Denver Art Museum To Bring Education To The Heart Of New Campus

Morgridge Family Foundation, Schlessman Family Foundation and Singer Family Foundation gifts totaling $8M to support education experiences designed by Mexico City-based design firm Esrawe + Cadena

The Denver Art Museum (DAM) announced three significant museum donations totaling $8 million for its new Bartlit Learning and Engagement Center in the Martin Building (formerly North Building), which will help fund an expansion of spaces and visitor experiences. Set to reopen to the public starting June 6, 2020, the museum’s large-scale construction and renovation project will unify the campus and create a welcoming and engaging experience for visitors of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.

The Morgridge Family Foundation contributed $4 million and the Schlessman Family Foundation and Singer Family Foundation each gifted $2 million in support of the DAM’s $150 million capital campaign for construction and renovation. The funds will contribute to expanded public spaces for school and youth group visits and educational opportunities for all visitors. International design team Esrawe + Cadena, based in Mexico City, Mexico, will bring these spaces to life in support of DAM’s welcoming environment, community connections, creativity for all ages and the power of harnessing early childhood education inventiveness.

Esrawe + Cadena has been working with museum staff during the past year to reimagine education and community experiences at the DAM. The new education center will welcome visitors with flexible spaces that inspire experimentation and engagement with their own creativity, while simultaneously connecting visitors with one another and Denver’s creative energy through local artist collaborations. When the museum begins its phased reopening this summer, the new Morgridge Creative Hub, four workshop areas, sensory garden and Wonderscape Singer Community Gallery will offer these new experiences. Combining the principles of participation, flexibility, creativity and spontaneity, as well as incorporating the use of delightful colors and design, were a focus for the museum and the Esrawe + Cadena teams as well.

Esrawe + Cadena also designed custom modular furniture for the Creative Hub and workshop areas that will be flexible enough to create multiple types of educational environments. Visitors will be able to reimagine and reconfigure the furniture with the ability to move between spaces to support creativity and programs. Tables and multiple seating arrangements in each of the spaces will be able to be arranged both collectively and individually to facilitate collaborative and independent activities. Additionally, mobile activity carts will give visitors the ability to take hands-on projects to multiple areas.

Designed more than 50 years ago by world-renowned Italian architectGio Pontiand Denver-based James Sudler Associates, the Martin Building first opened to the public in 1971. By the time the renovation project is complete in 2021, the transformed Martin Building tower structure will house the majority of the DAM’s permanent collection galleries. The contributions made by the Morgridge, Schlessman and Singer Family Foundations will help the museum bring its exemplary educational programs to a more central location of the building and expand opportunities for visitor creativity and engagement.

“The Denver Art Museum is a leader in the field of museum engagement, and these generous contributions will help expand our ability to welcome the community, celebrate creativity and create connections between people, their communities and a larger humanity through art,” said Christoph Heinrich, Frederick and Jan Mayer Director of the DAM. “We are also grateful to be collaborating with international design firm Esrawe + Cadena to further the museum’s efforts to engage and inspire visitors of all ages.”

Morgridge Creative Hub

The Morgridge Family Foundation’s contribution to the Martin Building project is being recognized in the renovated building’s Creative Hub. The Morgridge Creative Hub will be a dynamic educational space in the location formerly known as Ponti Hall on level one of the Martin Building. It will facilitate school group visits, feature hands-on artmaking activities inspired by the creative process and serve as a location for creative communities to convene for discussion and participation in DAM programs.

“We are pleased to support this important project at the Denver Art Museum and, especially, to help create spaces that will transform the way the community can participate in creativity at the museum,” said John Morgridge, president of the Morgridge Family Foundation. “We hope this will be an engaging space for every visitor to explore their own creativity.”

The Morgridge Family Foundation was granted charitable status in April 2008 and is committed to making investments that transform communities by working with nonprofit partners. At the DAM, the Morgridge Family Foundation has supported the museum’s Creativity Resource program, an online art education resource center for classroom teachers, home-school educators and families since 2008. The Foundation has made numerous contributions to the Denver community, including to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, National Jewish Health, University of Denver and Mile High United Way.

For the First Time in the US, Visitors Can Experience “Age Old Cities”—A Virtual Journey to the Devastated Sites of Mosul, Aleppo and Palmyra

Immersive Exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art Highlights Importance of the Preservation of Cultural Heritage

Using the most recent digital techniques, the Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, take visitors on a virtual tour of three ancient cities—Palmyra and Aleppo in Syria and Mosul in Iraq.

Age Old Cities

The exhibition, located in the Sackler Gallery, highlights the devastation of these historically significant sites but also offers hope for their reconstruction and rehabilitation. By including the testimony of Iraqis and Syrians, the installation underscores the importance of place in the preservation of historical and architectural memory.

“Age Old Cities: A Virtual Journey from Palmyra to Mosul” will be on view at the Sackler Gallery from Jan. 25 through Oct. 26. It was organized by the Arab World Institute in Paris, and created in collaboration with Iconem, which specializes in digitizing cultural heritage sites in 3-D, and in partnership with UNESCO. The exhibition offers an immersive experience that emphasizes the importance of preserving the world’s fragile cultural and built heritage.

“‘Age Old Cities’ is a landmark exhibition, not only for its innovative use of digital technology within a museum context, but also for the poignant story it tells,” said Chase F. Robinson, the Dame Jillian Sackler Director of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and the Freer Gallery of Art. “This exhibition narrates the heartbreaking story of cultural destruction—and resilience—in these cities, and we are proud to be the exhibition’s inaugural U.S. venue. Palmyra, Mosul and Aleppo are cornerstones of world culture, and it is our shared responsibility to ensure that these cities are preserved to continue to tell their rich histories and inspire future generations.”

In the recent past, Iraq and Syria have suffered profound upheavals that have destroyed many significant cultural and religious sites—leaving little of the rich historical past. “Age Old Cities” sheds light on the devastating destruction, the important cultural heritage of Syria and Iraq, and the need to preserve these sites.

The exhibition invites visitors into the heart of each of the three cities with large-scale projections of dynamic imagery and 3-D reconstructions of damaged monuments. The projections shift gradually from destruction to progressive reconstruction. To contextualize the sites, visitors will also see projections of historical photographs of the structures.

“Beyond the stones, this heritage is a common good, and safeguarding it is the responsibility of all,” said Jack Lang, president of the Arab World Institute. “Citizens of every faith, archaeologists and curators have all worked and continue working today hand in hand to shelter, protect and rebuild.”

The exhibition offers more than a visual of potential reconstruction of mostly destroyed sites; it introduces visitors to the people who still live in the cities. Several videos throughout the exhibition feature interviews with residents, as well as archeologists and curators who work at great personal risk to protect and preserve these sites. Other videos explore unique parts of the cities such as the souks (markets) of Aleppo or the tomb of the Three Brothers in Palmyra (an underground burial chamber turned into an ISIS base of operations).

Throughout the run of the exhibition, the museum will offer a series of programs focusing on each city. Programming will include lectures and presentations on architectural heritage and current events, family programs and related film and music programs to enhance the visitor experience, further explore the rich cultures of these cities, as well as the challenges and opportunities of cultural restoration and public policies.

Walker Art Center Announces Extensive 2020–2021 Exhibition Schedule Highlights

The Walker Arts Center continues to flesh out what is considerably a very dynamic exhibition schedule for the next two years. Additions to the Walker Art Center’s 2020–2021 exhibition schedule include two new solo exhibitions by female artists, Faye Driscoll: Thank You for Coming (February 27–June 14, 2020) and Candice Lin (April 17–August 29, 2021) as well as a Walker collection show of women artists, Don’t let this be easy (July 16–March 14, 2021). For her first solo museum exhibition, Faye Driscoll incorporates a guided audio soundtrack, moving image works, and props to look back across the entirety of her trilogy of performances Thank You For Coming—Attendance (2014), Play (2016), and Space (2019)—works that were presented and co-commissioned by the Walker and subsequently toured around the world over the past six years. Another newly added exhibition, Candice Lin, is the first US museum solo show by the artist, co-organized by the Walker Art Center and the Carpenter Center for Visual Arts (CCVA). Lin is creating a site-specific installation that responds to the space of the gallery at each institution, allowing the shape of the work to evolve over the course of its presentation.

The Walker-organized exhibition Don’t let this be easy highlights the diverse and experimental practices of women artists spanning some 50 years through a selection of paintings, sculptures, moving image works, artists’ books, and materials from the archives.

The initiative is presented in conjunction with the Feminist Art Coalition (FAC), a nationwide effort involving more than 60 museums committed to social justice and structural change.

Other upcoming exhibitions include An Art Of Changes: Jasper Johns Prints, 1960–2018 (February 16–September 20, 2020), a survey of six decades of Johns’ work in printmaking drawn from the Walker’s complete collection of the artists’ prints including intaglio, lithography, woodcut, linoleum cut, screenprinting, lead relief, and blind embossing; The Paradox of Stillness: Art, Object, and Performance (formerly titiled Still and Yet) (April 18–July 26, 2020), is an exhibition that rethinks the history of performance featuring artists whose works include performative elements but also embrace acts, objects, and gestures that refer more to the inert qualities of traditional painting or sculpture than to true staged action.

Additional exhibitions include Michaela Eichwald’s (June 13–November 8, 2020) first US solo museum presentation, bringing together painting, sculpture, and collage from across the past 10 years of her practice; Designs for Different Futures (September 12, 2020 – January 3, 2021)—a collaborative group show co-organized by the Walker Art Center, Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago—brings together about 80 dynamic works that address the challenges and opportunities that humans may encounter in the years, decades, and centuries to come; Rayyane Tabet (December 10, 2020– April 18, 2021), a solo show by the Beirut-based multidisciplinary artist featuring a new installation for the Walker that begins with a time capsule discovered on the site of what was once an IBM manufacturing facility in Rochester, Minnesota.

OPENING EXHIBITIONS

• AN ART OF CHANGES: JASPER JOHNS PRINTS, 1960–2018, February 16–September 20, 2020
• FAYE DRISCOLL: THANK YOU FOR COMING, February 27–June 14, 2020
• THE PARADOX OF STILLNESS: ART, OBJECT, AND PERFORMANCE, April 18–July 26, 2020
• MICHAELA EICHWALD, June 4–November 8. 2020
• DON’T LET THIS BE EASY, July 16–March 14, 2021
• DESIGNS FOR DIFFERENT FUTURES, September 12–January 3, 2021
• RAYYANE TABET, December 10–April 18, 2021
• JULIE MEHRETU, March 14, 2021–July 11, 2021
• CANDICE LIN, April 17, 2021–August 29, 2021

CONTINUING EXHIBITIONS

• THE EXPRESSIONIST FIGURE: 100 YEARS OF MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY DRAWING, November 17, 2019–April 19, 2020
• CARISSA RODRIGUEZ: THE MAID, October 3, 2019–February 2, 2020
• FIVE WAYS IN: THEMES FROM THE COLLECTION, February 14, 2019–October 3, 2021
• ELIZABETH PRICE, December 8, 2018–March 1, 2020
• I AM YOU, YOU ARE TOO, September 7, 2017–March 1, 2020

Photo Credit: Flags I, 1973. Screenprint on paper, 27 3/8 x 35 ½ in. ed. 3/65. Collection Walker Art Center, Gift of Judy and Kenneth Dayton, 1988. © Jasper Johns/VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

An Art Of Changes: Jasper Johns Prints, 1960–2018, February 16–September 20, 2020. Gallery B/Target

When Jasper Johns’s paintings of flags and targets debuted in 1958, they brought him instant acclaim and established him as a critical link between Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art. In the ensuing 60 years, Johns (US, b. 1930) has continued to astonish viewers with the beauty and complexity of his paintings, drawings, sculpture, and prints. Today, he is considered one of the 20th century’s greatest American artists.

Artist: Jasper Johns Title: Figure 7 from the Color Numeral Series Date: 1969 Medium: lithograph on paper Accession number: 1985.319 Credit Line: Gift of Kenneth Tyler, 1985. Repro Rights: VAGA; Art copyright Jasper Johns / Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY.

Artist: Jasper Johns Title: Target Date: 1960 Medium: lithograph on paper Accession number: 1988.181 Credit Line: Gift of Judy and Kenneth Dayton, 1988. Repro Rights: VAGA; Art copyright Jasper Johns / Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY.

In celebration of the artist’s 90th birthday, An Art of Changes surveys six decades of Johns’s work in printmaking, highlighting his experiments with familiar, abstract, and personal imagery that play with memory and visual perception in endlessly original ways. The exhibition features some 90 works in intaglio, lithography, woodcut, linoleum cut, screenprinting, and lead relief—all drawn from the Walker’s comprehensive collection of the artist’s prints.

Target, 1974
Screenprint on paper
35 1/8 x 27 3/8 inches
Collection Walker Art Center, Gift of Judy and Kenneth Dayton, 1988
© Jasper Johns/VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY

Artist: Jasper Johns Title: Untitled Date: 2000 Medium: linocut on paper Accession number: 2001.197 Credit Line: Gift of the artist, 2001. Repro Rights: VAGA; Art copyright Jasper Johns / Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY.

Artist: Jasper Johns Title: Untitled Date: 2016 Medium: Linoleum-cut on paper Accession number: 2017.6 Credit Line: Collection Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Gift of the artist, 2017. Photo by Gene Pittman for Walker Art Center.

Artist: Jasper Johns Title: Fragment of a Letter Date: 2010 Medium: intaglio on paper Accession number: 2011.59.1-.2 Credit Line: Gift of the artist, 2011. Repro Rights: VAGA; Art copyright Jasper Johns / Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY.

Artist: Jasper Johns Title: Between the Clock and the Bed Date: 1989 Medium: Lithograph on paper Accession number: 1991.155 Credit Line: Collection Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Stacy Roback, 1991. Repro Rights: VAGA, Art © Jasper Johns/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY. Photo by Gene Pittman for Walker Art Center.

Organized in four thematic sections, the show follows Johns through the years as he revises and recycles key motifs over time, including the American flag, numerals, and the English alphabet, which he describes as “things the mind already knows.” Some works explore artists’ tools, materials, and techniques. Others explore signature aspects of the artist’s distinctive mark-making, including flagstones and hatch marks, while later pieces teem with autobiographical imagery. To underscore Johns’s fascination with the changes that occur when an image is reworked in another medium, the prints will be augmented by a small selection of paintings and sculptures.

Artist Jasper Johns at work in his studio

Artist: Jasper Johns Title: Savarin Date: 1977 Medium: Lithograph on paper Accession number: 1988.276 Credit Line: Collection Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Gift of Judy and Kenneth Dayton, 1988. Repro Rights: VAGA, Art © Jasper Johns/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY.

Curator: Joan Rothfuss, guest curator, Visual Arts.

• Exhibition Tour
  Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh: October 12, 2019–January 20, 2020
  Walker Art Center, Minneapolis: February 16–September 20, 2020
  Grand Rapids Art Museum, Michigan: October 24, 2020–January 24, 2021
  Tampa Art Museum, Florida: April 28–September 6, 2021

Travel/Living Well: Auberge Resorts Collection To Bring Unique Character And Modern Luxury To The Heart Of Austin, Texas, With Commodore Perry Estate

Auberge Resorts Collection, a portfolio of award-winning hotels, resorts and residences, today announced that it plans a Spring 2020 opening for its first urban retreat in the dynamic destination of Austin, Texas. Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Resorts Collection will be a modern interpretation of a residential estate from yesteryear, where guests are invited to sit back, celebrate and inspire thoughtful conversation. Designed by internationally known designer Ken Fulk, the resort will bring a new level of contemporary glamour, whimsical soul and effortless luxury representative of Austin’s uniqueness. The intimate 10-acre resort offers a uniquely Texas familiarity brimming with character, independent spirit and charm, boasting 42 rooms and 12 suites, and amenities including an organic urban farm, Lutie’s – the signature garden restaurant, a members club and a serene outdoor swimming pool.

