National Air and Space Museum 2020 Trophy Awarded to Charles Elachi and the Hubble Space Telescope Team

Museum Renames Prestigious Award to Honor Apollo 11 Astronaut Michael Collins

Honoring Astronaut Michael Collins’ legacy in aviation and space, the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum is renaming its trophy for the Apollo 11 command module pilot. The recognition is awarded annually for Lifetime and Current Achievements. The 2020 recipients are Charles Elachi for Lifetime Achievement and the Hubble Space Telescope Team for Current Achievement. The recipients will receive their awards March 26 at a ceremony at the museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.

The National Air and Space Museum Trophy event is made possible through the support of Atlas Air Worldwide, BAE Systems Inc., Blue Origin, Booz Allen Hamilton, The Claude Moore Charitable Foundation, Jacobs, Leidos, National Air Traffic Controllers Association, National Business Aviation Association, Pratt & Whitney, Seabury Capital, Sierra Nevada Corp. and Thales.

Established in 1985, the award recognizes outstanding achievements in the fields of aerospace science and technology and their history. Trophy winners receive a miniature version of “The Web of Space,” a sculpture by artist John Safer. The renaming of the trophy recognizes Collins’ contributions to aerospace and his service to the museum as director during a critical time in its evolution.

“The Web of Space” sculpture by John Safer. A miniature version of this sculpture is given to the National Air and Space Museum’s Michael Collins Trophy winners every year.

“I am deeply honored to have been made a part of the museum’s legacy recognizing the best in the aerospace industry,” said Michael Collins. “The National Air and Space Museum is a testament to thousands who helped craft it into the wonder it is today. I hope the award inspires future generations to keep reaching outward bound.”

2020 Michael Collins Trophy Recipients

Elachi will receive the 2020 Michael Collins Trophy for Lifetime Achievement honoring his distinguished career in the fields of remote sensing, planetary science and spaceflight-program management. After pioneering techniques in radar remote sensing for surface, ocean and atmospheric phenomena, he executed these techniques in leadership roles in various missions. He was the director for space and Earth sciences for almost 20 years at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL), and the director of JPL for 15. Under his leadership, JPL achieved many successful planetary, earth and astronomy missions including several Mars lander, rover and orbiter missions, pioneering missions to outer planets, such as the Cassini mission to Saturn, and the Spitzer and Kepler Space Telescopes. The breadth of his expertise allowed synergy between the technical aspects of radar remote sensing and the interpretation of the acquired science data, which is now a standard approach in Earth and planetary science. Through this lifetime of success, he has also served as a significant mentor to many in industry and academia.

Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum logo

As the Hubble Space Telescope celebrates its 30th year in operation, the team behind Hubble will receive the 2020 Collins Trophy for Current Achievement. Hubble has changed humans’ fundamental understanding of the universe, having taken over 1.4 million observations and provided data that astronomers have used to write more than 17,000 peer-reviewed scientific publications on a broad range of topics. Through the efforts of the Hubble team since 2018, the observatory has continued to produce science unachievable with any other instrument, including studies of the first possible moon orbiting a planet outside the solar system, imaging the first known interstellar object to visit the solar system and finding water vapor on an extrasolar planet in the habitable zone. System engineers in Hubble’s control center and science operations facility have continued to find creative ways to operate the 30-year-old spacecraft to make this revolutionary science possible and ensuring its capabilities will continue for years to come.

The National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., is located at 655 Jefferson Dr. The museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is located in Chantilly, Virginia, near Washington Dulles International Airport. Both facilities are open daily from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). Admission is free, but there is a $15 fee for parking before 4 p.m. at the Udvar-Hazy Center.

More information about the Michael Collins Trophy and a complete list of past winners are available at https://airandspace.si.edu/trophy-award.

The Mack Lecture Series Returns to the Walker Art Center this April

Mack Lecture Series
April 8–29, 7 pm$15 ($12 Walker members, students, and seniors)Walker Cinema

Hear directly from explorers of our culture and contemporary moment during the Mack Lecture Series. Throughout the month of April, artists, writers, and other great thinkers at the forefront of diverse fields share their vision on topics ranging from artificial intelligence in performance art to gender politics and gonzo journalism.

Annie Dorsen’s Hello Hi There, 2010 Photo: W. Silveri/Steirischer Herbst

Annie Dorsen and Catherine Havasi with Simon Adler
April 8, 7 pm

Simon Adler, 2018. Photo courtesy of Simon Adler.

Catherine Havasi, 2019. Photo courtesy of Catherine Havasi.

Annie Dorsen, 2019. Courtesy of John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

Writer-director Annie Dorsen tries “to make perceptible how ideas change over time: where they come from, how they influence and are influenced by politics and culture, and how they take root in the body, physically and emotionally.” For this conversation, she explores the intersection of algorithms and live performance with artificial intelligence researcher and computational linguist Catherine Havasi, moderated by Simon Adler, a producer for WNYC’s Radiolab.

Annie Dorsen’s performance work Yesterday Tomorrow, takes place in the Walker’s McGuire Theater March 27–28.

JD Samson
April 15, 7 pm

JD Samson, 2019. Courtesy of the Artist

Genderqueer political activist, visual artist, and musician JD Samson is perhaps best known as leader of the band MEN and one-third of the electronic-feminist-punk band Le Tigre. As a self-defined “gender outlaw,” she will investigate the precarious masculinity of the butch/masculine-of-center body, play with traditional concepts of ownership and destruction, and break down the charged heteronormative history of queer sex dynamics.

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.

Coming Soon: Alexander Girard: A Designer’s Universe at Palm Springs Art Museum

Organized By Vitra Design Museum, The Exhibition Featuring More Than 700 Objects

Inspired By Folk Art And Pop Art, Girard Created A Bold, Colorful, And Charismatic Universe.

Alexander Girard (Born in May 24, 1907 in New York City, NY and died on December 31, 1993 in Santa Fe, New Mexico) was one of the most important and prolific designers of the 20th century. He created stunning interiors for restaurants, private homes, corporate offices, and even airplanes! He created textiles, typography, and tableware. He designed exhibitions, toys, and a whole city street in Columbus, Indiana. Inspired by folk art and pop art, Girard created a bold, colorful, charismatic universe. He warmed up modernism with his whimsical, optimistic patterns and designs.

The Palm Springs Art Museum (101 Museum Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262, 760-322-4800) has announced the West Coast debut of Alexander Girard: A Designer’s Universe. This exhibition, organized by Vitra Design Museum, presents the colorful universe of Alexander Girard through more than 400 objects—textiles, drawings, furniture, graphics, film, and folk art—in a richly layered installation and accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue. Exhibition visitors will experience one of his best-known interiors—that of the 1957 Miller House in Columbus, Indiana—through a full-scale replica of its iconic conversation pit, which will be a place for repose and public programs.

The show will be on view from November 23, 2019 through March 1, 2020.

Practicing from the late 1920s until the late 1970s, Girard worked mostly for the American furniture company Herman Miller after becoming director of its textile division in 1951. Girard’s clients also included companies like Braniff International Airways and John Deere for which he created fresh new corporate brand identities, which, in the case of Braniff, extended from the planes themselves to the flight crew uniforms and passenger lounges. In addition to Girard’s own designs, this exhibition presents the creative universe from which Girard took his inspiration: folk art from all over the world, which the designer collected throughout his life. A selection of 300 objects from his folk art collection, gifted by him to the International Folk Art Museum in Santa Fe, is also featured in the exhibition.

The Palm Springs Art Museum was founded in 1938 as the Palm Springs Desert Museum at La Plaza in downtown Palm Springs. Natural science exhibits, Cahuilla Indian artifacts, and hiking excursions dominated the institution’s programming.

Visit http://www.psmuseum.org

The museum moved several times within the downtown Palm Springs area before building its first permanent structure in 1958, located on the southwest corner of Tahquitz-McCallum Way and Indian Ave. Over the years, fine art gained a greater measure of focus.

By the late 60’s it was evident the 10,000 square foot building was quickly becoming too small. In 1974, architect E. Stewart Williams was commissioned to design the current building for the museum. Further growth resulted in the construction of the Doris and Walter N. Marks Administration Building and the 1996 completion of the Steve Chase Wing and the Education Center.

Major renovations, and even bigger donations of art, transformed the institution, which also sharpened its programming with nationally significant exhibitions. In April 2004, the Board of Trustees decided to shift the museum’s focus from a multi-disciplinary museum to a world-class art museum with a vibrant theater program. In evaluating the current strengths and directions of the museum, it became clear that the art collections were growing and that the art audience was expanding – primarily in the areas of architecture, photography, and contemporary glass.

A study of the area’s other institutions also brought a realization that there were other established organizations providing exhibitions in the natural sciences. One year later, in April 2005, the museum officially changed its name from Palm Springs Desert Museum to Palm Springs Art Museum to reflect its emphasis on the visual and performing arts.

The museum remains committed to serving as an innovative community cultural center, and expanding its exhibitions, programs, and services in the visual and performing arts.

In 2012, the museum opened a satellite exhibition and education space in Palm Desert (Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert, 72-567 Highway 111, Palm Desert, CA 92260, 760-346-5600), which features an architecturally distinctive building named The Galen that presents ongoing and temporary exhibitions of internationally important art and is surrounded by the Faye Sarkowsky Sculpture Garden that features significant sculpture works surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens.

In 2011, the museum purchased the Santa Fe Federal Savings & Loan building designed by E. Stewart Williams in 1960. Located in downtown Palm Springs, it was reopened as the Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center, Edwards Harris Pavilion (300 S Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262, 760-423-5260) in 2014.

This hub of the museum’s exploration of architecture and design features related exhibitions and educational programs.

The collection also includes Frey House II, the historically significant residence in Palm Springs that architect Albert Frey designed for himself in 1963 and bequeathed to the museum upon his death in 1998.

Accredited by the American Association of Museums, the Palm Springs Art Museum has 28 galleries, two sculpture gardens, four classrooms, a resource centers, an artists center, five storage vaults, a 85-seat lecture hall, a 433-seat theater, a 1,000 square-foot store, and a popular local bistro.

A variety of educational programs and activities will take place in connection to the Palm Springs iteration; additionally, the museum’s annual gala and biggest fundraiser on January 26, 2020 will be Girard themed in décor and ambience to bring even greater attention to the exhibition.

Alexander Girard: A Designer’s Universe‘s global sponsors are Herman Miller and Maharam. Palm Springs Art Museum’s presentation is organized by Brooke Hodge, Director of Architecture and Design, with generous support from Joan & Gary Gand. Additional support is provided by Ellen Donaldson.

Publishing Giant Condé Nast Announces New Global Leadership Structure

U.S./New York-based Condé Nast and London-based Condé Nast International Are Integrated as One Global Team. New Consumer Marketing Function to Bring Focus on Direct-to-Consumer Efforts With Unified Commercial Team to Better Serve Global Clients’ Holistic Needs

New Leadership Structure is Expected to Help Further Turn the Financial Ship Around As Company Moves Beyond Closing and Selling Off Magazine Titles, Layoffs and Consolidation of Workforce Across All Titles

Long expected, Condé Nast yesterday appointed a new global leadership team designed to accelerate the company’s evolution into a 21st-century media company. The new organizational structure, which combines Condé Nast and Condé Nast International into a unified global team, was created with several guiding principles in mind, including the preservation of local editorial voice and authority, an enhanced focus on the consumer, unification of the company’s ad and commercial sales functions to reflect clients’ local and global needs and the development of new ways to share capabilities and best practices across the company.

Condé Nast is a global media company, home to iconic brands including Vogue, The New Yorker, GQ, Glamour, AD, Vanity Fair, and Wired, among many others. The company’s award-winning content reaches 84 million consumers in print, 367 million in digital and 379 million across social platforms, and generates more than 1 billion video views each month. The company is headquartered in London and New York and operates in 32 markets worldwide including China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico & Latin America, Russia, Spain, Taiwan, the U.K., and the U.S., with local license partners across the globe. Launched in 2011, Condé Nast Entertainment is an award-winning production and distribution studio that creates programming across film, television, social and digital video and virtual reality.

“One of my top priorities has been to define our organizational structure so that we can take full advantage of our unique growth opportunities and exceptional content around the world,” said the recently-appointed CEO of Condé Nast, RogerLynch “I’m confident that our new global structure will better enable us to collaborate across teams and markets and, ultimately, deliver unparalleled experiences for our consumers and clients.“

The new structure is as follows:

Global Content Functions:: Anna Wintour, U.S. Artistic Director, Editor-in-Chief of Vogue U.S. and (newly-appointed) Global Content Advisor, will continue in her role as U.S. Artistic Director and Editor-in-Chief of Vogue U.S., and will add Global Content Advisor and oversight of Vogue International to her responsibilities. In her expanded role, Wintour will advise the executive leadership team on global content opportunities and act as a resource to editors-in-chief and editorial talent worldwide.

