3_a dream within a dream within a dream.

The White Gallery

wide beaches, margaritas, and original Warhols might lead oneself to wonder, "Is all that we see or seem but a dream?" but unlike the musing of Edgar Allan Poe's 1849 poem, such indulgences do exist. Sullivan's Island, a short drive from Charleston's downtown, offers all of these things...and, of course, more. as if a day in the sand isnt enough of a treat, walk two blocks to middle street, between stations 22 and 22 1/2 and eat, drink, and be wowed by White Gallery Fine Art's collection.

the porch houses local, contemporary art

operating out of a converted coastal rambler, the gallery uses all possible space to showcase its treasures. the porch is enclosed, but its maintains its historic provenance with grey plank floors and haint blue ceilings. paintings hang along the clapboard exterior walls and are protected from the elements (heat) with subtle windows and plantation shutters that bring this outside space indoors. through the front door hang examples of contemporary art ranging from local start-ups to established masters (think Lichtenstein, Roubanov, Frakenthaler, and of course, Warhol). the White Gallery succeeds in bringing a taste of high-end modern creativity to this little beach-side community.

Poe's Tavern

and you cant go to the White Gallery (or Sullivan's Island, for that matter), without a visit to Poe's Tavern. established as a tribute to the Island's favorite enlistee, this burger bar combines literary reference with lowcounty design. get the mahi tacos and make sure to visit the loo, where the walls are covered with pages from Poe's greatest works. kinda kitschy but undeniably cool. 

the bathroom at Poe's

2_caffeine + courduroy

so a good coffee shop and clothing boutique are always exciting finds, right? but both in the same day, and down the street from each other? fantastic. AND, to boot, each space is designed in the same vein that the porch seeks out: a mixture of southern heritage and contemporary philosophy.

Bakehouse Cafe

first stop, Bakehouse Cafe. its well designed interior fuses original, wide plank floors with white lacquer casework and candy colored tiles. the walls are planked with railroaded, whitewashed beams...an unmistakable throw back to the clapboard siding so common across the region. overall ??? is cheerful, but relaxed. a great place to grab a latte, some of their homemade (addictive) granola, camp out in one of the comfy banquettes, and conquer some work. 

the goody case

Billy Reid has catapulted through the american fashion scene over the past two years. with stores in Charleston, a few in Texas, and a snazzy new locale on Bond Street in NYC, it might be hard to believe that Reid's flagship is a little shop in Florence, Alabama. involved in the entire design process-from gathering inspiration from his down-home roots to fabrication in factories around the Tennessee River Valley that he calls home, Reid has perfected the art of modernizing the southern aesthetic. lauded by Vogue, GQ, and winner of CFDA's title for best new menswear designer, Billy Reid is definitely worth a chat or two. 

Billy Reid's 2010 feature in GQ

and if his clothing line wasnt enough to discuss, the stores that house his fashion embody the same down-home / uptown spirit. fall in love with Billy Reid here.

Billy Reid Charleston

1_city gallery

a few weeks ago i spent a long weekend in Charleston (remember this post?). heading down for what was an incredibly beautiful wedding celebration (thanks again c + j ), i was excited to come across some chat worthy finds. this week ill be sharing the places/efforts/inspirations that speak to this city's progressive initiatives. 

collection of  works from the City Gallery

one such example is the City Gallery at Waterfront Park. unaware 
of the museum inside, the architecture of building itself caught my eye. conceptually, the structure conveys a dichotomy of old and new...its footprint is reminiscent of the city's iconic single house, while architectural details and materials used follow a more contemporary logic. 

 gallery entrance

the success of the building is debatable. but the gallery within and its ventured role in the city are on point. run by a municipal council and always free, the gallery promotes itself as "a venue for contemporary artwork that is new, vital and innovative, with a focus on broadening Charleston’s arts outlook." with culturally relevant yet progressive exhibits and community connecting activities such as complimentary yoga in the galleries, this museum explores new roles for art in society. 

view from adjacent waterfront park

starting september 9 (with a reception that evening), the City Gallery will host "Special Moments: Works from the Collection of Dr. Harold Rhodes." featuring a slew of contemporary artwork, the exhibit is part of the MOJA Arts Festival and will run through october 19. 

from anniston with love.

alabamian Pat Potter has already contributed so much...from her interview for "homegrown design" in our magazine's debut issue, to project updates here on the blog. and it doesnt stop there. recently, Pat sent words and images in reflection of her work, "lambent ways." simple, alluring, and curious- i couldnt resist sharing. enjoy.

Last night

I made drawings during the dance performance 

My overstuffed body, draped with layers of sheer fabric,

 installed in a red overstuffed french chair.

All a part of the installation of after images from "Lambent Ways"

Miniature drawings on white paper lined the gray walls.

I cut the top layer of my gown with small blue scissors

and layered frayed strips onto the gesture 

drawings 

White chalk on white paper 

Invisible until rubbed with ash.

Shadowed with strips of silver metallic organza.

It was very hot 

As the evening progressed, I continued to draw, rub, cut and melt

Until, like a candle, I was transformed.

Only the drawings were left.

