 a.m to 3:30 p.m) on January 11, and will open for dinner Thursday through Saturday (5:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.) in mid-January. For further information please click here. Photo Credit: David Heald, The Solomon R. Guggenhiem Foundation, New York

"Later Layer" Installation -- January 16 - February 28, 2010

Designed by architects Johnston Marklee and artist Walead Beshty, "Later Layer," a site-specific installation presented by DevelopRE and the Depart Foundation, is set to open on January 16, 2010, at the Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles. Presented as two connected projects, the installation will feature architectural models of Johnston Marklee's work in Italy and Beshty's abstract photograms from the Depart Foundation Collection. The title of the installation refers to the serial aspect present in the strategies deployed by both architect and artist. It will run through February 28, 2010. For further information please click here.