Oren Katzeff, President of Condé Nast Entertainment (CNE), will expand the company’s digital video, film and television operations to create best-in-class video content experiences for audiences worldwide. The company has been increasing its focus on video content and currently generates 1.1 billion video views per month. Under Oren’s leadership, CNE will now be the core of our global network of video teams, supporting the growth of our video businesses in all markets.

David Remnick, Editor-in-Chief of The New Yorker, will also continue to report directly to Lynch.

Global Operations Organization: Wolfgang Blau, President, International & Chief Operating Officer will oversee all non-U.S. markets, as well as selected global strategic functions, including Product & Technology, Data, Licensing, Global Editorial Operations, Business Development, and Delivery & Business Transformation. This organization will ensure day-to-day operational excellence and capability sharing across the business.

Global Commercial Organization: Pamela Drucker Mann, Global Chief Revenue Officer & President, U.S. Revenue, will lead a new global revenue organization that brings together the company’s U.S. and international ad sales, creative and agency, B2B marketing and client service capabilities. Jamie Jouning, promoted to Chief Client Officer, will report to Drucker Mann and oversee key global accounts, multi-market deals, and central digital ad operations. Drucker Mann will define ad sales and ad product strategies globally, and work closely with Jamie and the central team and commercial leads in the company’s worldwide markets to drive overall ad, agency, and B2B revenue and share best practices.

Consumer Marketing Organization: Condé Nast is creating a new consumer marketing organization that will be led by a Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and will bring added focus to the company’s direct-to-consumer efforts. As the company expands its consumer offerings, this team will be charged with developing best-in-class capabilities and consistency across consumer experiences on every platform. The team will also be responsible for consumer revenue, with a core focus on subscriptions and memberships. In addition, the team will have responsibility for global brand management, consumer research, and insights and global audience development, ensuring a data-driven approach to the company’s efforts. The search for a CMO to lead this new organization will begin immediately.

Corporate Functions: The company is also globalizing its three corporate functions to leverage skills, expertise and standardize processes and best practices: People, Finance and Communications. The company will begin an immediate search and selection process for these and other open roles. Until new leaders are identified, teams will maintain their existing reporting lines and responsibilities.

“We’re bringing added focus to our direct-to-consumer efforts and will build a new consumer marketing function that will be charged with developing best-in-class subscription and membership capabilities, and maintaining the authenticity of our iconic global brands,” Lynch continued. “And by transforming our sales organization into a unified global team, Condé Nast will be better positioned to serve the holistic needs of our clients around the world and make it easier for them to do business with us.“

The new structure and appointments take effect immediately.

‘Let’s Go Gifting’: Nordstrom Launches its 2018 Holiday Campaign Celebrating the Joy of Gifting

(Courtesy: Nordstrom PR)

This holiday season, Nordstrom wants to make shopping fun with Gifts That Do Good, Gifts That Inspire, and innovative services that help make the holidays completely stress-free in-store and online. The marketing campaign was produced by Nordstrom and directed and photographed by Theo Wenner, who has worked on original campaigns for Chanel, Chloe, and Topshop/Topman, as well as editorials for Vogue and Rolling Stone. The cast includes Guinevere Van Seenus, who began her modeling career walking a Nordstrom fashion show as a teenager, as well as longtime Nordstrom customer and model Jan De Villeneuve, who has been gracing runways for over 50 years.

NORDSTROM LOGO (Courtesy: Nordstrom PR)

The campaign includes a colorful, cheerful video that will run on Nordstrom.com and on the retailer’s social and digital platforms, print and out of home. A national TV commercial will launch on November 5.

Campaign visuals from the 2018 Nordstrom ‘Let’s Go Gifting!” Holiday campaign to run in O: The Oprah Winfrey magazine  (Courtesy: Nordstrom PR)

GIFTS THAT DO GOOD

Giving back feels good any time of year, but particularly during the holidays. From gift cards that give back, to gifts that do good, Nordstrom is making it easier than ever for customers to find the perfect gift.

Campaign visuals from the 2018 Nordstrom ‘Let’s Go Gifting!” Holiday campaign to run in InStyle magazine (Courtesy: Nordstrom PR)

Campaign visuals from the 2018 Nordstrom ‘Let’s Go Gifting!” Holiday campaign to run in US Harpers Bazaar magazine (Courtesy: Nordstrom PR)

• Gift Card Give Back – Nordstrom donates 1% of all gift card sales to nonprofits across the U.S. and Canada. This year alone, the company has donated over $7.5 million to more than 600 organizations.

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• Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals™ – In partnership with its customers, Nordstrom is supporting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals™ (CMNH) to make a difference in the lives of children. Now through December 24, Nordstrom invites customers to support CMNH through the purchase of $10 giving cards at any Nordstrom full-line store in the U.S. and Canada. All donations will stay local to the community in which they were given, including 55 network hospitals in regions with Nordstrom stores. The donations will fund critical treatments, pediatric medical equipment and charitable care for children and their families across the U.S. and Canada.

• Nordstrom Signature – Nordstrom is introducing a new cashmere collection featuring beautiful designs for women, men, and children. Select products within the collection are produced in factories where Nordstrom has partnered with BSR’s HERproject to implement workplace training programs on topics like health, finance, and gender equality. Since 2007, Nordstrom has partnered with BSR to launch worker empowerment programs in 27 factories around the world, reaching more than 18,000 workers.

  

  Campaign visuals from the 2018 Nordstrom ‘Let’s Go Gifting!” Holiday campaign to run in US Elle magazine (Courtesy: Nordstrom PR)

  

  Campaign visuals from the 2018 Nordstrom ‘Let’s Go Gifting!” Holiday campaign to run in US Marie Claire magazine (Courtesy: Nordstrom PR)

• Treasure & Bond – Nordstrom donates 2.5% of net sales from this exclusive, private-label brand to programs that empower young people to make a difference in their community. To date, the company has donated $2.5 million. This year, Treasure & Bond is supporting WE Charity, which provides educators and students with curriculum and educational resources that help them gain an understanding of the root causes of pressing social issues and provides the tools necessary to take action and make an impact. Treasure & Bond features laid-back wardrobe staples with an Americana aesthetic for women, men, children, as well as home, a new category that launched this year.

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GIFTS THAT INSPIRE

Nordstrom aims to be THE destination for unique holiday gifts at a range of price points, from a chic Topshop faux fur shoulder bag for $48 to showstopping Gucci boots for $1,790, including emerging brands and exclusive items.

November 27 – Treasure & Bond Patterned Pullover

November 28 – Monica Vinader Havana Mini Friendship Bracelet

November 29 – Sant and Abel Santa Pajamas

• Daily Drops – Beginning November 27 through December 18, Nordstrom will release exclusive, limited products each day called ‘Daily Drops,’ to create a sense of discovery in-store and online throughout the shopping season. Products will be added to Nordstrom.com/holidaygifts at 6:00am PST, as well as on the @Nordstrom Instagram. ‘Daily Drops’ will feature exciting, new-to-market items and styles from brands like Something Navy, Christian Louboutin, Charlotte Tilbury, Rothy’s, Treasure & Bond, Le Labo, Sant & Abel, Hugo Boss x Jeremyville, and Rag & Bone x Mickey.

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• Gift Guides – Based on top-demanded categories and search terms by Nordstrom customers, the company is introducing a persona-based gift guide featuring curated and unique ideas for 11 customer personalities. Examples include The Tech Collector, The Luxe Lover, The Traveler, The Witty One, and the Do-Gooder, among others, and can be found on Nordstrom.com/holidaygifts.

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Nordstrom Holiday Gift Guide

Nordstrom Men’s Store NYC Opens

Retailer Debuts First Manhattan Flagship

Nordstrom, Inc. opened the doors Thursday, April 12, to its very first flagship, full-line New York City location and first ever stand-alone men’s store at 235 West 57^th Street. The three-level 47,000 square foot store offers a differentiated merchandise assortment across all categories, including popular and designer brands, along with a range of convenient services to serve customers on their terms.

Nordstrom Incorporated logo. (PRNewsFoto)

The Nordstrom Men’s Store NYC features the company’s newest store design concepts, including an all-glass façade to bring in more natural light, unboxing the display windows, and connecting the shopping experience to the city. An open, flexible floor plan allows for an evolving curation of how products are displayed over time, depending on what New York customers respond to. The store environment will create a sense of discovery, allowing customers to navigate easily and find new brands they haven’t experienced before.

Calvin Klein Boutique at Nordstrom Men’s Store NYC

Nordstrom has been a longtime believer in investing in artwork for its stores. New Yorkers will experience an extensive collection, featuring 39 works by both international and American artists, with a quarter being local. Suspended in the center of a three-story staircase, a floating, diaphanous tree sculpture entitled “Arctic Tree” by the Seattle-based artist John Grade is a nod to the retailer’s Seattle roots.

EXCLUSIVE MERCHANDISE CONCEPTS
Olivia Kim, Nordstrom vice president of creative projects has curated a special Comme des Garçons(CDG) shop that will feature one of the largest local selections of the fashion house’s coveted brands. Olivia commissioned artist Marc Hundley to design a space that invokes both the ethos of CDG and the streets of New York City. In a first for Nordstrom, the men’s flagship will also feature designer shops by Calvin Klein, Balenciaga, Valentino, and Dior. Each space is united by a chainmail motif, but are distinguished by personalized fixtures adhering to each brand. The shoe department houses a Christian Louboutin shop displaying a wide range of the shoemaker’s sporty and formal offerings. The Nike Men’s Project, a sportswear and shoe destination for style and fitness-obsessed customers, will offer the brand’s latest sneakers and apparel collections.

Comme des Garcons shop at Nordstrom Men’s Store NYC

The store also features an array of customization and personalization experiences, including the Levi’s Tailor Shop, where customers can shop Levi’s Authorized Vintage, one of the largest vintage denim collections in existence, and also design custom embroidery on any item, heat press a shirt or get an express hem while they wait; Shinola will offer watch customization in addition to a selection of tech products; exclusive to the flagship, Samuelson Custom Suit Visualizer is an interactive digital made-to-measure suiting experience at an accessible price point; Eton Endless Aisle is a digital touchscreen offering an expanded assortment of dress shirts and ties; and cult-favorite Le Labo will create personalized fragrance labels in the grooming department.

Samsung Experience to Launch at Macy’s Herald Square

Just in time for the holiday season, customers at Macy’s flagship store in New York will be able to experience an integrated Samsung product ecosystem, featuring innovative technologies in mobile, virtual reality, QLED television, home audio, and more

Macy’s and Samsung has announced the launch of a unique Samsung experience at the retailer’s flagship location in New York City. Customers shopping at Macy’s Herald Square will be able to explore and purchase a range of Samsung products, including an assortment of the most innovative technologies in virtual reality, tablet, smartphone, wearable, the Family Hub refrigerator, QLED television, home audio and smart home categories.

“At Macy’s, we are focused on providing what matters most to our customers – an even more engaging shopping experience and the best, most innovative products,” said Marc Mastronardi, Macy’s executive vice president of business development. “With the new Samsung experience at Macy’s Herald Square, we are creating an innovative and beautiful, one-of-a-kind digital playground in a flagship department store, featuring numerous installations and touch points for customer engagement.”

For the first time, customers can experience an integrated Samsung ecosystem designed to simplify daily life, all in a specially curated 1,000 square foot space on the main floor at Macy’s Herald Square. Explore the next innovation television wall, featuring The Frame, which seamlessly transforms from a 4K UHD TV to a gallery-like art display for a premium entertainment experience. Accessorize your smart TV with a variety of home audio and video products, including Sound+ soundbar and Blu-ray players.

Customers can take a ride in the 4-D virtual reality roller coaster experience that puts you at the center of an out of this world journey to a new landscape with the Gear VR with Controller powered by Oculus.

A full range of Samsung product and accessories will round out the tech lover’s paradise, including Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+ and Galaxy Note8 smartphones, cases, wireless mobile accessories and more. Customers will also have the opportunity to test and purchase the latest Samsung wearables, including the Gear Sport, Gear Fit2 Pro and Gear S3, and complete their home tech ecosystem with the Samsung Connect Home Smart Wi-Fi System and assortment of Samsung SmartThings hubs, outlets and sensors.

To experience the Samsung flagship ecosystem, including one-on-one concierge-like customer care, and purchase select products, customers can now visit Macy’s Herald Square during regular store hours.

Neiman Marcus Presents The 91st Edition Of Iconic Christmas Book As They Celebrate 110 Years

Fantasy Gifts Include a New Year’s Eve Celebration Above Times Square, One-of-a-Kind 7.2-Carat Emerald & Zambian Experience with Stephen Webster, Ryder Cup Experience with Jim Furyk and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited-Edition Dawns

The Neiman Marcus 2017 Christmas Book with its legendary Fantasy Gifts were unveiled by the luxury omni-channel retailer in Dallas. The 91st edition of this renowned book continues Neiman Marcus’ unmatched tradition of offering a selection of spectacular and unique holiday gifts sure to make even the wildest of dreams come true.

