MA’ology “The Italian Style” Set The Mood for MA09 Design Is Human

photos by Kevin Byrd

MA-ology “The Italian Style” & CARE Fundrasier was a huge success. This headliner event was a fundraiser benefiting CARE International and its work with women in Africa. The Italian Style is an all-inclusive exhibtion about Italy’s elevated status in world of international design.  For design, “The Italian Style”’ featured Zanotta celebrating 40 years of the revolutionary Sacco chair. On the fashion side, it was serious business and all Marni with some very cool and eclectic ensembles taken from Marni 2009 Spring/Summer collection, all courtesy Jeffrey Atlanta and Jeffrey New York. Italian art ramped up the fun serveral notches as acclaimed Milan-based painter Marco Grassi held his first major one man show in the USA. The Atlantan was MA-ology’s official media sponsor.

MA10 Design Is Human is May 2010!

To get more details about MA10 Design Is Human and learn ways your design-related business can exhibit, sponsor, and advertise, contact info@modern-atlanta.org

For 2009, MA-ology examines leaders in Italian creativity and is rightfully-so named “The Italian Style”, and promises to be a very hip international exhibition centered around the famous “Made In Italy” brand and its global contribution to architecture and design, fashion, and art.  “The Italian Style” features Zanotta’s famous and revolutionary Sacco armchair, courtesy Zanotta (Italy); in collaboration with Jeffrey Atanta and Jeffrey New York, cutting-edge Italian fashion from names like Marni, Prada, Gucci, and 6267; and paintings of the exceptionally talented and acclaimed Italian painter, Marco Grassi (Milan).  Entrance to MA-ology “The Italian Style” is $20 at the door and expected to sell out early (proceeds will benefit CARE).  Students with ID are allowed in for half price. For more “The Italian Style” click here.

CARE International 

MA’s concern about global events that especially negatively impact the lives of innocent women and children is very real and is in part why the event is called Design Is “Human”.  Rising the awareness in 2009 will be no exception as CARE’s Derek Kayongo returns for MA09 to speak passionately on behalf of CARE’s work with women to create permanent social change. Woman are at the heart of CARE’s community-based efforts to improve basic education, prevent the spread of HIV, increase access to clean water and sanitation, expand economic opportunity and protect natural resources. Proceeds from “The Italian Style” ticket sales and the paintings of Marco Grassi go to help support CARE’s work with women and children. For more CARE Fundraiser click here.

Design exhibition, Atlanta celebrates 40 years of Zanotta’s Sacco- courtesy Zanotta (Italy)

Zanotta’s Sacco

“The Italian Style” in a special design exhibition, will celebrate over 40 years of Zanotta’s revolutionary Sacco armchair and its non-stop production. From a cult object and icon of light, modern and informal design, Sacco set an unquestionable all-time international record to become one of the most important expressions of Italian creativity.  For more Sacco click here.

All Sacco displayed in “The Italian Style” are supplied by Zanotta (Italy).  For more Sacco and to find a Zanotta dealer in Atlanta visit Zanotta’s website (www.zanotta.it).

MARNI 2009 Spring/Summer live show,  courtesy Jeffrey Atlanta and Jeffrey New York

Marni 2009 Spring/Summer

Some would say Italian fashion has the same or greater status as does Italian design. We will let the experts decide, but like design, Italian fashion has its world famous brands and designers and leads the industry in new ideas and execution.  Early Italian pioneers like Valentino and Gucci helped make the “Made In Italy” label a status symbol and give a small European country international prominence when it came to creativity.  The Italians say “Moda Italia” (Italian Fashion) and it is all about attitude and outward appearances.  And how one dress is very important to Italians and the clothes have to make a strong statement about who they are, especially when out in public, all part of the Italian tradition and dressing for success.  For “The Italian Style” MA and its Director of Fashion, Ashley Chase is collaborating for the second year with Atlanta’s top fashion boutique who adores Italian fashion, Jeffrey Atlanta (and Jeffrey New York) to present the hottest Italian fashion on the planet. Expect to see the exclusive preview of 2009 Spring/Summer collection and rare runway ensembles from Marni.  Other Atlanta-based collaborators include The Atlantan magazine.

Hair by Diana Paul, Richie Arpino Salon and Makeup by Authentic Beauty

“Keeping it Pink”, Marco Grassi in his first USA One Man Exhibit

Marco Grassi (above)  in his first major exhibit in the USA 

MA and our sponsors are especially proud to announce that Marco Grassi is presenting his first-ever USA one-man exhibition in Atlanta. This special Marco Grassi one-man exhibition is part of MA-ology- “The Italian Style” and CARE Fundraiser to help empower women and improve the lives of innocent children in Africa.