After I had melted away.
                                                                                          - Pat Potter

song bird.

i once told a friend that in another life, id like to be in a band. exactly which band though, i couldnt say...until now. Ollabelle's newest album, "Neon Blue Bird" makes me want to sing. on stage. right up there with the fivesome, taking part in their rich, creative venture. 

Olabelle

with a name that pays tribute to one of Appalachia's best, this Brooklyn-based collective melds old-school twang, southern gospel, and modern-day grit. and they've got the pedigree and experience to back it up. member Amy Helm is the daughter of legendary Levon Helm  (drummer for The Band, amongst other musical projects), Glenn Patscha is an involved member of the New Orleans music scene, and that's just two of the five. 

Ola Belle Reed - the band's namesake

T-Bone Burnett puts it well: "Ollabelle...has great value to our culture, adding new life to a tradition that is an important part of who we are. But mostly, they sound great." 

listen for free to "Neon Blue Bird" here or just go ahead and buy it here. good luck picking a favorite track.  

dear mr. aristotle.

while perusing the work of Atlanta based designer, Suzanne Kasler, i couldnt help but fixate on the relationship between art and design in the spaces she creates. many of her interiors go beyond complimenting the artworks-they almost match. 

which makes me wonder, what comes first? is Kasler inspired by a certain painting or sketch, using the piece to guide a color scheme, furniture, and finish selections? or is the process reversed...with the art selected to suit a prescribed program?

this chicken/ egg dilemma calls to question the importance of one art form maintaining its provenance when fused with another art form. that is to say, if a photograph was taken to communicate a certain message,  should that message be integrated into the design concept? or should the art mesh with the philosophy and schematics of a given space?

while it's a question of causality, one thing is verifiable: Kasler blends fine arts into her designs harmoniously. conversation exists between what hangs on the walls, sits in the corner, and covers the floors. 

so whichever route was taken, be it art first and sofa later-or vice versa-kasler's dynamic interiors are worth talking about. 

all photos from here. 

good wood.

"providence" / steam bent white oak

during a recent trip to the Renwick Gallery in Washington DC, i was amazed and inspired by the works of Matthias Pliessnig.  born in New Orleans, this Philadelphia based artist/craftsman designs and builds innovative furniture created from steam-bent wood.

"amada" / steam bent white oak

originally intending to build a skiff, Pliessnig was instead inspired to take techniques and methodologies  of boat construction and apply them to furniture. according to the exhibit, "Pliessnig's epiphany was the realization that a boat's skeleton--the 'stations' running from port to starboard, and 'stringers' running from bow to stern--could be adapted for seating by flipping the form upside down and contouring it to the body."

preliminary sketches for "amada"

but this artist's genius lies in his process. also on display at the Renwick were Pliessnig's sketchbooks and 3D renderings. using a brilliant combination of hand-drawn thought and computer-generated study, he arrives at a final design. such an approach lends depth and meaning to the aesthetic elegance of the final product. Pliessnig's pieces are provocative, kinetic, and ergonomic...all while  representing an ideal fusion of tradition and progression.

 rhino 3D study model for "amada" 

explore more of his stellar works here. 

life as art.

Minter's cabin : living area

it's been almost two weeks of travel...from the deep south to the big apple, i have seen, done, and learned some amazing things. and now i get to give you some of the highlights! while on vacation, i treated myself to an afternoon with ELLE.

Minter's cabin : living area

nestled in with chanel, prada, and ysl, i discovered Marilyn Minter. a leading artist amongst the creatively curious, who constantly shatters boundaries from her studio in NYC. Minter's discussion of provocative works, her southern upbringing and an admiration for intelligent design made for a thrilling article.

Minter's cabin : dining area

born in Shreveport, Louisiana, Minter now splits time between a modest apartment in the city and a progressive cabin in Cold Spring, New York. housing a high-end collection of furniture and art, the woodland home fuses surrounding nature and ecology with modernist design. progressive, harmonic, brilliant. 


read more Minter here and here. 

checked out.

as if i need a vacation after such a great visit to charleston (more on that later)...but this week im taking time off  to enjoy some sun, sand, and good people. 


in the meantime, check out these finds:


farm fresh exploitation


GA studio: in progress


thirsty? so are they


eye candy


history/potential


chat soon. 

hello charleston.

while prepping for a long weekend in one of my favorite cities, i found this article. it speaks of the unused resource blowing around the South and discusses plans to harvest wind energy along the carolina coasts.

there is something amazing about wind turbines...part futuristic, part historical. a perfect example of traditional functionality redesigned to suit modern needs.during my morning stroll along the battery, i couldnt help but envision a giant crop of them dotting the backdrop of Charleston harbor. although controversial im sure, it could also be quite striking to see such a thing added into the cityscape of church spires, fort sumter, and southern mansions. 

while daydreaming of turbines along the battery, i also noticed this sign on the front door of the famed historic charleston foundation. the sign reads "our shutters are closed but we're open for business...we're simply using traditional sustainable methods to conserve energy in our historic building." built in 1798, the elegant red brick structure was once the residence of Capt. James Missroon. 

by using the exterior wooden shutters as they were originally intended, the interior gains relief from the intense summer heat. reminding us that plantation shutters, while a staple of southern design, serve a greater purpose than that of aesthetic decoration.