The arrival of the Christmas Book marks the official start of the holiday shopping season. This year’s edition carries on the Neiman Marcus tradition of presenting a refined selection of items across a broad range of categories for everyone on your holiday shopping list. With a new collection of Fantasy Gifts certain to satisfy even the most indulgent appetites, the Christmas Book features exceptional and distinctive gifts and experiences, including an aerial photo session with Gray Malin, a pampering experience in Paris with Sisley, and a bespoke handbag collection and Parisian experience with Olympia Le-Tan. This year’s “Yours & Mine” Fantasy Gift is a pair of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited-Edition Dawns in two color options.

“From hundreds of submissions we received, we are thrilled to now present the final ten Fantasy Gifts for 2017,” said Jim Gold, President and Chief Merchandising Officer, Neiman Marcus Group. “These gifts will exceed expectations through exceptional experiences and one-of-a-kind objects that only Neiman Marcus can curate!”

First published in 1926 as a 16-page booklet, the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book was initially intended as a Christmas card to the store’s best customers. Through the years, the book has maintained its personal touch while evolving into a legendary source for alluring and mystical gifts.

NEIMAN MARCUS 110th ANNIVERSARY

To mark the 110th anniversary of Neiman Marcus, a user-generated content campaign was launched via social media as a way to showcase customers’ memories on the cover of the iconic Christmas Book. Over 17,000 submissions were received from customers across the globe; 1,500 images are featured on the cover. The retailer is also incorporating a digital component that allows customers to submit, search, and share their images as part of an online mosaic.

“We can think of no better way to celebrate the holidays and our 110th anniversary than putting our customer’s front and center,” said Yujin Heo, Vice President, Creative, Neiman Marcus.

FANTASIES FOR PHILANTHROPY

The 2017 Christmas Book features over 780 holiday gifts across 300 pages. Nearly fifty percent of the items are under $250, with the least expensive item being $9 (Omy Coloring Book, page 264) and the most expensive priced at $1.6 million (New Year’s Eve at The Knickerbocker Hotel Fantasy Gift, page 140).

A portion of every Fantasy Gift will be donated to the Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation, bringing art-enriching experiences to youth nationwide. Stanley Marcus once said, “art enhances the quality of people’s lives.” His philosophy lives on through the foundation and Neiman Marcus is proud to continue its long legacy of giving back. Every single dollar of the Paper for Water Fantasy Gifts will go directly to the organization to fund clean water for communities in need.

Ten percent of proceeds from the Love to Give Collection also featured in the 2017 Christmas Book, benefit youth arts education programs in Neiman Marcus communities across the country. An additional $50,000 from online sales will go to The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation. The Love to Give Collection offers items perfectly priced for gifting ($20 – $295), and include product from various categories such as beauty, children, and home. Vendors include, but are not limited to, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Yves Saint Laurent, Nest Fragrances, Kim Seybert, and Sugarfina.

NORELL FRAGRANCES PARTNERSHIP

Another exciting portion of the Christmas Book highlights Neiman Marcus’ partnership with Norell Fragrances and The New School’s Parsons School of Design. Through this partnership, Neiman Marcus Fashion Director, Ken Downing, was part of a committee of judges that selected Anthony Thomas Galante as the recipient of the 2017 Norman Norell Design Award. His winning design, a hand-sequined silk georgette gown, with inspiration drawn from Norell’s classic design, is featured on page 105 of the Christmas Book.

The 2017 Christmas Book Fantasy Gifts include:

EXPERIENCE CHAMPAGNE AND CREATE PERSONALIZED CUVÉE WITH ARMAND DE BRIGNAC

Experience Champagne And Create Personalized Cuvée With Armand De Brignac: Travel to Champagne with Armand de Brignac – tend the vineyards, sample the reserves, stroll the private cellars, and finishing your own cuvée.

Kick things off with a first-class trip for four to Paris and a stay at Rosewood’s Hôtel de Crillon with a 12-course dinner at L’Ecrin. Next, a private car will take you to meet with the 13th-generation winegrowing family behind Armand de Brignac. Tend the vineyards, sample the reserves, stroll the private cellar, and help create your own cuvée. End the day with a helicopter flyover of Champagne’s villages and vineyards. Then, spend the night at Domaine Les Crayères, a majestic chateau, with a dinner at the three-Michelin-star L’Assiette Champenoise before enjoying Paris for one more glorious day and night. The fun doesn’t end there. Delivered to your door: 12 bottles of each of the five Armand de Brignac champagnes to savor until your bespoke bottles are ready. And when the time comes, 24 bottles of the personally finished cuvée, each inscribed with the giftee’s name.

One Armand de Brignac experience is offered by Pencils of Promise, which will retain any profits from the sale of this Fantasy Gift for its charitable initiative that provides educational opportunities for children in the developing world. Gift limited to one experience. ($150,000; page 127)

GRAY MALIN AERIAL PHOTO ADVENTURE

Go up, up, and away with fine-art photographer Gray Malin. Famous for his sunny, saturated aerial scenes, Malin will host a private one-hour helicopter jaunt for two over the beaches of Los Angeles and Malibu. Malin will click away at the agreed-upon scene, then have a post-flight Champagne toast with Malin to replay the day just shared. In a few weeks, select an edited photograph for Malin to print, sign, frame, and send – and perhaps to inspire dreams of new adventures. Hotel room provided for the two-night stay.

Gray Malin Aerial Photo Adventure: Capture shots from a helicopter during a private one-hour flight over Los Angeles and Malibu with fine-art aerial photographer Gray Malin. Enjoy two nights in Santa Monica and a post-flight toast with Gray.

With the purchase of the Gray Malin experience, $5,000 will be donated to The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation. Gift limited to one experience. ($35,000; page 129)

MADAME ALEXANDER DOLLS FOR A YEAR AND DOLLHOUSE BY KIDKRAFT

Your gift begins with a December delivery of eight darling dolls by Madame Alexander and a limited-edition Grand Anniversary Dollhouse by KidKraft. For the following 11 months, another doll comes – everyone from Wonderland’s curious Alice to the ruby-slippered girl from Kansas and her little dog, too. Storybook heroes, princesses, European royalty… imagine the diverse and delightful conversations they’ll inspire in the meticulously designed dollhouse – complete with accessories and furniture. The best is saved for last: the final doll will be customized, first collaborate with a top Madame Alexander designer and then choose the doll you want and how you want it to look.

Madame Alexander Dolls For A Year And Dollhouse By KidKraft: The gift that keeps giving – a dream year of dolls by Madame Alexander and a custom-made Grand Anniversary Dollhouse by KidKraft. Collaborate on the design of your final, customizable doll.

With the purchase of the Madame Alexander gift, $500 will be donated to The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation. Gift limited to ten packages. ($8,000; page 130)

First US Solo Exhibition Devoted To The Work of Patricia Urquiola

This fall, the Philadelphia Museum of Art will present Patricia Urquiola: Between Craft and Industry, November 19, 2017 – March 4, 2018, in the Alter Gallery 176, the first solo exhibition devoted to the work of this internationally acclaimed designer. The exhibition will showcase her versatility in creating products, interiors, and architectural spaces. On November 18, Urquiola will be honored with the Design Excellence Award by Collab, the Museum’s affiliate group for modern and contemporary design.

(Each year, Collab presents the Design Excellence Award to a design professional or manufacturer whose impact on the field is inspirational. Past recipients have included Rolf Fehlbaum, Marc Newson, Paula Scher and Seymour Chwast, Zaha Hadid, Alberto Alessi, Marcel Wanders, and Frank O. Gehry.)

Patricia Urquiola. Image by GAN, 2017.

Curious and energetic by nature, Urquiola moves with ease between product design, interior design, and architecture—whether designing handbags that convert into stools for Louis Vuitton, dinnerware for Rosenthal, or the recently opened Il Sereno Hotel on the shore of Lake Como in Italy.

Photograph of Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Barcelona, Spain. Designed by Patricia Urquiola. Designed in 2010.

Photograph of Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Barcelona, Spain. Designed by Patricia Urquiola. Designed in 2010.

Patricia Urquiola is one of the most influential designers in the world today. Born in Oviedo, Spain, and trained as an architect in Madrid, Urquiola graduated from the Politecnico di Milano, where she studied with Achille Castiglioni, one of the foremost lighting designers of the second half of the twentieth century. She opened a studio in Milan in 2001 and since that time has collaborated with dozens of manufacturers throughout the world, including Alessi, B&B Italia, Flos, Kartell, Moroso, and most recently the American firm of Haworth. In September 2015, Urquiola was appointed Art Director of the iconic Italian company Cassina. She has been the recipient of numerous accolades and awards including the Order of Isabella the Catholic, presented by King Juan Carlos I of Spain.

Platter from the Landscape Tea Service. Designed by Patricia Urquiola in 2008. Made by Rosenthal AG, Selb, Germany. Porcelain. Gift of Rosenthal AG, 2008

Urquiola’s work often fuses traditional modes of production with modern design. Her “Fjord” armchair is a rethinking of a mid-twentieth-century Nordic chair, just as the “Landscape” tea set manufactured by Rosenthal is a new spin on a traditional object. Her colorful rugs that she designed in Spain are woven in workshops in India. She brings the handmade aspect of the classic rattan chair of the Philippines to her “Crinoline” chair design.

“Chasen” Hanging Lamp. Designed by Patricia Urquiola. Made by Flos S.p.A., Brescia, Italy. Designed in 2007. Aluminum, borosilicate glass, steel. Flos USA

“Patricia Urquiola: Between Craft and Industry” “Antibodi” Chaise. Designed by Patricia Urquiola, Designed 2006. Stainless steel, PVC, polyurethane, felt. Gift of Fury Design, Inc., Philadelphia

“Urquiola is part of a new generation of designers who take a humanistic approach to their work,” said Donna Corbin, The Louis C. Madeira IV Associate Curator of European Decorative Art. “She is known for exploring the possibilities of the artisanal through new technologies, to achieve something that feels familiar and evokes a sense of comfort.”

Among her most recent work on view is “Openest,” an innovative office system that is emblematic of her interest in prioritizing comfort. It was designed for Haworth offices in Michigan and was named “Best of” in the NeoCon Competition in 2014. Also featured in the form of photographs will be a number of Urquiola’s architectural commissions, including the award-winning 2005 Ideal House project, shown at the IMM Cologne international furnishings show in Germany, and the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Barcelona, Spain.

“Serena” Table Lamp. Designed by Patricia Urquiola. Made by Flos S.p.A., Brescia, Italy. Designed in 2015. Aluminum, polycarbonate. Flos USA

Collab is a group of design professionals and enthusiasts who support modern and contemporary design at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Its members experience design year-round through exhibition previews, design-inspired field trips, special access to the Museum’s world-class design collection, lectures, and opportunities to meet and learn from design curators and visionaries.

In conjunction with the exhibition, this year’s Collab Student Design Competition will challenge students at colleges and universities to create an object inspired by Urquiola’s exhibition. The goal is to design a piece of storage furniture or another functional object that can be the focal point of a room. On Monday, November 13, a panel of judges drawn from the region’s professional design community will gather at the Museum to identify the most innovative entries. The designs will be placed on display at the Museum through November 15, and visitors can cast their votes for the People’s Choice Award. Winners will be presented at the Collab Design Excellence Award lecture on Saturday, November 18.

This exhibition is made possible by Lisa Roberts and David Seltzer, Poor Richard’s Charitable Trust, and Haworth. Additional support is provided by Collab and other generous sponsors. The Student Design Competition is generously sponsored by Publicis Health Media.

The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) Names Honorees for the 2017 American Image Awards

The American Apparel & Footwear Association today announced its 2017 American Image Awards honorees: Andrew Rosen, Founder and CEO of Theory (Person of the Year); Marc Fisher Footwear (Company of the Year); Stuart Vevers of Coach, Inc. (Designer of the Year); Nick Graham (Fashion Maverick); and Ed Nardoza (Lifetime Achievement Award). Owned and operated by the AAFA, the American Image Awards began in 1977 to honor those who have exemplified leadership, excellence, and outstanding achievement in all sectors of the apparel and footwear industry, including education, design, manufacturing, and retail. Award-winning stage and screen actor Alan Cumming will emcee the gala. Presented on April 24 in New York City, the American Image Awards will benefit the Fashion Manufacturing Initiative (FMI), part of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Foundation. This year’s ceremony will take place at the historic 583 Park Avenue venue in New York City.

Representing more than 1,000 world famous name brands, the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) is the trusted public policy and political voice of the apparel and footwear industry, its management and shareholders, its four million U.S. workers, and its contribution of $361 billion in annual U.S. retail sales. AAFA stands at the forefront as a leader of positive change for the apparel and footwear industry and delivers a unified voice on key legislative and regulatory issues. The organization enables a collaborative forum to promote best practices and innovation and its comprehensive work ensures the continued success and growth of the apparel and footwear industry, its suppliers, and its customers.

