What: Eugène Atget: Documents pour artistes
When: February 6 thru April 9, 2012
Where: MOMA

What’s not to love about black and white photography, Paris in the early 1900s, its architecture and breathtaking gardens—and supporting its multitudes of artists?

Eugène Atget admired all of the above, so he photographed whatever he saw as interesting and beautiful—empty outdoor cafés, expansive gardens, cobblestone streets and the shops that lined them. Then he became the first to produce and sell what today we refer to as ‘stock photography’ selling these ‘documents’ to artists in need of source material.

Focused in Paris’ fifth arrondissement, the Luxemborg gardens, and the parks at Sceaux, he captured the essence of his subjects—images that spark a thousand words each and which will surely stand the test of time.

While Atget did photograph people early in his career—and perhaps inspired by the Surrealists in later years—he seemed much more interested in modern store window mannequins and the marble sculpted goddesses found throughout the city. ]]>spring top 3: sandrahttp://blog.cb2.com/home/2012/2/7/spring-top-3-sandra.htmlsandra2012-02-07T12:00:11Ztop 3 watch

ous hanging candleholder
like the hokey-pokey, sometimes brass is in style, sometimes it’s out…
but I’ve always loved the warmth of this finish—especially combined with glow of candlelight—and it feels completely natural on an organic silhouette like this. poodle pouf
so 70s, 80s and now—reminds me
of the carpeted walls in Graceland, our sunken living room in the suburbs—it would work anywhere
in my place today! grid hemp rug
there’s so much to love—the texture, the sustainability, the colors and pattern…but it’ll have to go in my virtual beach house since I don’t have the perfect place for it…yet.

Created by artist Hung Kei Shiu—one of the first artists at the studio, he left for a number of years and then re-joined in 2006.

Shiu’s known for his cryptic compositions—the tiniest of marks, a small hatched line segment, miniscule circles, or a short block of color—and the digital blue pillow is a visual feast of these marks with reflections from the shallow to the deep end of the pool. Much like the multiple layers of our personalities, the result is complex and rich.

Ingrained in Indian culture for centuries, the craft of woodworking embodies a rich sense of history. To this day, the skill of the badhi (carpenter) is taught father to son, assuring the trade will thrive for generations.

Dating back up to 30 years, these vintage handcrafted carpenter benches offer a snapshot of a bygone era, gathered from rural carpentry sites, schools and roadside dhabas (rest stops) throughout India. Simple in construction, they were an important tool of carpenters who planed and shaped rough cuts of wood into refined objects of art, large and small—from impressive doorways and intricate handicrafts to basic furniture for everyday living.

Hewn from solid teak or mango—local woods favored for their strength and heft—each bench is unique, with natural weathering, splitting and knots inherent to the wood species. Occasional traces of paint and exposed hardware may be present, adding to the distinct “as found” character of each piece.

One of a Finds original works are offered one time only in a small reserve for collectors and enthusiasts—the carpenter’s bench has a limited edition release of 170.

photo by: kevinmarsh

Directions:
1. Prepare buffalo wings per instructions, enjoy during half-time, then refrigerate the leftovers.

2. On Monday, de-bone them and set aside.

3. Peel and cut up potatoes into bite-sized chunks—using an equal amount of each to the leftover chicken. Boil until soft, then drain.

4. Combine all ingredients in a medium to large pot—add extra wing sauce if needed—and let simmer for at least twenty minutes. Serve with crusty white bread and box wine. ]]>we got your backhttp://blog.cb2.com/home/2012/2/1/we-got-your-back.htmlsandra2012-02-01T23:30:00Zangle back behind the scenes construction cord management furniture photography product information view website

What’s so special about the backside of a credenza, bed or bookcase? Plenty if you live in a loft and use furniture to create walls, if you want to see how the cord management really works, or if you want to see absolutely everything you’re getting.

We pay special attention to every aspect of our products—including the back side—so new furniture pieces will now include a photo of this angle on our website. Check it out!