Special Edition Marco Grassi’s paintings for “The Italian Style” will be for sale with proceeds also going to CARE.  For more on Marco Grassi in Atlanta, click here.  For collector’s or buyers interested in presale opportunities of Marco Grassi paintings, contact info@modern-atlanta.org

Modern Atlanta Home Tour Ticket Outlets in Atlanta

Design Within Reach

2451 Peachtree Rd NE

Atlanta, GA 30305

404-841-2471

Monday - Friday: 10am - 6pm

Saturday 10am - 7pm

Sunday 12pm - 5pm

Cash or Check Only

(context)

75 John Wesley Dobbs Ave

Atlanta, GA 30303

404-477-3301

Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 5pm

Cash and Check Only

Octane Coffee Bar & Lounge

1009 Marietta Street NW

Atlanta, GA 30318

404-815-9886

Monday - Thursday 7am - Midnight

Friday 7am -1am

Saturday 8am - 1am

Sunday 8am - 10pm

Octane accepts Cash, Checks, & Credit Cards

Since 2007,  Modern Atlanta Home Tour has delighted fans of contemporary architecture, design, and urban culture. Its audience has widened, are more educated and appreciative of the benefits of living modern and how to better define their own personal space.

Click here for a map of this year’s homes.

BLDGS, Ansley -2009 Modern Atlanta Home Tour

TaC Studios, Ashley- 2009 Modern Atlanta Home Tour

Rain Shine House- 2009 Modern Atlanta Home Tour

Bickley House- 2009 Modern Atlanta Home Tour

Dencity-2009 Modern Atlanta Home Tour

A.M.H. SIMBLIST at SERENBE-2009 Modern Atlanta Home Tour

Modern Flat, Harrison Design Associates-2009 Modern Atlanta Home Tour

Beals Resident designed by Lightroom-2009 Modern Atlanta Home Tour

Dencity, Montgomery Ferry-2009 Modern Atlanta Home Tour

Ridgewood-2009 Modern Atlanta Home Tour

Pine Street Residence, Carlson & Mosley Architects-2009 Modern Atlanta Home Tour

Inman Green- 2009 Modern Atlanta Home Tour

East Avenue Residence, TaC Studios- 2009 Modern Atlanta Home Tour

For 2009,  we are excited to feature beautiful contemporary homes and interiors designed by Altlanta’s leading contemporary studios with names like Dencity, BLDGS, TaC Studios, Lightroom, and Harrison Design, just to name a few.  Come see the latest trends in contemporary architecture and design in Atlanta on this self-guided tour of modern homes.  Addresses and general map will be provided in the MA Event Guide. Cost for tour tickets: only $35 for both Saturday and Sunday tours which includes entrance to the MA09-Design Is Human Opening Night Kickoff Party and Exhibitions.

Tickets available online and at select MA ticket outlets beginning March 31, 2009.

Download MA09 Home Tour Details PDF

Ticket Outlets in Atlanta

Design Within Reach
2451 Peachtree Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30305
404-841-2471
Monday - Friday: 10am - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 7pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm
Cash or Check Only

(context)
75 John Wesley Dobbs Ave
Atlanta, GA 30303
404-477-3301
Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 5pm
Cash and Check Only

Octane Coffee Bar & Lounge
1009 Marietta Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
404-815-9886
Monday - Thursday 7am - Midnight
Friday 7am -1am
Saturday 8am - 1am
Sunday 8am - 10pm
Octane accepts Cash, Checks, & Credit Cards

To get tickets, click on “Buy Tickets” above or here

Join MA and event attendees for a celebration of all that is Modern Atlanta. The event features Architect Scale Model and Renderings, Contemporary Furniture and Design Exhibits by local, national and international designers and students work from GA Tech Industrial Design department.

Other features include premiere of GA Tech College of Architecture exhibit.

Modern Atlanta Home Tour tickets on sale at the door. Cost for 2-day home tour is only $35 which includes entry to MA Opening Night Kickoff. Cost to attend mixer only: $10 at the door.

MA09 Launch Night is in part sponsored by

Adrienne Grzeskiewicz, Regional Sales & Design Manager of bulthaup, and her team cordially invite you to celebrate the Atlanta launch of the new bulthaup b1 system.  A system reduced to the absolute essentials, precision planned and perfectly finished by bulthaup’s engineers and master craftsmen, now with attractive pricing.

Wine and hors d’ouevres will be served.  Please join us to experience this exciting system yourself.

bulthaup is a proud top sponsor of MA09 Design Is Human.

Hear SieMatic designers discuss “SmartDesign” - a campaign launched to emphasize efficiency, value and new range of cost effective, reproduction door styles. In today’s economy, maximizing space and value is paramount and this is not lost on a SieMatic kitchen. A new line of textured laminate doors in a fashionable color palette allows uncompromising design to a cost-conscious market. Interior drawer systems, “magic” corners, Multi-Matic accessories, and creative architectural solutions make for an affordable and efficient designer kitchen.