The Fashion Manufacturing Initiative (FMI) is a program of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) in partnership with the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and was created to nurture, elevate, and preserve garment production in New York City, ultimately connecting fashion designers to local manufacturing. The program includes: FMI Grant Fund offering matching grants to facilities committed to improving their services through innovation and technology; Apparel Skills Training Courses to generate a stronger workforce; a New York City Production Database on www.CFDA.com; and ongoing professional development sessions, industry events and collaborative partnerships.

Home & Tech/Design: Introducing Hestan NanoBond Cookware

Innovative Culinary Brand, Hestan, Launches First True Innovation In Stainless Steel Cookware In Over 100 Years

Beginning Immediately, NanoBond Will Be Available For Purchase Exclusively At Williams-Sonoma Stores And Online At www.williams-sonoma.com.

Hestan has launched Nanobond Cookware, a line of bonded stainless steel cookware uniquely engineered to last a lifetime, investing over $60 million in developing innovative technologies and kitchen products to elevate the culinary experience. Widely known for its high-end commercial kitchen equipment and premium residential outdoor grills, the company is applying their cutting-edge technology and innovative thinking to their first consumer cookware line, which promises to raise the bar among cookware brands and push the industry towards the future.

Innovative Culinary Brand, Hestan, Launches First True Innovation in Stainless Steel Cookware in Over 100 Years. Introducing Hestan NanoBond.

Since its introduction to the kitchen over 100 years ago, there’s been no significant innovation to stainless steel cookware – often known for tarnishing when exposed to high heat and easily scratching. For culinary professionals and enthusiasts alike, NanoBond brings the most advanced technology to the kitchen, delivering a full line of cookware that introduces modern science to timeless culinary craftsmanship with molecular titanium. NanoBond offers incredible resilience, lasting beauty, and the cleanability to maintain its brilliance for generations.

NanoBond leverages a patented titanium based nanotechnology that creates thousands of superdense nanolayers of titanium alloys bonded to stainless steel. This enables the cookware surface to be four times harder than typical stainless steel. The result is a chemical free, extremely durable cookware that’s resistant to staining, scratching, salt pitting and provides superior performance. Thanks to a pure aluminum core, it is also 35 percent more conductive than other aluminum-clad cookware.

Hestan innovations span the culinary category including Hestan Vineyards – well-respected small-batch wines developed in Napa Valley, Hestan Smart Cooking – a guided cooking system that will forever change the cooking experience, and the award-winning Hestan Commercial and Hestan Outdoor.

Immigrant Contributions To American Society Recognized With 2017 Vilcek Prizes

Visual Artist Nari Ward And Biophysicists Lily And Yuh-Nung Jan Receive $100,000 Vilcek Prizes

Winners Of Vilcek Prizes For Creative Promise Each Receive $50,000 Awards

The Vilcek Foundation is pleased to announce the winners of the annual Vilcek Prizes, recognizing outstanding immigrant contributions to the American arts and sciences. The Vilcek Prize in Biomedical Science will be awarded jointly to Chinese-born Lily and Yuh-Nung Jan, a collaborative research duo and professors of molecular physiology at the University of California, San Francisco. The Vilcek Prize in the Arts recognizes Jamaican-born Nari Ward, a New York-based visual artist known for found-object assemblage art. Each prize includes a $100,000 cash award. The prizewinners were selected by panels of experts in each field; they will be honored at an awards gala in New York City in April 2017.

“Like all great artists and scientists, these immigrant prizewinners challenge our very perceptions of the world,” said Rick Kinsel, president of the Vilcek Foundation. “Their works are attempts to understand fundamental questions and concepts in American society, from the neurological underpinnings of the self to the institution of democracy.”

The Vilcek Foundation was established in 2000 by Jan and Marica Vilcek, immigrants from the former Czechoslovakia. The mission of the foundation, to honor the contributions of immigrants to the United States and to foster an appreciation of the arts and sciences, was inspired by the couple’s respective careers in biomedical science and art history, as well as their personal experiences and appreciation for the opportunities they received as newcomers to this country. The foundation awards annual prizes to prominent immigrant biomedical scientists and artists and manages the Vilcek Foundation Art Collections, a promised gift from its founders.

This year, the Vilcek Prize in the Arts is awarded in the fine arts, marking the completion of an 11-year cycle through various disciplines in the arts and humanities. The recipient, Nari Ward, was born in Jamaica and immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 12. He is known for found-object assemblage artworks that invite both a public conversation and an intimate dialogue with the viewer around topics of race, immigration, and the Caribbean diaspora identity. His usage of found objects aims to highlight the history of a place and the urgency of the moment; his installation Naturalization Drawing Table features a large desk—built out of Plexiglas bodega barriers—covered with dense linear drawings made over copies of Immigration and Naturalization Service applications. On select days during the exhibition, viewers are invited to “apply” for naturalization by lining up and filling out an application, giving them a taste of the bureaucratic process of applying for citizenship. Ward has won several prestigious art prizes, including the Joyce Award, the Rome Prize, a Bessie Award, and several other awards from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation.

Lily and Yuh-Nung Jan were both born in China and raised in Taiwan. They came to the U.S. as graduate students of physics at the California Institute of Technology but switched their focus to biology, in part inspired by their mentor, the renowned biophysicist Max Delbrück. Over the course of a collaborative career spanning over four decades, the husband-and-wife team has made many significant discoveries in the field of neuroscience, with far-reaching clinical implications. They isolated the gene encoding a protein that shuttles potassium ions across cell membranes, enabling the characterization of a molecular player important to functions as vital as maintaining heart rate and controlling muscle movement. Today, this type of ion channel is implicated in diseases such as epilepsy, ataxia, and hypertension. Simultaneously, the Jans identified genes and principles underlying the processes by which neurons acquire distinct identities, burgeon into thickets, and establish precise circuits; their work in this area may help unravel human diseases such as autism and schizophrenia. Currently, professors of molecular physiology at the University of California, San Francisco, the Jans have been honored with membership in the United States National Academy of Sciences, as well as with Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator awards.

The Vilcek Foundation also awards the Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise, given to younger immigrants who have shown substantial talent and ability early in their careers. Each prize includes a $50,000 cash award. The winners in the fine arts are the following:

Iman Issa, born in Egypt, a conceptual artist, creates objects and installations in an attempt to address complex philosophical questions. Her original area of study was phenomenology, a branch of philosophy that examines the structures of consciousness that organize subjective experience—or, put another way, how we take meaning from things we individually experience. Later, Issa realized that art allowed for nuanced exploration of those topics, and continued her philosophical questioning through art. She is particularly interested in monuments and memorials—aesthetic forms tasked with a function that holds a shifting relevance based on their location in time and relationship to history. Her work has been shown at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the 8th Berlin Biennial, and the New Museum, and she has received the DAAD 2017 Artist in Residence Award, the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Award, and the HNF-MACBA Award.

Meleko Mokgosi, born in Botswana, is a slow, considered painter; behind every painting he produces are hours of research, reading, and conversations with people. Mokgosi is interested in depictions of Africa and its people; he believes that the widespread misrepresentation of Africa and Africans has done a violence to the people of the continent, and through his art he attempts a representation that is fair and just. He is deeply concerned with politics and seeks to understand and illuminate the relations of power that shape people, families, villages, regions, and nations. Mokgosi has been named the recipient of the Joan Mitchell Foundation Painters Grant and the Jarl and Pamela Mohn Award, and he has shown his work at Art Basel, the Armory, the Hammer Museum, and the Whitney Museum.

Nike Miami Opens

Store Deliver Innovative Products, All-Encompassing On-Site Experiences and Heightened Personal Expert Service

Today, NIKE, Inc. opens Nike Miami, its newest retail experience. The two-story, multi-sport store is digitally connected across more than 31,000 sq. ft., and is located at 1035 Lincoln Rd., in the heart of the City of Miami Beach’s shopping district. (Nike Miami is open seven days a week. Store Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 am to 11 pm. Sunday, 11 am. to 10 pm.)

The two-story, multi-sport Nike Miami store is digitally connected across more than 31,000 sq. ft., and is located at 1035 Lincoln Rd., in the heart of the City of Miami Beach’s shopping district.

The store design, inspired by the lifestyle of modern sport, features a unique installation from Miami artist Jessy Nite. The artwork—a multimedia combination of painting, custom typography and sculpture—takes inspiration from the vibrant colors of Miami and the power of sport. The exterior of the building showcases a brise-soleil, a common architectural feature in South America and South Florida used to mitigate the warm afternoon sun. The pattern of the brise-soleil is comprised of two Nike icons: the waffle iron and the Windrunner.

Nike Miami features Jordan Brand and Nike Basketball product on the store’s second floor, including iconic silhouettes and re-stocks.

The new Nike Miami is designed to deliver the best of Nike products and personalized services through a series of unique spaces. Guided by a team of highly trained Nike store athletes, Nike Miami offers personalized, immersive experiences for consumers.

Its unique spaces are the ultimate service destinations and include:

• Nike+ Trial Zones: Three immersive Nike+ Trial Zones transport consumers into authentic sport moments, bringing true sport experiences into a personal shopping destination.
  

  The Nike+ Running Trial Zone, located on the first floor, allows consumers to test shoes on a treadmill surrounded by two cameras capturing data from their run

• Running: In the Nike+ Running Trial Zone on the first floor, consumers start by consulting with Nike certified running athletes on the best choices for footwear. They can then test out shoes on a treadmill surrounded by two cameras capturing data from their run and a video screen that records them on a 90-second real-life run. Consumers’ personal trial experiences may be saved to their Nike+ member profile, to enhance future shopping experiences.
• Basketball: The Nike+ Basketball Trial Zone, located on the second floor, simulates the feel of the game in a 285-square foot space. Consumers consult with Nike certified basketball experts to select the best choices for footwear and receive 1:1 guidance on product features and benefits. They can then test the shoes in an enclosed basketball trial zone, allowing for the simulation of an actual game or practice environment.
• Soccer: The Nike+ Soccer Trial Zone, also on the second floor and adjacent to the Nike+ Basketball Trial Zone, is a 285-square foot cleat trial area, encased in glass walls, with a synthetic turf field and supported by Nike certified trial athletes. Consumers can trial Nike’s best soccer cleats and receive 1:1 guidance on product features and benefits.
• Nike+ Service Station: At Nike Miami, experts are at your service. The Nike+ Service Station is home to the Nike+ 1:1 service, a private appointment with an expert who provides Nike+ members with a product gear-up, immersion in the Nike+ ecosystem, a curated takeaway and access to Nike services and events.
• The Stands: The Stands is the store’s first service destination, offering a special seating area for live in-store programming, including Nike+ Sessions—intimate discussions with leading athletes, trainers, and trendsetters.
  

  Located on the store’s first floor, The Lounge features expanded fitting rooms with adaptive lighting and a treadmill, where consumers can consult with a stylist, and test and purchase products.

• The Lounge: With a large boutique space, Nike Miami’s Lounge is designed to transform sport retail for women. Guided by Nike certified store athletes, consumers can test out products on a treadmill and in enhanced fitting rooms that are double the size of a standard Nike fitting room. The Lounge offers an array of services, from Nike+ 1:1 personal appointments to bra fitting, pant hemming, and digital checkout. There are three adaptive lighting changes in all fitting rooms in Nike Miami—replicating the feel of yoga studio to a night run.
• Nike+ Member Sessions: Nike+ Member Sessions, located in The Stands, provide members with Nike programming, featuring Nike+ Run Club and Nike+ Training Club events, and Nike+ Speaker Sessions, an opportunity for consumers to engage with local nutritionists and trainers.
  

  The first floor of Nike Miami features Women’s product including the Bra Fit Shop.

HGTV Dream Home Giveaway 2017 Now Open For Entries

Starting now and continuing through 5 p.m. ET Friday, February 17, 2017, viewers can dream about moving into the 2017 HGTV® Dream Home on St. Simons Island, Georgia. Fans can enter twice a day by visiting www.HGTV.com/HGTVDreamHome for a chance to win the grand prize package valued at more than $1.7 million. Eligible U.S. residents can log on to www.HGTV.com for full details and official rules.

Enter for a chance to win the HGTV Dream Home Giveaway 2017 at HGTV.com.

In addition to the approximately 3,200-square-foot residence and all its furnishings, the grand prize winner will receive the keys to a new Honda Pilot, plus $250,000 from national mortgage lender Quicken Loans®.

Interior designer Brian Patrick Flynn has restored a hidden gem into a one-of-a-kind getaway with a design aesthetic that can be described as Southern Transitional. With Sea Island as the backdrop, the 1980s-built home maintains a traditional look that embodies true Southern charm with an emphasis on architecture reflective of its coastal location.

