Vitra and Virgil Abloh drop limited edition "Virgil Abloh c/o Vitra: US Edition" collection on Basic.Space

Swiss design company Vitra and Virgil Abloh have collaborated to drop three limited edition "Virgil Abloh c/o Vitra" products, available to U.S. consumers for the first time via online marketplace Basic.Space. Products will be available for sale globally through the site's digital storefront, which will livestream the collection and a special DJ music performance by Pedro Cavaliere from a 6-day pop-up installation in Miami's Design District. The installation was created by Abloh's London-based studio Alaska Alaska and is powered by Cash App as part of the company's ongoing efforts to support the creative community. Additional, Abloh and Vitra CEO Nora Fehlbaum will have a conversation about the collection that will air on Abloh's IGTV channel.

"Virgil Abloh c/o Vitra: US Edition" explores the urgent need for inclusivity in design, and invites people of all generations, races and backgrounds to have conversations about both social issues and design topics. Virgil Abloh is known for pushing boundaries and using creativity to communicate socio-political messages while Vitra has a long history of undertaking experimental projects with designers, architects and artists that test the limitations of design's predicted norms.  Driven by the new mindset of Generation 'Next' – a forward-thinking psychographic that transcends age, gender, race, ethnicity and income – Basic.Space provides forward-thinking brands such as these with an innovative approach for reaching new audiences, turning the traditional retail model on its head. The Basic.Space community of creatives makes it possible for brands to speak and connect with this new generation that is changing the way we see the world.

"My mission has not changed. My hopes for this collaboration are to further strengthen this bond with the new generation, providing them with further inspiration, as well as room for thought and a sense of inclusion. This collaboration invites the new generation into the conversation – my work is meant to open doors for them," says Virgil Abloh.

"What I find particularly inspiring about Virgil Abloh is that he comes to the table as an outsider, with a fresh look at our collection and a different pace, free of constraints," says Nora Fehlbaum, CEO. "I'm interested in the way that he structures knowledge and passes it on to a new generation in such a condensed manner. He manages to shift the topic of design classics away from the discourse of an intellectual elite to make them accessible to a wider public."

"We're excited to partner with Virgil Abloh and Vitra on this thought-provoking collection, one that embodies inclusivity and design, while inviting a new audience to experience something unique.  This collaborative release captures the essence of Basic.Space where brands and creatives can manifest their vision effortlessly both online and offline," said Jesse Lee, founder of Basic.Space.

"Basic.Space offers a unique shopping experience that seamlessly integrates our digital and physical worlds. The platform is authentic, socially conscious and design-centric -- traits that are inherent to our company and important to our customer. This partnership allows Vitra to interact with a new audience and the opportunity to meet the next generation of young design collectors," says Melissa Shelton, Vitra North American President.

The "Virgil Abloh c/o Vitra: US Edition" collection is a spin-off to an earlier collaboration that dropped in 2019 on Vitra's Campus in Weil am Rhein, Germany during Art Basel alongside a futuristic exhibition TWENTYTHIRTYFIVE. The three pieces – a Ceramic Block, along with the Petite Potence lamp and Antony armchair originally designed by Jean Prouvé, are reimagined in baby blue that Abloh intends to stand alone as an object with a function. The "hacked" Prouvé pieces represent the power of design to evolve in order to speak to a new generation.  

"Jean Prouve worked as a craftsman, designer, manufacturer, architect, teacher, and engineer - he truly was a multifaceted designer and not limited to one "discipline". His many talents translate through his work – intertwining art with social consciousness. I feel interconnected with Prouve in light of, I too, work within many worlds; art, fashion, music and philanthropy– meshing my ideas from these many realms together for a greater message to the world," says Virgil Abloh.

"Practicing and welcoming inclusion – I created the "Post Modern" Scholarship Fund in effort to do just that. The mission of the Fund is to foster equity and inclusion within the fashion industry by providing scholarships to students of academic promise of Black, African-American, or African descent; recipients will not only be provided with funds, but will also be given access to vital career support services and mentoring. Art and good nature can change the world, I refuse to believe otherwise," says Virgil Abloh.

"The teenager of today has become a creative doer who transforms his memories and experiences, all of the cultural and social influences, into his or her own products, thereby finding a personal field of activity,' says Fehlbaum.

The "Virgil Abloh c/o Vitra: US Edition" installation takes place at 140 NE 39th Street in the Miami Design District, and is open to the public December 3-7, from 11am EST to 7 pm EST, limited to five visitors allowed into the exhibition space at a time, in accordance with city guidelines and enhanced safety measures in place. Visitors can purchase limited edition and numbered pieces and enjoy live and digital experiences at the space.