Also preview the interactive SieMatic S1; ultra-modern technology for the kitchen including touch screen technology, integrated music dock and television, inspired modern design and sleek aesthetic.

SieMatic is a proud top sponsor of MA09 Design Is Human.

Manfred Junker, chief designer for Poggenpohl Mobelwerke in Herford, Germany will explain the distinction between Poggenpohl’s two clear design languages: Modern Purism and Modern Classic. Winner of more than 10 internationally recognized design awards, including the prestigious Red Dot and Good Design awards, the +Segmento, +Integration and PLUSMODO kitchen design philosophies will be addressed.

Poggenpohl Porsche Design P’7340 Kitchen

Segmento Kitchen

Other topics will include: The Kitchen as a Work of Art and Poggenpohl’s partnerships with famous architects and designers, including Luigi Colani, Jorge Pensi, and most recently Porsche Design. Mr. Junker will provide a “behind the scenes” tour of the new Poggenpohl Porsche Design P’7340 Kitchen shown for the first time in Atlanta on May 13. The environmental aspects and precise details of the P’7340 kitchen will be highlighted: 8mm aluminum titanium frame, internal honeycomb structure, +Motion Drive technology and more.

Invitation

Poggenpohl is a proud top sponsor of MA09 Design Is Human.

Clodagh

DEX and Clodagh are proud to announce their latest partnership in creating a new line of outdoor furnishings to be released in the Spring of 2009. For a sneak preview and an opportunity to meet famed Interior Design Hall of Fame member Clodagh, join Dex at their showroom for an exclusive viewing of the collection during Modern Atlanta 2009.

Clodagh, best-known for her unique blending of modern technology, primitive materials, and ancient techniques has been working with DEX to design inventive and sustainable products that are low maintenance and that celebrate clean, modern design for more than 10 years. Clodagh’s new book with Rizzoli, Your Home Your Sanctuary, a guidebook to making your home an eco-conscious zen-like retreat, will also be available for purchase and signing. DEX, a national leader in the design and production of modern concrete products, is used in residential, hospitality and commercial projects throughout the world.

    Nara sink by Clodagh                                  Conical sink and Zen tub by Clodagh

Dip sink by Clodagh

DEX Showroom

Flo sink and Dune tile by DEX

Inside DEX

To learn more about DEX and Clodagh, visit www.dexstudios.com and www.clodagh.com

The party will be in the DEX factory and warehouse space located in the revitalized Metropolitan warehouse lofts

Hors devours, wine and beer start at 7:00 pm.

8 PM new product unveiling and introduction by Clodagh

DEX is a proud top sponsor of MA09 Design Is Human.

Marni Spring/Summer 2009 

Marni was founded in1994 by the Castiglioni family, who wanted to carve a niche in the fashion universe under its own brand and label.

Consuelo Castiglioni began creating a women’s collection with precise attributes. Attributes that continue to be the hallmarks of the collection today: eclectic style, especially researched and refined materials, and a production quality that ensures garments maintain a tailored aspect. The whole infused with a creativity that makes Marni collections unique in the fashion landscape.

Marni Spring/Summer 2009  

Marni’s goal is to consolidate its position as a leading fashion brand, crafting holistic collections for the markets that have become more receptive to innovative Italian design.

MA-ology “The Italian Style”MA-ology is an unique and exciting MA activity focused solely on creativity from around the world.  Last years ultra successful MA-ology exposed Belgian creativity to Atlantans through the likes of Extremis, Dries Van Noten, Ann Demeulemeester, and Jarno Kettunen.

For 2009, MA-ology examines leaders in Italian creativity and is rightfully-so named “The Italian Style”, and promises to be a very hip international exhibition centered around the famous “Made In Italy” brand and its global contribution to architecture and design, fashion, and art.  “The Italian Style” features Zanotta’s famous and revolutionary Sacco armchair, courtesy Zanotta (Italy); in collaboration with Jeffrey Atanta and Jeffrey New York, cutting-edge Italian fashion from names like Marni, Prada, Gucci, and 6267; and paintings of the exceptionally talented and acclaimed Italian painter, Marco Grassi (Milan).  Entrance to MA-ology “The Italian Style” is $20 at the door and expected to sell out early (proceeds will benefit CARE).  Students with ID are allowed in for half price. For more “The Italian Style” click here.

All Italian Spring/Summer Collections in “The Italian Style” is courtesy Jeffrey Atlanta/New York .

Jeffrey is a proud sponsor of MA09 Design Is Human

MA-ology “The Italian Style” is sponsored in part by The Atlantan

Hair by Diana Paul, Richie Arpino Salon and Makeup by Authentic Beauty

Presented is an excerpt from the “Reclaimed/Reinvented” Feature in MA09 Guide Publication as written by Jonathan Lerner.

