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

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Sunday 12pm - 5pm

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75 John Wesley Dobbs Ave

Atlanta, GA 30303

404-477-3301

Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 5pm

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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

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.

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

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.

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.