Ceramic Block 
In the installation, the visitor's gaze is directed to the future with a wall of consecutively numbered bricks: the Ceramic Blocks. These glazed ceramic objects are not just a structural element but also take on a life of their own as storage objects in Virgil Abloh's concept. The limited exhibition edition comprises 999 Ceramic Blocks, in baby blue, each with a noticeable numeral that makes it unique, and can be purchased directly at the Basic.Space "gallery," modifying the structure of the installation, or on the curated online marketplace Basic.Space from December 3 to 7.

Petite Potence
Jean Prouvé created the Potence wall lamp for his home in Nancy in 1942, and the design was soon produced in a range of sizes. Virgil Abloh is fascinated by the industrial clarity of this concept and integrates the smaller Petite Potence in his installation. He has accentuated the 'industrial DNA' of the design with a baby blue lacquer finish that gives it a new visibility, while a striking LED bulb in an oblong cage further enhances the appearance. Virgil Abloh's version of Petite Potence is available in a limited and numbered edition of 150 pieces. 

Antony 
The armchair Antony was developed by Jean Prouvé in the early 1950s for the university halls of residence in Antony near Paris. With its dynamically curved wooden shell and characteristic metal base, this small armchair was one of the French designer's last furniture creations. Virgil Abloh pays tribute to the iconic design with an updated version in his installation, he has transformed the armchair by giving it a frosted plexiglass shell, which is further accentuated by a baby blue lacquer finish. This version is available in a numbered edition limited to 150 pieces.   

FASHIONADO

Give the Gift of Art this Holiday Season

THE 2020 PENLAND GALLERY GIFT GUIDE

This is snow laughing matter.
Grace them with your presents.
Gifts we think they will Fa-la-la-la-love.

And….some holiday wrapping is our gift to you. Just let us know if you would like us to wrap it and enclose a card! We suggest that December 14th could be the last day to ship and arrive in time for the holiday. Play it safe and shop early! The Penland Gallery

The Penland Gallery exhibits the work of artists affiliated with Penland School of Craft from across the country and beyond. These include current and former instructors, resident artists, and students working in contemporary craft media: books and paper, clay, drawing and painting, glass, iron, metals, photo, print and letterpress, textiles, and wood. The gallery exhibits work by an ever-changing collective of established and emerging artists making sculptural and functional objects, conceptual and narrative work – representing the creative expanse that exists at Penland School.

William Baker Ramen Bowl $56

Rickie Barnett - Sipper $110

Thomas Campbell Steel Tumbler $95

Nate Cotterman -Rocks Glass $80

Ben Dory- Stud Earrings $95

Aran Galligan -14k gold $280

Leigh Anne Hilbert -Apron $64

Morgan Hill - Earrings $75

Lynne Hobaica - Brush $215

Homebody Textiles Napkins $80

Homebody Textiles Eye Pillow $45

Lydia Johnson - floral cup $100

Erin Keane Butterfly Book $150

Rachel Kedinger - Spoon $105

Christopher Kerr-Ayer Measuring Cup $75

Stacey Lane - Hoops $175

Meghan Martin - Hand Rake $300

Joseph Pintz Double Dish $95

Public Glass -Carafe $190

Emily Rogstad Link Studs $70

Alyssa Salomon - Spinner Bag $105

Lisu Vega - Rope Necklace $130

Bernstein Glass Wine Blown Glass $48

BILL BROWN - Candlestick $55

Penland School of Craft Announces Spring 2021 On Ground Concentration Classes

2021 Spring Concentrations March 7 - April 30 (Scholarships available) are back! Penland School of Craft is proud to announce their return and line-up for workshops this Spring.

”We've been waiting for this day for months now, friends—the day we can invite you back to campus for workshops!” Penland School of Craft

Penland School of Craft is thrilled to have a lineup of six accomplished instructors ready to teach, share and learn with you for eight weeks this spring:

• Brien Beidler - Finishing Touches: Materials, Tools, and Methods

  The “charming but completely unpretentious*” books made in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries have a unique way of harmonizing skilled craft, quirky aesthetics, and evidence of the hands that made them. With these leather bindings as our inspiration, we’ll explore the process and material details that make them so appealing while leaving room to add our own context to their structure and design. We’ll cover a range of techniques, including sewing on a frame, lacing in boards, sewing endbands, working with leather, and gold tooling with egg glair and gold leaf. We’ll place a special emphasis on finishing (applying decoration to the covered book) and making finishing tools. All levels. Code S00B

  *From a description of historic bindings in Hannah French’s Bookbinding in Early America. 