Auberge Resorts Collection (PRNewsFoto/Auberge Resorts Collection)

“It is with great pride that we welcome Commodore Perry Estate to the Auberge family. Bringing a combination of exquisite design, exceptional location and an authentically Austin experience, this one-of-a-kind Estate introduces a new level of style and distinctive luxury to the diverse city,” said Marco Bustamante, General Manager, Commodore Perry Estate. “We are delighted that Auberge Resorts Collection has been welcomed so warmly into the vibrant Austin community, and are excited to be a best-loved destination for events, weddings and celebration.”

Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Resorts Collection

Built in the Jazz Age in 1928, Commodore Perry Estate was originally the country home of Commodore Edgar and Lutie Perry, a place for them to entertain and connect with family when they weren’t traveling through Europe. The 10,800-square-foot Italianate mansion was designed by Dallas architect Henry Bowers Thompson in 1927. Declaring the home, “a great place to throw a party,” Perry was popular for his Gatsby-esque soirées on property. In subsequent decades, Commodore Perry Estate went through many chapters, housing several schools and adding a chapel, and serving as the site of prominent weddings and important Austin events. Located just north of The University of Texas at Austin in the historic neighborhood of Hancock, Commodore Perry Estate is surrounded by expansive grounds, lush green English gardens, spring-fed Waller Creek and a stone wall enclosing the property to create an ideal setting for year-round getaways. The intimate chapel and gardens are the perfect backdrop for special events, weddings and private celebrations.

Commodore Perry Estate features signature imaginative elements from powerhouse designer Ken Fulk, known for projects such as San Francisco’s The Battery and Saint Joseph’s Arts Society, Legacy Records in New York’s Hudson Yards and notable private residential commissions. The layered aesthetic is part history, part imagination and all Austin. The imaginative interiors represent over two years of Fulk’s shopping excursions to Round Top Antiques Show, the Lone Star State’s haven for antiquing. Fulk has curated a mix of custom and heirloom vintage pieces creating an atmosphere that feels collected over time. Fulk worked in collaboration with renowned architecture firm Moule and Polyzoides and award-winning local Austin firms Clayton & Little and Ten Eyck Landscape Architects to restore Commodore Perry Estate to its former glory.

“When I first saw Commodore Perry Estate, I was simply mesmerized. It was as if a European country estate had been transported to a bucolic Texas hill country landscape,” said Fulk. “We strived to craft experiences that combined a relaxed European elegance and  true gracious Texas hospitality with an ease and comfort to every experience that will welcome members and visitors to sit back and enjoy themselves.”

As the centerpiece of the property, the original Mansion instantly communicates an elevated, residential atmosphere. Guests will feel as though they’re arriving at the stately home of an old family friend. Handed keys upon arrival, guests will be invited to enjoy the Mansion as they would their own private estate. The five bedrooms from the Perry’s original residence have been transformed into uniquely charming hotel suites as a nod to its original inhabitants. Edgar Perry’s Suite, with its safari-inspired play of patterns, reflects a love of world travel and high culture, while Lutie Perry’s Suite presents a softer side in a palette of pink velvet, faux fur and muted leopard carpet. The downstairs Living Room boasts a new cocktail bar, and the sunny Solarium, with its original tile floors, is perfect for small bites or cocktails. The Dining Room and Breakfast Room are dedicated to informal dining experiences throughout the day. With a wide range of indoor and outdoor lounge options, including the Loggia and Terrace, members and resident members can enjoy a daily menu of Estate favorites and signature cocktails with prime seating for club programming, such as intimate concerts, lectures or tastings. Membership at The Commodore Perry Estate offers members and their guests’ exclusive access to the resort in addition to inspired, cultural programming, experiences and events.

The new private club at Commodore Perry Estate will draw membership from the diverse fabric of the ever-changing Austin community. Offering a stunning environment for locals to meet, dine, collaborate and nourish while cultivating community connection and building on the Estate’s history and traditions. The club also seeks to acknowledge and support exceptional local and national talent in the arts, fashion, culinary, wellness and finance realms to not only provide a rich and unique experience for members, but to also give back to the Austin community.

Pantone Reveals Color of the Year 2020: PANTONE® 19-4052 Classic Blue

A Reassuring Presence Instilling Calm, Confidence, And Connection

Tapping into sight, sound, smell, taste, and texture Pantone makes PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue the first multi-sensory Color of the Year in the company’s history.

Pantone, provider of professional color language standards and digital solutions, today announced PANTONE 19-4052, Classic Blue, as the Pantone® Color of the Year for 2020; a timeless and enduring hue elegant in its simplicity. Suggestive of the sky at dusk, the reassuring qualities of the thought-provoking PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue highlight our desire for a dependable and stable foundation from which to build as we cross the threshold into a new era.

Pantone Reveals Color of the Year 2020: PANTONE® 19-4052 Classic Blue

“We are living in a time that requires trust and faith. It is this kind of constancy and confidence that is expressed by PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue, a solid and dependable blue hue we can always rely on,” said Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute. “Imbued with a deep resonance, PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue provides an anchoring foundation. A boundless blue evocative of the vast and infinite evening sky, PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue encourages us to look beyond the obvious to expand our thinking; challenging us to think more deeply, increase our perspective and open the flow of communication.”

The Color of the Year selection process requires thoughtful consideration and trend analysis. To arrive at the selection each year, Pantone’s color experts at the Pantone Color Institute comb the world looking for new color influences. This can include the entertainment industry and films in production, traveling art collections and new artists, fashion, all areas of design, popular travel destinations, as well as new lifestyles, playstyles, and socio-economic conditions. Influences may also stem from new technologies, materials, textures, and effects that impact color, relevant social media platforms and even up-coming sporting events that capture worldwide attention. For 21 years, Pantone’s Color of the Year has influenced product development and purchasing decisions in multiple industries, including fashion, home furnishings, and industrial design, as well as product packaging and graphic design. Past selections for Color of the Year include:

• PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral (2019)
• PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet (2018)
• PANTONE 15-0343 Greenery (2017)
• PANTONE 15-3919 Serenity and PANTONE 13-1520 Rose Quartz (2016)
• PANTONE 18-1438 Marsala (2015)
• PANTONE 18-3224 Radiant Orchid (2014)
• PANTONE 17-5641 Emerald (2013)
• PANTONE 17-1463 Tangerine Tango (2012)
• PANTONE 18-2120 Honeysuckle (2011)
• PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise (2010)
• PANTONE 14-0848 Mimosa (2009)
• PANTONE 18-3943 Blue Iris (2008)
• PANTONE 19-1557 Chili Pepper (2007)
• PANTONE 13-1106 Sand Dollar (2006)
• PANTONE 15-5217 Blue Turquoise (2005)
• PANTONE 17-1456 Tigerlily (2004)
• PANTONE 14-4811 Aqua Sky (2003)
• PANTONE 19-1664 True Red (2002)
• PANTONE 17-2031 Fuchsia Rose (2001)
• PANTONE 15-4020 Cerulean (2000)

The color selected as the Pantone Color of the Year 2020 was taken from the Pantone Fashion, Home + Interiors Color System, the most widely used and recognized color standards system for fashion, textile, home, and interior design.

Imprinted in our psyches as a restful color, PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue brings a sense of peace and tranquility to the human spirit, offering refuge. Aiding concentration and bringing laser-like clarity, PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue re-centers our thoughts. A reflective blue tone, Classic Blue fosters resilience.

As technology continues to race ahead of the human ability to process it all, it is easy to understand why we gravitate to colors that are honest and offer the promise of protection. Non-aggressive and easily relatable, the trusted PANTONE 19-4052, Classic Blue lends itself to relaxed interaction. Associated with the return of another day, this universal favorite is comfortably embraced.

“The Pantone Color of the Year highlights the relationship between trends in color and what is taking place in our global culture at a moment in time, a color that reflects what individuals feel they need that color can hope to answer.” added Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute. “As society continues to recognize color as a critical form of communication, and a way to express and affect ideas and emotions, designers and brands should feel inspired to use color to engage and connect. The Pantone Color of the Year selection provides strategic direction for the world of trend and design, reflecting the Pantone Color Institute’s year-round work doing the same for designers and brands.”

To fully bring to life the true meaning of PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue, Pantone has translated PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue into a multi-sensory experience. By extending the sensory reach of PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue, Pantone is hoping to reach a greater diversity of people to provide everyone with an opportunity to engage with the Color of the Year 2020 in their own unique way.

“As we all head into a new era, we wanted to challenge ourselves to find inspiration from new sources that not only evolve our Color of the Year platform, but also help our global audiences achieve richer and more rewarding color experiences,” added Pressman. “This desire, combined with the emotional properties of PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue, motivated us to expand beyond the visual, to bring the 2020 Pantone Color of the Year to life through a multi-sensory experience.”

Classic Blue in Fashion

PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue is a poised and self-assured blue hue elegant in its simplicity. Genderless in outlook and seasonless in endurance, this foundational anchor shade enables color mixes throughout the spectrum, as well as making a strong statement on its own. Emblematic of heritage but at the same time highly contemporary, versatile PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue takes on distinct appearances through application to different materials, finishes and textures from shimmering metallics, lustrous sheens and high-tech materials to hand crafted looks and more fragile fabrics.

Classic Blue in Beauty

In the ultimate display of personal expression, PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue makes a dramatic statement for eyes, nails and hair in a variety of finishes from glittery and glam to dusty matte.

Classic Blue in Home Décor

Offering the promise of protection PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue is a pervasive favorite for home. Creating a stable foundation from which to build, PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue injects creative confidence into interiors, transforming a space through unique color combinations and tonal statements. Easily applied across so many different materials, textures and finishes, PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue is a dependable blue that can take you in different directions expressing tradition and elegance as well as unexpected boldness.

Classic Blue in Graphic Design and Packaging

Because of PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue’s relation to the sky at dusk, something we see every day, it maintains a perception of dependability and constancy. A color we respond to viscerally as being trustworthy, PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue is an ideal shade for many applications of graphic design. This is especially true for packaging where PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue conveys the message of honesty, credibility and reliability that today’s consumers are connecting to.

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum Presents Countryside, The Future, an AMO / Rem Koolhaas Exhibition Opening February 2020

Exhibition to Examine Radical Changes Transforming the Surface of the World beyond Cities

From February 20 through summer 2020 the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum will present Countryside, The Future, an exhibition addressing urgent environmental, political, and socioeconomic issues through the lens of architect and urbanist Rem Koolhaas and AMO, the think tank of the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA). A unique exhibition for the Guggenheim rotunda, Countryside, The Future will explore radical changes in the vast nonurban areas of Earth with an immersive installation premised on original research. The project extends investigative work already underway by AMO, Koolhaas, and students at the Harvard Graduate School of Design; the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing; Wageningen University, Netherlands; and the University of Nairobi.

Rem Koolhaas; Troy Conrad Therrien, Curator of Architecture and Digital Initiatives, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum; Samir Bantal, Director of AMO.
Photo: Kristopher McKay © Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, 2019.

“In the past decades, I have noticed that while much of our energies and intelligence have been focused on the urban areas of the world—under the influence of global warming, the market economy, American tech companies, African and European initiatives, Chinese politics, and other forces—the countryside has changed almost beyond recognition,” stated Koolhaas. “The story of this transformation is largely untold, and it is particularly meaningful for AMO to present it in one of the world’s great museums in one of the world’s densest cities.”

RIGIDITY ENABLES FRIVOLITY
The frivolity of urban life has necessitated the organization, abstraction, and automation of the countryside at a vast and unprecedented scale.
Left: Mishka Henner, Feedlots, 2013. Right: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, 2018. Photo: Luca Locatelli

Rem Koolhaas (b. 1944, Rotterdam) founded the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) in 1975 together with Elia and Zoe Zenghelis and Madelon Vriesendorp. He graduated from the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London and in 1978 published Delirious New York: A Retroactive Manifesto for Manhattan. His 1995 book S,M,L,XL, summarizes the work of OMA in “a novel about architecture.” In 2001 Koolhaas published with his students two volumes of the Harvard Project on the City, The Harvard Design School Guide to Shopping and Great Leap Forward, and in 2011 Project Japan: Metabolism Talks looked back at the Metabolism movement. His built work includes the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art in Moscow (2015), Fondazione Prada in Milan (2015), the headquarters for China Central Television (CCTV) in Beijing (2012), Casa da Música in Porto, Portugal (2005), Seattle Central Library (2004), and the Embassy of the Netherlands in Berlin (2003). Koolhaas designed the Guggenheim Hermitage Museum in Las Vegas, open from 2001 to 2008, and, in 1978, The Sparkling Metropolis, an exhibition on the top ramp of the rotunda of the Guggenheim in New York. Current projects include the Qatar Foundation headquarters, Qatar National Library, Taipei Performing Arts Center, a new building for Axel Springer in Berlin, and the Factory in Manchester. Koolhaas is a professor at Harvard University and in 2014 was the director of the 14th Venice Architecture Biennale, entitled Fundamentals.

NEW NATURE
Highly artificial and sterile environments are employed to create the ideal organic specimen. Today’s glass houses contain all the essential ingredients of life but none of the redundancies: sun, soil, and water are emulated, optimized, and finally automated. Photo: Pieternel van Velden

Asheville Winter Travel News: Surprisingly Cozy And Refreshing Off-Season Adventures In The Blue Ridge Mountains

S’more flights, mountaintop yoga under the winter sun, new downtown hotel and art hubs with long-range views and “Downton Abbey” at Biltmore

Often overlooked and underrated, winter in Asheville, N.C., is a bit of a secret in a Blue Ridge Mountain city world-famous for fall color and lush summer adventure. Mostly moderate winter weather means Asheville’s Art Deco Downtown remains walkable and cozy with picture-perfect long-range views of snowy peaks, romantic restaurants and easy access to hiking and walking trails. This winter brings a mix of cozy new offerings including wellness experiences to beat the winter blues, a new downtown hotel with expansive views and luxury wellness amenities, “Downton Abbey” costumes and life-sized set recreations at The Biltmore, beverages to warm the soul and new cultural offerings to tuck into. http://www.ExploreAsheville.com/winter19-20

Ashewville Convention and Visitors Bureau logo

Why Winter?

Stunning panoramic views, the best rates of the year and last-minute travel deals from an array of mountaintop retreats and inviting B&Bs—some offering private hot tubs overlooking the surrounding peaks and valleys, fireplaces in epic locales and the chance to see nationally traveling bands in intimate music venues. Find out more at www,ExploreAsheville.com/winter.

NEW HOTEL WITH EXPANSIVE VIEWS & SERENITY-THEMED AMENITIES

Just opened, the Kimpton Hotel Arras has added a new icon and four-star luxury property to Asheville’s famed Art Deco skyline. In addition to a completely new Art Deco façade for Asheville’s tallest building, the 128-room hotel offers grand views of the surrounding mountains and an extensive food focus with two restaurants by local chef Peter Pollay—Bargello, a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, and District 42, a more casual spot with outdoor seating, small bites and hand-crafted cocktails. The hotel also offers an artisanal serenity cart, available upon request for guest room delivery, filled with everything from books by Asheville authors to lavender sachets and evening cordials. Wellness amenities also include a massage room and yoga area.

“DOWNTON ABBEY” AT BILTMORE

On the heels of the hit “Downton Abbey” movie, Downton Abbey: The Exhibition arrives at America’s Largest Home on Nov. 8 with set recreations and artifacts, more than 50 of the show’s costumes and exclusive multimedia elements. Housed at Biltmore‘s Amherst and Legacy locations, the exhibition will run through April 7, 2020, and will highlight the parallels between the show, the movie and Biltmore’s Vanderbilt family, friends and staff. (More info. )

COZY WINTER TOURS: TEA & TAROT, MOUNTAINTOP YOGA + ROOFTOP FIRE PITS

• Winter Blues, Bye: Check out the enlightening new Tea and Tarot offering from Asheville Wellness Tours that includes an educational, traditional Chinese tea experience and a group tarot reading at one of Asheville’s coziest tea houses.
• Warm Your Spirit on Top of a Mountain: Asheville Wellness Tours is offering the Yoga on the Mountain Hike this winter. Make your way through the forest and then warm your spirit with yoga under the winter sun. Enjoy a peaceful mountain, crisp fresh air and long-range views along the way.
• Rooftop Fire Pits & Mountain Views: Asheville Rooftop Bar Tours offer a guided tour to some of Asheville’s most scenic spots. Winter means gorgeous sunset views, crystal clear vistas of the surrounding mountains, hot toddies and fire pits.

NEW ART MUSEUM JOINS ARRAY OF FRESH, IMMERSIVE CULTURAL ADVENTURES

Views Inside & Out: Asheville Art Museum reopens this November with a new state-of-the-art building that features education facilities, an art library, a lecture and performance space, a new ArtPLAYce for families and children and the addition of a rooftop sculpture terrace and café with views of downtown architecture and the surrounding mountains. The opening exhibition “Appalachia Now!” is a survey of contemporary art in Southern Appalachia, highlighting 50 emerging artists from the region.

More NEW Cultural Experiences Downtown:

• One of Asheville’s most beloved festivals now has a brick-and-mortar location downtown. Opening to the public this winter, LEAF Global Arts Center will be a cornerstone in the continued rebirth of the city’s historical African-American business district, The Block. The Center will offer educational experiences for guests rooted in music, art, community and culture inclusivity via a mini-theater and global immersion room using virtual reality, unique musical instruments and a stage for performances and interactive artist workstations.
• Opening this November, The Center for Craft is expanding with The National Craft Innovation Hub, including new public galleries featuring local and national makers, lecture space, classrooms and a co-working space, cementing Asheville’s reputation as a force in the nation’s fine art and maker scene. To celebrate the reopening, the “Craft Futures 2099” exhibition showcases 10 local and national artists and their craft objects of the future, an exploration of what’s been and what’s to come in the world of craft. The exhibition runs until February 2020. All Center for Craft galleries are free and open to the public.

FOOD & BEVERAGE NEWS: CRAFT BEER & MAKER COLLAB, NIGHTLIFE GETS A MAKEOVER + S’MORE FLIGHTS

• New Brewery Blends National Park History and Maker Culture: Set in the buildings that once housed young forestry workers of the New Deal-era Civilian Conservation Corps, Burial Beer Co.’s Forestry Camp Restaurant and Bar just opened, offering beer, wine and coffee and highlighting local makers, from bakers to artists to musicians. James Beard semifinalist Brian Canipelli, chef and owner of Cucina 24, leads the food program.
• “Beauty Academy” Pairs Drinks, Food & Live Music: This newly opened venture from Charlie Hodge (Sovereign Remedies), Asheville Beauty Academy, features cocktails, champagne and brandy menus, a small food program and live music. The iconic downtown building, built in 1913, was home to the Asheville Beauty Academy in the 1950s and more recently a beloved jazz and blues bar.
• Brewing Beyond Beer: New downtown brewery DSSOLVR opens this November with beer offerings fit for the pickiest of beer enthusiasts to the most casual of light beer drinkers, as well as their own mead, wine, cider and cold-brew coffee.
• S’more Flights: Sunshine Sammies, known for ice cream sandwiches and their gourmet takes on after-school snacks like moon pies and zebra cakes, is making winter a little warmer with s’more flights. Think house-made marshmallows, scratch-made graham crackers, dark chocolate and toppings in a variety of rotating flavors.
• Winter Teas Infuse Local Flavors: Asheville Tea Company, working with a dozen local and regional farms, is warming up spirits this winter with their Snow Day blend (utilizing French Broad Chocolate cacao nibs), Winter Wonderland (a blend of white tea, Fraser Fir, wintergreen, peppermint, birch bark and yarrow flower) and Nutcracker (black tea, cinnamon, hickory nuts and vanilla bean).

ICONIC WINTER EXPERIENCES Discover more at ExploreAsheville.com/winter.

• Unobstructed Views: Take in stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains while on a winter hike. Multiple trailhead access points remain open all year long on the Blue Ridge Parkway and across Pisgah National Forest. Find your perfect winter trail with Explore Asheville‘s NEW Asheville Hike Finder, where you can sort by difficulty, distance from Asheville and features like waterfalls or views.
• Best Deals: Winter offers the best rates of the year for travel deals + fewer crowds. Cozy travel packages include wellness opportunities and other winter adventures. Find more at ExploreAsheville.com/deals.
• Cabin Fever: Asheville’s array of mountaintop retreats and inviting B&Bs offers private hot tubs overlooking the surrounding peaks and valleys, candlelight dinners and the opportunity to get away from it all.
• Secret Season for Music: Deep-seated bluegrass roots harmonize with new talent and innovative sounds in Asheville. In winter many nationally traveling local bands come home to the region to play shows and pop in to jam sessions.
• Fireplaces with a View: From rooftops to cozy spots to imbibe, Asheville’s trend of fireplaces accompanied by spectacular vistas of downtown architecture and mountain scenery is highlighted at venues like Capella on 9 at the AC Hotel Asheville Downtown and Hemingway’s Cuba at Cambria Downtown Asheville. Other hot spots with epic fireplace offerings: Omni Grove Park Inn, Pillar Bar at the Hilton Garden Inn Asheville Downtown and Wicked Weed Brewing.
• Signature winter events in Asheville include: The Big Crafty (December), showcasing handmade art from hundreds of local artists; The Fringe Arts Festival (January), an innovative series of boundary-pushing arts performances; Big Band Dance Weekend (January) at the Omni Grove Park Inn; and Asheville Restaurant Week (January). Find more winter events at ExploreAsheville.com/events.

“In a Cloud, in a Wall, in a Chair: Six Modernists in Mexico at Midcentury” at The Art institute of Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago presents an examination of midcentury art and design with In a Cloud, in a Wall, in a Chair: Six Modernists in Mexico at Midcentury, on view now through January 12, 2020. The exhibition, which opened on September 6, 2019, brings together the work of Clara Porset (b.1895), Lola Álvarez Bravo (b.1903), Anni Albers (b.1899), Ruth Asawa (b.1926), Cynthia Sargent (b.1922), and Sheila Hicks (b.1934), reflecting the unique experiences of these designers and artists in Mexico between the 1940s and 1970s. Despite their singularities, they created work that reflected on artistic traditions, while at the same time opened up new readings of daily life at a time of great social and political change.

The work of Clara Porset, Lola Álvarez Bravo, Anni Albers, Ruth Asawa, Cynthia Sargent, and Sheila Hicks has never been shown together before. While some of these artists and designers knew one another and collaborated together, they are from different generations, and their individual work encompasses a range of media varying from furniture and interior design to sculpture, textiles, photography, and prints. They all, however, share one defining aspect: Mexico, a country in which they all lived or worked between the 1940s and 1970s. During this period they all realized projects that breached disciplinary boundaries and national divides.

This exhibition takes its title from a quote by Clara Porset who, encouraging makers to seek inspiration widely, wrote: “There is design in everything…in a cloud…in a wall…in a chair…in the sea…in the sand…in a pot. Natural or man-made.” A political exile from Cuba, Porset became one of Mexico’s most prominent modern furniture and interior designers. Influenced by Bauhaus ideas, she believed that design and art could reshape cities, elevate the quality of life, and solve large-scale social problems. She shared these values with the other artists and designers in this exhibition, who were also committed to forging relationships across cultures; bringing different voices into dialogue; and responding productively to a moment of profound cultural and economic transformation. While some knew one another and worked together, this constellation of practitioners was from different generations, and their individual work encompasses a range of media varying from furniture and interior design to sculpture, textiles, photography, and printmaking.

Clara Porset. Butaque, about 1955–56. Gálvez Guzzy Family/Casa Gálvez Collection. Photo by Rodrigo Chapa, courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Clara Porset conceived designs informed by modernism with clean lines and forms, while also inspired by Mexican lifestyles. Mexican photographer Lola Álvarez Bravo created dynamic photomontages by cutting and pasting together parts of different photographs to produce images that emphasized the intense urban development. She also photographed Porset’s work. Following Porset’s invitation to visit Mexico, German émigré Anni Albers saw the country’s landscape and architecture as a vital source of inspiration, informing the abstract visual language of her designs. Japanese American Ruth Asawa, who took a class on craft and housing with Porset in Mexico City, was drawn to the artistry in utilitarian looped-wire baskets that she encountered in Toluca and her sculptures made with this wire technique became her primary practice. Cynthia Sargent and her husband Wendell Riggs moved to Mexico City from New York in 1951, where they produced several popular lines of textiles and rugs in their weaving workshop, collaborated with Porset for her exhibition Art in Daily Life (1952), and encouraged an appreciation of crafts by founding the weekly market Bazaar Sábado. Sheila Hicks, who moved in the same artistic circles as Porset, set up a workshop in Taxco el Viejo where she collaborated with and learned from local weavers, while producing pieces that were resolutely her own.

In the decades following the Mexican Revolution, which ended around 1920, Mexico was rapidly modernizing, and the art scene of its capital was as cosmopolitan and vibrant as it is today. Government projects promoted the country’s artisanal traditions in an attempt to build a cohesive national identity. This open climate attracted intellectuals and artists, such as the six celebrated here. They were transformed by what they learned, drawing inspiration from Mexican lifestyles and artistic practices, including the patterns of ancient indigenous sculptures, the geometries of archaeological sites, and the complex technical qualities found in thousands of years of textile traditions.

Anarquía arquitectónica en la ciudad de México (Architectural Anarchy in Mexico City), about 1953
Lola Álvarez Bravo. Familia González Rendón. © Center for Creative Photography, The University of Arizona Foundation

Mexican artist Lola Álvarez Bravo, a close friend and collaborator of Porset, was one of few women photographers working in the country during this period. Her photographs are essential to understanding Porset’s no longer extant projects, and her dynamic photomontages, created by cutting and pasting together parts of different photographs to create new images, provide insights into Mexico’s richly layered social, political, and geographical landscape during the 1940s and 1950s.

Study for Camino Real, 1967
Anni Albers. The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, 1994. © The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York 2019. Photo by Tim Nighswander/Imaging4Art

Porset was also friends with German émigré Anni Albers. Encouraged to visit Mexico by Porset, she first traveled to the country in 1935 and made 13 subsequent trips. Mexico’s landscape and architecture became a vital source of inspiration and remained so throughout her career, providing an abstract visual language for her designs. The triangle motif, for instance, that she used repeatedly in textiles and screenprints was drawn from archaeological Zapotec sites such as Monte Albán.

Untitled (S.535, Hanging Five-Lobed Continuous Form within a Form with Two Interior Spheres and One Teardrop Form), 1951
Ruth Asawa. Courtesy of Charles and Kathy Harper Collection. © Estate of Ruth Asawa, Courtesy David Zwirner. Photo by Dan Bradica

Mexico also left a deep impression on Japanese American Ruth Asawa. In 1947, two years after taking a class with Porset at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, she returned to the country and was drawn to the artistry in utilitarian looped-wire baskets that she encountered in Toluca. From then on, sculptures made with this wire technique became her primary practice.

Scarlatti, designed in 1958, produced about 1968–1969
Cynthia Sargent. Riggs-Platas Family Collection. Photo by Wendy McEahern

American Cynthia Sargent moved to Mexico City from New York with her husband Wendell Riggs in 1951 and produced several popular lines of rugs in their weaving workshop. Porset championed Sargent’s work and included her fabric designs in her pivotal exhibition Art in Daily Life. Sargent and Riggs went on to co-found the Bazaar Sábado, an influential market for Mexican and expatriate art and craft that continues to this day.

Learning to Weave in Taxco, Mexico, about 1960
Sheila Hicks. Gift of Martha Bennett King in memory of her brother, Dr. Wendell Clark Bennett. © Sheila Hicks

While American artist Sheila Hicks never met Porset, she was aware of Porset’s designs through her close friendship with architect Luis Barragán, who worked with both artists. After studying Latin American weaving traditions and traveling to South America, Hicks relocated to Mexico in the late 1950s and set up a workshop in Taxco el Viejo, where she collaborated with and learned from local weavers, while producing pieces that are resolutely her own.

As a story, In a Cloud… reminds us that, for many, transnational migration is both a fact of life and a provocation of creativity; it also challenges easy assumptions about the directions that migration can take. Current political discourse in the United States often frames Mexico as a place that people either leave or move through and not as a country that attracts immigrants of its own. As this exhibition makes clear, it was this country’s openness to artistic practice that drew a host of ambitious modern artists and designers from around the world.

“The work of these independent-minded designers and artists provides six distinct yet aligned models of creative practices that followed alternative routes and opened up new possibilities. Displayed together, their work makes the case for a continued evaluation of Mexico’s creative landscape and contributes to burgeoning discussions aimed at a more inclusive history of modern art and design,” said Zoë Ryan, John H. Bryan Chair and Curator of Architecture and Design, Department of Architecture and Design, the Art Institute of Chicago.

The pieces in this exhibition resulted from a complex dynamic of cultural learning and exchange. Each artist went beyond replication and applied their newfound knowledge and practices to create their own unique output while crediting the sources of their inspiration. These works highlight the importance of these still-influential contributions to art and design.

Major funding for In a Cloud, in a Wall, in a Chair: Six Modernists in Mexico at Midcentury is provided by the Gordon and Carole Segal Exhibition Fund; the Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation; Margot Levin Schiff and the Harold Schiff Foundation; and Barbara Bluhm-Kaul and Don Kaul.

Additional support is provided by Maria and William D. Smithburg; Kimberly M. Snyder; the George Lill Foundation Endowment; Nada Andric and James Goettsch; the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts; Thomas E. Keim and Noelle C. Brock; the Butler-VanderLinden Family Fund; the Terra Foundation for American Art; The Danielson Foundation; The Robey Chicago; and CNA.

The Museum Of Modern Art Announces Sur Moderno: Journeys Of Abstraction—The Patricia Phelps De Cisneros Gift

Major Exhibition at the Opening of New MoMA Will Display Over 100 Important Works by Latin American Artists

The Museum of Modern Art announces Sur moderno: Journeys of Abstraction―The Patricia Phelps de Cisneros Gift, a major exhibition drawn primarily from the paintings, sculptures, and works on paper donated to the Museum by the Colección Patricia Phelps de Cisneros between 1997 and 2016.

Since its founding in 1929, The Museum of Modern Art has collected, exhibited, and studied the art of Latin America. Today, MoMA’s collection includes more than 5,000 works of modern and contemporary art by artists from Latin America distributed across its six curatorial departments, representing important figures in early modernism, Expressionism, Surrealism, abstraction, architecture, and Conceptual and contemporary art.

Alfredo Hlito (Argentine, 1923–1993). Ritmos cromáticos III (Chromatic Rhythms III), 1949. Oil on canvas, 39 3/8 × 39 3/8″ (100 × 100 cm). The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Gift of Patricia Phelps de Cisneros through the Latin American and Caribbean Fund

On view from October 21, 2019, through March 14, 2020, Sur moderno celebrates the arrival of the most important collection of abstract and concrete art from Latin America by dedicating an entire suite of galleries on the Museum’s third floor to the display of artists from Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, and Uruguay.

Lygia Clark (Brazilian, 1920–1988). Contra relevo no. 1 (Counter Relief no. 1). 1958. Synthetic polymer paint on wood, 55 1/2 × 55 1/2 × 1 5/16″ (141 × 141 × 3.3 cm). The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Promised gift of Patricia Phelps de Cisneros through the Latin American and Caribbean Fund. Courtesy of “The World of Lygia Clark” Cultural Association

The exhibition highlights the work of Lygia Clark, Gego, Raúl Lozza, Hélio Oiticica, Jesús Rafael Soto, and Rhod Rothfuss, among others, focusing on the concept of transformation: a radical reinvention of the art object and a renewal of the social environment through art and design. The exhibition is also anchored by a selection of archival materials that situate the works within their local contexts. Sur moderno is organized by Inés Katzenstein, Curator of Latin American Art and Director of the Patricia Phelps de Cisneros Research Institute for the Study of Art from Latin America, The Museum of Modern Art, and consulting curator María Amalia García, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)–Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Argentina, with Karen Grimson, Curatorial Assistant, Department of Drawings and Prints, The Museum of Modern Art.

María Freire (Uruguayan, 1917–2015). Untitled. 1954. Oil on canvas, 36 1/4 × 48 1/16″ (92 × 122 cm). The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Gift of Patricia Phelps de Cisneros through the Latin American and Caribbean Fund in honor of Gabriel Pérez‑Barreiro

The exhibition is divided into two main sections based on the concept of transformation. The first section, “Artworks as Artifacts, Artworks as Manifestos,” presents a group of works that subverted the conventional formats of painting and sculpture. Cuts, folds, articulated objects, cut-out frames, and experiments that question the autonomy of the art object are some examples of these artists’ material explorations. One of the first works visitors encounter in the exhibition, Willys de Castro’s Active Object (1961), fuses the materiality of painting with the principles of free-standing sculpture, inviting the viewer to circle around a painted canvas. Another work in this section, Gyula Kosice’s Articulated Mobile Sculpture (1948), questions the grounds of traditional sculpture by combining strips of brass to create a movable structure that defies classification.

Hélio Oiticica (Brazilian, 1937–1980). Relevo neoconcreto (Neoconcrete Relief) 1960. Oil on wood, 37 7/8 × 51 1/4″ (96 × 130 cm). The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Gift of Patricia Phelps de Cisneros in honor of Gary Garrels. © Projeto Hélio Oiticica

The exhibition’s inclusion of Spatial Construction no. 12 (c. 1920) by Aleksandr Rodchenko highlights the influence of Russian Constructivism on South American art. Similarly, images of Piet Mondrian’s works were widely circulated and had a great impact on the development of abstraction in the region. His Broadway Boogie Woogie (1942–43), on view in the exhibition, inspired investigations of kineticism among artists such as Jesús Rafael Soto, whose Double Transparency (1956) is an attempt to transform the two-dimensionality of Mondrian’s painting into a three-dimensional experience.

Lygia Pape (Brazilian, 1927–2004). Untitled. 1956. Acrylic on wood, 13 3/4 × 13 3/4 × 3 1/8″ (35 × 35 × 8 cm). The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Gift of Patricia Phelps de Cisneros through the Latin American and Caribbean Fund in honor of Sharon Rockefeller. Courtesy of Projeto Lygia Pape

In the second section, “Modern as Abstract,” the language of abstraction is displayed as both a product of and a catalyst for the transformation of the artists’ surroundings. The geometrical principles of abstract painting carried over into the everyday, where artists and architects recognized one another as allies, leading to a shared operation and set of ideals. Here, María Freire’s Untitled (1954), for example, is displayed alongside archival materials and works from MoMA’s Architecture and Design collection, in an exploration of public sculptural projects and furniture design.

The final part of the exhibition is dedicated to the grid, one of modern art’s central motifs of experimentation. Gego’s Square Reticularea 71/6 (1971) and Hélio Oiticica’s Painting 9 (1959) are two examples of works in the exhibition that approached the transformation and expansion of the rational grid in different ways. Oiticica disrupted the strict geometric system with his rhythmically arranged rectangles, while Gego warps and deconstructs the reticular structure.

Over the last 25 years, the Colección Patricia Phelps de Cisneros has donated more than 200 works by Latin American artists to The Museum of Modern Art. In addition to those generous donations, in 2016 the Colección Patricia Phelps de Cisneros established the Patricia Phelps de Cisneros Research Institute for the Study of Art from Latin America at MoMA. The Institute’s programming includes fellowships for scholars, curators and artists, and an extended research initiative that contributes to a series of public programs hosted by the Museum, as well as symposia in Latin America, and publications in digital and printed format.

The exhibition is accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue, with contributions from such prominent scholars in the field as María Amalia García, Irene V. Small, and Mónica Amor. The volume also includes a conversation between Patricia Phelps de Cisneros and MoMA director Glenn D. Lowry, and a dialogue between Inés Katzenstein, the Museum’s current curator of Latin American art, and Luis Pérez-Oramas, who, in addition to serving as MoMA’s Latin American art curator between 2003 and 2017, was one of the principal curators involved in the development of the Colección Patricia Phelps de Cisneros.

SPONSORSHIP:

Generous funding for the exhibition is provided by Agnes Gund.

Additional support is provided by Adriana Cisneros de Griffin and Nicholas Griffin.

Leadership contributions to the Annual Exhibition Fund, in support of the Museum’s collection and collection exhibitions, are generously provided by the Kate W. Cassidy Foundation, Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III, Mimi and Peter Haas Fund, Jerry I. Speyer and Katherine G. Farley, 3 Eva and Glenn Dubin, The Sandra and Tony Tamer Exhibition Fund, Alice and Tom Tisch, The David Rockefeller Council, The Contemporary Arts Council of The Museum of Modern Art, Anne Dias, Kathy and Richard S. Fuld, Jr., Kenneth C. Griffin, The Keith Haring Foundation, Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kravis, Jo Carole and Ronald S. Lauder, and Anna Marie and Robert F. Shapiro.

Major contributions to the Annual Exhibition Fund are provided by the Estate of Ralph L. Riehle, Emily Rauh Pulitzer, Brett and Daniel Sundheim, Karen and Gary Winnick, The Marella and Giovanni Agnelli Fund for Exhibitions, Clarissa Alcock and Edgar Bronfman, Jr., Agnes Gund, and Oya and Bülent Eczacıbaşı.

Now Open: The Spectacular New Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait At Burj Alshaya

The New Property Marks A New Era Of Luxurious Hospitality And Personalized Service In The Capital Of Kuwait

Four Seasons Invites Guests To Experience Its Newest Hotel In The Gulf Region With Special Introductory Offer

Entering the all-new Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya, one’s eyes are immediately drawn to the dramatic staircase, spiraling 13 meters (43 feet) up through the soaring lobby, appearing to defy gravity as it makes its way toward the sky. Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya is part of a growing collection of Four Seasons hotels and resorts in the Gulf region, including award-winning hotels in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar, and three properties in the United Arab Emirates.

Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait At Burj Alshaya – Grand Stairways in Lobby

“Our own ‘stairway to heaven’ is quickly becoming the symbol of Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait, and indeed it reflects the optimism one feels in this dynamic city,” notes General Manager Didier Jardin on the occasion of the Hotel’s opening day. “For our team of 415 staff, it’s a daily inspiration to take the hospitality experience to new heights, proudly introducing renowned Four Seasons service culture in a new country while being at the vanguard of the company’s continuing leadership around the world.”

Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait At Burj Alshaya in Kuwait City (Far Right)

Located within the new, two-tower Burj Alshaya development – the stylish new centerpiece of Kuwait City – Four Seasons is ideally situated for business and leisure travelers visiting the city, as well as local guests to dine, entertain and relax. Indeed, with 2,912 square meters (31,349 square feet) of beautifully-appointed event spaces hosting up to 1,200 guests, Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait already has many important business meetings and social events on the calendar – including 21 weddings so far.

Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait At Burj Alshaya – Royal Suite

Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait At Burj Alshaya – Guest Room

With 217 guest rooms plus 67 lavish suites, the property easily transforms for each individual guest, whether in the city to do business, enjoy an urban getaway for two, or with the whole family for a holiday filled with shopping, sightseeing and playing in the outdoor pool. Four dining venues – plus a fifth opening this month – showcase the creations of international culinary talent while celebrating local tastes and traditions. A two-level spa complex hosts innovative treatments as well as a state-of-the-art fitness center and second swimming pool.

Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait At Burj Alshaya – Hotel Public Space

The Look of the New Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait

Conceived by Gensler architects and designed by Yabu Pushelberg, Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait easily stands among the most striking hotels in the world, and yet it is distinctly Kuwaiti in style and ambiance.

The Radical Art of Fashion: Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between at The Met

Body Meets Dress-Dress Meets Body, Spring-Summer 1997 (All Images, unless specified otherwise, courtesy of Fashion+lifestyle 2017 )

The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Spring 2017 exhibition, Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between, on view through September 4, examines Kawakubo’s fascination with the space between boundaries. And the reviews—both personal and professional—has been unanimously positive. It is, indeed, one of the best examples of fashion being art and art being fashion, without one diminishing the other in any way shape or form. 

White Drama, Spring-Summer 2012. (All Images, unless specified otherwise, courtesy of Fashion+lifestyle 2017 )

Blood and Roses, Spring-Summer 2015. (All Images, unless specified otherwise, courtesy of Fashion+lifestyle 2017 )

Blue Witch, Spring/Summer 2016. (All Images, unless specified otherwise, courtesy of Fashion+lifestyle 2017 )

Clustering Beauty, Spring-Summer 1998. (All Images, unless specified otherwise, courtesy of Fashion+lifestyle 2017 )

18th Century Punk, Autumn-Winter 2016-17. (All Images, unless specified otherwise, courtesy of Fashion+lifestyle 2017 )

A thematic exhibition, rather than a traditional retrospective, this is The Costume Institute’s first monographic show on a living designer since the Yves Saint Laurent exhibition in 1983.

Abstract Excellence, Spring-Summer 2004 (All Images, unless specified otherwise, courtesy of Fashion+lifestyle 2017 )

Bad Trash, Autumn-Winter 2008-2009 (All Images, unless specified otherwise, courtesy of Fashion+lifestyle 2017 )

Ballerina Motobike, Spring-Summer 2005 (All Images, unless specified otherwise, courtesy of Fashion+lifestyle 2017 )

Body Meets Dress-Dress Meets Body, Spring-Summer 2017 (All Images, unless specified otherwise, courtesy of Fashion+lifestyle 2017 )

Ceremony of Separation, Autumn-winter 2015-16. (All Images, unless specified otherwise, courtesy of Fashion+lifestyle 2017 )

Crush, Spring-Summer 2013. (All Images, unless specified otherwise, courtesy of Fashion+lifestyle 2017 )

Francesca Granata of The Atlantic wrote the following: 

“The designer has long been alternately hailed as an innovator and demonized for creating aggressively unattractive clothing that is out-of-step with its time. From cocoon dresses with no waistline to sweaters full of holes to oddly shaped dresses, Kawakubo has been responsible for radical reconsiderations of the silhouette through experimental pattern-making, draping, knotting, and eventually the use of padding. This sense of out-of-step–ness is evident in the Costume Institute’s spring show. Rei Kawakubo / Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between is a cerebral exhibition, serving as a surprisingly timely reminder of the need to embrace bodily differences and vulnerabilities.”

Rei Kawakubo (Japanese, born 1942) for Comme des Garçons (Japanese, founded 1969), 18th-Century Punk, autumn/winter 2016–17; Courtesy of Comme des Garçons. Photograph by © Paolo Roversi; Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

She further went to write, “Throughout the Met show, we see an unapologetically rebellious artist undercutting prevailing mores. A few years ago, the Costume Institute presented a controversial (and poorly understood) show on punk rock in fashion. Though her designs weren’t exactly prevalent in CBGB, Kawakubo (whose garments were included in that exhibit) is in some ways the true inheritor of that mantle, her work constantly pushing back on the grandeur around her.”

Roberta Smith, Chief Art Critic of The New York Times, calls it “a magnificent, challenging show”, further adding in a rave review, “Every year, the Costume Institute makes a different case for art in fashion and for fashion as art, usually in an immersive context and with impressive results. The Kawakubo show takes this argument into radical terrain. It doesn’t focus on art within fashion as did the recent show featuring Charles James’s sinuously sculptural ball gowns, which were functioning garments. Rather, its center is a staggering panoply of mostly quasi-wearable three-dimensional forms that are a kind of hybrid, an art of “the in-between,” driven by Ms. Kawakubo’s insatiable quest for originality, or as she prefers to call it, “newness.” The result is an inspirational show that places Ms. Kawakubo at the forefront of several modernisms — in art and design, Europe and Asia — upending notions of style and gender, conflating past and present and constantly pressing forward with fresh ideas about form, process and meaning.”

Ms. Kawakubo regards her fashions and their environments as a Gesamtkunstwerk, or “total work of art.” This synthesis is reflected in the exhibition, designed as a complete expression of the Comme des Garçons “universe.” It is intended to be a holistic, immersive experience, facilitating a personal engagement with the fashions on display. A pathway is suggested by the numbers in an exhibit booklet, beginning with these red ensembles that reflect Kawakubo’s enduring preoccupation with blurring the boundaries between body and dress. Visitors are encouraged, however, to forge their own paths and experience the exhibition as a voyage of discovery.

Cubisme, Spring-Summer 2007 (All Images, unless specified otherwise, courtesy of Fashion+lifestyle 2017 )

Cubisme, Spring-Summer 2007 (All Images, unless specified otherwise, courtesy of Fashion+lifestyle 2017 )

Holes, Autumn-Winter 1982-83 (All Images, unless specified otherwise, courtesy of Fashion+lifestyle 2017 )

Inside Decoration, Autumn-Winter 2010-11(All Images, unless specified otherwise, courtesy of Fashion+lifestyle 2017 )

Lost Empire, Spring-Summer 2006. (All Images, unless specified otherwise, courtesy of Fashion+lifestyle 2017 )

Not Making Clothes, Spring-Summer 2014. (All Images, unless specified otherwise, courtesy of Fashion+lifestyle 2017 )

The Future of Silhouette, Autumn-Winter 2017-18. (All Images, unless specified otherwise, courtesy of Fashion+lifestyle 2017)

The Infinity of Tailoring, autumn-Winter 2013-14. (All Images, unless specified otherwise, courtesy of Fashion+lifestyle 2017)

The exhibition features approximately 140 examples of Kawakubo’s womenswear designs for Comme des Garçons, dating from the early 1980s to her most recent collection. Objects are organized into nine dominant and recurring aesthetic expressions of interstitiality in Kawakubo’s work: Absence/Presence, Design/Not Design, Fashion/AntiFashion, Model/Multiple, High/Low, Then/Now, Self/Other, Object/Subject, and Clothes/ Not Clothes.

Miami Museum Month Celebrates New Openings and Great Offers

Throughout May, Locals and Visitors Can Enjoy BOGO Deals and Special Offers

The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau will celebrate Miami Museum Month during the month of May, with much-anticipated museum openings and can’t miss “Buy One, Get One Free” admissions and membership savings.

(Visit MiamiMuseumMonth.com to download coupons and incentives to explore Miami & The Beaches’ most renowned collections of art and culture. Official sponsor Citibank® will also provide cardholders with a 10% discount at participating museum stores for the month-long program.)

Miami Museum Month is part of the GMCVB’s increasingly popular Miami Temptations Program, which takes a thematic focus on the best that Miami has to offer with monthly deals and special events. Temptations programs include: Miami Cruise Month (January), Miami Romance Month (February), Miami Shop Month (March), Miami Sports & Wellness Month (April), Miami Film Month (June), Miami Spa Month (July-August), Miami Spice Restaurant Month (August-September), Miami Attractions Month (October), Miami Live Arts Month (November), and Miami Heritage Month (December).

Interior of the Planetarium at The Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science. (Photo: Business Wire)

The Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science is slated to open on May 8, 2017, in Downtown Miami‘s Museum Park. During Miami Museum Month, visitors can enjoy an exclusive 10 percent off Family and Family Plus membership packages. (Please see coupon for more details; valid from May 9 through May 31, 2017.) Poised to be one of the only institutions worldwide boasting both a state-of-the-art planetarium and cutting edge aquarium, the 250,000 square-foot facility sits on four acres of land overlooking Biscayne Bay surrounded by Downtown Miami’s dazzling skyline. For more details, visit MiamiMuseumMonth.com.

Pendry Hotels Announces The Grand Debut Of The Pendry San Diego

Highly Anticipated New Luxury Brand Launch Sets the Stage with Premiere Opening in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter

Pendry Hotels has announced the grand opening of its first hotel in San Diego’s renowned downtown Gaslamp Quarter. A new luxury brand from Montage International, in partnership with The Robert Green Development Company, The Pendry is a refreshing take on the hospitality establishment that blends thoughtful and gracious service with a new approach to inspired design and authentic programming that appeals to today’s luxury guest. Pendry San Diego features 317 guest rooms, three dining concepts, three bars, Spa Pendry, private meeting and event spaces and a vibrant lobby experience.