“The charming seaside location of St. Simons fits the bill as a ‘dreamy’ location where our fans can see themselves relaxing by the backyard fire pit or hosting friends by the pool,” said Ron Feinbaum, general manager and senior vice president of Home Promotions for Scripps Networks Interactive. “Working with architect Michael Stauffer and builder Allen Construction, we were able to transform this home into a residence with design inspiration that our fans can use in their own homes.” 

The main living spaces reflect an entertaining-savvy layout that features muted, muddy earth tones mixed with bright whites. Comfortable furniture and formal statement pieces are intertwined with casual textiles. A selection of modern art elevates the house to a game-changing showstopper. The three bedrooms and four bathrooms take their cue from the property’s mossy vegetation with shades of green, and the neutral browns are a nod to the nearby beaches. Complete with a private pool, the abode is a fresh new take on Southern style.

Learn more about this year’s giveaway and its sponsors – Honda; Lumber Liquidators, Inc.; Quicken Loans®; Wayfair; Cabinets To Go; Delta Faucet; CESAR® Canine Cuisine; Realtor.com®; Trex Company, Inc.; Belgard; Bush Brothers & Company; ICON Health & Fitness; SimpliSafe Home Security; Sleep Number®; Greenworks Tools; and Bose Corporation – at www.HGTV.com/HGTVDreamHome.

Smart & Blue Unveils 3 New Smart Shower Products plus First International Availability at CES 2017 in Las Vegas

In the run-up to CES 2017 in Las Vegas, French Eco-Tech company Smart & Blue today announced three new HYDRAO smart showerhead products, the much-awaited international availability of its products, plus new industry awards. Smart & Blue is an innovation leader in smart solutions for water conservation. Headquartered in Grenoble, France, the company was founded by founder Gabriel Dell Monica in 2015. The company now employs 10 people directly.

The new HYDRAO Loop and First smart showerheads and HYDRAO Drop smart shower light bring innovation, color, enjoyment – and now French design chic – to the bathroom. They are designed to increase awareness of water usage and encourage reduced water and energy consumption. HYDRAO First will be the first product to become available internationally – starting tomorrow.

Smart & Blue Founder Gabriel Dell Monica

The designs of HYDRAO Loop and Drop have already won two new CES Innovation Awards: HYDRAO Loop in the Smart Home category and HYDRAO Drop in Tech for a Better World category.

THREE NEW SMART SHOWER SOLUTIONS

HYDRAO Loop: a combination of advanced Smart & Blue technology innovation with French luxury design to bring smart-shower capabilities to stylish, modern bathrooms.

HYDRAO Loop smart shower set (Photo: Business Wire)

HYDRAO Loop Hand shower

HYDRAO Drop: adds smart-shower water saving capabilities to an existing shower. It is simple to install, and has a flexible arm that can be positioned to illuminate any shower surface or water jet.

HYDRAO Loop on a showerhead

HYDRAO First: a fun, educational and affordable smart hand shower. Launched in France at the end of 2016, HYDRAO First is available internationally from Jan. 4th 2017.

HYDRAO First is a LED-illuminated showerhead that brings color and enjoyment to families, while educating users on water usage.

SMART-SHOWER INNOVATION WITH LUXURY DESIGN

DESIGN INNOVATION AND WATER EFFICIENCY: Both HYDRAO Loop and Drop benefit from a new miniaturized version of Smart & Blue’s patented smart shower technology, allowing users to benefit from a sleek, streamlined design, with no compromise to HYDRAO’s water conservation guidance. Also new is the ability to allow individual users to monitor their own personal usage and savings – on either one or multiple HYDRAO smart showers.

New smart water pressure innovations also let users enjoy an enhanced shower experience, even at low pressure levels.1 These enhancements include increased energy efficiency for the internal turbine, new water pressure regulation capabilities and an innovative aerated water flow feature. Together they ensure optimum water flow and lighting intensity, while decreasing overall water consumption.

For professional customers, the fully modular, interchangeable design of HYDRAO Loop and Drop allow for design customization. Smart & Blue smart shower technology can also be integrated into own designs.

Pantone Unveils Color of the Year 2017: PANTONE 15-0343 Greenery

A Refreshing And Revitalizing Shade, Greenery Is Symbolic Of New Beginnings

Pantone, an X-Rite company and the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries, today announced PANTONE 15-0343 Greenery as the PANTONE® Color of the Year selection for 2017; a fresh and zesty yellow-green shade that evokes the first days of spring when nature’s greens revive, restore and renew. Illustrative of flourishing foliage and the lushness of the great outdoors, the fortifying attributes of Greenery signals individuals to take a deep breath, oxygenate and reinvigorate.

Pantone Unveils Color of the Year 2017: PANTONE 15-0343 Greenery

“While Serenity and Rose Quartz, the PANTONE Color of the Year 2016, expressed the need for harmony in a chaotic world,” said Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute “Greenery bursts forth in 2017 to provide us with the hope we collectively yearn for amid a complex social and political landscape. Satisfying our growing desire to rejuvenate, revitalize and unite, Greenery symbolizes the reconnection we seek with nature, one another and a larger purpose.

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 17 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 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 2017 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.

The more submerged people are in their own modern realities, the greater their innate craving to immerse themselves in the physical beauty and inherent unity of the natural world. This shift is reflected by the proliferation of all things expressive of Greenery in daily lives through urban planning, architecture, lifestyle and design choices globally. A constant on the periphery, Greenery is now being pulled to the forefront – it is an omnipresent hue around the world.

PANTONE 15-0343 Greenery, a life-affirming shade, is also emblematic of the pursuit of personal passions and vitality.

“The tangy yellow-green speaks to our desire to express, explore, experiment and reinvent, imparting a sense of buoyancy,” said Eiseman. “Through its reassuring yet assertive vibrancy, Greenery offers us self-assurance and boldness to live life on our own terms, during a time when we are redefining what makes us successful and happy.”

In this spirit of reconnection, exploration and belonging, Pantone has partnered with Airbnb – a community marketplace that provides access to unique accommodations and experiences around the globe – to bring Greenery to life through an experience in early 2017. The collaboration, a first of its kind, was inspired by Pantone’s vision for Greenery and Airbnb’s community that connects travelers to magical experiences.

GREENERY COLOR PAIRINGS

Nature’s neutral, PANTONE Greenery is a versatile “trans-seasonal” shade that lends itself to many color combinations. As displayed in the 10 palettes below, Greenery is paired with neutrals, brights, deeper shades, pastels, metallics and even the enduring presence of PANTONE Color of the Year 2016, Rose Quartz and Serenity. These palettes easily cross over fashion, beauty, product and graphic design applications.

A Color of Innovation:

While often associated with environmentalism and nature, Greenery is also a unifying thread in tech and innovation because of its association with boldness, vigor and modernity. Many new apps, animation iconography and digital-first startups express this energy by using the riveting and attention-getting shade of green in their logos. Conveying progression and a pioneering spirit, Greenery portrays an entrepreneurial essence that aligns with the industries that have embraced it.

Greenery for Fashion:

Greenery is nature’s neutral. A great harmonizer merging undertones of cool blues with vibrant yellows, the hue is a natural complement to a wide range of palettes. Like the spectrum of possibilities in colorful petals and blooms paired with lush green leaves, plants and trees, Greenery provides a pop of color in accessories and footwear, or as acts as a bold accent in a pattern. Prominent in fashion for men and women, as seen in the recent collections of Kenzo, Michael Kors, Zac Posen, and Cynthia Rowley, Greenery has also been shown in a variety of solids and prints in children’s wear.

Greenery blends fashion and tech as well, as a prominent color for wearables and activewear.

.ART, The First Internet Domain Dedicated To The Arts And Culture Is Launched

RESPONSIBLY ADVANCING THE ART WORLD THROUGH TECHNOLOGY AND CREATIVITY.

More Than 60 World-Famous Museums, International Art Galleries And Renowned Art Organizations Will Be The First To Launch Websites Using .ART

.ART, the first domain created exclusively for the global art community, is pleased to announce that more than 60 museums and world – renowned arts organizations launched websites dedicated to the new domain first class, including The Art Institute of Chicago , Centre Pompidou, Fondation Beyeler, Fondation Cartier, Guggenheim Museum, Hauser & Wirth, ICA Miami, LACMA, MAXXI, Tate and Walker Art Center, and more. These first. .ART users have entertained plans to activate their new domains, some of which include full migration or consolidation of their existing web sites .ART, while others are launching new websites dedicated to exhibit unique content of its artists and/or collections.

The rights holder in charge of operating and selling the .ART domain is UK Creative Ideas Ltd. (UKCI), an international team based in London. In spring 2016 UKCI signed an agreement with ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, to be the exclusive operator of the top-level domain.

“Our mission is to preserve the cultural heritage of the world of global art. We are honored that so many respected institutions around the world share our vision and conviction that .ART transform the relationship of the arts community with Internet and help protect your online brand heritage , “said Ulvi Kasimov , founder of .ART.

John Matson , CEO of .ART added: “.ART Provides a new way for the art world online identified The domain is short, simple, easy to remember and have immediate association with the arts for our first users, .ART domain is a natural expression of your brand. “

The first users will first receive access to domain names. .ART; therefore, they have the opportunity to launch content on their respective web sites before the domains are available for purchase by the general public in the summer of 2017. The first .ART users have shared their enthusiasm:

The digital director of the Tate, Ros Lawler, said the museum “is delighted to participate in the launch of this new domain, which will help promote some of the art collections, galleries and museums the world ‘s largest.”

Benoît Parayre, Director of Communications and Partnerships in the Centre Pompidou, said: “A domain name for the art world took enough to appear, but now allow many leaders of the cultural industry, museums, art centers, galleries, collectors, etc., have more relevant domain names to promote their collections and programming. “

“The Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain is very excited to be part of the new digital neighborhood .ART and evolve further their programs, ” said his digital manager, David Desrimais.

Anton Vidokle, artist and founder ofe-flux, added: “The Internet carries a profound educational potential, and a reliable and informative domain dedicated to art will provide an invaluable source of knowledge The domain….. .art will become an effective platform to dignify. the excellent work of arts organizations and artists from all over the world for all those who love and care about the arts.“

Dominique Chevalier, president of the Syndicat National des Antiquaires Antiquaires (SNA), which organizes the Biennale des Antiquaires at the Grand Palais in Paris, said: “For us, and for our galleries, ‘.com’ is too commercial and ‘.fr’ too . generic the problem with most domain names that say nothing about the activity that one performs, ‘.ART’ solves that.“

Lelia Pissarro, co-owner of the Stern Pissarro Gallery and great – granddaughter of the artist Camille Pissarro, said:.. “The Internet has the greatest impact on the market of global art has taken the art to every corner of the world the way forward in terms of domain names is clearly categorizing industries. We have the impression that they represent the names Pissarro, combined with ‘.com’ detracted elegance. Now to be able to use ‘pissarro.art’ simply is the perfect solution. it comes to cover an old gap in our marketing strategy and how we project.“

The first users have comprehensive plans for their respective sites:

Tate, LACMA, Multimedia Art Museum and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum will create websites that highlight the various aspects of their collections, while the Fondation Cartier will use the domain to make its collection available to the public for the first time in its history. Meanwhile, the Centre Pompidou will launch a dedicated website with useful information in English and other languages for their foreign visits.

Hauser & Wirth celebrate the 25th anniversary of the gallery by launching an interactive website that displays a visual chronology detailing the nearly three decades of history gallery. In addition, Canesso Gallery, Galerie Meyer Oceanic & Eskimo Art, Galerie Perrin, Tomasso Brothers Fine Art , Stern Pissarro Gallery and Venus migrated completely its current websites to their new .ART domains.

TIMELINE

• December 2016 – February 2017: ICANN (TMCH)-registered trademarks will be able to register their .ART domains in this phase, also called Sunrise.
• February – May 2017: The registration process will be open to members of the art world only.
• May 2017 onwards: Anyone with an interest in the arts can register .ART domains.

To see the complete list of the first users of .ART, visit http://www.art.art.

 

Celebrate Culture and the Arts During Seattle’s Third Annual Seattle Museum Month

Downtown Seattle Hotel Guests Receive Half-Price Entry to Region’s Museums and Cultural Institutions in February 2017

February Is The Best Time To Save On Admission To More Than 40 Participating Museums Throughout Seattle And The Surrounding Region.

Visit Seattle‘s third annual Seattle Museum Month – returning February 1-28, 2017 – offers hotel guests half-price admission at more than 40 participating museums throughout Seattle and the region.

Chihuly Garden and Glass. (Photo Credit: Terry Rishel)

Seattle Museum Month , a program created to encourage travelers to visit Seattle in February and celebrate the incredible arts and culture scene present in the region, is produced by Visit Seattle and funded by the Seattle Tourism Improvement Area (STIA), a dedicated marketing fund assessed from guests at the 61 downtown Seattle hotels.

