Architecture and design duo Ludovica and Roberto Palomba‘s new floor-style GREGG lamp for Foscarini is the latest addition to the very popular series of organically-inspired lighting. Complementing the existing table, wall, ceiling and suspension versions, the GREGG floor lamp is made of an incandescent mass of blown glass transformed into an elegant, asymmetric bubble, closer to something we might find in nature than a machine-shaped geometric form. The elegant movement of the stem links the base to the blown glass diffuser, and the egg-like shape morphs depending on the observer’s point of view.

Check out the images and video below to learn more about Ludovica and Roberto Palomba’s inspiration behind the GREGG series.

*Images and video courtesy of Foscarini.

Over the last 25 years, Dutch-born, New York-based artist Irene Vlak has had the opportunity to travel the globe. “Upon reflection of my experiences,” Vlak says, “what struck me the most are not the differences of people everywhere, but rather their similarities.” This sense of commonality is a key tenet in her artwork. “I celebrate the unity of our humanity, while appreciating the esotericism of each culture…Fusing language through expressions, cultural props, paint and sculpture, my photographs draw attention to timeless fundamental human emotions and feelings that transcend cultural and geographical boundaries.”

For “Bad News,” her latest paint and photography series centered around the idea of turning lemons into lemonade, Vlak combined paint, lemons and often sour newspaper clippings to create instances of beauty. Describing the work, she says: “Bad news always comes in multiples. They say threes, but I find it can go up much higher than that. Whether this is a result of a change in attitude or perspective or because this is the delivery schedule of the ‘bad news witch,’ I do not know. I am not a psychiatrist nor sociologist, I am an artist and this is how I make my lemonade.”

Below, Vlak shares four of the twenty potent images that make up “Bad News.” To see Vlak’s “Painted Petals” series on ArtSlope, click here. To learn more, or to inquire about sales, visit irenevlak.com.

*All images courtesy of Irene Vlak.

Flavor-infused, 100% Blue Weber agave, blanco Tanteo® Tequilas are distilled, infused and bottled in the historic mountain town of Tequila, Mexico. Available in Jalapeño (blended with separate infusions of organic jalapeños to capture the aroma, taste and heat of the pepper), Tropical (calling to mind traditional Mexican fruit salad topped with salt, lime and chili powder) and Chocolate (made with roasted, malted and raw cocoa, reminiscent of molé sauce), they’re hand-infused with fresh, natural Mexican ingredients, with jalapeño providing the base note throughout.

Beyond its standout taste, though, the collection’s packaging design also offers a potent shot of style. Tanteo’s look balances its NY founders’ modern roots in SoHo with traditional artistry inspired by its Mexican ingredients. Designed by award-winning artist Lincoln Mayne, each Tanteo bottle is made by hand from artesian Mexican glass, characterized by naturally occurring bubbles. A natural wood and cork closure and vintage-style wax seal combine to evoke its heritage. The bottle’s tapered shape and thick glass bottom nobly encase the liquid inside, while the embossed rings provide a comfortable, ergonomic grip, balanced weight distribution provides ease of pouring and the square, V-shaped base supports chilling.

Tanteo Tequila (750ml, 40% ABV) is available at liquor stores throughout New York City for about $40. We’ve also got three specialty drink recipes inspired by Tanteo below, courtesy of Mixologist Jason Mendenhall. For additional information, visit TanteoTequila.com.

TANTEO JALAPEÑO MARGARITA
~ 2 oz. | Tanteo Jalapeño Tequila
~ 1 oz. | Fresh Lime Juice
~ 3/4 oz. | Agave Nectar (or simple syrup)
~ Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice
~ Shake well and pour into a rocks glass (salted rim optional)
~ Garnish with a lime wedge

COCOA LEMONADE
~ 1 ½ oz. | Tanteo® Chocolate Tequila
~ 1 oz. | Fresh Lemon Juice
~ 1/2 oz. | Agave Nectar (or simple syrup)
~ Club Soda
~ Add ingredients into an ice-filled Collins glass
~ Top with club soda and stir with a bar spoon
~ Garnish with a lemon wheel

CERVEZA TROPICAL
~ 1 oz. | Tanteo Tropical Tequila
~ 1/2 oz. | Fresh Lime Juice
~ 1/4 oz. | Agave Nectar
~ 1 Mexican Beer (Modelo® Especial)
~ Build in salt rimmed ice-filled pint glass
~ Stir to mix flavors

Enjoy!

*Image courtesy of Tanteo.

An in-depth, thoughtful look at the history, evolution and current state of container architecture, Gestalten‘s latest title – Container Atlas: A Practical Guide to Container Architecture – is an informative, visually stimulating collection of examples of this “contemporary architectural phenomenon.”

The book’s introduction provides background on the container story, taking readers back to the early 20th century, when former trucking entrepreneur Malcolm McLean began to push for the implementation of standardized containers for universal freight transport, and through to the steel boxes’ role in US Army logistical operations of World War II. But it’s the visual examination of these containers’ prevalent roles in contemporary society that demands the most attention. For example, their use in :

Social/low budget architecture: Since the containers are accessible and functional, they are suitable for use in charitable organizations funded by donations, such as Melbourne’s Children’s Activity Centre (Phooey Architects), made of four shipping containers transformed into a social facility for children.

Events/exhibitions/installations: Such as architect Shigeru Ban‘s Nomadic Museum, which employs containers in two ways: as building blocks that form the supporting structure for the exhibit hall, and as transport containers for building elements and for the display specimens themselves.

Commercial/corporate architecture: Such as the mobile PUMA salesroom by LOT-EK, consising of 24 shipping containers staggered to form a three-story building.

…as well as examples of housing, public buildings, offices, art and more.

In addition to gorgeous photos of existing container architecture (check out a sampling of images below!) Container Atlas also includes plans and associated costs for each project. It even suggests solutions for common problems in the arena, making it a reliable reference for everyone from professional architects and planners to marketing managers and the general public.

Container Atlas
A Practical Guide to Container Architecture
Editors: H. Slawik, J. Bergmann, M. Buchmeier, S. Tinney
Published by: Gestalten
Price: € 49,90 / $ 78,00 / £ 45,00
Format: 24 x 30 cm
Features: 256 pages, full color, hardcover

Available now from Amazon or Gestalten.

*All images from Container Atlas: A Practical Guide to Container Architecture, © Gestalten 2010.

Named after the Great Rift Valley, Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola’s new Rift sofa and chair series was geologically inspired. Just as tectonic plates diverge, collide and overlap – creating several layers – Urquiola’s Rift series for Moroso convey the effects of sliding movement and asymmetric fusion. The range includes eight interior pieces: a small chair, a slightly larger chair and a settee, three Y-shaped islands and two L-shaped compositions that could be considered either islands or sofas. They’re made of stress-resistant polyurethane foam in varied densities and polyester fibrefill on a hardwood frame. There are also indoor/outdoor chairs made of polyurethane shell and lacquered steel base. They come in two heights and about six colors including gray, violet, green, black and white.

Urquiola’s partnership with Moroso began in 1998 when she was asked to produce designs under her own name, making Moroso the first manufacturer to produce her work. Since then, the Milan-based Urquiola has been working with Moroso, designing not only furniture but also her first US interior project- the New York City Moroso store.

*Images courtesy of Moroso.

Molecule is part of the “Setcast” collection by British design firm voonwong&bensonsaw. This gorgeous dish is made of bone china, created at distinguished China manufacturer, Asianera. Molecule comes in two sizes (Small: 6.75″ x 5.5″ x .5″h and Medium: 8.5″ x 7.5″ x .5″h), and is available starting around $50 from Merchant_4.

London’s voonwong&bensonsaw was launched in 2001, and since that time, the multi-disciplinary design practice has completed over 60 architectural and interior design projects internationally. The partners draw upon their backgrounds in architecture, engineering and product design to lend a unique perspective to furniture, lighting, product design, architecture and interior design. Currently, the designers are working on new building projects in Singapore, Beijing and London, as well as designing a collection of furniture for the company Air Division.

To learn more about voonwong&bensonsaw, visit voon-benson.com.

*Images courtesy of Merchant_4.

Japanese-born, Brooklyn-based artist Yuri Fukuda – working under the moniker Emogayu – creates stunning, limited-edition ceramic pieces, each inspired by nature and space. Her latest pieces include additions to the ongoing “Volcanoes” series.

Perfect for displaying flowers, climbing plants or candles, the hand-crafted vases and bowls in the Volcanoes series were inspired by “the natural energy of flowing lava and the way it captures a moment in time forever.” Emogayu hopes that whoever owns her work will not treat them as ‘objects,’ but will allow the energy of their space to flow freely through them.

Pieces in Emogayu’s Volcano series start at around $150, and are available from the ever-cool, online retailer, Merchant_4.

*above: Volcano #51

*above: Volcano #56

*above: Volcano #56

*above: Volcano #56, top

*above: Volcano #51, detail

*above: Volcano #51, top

*Images courtesy of Merchant_4.

Starting this week, the single-work, sound installation Bruce Nauman: Days will fill The Museum of Modern Art‘s Special Exhibition Gallery. A recent addition to the Museum’s collection, Nauman‘s Days (2009) was created for, and debuted at, the 2009 Venice Biennale, where the contemporary American artist represented the United States with the solo exhibition Bruce Nauman: Topological Gardens. The installation is on display through August 23, 2010.

Days is a “sound sculpture” consisting of a continuous stream of seven voices reciting the days of the week in random order. Fourteen suspended speakers are installed in two rows with one voice emanating from each pair of speakers as the visitor passes between them. There are men’s voices and women’s voices, old and young. Some speak swiftly, others with pause, each with his or her own cadence. The collection of distinctive voices produces a chorus—at times cacophonous, at others, resonant—and creates a sonic cocoon that envelops the visitor. The work invokes both the banality and the profundity of the passing of each day, and invites reflection on how we measure, differentiate, and commemorate time. The installation is organized by Doryun Chong, Associate Curator, Department of Painting and Sculpture, The Museum of Modern Art.

Nauman has been recognized since the early 1970s as one of the most innovative and provocative of America’s contemporary artists. He finds inspiration in the activities, speech, and materials of everyday life. Working in the diverse mediums of sculpture, video, film, printmaking, performance, and installation, Nauman concentrates less on the development of a characteristic style and more on the way in which a process or activity – in and of itself – can transform or become a work of art.

Bruce Nauman: Days
Showing through August 23, 2010
Special Exhibition Gallery, third floor
The Museum of Modern Art
11 West 53 Street New York, NY 10019

*above: Bruce Nauman (American, born 1941): Days. 2009. One audio source consisting of seven stereo audio files, fourteen speakers, two amplifiers, and additional equipment. Dimensions variable. Audio(fourteen channels). Continuous play. The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Purchase © 2010 Bruce Nauman / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Installation view at The Philadelphia Museum of Art. Photograph by Constance Mensh.

Now showing at Howard Yezerski Gallery: Neeta Madahar’s “Flora”

Photographer Neeta Madahar‘s new allegorical portrait series, Flora, began with Madahar asking friends to choose flowers that had been adopted for use as women’s names. The chosen flowers then became the organizational theme for the portrait series, through which Madahar combined images from traditional art history with the modern effects and artifice of a commercial portrait studio. The results are images that undo the myth of the “eternal feminine.”

Madahar’s subjects appropriate imagery found in representations stretching back to antiquity, re-spun through the eyes of a modern female artist. As Allan Doyle writes in the forthcoming book, “Flora,” to be published by Nazraeli Press: “Flora – the Roman deity of flowering and fruit-bearing plants – was traditionally depicted as a young woman surrounded by reveling admirers bearing floral tributes. In Madahar’s Flora series, her inspiration was not Botticelli but the stylized portrait photography of the 1930-50s including that of Cecil Beaton, Angus McBean and Madame Yevonde. In particular it was Yevonde’s Goddesses, a series of photographs of costumed doyens of 1930s British society that served as her point of departure. Madahar’s models do not grace the pages of society or glamour magazines, they are real women whose bodies and comportment exemplify a willful sense of self-possession won through lived experience.”

Doyle continues: “Flora undoes myths of the eternal feminine through its embrace of kitsch and artifice. The dramatic poses of the models match their theatrical settings. The sets flaunt their homespun construction with details like the wires that suspend a painted thunderbolt in mid air; but the photos’ technical execution demonstrates a level of expertise that prevents us from mistaking this as a group of women simply playing dress-up. For all their humor, these photographs are also infused with an air of melancholy. Surrounding her subjects by blooms at their peak, Madahar underscores the vulnerability of human flesh. The glare of lights and exquisite detail of the prints reveal the delicate traces of lives lived, signs that Madahar has chosen not to erase. Although Madahar’s subjects have been given the opportunity to fashion their own images of idealized femininity it is ultimately their failure to fully incarnate these archetypes that makes the photographs so poignant.”

Flora by Neeta Madahar
Showing through July 6, 2010
Howard Yezerski Gallery
460 Harrison Ave.
Boston, Massachusetts 02118
Tues. – Sat. 10 – 5:30pm
617.262.0550
www.howardyezerskigallery.com

*above: Sharon with Peonies

*above: Lisa with Primroses

*above: Lee with Fuchsias

*above: Kate with Rosemary

*Images courtesy of Howard Yezerski Gallery.

Since 1973, William Furlong has recorded his interviews with leading international artists around the globe for Audio Arts, an audio “magazine” offering listeners intimate access to leading artists, curators and composers. A new Phaidon collection – Speaking of Art: Four Decades of Art in Conversation – presents several of these interviews in written form for the first time ever. These revealing transcripts include conversations with everyone from Richard Serra, Gilbert & George, Jeff Koons and Damien Hirst, to Anish Kapoor, Chuck Close, Marina Abramovic and Jeff Wall. Over forty conversations grant one-of-a-kind insight into those creatives who’ve defined the contemporary art world for the last four decades, as the artists themselves discuss the creative process, lifestyle and specific works.

True to its audio cassette origins, Speaking of Art has even been designed with “A” and “B” sides; halfway through, one simply flips the book over to continue reading. Scroll down for some great images from the book!

Speaking of Art: Four Decades of Art in Conversation
by William Furlong
Published by Phaidon Press
256 pages, $39.95
43 black and white illustrations
9 5/8 x 6 3/4 inches

Speaking of Art is available now through Amazon.

*above: Philip Glass interviewed by William Furlong, London, 1982.

above: Damien Hirst (centre) interviewed by William Furlong and Norman Rosenthal, London, 2003.

*above: Gilbert & George interviewed by William Furlong, Milton Keynes Gallery, 1999.

*All images courtesy of Phaidon.