Atlanta’s most audacious combination of adaptive reuse and infill redevelopment is the White Provision project on Howell Mill Road. Once, the huge, virtually windowless former cold-storage warehouse presented a looming impasse at the end of Fourteenth Street. Now a section of the building has been cut away, allowing the street to continue into an urbanistic plaza. To one side is a new contemporary midrise with residences above shops. To the other, the old warehouse’s glassy new façade reveals an interior reconfigured into retail and office spaces. The structure’s original bones remain – heavy concrete posts and beams that make a grid against that transparent surface – in a deliberate coupling of the old with the new.

“It’s one of the best looking projects in town, and the best at showing how to reuse old buildings,” says Westside furniture designer Skylar Morgan. A committed modernist, Morgan appreciates its “whole minimal approach. For instance, the windows and doors are all very simple steel work, all matching. And it all flows. There’s no extravagance.” For the broad walkways that line the building, Morgan was commissioned to design benches. His solutions express that same spirit of simplicity and inventive reuse.

The complete “Reclaimed/Reinvented” feature and image are in MA09 Guide Publication which is out now.

3Form will be exhibiting at the MA Launch Party and Modern Design Exhibit at White Provision on Friday, May 15, 7:30 - 10:30 pm.

“Full Circle” products by 3form

3form is the leading manufacturer of award-winning, sustainable materials and architectural hardware solutions for the Architecture + Design industry. Our innovative 3form Varia Ecoresin® system, with 40% recycled content, encapsulates color, organic materials, and textures within translucent resin panels.

“100 percent”  by 3form

Use 3form Hardware with our innovative material to create walls, dividers, doors and other architectural solutions.

“Reflect” by 3form

For more 3form click here

Objectified Director, Gary Hustwit

Objectified is a new documentary about our relationship to manufactured objects and the people who design them.  Directed by Gary Hustwit (Helvetica), the film is a look at the creatvity at work behind everything from toothbrushes to tech gadgets.  It’s about industrial designers, the people who re-examine, re-evaluate and re-invent our manufactured environment on a daily basis.  It’s about personal expression, indentity, consumerism, and sustainability.

Read the New York Times Review of “Objectified”.

Objectified post-screening Q&A with director Gary Hustwit and special guests. Presented by the Museum of Design Atlanta, AIGA, IDSA Atlanta, and MA.  Tickets $20 general public, $15 for AIGA, IDSA, and MODA members.

Tickets on sale here online.

Chair by Jasper Morrison

Vintage Braun

Through verite footage and in-depth conversations, the film documents the creative processes of the world’s most influential designers, and looks at how the things they make impact our lives.  What can we learn about who we are, and who we want to be, from the objects with we surround ourselves?

Featuring: Paola Antonelli (Museum of Modern Art, New York) Chris Bangle (BMW Group) Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec (Paris) Andrew Blauvelt (Walker Art Center, Minneapolis) Tim Brown (IDEO) Anthony Dunne (London) Dan Fromosa (Smart Design) Naoto Fukasawa (Tokyo) Jonathan Ive (Apple, California) Hella Jongerius (Rotterdam) David Kelley (IDEO) Bill Moggridge (IDEO)        Marc Newson (London/Paris) Fiona Raby (London) Dieter Rams (Kronberg, Germany) Karim Rashid (New York) Alice Rawsthorn (International Herald Tribune) Davin Stowell (Smart Design) Jane Fulton Suri (IDEO) Rob Walker (New York Times Magazine)

Naoto Fukasawa

Hella Jongerius

Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec

Click here for Objectified Trailer. We look forward to seeing you at this very special event.

Moderated by Linda O’Keeffe, Creative Director, Metropolitan Home,  CRAFTdesign is an informative and entertaining discussion about the rising interest and contemporary design’s acceptance of the detail-oriented, intellectual and oftentimes emotional appeal achieved by combining craft values and design. The result is the creation of desirable “hybrid” new antiques and expressive objects that borrow from craft traditions while ever mindful of the fact that  we live in modern times.

 CRAFTdesign is moderated by Linda O’Keeffe, Creative Director, Metropolitan Home.

CRAFTdesign Panelists

Dan Formosa, Design & Research, Smart Design

A founding member of Smart Design, Dan specializes in ergonomic research, user interface design, industrial design and the development of product criteria. With a BA Industrial Design from Syracuse University and MA and PhD in Ergonomics and Biomechanics from New York University, Dan specializes in developing products for people with a wide range of user abilities, including people with arthritis, dexterity and vision problems in the mainstream target market. Recipient of numerous design awards, Formosa’s work has been selected for national and international exhibits. His clients include: Hewlett-Packard, OXO International, LG Electronics, Johnson & Johnson, and Microsoft.

