Trend: Creativity Wrapped & Folded

Lately I’ve been following Daniel Arsham on Instagram. I enjoy watching his creative vision translated into sculpture. I also love his minimalist palette. For those unfamiliar with his work, Arsham is a 31 year old contemporary American artist from Florida living in New York. (The similarities between our lives begin and end there).

If you’ve been following H&M’s collaboration with Maison Martin Margiela (photos via Guest of a Guest), you’ve probably noticed that they brought in Arsham for the launch party. Merging art and commerce, the two creative forces partnered up, proving big budgets, celebrities, fashion and creative exclusivity are still sexy and highly coveted. This concept’s obviously not a new one and when done well, both sides win. Expect to see lots of it next week at Art Basel.

On the peripheral creative radar, There Will Be Cake, an artistic ballet by Robin Cantrell, which was recently funded on Kickstarter had it’s first performance in Williamsburg two weeks ago. From my second-hand account, via my friend Michael, the wedding cake-themed performance sounded beautiful. It seemed like an interpretive rendition of this wrapped, neutral trend that’s circulating our airwaves as of late.

http://vimeo.com/53770298

Watch the video if you have a moment, it’s captivating.

November 30, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Red on Red Retailing

Red is the comeback kid this Fall. I’m not sure if you recall seasons past, but it went on a bit of a hiatus, standing behind shades of magenta and plum. It’s interesting in a way, as I vividly remember the conversations we all had at the Color Association round table a while ago, as we discussed the strength and emergence in Chinese and Russian territories and the direct influence it would have on European and American palettes.

The Prada coat is photographed by Jacob Sutton for Bergdorf Goodman’s latest Fall catalog and the chairs were captured by my iphone at ABC Carpet this past weekend. The monochromatic foreground and background combo is rather striking, wouldn’t you say?

September 12, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Marimekko around Helsinki

This photo pretty much sums up my travels in Helsinki. Justin would explore (or wait) while I browsed with my iphone or Canon in hand, asking shop owners about their tchotchkes and the history behind their trinkets. Every once in a while I’d leave with a necklace, light bulb or keychain (or instagram a longing for something like this).

Like I mentioned in the Johanna Gullichsen feature, fabric is often sold on the premises and it’s no different at Marimekko, where the options are graphic and plentiful.

Here are a bunch of photos I took from inside the main store that houses clothing, artwork, books, toys, homewear and playful decor. Coming from America, where the uptown store feels like Marimekko-light, the hometown store is truly special.

From a retail and merchandising perspective, the flow and lighting compliment each other to tell a bright and whimsical story. Various patterns are assigned to different corners, capturing you in a textured atmosphere. I of course gravitated to the black and white sections first, then moved along to the polka dots and flowers.

Who remembers the delightful girls from Gone to Lunch? Doesn’t this wall speak to their dressing room jaunts?

Much like J.Crew and Kate Spade have filled their walls with art and literature, Marimekko’s wall and floor display tell a timeline of Finnish design history, including the company’s own.

As you can see, the brand’s patterns are woven throughout the city- they’re a part of everyday life, no matter where you turn. Here are tablecloths at an outdoor eating area.

I sometimes felt like a madwoman briskly following people with a camera (read: 1 in 5) were dressed in Marimekko patterns. It’s fascinating and exhilarating to see a brand so entirely embraced by the society that’s produced it.

A few more examples: a vintage bookstore incorporates the iconic black and white print as a backdrop for it’s books.

And upon my exit at the Helsinki Airport, the dishes and trays are covered in Marimekko patterns. There’s a true appreciation for design within the fabric of the culture- and aside from the obvious label, it was easy to see why this city was named the Design Capital of the year.

September 4, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Trend: 2nd Life Canvas Alterations

As a big appreciator of fine art, street art, kid’s scrawl and anything artistic or imaginative, it’s easy to understand why I’d be drawn to these mixed media works. Used more for playful retail installations than statement pieces, each classical painting aids in quirky modern messaging.

I snapped the exit sign while enroute to the restroom at the Zetter Townhouse last Fall amidst a meeting with the Think Work Play team. TWP is a London-based editorial collective that celebrates London’s artistic community. If you haven’t already, have a look at their site- it’s a rabbit hole of inspiration. The spectacle-punctured imagery below is housed at Selima, the Italian optics store on Wooster St in lower Manhattan.

If you’re not too uptight or worried about the imperfections that can come from a few creative missteps, I’d recommend visiting your local thrift store and getting crafty.

August 28, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Gone to Lunch, Friendship Style

We’ve all had those days- the ones that are never-ending, where all you need is a pick-me-up to tackle the afternoon to-do list. The other day, I noticed a few peculiar (read: awesome) photos in my instagram feed from my friend Kristine. Her and her co-worker, Katie from Bitly, decided to spice up their lunch break with a trip to Anthropologie, and behold, the tumblr, Gone to Lunch was started. There’s a fun little patterned theme going on here- have a look, Paragon Sports is next!

August 22, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Street Shots from Asia: Summer Spirals

It’s easy to write about circles, we could probably devote an entire blog to their popularity, symbolism and frequency. Advertisers, packagers and artisans are forever reinterpreting the shape. Here are a few snapshots I took in Asia. The bullseye and handbag is currently the global campaign for Louis Vuitton and the hombre ties are from Alfred Dunhill – both were retail windows at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. The muffin wrapper is just a piece of beautiful trash and the cigar leaves are from a market in Bagan, Myanmar.

June 12, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik