Ceramic speakers

Joey Roth's ceramic speakers are the antithesis of it's mass produced counterpart. We have all done it, been down to Dixons on a Saturday afternoon to buy a little stereo which lasts exactly a day over its one year warranty. Its about major companies making products cheap enough so the idea of actually mending something becomes futile, you may as well just go and buy a new one. It's quite disgusting really.
Anyhow, (rant over, phew), Roth's speakers look brilliant and apparently sound amazing. Like a olive oil container tipped on its side and re-appropriated to make an entirely new object. I am guessing they are not going to break either, as one; there is very little to go wrong, and two; you are going to look after them big time.
High quality, considered, desirable objects.

Matthew Marks Gallery

I feel slightly stupid about this one, having spent quite a lot of time in New York, but i was unaware of Matthew Marks Gallery. What an amazing Roll Call, including Darren Almond, Andreas Gursky, Gary Hume, Ellsworth Kelly, Tony Smith, Japser Johns and Thomas Demand, (whom i have been looking at closely recently.) 
"Space has a lot of character," Demand says, with a nod to the now-vacant, now-silent surroundings.
"This space has a lot character. Maybe not my character and not your character, but it has a lot of character. And that's where things get interesting."

Bjørn Jørund Blikstad

A brilliant opening gambit form Bjørn Jørund Blikstad, a fresh furniture design graduate form Oslo. Sophisticated, simple, difficult and mesmerising 3D madness. Watch out for this guy, i think he might be going places. I want some.

Routemaster to Robin hood

It is virtually impossible for me to get excited about a london bus, having spent goodness how many hours on them over the past fifteen odd years, but as Jonathan Glancey explains, its as good as it gets with the new version of the Routemaster. (I am slightly confused over the winning design though, as Norman Foster was given the job a few months ago, but Thomas Heatherwick seems to have trumped him, and got the gig.)
Really interesting scene of another iconic landmark, the Tower of London in the (not hugely interesting) Ridley Scott Movie, Robin Hood. Its so hard to imagine the city as a smaller entity than it is today. It is even harder to imagine the Tower surrounded by Woodland, on an unkempt and untamed estuary, but that is how it was in the 12th Century. The Thames is the reason London is where it is, and it is simply not used enough anymore. A few Tate boats aside there is not a lot on it, and with the first Five new Routemaster's costing 7 Million (yes 7 Million) quid i wonder whether the river could be much better utilised, and important again.

David Adjaye

Continuing the photography tip, David Adjaye shows at the Design Museum.  Adjaye is an alternative thinker, clever and dynamic; and by all accounts, its well worth a look.
(I will try and review it soon).

Eyjafjallajokull

Ridiculously good photographs of Eyjafjallajokul volcano here.

Joseph Giovannini

Time for my monthly World of Interiors highlight; Joseph Giovannini's transformation of a disused Chinese sewing factory in downtown L.A.
Asymmetry, shards, things that go in corners, construction materails, Yves Klein Blue, Matisse's (The Red Studio) Red, polished concrete and huge white walls all leading to, and connecting, different spaces. Yes.

Architectural Reform

I talk about designs being 'emotionally correct' (or incorrect) frequently when dealing with clients as a way to cover a huge range of issues from ergonomics to surface. Architecture is so powerful emotionally, and the houses of parliament are, in my opinion, outdated and wrong. It is undoubtedly one reasons that the country is run by the groomed, affluent few. There has been a palace on the site since the 12th century, the houses of parliament was rebuilt after fire around 1850 to look more like the neighbouring Westminster Abbey, but with a dark Victorian interior. The house of commons, next door, was then rebuilt in the 1950's, to the backward looking 1850's design. So, it should really be no surprise that we are in a weird, arcane, unprogressive situation, when men can hide and scheme in their dark club, for days on end.
There is no chance of a new building, (i could probably still be hung, drawn and quarted for saying it), but until there is a new, contemporary, open and forward looking Parliament House, with no secrets and history, things are not going to change a lot. Good, correct architecture is so very, very important. And could make a huge difference.

Thresholds

Lush colour (perfect match for Formica's Blaze Red F2824, if anyone is interested),  Cool aperture and nice shape on the double shop front.

SouthBank Bristol Arts Trail

Another mention for the busy and brilliant Steven Dawson. His Ink-dot project is taking part in the SouthBank Bristol Arts Trail over this weekend. This is a little Back Cat thing, but a fresh show is upcoming in the Gallery space at the (Bristol) Howies Shop soon. Good luck Stevie!

Holloway Road

I have been lucky enough to drive up and down the Holoway Road a few times recently. Lucky? Holloway Road in rush hour? Yes! Daniel Libeskind's London Metropolitan University building still delivers, interests and excites. Its relationship with Terra Firma is the key, its very unusual, even disorientating, like the structure is the result of tectonic movement. And there is more, D & A Binder (No.101) sells amazing old shop fittings and cabinets further down the road, and in between the two is Ooh La La (No.143), which is always worth a nose. You could also try and get a glimpse of the weird, (but actually quite successful) redevelopment of Highbury Stadium.

Decision Time

Not my field of expertise, and i am not telling you how to Vote. But, from what i have read and heard, Art, design and creativity are not things that David Cameron is interested in, (in any way, shape, or form.)

Kiki van Eijk

Yet more Dutch Goodness, this time in the shape of Kiki van Eijk. Since the start of the blog i have mentioned designers from the Netherlands far, far more than any other Country. The free thinking aspect of a lot of the work appeals to me, but i also see a high level craftsmanship throughout, with a heavy nod toward traditional ideals, techniques and values. Kiki van Eijk continues these trends with these hybrid creatures/objects. No set agenda with her 'cut and paste' series; many are useful, others ethereal and some banal, they look like they are made up of bits of various found objects, as an assemblage. But, from what i can gather, it's all made (or at least conceived) by van Eijk.

DMVA

Some Bank Holiday Monday fun with DMVA's Blob. Originally conceived as a guest room/garden studio/general escape pod for a client, subsequently rejected by planning, the blob now sits in the very interesting looking, Verbeke Foundation. I like the way the way this was painstakingly sculpted, (it took 18 months), rather than the form being controlled by a computer. I am a firm believer that the physical interaction and energy imbued into an object via the making process, alters the final emotion and feel. Although the blob looks perfect to a certain extent, it also looks slightly awkward; the front door opening vertically, the size of the opening nose, pushing the hinges to the limits, to the over elaborate shower door. DMVA did not make it easy for themselves; and I fully understand and appreciate their approach. Good little video on their site too.