Pentry Hotels Logo

Pendry San Diego is located at 550 J Street, San Diego, in the epicenter of the city’s historic and energetic Gaslamp Quarter, blocks from Petco Park, the home of the San Diego Padres, and the San Diego Convention Center; and is the debut property from Pendry Hotels, a new luxury hospitality brand from Montage International. Located in the city’s renowned Gaslamp Quarter, Pendry San Diego strikes a balance between modern and traditional, pairing classic Southern California influence with luxury amenities. Boasting six unique restaurants and bars and highlighting some of the city’s most talented chefs, Pendry San Diego is the city’s most anticipated new hospitality and lifestyle offering. (For more information, follow @pendryhotels or visit www.pendryhotels.com.)

Pendry San Diego. Photo Credit: Christian Horan

“We are thrilled to debut the first Pendry hotel, Pendry San Diego, in the heart of San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter,” said Alan J. Fuerstman, founder, chairman, and CEO, Montage International. “San Diego is the ideal city for us to launch the brand and we look forward to welcoming guests and locals alike to experience all that the hotel has to offer.”

“From its early inception, The Pendry vision has been clear,” said Michael Fuerstman, creative director and co-founder, Pendry Hotels. “We wanted to take our extensive experience in hospitality and combine it with our vision of modern-day luxury and style; one that is rooted in local culture, beautiful design, international inspiration and authentic service. It’s a hotel experience that should feel organic and luxurious at the same time and the San Diego property will bring that vision to life beautifully. We are very excited to open our doors in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter where we think locals and travelers will embrace and appreciate the Pendry point of view.“

Pendry San Diego offers a dynamic hub where guests and visitors can work, relax, socialize and dine in one central location. Rooms are beautifully appointed with custom furnishings, luxurious bathrooms, and a sophisticated yet understated design nod to the city’s beach and surf culture. 36 suites offer stunning views of the city skyline and harbor, the historic streets of the Gaslamp Quarter or direct access to The Pool House outdoor deck. Guests and locals will enjoy a Tom Adler curated pop-up art gallery highlighting Ron Church surf photography. Each space within the hotel is rooted in design, culture and an inspired aesthetic that speaks to San Diego’s unique coastal voice and rapidly growing influence in arts, food, craft beer, and technology.

Pendry San Diego is home to the following restaurants, bars, nightlife, retail and wellness concepts:

Provisional Kitchen, Café & Mercantile – Designed in partnership with Raan and Lindsay Parton from Los Angeles’ Alchemy Works retail concept, Provisional is a restaurant and marketplace featuring seasonal fare and gourmet takeaway offerings from Executive Chef Chris Osbourne. The communal dining space features a Vittoria Coffee espresso bar, sky-high ceilings, bistro tables and a retail marketplace set within a greenhouse. The marketplace features a curated collection of items including homeware, ceramics, apothecary items, pantry staples, and jewelry.

Nason’s Beer Hall

Nason’s Beer Hall – A new addition to the famous San Diego craft beer scene, Nason’s is a California coastal establishment featuring local and international beers, global comfort food, and vintage bar games. Its name pays homage to Nason & Co. Farmer’s Market, formerly located in the current location of the beer hall in the early 1900’s.

Robb Report Reveals Top Trips For 2017 With Annual Travel Issue

January 2017 Issue Reveals 21 Exciting Jaunts, Journeys, and Adventures for the Year Ahead

Robb Report, the global voice of real luxury, welcomes the new year with its highly anticipated Travel Issue. For the 2017 edition, Robb Report dives deeper into the year’s most dynamic destinations and highlights the most sophisticated sojourns and enthralling experiences to check off your travel list, from an underwater adventure in the Seychelles to an around-the-world getaway for gourmands.

Robb Report Unveils Annual Travel Issue Revealing the Luxury Media Brand’s Top 21 Trips for 2017

“Our ninth annual Travel Issue celebrates our readers’ ever-increasing appetite for unique and exceptional experiences,” says Robb Report Editorial Director Bruce Wallin. “We dug deeper than ever to find 21 one-of-a-kind trips that are sure to entice even the most seasoned travelers.”

From Cuba (No. 3) and Abu Dhabi (No. 15) to Tanzania (No. 10) and Uruguay (No. 16), Robb Report‘s Top 21 caters to every traveler’s tastes, passions, and interests. Coming in at No. 7, the Cayman Islands—long known primarily as a tax haven—are emerging as the latest laidback luxury escape thanks to a new wave of development that, more than a decade after Hurricane Ivan, includes extraordinary and distinct resorts. Robb Report Editor in Chief Brett Anderson offers his firsthand account of the revitalized Caymans with an insider’s look at the luxury hot spots turning the Caribbean tide.

If you’re planning to jet off in 2017, do so with panache courtesy of Robb Report‘s list of the latest accessories and apparel sure to make any trip smoother, smarter, and more stylish. From an ergonomically designed trolley case to dual-time-zone watches and a packable water-resistant jacket, Robb Report Executive Editor Jill Newman presents a selection of eminently useful pieces that scream first-class. And find out which destinations Robb Report‘s editors are dreaming about for 2017 in “The Robb Perfect 10,” from a charter trip on Alaska’s Prince William Sound to a tour of the soon-to-be-opened Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town, South Africa, debuting this fall.

Along with the start of a fresh year comes the inevitable attempt at resolutions. Whether they be focused on nutrition, fitness, or overall self-improvement, Robb Report’s Health & Wellness Editor Janice O’Leary spotlights the significance of a good night’s rest to all of them. In “Dream Trips,” discover 10 tips to upgrade your travel experiences—and your life—by getting premium sleep while away from home.

Be sure to check out www.RobbReport.com for more great escapes for the discerning traveler, including new ski chalets in Switzerland and beyond, a beachside retreat in Anguilla, and an AMG driving experience in New Zealand. Robb Report is available as a digital edition for the iPad and iPhone via the iTunes App Store and through Zinio.

For more information, visit RobbReport.com and connect with us on Twitter (@robbreport), Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook.

 

Hotels and Accommodations: Sheraton Hotels & Resorts Opens The Sheraton Grand London Park Lane

For The Distinctive Art Deco Hotel, A New Era Begins After 90 Years Of Moving History

Extending the reach of Sheraton Grand, a new premium classification for the brand, the Sheraton Hotels & Resorts (a brand of Marriott International) has launched the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane after a several million pounds extensive renovation and redesign of the 303 rooms. The comprehensive renovation also comprised of work on the public spaces, including the famous The Palm Lounge Court, the Ballroom* and the opulent foyer Silver Gallery.

The interior architects of MKV Design are responsible for the extensive renovation project, in collaboration with the Sheraton Global Designteam, combining the history of the building and its impressive location opposite the Green Park with modern, stylish elements and details. The profound renovation was followed by the redesign to the Sheraton Grand, the premium classification of the Sheraton brand for hotels characterized by particularly attractive locations, exclusive design, excellent service and outstanding customer experiences. The Sheraton Grand London Park Lane is the first hotel in London to meet this exquisite portfolio of currently 35 Sheraton Hotels worldwide.

“As one of the global travel hubs, London is a crucial market for Sheraton, the internationally most widely-used brand of Marriott International. That’s why we should be one of our flagships, “said McGuinness, senior vice president and global brand leader for Sheraton Hotels and Resorts. “The Sheraton Grand Park Lane London and its extravagant refurbishment gives the Sheraton brand a very special glow and serves as a great model for the transformation we are striving for the brand.“

Sheraton London Park Lane Hotel (Photo By Rept0n1x (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons)

Since its heyday as the first choice for personalities of society, public life and the aristocracy, the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane has maintained the tradition of bringing people together in the heart of the Mayfair District. The design concept builds on the Art Deco heritage and this social influence, creating a wealth of spaces and an interior in which business and leisure can be easily combined. The 303 rooms have been completely redesigned in an elegant and luxurious style, breathing the spirit of Art Deco. 43 newly created Sheraton Club rooms and suites offer exclusive access to the Sheraton® Club Lounge, a private retreat where guests can enjoy breakfast, drinks and snacks during the day, as well as an afternoon tea in the style of The Palm Court , While in the evening, a varied selection of drinks and canapés are offered. For business travelers, this category also includes the use of a private conference room in the Sheraton® Club Lounge, which can accommodate up to eight people.

Grand Suite Living Room – Sheraton Grand London Park Lane Hotel. (Image courtesy of Sheraton Grand London Park Lane Hotel)

Grand Suite Bathroom – Sheraton Grand London Park Lane Hotel. (Image courtesy of Sheraton Grand London Park Lane Hotel)

Grand Suite Bedroom – Sheraton Grand London Park Lane Hotel (Image courtesy of Sheraton Grand London Park Lane Hotel)

The 21 suites of the hotel have been redesigned in such a way that the indoor space is optimally utilized and the view outside on the laubbowers of the Green Park can be enjoyed to the fullest. Many suites can now be connected to neighboring suites, so that large families and groups can get enough space. The Grand Suite of the hotel is a commitment to luxury and opulence and includes a representative entrance area, a master bedroom with en-suite bathroom, as well as various living and dining areas. The rooms are interconnected with double-width sliding doors, so the Grand Suite can be opened to a single spacious room.

Sheraton Hotel & Resorts – Sheraton Grand London Park Lane – Art Deco Suite (Photo: Business Wire)

Renovated Park View Suite at The Sheraton London Grand Park Lane Hotel

“The new design of the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane marks a milestone for Sheraton in the United Kingdom,” says Even Frydenberg, Chief Operations and Franchise Support Officer Europe, Marriott International. “Thanks to a successful collaboration with Sir Richard Sutton Limited, this newly refurbished hotel represents the grand category of the brand and is a strategically immensely important home for the Sheraton portfolio.”

The Palm Court at the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane Hotel

The Palm Court at the Sheraton London Grand Park Lane Hotel

The Palm Court at the Sheraton London Grand Park Lane Hotel

The renovation brought forth modern meeting places for city dwellers and world travelers alike. The prestigious The Palm Court Lounge, with its elegant furnishings and a magnificent stained glass roof, is the perfect backdrop for meetings in an aesthetic and lively atmosphere. Following the tradition of the Grand Hotel lounges of the 1920s and 30s, here breakfast, afternoon tea, dinner and cocktails, a special menu called serving and Paired , Sheratons creative culinary offerings, the small dishes and delicious bar snacks excellently combined with premium wines and local craft beers.

Mercante Restaurant, Sheraton London Grand Park Lane Hotel

Premier Shopping Center In Metro New York/New Jersey Home To Impressive New Design Within Reach Retail Space

World Leader in Modern Design Opens at Westfield Garden State Plaza in Time for the Holiday Season

Design Within Reach announces the opening of its newest retail location, a 12,000 square foot Studio, adjacent to Nordstrom, at the country’s premier shopping center Westfield Garden State Plaza. The new space (DWR Paramus Studio, One Garden State Plaza, Paramus, New Jersey, 07652.) features a grand glass atrium entrance, a private VIP valet service and a Chilewich shop-in-shop.

Founded in 1998, Design Within Reach made modern design accessible to the U.S. market through its groundbreaking catalog and e-commerce site and has evolved into a destination for its exclusive collection of modern furniture and accessories.

“Garden State Plaza is a new market for us, so we expect that a lot of people will experience Design Within Reach for the first time,” says DWR CEO John Edelman. “We’re excited about the opportunity to engage the community, especially during this time of year. We believe shoppers will look to DWR as a resource as they prepare their homes this holiday season.”

DWR Paramus is home to the company’s second Chilewich shop-in-shop. Photo: Alex Kusak Smith (PRNewsFoto/Design Within Reach, Inc.)

The experience at the new DWR Paramus Studio will be unlike that offered by any other furniture retailer in the area. A glowing installation of hundreds of pendant lights, the Light Cloud, welcomes customers to the space at both entrances and invites them to discover the company’s extensive product assortment. The Studio displays thirty-six room vignettes that integrate iconic classics by designers such as Charles and Ray Eames or George Nelson with pieces designed by emerging designers like Egg Collective, Norm Architects and Chris Hardy.

Design Within Reach has opened its newest retail location, adjacent to Nordstrom, at Westfield Garden State Plaza, the country’s premier shopping center. Photo: Alex Kusak Smith (PRNewsFoto/Design Within Reach, Inc.)

Shoppers looking to individualize their décor will love the Swatch Wall (itself a piece of beautiful design), which shows off more than 300 of the thousands of upholstery options available from the likes of Maharam fabrics and Edelman® and Spinneybeck® leather, and the opportunity to see how products will look in their own homes using the DWR 3-D Room Planner.

DWR continues its partnership with New York-based architecture firm DFA to bring the Paramus Studio to life, as well as enlisting the help of Light Studio LA in creating dramatic lighting design throughout the space.

Shoppers looking to individualize their decor will love the Swatch Wall – shown in the distance – which shows off more than 300 of the thousands of upholstery options available. Photo: Alex Kusak Smith (PRNewsFoto/Design Within Reach, Inc.)

The Studio can be reached at 201.843.2650 from 10am–8pm Monday–Saturday; closed Sunday. Design Within Reach is hiring: dwr.com/careers.

Design Within Reach, Inc., founded in 1998 and headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, is the world leader in authentic modern design. The company sells its furniture and accessories to residential and commercial customers through retail Studios in North America, via the Web at dwr.com, by phone at 1.800.944.2233 and through the Contract division at dwrcontract.com. Design Within Reach, Inc., is a subsidiary of Herman Miller, Inc.

National Geographic Offers Gifts for the Adventurer, Traveler, Stargazer, Photographer, Book Lover, Young Scientist and More

Explore The World With National Geographic And Give A Gift Inspired By Travel, Adventure, Science, Exploration, Photography And Global Craft This Holiday.

If you have a love of people, places, culture and history or if you are looking for gifts that are out of the ordinary, National Geographic has some unique selections in its 2016 Holiday Look Book. From books to home goods, eclectic apparel and jewelry, gear, photography workshops and private expeditions National Geographic offers high-quality, authentic gifts that would delight anyone on your list.

Another plus: All purchases support National Geographic Society’s vital exploration, conservation, cultural preservation and education programs around the globe.

“Buyers from National Geographic travel the globe in search of beautiful, handmade objects that tell a story,” said Jill Dvorak, director of site merchandising & marketing, catalog and online operations for National Geographic. “We’ve assembled an extraordinary collection of gifts for the traveler, the book lover, stargazer, home decorator, adventurer, animal lover, young scientist and beyond that will inspire them to learn and explore the world around them.”

Highlights From The 2016 Gift Selection:

National Geographic Exclusive: Geno 2.0 Next Generation Genographic Project Participation and DNA Ancestry Kit. $179.95

Geno 2.0 Next Generation Genographic Project Participation and DNA Ancestry Kit

The revolutionary Geno 2.0 Next Generation test has been enhanced to offer the most up to date ancestry available and now has:

• -Improved results based on a higher-capacity DNA-testing chip
• -More accurate regional ancestry—double the number of regions and 50+ reference populations
• -Improved DNA haplogroup calls and 20 new ancestral stories.

Introducing the next generation of the Genographic Project Participation Kit. This new DNA test uses cutting-edge technology to give you the richest ancestry information available. Join the more than half a million people who have already taken part in National Geographic’s groundbreaking Genographic Project—contribute to this real-time scientific effort and learn more about yourself than you ever thought possible.

National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Dr. Spencer Wells and his team designed Geno Next Gen based on the new technologies and insights that emerged since the launch of the Genographic Project ten years ago. Using an exclusive, custom-built genotyping chip, they test nearly 750,000 DNA markers that have been specifically selected to provide unprecedented ancestry-related information.