]]>migrating landscapes exhibit: torontohttp://blog.cb2.com/home/2012/1/31/migrating-landscapes-exhibit-toronto.htmlsandra2012-01-31T21:00:00ZToronto exhibit scoopphoto by: wonderferret

photo by: wonderferretWhat: Migrating Landscapes, Ontario Regional Exhibition
When: February 6 thru 24, 2012
Where: Brookfield Place

Exploring how Canadian architects and designers have been influenced by migration and immigration, Migrating Landscapes is a national architecture competition with national winners representing Canada at the 2012 Venice Biennale in Architecture—which takes place August 29 thru November 25, 2012.

Via videotapes and architectural models, this regional exhibit features 26 architects and designers sharing their stories of migration and how those experiences affected them.

The Ontario jury will select winners who will move on to a national exhibition and competition which will take place at the Winnipeg Art Gallery in March/April 2012.

With the videos and models placed into a wooden exhibition infrastructure—representing the act of settling into a new landscape—a national jury will then select Team Canada to represent Canada at the Biennale.

View, experience, and cast a vote for a favorite Ontario entry in the People’s Choice Award. ]]>redefined: the club chairhttp://blog.cb2.com/home/2012/1/30/redefined-the-club-chair.htmlsandra2012-01-30T23:30:00Zheritage history inspiration learn old is new redefinedphoto by: lacasavictoria The club armchair first appeared at the start of the 20th century but as the Art Deco movement flourished in France in the 30s, so did a new type of comfortable armchair or ‘fauteuil confortable’.

Built to last, they were typically benchmade—constructed by one experienced craftsman at their own bench/station instead of on an assembly line—with 8-way hand-tied coil springs supporting the seat and backrest, and they were covered only in dark caramel leather.

Pre-Depression Gentlemen’s Clubs flourished as wealth increased and the chairs gained popularity—giving craftsmen and designers ample opportunity to make unique versions by altering or adding details in their own style.

As time went on, dozens of different shapes appeared. Some remain favorites, such as the “moustache” and the “gendarme’s hat”—named after the shape of the backrest—but the rounded shape is the club armchair’s most iconic silhouette of all.

CB2’s club piping chair reverts to the core philosophical elements such as being well made, and comfortable with a good pitch and solid armrests for long e-reads—but covered in a cool fabric with hot piping for maximum contrast.

]]>one of a finds: drums paintinghttp://blog.cb2.com/home/2012/1/27/one-of-a-finds-drums-painting.htmlraymond2012-01-27T22:00:00Z2012 behind the scenes one of a finds spring

Each drums painting is an original handpainted oil painted canvas—numbered handsigned by one of an almost extinct community of Bollywood artists known for their kitschy, glam movie posters and sets.

With the Mumbai film industry’s move to digital vinyl billboards, the talent of these fine artists is no longer in high demand. In an effort to keep this art form alive, these limited-edition signed paintings from the hands of the original masters are commissioned exclusively for CB2.

Once required to produce up to 20 posters a day during their movie careers, this special initiative provides the artists not only a new source of income, but the opportunity for a slower pace focused on their skills and passion for painting.

Abstracting dance, music and pigment in a vibrant stylization of subjects—both representational and cubist, Eastern and Western—these elements speak to the universality of the drummer’s beat.

One of a Finds original works are offered one time only in a small reserve for collectors and enthusiasts. This special CB2 find has a limited edition release of 360.

]]>artist profile: anne connollyhttp://blog.cb2.com/home/2012/1/26/artist-profile-anne-connolly.htmlraymond2012-01-26T17:00:00ZCreativity Explored artist meet us profile

Continuing our partnership with the Creativity Explored studio in San Francisco—a nonprofit visual arts center where artists with developmental disabilities create, exhibit and sell art—painter and printmaker Anne Connolly deftly layered 12 colors to create an energetic abstract piece for the color field rug.

Born in 1951, Connolly has been an artist at Creativity Explored since 1987. While often using contrasting colors for greater impact, her distinctive style features bold, forceful brushstrokes that create multiple layers. The interaction between layers produce interesting results—when opaque, one layer obscures another underneath it. And when diluted or transparent, the layers combine to produce new colors, dynamic compositions, and visual depth to each piece.

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