Smart Design has been turning insight and innovation into successful consumer experiences for over 25 years. Our strategic approach integrates product and brand to ensure winning solutions. Smart Design’s consistent results are delivered by its multi-disciplinary, international staff working in teams across offices in New York, San Francisco and Barcelona.

Manfred Junker, Chief Designer, Poggenpohl Mobelwerk

Poggenpohl is Germany’s first kitchen brand established in 1892 by Friedemir Poggenpohl. More recently, under the creative direction of Manfred Junker, Poggenpohl Moblewerk has received more than 10 internationally recognized design awards, including the prestigious Red Dot and Good Design awards for its innovative kitchen architecture and timeless aesthetic. In 2007 Junker collaborated with Porsche Design Group in creating Poggenpohl’s much acclaimed and unique Porsche P’7340 kitchen.

Claudia Winegarden PhD, Professor, ID Program, GA Tech College of Architecture

A native of Córdoba, Argentina, Dr. Winegarden studied industrial design at Universidad Nacional de Córdoba and teaches industrial design at Georgia Tech Industrial Design Program.  Claudia’s focus is on a wide scope of expertise in the broad areas including industrial/product design, human-computer interaction (HCI), information visualization and learning environments.  Dr. Winegarden’s passion is applying a holistic, innovative and multidisciplinary approach towards design practices that yield the integration of human-centered, seamless non-invasive technologies and the physicality of the product into one unified experience. Dr. Winegarden’s work has been published in numerous books and magazines, including Becoming a Product Designer.

More on CRAFTdesign

With the success of craft-designers like Hella Jongerius, CRAFTdesign explores design’s inner soul; and at the same time challenges design’s conventional wisdom by arousing curiosity through a prism of emotion, art, irony, imperfection, fascination, storytelling, and humor rather than just a convergence of precision, function, materials, and technology.

 Bovist decorative floor cushion by Hella Jongerius for Vitra, available at (context)

CRAFTdesign Moderator and Panelists Introduced by Preeti Ayyangar

All furnishings and objects, courtesy (context) www.contextgallery.com

CRAFTdesign takes place 14 May 2009, 7:30pm – 8:30pm in Hill Auditorium, Atlanta High Museum of Art.

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Italian painter Marco Grassi (Milan) is very talented and in demand these days for all the right reasons. Grassi is not however, a slave to pandering in fashion, does not just stamp out paintings, nor is he corrupted by other cliche’s that distract from the seriousness of his work. Art can be made accessible for all the wrong reason-trends - money and greed have to top the list. So when a painter comes along who is removed from such superficial tendencies, you have something- and that something is Marco Grassi, who happily is the exception. Grassi’s work is thoughtful, honest, carefully and painstakingly executed.

Italian Painter, Marco Grassi in MA-ology’s “The Italian Style” Exhibition

The modern woman is Grassi’s muse for which he makes no excuses.  And upon closer examination of Grassi’s paintings, one comes to realize what Grassi paints is not only captured in the subject’s obvious body language but also in what the eyes and soul suggests, this ability is among Grassi’s signature gifts. The color pink is also an important constant in Grassi’s work and his past shows reflect that fact with names that capture the imagination like “Save The Pink”, “Kissing The Pink”, and “Love Me Tender”.

Marco Grassi one-man exhibition is part of the much anticipated MA-ology “The Italian Style” and CARE Fundraiser (for more CARE Fundraiser click here). Special Edition large and oversize Marco Grassi paintings measuring 32” x 40” and 55” x 74” will be available for sale with proceeds going to CARE to help empower and educate women and improve the lives of innocent children in Africa.  For more MA-ology “The Italian Style” activities, click here.

Photography, courtesy Zanotta (Italy)

MA-ology “The Italian Style” in a special design exhibition happening in Atlanta and courtesy Zanotta (Italy), celebrates over 40 years of Zanotta’s revolutionary Sacco armchair and its non-stop production.  Piero Gatti, Cesare Paolini and Franco Teodoro designed Sacco in Italy in 1968.

Sacco’s creators, Piero Gatti, Cesare Paolini and Franco Teodoro

From the moment these 3 architects from Turin arrived at Zanotta with a PVC “bag” ¾ filled with polystyrene balls and the idea of developing an industrial project, the Sacco armchair started on its special journey. From a cult object and icon of light, modern and informal design, it set an unquestionable all-time international record to become one of the most important expressions of Italian creativity.

Design in 1968

1968 was a great year for design, with fireworks from Italian-style creativity. “Under the road the beach,” said the students of the Latin Quarter, when they found sand under the paving blocks dug up for their barricades. All Europe adopted the contestatory style of life and behaviour: goodbye to hand-kissing and suchlike, subdued manners and haughty posture and the affectation of bon chic bon genre behaviour; only cops stand to attention.