Seattle Art Museum’s Olympic Sculpture Park. (Photo Credit: Benjamin Benschneider)

For visitors and locals alike, Seattle Museum Month offers an immersive way of experiencing Seattle’s art, history, music, design and culture. Since its inaugural year in 2015, Museum Month has been an exciting cultural complement to Seattle during a mid-winter vacation.

Seattle Art Museum. (Photo Credit: Benjamin Benschneider)

Seattle’s major museums have returned for this year’s offer – including Seattle Art Museum, Museum of History & Industry, Museum of Flight, Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), Seattle Aquarium, Woodland Park Zoo, Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience and the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture. Two internationally renowned glass art museums are included – Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle and the Museum of Glass in Tacoma. The Flying Heritage Collection and the Suquamish Museum are new participants this year.

Museum of Pop Culture (MoPop) (Photo Credit : Brady Harvey)

Furthermore, many exhibitions of note are timed during the month-long promotion. Epicureans can indulge themselves at Edible City: A Delicious Journey at Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI), a new exhibit highlighting Seattle’s natural resources, cuisine, famous chefs and its role in the culinary industry.

Also on display in February is part three of the Day in the Life of Bruce Lee: Do You Know Bruce? exhibit at the Wing Luke Museum of the Pacific Asian Experience – the only museum outside Hong Kong to present an exhibition about Bruce Lee. Additionally, Star Trek: Exploring New Worlds at MoPOP commemorates the 50th anniversary of the famous science fiction series and is offered to Museum Month pass holders at a discount.

Seattle Asian Art Museum. (Photo Credit: Benjamin Benschneider)

Visitors can enjoy natural scenery while indoors at Seeing Nature: Landscape Photography from the Paul G. Allen Family Collection, opening February 16 at the Seattle Art Museum (SAM), or familiarize themselves with Puget Sound sea life during Octopus Week Feb. 18-26 at the Seattle Aquarium. Dance Theatre of Harlem: 40 Years of Firsts will be on display through Black History Month at the Northwest African American Museum.

John Hardy Debuts First U.S. Flagship And Artisan In Residence Workshop

The Artisan Handcrafted Luxury Jewelry Brand Unveils an Experiential Retail Boutique in New York’s Soho

Luxury jewelry brand John Hardy announces the debut of its first U.S. flagship, situated in New York’s Soho neighborhood. Established in Bali in 1975, John Hardy is dedicated to the creation of ultimate beauty through artisan handcrafted jewelry. The master artisans honor original craft through the perfection of modern design, creating timeless one-of-a-kind pieces that are brilliantly alive. Each of John Hardy’s distinctive collections conveys evocative symbolism and honors the transmission of creative energy from the artist to the wearer. Since inception, the company has been deeply rooted in the essential values of community, artisanship and sustainability.

John Hardy Debuts First U.S. Flagship And Artisan In Residence Workshop. Courtesy of John Hardy (PRNewsFoto/John Hardy

The flagship, which opened November 25, offers a highly differentiated and authentic shopping experience designed to engage all five senses with the myth and magic of Balinese artisanship. The highlight of the flagship is an experiential concept space on the boutique’s second floor, which will serve as a creative sanctuary for artisans and offer consumers immersive experiences.

THE ENCOUNTER: THE ARTISAN IN RESIDENCE

The Residence animates the creative spirit and storied craftsmanship of the John Hardy Jewelry Workshop in Ubud, Bali into a full sensory experience and will be dedicated to hosting artisan master classes, workshops, talks, and installations across dynamic disciplines. The space serves as a real workshop for John Hardy Artisans when in Residence from overseas. The first series will run December 10 – 23 and explore the brand’s signature 8-step jewelry-making process.

THE EXPERIENCE: THE STORY OF TOUCH

The flagship weaves together scent, sound, light and art for a refined reimagining of the John Hardy Jewelry Workshop in Ubud, Bali. It is designed to herald transformative moments and inspire connection.

THE INSPIRATION: MAGIC OF BALI

Designed around a central display, clients are invited to navigate the boutique like the island of Bali itself, walking around its natural edges and exploring tactile moments of inspiration. True to founder John Hardy’s creative vision as an artist and environmental sculptor, the boutique walls showcase powerful collections like a gallery, encouraging guests to interact with every dimension of inspiration. The dynamic contours and exquisite detail of handcrafted jewelry is exhibited with bold authenticity—each piece, a work of art in and of itself.

A lush scent designed to conjure the verdant grounds of the Ubud Workshop transports and transfixes, as store lighting and sound shift throughout the day to evoke the rising and setting of the Balinese sun. All the while, a custom playlist blends nomadic beats and natural soundscapes, invoking the essence of wanderlust.

Signature carved wood details punctuate the space with rich walnut and hammered gold inlays, summoning elements of earthy softness and water reflection. A large-scale art installation hand-carved from teakwood tree root—the sustainable byproduct of production—serves as a dynamic focal point, manifesting creativity and celebrating the uncompromising artistic ethos behind the brand.

THE STYLE: SINGULAR. SUSTAINABLE.

In conceptualizing the space, architectural firm Design Republic sought to celebrate the brand’s heritage and roots in artisan craftsmanship forged by founder John Hardy in 1975. All millwork is custom designed and unique to the store. Natural and locally sourced materials reflect the brand’s commitment to community and artisanship while large jewelry display tables, made from locally sourced black walnut, recall the communal artisan’s table in the Ubud Workshop. Elements such as mirrors etched with the John Hardy chain motif and hammered brass accents, echo the objects of beauty on display.

The open yet immersive design sets the stage for a unique shoulder-to-shoulder selling experience, reminiscent of the warm hospitality in the Workshop. A client services team, robed in custom-designed natural fiber pieces by Balinese artisan brand Biasa, channel the elegance, effortlessness, and exploration of travel. Their style honors the timelessness of the John Hardy brand, serving as an inspiration—and an invitation—to be part of its tradition.

THE LOCATION: SOHO, NEW YORK

The John Hardy Flagship is situated in the heart of Soho’s luxury corridor at 118 Prince Street in a three-story landmark building from the early 1900s. The store will open Mondays through Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., and Sundays from 12:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. (212-343-9000)

Artists And Entrepreneurs Come Together To Create One-Of-A-Kind Converse ‘Chucks’ And Raise Awareness For Ocean Conservation

Sir Richard Branson, Patrick Dempsey, Domingo Zapata, Emilio Perez, Dee & Ricky, Alison Mosshart, Andre Saraiva, Jose Pasillas, Uri Dotan, Leo Fitzpatrick, Sam Snyder, to participate in creation of shoes auctioned off at The Ocean Gala

www.theoceangala.com #TheOceanGala #OceanChucks

Select artists, celebrities, and entrepreneurs are helping raise awareness for ocean conservation through a Design Collaboration with Converse, in which each of them will custom design a pair of Converse Classic Chuck Taylors. Participants include entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, actors Patrick Dempsey and Leo Fitzpatrick, The Kills singer-songwriter Alison Mosshart, Incubus drummer Jose Pasillas, designers Dee & Ricky and Sam Snyder, as well as world-renowned artists: Domingo Zapata, Emilio Perez, Uri Dotan, and Andre Saraiva. These one of a kind shoes will be auctioned off to raise funds for ocean conservation during the silent auction for this year’s Second Annual Ocean Gala in San Francisco on December 3, 2016, produced by MaiTai Global and OceanElders.

Custom designed #OceanChucks raise awareness for #oceanconservation via #TheOceanGala ‘s auction. (PRNewsFoto/The Ocean Gala)

The Ocean Gala brings together global leaders in the business and kiteboarding communities for a fundraiser to support ocean causes. The evening will include a live and silent auction, the announcement of the VR Challenge winner, and a performance by the San Francisco Ballet. This year’s gala hails attendees hail from over seven countries and include Sir Richard Branson, Dr. Sylvia Earle, Dr. Bertrand Piccard, Rob Stewart, and Captain Don Walsh. Sponsors include Virgin Unite, Other World Computing, Piaget, Macsales.com, Bitfury, Fairwarning, Setili & Associates, Events.com, Nowboat, Breathometer, Unofficial Cardboard, Ultra Capital, Tutor Group, and Know Audio.

This collaboration, giving a unique crop of artists an opportunity to express their dedication to the cause, is organized by Colette Young, Director of the Live and Silent Auction for the gala, who notes, “All these influential people coming together to create their own signature Chucks just underscores how vital it is for us to bring together people from all types of communities to stand up for ocean conservation efforts. Richard mentioned last week on his blog that we need to, “…help move the world’s leading economies from climate talk to climate action and to conserve the ocean from irreparable damage – perhaps two of the most daunting challenges the world has ever faced.“

Los Angeles Artist and Musician Jose Pasillas designed one of the pair of Chucks and states, “I’m thrilled to be a part of The Ocean Gala Converse Collaboration because I’m an avid supporter of environmental conservation efforts. My concept is one of nature—water and life—which we must fight to protect.”

Alison Mosshart, musician from duo The Kills, enjoyed the process: “I harked back to that time as a child when everything is to be decorated, made unique, an expression of self. I had a day off on tour in Lisbon and sat on my hotel porch with the few art supplies I had, and started to draw. These shoes are covered in crowds, and conversations, amongst strangers. They are a coming together of people from all walks.“

The signature Chucks will be available to bid on through the Ocean Gala‘s auction website, 501 Auctions, up until the Gala on December 3rd, 2016.The auction went live online at www.501auctions.com/theoceangala on November 17th, 2016, and other auction items include donations from Sir Richard Branson, Oliver Stone, Josh Groban, and The Fray. (A special thanks to Gabriel Schillinger and Jessica Stam for developing the Converse Collaboration opportunity.)

MaiTai Global, founded by Susi Mai and Bill Tai, is a group of extraordinary entrepreneurs, innovators and athletes whose collective passion of kiteboarding brings them together. www.maitaiglobal.com #MaiTaiGlobal

OceanElders, founded by Gigi Brisson, is an independent group of global leaders who have joined together to serve as a catalyst in the conservation and protection of the ocean. Notable members include Dr. Sylvia Earle, Sir Richard Branson, Captain Don Walsh, Jean-Michel Cousteau, Jim Cameron, Ted Turner, Jackson Browne, Dr. Bertrand Piccard, E.O. Wilson, Wade Davis, and Gerry Lopez. www.oceanelders.org #OceanElders

Interiors and Design: Herman Miller Broadens Consumer Reach with New York City Retail Store

Opening Of Physical Retail In North America Part Of The Company’s Multi-Channel Consumer Strategy

Global design manufacturer Herman Miller, Inc. announced the opening of a Herman Miller-branded retail store anchoring the company’s New York City flagship. Open to the public as of Tuesday, November 22, 2016, the store occupies 6,000 SF on the ground and second floors of Herman Miller’s multi-level presence at 251 Park Avenue South (251 Park Avenue South at 20th Street, www.hermanmiller.com/new-york-city-flagship 212.318.3977, Open Monday-Saturday 11am-7pm, Sunday 12pm-6pm.) in Manhattan. The store is part of Herman Miller‘s transformation into a premium lifestyle company, and will offer consumers the opportunity to connect with Herman Miller through a new channel. Herman Miller has had a physical store in Tokyo since December 2010, and launched online stores to serve customers in India and the United Kingdom earlier in 2016.

“We’ve made great progress with a consumer strategy that allows us to engage with the communities we serve across multiple channels and touch points,” said Chief Executive Officer Brian Walker. “In addition to growing the Design Within Reach studio footprint and our global e-commerce platform, having our own physical retail presence in a major U.S. market will further cement Herman Miller’s position as a premium lifestyle brand with unrivaled multi-channel capabilities. Our goal is to create fans, not customers, and this store will connect us with new fans in a tangible way.“

Located in the retail hub where Union Square, Gramercy, and Flatiron meet, the new store is designed to appeal to the high concentration of design-driven consumers that made this market a top choice when Herman Miller began exploring locations for expanding its retail presence. The tri-state area consistently ranks highest for Herman Miller’s consumer sales, proving George Nelson’s assertion in 1948 that “there is a market for good design.” Nelson, who served as Herman Miller’s design director from 1945 until 1972, strongly believed that if the company made good things, people would buy them.

Herman Miller Opens New York City Flagship Store – Photo credit Nicholas Calcott. (PRNewsFoto/Herman Miller, Inc.)

The distinctive in-store experience was inspired by another Herman Miller partner, Charles Eames, who said the role of the designer is that of a “very good, thoughtful host.” The new store’s floorplan is laid out as a modern home, with rooms that demonstrate problem-solving designs for living, working, dining, socializing, and sleeping. The display and inventory blend current and vintage Herman Miller furniture, lighting, and accessories with a curated set of complementary products from likeminded vendors and skilled artisans from around the world. These include rugs from Danskina and Breuckelen Berber, kitchen and tabletop items from Deborah Ehrlich, pillows and bags from Maharam, accessories by Doug Johnston, Knotwork, Carl Aubock, and Helen Levi, and Nelson Bubble Lamps along with lighting from Wastberg, Noguchi, and Michael Anastassiades. (Through seasonal programming and merchandising, the two-story retail space will demonstrate the many interpretations of modern living supported by Herman Miller.)