For the Holiday Host or Hostess: Personalized Nautical Flag Coasters (Set of 4), $55.00

Personalized Nautical Flag Coasters – Set of 4

Although signal flags have been largely replaced by two-way radio and cell phones, in the 19th century they were how ships at sea communicated with each other. Each flag stands for a letter, but also represents a full message. For example, the “T” flag also meant “keep clear!” Today the flags are reserved for yacht racing and formal occasions. Choose your three-initial monogram and artisans in New England will create a coaster set on cork-backed, rustic tumbled marble that shows your initials along with the corresponding signal flags. Click here for a list of initials and their corresponding flags, or click on the Flag Meanings tab to see what phrase each flag symbolizes in the International Code of Symbols.

(Please note: Personalized items cannot be returned unless damaged or defective. Please check your order carefully; once placed, your order for this item cannot be canceled. Not available for shipment outside of the U.S. Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery to the continental U.S. and 4-6 weeks for delivery to Alaska and Hawaii.)

For the Adventurer: Carabiner Clip Watch with LED Micro-Light, $45.00

Carabiner Clip Watch with LED Micro-Light

Equipped with a powerful LED micro-light, this clever explorer’s watch has a built-in carabiner that clips right onto belt loops, packs, and more, keeping the time and a light source within reach as you travel. Luminescent hands and hour markers provide visibility in all kinds of conditions.

(Details: Uses one 376 watch battery and one LR1131 watch battery (both included). We recommend having a jeweler replace the battery. The case is intentionally challenging to open in order to better protect the mechanism and increase the watch’s water resistance. 1 1/2”W x 3”L x 1/4”D, 3 oz, Water-resistant to 100 feet.)

For the Book Lover: Wild, Beautiful Places: Picture-Perfect Journeys Around the Globe, $40.00

Wild, Beautiful Places: Picture-Perfect Journeys Around the Globe

Experience the world’s most wild, remote, beautiful places with shots by National Geographic photographers and vintage photos pulled from the National Geographic archives. Highlighting 50 of Earth’s most pristine, scenic locales, this beautiful book is illustrated with stunning images, coupled with accessible, engaging descriptions and practical travel information. The book covers everything from otherworldly, secluded valleys to far-flung, soaring mountain ranges. National Geographic photographers share some of their favorite shots from around the world and explain how they got them, and historical photos culled from National Geographic’s hallowed image archive highlight old Society explorations in rugged, distant locations, and give a glimpse into the bygone days of these exotic places.

For the Photographer: Camera Lens Travel Mug. $24.00

Camera Lens Travel Mug

Increase your focus, clarity, and zoom abilities. We’re talking about the coffee! This deceptively realistic, BPA-free travel mug looks just like a DSLR camera lens with details like a focus ring and grip—perfect for coffee lovers and camera enthusiasts alike. The stainless steel lining keeps drinks hot and is extra easy to clean. The screw-top lid with sliding sip top keeps your coffee from spilling as you venture off road to capture that perfect shot.

Costume Institute’s Spring 2017 Exhibition at The Met to Focus on Rei Kawakubo and the “Art of the In-Between”

Costume Institute Benefit on May 1 with Co-Chairs Katy Perry, Pharrell Williams, and Anna Wintour; and Honorary Chair Rei Kawakubo

Exhibition Dates: May 4–September 4, 2017

Member Previews: May 2–May 3, 2017

Exhibition Location: The Met Fifth Avenue, Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Exhibition Hall, Floor 2

As expected (and the most gossiped-about morsel of news during the European leg of the Spring/Summer 2017 womenswear fashion shows), The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced today that The Costume Institute’s Spring 2017 exhibition will be Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons, on view from May 4 through September 4, 2017 (preceded on May 1 by The Costume Institute Benefit). Presented in the Museum’s Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Exhibition Hall on the second floor, the exhibition will examine Kawakubo’s fascination with interstitiality, or the space between boundaries. Existing within and between entities—self/other, object/subject, fashion/anti-fashion—Kawakubo’s work challenges conventional notions of beauty, good taste, and, ultimately, fashionability. Not a traditional retrospective, the thematic exhibition will be The Costume Institute’s first monographic show on a living designer since the Yves Saint Laurent exhibition in 1983.

Image: Rei Kawakubo (Japanese, born 1942) for Comme des Garçons (Japanese, founded 1969), “Body Meets Dress – Dress Meets Body,” spring/summer 1997. Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, © Paolo Roversi

“In blurring the art/fashion divide, Kawakubo asks us to think differently about clothing,” said Thomas P. Campbell, Director and CEO of The Met. “Curator Andrew Bolton will explore work that often looks like sculpture in an exhibition that will challenge our ideas about fashion’s role in contemporary culture.”

Rei Kawakubo said, “I have always pursued a new way of thinking about design…by denying established values, conventions, and what is generally accepted as the norm. And the modes of expression that have always been most important to me are fusion…imbalance… unfinished… elimination…and absence of intent.”

The exhibition will be curated by Andrew Bolton, Curator in Charge of The Costume Institute, who will collaborate on the exhibition design with Rei Kawakubo. Nathan Crowley will serve as exhibition production designer for the fifth time, working in collaboration with The Met’s Design Department.

2. Rei Kawakubo (Japanese, born 1942) for Comme des Garçons (Japanese, founded 1969), “Body Meets Dress – Dress Meets Body,” spring/summer 1997. Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, © Paolo Roversi

The exhibition will feature approximately 120 examples of Kawakubo’s womenswear designs for Comme des Garçons, dating from her first Paris runway show in 1981 to her most recent collection. Organized thematically rather than chronologically, the examples will examine Kawakubo’s revolutionary experiments in interstitiality or “in-betweenness”. By situating her designs within and between dualities such as East/West, male/female, and past/present, Kawakubo not only challenges the rigidity and artificiality of such binaries, but also resolves and dissolves them. To reflect this, mannequins will be arranged at eye level with no physical barriers, thereby dissolving the usual distance between objects on display and museum visitors.

3. Rei Kawakubo (Japanese, born 1942) for Comme des Garçons (Japanese, founded 1969), “Blue Witch,” spring/summer 2016 Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, © Paolo Roversi

“Rei Kawakubo is one of the most important and influential designers of the past 40 years,” said Andrew Bolton, Curator in Charge of The Costume Institute. “By inviting us to rethink fashion as a site of constant creation, recreation, and hybridity, she has defined the aesthetics of our time.”

4. Rei Kawakubo (Japanese, born 1942) for Comme des Garçons (Japanese, founded 1969), “Not Making Clothing,” spring/summer 2014. Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, © Paolo Roversi

In celebration of the opening, The Met‘s Costume Institute Benefit, also known as The Met Gala, will take place on Monday, May 1, 2017. The evening’s co-chairs will be Katy Perry, Pharrell Williams, and Anna Wintour. Rei Kawakubo will serve as Honorary Chair. Raul Avila will produce the gala décor, which he has done since 2007. The event is The Costume Institute’s main source of annual funding for exhibitions, publications, acquisitions, and capital improvements.

Special support for the exhibition and gala will come from Apple, Condé Nast, Farfetch, H&M, and Maison Valentino.

A publication, authored by Bolton and designed by Fabien Baron, will accompany the exhibition. It will be published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art and distributed by Yale University Press.

A special feature on the Museum’s website, www.metmuseum.org/ReiKawakubo, provides information about the exhibition. Follow on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to join the conversation about the exhibition and gala. Use #MetKawakubo, #CostumeInstitute, and #MetGala on Instagram and Twitter.

Now Open: Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto Unlocks The Hidden Secrets Of Japan’s Ancient Imperial Capital

Dedicated Four Seasons Experience Creator Devises Unique Itineraries That Give Travelers Exclusive Access To Authentic Cultural Encounters

Kyoto, Japan — Kiyomizu-dera stage in autumn — Image by © amanaimages/Corbis

In the shadow of Higashiyama Mountain in the temple district of Japan’s ancient capital, a modern oasis of serenity and style opens the doors to a city that is both beautiful and mysterious, breathtaking and inspiring. This is Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto, secluded amid a five acre (two hectare) 12th century pond garden, yet just moments from key centers of business, culture, history and natural wonders.

“Kyoto is one of the world’s most alluring cities, but she can be shy in revealing her secrets – our mission at Four Seasons is to help our guests discover her wonders and experience all the city has to offer,” says General Manager Alex Porteous, who leads the 270-person team at the intimate Hotel with 123 rooms and 57 Hotel Residences in the historic Higashiyama District, close to downtown.

CNKDYW Cherry blossom time, in Kiyomizu Dera Temple, in Kyoto, Japan. Image shot 2012. Exact date unknown.

The new Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto is the sister property of Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi, suggesting an opportunity for travelers to experience the ancient and modern capitals of Japan in Four Seasons style. The company recently announced plans for a third hotel in Japan, in Tokyo’s Otemachi business district.

Welcome to Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto

A Good Night’s Rest: Guest rooms – including 13 suites – are designed by Hirsch Bedner Associates to showcase views of the pond garden, Myoho-in Temple and surrounding neighborhood. Traditional elements such as shoji panels, polished woods, locally crafted Kyoto-style fusuma screens and urushi lacquerware are paired with modern at-one’s-fingertips technologies. Selected accommodations, including the lavishly appointed Presidential Suite, also have balconies. At 245 square meters (2,637 square feet indoors plus additional furnished outdoors space, the Presidential Suite is one of Kyoto’s largest.  All guest rooms and suites feature the signature Four Seasons Bed.

Dining at Four Seasons: In a city renowned for its continuing history of innovative cuisine, Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto is a destination unto itself. The Brasserie brings the spirit of modern bistro fare to the city with a distinctive local twist. Dishes include Chef Tsuyoshi Iryo’s miso-marinated foie gras terrine and ox tongue bourguignon with local daikon and sprout salad. The pinnacle of Edo-Mae style sushi is showcased at the exclusive Sushi Wakon, produced by Michelin-starred Chef Red Masuda, with Chef Masashi Yamaguchi serving just 10 guests per seating at the eight meter long (26 foot) hinoki (cypress) counter. Two private dining spaces for 4 or 8 guests are also available.

In the inviting Lounge, guests are treated to gourmet bites to accompany selections of fine domestic and imported whiskies and other spirits, creative coffee drinks, “gastro” teas, and other beverages. Across the historic pond, a tea house awaits at Shakusui-tei, with a menu of local sakes and premium champagnes to sparkle alongside the water’s reflections in the evening.

Health and Well-Being: The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto is grounded in the Japanese aesthetic of enso, connecting mind and body. A menu of ceremonious rituals, results-oriented therapies and indulgent journeys are performed by skilled therapists in one of seven treatment rooms, including a couple’s suite. Of special note are skin care treatments using Tatcha, a luxury brand inspired by the 200 year old style guide called Miyakofuzoku Kewaiden. French high-performance line Biologique Recherche and all-natural Sodashi from Australia are also featured alongside Kotoshina products formulated with organic green tea from Uji, Kyoto and French spa water for beautiful skin.

The Spa complex includes a sauna, steam and whirlpool; a full-service beauty salon; state-of-the-art fitness centre, and 20 meter (66 foot) indoor pool.

Behr Paint Introduces 2017 Color Currents, The New Standard in Annual Design Forecasting

Inspired by individuality and self-expression, this year’s collection of on-trend colors create a sense of Comfort, Composure and Confidence

Each year, the team of color experts at Behr immerse themselves in an extensive process to curate the latest hues by examining trends in art, product design, fashion and architecture. This forecast, paired with the modern ways in which people live, results in the development of the BEHR Color Currents, an all-new collection of on-trend paint colors. The 20 distinct hues of 2017 are available now at The Home Depot®, along with an exclusive in-store brochure that inspires consumers to incorporate the hues into both their indoor and outdoor living spaces.

“Paint is more than just a color; it is a method of communication. Color conveys emotion and allows people the freedom to express themselves and be who they really are,” said Erika Woelfel, Vice President of Color and Creative Services at Behr. “In today’s busy world, home is a safe haven, a retreat for living in the moment or

The 20 distinct hues of BEHR Color Currents 2017 are available now at The Home Depot®, along with an exclusive in-store brochure that inspires consumers to incorporate the hues into both their indoor and outdoor living spaces.

welcoming guests for a weekend visit. That’s why our 2017 colors are time-honored and heart-warming, just like any homecoming should be.”

Behr takes a non-traditional approach to color forecasting. Instead of choosing just one dominant color of the year, its team of experts create a collection of hues that are curated into separate themes, empowering individuals to choose colors and color combinations that speak to their moods, emotions and personalities. For 2017, the colors center around three overarching lifestyle themes: Comfortable, Composed and Confident.

“We’re constantly innovating from both a product and color standpoint to keep DIYers on the forefront of design,” said Woelfel. “The Color Currents are a collection of new colors that reflect the ways consumers are living, interacting and expressing themselves.”

At The Home Depot, consumers can learn more about the 20 new hues and get inspiration from the BEHR Color Currents 2017 brochure. This brochure features detailed décor themes, as well as design and decorating tips, to help consumers visualize spaces both inside and outside their home. Experienced, friendly associates will also be on hand to assist DIYers with color selection, samples and determining the best product for their unique project.

Behr Color Currents 2017: Palettes Designed to Elicit Comfort, Composure and Confidence

BEHR Color Currents 2017 – Living Room, Comfortable Palette

The Comfortable Palette features soft, tranquil and versatile colors. They work well for small spaces and help open up areas that do not get a lot of natural light. Recently, pastels have transformed from sweet to mineral matte shades. Light blue can effortlessly become the focal point when supported by neutral hues on the floor and furniture. These pale hues can be energized with bright accents of yellow, orange or bold green. Comfortable BEHR colors include

BEHR Color Currents 2017 – Foyer, Comfortable Palette

• Close Knit T17-01
• Gold Hearted T17-02
• Peek-a-Blue T17-04
• Sepia Filter T17-03
• Life is a Peach T17-05
• Everything’s Rosy T17-06
• Balanced T17-07
  

  BEHR Color Currents 2017 – Bedroom, Composed Palette

The Composed palette consists of colors with depth and intensity. Its hues are for those who desire a stronger color experience. Deep, earth-inspired tones and rich jeweled shades provide an excellent background on which other colors can be layered. These robust shades are reminiscent of traditional grandeur, but offer a contemporary look when combined with gray, black and white. Charcoal gray proves it can happily dominate a space, creating a quiet and relaxing mood. Gray can also provide a modern effect when applied as one color to walls, trim and ceilings. Composed BEHR colors include:

BEHR Color Currents 2017 -Dining Room, Composed Palette

• Polished Aqua T17-08
• Laid Back Gray T17-09
• Shades On T17-10
• Silent Sands T17-11
• Wanderlust T17-12
• In the Woods T17-13
• Artful Magenta T17-14
  

  BEHR Color Currents 2017 – Children’s Bedroom, Confident Palette

Travel & Culture: All Eyes Are On The New Parisian Cultural Season

Get Out Your Diaries and Calendars, The List is Long!

New and Major Events are Always Synonymous With the New Parisian Cultural Season and Autumn 2016 has an Expected Stellar Line-up.

While it is true that Paris is gearing up for the Spring/Summer 2017 Paris Fashion Week Shows, The City is more than just about high fashion. It’s a foodie paradise, one of the top cultural centers of the world and one of the top tourist destinations in Europe and the world at large. From Rembrandt at the Musée Jacquemart-André to Hergé at the Grand Palais, the opening of new museums and celebrated shows, Paris pulls out all the stops to charm Parisians and visitors this fall and early winter. The following list was compiled and provided by The Paris Visitors and Convention Bureau (Office du Tourisme et des Congrès de Paris) whose mission it is to welcome and provide visitors with information; to promote the capital’s attractions, in France and abroad; and to provide assistance to Paris tourism professionals.

Office du Tourisme et des Congrès de Paris Logo (PRNewsFoto/Office du Tourisme)

OUTSTANDING EXHIBITIONS

From 14 September to 12 February, Henri Fantin-Latour has top billing at the Musée du Luxembourg – a retrospective that has been eagerly-awaited since the previous one in 1982. At the Musée du Louvre, the public can admire the sculptures, drawings and prints of Edme Bouchardon in a monograph exhibition. More contemporary, the Centre Pompidou will celebrate René Magritte around questions of likeness and realism (September 21, 2016 – January 23, 2017). Belgium will also be under the spotlight with the exhibition Hergé at the Grand Palais (September 28, 2016 – January 15, 2017).

