Exhibitions and Events

Books are like blogs’ older, more intelligent and better dressed sister. That bitch won’t shut up about how much better at tennis she is than me, but I love her dearly anyway. For everyone who admires the tactility of books, swing by AIGA in New York City December 8 - February 28, 2012. 50 Books/50 Covers of 2010 is an exhibit showcasing the best designed books and book covers of the year. For those of you outside of New York, or who prefer electronic means of information gathering, AIGA has graciously put the exhibit online in the AIGA Design Archives. Among my favourites is Along a Long Road, a charmer of a children’s book designed by Viva & Co. from Toronto, Ontario.

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This is an installation I’m sorry I’ll miss. Sound architect Christopher Janney has installed Harmonic Convergence, an interactive sound and light installation, constructed within a pedestrian walkway at the Miami International Airport. Coinciding with Art Basel Miami Beach and Design Miami 2011, the work combines light, color and sound with speakers playing singing tropical birds, thunderstorms and other sounds familiar to south Florida. Video sensors track foot traffic, and adjust the volume and density of sound relative to how many people are in the space.

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Continuing with this week’s (coincidental) theme of astronomy, these mirrors that resemble colourful planets caught my eye earlier this year at Maison&Objet in Paris. They are called Francis and are by French designer Constance Guisset for Parisian design brand Petite Friture. Soft washes of colour have been applied directly onto the edges of mirror’s surface to give the illusion of convexity. They are available as both wall mounted and smaller pocket versions.

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For those who are as poorly educated in astronomy as I am, a Syzygy refers to a straight line configuration of three celestial bodies. When aligned, the sun, moon and planets, produce eclipses, transits and occultations, which is what inspired Dutch designers Oskar Peet and Sophie Mensen to create this amazing series of lighting designs. The two foremost discs of each design can be physically turned by hand to achieve the desired level of light. Just like the sun, the light source itself is constantly switched on. It’s only when both discs are turned to the correct possession, resulting in perfect black, that the light can be extinguished. Read the rest of this entry »