Consumers throughout the United States can also shop with Herman Miller online at www.store.hermanmiller.com, which has been operating since October 2010.

In addition to the new store, 251 Park Avenue South houses commercial showrooms for Herman Miller and Geiger, and corporate office space for Maharam, Design Within Reach, and Geiger, all Herman Miller owned companies. In total, Herman Miller occupies eight floors, equaling almost half of the 120K SF building.

Herman Miller is a globally recognized provider of furnishings and related technologies and services. Headquartered in West Michigan, the global company has relied on innovative design for over 100 years to solve problems for people wherever they work, live, learn, and heal. Herman Miller’s designs are part of museum collections worldwide, and the company is a past recipient of the Smithsonian Institution‘s Cooper Hewitt National Design Award. Known and respected for its leadership in corporate social responsibility, Herman Miller has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for the past 12 years, and has earned the Human Rights Campaign Foundation‘s top rating in its Corporate Equality Index for the past nine years. In fiscal 2016, the company generated $2.26 billion in revenue and employed nearly 8,000 people worldwide.

http://www.hermanmiller.com

http://store.hermanmiller.com

Three, Two, One…Holiday! Amazon.com Launches Black Friday Deals Store and Curated Holiday Gift Guides

This Holiday Season, Customers Can Enjoy More Deals Than Ever Before On Everything From Hd Tvs To Stylish Kitchen Staples To Some Of The Most Popular Toys Of The Year

To Help Customers Find The Perfect Gift For Everyone On Their Shopping List, Amazon Offers Curated Holiday Gift Guides For Electronics, Home, Handmade, And Other Categories

Alexa, What Are Your Deals? New This Year, Prime Members Can Use Alexa Voice Shopping To Shop For Almost Anything, Including Exclusive Deals For Customers With An Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Amazon Tap, Amazon Fire Tv, Or Fire Tablet

Amazon.com has announced the launch of its Black Friday Deals Store and more than a dozen curated holiday gift guides, officially marking the start of the holiday countdown. Customers can enjoy tens of thousands of deals this holiday season on Amazon.com, with new deals as often as every five minutes on everything from HD TVs to stylish kitchen staples to some of the most popular toys of the year. In addition, Amazon offers curated holiday gift guides to help take the guesswork out of shopping for loved ones and make it easier for customers to find the perfect gift for everyone on their list.

“Customers love discovering the best deals on the most sought-after products, and our Black Friday Deals Store and curated Holiday Gift Guides offer them a place to do just that – plus enjoy the most convenient shopping experience with tons of super-fast shipping options,” said Doug Herrington, Senior Vice President of North American Retail at Amazon. “This holiday season, we’re offering more deals than ever before and – for the first time ever – giving Prime members an opportunity to use Alexa voice shopping for purchasing their holiday gifts hands-free. They can make purchases simply by asking Alexa-enabled devices, like the new Echo Dot, while relaxing at home with family and friends.”

Black Friday Deals Store

Available at www.amazon.com/blackfriday, the Black Friday Deals Store is the leading deals destination for customers with tens of thousands of deals, and new deals as often as every five minutes, now through December 22. Customers can enjoy more deals than ever before this holiday season, including low prices on top gifts such as electronics, toys, clothing, jewelry, kitchen items, and more. In fact, Amazon is offering up to 20 compelling Deals of the Day in a single day. Some examples of the great deals Amazon customers can take advantage of this holiday season include: $20 off the Kindle Paperwhite, savings on an LG 55” 1080p Curved Smart OLED TV, and up to 40% off select Magformers toys.

Electronics Gift Guide

Available at www.amazon.com/electronicsgiftguide, the 2016 Amazon Electronics Gift Guide features more than 500 of this year’s hottest technology products all in one convenient location. Enthusiasts can explore new releases such as 360-degree cameras and buzz-worthy gifts like virtual reality headsets and 3D printers. The Electronics Gift Guide also features innovations from up-and-coming startups in the Amazon Launchpad program. Customers can browse more than 10 categories, including smart home, home entertainment, music, wearables, photography, gaming, gadgets and gizmos, and more. The Electronics Gift Guide also includes expert reviews and product demonstration videos to help customers find the perfect gift. And shoppers looking for budget-friendly gift ideas can find top gifts under $100.

Home Gift Guide

Available at www.amazon.com/homegiftguide, the 2016 Amazon Home Gift Guide is a curated list of more than a thousand of this season’s must-have products for the home. Filled with gift ideas for indoors and outdoors, customers can easily discover presents for everyone on their list, including cooks, bakers, home decorators, arts and crafters, smart home tech lovers, pets, backyard enthusiasts, kids and more, curated by experts in the industry such as Smitten Kitchen and Design*Sponge. Holiday decorators and party planners will find everything they need to set a festive scene at home. Customers can also shop the latest trends in the Home Gift Guide, including copper appliances, rose gold cutlery, and handmade ceramics, as well as browse products that are new this holiday season, including the KitchenAid Mini, NEST Fragrances Classic Candle (Hearth), Petcube Play Wi-Fi Pet Camera, and Bissell 1650A Pet Hair Eraser Vacuum.

Handmade at Amazon Holiday Gift Guide

Available at www.amazon.com/handmade, the Handmade at Amazon Holiday Gift Guide offers customers curated lists of genuinely handcrafted items sold directly by artisans. Featuring products for her, for him, and for kids, as well as handcrafted stocking stuffers for friends and family, the Gift Guide makes finding the perfect holiday present easier than ever. Heading into this holiday season, Amazon customers visiting the Handmade at Amazon store will see hundreds of thousands more handcrafted items, thousands of which are eligible for Free Two-Day Shipping with Amazon Prime. For shoppers looking for a personal touch, over half of the items listed on Handmade have options for customer personalization. With handcrafted items in categories from toys and games, to home décor, handbags and accessories and kitchen and dining, Handmade at Amazon is a one-stop-shop for artisan-crafted gifts this holiday season.

“Isamu Noguchi, Archaic/Modern” at the Smithsonian American Art Museum Presents a Fresh Perspective on the Innovative Vision of This Modern Master

Isamu Noguchi, 1968. Russell Lynes, photographer. Russell Lynes papers, 1935-1986. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution

Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988) was among the most innovative American sculptors of the 20th century. His design for “Sculpture to Be Seen from Mars” (1947) anticipates the space age by several decades. Even as he created works that were far ahead of his time, Noguchi frequently found inspiration in ancient art and architecture-from Egyptian pyramids and Buddhist temples to Zen gardens and American Indian burial mounds. “Isamu Noguchi, Archaic/Modern” explores how the ancient world shaped this artist’s vision for the future. The Smithsonian American Art Museum is the sole venue for this exhibition, which is expanded from an earlier installation at The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum, New York.

Isamu Noguchi, Age, 1981, basalt. The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum, New York. Photo by Kevin Noble. © The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum, New York.

Isamu Noguchi, Atomic Haystack, 1982-83, hot-dipped galvanized steel. The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum, New York. Photo by Kevin Noble. © The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum, New York.

“Isamu Noguchi, Archaic/Modern” is on view in the Smithsonian American Art Museum‘s main building from November 11, 2016 through March 19, 2017. Dakin Hart, senior curator at The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum, New York, and Karen Lemmey, curator of sculpture at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, organized the exhibition.

Isamu Noguchi, Lunar Table, 1961-65, granite. The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum, New York. Photo by Kevin Noble. © The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum, New York.

Isamu Noguchi, Magic Mountain, 1984, Mikage granite and wood. The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum, New York. Photo by Kevin Noble. © The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum, New York.

“Isamu Noguchi-born in Los Angeles, raised and educated in Japan, Indiana, New York and Paris-was among the first American artists to think like a citizen of the world,” said Betsy Broun, The Margaret and Terry Stent Director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. “The exhibition is the latest in a series of major shows to examine the contributions of such international artists as Nam June Paik, Christo, Yasuo Kuniyoshi and Tamayo, and their broad perspectives.”

Isamu Noguchi, Pregnant Bird, 1958, Greek marble. The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum, New York. Photo by Kevin Noble. © The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum, New York.

The Ultimate Opulence of Fragrance: Christian Louboutin Launches Three Perfume Oils

“I wanted to evoke the mystery and opulence of perfume, to renew the way precious oils were treasured in the past and to celebrate a woman and her desires.” – Christian Louboutin

Christian Louboutin Perfume Oil: Trouble in Heaven

Launching this month, Christian Louboutin’s new collection of perfume oils (the latest additions to the Christian Louboutin Beauté beauty collection) are a new and highly luxurious way to experience his three signature women’s fragrances: Bikini Questa Sera, Tornade Blonde and Trouble in Heaven. These perfume oils caress the skin; they are the most indulgent and sensuous way for a woman to apply fragrance and to delight in her femininity. Each of these Christian Louboutin fragrances has its own unique personality, but what unites them is Louboutin’s idea behind their construction. Intimate and compelling, Bikini Questa Sera takes the heat into the night. A trail of golden light, Tornade Blonde is the scent of desire. Intoxicating and mysterious, Trouble in Heaven is the scent of provocation.

Formed in 2012, Christian Louboutin Beauté (CLB) is a global joint venture between French luxury accessories brand Christian Louboutin S.A. and Batallure Beauty, and is headquartered in New York City.

Christian Louboutin Perfume Oil: Bikini Questa Sera (Bottle Shot)

Christian Louboutin Perfume Oil: Tornade Blonde (Bottle Shot)

Christian Louboutin Perfume Oil: Trouble in Heaven (Bottle Shot)

The designer is instrumental in the development of every product, infusing his distinctive sense of creative wit, style, passion, and innovation into each creation. In August 2014, Nail color launched as the most natural entry category for CLB, the original inspiration for the iconic red soles having come from a stroke of red nail color in 1992.

Christian Louboutin Perfume Oil:  Bikini Questa Sera

One year later, the brand launched a collection of 38 jewelery-inspired Lip Colors offering three different finishes; Silky Satin, Matte Velvet, and Sheer Voile alongside five lip definers to suit all lip tones and in June 2016, Loubilaque, a high-shine and high-pigment lip lacquer was introduced. September 2016 saw the launch of an entirely new facet of the Christian Louboutin vision of beauty with parfum created for women in three unique scents: Bikini Questa Sera, Tornade Blonde and Trouble in Heaven.

Christian Louboutin Perfume Oil: Tornade Blonde

The alchemy of precious oil touching the skin produces a scent that is utterly personal to the woman wearing it. The perfume oil is an exceptional elixir containing the highest concentration of fragrance oil and no added water or alcohol, which means it provides a more intimate experience than a conventional form of fragrance. The olfactive construction as the parfum, which is what Christian calls the “ping.” The first burst of scent, like the striking of a piano key, is followed by a beautiful resonance of scent as the note echoes its sound. “There is one present moment,” says Louboutin, “and then there is the trace, le sillage, I think of it as its memory.”

Ada Diamonds Launches As World’s First High-End Jeweler Of Exclusively Laboratory-Grown Diamonds

Silicon Valley-Based Company Creates Custom Diamond Jewelry and Designs Using Superior Cultured Diamonds

Ada Diamonds, in September of this year, was launched as the world’s first custom fine jeweler using exclusively conflict-free, laboratory-grown diamonds. All of Ada’s diamond gemstones are cultured in high-end laboratories and are chemically and optically identical to Earth-extracted diamonds. With the strong belief that powerful technology and fresh ideas can revitalize the diamond industry, Ada Diamonds is forming a brighter future with its one-of-a-kind, sustainable jewelry pieces.

“Ada Diamonds is delighted to offer the most meaningful diamond jewelry in the world by combining cutting-edge technology, innovative design and superlative craftsmanship,” said Ada Diamonds‘s CEO Jason Payne.

Understanding The Difference In Diamonds: Lab-grown diamonds represent a true victory for the environment, human rights and diamond supply chain transparency. Mining diamonds is an energy intensive and ecologically invasive procedure, affecting fragile ecosystems across the globe. Customers can be assured that Ada’s lab-grown diamonds are vegan and sustainable, grown in controlled environments without contributing to conflict. Dedicated to only selling cultured diamonds, Ada provides customers peace of mind that their jewelry comes from known origin.

Ada Diamonds is named after Lady Ada Lovelace, a 19th century mathematician, mother, musician, socialite, and computer scientist who was affectionately known as the Enchantress of Numbers. “Ada Lovelace envisioned a future of beautiful art and music emerging from technology and aptly coined the phrase ‘poetic science,'” says Payne. “Ada Diamonds supports initiatives in Lovelace’s honor to advance computing and women in STEM such as the Lovelace Medal and Ada Lovelace Day.”