Vintage photo of Sacco, courtesy Zanotta (Italy)

Le meuble follows le mouvement. People didn’t come back from assemblies or protest meetings to sit rigidly on a Louis XV armchair or a Mackintosh dining chair. They lolled, they lounged, they unwound, they let their hair down. They sprawled on the floor and ate with their hands. In homes and canteens it was a permanent picnic. With their demystificatory and liberatory slogans the body followed the language of ideology: the primacy of comfort, of softness, of freedom of movement. People were ashamed to curl up in armchairs by big-name design firms, the trendy brands of the international furniture style, etc. They felt a horror of bumping into functional furniture that hadn’t been put in the place it deserved, seeing it was made for that.

So here’s the stroke of genius by Gatti, Paolini, Teodoro: the Sacco, a big pear-shaped bag of plastic or soft leather, two-thirds filled with polystyrene pellets. You sit in it, you throw yourself back, you sink into its soft forms that immediately cling to your body curves, absorbing the whole imprint of your movement, your position. The Sacco at rest looks like a shapeless heap, left there by chance, or almost, like something out of place: an element of aleatory disorder, a breath of freedom in the furnishings, a pause in the rigor of functional objects. Its success was immediate: it met the general need to loosen up the way people lived. The great idea you breathed was to live comfortably, the ease was that of a party, the absence of constraints. One forgot for an instant the ascetic lesson of Japanese purism.

It was Zanotta that presented the space of a party in Turin at Eurodomus 2. The wind of fantasy blew on the traditional spirit of Brianza: Willie Landels designed the monobloc sofa in foam polyurethane, all continuously elastic, Throw-Away: a name that sounded like a rock song. Because the fantasies of 1968 still preserve their relevance, their freshness, their effect. As if the great road roller of the return to order and the failure of ideologies by suffocation had not dominated the two decades that separate us from Zanotta’s burst of brilliance.

Faced with the aimless heaviness of everyday existence, our domestic civilization desperately needs fresh air and lightness to survive. Faced with the important gamble on the survival of the humanities within a technoculture, the collective unconscious is experiencing the necessary illusion of the absence of gravity, a premonitory symptom of our future inter-stellar tourism and our sentimental walks in the space void. This is why the Blow series, the transparent inflatable seating system by De Pas, D’Urbino and Lomazzi, at the height of the contestation did not make a wrinkle in the confused chaos of our post-modern agony in 1985 style. Furniture that is always young, ageless, and that expresses, by its lightness or softness, the eternal present of an art of living at 100.000 volts in all directions.

Pierre Restany, 1986 (from the book “Zanotta Design for Passion”, Raffaella Poletti, Electa, Milan 2004)

Sacco Today - “La Commedia del Sacco”

An Italian story….

Commedia dell’arte, theatre, cinema….Italian culture creates beautiful stories, one above all: design. We are about to tell you one celebrating 40 years: it is the story of three creative men and their encounter with an industrial manufacturer. The scenery is under the sign of freedom and the story tells of an object that adapts to the human body, where an inanimate object combines with life and how the spectator’s eye and soul perceive images, films. It is the story written by each of us putting our personal mark on the object created. A story, whose roots delve into large bags full of chestnut leaves in northern Italy, then transforms with polystyrene pellets in Nova Milanese and runs through the world.

40 Limited Edition Sacco, photo courtesy Zanotta (Italy)

A story continuing with the protagonist entering the stage with 40 haute couture fabrics  to celebrate its birthday. It is a story with 40 pieces for eternal youth, symbol of design.

Limited Edition Sacco, photo courtesy Zanotta (Italy)

Standard Sacco in a cluster arrangement, photo courtesy Zanotta (Italy)

One story, one scene written by Gatti, Paolini, Teodoro and Aurelio Zanotta: the Sacco. For more “The Italian Style” activities, including CARE Fundraiser, click here.

Zanotta is a proud supporter of MA09 Design Is Human.

Koolhaas Houselife

Saturday, May 16, 2009 5:30 pm - 7:00pm

High Museum Of Art Atlanta

The High Museum of Art in Atlanta has grown to become the leading art museum in the Southeastern United States with its renowned collection of classic and contemporary art and renowned architecture by Richard Meier and Renzo Piano.

Disuse to Reuse, London’s famous Tate Modern (Herzog & de Meuron Architects) 

In London, for example, a longtime disused power station was reused and given new life in form of Tate Modern, and in the process Herzog & de Meuron created an architectural masterpiece whose contribution to creativity is internationally recognized. Is Atlanta missing its opportunity to shine?  PoMo Atlanta will help you decide.

Information about PoMo Atlanta locations available in MA09 Program/Guidebook.

Atlanta Constitution Building, Atlanta’s Tate Modern?