Modern art fans should pencil in a visit to the Musée d’Art moderne de la Ville to see the Bernard Buffet exhibition (October 14, 2016 to February 26, 2017), to the Fondation Louis Vuitton for its key exhibition, Icons of Modern Art. The Shchukin Collection, from the Musée de l’Ermitage – Musée Pouchkine (October 22, 2016 – March 6, 2017), and Cy Twombly at the Centre Pompidou (November 30, 2016 – April 24, 2017). And the Espace Dalí presents a dialogue between the great artist Salvador Dali and Joann Sfar now through 31 March 31, 2017.

Herge exhibition :The Grand Palais pays tribute to Georges Remi, better known as Herge. Considered to be the father of the European comic-strip, the creator of Tintin sold some 250 million comic-strip books during his career and has been translated into one hundred or so languages.This retrospective exhibition with original plates is an opportunity to admire the work of the Belgian artist, but also to find out more about Herge the person, through the many archive images and testimonies. (PRNewsFoto/Office du Tourisme et des Congrè)

NEW CULTURAL VENUES

After 8 months of closure, the Musée Maillol is reopening, under the aegis of Culturespaces, with an exhibition by the famous artist Ben (now through January 15). This should renew the genre and attract a new public. Early October will see the opening of Art 42, the first museum of street art, which will be free and permanent, and which will bring together more than 150 works, in the 17th arrondissement. The opening is an important step towards the promotion of urban art, a subject dear to Parisians, which could gain recognition as a discipline apart.

MAJOR FESTIVE EVENTS 

Staple events of the autumn season unveil their new program and are set to win over numerous visitors again. Towards the end of September, there is the 6^th Fête de la Gastronomie which takes place from 23 to 25 September, and which offers a rich program of special events (cooking classes, walks, new meals, etc.). And on 25 September, the Car Free Day, launched in 2015, takes on a greater dimension this year with an area five times larger! The Grape Harvest in Montmartre livens up the streets of the Butte, from 5 to 9 October, for its … 83rd edition. Not forgetting Nuit Blanche which will celebrate its 10th anniversary on the theme of love on October 1^st. There will be a trail along the Seine with performance art and surprising artistic installations for the public.

Nuit Blanche in ParisAs the days shorten and autumn turns to winter, the Nuit Blanche event in Paris offers an opportunity to see the city in a new light. For once special night, the city’s streets are teeming with people of all ages, lit by moonlight and by strange lights, works of art become the focal point. (PRNewsFoto/Office du Tourisme et des Congrè)

Robb Report Unveils Annual Fashion Issue Amid Contemporary Aesthetic Refresh

September’s Edition Sees Introduction of Newly Created Editorial Sections and Expanded Range of Style Coverage

Robb Report, the leading voice in luxury, has unveiled its annual September Fashion Issue, now on newsstands. The Fashion Issue continues to be one of the brand’s most highly anticipated editions, and this year’s roster of fashion coverage encompasses the entire range of men’s attire, from tailored and bespoke formals to polished and elegant casualwear. The September issue also marks the introduction of a number of new monthly editorial sections, alongside an overall aesthetic refresh of the magazine, presenting Robb Report’s coveted content in a more dynamic, clear, and usable format.

Robb Report Unveils Annual Fashion Issue (PRNewsFoto/Robb Report)

“We’ve recognized that our readership is looking to us for style cues spanning the entire range of their wardrobe,” said editor in chief Brett Anderson. “This development has naturally influenced our fashion coverage—and readers will see greater weight given to the fashion category in our cover subjects and our feature content. Also, the subject matter of the September Fashion Issue presented an ideal opportunity to unveil a brand-new aesthetic refresh of our print product. Readers can expect a number of exciting changes within the issue, including cleaner, more spacious layouts, all of which work to enhance readability and present our sought-after content with a more contemporary edge.“

Celebrating its 40th anniversary in October 2016, Robb Report is the authoritative voice in the global luxury market. Widely regarded as the single most influential journal of living life to the fullest, the monthly magazine covers the newest in what matters most to its discerning and exceptionally affluent audience, including luxury automobiles, aircraft, fine dining, travel, timepieces and fine jewelry, style and design, arts and culture, spirits, and cigars.

In The Issue…

Robb Report shot September’s 12-page fashion feature, “Redefining Formal,” at the beautiful Rosewood London in Holborn. Photographed by acclaimed fashion photographer Adam Whitehead and enhanced by the styling of former British GQ senior fashion director David Lamb, the editorial offers a directional look at fall’s elegantly dressed-down ensembles. An incredibly sleek accessories story, “Dressed in Black,” and a look at the transformation of Savile Row tailors, “Street Smart,” follow suit.

Golf legend Tiger Woods chats exclusively with Robb Report in one of six newly introduced sections—Personal Best, which will provide monthly inspiring interviews with athletes, celebrities, and industry leaders touching on their passions and pursuits.

The other new editorial packages are:

• The Robb Perfect 10: Robb Report’s editors rank their picks for the month’s most exciting items, places, developments, and events.
• Passport: A globe-trotter’s guide to the world’s hottest destinations, newest hotels, and most exciting excursions.
• Drive: Monthly test-drives of the latest luxury automobiles.
• Portfolio: A compendium of compelling finds in the realms of art, auctions, and design.
• Forward Buy: Each month, an expert weighs in on an item that has the potential to become the next great collectible. Categories include vintage and classic automobiles, jewelry, watches, wines, art, antiques, and collectibles.

Robb Report iPad and iPhone subscribers will enjoy a bonus digital feature with a look at five key pieces for fall, while online readers can celebrate the French automotive marque Bugatti with a look at Bugatti through the ages, and survey a list of five premium Dominican Republic cigars you should be smoking. Robb Report is available as a digital edition for the iPad and iPhone via the iTunes App Store and through Zinio.

Wynn Palace Now Open in Cotai, Macau

Steve Wynn, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Wynn Resorts, unveiled Wynn Palace to the world at 8:00 p.m. on August 22^nd. The resort opened its doors after six years of development and is set in a commanding position in Cotai, Macau‘s bustling new tourist hub.

The Wynn Palace

The opening was officiated by Mr. Chui Sai On, Chief Executive of the Macau Special Administrative Region; Mr. Ho Hau Wah, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference; Mr. Yao Jian, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macau Special Administrative Region; Mr. Cai Si-ping, Deputy Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macau Special Administrative Region; Mr. Leong Vai Tac, Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Macau Special Administrative Region; Mr. Tam Chon Weng, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macau Special Administrative Region and Mr. Wynn.

Officiating guests raise a toast at the opening of Wynn Palace.

“Wynn Palace is arguably the most beautiful hotel in the world, which is a wonderful thing to be able to say,” said Wynn. “But it is not in London, Paris, New York or Rome. It is in Cotai, in Macau, and sits here for all the world to come and see. It’s our gift to the community, to the public. It will be here forever and it’s perhaps unlikely we’ll see a place of this scope and artfulness in our lifetimes again.”

“To be the prettiest hotel in the world, frankly, is something that money and good taste can buy. But to be the best hotel in the world is something else altogether,” continued Wynn. “In any hospitality business there are only two words that matter — guest experience. All the rest is irrelevant, and all of the marble and crystal chandeliers, and all of the wonderful good taste that has been put into this building is dedicated to that one thing — guest experience. It takes six-and-a-half years [and $4.2 billion US] to design a magnificent building like this, and yes, the name on the sign is Wynn Palace. But tonight this becomes the palace of the people who work here, and it is they who will make this the best hotel in the world.”

The eight-acre Performance Lake And Fountain Show at the Wynn Palace

Among the highlights of the resort is the eight-acre Performance Lake And Fountain Show, employing 1,195 water jets shooting eight million gallons of water into the air in more than a dozen intricately choreographed musical fountain shows. The fountains “dances” to a diverse program of Chinese, European and American songs, operatic arias and musical numbers. Guests can view the fountain shows and directly enter the heart of the resort via a breathtaking ride in air-conditioned Sky Cabs that travel more than 90 feet above the Performance Lake.

Bloomberg Businessweek Announced First List of Bloomberg Businessweek Design 2016 Headliners

Speakers and Headliners Include Yves Béhar, Stephen Burks, Stewart Butterfield, Dominique Crenn, Craig Dykers, Rosanne Haggerty, Daniel Libeskind And More

Bloomberg Businessweek announced the developing lineup of speakers for Bloomberg Businessweek Design 2016, its fourth annual design conference, to be held on Monday, April 11, 2016, at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, CA. The day-long event will bring together the world’s top designers and business leaders to explore how design makes the world better, smarter, cooler, and more innovative.

Bloomberg Businessweek Design 2016 will be on April 11, 2016 in San Francisco (PRNewsFoto/Bloomberg Businessweek)

Bloomberg Businessweek Design highlights the intersection of design, technology and business, and draws attendees from every industry that relies on design to help clients and consumers reimagine how we experience the world —app development, ecommerce, graphic design, data visualization, genomics, art, architecture, fashion, cuisine, urban planning and more.

The all-star presenters confirmed for Bloomberg Businessweek Design 2016 to date include:

VICKI DOBBS BECK Executive in Charge, ILMxLAB @ILMVFX
YVES BÉHAR Founder, fuseproject and CCO, Jawbone @yvesbehar
IDA C. BENEDETTO Co-founder, Sextantworks @idamantium
NEAL BENEZRA Director, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art @SFMOMA
JANINE BENYUS Co-founder, Biomimicry 3.8 @JanineBenyus
BAIJU BHATT Co-founder, Robinhood @bprafulkumar
STEPHEN BURKS Principal/ Creative Director, Stephen Burks Man Made
STEWART BUTTERFIELD Co-founder and CEO, Slack and Co-founder, Flickr @stewart
JANE CHEN Co-founder and CEO, Embrace @embracewarmer
JAMES CORNER, Founder and Director, James Corner Field Operations @fieldoperations
DOMINIQUE CRENN Chef and Co-owner, Atelier Crenn @dominiquecrenn
CRAIG DYKERS Founding Partner and Executive Director, Snøhetta  @snohetta
MARIA GIUDICE Vice President, Autodesk @mgiudice
ROSANNE HAGGERTY President and CEO, Community Solutions  @cmtysolutions
GEORGE HOTZ Founder, Comma.ai
DANIEL LIBESKIND Principal Design Architect, Studio Libeskind @DanielLibeskind
HELEN MARRIAGE Co-founder and Artistic Director, Artichoke @artichoketrust
MICHAEL ROCK Founding Partner and Creative Director, 2×4 @2×4
BRAD SEWELL Founder, Campaign @campaign_living
OSKAR SMOLOKOWSKI CEO, Impossible Project @Impossible_HQ
PAUL TAZEWELL Costume designer @paulgtazewell
KEN WONG Lead Designer, ustwo @kenwongart

…and more to be announced soon

“Design is central to business,” said Ellen Pollock, editor of Bloomberg Businessweek, who will emcee the conference. “Designers are consummate problem-solvers, devising elegant, often profitable, solutions, which makes them business people’s natural allies. At Bloomberg Businessweek Design some of the world’s best designers and most forward-thinking business executives can learn from one another how to create beauty, efficiency and value.”

Bloomberg Businessweek Design 2015 Magazine Cover

The April 11, 2016 issue of Bloomberg Businessweek – available in print, online, and on tablet and mobile devices – will be a special double Design Issue devoted to the presenters and ideas that will come to life at the conference. Bloomberg Businessweek Design 2016 will be covered across various Bloomberg platforms, including www.Bloomberg.com, Bloomberg TV, Bloomberg Radio, Facebook, Twitter (@BW, #BWDesign2016), and the Bloomberg Businessweek+ app. 

Bloomberg Businessweek has been internationally recognized for its innovative design and surprising covers, winning numerous distinctions from The Society of Publication Designers, Creative Review, ASME (American Society of Magazine Editors), D&AD (Design and Art Direction), Type Directors Club and Art Directors Club, among others.

Information about Bloomberg Businessweek Design 2016‘s speakers, schedule and ticket purchases can be found at: www.bloombergbusinessweekdesign.com/. Follow conference developments at #BWDESIGN2016.

New Photography Commission Captures Grandeur of Cunard’s Iconic Offices in UK and North America

Renowned Architectural Photographer Paul Ward to Display Unique Work on Flagship Queen Mary 2

Cunard’s former office buildings in Britain and North America are to become an integral part of the fleet’s flagship Queen Mary 2 during her major 2016 refit. Queen Mary 2’s major 25-day refit will see all Princess and Queens Grills Suites and all Britannia Club staterooms, together with more than half of balcony staterooms redesigned. Fresh design schemes and fine details will pay tribute to the original Queen Mary’s iconic art deco heritage while keeping this grand ocean liner at the forefront of luxury. During her time in dry dock, Queen Mary 2 will also receive a wide range of upgrades, including the addition of 30 new Britannia Club Balcony staterooms and 15 Britannia Single staterooms.

The Cunard Building in Liverpool, this year celebrating the centenary of its opening as the line’s headquarters in 1916, now part of the City of Liverpool’s acclaimed UNESCO World Heritage Site at Pier Head overlooking the River Mersey. Photo Credit: Paul Ward

The Cunard Buildings in Liverpool, New York and Southampton will each be featured in a specially-commissioned set of images that will be displayed in the ship’s suites and staterooms when she re-enters service following her three-week refit next June.

The Cunard Building in Liverpool, this year celebrating the centenary of its opening as the line’s headquarters in 1916, now part of the City of Liverpool’s acclaimed UNESCO World Heritage Site at Pier Head overlooking the River Mersey. Photo Credit: Paul Ward

 

The Cunard Building in Liverpool, this year celebrating the centenary of its opening as the line’s headquarters in 1916, now part of the City of Liverpool’s acclaimed UNESCO World Heritage Site at Pier Head overlooking the River Mersey. Photo Credit: Paul Ward

The Cunard Building in Liverpool, this year celebrating the centenary of its opening as the line’s headquarters in 1916, now part of the City of Liverpool’s acclaimed UNESCO World Heritage Site at Pier Head overlooking the River Mersey. Photo Credit: Paul Ward

The Cunard Building in Liverpool, this year celebrating the centenary of its opening as the line’s headquarters in 1916, now part of the City of Liverpool’s acclaimed UNESCO World Heritage Site at Pier Head overlooking the River Mersey. Photo Credit: Paul Ward

Behind the images is renowned UK architectural photographer, Paul Ward, who accepted the Cunard commission and spent a month researching, visiting and photographing the buildings.

The Cunard Building in Liverpool, this year celebrating the centenary of its opening as the line’s headquarters in 1916, now part of the City of Liverpool’s acclaimed UNESCO World Heritage Site at Pier Head overlooking the River Mersey. Photo Credit: Paul Ward

Ward’s work started in December 2015 at the Cunard Building in Liverpool, this year celebrating the centenary of its opening as the line’s headquarters in 1916. It remained the global focal point of Cunard operations until 1967 and in 2004 became part of the City of Liverpool’s acclaimed UNESCO World Heritage Site at Pier Head overlooking the River Mersey.

the Cunard Building at 25 Broadway, with the entrance lobby and first-floor ticketing office designated a New York City Landmark in 1995. Photo Credit: Paul Ward

the Cunard Building at 25 Broadway, which is highly noted for its architectural significance and grandeur, with the entrance lobby and first-floor ticketing office designated a New York City Landmark in 1995.

Cowboy Couture Returns to Jackson Hole with Western Design Conference Announcement of September 2016 Dates

Applications Now Being Accepted Through April 1st

The Western Design Conference Exhibit + Sale, which showcases the latest in Western-inspired contemporary functional art, will return to the Snow King Events Center in Jackson, Wyoming, Sept. 8-11, 2016. The popular Jackson Hole event displays the work for purchase of more than 130 best-of-their-craft artisans, who are selected by a jury of experts to present a variety of hand-crafted innovations in Western furniture, fashion, jewelry, accessories for the home and more.

The 24th annual Western Design Conference Exhibit + Sale is a four-day, multimillion-dollar event that brings together craftspeople, collectors, interior designers, architects and fashion designers with a love of the West, sponsored by Mountain Living magazine. The Western Design Conference was founded 24 years ago in Cody, Wyo., as a way to promote contemporary artists working in historical American craft methods. The WDC moved to Jackson in 2007. Allison Merritt, who purchased the WDC in 2014, after seven years acting as event manager, continues the strong commitment to Western arts in Wyoming while expanding the reach of the show. From documented American craft to home design to couture fashion, the show encompasses all aspects of the best of Western design.

The Western Design Conference Exhibit + Sale showcases unique furniture such as this music stand and chair by Henneford Fine Furniture, the 2015 winner of Best Craftsmanship at the 2015 event.

While the Exhibit + Sale’s contemporary Western design may take cues from the history and culture of the Old West, “a walk through the exhibit hall dispels the notion that Western furnishings are heavy or rough-hewn,” wrote the Denver Post after a visit to last year’s WDC. The one-of-a-kind pieces on display reflect a high degree of sophistication, creativity and craftsmanship – often with an innovative use of distinctly Western materials. Another aspect that makes the experience special for visitors, explains Merritt in a video capturing the excitement of the WDC, is the direct interaction with the artists for a deeper understanding of their influences and process.

Attendees of the Western Design Conference can browse and purchase a wide range of jewelry and accessories from artists across the country such as this dramatic necklace by Beltshazzar Jewels.

“These are artists creating at the highest levels of contemporary craft,” says Merritt. But beyond the remarkable workmanship, “sometimes it’s hearing the artist’s personal inspiration behind a particular piece that gives it deeper meaning to the buyer, so that when they take it home, it is so much more than just a beautiful object.”

Nordstrom Unveils Manhattan Flagship Store Footprint And Exterior Design

Nordstrom, Inc. unveiled for the first time the footprint and exterior design of its first Nordstrom store in New York City. The store will encompass four properties in the Columbus Circle neighborhood of Manhattan along Broadway between West 57th and West 58th Streets. The approximately 363,000 square-foot store is expected to open in 2019.

Nordstrom Incorporated logo. (PRNewsFoto)

The four properties include both existing, historic buildings as well as new construction at the base of Central Park Tower, an Extell Development Company project. Plans include modern glass façades on the new construction at the base of Central Park Tower, envisioned by world-renowned designer James Carpenter, recognized for his distinctive use of natural light and luminescent artistic sensibility. Additionally, Nordstrom will restore or rebuild the street level façades of the other buildings to evoke their original historic design.

Manhattan Department Stores Map

“We’re building in the context of the world’s greatest stores in the best retail city in the world and our ambition is to create an entire experience that reflects the best of what we have to offer,” said Pete Nordstrom, co-president, Nordstrom, Inc. “We think the modern exterior glass design combined with the historical renovations honor both the past and future of Manhattan. We look forward to the day when we can open our doors and welcome customers.“

The Nordstrom Footprint Includes:

– CENTRAL PARK TOWER – Stunning glass façades created by James Carpenter Design Associates (JCDA) of New York fill each floor with light, while at the same time projecting the beauty and energy of the interior to the street. Customers will be able to shop retail space located on seven levels, two below street-level and five above. A seven-level atrium at the heart of the building, also designed by JCDA, highlights the escalators connecting each floor. Entrances are located on both West 57th Street and West 58th Street.

Nordstrom Manhattan Flagship 5 Columbus Circle (Corner of West 58th and Broadway) at Night (Courtesy of Nordstrom, Inc.)

The Tower portion also incorporates the landmark façade of the former 1780 Broadway building which will be completely restored and three new two-level atriums of retail space will be created in the interior. It also includes an entrance off of Broadway. The Central Park Tower portion is approximately 292,000 square feet and the developer is Extell Development Company.

Nordstrom Manhattan Flagship W58th Glass Waveforms Facade

– 5 COLUMBUS CIRCLE (formerly the 1790 Broadway building) – This portion is approximately 8,000 square feet of street-level retail space with an entrance located on Broadway that connects to the main store. 5 Columbus Circle is a landmark building and Nordstrom will rebuild the street-level façade to evoke the historic design of the original building. This section is owned by 1790 Broadway Associates.

“Fairy Tales” are in Fashion at The Museum at Fashion Institute of Technology (MFIT)

The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology (MFIT) (Seventh Avenue at 27 Street, New York City 10001-5992) presents Fairy Tale Fashion (January 15 – April 16, 2016, Special Exhibitions Gallery) a unique and imaginative exhibition that examines fairy tales through the lens of high fashion. In versions of numerous fairy tales by authors such as Charles Perrault, the Brothers Grimm, and Hans Christian Andersen, it is evident that dress is often used to symbolize a character’s transformation, vanity, power, or privilege. The importance of Cinderella’s glass slippers is widely known, for example, yet these shoes represent only a fraction of the many references to clothing in fairy tales.

Kirsty Mitchell, The Storyteller, from the Wonderland series. Photograph © Kirsty Mitchell, www.kirstymitchellphotography.com 

Organized by associate curator Colleen Hill, Fairy Tale Fashion features more than 80 objects placed within dramatic, fantasy-like settings designed by architect Kim Ackert. Since fairy tales are not often set in a specific time period, Fairy Tale Fashion includes garments and accessories dating from the 18th century to the present. There is a particular emphasis on extraordinary 21st-century fashions by designers such as Thom Browne, Dolce and Gabbana, Tom Ford, Giles, Mary Katrantzou, Marchesa, Alexander McQueen, Rick Owens, Prada, Rodarte, and Walter Van Beirendonck, among others.

The exhibition’s introductory space features artwork that has played a role in shaping perceptions of a “fairy tale” aesthetic. These include illustrations by renowned early 20th-century artists such as Edmund Dulac, Arthur Rackham, and A.H. Watson. Several recent, large-scale photographs from Kirsty Mitchell’s award-winning Wonderland series are also on display. This is the first time that Mitchell’s marvelous work—for which she designs and makes all of the elaborate costumes and sets—has been shown in the United States. Connections between fashion and storytelling are further emphasized by a small selection of clothing and accessories, including a clutch bag by Charlotte Olympia that resembles a leather-bound storybook.

Cape, late 18th century, England or USA. The Museum at FIT, 2002.36.1, photograph © The Museum at FIT (illustrating “Little Red Riding Hood”)

Comme des Garçons, ensemble, spring 2015, Japan. The Museum at FIT, 2015.8.1, photograph © The Museum at FIT (illustrating “Little Red Riding Hood”)

The main gallery space uses fashion to illustrate 15 classic fairy tales, arranged within four archetypal settings. Visitors first walk into the Forest, which includes the tales “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Snow White,” “The Fairies,” “Rapunzel,” and “Snow White and Rose Red.” Several variations of Little Red Riding Hood’s red cloak are shown, beginning with a fashionable woolen cloak from the late 18th century—the style that is used to illustrate innumerable versions of the story—and concluding with a fall 2014 Comme des Garçons ensemble with an enormous, peaked hood in scarlet patent leather. Inspired by the fairy tale–themed fall 2014 presentation by Alice + Olivia designer Stacey Bendet, Snow White is portrayed wearing a black organza gown encrusted with rhinestones while lying in her glass coffin. The subsection on “Rapunzel” includes a stunning dress from Alexander McQueen’s fall 2007 collection, made from deep emerald velvet embellished with copper-colored beads that create a motif of cascading hair.

Adrian, dress, circa 1942, USA. The Museum at FIT, 71.248, photograph © The Museum at FIT (illustrating The Wizard of Oz)

Mary Liotta, evening dress, circa 1930, USA. The Museum at FIT, 78.237.10, photograph © The Museum at FIT (illustrating “Furrypelts”)

The center of the gallery is dominated by a large Castle, in and around which the tales “Cinderella,” “Furrypelts,” “The Snow Queen,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and “Sleeping Beauty” are displayed. Cinderella is first shown in her rags, exemplified by a Giorgio di Sant’Angelo ensemble with a skirt made from shredded chiffon, and dating from his 1971 The Summer of Jane and Cinderella collection.

Alexander McQueen, dress, fall 2007, England. The Museum at FIT, 2013.2.1, photograph © The Museum at FIT (illustrating “Rapunzel”)

Cinderella’s spectacular glass slippers are exemplified by a pair of 2014 heel-less shoes by Noritaka Tatehana, 3D-printed in clear acrylic and faceted to reflect light. Clothing is central to a lesser-known Brothers Grimm tale titled “Furrypelts,” which calls for a cloak of many furs, in addition to magnificent dresses that look like the sun, the moon, and the stars. The latter is represented by a dazzling, early 1930s evening gown by Mary Liotta, covered in silver stars crafted from beads and sequins. In “The Snow Queen,” the beautiful villainess wears a coat and cap of pristine white fur, exemplified in Fairy Tale Fashion by an opulent hooded fur cape by J. Mendel from 2011.

J. Mendel, ensemble, 2011 (cape) and spring 2008 (dress). Lent by J. Mendel, photograph © The Museum at FIT (illustrating “The Snow Queen”)

The Iconic Mr Chow Restaurant Now Open at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas

The internationally renowned restaurant, Mr Chow, is now open at Caesars Palace. The Las Vegas location is the seventh of the luxurious Beijing cuisine eatery, joining the ranks of notable hot spots in Miami, Malibu, New York City, Beverly Hills and the original location in London. From the moment guests arrive, MR CHOW will entertain and inspire, from the unparalleled design to the impeccable service to the notable cuisine.

Mr. Chow Main Dining at Caesar’s Palace Las Vegas

“This union between Caesars Palace and MR CHOW is a dream come true,” said founder Michael Chow.

Mr Chow is the newest addition to Caesars Palace’s impressive culinary collection. From starting the celebrity chef trend with Wolfgang Puck in 1992, to housing the sole U.S. restaurant of Michelin-starred chef Guy Savoy, Caesars Palace has been trailblazing the Las Vegas culinary scene for decades with world-renowned talents. Combined with the exclusive and world’s first Nobu Hotel, the Forbes 4-star Laurel Collection and the brand new Julius Tower – Caesars Palace remains a leader of innovation and the ultimate luxury destination to stay or play.

“We look forward to our guests experiencing MR CHOW as the culinary empire and reputation of Caesars Palace continues to grow,” said Gary Selesner, Caesars Palace regional president. “Mr Chow’s elevated Chinese cuisine and chic atmosphere perfectly complements the impressive culinary collection of celebrity-chef helmed restaurants of Bobby Flay, Gordon Ramsay, Nobu Matsuhisa, Guy Savoy and more. As we enter our 50th golden anniversary year at Caesars Palace, we continue to strive to delight our guests at the dining table, while contributing to the world renowned dining scene in Las Vegas.”

Michael Chow is not only a successful restauranteur, but also a highly regarded artist and designer. In addition to designing all of his Mr Chow restaurants, including the newest Caesars Palace location, Chow has designed Giorgio Armani boutiques and his breathtaking home in Holmby Hills, Calif.

Chow’s credence is to perfect every detail; every detail is a universe. With that understanding, every detail has a truth and focus and there is only ‘one-way, only-way,’ to execute it, for every single element from colors, to scents, to textures, to sound.

Mr. Chow Lobby

The first experience guests have at Mr Chow is before even stepping into the restaurant, with an illuminous champagne lounge entry point on the casino floor of Caesars Palace. Champagne represents celebration and elegance, two attributes at the heart of the Mr Chow philosophy. Guests are welcome to sip on a variety of premium champagnes such as Krug Grande Cuveé or Dom Pérignon from the famous champagne trolley, while taking in the bright space and the Jeff Koons “Balloon Venus” sculpture on display.

Mr. Chow Entrance

From the champagne lounge, guests travel up a set of private elevators to the nearly 1,600 sq. ft., restaurant. Once inside, they will discover a fully stocked wine room with more than 150 selections prominently featured behind a floor to ceiling glass partition. On the other side of the space is the lounge with plush bronze furniture and custom Clive Barker artwork, where guests wait for the maître d’ to escort them to the table. On the journey to the table, guests can appreciate the landscape of the round, white Venetian Plaster and Plexiglas lined dining room with outer banquette seating, the 150 plus Lily floral arrangement in the center, the bold dark wooden bar with shelves extending to the ceiling lined with the finest spirits and the large windows and French doors leading to the terrace overlooking the famous Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis. The nearly 250 seat restaurant includes three private dining rooms, bar seating and four terraces which will have seasonal seating.

The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Gateway Arch With Giant Gingerbread Holiday Arch and Festive Hotel Package

Luxury Hotel in Clayton, Missouri Debuts “Gateway to the Holidays” Package and Six Foot Gingerbread Arch

The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis is saluting this fall’s 50th Anniversary of the Gateway Arch with a new overnight package celebrating not only the iconic city monument, but also the spirit of giving that comes this time each year. The hotel’s new Gateway to the Holidays overnight package is highlighted by a luxury stay offered through year-end, and by inclusion of a uniquely personalized holiday “gingerbread brick.”

The stunning ballroom of The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis provides an enchanting backdrop for any wedding or special celebration.

The History of The Gateway Arch

Photo Credit: http://www.gatewayarch.com/

The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (JNEM) was created in 1935, and became part of the National Park Service. Civic leader Luther Ely Smith conceived the idea of building a memorial to help revive the riverfront and memorialize the story of the nation’s westward expansion. Through a nationwide design competition conducted 1947–1948, Eero Saarinen’s stainless steel Arch was chosen as the memorial that would celebrate the accomplishments of early pioneers. St. Louis celebrated with a groundbreaking on June 23, 1959.

Over the next few years, Saarinen perfected his design and workers began excavating the grounds in 1961. In 1962, the Bi-State Development Agency (BSDA) was asked to finance the $2 million tram system that transports visitors to and from the top of the Arch. Meanwhile, it took steadfast coordination to put every piece of the Arch into place until the final section at the top of the Arch was secured on October 28, 1965.

Trams became operational in 1967, thanks to the funds that BSDA raised by selling revenue bonds. In the same year, the Visitor Center, with exhibits, opened to the public. Less than a decade later, the massive Museum of Westward Expansion opened beneath the Arch, featuring exhibits on St. Louis’ role as the Gateway to the West. Improvements to the monument continued as engineers added floodlights to illuminate the Arch exterior in 2001. Approximately two years later, the Grand Staircase, which spans from the levee at the Mississippi River banks to the base of the Arch, was completed.

Photo Credit: http://www.gatewayarch.com/

In 2009, a non-profit organization called CityArchRiver 2015 spearheaded a project that will transform JNEM by creating a safe and inviting pedestrian bridge over the highway and a new museum beneath the Arch. After renovations, visitors will also encounter a new entrance to the facility and greater accessibility throughout the grounds. Groups traveling by bus will have more convenient access to drop-offs and parking, as well as to new performance spaces on the grounds. Bicyclists will enjoy extended bike trails.

Today, BSDA continues to operate the trams as a cooperative effort with the National Park Service. October 28, 2015 marked the 50th Anniversary of the completion of the Arch.

Known as the Gateway City, St. Louis, MO is home to a wealth of celebrated cultural attractions, including the iconic Gateway Arch.

What is a “gingerbread brick“? The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis will honor both the city’s Arch and the holiday season with a special version of the famed landmark — an edible replica made completely of gingerbread bricks. Joyfully decorated for the holidays, the hotel lobby arch is created with 250 pounds of flour, 50 pounds of molasses, two pounds of ginger and 125 pounds of royal icing. Beneath it lies a wonderland of miniature Forest Park attractions, including a tiny St. Louis Zoo, Muny, Boat House and Ice Rink.

A seat at the bar in the Lobby Lounge of The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis is one of the most sought-after in the city.

Casual elegance meets inspired Continental cuisine at The Restaurant, where breakfast and brunch are served daily

On the Club Level, guests congregate for gourmet fare and exclusive events.