  Studio artist; teaching: Escuela de Artes y Oficios Santo Domingo (Colombia), Penland, North Bennet Street School (MA), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Alabama, University of Utah. 

  beidlermade.com
  @bhbeidler

• Matt Repsher - Finding Form and Surface

  This workshop will focus on developing form and surface in pots using history, environment, and personal experiences to help students develop a unique voice in clay. I’ll share the techniques I use to create elaborately patterned vessels, including wheelthrowing, handbuilding, carving, and color slip inlay. Working mostly in mid-range stoneware fired in electric kilns, students will push the boundaries of ceramic materials by experimenting with multi-layered surface treatments using colored slips, underglazes, and glazes. Projects, exercises, and conversations will stimulate exploration and growth. All levels. Code S00CA

  Studio artist; teaching: Indiana University, University of New Mexico, Penland, Pocosin Arts (NC), Arrowmont (TN), Santa Fe Clay (NM); residencies: Pocosin Arts, Penland resident artist program; collections: Boise Art Museum (ID), San Angelo Museum (TX).

  @repsherceramics

• Kit Paulson - The Explorer’s Notebook: Borosilicate Fieldnotes

  A notebook is a license to explore the world. In this class, we’ll explore and catalog ideas, methods, and structures in flameworked borosilicate glass. The workshop will have a strong emphasis on daily hand-skill practice, which we’ll temper with drawing, reading, demonstrations, and slide shows. Students will learn techniques in solid structural flameworking and also build a strong foundation for making hollow, blown forms. All levels. Code S00GB

  Studio artist; teaching: Pilchuck (WA), Bildwerk Frauenau (Germany), National College of Art and Design (Dublin), Pittsburgh Glass Center, Urban Glass (NYC); residencies: Rosenberg Residency at Salem State University (MA), Tacoma Museum of Glass (WA), S12 (Norway), Penland Resident Artist Program; collections: Tacoma Museum of Glass, KODE (Norway), Renwick Gallery (DC).

  kitpaulsonglass.com
  @kitpaulson

• Thomas Campbell - Fabrication Fundamentals

  This workshop will focus on the fundamentals of steel fabrication with an emphasis on both functional and sculptural design. We’ll begin with weekly exercises and assignments that emphasize proper fabrication technique, design, critical thinking, and problem solving. We’ll build on these exercises to establish a skill set that will support personal exploration. Daily demonstrations will include, but not be limited to, technical drawing and layout, basic sheet-forming, MIG and TIG welding, grinding and sanding, finish work, and patination. We’ll also cover shop safety and efficient work practices. Students will leave with newly acquired skills and a thorough understanding of steel fabrication. All levels. Code S00I

  Note: this workshop will not cover forging.

  Studio artist; teaching: Haystack (ME), Penland; Haystack Open Studio Residency; exhibitions: Signature Gallery (Atlanta), Blue Spiral 1 (NC), Metal Museum (Memphis), Mint Museum (Charlotte); collections: University of Arkansas at Little Rock; gallery representation: Blue Spiral 1; former Penland core fellow. 

  thomascampbellcraft.com
  @thomas_campbell

• David Clemons - Wear a Great Story

  Once upon a time… Whether in drama, mystery, social commentary, or personal history, stories link us to our past, teach us lessons, memorialize events and people, and look to project the future. In this workshop, guided technical and conceptual exercises will help students develop and hone their use of materials, form, iconography, and symbols to convey narratives through wearable pieces and small sculpture. Technical information will include surface embellishment, cold connections, soldering, hydraulic forming, casting, basic stonesetting, enameling, and integrating alternative materials. Bring your curiosity and willingness to explore a variety of subjects as we execute numerous pieces and live a great story during our eight weeks together. Some metalworking experience will be helpful, but this workshop is open to all levels. Code S00MA

  Studio artist; teaching: University of Arkansas, Penland, Haystack (ME), Pocosin Arts (NC), Arrowmont (TN); Oregon College of Art and Craft residency; exhibitions: Crafting Futures (NC), Wear (NC), Wearable Pewter (IL and Istanbul), Appetites and Objects (MD); collections: Yale University Art Gallery (CT), Metal Museum (Memphis), Arkansas Art Center.