Former Atlanta Constitution Building in serious disuse state

Why MA likes this building-

An excellent opportunity to reuse (think Tate Modern here) an existing building with lots of space and potential. Could definitely serve the city and southeast as an internationally-recognized destination for world class exhibitions, fine-dining, and design-related retail. It has lots to offer in terms of its size, scale, and use of light, very close proximity to public transportation, with its original architectural details still in tact. MA’s wish list of international and experienced architects to design this project would include Herzog & de Meuron, Rem Koolhaas, Crepain-Binst, Hans Dieter Schaal, and Atlanta-based Scogin and Elam.

Atlanta Central Public Library

Atlanta Central Public Library designed by Marcel Breuer

Atlanta Central Public Library (1977-1980)

Architect, Marcel Breuer

About Marcel Breuer:

Educated at Bauhaus- 1937 Emigrated to the U.S.A. - In partnership with Walter Gropius, taught at Harvard - Entered private practice after Harvard

Playscapes by Isamu Noguchi

Playscapes, designed by Isamu Noguchi in 1976

In 1933 Isamu Noguchi designed his first playground, Play Mountain a groundbreaking proposal to use the earth as a sculptural object.  The plan was rejected by New York Parks Commissioner Robert Moses, who also would foil Noguchi’s playground at the United Nations Headquarters (1952).  Playscapes is the only Noguchi playground to be completed in his lifetime.

PoMo Atlanta was conceived by MA to educate its audience and help efforts promoting the MA Disuse/Reuse Initiative and Post Modern Architecture in and around Atlanta.

MA would also like to acknowledge the hard work of DOCOMOMO-Georgia Chapter and its ongoing efforts in documentation and preservation of these kinds of PoMo structures. For more visit docomomoga.org

In Atlanta, design really is human and since the  successful launch of MA08 DESIGN IS HUMAN in May 2008, MA continues to gather support from some of the leading names and institutions in international and Atlanta-based design.

They all understand and share a passion for thoughtful design, the creative process, sharing ideas, and want to be contributors and collaborators in MA’S exciting journey in making modern Atlanta a sought-after destination for human endeavors and excellence.

See below MA09’s amazing roster (and growing), all excited to  showcase to you the absolute best examples modern Atlanta has to offer in the world of contemporary architecture, design, art, fashion, film, young designer talent, and more- part of  MA09 DESIGN IS HUMAN, 12-17 May 2009-the list is long!

MA09 Design Is Human Highlights include…

Koolhaas HouseLife directed by Ila Beka and Louise Lemoine

Porsche Design kitchen Presentation by Manfred Junker, Chief Designer, Poggenpohl Mobelwerk

Bouroullec Brothers star in Objectified, directed by Gary Hustwit (helvetica)

bulthaup’s b1 Atlanta launch

2009 Modern Atlanta Home Tour

Empowering Women- Design Is Human fundraiser for CARE

Lecture by Marcus Hewitt, Chief Creative Officer, Dragon Rouge

Designer Clodagh’s “Your Home, Your Sanctuary” Book signing at DEX

Italian Painter, Marco Grassi

MA is proud to announce White Provision located in Midtown West design district will be the venue for MA09 DESIGN IS HUMAN’s launch party and “The Italian Style” design exhibition.

White Provision, Midtown West Design District 

MA09 Roster

High Musuem of Art (MA Film Screenings)

bulthaup

SieMatic

Marco Grassi (Milan)

Clodagh

Metropolitan Home (MA09 Official National/Regional Media Sponsor)

poggenpohl

MODA (Museum Of Design Atlanta)

Design Within Reach

ARMCHAIR (MA Branding/New Media Sponsor)

Philip Babb Architect

Roche Bobois

Georgia Tech College of Achitecture

Georgia Tech Industrial Design

Dencity Design

The Atlantan (MA09 Official Atlanta Media Sponsor)

CARE International (Fundraiser Event)

Skylar Morgan Furniture + Design  (MA09 Official Exhibition Staging Sponsor)

Portfolio Center

Lightroom

phobos 7

Epidemik Coalition

…more coming soon

For MA09 inquiries, contact Elayne DeLeo

elayne@modern-atlanta.org

Atlanta has been selected as a destination for the first filming of “Creative Life”,  a groundbreaking first-of-kind television series for the China audience with a unique concept that combines travel and design. It will present Chinese audiences with examples of how design and creativity has enriched the lives of people from different countries around the world.  Personally guided by Yan Ling Dunn, Casa da Abitare Editor-in-Chief and former host of Travelogue, this program will travel to 16 countries in 2009 to search and feature creative people, products, projects, places, and events from different fields of design and the creative industry.

“Creative Living” Presenter, Yan Ling Dunn, Editor-in-Chief, Casa da Abitare-China

Each destination will be featured in 4 or 5 thirty-minute episodes, which will emphasize design within the specific environment, individuals and society in mind.  “Creative Life” is in official contacts with the national tourism boards and airlines, but also seeks to feature private personalities in the design and fashion scene.  A blend of formal and casual, this program seeks to highlight the best in local design, interview architects, designers, artisits and locals, and even visit favorite ‘creative’ restaurants to get a well-rounded sense of the unique culture of each destination.

