Design @ NYC
The design field doesn't have borders, at least not ones that keep out architects, doctors, artists and other charlatans. The industry is nebulous enough that established practitioners in other fields think nothing of marching in and planting a flag or perhaps more accurately, a chair that occasionally one can actually sit in. New York City, along with many, many other things, is a fantastic place to look at burnt chairs, wine openers, windows, clothes and innovative design objects. What follows are few of my favorite places to see the best and brightest.
moss was started in 1994 by Murray Moss who was joined by Franklyn Getchell in 1999. They've built the industry standard for design galleries. Inclusion in their shop and gallery is the calling card every aspiring designer covets. Their solid curatorial program, flawless display, and knowledgeable staff are second to none.
Cooper Hewitt, National Design Museum
Housed in Andrew Carnegie's former home on 5th Avenue, it's an often overlooked destination on NYC'S Museum Mile. There is short list of places that display, discuss, and examine how we live more intelligently, thoroughly, and with as much scholarship as the Cooper Hewitt. Their current exhibit "WHY DESIGN NOW" and their sponsorship of the National Design Week and the National Design Awards establish them as not only reliquaries of design's past but an advocate for its bright green future.
Across the street from Gagosian Gallery in Chelsea is eponymous design gallery Sebastian + Barquet. Understated, impeccable presentation, and unmatched quality are the hallmarks of this three year old gallery. They made a huge splash at the height of the market in 2007 with the purchase of Marc Newson's Lockheed Lounge for a just over $1 million.
Their showroom located two blocks away currently has an exhibit of original furniture pieces and drawings by Donald Judd. Without a doubt, it is the most tasteful, elegant display of any objects or art I can remember seeing. If you're lucky enough, you'll get a tour backstage, where they have the largest collection of museum quality design objects and furniture under one roof this side of Maastricht.
A little less polished than the rest, but certainly more gutsy, The Future Perfect projects out as the new kids on the block. Founder Dave Alhadeff has the moxy and freedom to take chances on designers, giving quality design a shot regardless of pedigree. Dismiss them, and run the risk of missing out on the next great designer. They are worth the trip out to Williamsburg, if only for being closer to Fette Sau.
Auction Houses
Philips de Pury, Sotheby's, and Christies all have made commitments to the growing and lucrative design market. They regularly host dedicated auctions with museum quality previews and catalogues. It's also where the savy buyer can find the best values, albeit at the top end of the market. As one industry insider said lately, "I'm broke, but I can't afford not to buy, at these prices." These events can be design porn extravaganzas. Don't be intimidated, march into their preview as if you are the future owner of that Mattia Bonetti Strata Cabinet that finishes out your bedroom just so.
Nobody does it better. They have the resources, the collection, the cache and in a keystroke of genius, they have the @ symbol too. This Sunday you can join curator Marianne Eggler for a walk and talk through current exhibition Action! Design over Time. Their recent exhibition on Bauhaus was a wonder and is still online.
For those paying attention, this is bonus number six location on my list. Ron Arad, Frosty Myers, Shira Kuramata and Dutch Artist Joris Laarman are all represented by Friedman Benda in Chelsea and in my book, that gets you in as a bonus location. Laarman's exhibition in early 2010 was a study in quiet wonder and flawless execution of concepts and the latest technology in fabrication.
MoMA, Architecture and Design Galleries, third floor
All this, and I've just scratched the surface; Areaware (not a place, but a state of mind), ICFF, Haresh Lalvani at Pratt transforming the way we conceive of and manufacture shape, Artware Editions, Gagosian's Shop all are worth your time and money, not to mention a future post here. Stay tuned.
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Overall aesthetic impression of pics is cheeky, geometric, anti-polychromatic, whimsily anti-humanistic in I'm really your pal sort of way.
And of course, production standards so high S&M lurks in the shadows. Interesting. Did I say that?
Good review, as I said a lot of design that sometimes is meant to sit on and you're right on, I don't have the heart for criticism...these are places I like. I'm from the school of, "If you have noting nice to say, don't".
Indeed, I have no patience for low production values, I've spent my career trying to achieve the goals of really demanding artists. Spotlighting the design objects at Walmart just doesn't hold my interest.