Ada Diamonds was co-founded by Silicon Valley husband-wife team Jason Payne and Lindsay Reinsmith who were early adopters of cultured diamonds in their engagement ring in 2011. At the time, the process was confusing and access to the stones was limited. As the technology and diamonds improved, Payne and Reinsmith decided to affect a change in the industry.

“We deliver custom fine jewelry that brightens the world, not just the customer’s world,” said Ada’s CEO Jason Payne. “Anything our customers can imagine, we can create.”

Ada Diamonds launched with over 100 fashion and bridal collection pieces ranging from simple studs and pendants to intricate high jewelry. All of Ada’s jewelry collection pieces are fully bespoke and made-to-order through its unique high-touch concierge program conducted nearly entirely online.

Additionally, Ada Diamonds offers fully bespoke diamonds through their signature Lavoisier Process. Customers can commission the growth of diamonds from any carbon-containing mementos such as flowers, photos, papers and wood to brilliantly celebrate a marriage, graduation, birth, or milestone. The donor material is then graphitized, purified and grown into Lavoisier Diamonds, the ultimate choice in truly custom, meaningful diamond jewelry.

A true marriage of high technology, remarkable craftsmanship, and sustainable luxury, Ada’s cultured diamonds are grown to perfection in high pressure, high temperature diamond presses; the result of over 65 years of research and development in extreme-pressure technology. Using only the most superb materials, Ada Diamonds offers exceptional quality diamonds in a multitude of colors, shapes and sizes.

In addition to creating fine jewelry, Ada Diamonds partners with other luxury brands for unique installations of its spectacular diamonds. Ada has worked with iconic automotive brands such as Koenigsegg Automotive, to place lab-grown diamonds in the interiors of supercars. Ada’s latest diamond bespoking effort, an Agera RS named ‘Naraya’, was awarded Most Sensational Supercar at the 2016 Salon Privé Concours d’Elégance.

Ada is also an affinity partner of superlative brands including Rolls-Royce Motor Cars creating commissioned jewelry for owners, supporting events, and styling product specialists at events, auto shows and photo shoots. Most recently, Ada Diamonds held a pop-up boutique in the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Pebble Beach Villa during the 2016 Monterey Car Week.

Prior to founding Ada Diamonds, Payne founded and led the Philanthropy Engineering Team at Palantir Technologies. “I am passionate about corporate philanthropy and have made social responsibility a core part of Ada’s mission,” says Payne. Ada Diamonds has pledged to give 6% of all profits to six causes as part of their Sixth Element Program.

2016 Holiday Gift Guide: Find the Joy of Giving This Holiday Season With Magnificent Gifts From Macy’s

From Fashion And Tech To Home Goods And Stocking Stuffers, Macy’s Wide Assortment Makes Holiday Shopping A Breeze.

Plus Extra Help Is Always Available From The Gift Specialists At My Stylist@Macy’s

The holiday season is a celebration of happiness that brings loved ones together, and Macy’s has the perfect gifts to make family, friends, and all those near-and-dear feel special. Whether it’s the runway show-obsessed fashionista, the diehard athlete, the tech fanatic, or the master chef, Macy’s has an abundance of items at every price point sure to warm the hearts of those who mean the most.

“No [other] time of [the] year inspires the sentiments of love, caring and generosity quite like the holiday season,” said Kathy Hilt, Senior Vice President of My Stylist@Macy’s. “This year, we’ve truly topped ourselves with the most unique assortment of gifts for every person on your list. Plus, if you need a little help, Macy’s dedicated gift specialists at My Stylist@Macy’s make picking the perfect present easier than ever.”

The Gift of Style

Find the perfect gift for everyone on your list this holiday season at Macy’s stores and on macys.com; I.N.C. International Concepts Slippers, $39.50. (Photo: Business Wire)

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With a roster of top brands and celebrated designers, Macy’s is the ultimate destination for items to elevate that special someone’s wardrobe this holiday season. For her, handbags, shoes, jewelry and always-on-trend athleisure items will inspire pure joy. Jewel-embellished slip-ons from MICHAEL Michael Kors are chic, sporty and rendered in luxe velvet, applying the must-have fabric of the season in a unique and unexpected way. A signature Mickey Mouse wristlet in a bright hue from Coach is whimsical, practical and stylish, while a funnel neck hoodie and tights from Nike, or Calvin Klein Performance logo joggers and sweaters can take her from yoga to brunch with flair. Give her the gift of both comfort and glamour with a pair of fabulous faux fur-trimmed glitter moccasins from I.N.C. International Concepts.

Find the perfect gift for everyone on your list this holiday season at Macy’s stores and on macys.com; Kenneth Cole Reaction Wallets, $48 each. (Photo: Business Wire)

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For him, a velvet sport coat from Alfani immediately adds panache to any look. Pair the coat with bar III slim trousers and a tie for a more formal approach, or layer with jeans and loafers or boots for a look that is relaxed, yet polished and urbane. Polarized aviators from Ray-Ban are a classic, but undeniably sleek and stylish way to protect his eyes from the sun, and a zipper slim billfold wallet from Kenneth Cole Reaction is an excellent way to update a staple he uses every day.

Find the perfect gift for everyone on your list this holiday season at Macy’s stores and on macys.com: YSL mon paris parfum spray, $122

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Beauty and grooming are the finishing touches, and Macy’s has a wide array of fabulous products that are sure to delight. The Impulse Beauty artistry palette and 9-piece brush set allows her to experiment with countless looks in an awe-inspiring number of colors and shades. For him, Kiehl’s 4-piece Hydration Hits set gives the oft-coveted gift of smooth and healthy skin.

Victoria’s Secret Angel Jasmine Tookes Wears The $3 Million 2016 Bright Night Fantasy Bra

This holiday season, Victoria’s Secret introduces the highly anticipated 2016 Bright Night Fantasy Bra. Victoria’s Secret Angel Jasmine Tookes will wear the Fantasy Bra for the first time on runway in the “Bright Night Angel” section at the 2016 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, which airs December 5th at 10/9 Central on the CBS Television Network.

The Bright Night Fantasy Bra was inspired by the Beautiful by Victoria’s Secret bra (available in-stores and online on www.victoriassecret.com), designed exclusively for Victoria’s Secret by celebrated jewelry designer Eddie Borgo and hand-crafted with jewels by AWMouzannar.

Victoria’s Secret Angel Jasmine Tookes Wears The $3 Million 2016 Bright Night Fantasy Bra (PRNewsFoto/Victoria’s Secret)

Valued at $3 million, the 2016 Bright Night Fantasy Bra is adorned with over 9,000 precious gems, handset with diamonds and emeralds in 18-karat gold on a custom Beautiful by Victoria’s Secret bra. The bra took over 700 hours to create and weighs more than 450 carats.

Eddie Borgo is an award-winning accessories designer based in New York City. By capturing different shapes, objects and symbols in adornment, art and architecture, Borgo strives to create iconic jewelry and handbags that challenge our ideas of luxury. A spirit of timelessness and an appreciation of modern sculpture are captured in his work, and, as each collection evolves, so does his unique ability to redefine our notions of modernity, which served him well when designing the 2016 Bright Night Fantasy Bra.

AWMouzannar Jewelers has generations of expertise in fine jewelry and is known for creations inspired by Middle Eastern tradition and antiquity with a contemporary feel.

Learn more about VS Angel Jasmine Tookes here: https://www.victoriassecret.com/vsallaccess/angels/jasmine-tookes 

Emporio Armani Enters The World Of The Connected And Launches A Hybrid Smartwatch

Emporio Armani marks its entrance into the field of connected wearables with the Emporio Armani Connected collection of hybrid smartwatches.

The Emporio Armani Connected Hybrid Smartwatch Collection (PRNewsFoto/Emporio Armani)

The Emporio Armani Connected line of hybrid smartwatches brings together the unmistakable design of Emporio Armani timepieces and the advantages of wearable technology. With the ability to sync to your smartphone via Bluetooth, these hybrid smartwatches offer the following features:

• Time keeping perfection: ensure maximum precision, automatically changing time zones and date while you’re traveling
• Second time zone: accurately convert the hour with ease
• Discreet notifications: can be set to subtly notify you of calls, messages, or other important notifications
• Activity tracking: automatically track and monitor your daily activities
• No charging: the quartz batteries allow for prolonged use without the need to recharge
• Control your music: allow for easy access to your phone’s music playlist to start, stop, skip, or go back
• Sleep tracking: to automatically monitor sleep patterns
• Alarm: for scheduled alerts from your timepiece
• Camera: wirelessly take photos on your smartphone
• Find your lost device: to quickly locate your misplaced smartphone

The Emporio Armani Connected line of hybrid smartwatches will be available on www.emporioarmaniconnected.com, in select boutiques and wholesale accounts worldwide, in a choice of rose gold-tone, black, gunmetal, and stainless steel, with a three-piece link or leather strap. The texturized face, with rose gold-tone or silver hands, carries the unmistakable Emporio Armani character.

The launch of this line of hybrid smartwatches is the first step of a wider project that will culminate in 2017 with the official presentation of the first Emporio Armani display smartwatch.

Denver Arts Week Celebrates 10th Anniversary

For 10 straight years, the eight-day citywide festival has celebrated Denver’s creative community with hundreds of events bringing thousands of people each year

Denver Arts Week, an annual celebration of The Mile High City‘s vibrant arts scene, will mark its 10th anniversary this year from November 4-12. Presented by VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau, the event will feature annual favorites like Know Your Arts First Friday and FREE Night at the Museums, as well as new experiences throughout the more than 300 events at galleries, museums and arts districts throughout the city.

“Denver is home to a phenomenal year-round arts scene – with world-renowned museums, cutting edge street art, exceptional performing arts and more,” says Richard Scharf, president and CEO of VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau. “For 10 years, Denver Arts Week has encouraged people to celebrate the city’s cultural scene, and we are thrilled that the event has continued to evolve and grow as much as the arts scene has. The tenth anniversary is the perfect opportunity to attend some classic events or experience new ones and really immerse yourself in the city’s creative community.“

With more than 300 cultural events – some of which are free or heavily discounted – throughout the city over nine days, there are plenty of reasons to make a night – or a few nights – of it; and there are plenty of great hotel deals to facilitate a stay in Denver. For a complete calendar and a full listing of all the deals and discounts on art, experiences and hotels, visit the Denver Arts Week website.

10 Ways to Make the Most of Denver Arts Week

It can be difficult to choose from the myriad of events taking place around town; here’s how to get the most out of Denver Arts Week 2016:

1. Explore vibrant art districts and diverse neighborhoods on First Friday Art Walks, Nov. 4

Art District on Santa Fe

The annual event kicks off with citywide First Friday Art Walks in Denver’s art districts, where more than 100 galleries and display spaces stay open late and feature art shows, demonstrations and more. Go on a VIP Art Tour in the River North Art District (RiNo), take advantage of Tennyson Street Cultural District‘s $52.80 art sale, submit your own art in the Art District on Santa Fe‘s “To Denver With Love” art contest, and venture to the Golden Triangle neighborhood to see some of the city’s finest galleries.

2. Experience FREE Night at the Museums on Nov. 5

Venues around town are open late, from 5 to 10 p.m., during FREE Night at the Museums. The museums offer special programming, family-friendly activities and live entertainment, and there are complimentary shuttles to make “museum hopping” easy and convenient. The Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver Art Museum, History Colorado Center, The Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab (CELL), Forney Museum of Transportation and Denver Firefighters Museum are just some of this year’s many not-to-miss participants.

3. Check out blockbuster exhibitions, from mummies to Japanese fashion

This fall, several of Denver’s major museums are hosting international traveling exhibitions and original curations. See Washed Ashore, Art to Save the Sea at Denver Zoo; Shock Wave: Japanese Fashion Design, 1980s-90s at the Denver Art Museum; and Extreme Mammals and Mummies: New Secrets from the Tombs, both of which are at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

Washed Ashore, Art to Save the Sea, features 15 giant sculptures depicting sea life, made almost entirely of debris collected from beaches.

This unusual traveling exhibit, Washed Ashore, Art to Save the Sea, features 15 giant sculptures depicting sea life, made almost entirely of debris collected from beaches. Hosted by Denver Zoo, it’s the first time the exhibit has appeared at an inland, noncoastal location. The exhibit will be open from Sept. 24, 2016, to Jan. 16, 2017. The Washed Ashore Project aims to educate the public and raise awareness about pollution through the arts. As a community-based organization, lead artist Angela Haseltine Pozzi draws on people of all ages to help her remove thousands of pounds of debris from beaches then turn it into large works of art.

The organization says 90 percent of the debris they collect come from petroleum-based products such as plastics, nylon ropes and fishing nets. Almost all of the trash then gets turned into sculptures such as a walk-through replica of ocean currents and a coral reef made of Styrofoam.