  davidharperclemons.com
  @harperclemons

• Annie Evelyn - Furniture Sampler

  This furniture workshop will include a little bit of everything! Starting with a two-week chair project, we’ll cover machine- and hand-tool usage and the basics of joinery and design. We’ll spend one week on upholstery techniques and make a fully webbed, sprung, padded, and upholstered ottoman. Next, we’ll learn simple digital drawing using Rhino and cut shapes with the CNC machine. Then we’ll use that knowledge to make forms for bent lamination and steam bending. During the last three weeks, students will work on self-directed projects. Throughout, we’ll have fun and organize some campus events to bring people together (safely) to celebrate art. All levels. Code S00W

  Studio artist; teaching: California College of the Arts, Rhode Island School of Design, Parsons The New School of Design (NYC); exhibitions: Museum of Arts and Design (NYC), Center for Art in Wood (Philadelphia), Houston Center for Contemporary Craft; publications: Impossible Design by Agata Toromanoff, The Independent Design Guide: Innovative Products from the New Generation by Laura Houseley, American Craft.

  annieevelyn.com
  @annie_evelyn_furniture

Registration is open now on a first-come, first-served basis. Scholarship applications are available through Slideroom and are due December 15, 2020.

Finally, as excited as Penland School of Craft is to open these spring workshops, they can't ignore the fact that we are still in the midst of a pandemic. They have learned a lot since the first cancelled sessions back in March, and they have made sweeping updates to campus to help us operate safely this spring.

Many aspects of 2021 Penland workshops will be altered accordingly. Before you apply, please read their COVID-19 Safety Guidelines so you will know what to expect and what will be expected of you.

FASHIONADO

Penland School of Craft: There's No Substitute for the Handmade Mug

Have you registered for the 35th Annual Penland Benefit Auction yet? 

It will be Penland’s first ever online auction, and also their first auction to last a full week long! Tickets are available now to join us for this virtual celebration and support Penland's ongoing mission of creativity, community, growth, and word-class craft education. Penland is offering two ticket options this year—the "party" option includes access to silent and live auction bidding, a printed auction catalog, a handmade mug like those above, and other Penland party favors to bring the festivities right to your door.

Mark your calendars for August 1-8, and register now to join us there!

Kimberly Michelle Shelton (left) and Amanda Ann Palmer at Penland with a selection of their mugs

A note from the Penland School of Craft: The past couple months have shown us how many things can transition to an online format, from Northlight slide nights to our Board of Trustees meeting. But we also know that there's no substitute for the presence and materiality of a handmade object, and that's why we knew without a doubt that we wanted to keep up the tradition of handmade auction mugs. This year's are an especially beautiful collection of hand-thrown, decorated, and glazed pieces. Each one—500 in all!—was designed and made by Kimberly Michelle Shelton of Dirt Dobber Wares (Atlanta, GA) with assistance from Amanda Ann Palmer (Hartland, VT).

One thing we especially love about these mugs is how they each display a unique personality while maintaining an impressive cohesion as a group—sturdy, inviting, earthy, and rich. Scrolling through a few of Kimberly's process photos is a telling window into how much thought went into these designs. We love this look at the various glazes and clay bodies she tested, as well as these close-ups of her approach to geometric patterning and glazing.

Thank you, Kimberly and Amanda! We know these mugs will add an extra special touch to auction week in August and many, many mornings to follow.

FASHIONADO

Jason Wu collaborates WILD BEAUTY Exclusive Florals

Today, 1-800-Flowers.com®, one of the world's leading floral providers, announced it has collaborated with global design talent, Jason Wu, to release an exclusive assortment of modern and elegant bouquets. The Jason Wu for Wild Beauty™ collection, which is now available nationwide, features on-trend arrangements that embody the designer's signature aesthetic of femininity and sophistication. Behind-the-scenes content, specially designed 'thank you' notes and the ability to preview select bouquets in 3D will allow customers to have an immersive digital experience as they are introduced to the new collection. This marks Jason Wu's first collaboration with a floral and gifting brand.

"Jason Wu is one of the world's most renowned fashion designers and we are thrilled to collaborate with him on this truly original collection, which reflects his unique point of view in floral design and bouquet presentation," said Valerie Ghitelman, Vice President, Product Development and Design, 1-800-Flowers.com. "We are excited to not only share these beautifully crafted arrangements with our customers, but to engage them with distinctive content that provides insights into Jason's design influences and more."

"Playing a role in the intimate decision of what one chooses to wear each day is such an important part of what I do," said Jason Wu. "To extend this concept to the graceful details people bring into their homes is an honor. This collection with 1-800-Flowers.com is especially meaningful to me because of my lifelong love of flowers. Floral elements continuously inspire me and have been a consistent theme throughout my entire career. I'm thrilled to celebrate the beauty of flowers in this new and special way."