Yan Ling Dunn interviews Jude LeBlanc and Claudia Winegarden of GA Tech COA

Filming in Atlanta began in late February. MA (MA Agency) was contacted by Yan Ling in Beijing to direct and escort her and her film crew to Atlanta’s creative hot spots, its design personalities, design schools, restaurants, architecture, and museums. Shooting covered locations in Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead.  Some of the personalities interviewed included Claudia Winegarden, Ph.D (GA Tech Industrial Design), designers Stefan Kjartansson and Kevin Byrd (Armchair), Tom Little (Chairman, DOCOMOMO-GA), designer Malcolm Fontier, Dencity (architecture), Hank Richardson (President, Portfolio Center), Robert Tresch and Dawn Bennett (Harrison Design Associates), Philip Babb (architect), Ron Labaco (Atlanta High Muesuem), Jude LeBlanc (GA Tech College of Architecture), and Brenda Galina Ph.D (Executive Director, Museum of Design Atlanta).

Produced by the Travel Channel, “Creative Life” is the first prime time TV program in China on design and will reach a domestic audience of 350 million in 300 cities. The Travel Channel is widely recognized for its innovative program concepts which influence and tap into trends in China’s growing economic and sophisticated consumer markets.  Its target audience composed of highly educated, urban viewers, raging from ages 18-45.  Ranked second as “My Favorite Channel”, according to CTR Research, The Travel Channel specializes in news reporting, professional and educational programs, high quality dramas, and creative and distinctive programming.

For its cooperation during filming “Creative Living”, Yan Ling and her team and MA Agency would like to thank the following:

Atlanta High Musuem of Art

Two Urban Licks

Armchair

Georgia Tech College of  Architecture

Philip Babb

W Hotel Midtown

Dencity

Portfolio Center

MODA

and everyone contributing time to this project, thank you!

The world and Atlanta is yours Marcus!

Marcus Hewitt, Chief Creative Officer of the world-wide branding agency Dragon Rouge presents a surprising and thought-provoking discussion on what makes a great brand. Hewitt talks about the advantage of focussing on macro societal trends when it comes to innovation… then he will share the trends!

Dragon Rouge is a recognized global leader in defining trends in branding and has successfully pinpointed seven macro trends and identified brands that are making the most of them. MA highly recommends checking out this insightful presentation.

MA09 Design Is Human presents “Portfolio Center Open House”

As part of Marcus Hewitt’s lecture, MA and Portfolio Center host an open house showcasing what creativity is and should be all about. Meet Portfolio Center’s President, Hank Richardson and the PC Team. See the creative works of future designers and much more.

The Lost Vanguard- Melnikov House

Lumière is pleased to announce an important exhibition of Richard Pare’s exceptional photographs of Soviet modernist architecture constructed in the years immediately after the revolution, from 1922 – 1932, when the Stalinist regime put an end to one of the most innovative experiments in the history of architecture.

It was proposed as a new architecture for a new age and a new society. The works in the exhibition are coming to Lumière after being shown to wide acclaim at New York’s Museum of Modern Art in 2007.  Though rarely seen by Westerners, Soviet architecture immediately following the revolution included some of the most innovative and creative work of the Twentieth Century.  According to The Lost Vanguard, “In little more than a decade, some of the most radical buildings of the Twentieth century were completed by a small group of architects who developed a new architectural language in support of new social goals of communal life.

The Lost Vanguard- Melnikov House 

Rarely published and virtually inaccessible until the collapse of the Soviet regime, these important buildings have remained unknown and unappreciated.  “Richard Pare’s mission has been to document these buildings for those future generations, even as they crumble around him. Architecture critic Nicolai Ouroussoff of the New York Times notes Pare’s achievement, ” Great architecture exists somewhere between the world as it is and the world as we would like it to be.  Mr. Pare’s gift is to show us what happens when those visions are tested in everyday life, stripped of their original theoretical baggage. The sorrow arises from recognizing how fragile those dreams can be.”

Richard Pare will discuss his work in a lecture at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at 7:00 PM. The event is free and open to the public.  An opening reception will be held from 6:30 – 8:30 PM, on Thursday, April 16, 2009, at Lumière in Atlanta.

The exhibition will be on display at the gallery from Friday, April 17 – Saturday, May 23, 2009. Lumière is located at 425 Peachtree Hills Avenue, Building 5, Atlanta, GA 30305, in the Galleries of Peachtree Hills development.

For more information about this exhibition, please call Tony Casadonte at (404) 261-6100 or at tony.c@lumieregallery.net.