A Collection Influenced by Jason Wu's Design Aesthetic: Jason's design influences, such as modern femininity and refined style, are reflected throughout the entire Jason Wu for Wild Beauty collection. Chic, gathered arrangements include freshly cut flowers – such as roses, sunflowers, gerbera daisies, thistle, aster and mini calla lilies, among others – that are grown with love at select eco-friendly, sustainable farms. Each bouquet, which includes a mix of textures and florals unique to the season, arrives wrapped in white kraft paper and is nestled inside a signature gift box. Customers can also opt to order a galvanized flower pail to showcase their arrangement. The collection includes:

• Citrus Crush™ Bouquet by Jason Wu for Wild Beauty

• Watercolor Chiffon™ Bouquet by Jason Wu for Wild Beauty

• Wild Cascade™ Bouquet by Jason Wu for Wild Beauty

• Poplin Crème™ Bouquet by Jason Wu for Wild Beauty

• Silken Roses™ Bouquet by Jason Wu for Wild Beauty

Bouquets from the Jason Wu for Wild Beauty collection come with a custom hangtag, which prompts recipients with a QR code to enjoy a mobile web experience. Exclusive and engaging content includes behind-the-scenes footage from Jason's Ready-To-Wear Fall 2020 New York Fashion Week Show and the Jason Wu for Wild Beauty collection photo shoot, both of which took place earlier this year. It also provides access to special 'thank you' notes whereby bouquet recipients can instantly connect with and send a digital message to the sender. Find all this at www.1800flowers.com/jasonwu-connect.

FASHIONADO

The Princess and The Platypus Foundation Presents The Princess Diana Museum

The largest collection of Princess Diana's personal historical items in the world currently on display, online 24/7. The only Diana online museum that contains over 1,700 carefully curated iconic, personal and historical artifacts spanning Diana's lifetime from early childhood through her tragic death. Displayed in a 3D interactive environment, the artifacts depict her incredible life and reveal her enduring legacy.

Once inside the museum, a real time location map and virtual avatars will guide you through the museum in English or Spanish. An exclusive community chat and video feature will enable visitors to share experiences in real time to create a sense of belonging. In addition, over 40 exclusive interviews with Diana's friends, designers, artists and closest collaborators will give you a unique insight of one of the biggest icons in modern history. We hope this virtual journey will unite people from all around the world and inspire a desire to treat others with kindness and to help others while expecting nothing in return just as Princess Diana once did.

"With the sudden rise of COVID-19 virus forcing us to practice 'social distancing,' we are making access to Princess Diana's Museum completely free for one month. This will not only help take people's minds off of all the bad news out there but it will help them connect with each other since users can interact in the museum environment and give back in Diana's honor", Renae Plant and Livinio Stuyck founders at The Princess & The Platypus Foundation said.

The museum works perfectly with your internet broadband connection, any operating system PC/Mac/iOS/ Android on any popular desktop, laptop or tablet internet browser. Mobile phones are not supported due to the large extent of graphical elements and information rendered.

FASHIONADO

Penland School of Craft Summer Workshops

Penland School of Craft is a magical place that I’ve written about many times before. I’ve lived there, studied there and have been an active supporter for three decades so it’s heartbreaking to share this letter from the director. Safety first, I get it. And respect their decision… Visit their website and when they reopen this Fall, consider attending. It may change your life: https://penland.org/

Dear Penland friends, 

With a good bit of sadness, I am writing to tell you that we have decided to cancel all of our summer 2020 workshops. As we learn more each day about the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become clear that continuing to plan for workshops anytime this summer is not in the best interests of our community. 

Our workshops are based on small groups of people coming together and working in close proximity. We work with our hands, and we share information with our hands. We pass things around so everyone can examine them. We use common tools, materials, and work spaces and eat together in a common dining room. Community and sharing are the heart of Penland’s workshop education. We don’t believe that the current public health crisis will change how we teach, but taking a break right now seems like the only responsible course of action. 

We have just finished planning a series of exciting workshops for fall 2020 and spring 2021. We will announce these in the next few weeks and hope to be able to run them. In the meantime, North Carolina is under a stay-at-home order, and most of our staff are working from home. A small crew is on campus and keeping an eye on things. We are all trying to think about how we can use this time to make Penland an even stronger creative force in the future, and we trust you will be part of that future.

If you have questions about summer cancellations or future enrollment, please contact the registration office at registrar@penland.org. 

We are grateful for your interest in the special kind of education Penland offers, and we hope to see you here before too long. Stay safe, make things, wash your hands, and keep in touch.

Mia Hall, director

FASHIONADO