The Artful Life: 5 Things Galerie Editors Love This Week
From a must-see art and design exhibition in Bridgehampton to a striking rug collection by Galerie Creative Mind Avram Rusu
1. Frampton Co & Berry Campbell Gallery Present “Women Choose Women” Show
Starting on August 5 in Bridgehampton, Exhibition The Barn will be filled with works by artists such as Lynne Drexler, Elaine De Kooning, Nanette Carter, Elizabeth Osborne, Ethel Schwabacher, Carmen D’Apollonio, Yvonne Thomas, and others courtesy of a collaboration between interior design firm Frampton Co and Berry Campbell Gallery. Titled “Women Choose Women,” a nod to New York Cultural Center’s 1973 exhibition of the same name, this semi-centennial exhibition was curated by the gallery’s co-founders, Christine Berry and Martha Campbell, as well as designer Elena Frampton and will feature works ranging in mediums from painting to collectible design. Highlights include artist Ethel Schwabacher’s Wild Honey, on public view for the first time since 1987, as well as a rare work on paper by Elaine de Kooning. The exhibition is on view through September 9. —Shelby Black
2. Brown Jordan Celebrates 75th Anniversary of Walter Lamb Collection
Architect Walter Lamb’s sinuous outdoor furniture, made from salvaged metal tubing and cotton rope from the sunken ships of Pearl Harbor, became synonymous with 1940s California design. Originally introduced in 1947 with Brown Jordan, the collection is being heralded with a 75th anniversary celebration that includes an installation at the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield, Connecticut. Today rendered in lightweight aluminum and available in more than 20 different frame colors and six shades of rope, Walter Lamb’s armchair and contoured chaise are situated with the array’s occasional and dining tables on the institution’s picturesque patio and rolling lawns. “It’s just as relevant and beloved today as it was when it was first introduced 75 years ago,” Steve Elton, Brown Jordan’s Chief Brand Curator, says in a statement. “We will continue to evolve and expand the collection because we are always looking for new interpretations of a classic design.” —Jill Sieracki
3. MoMA PS1’s Warm Up Series Marks 25 Seasons
An art world summer staple, MoMA PS1’s Warm Up, is in full swing. This year marks its 25th season, and a series of eclectic musical performances and DJ sets are taking over the MoMA PS1 Courtyard every Friday night in August. A lineup of experimental artists including Veronica Vasicka, Bobby Beethoven, Embaci, and Crystallmess take center stage, with a psychedelic set designed by Raque Ford. Peruse the museum’s current exhibitions by Daniel Lind-Ramos, Iiu Susiraja, Onyeka Igwe, and Malikah and enjoy an evening of art, music, dancing, and food by Street Vendor Project. — Stefanie Li
4. Art+Loom Launches Capsule Rug Collection with Avram Rusu Studio
Over the past two decades, Romanian-born architect and designer Andreea Avram Rusu has carved out a niche by producing inventive light fixtures that take cues from an array of diverse sources, among them street art and banana flowers. Now, the Brooklyn talent—who was named one of Galerie’s 2023 Creative Minds—has teamed up with Florida-based rug maker Art+Loom for a special collaboration of floor coverings that perfectly complement her existing designs. “I wanted to express the luminosity and intricate details that are possible with hand-blown glass in a two-dimensional textural medium,” said Rusu, who has unveiled four hand-knotted offerings: Crushed, Halo, Continuum, and the Twist Runner. (Notably, the pieces are all made to order, meaning color, size, and pile height are customizable.) Shown above is the Continuum, which embodies the frenetic energy of her lighting series of the same name, which adorn the walls. —Geoffrey Montes
5. Striking Celestial Display by Leo Villareal Opens at Guild Hall in East Hampton
On August 5, a new installation by celebrated artist Leo Villareal titled “Celestial Garden” will open at Guild Hall in East Hampton. In one of the new galleries thoughtfully designed by Peter Pennoyer, there is a never-before-exhibited monumental sculpture crafted with hundreds of LEDs measuring over ten feet high and 28 feet wide encased in a vinyl membrane. To experience the dazzling piece, visitors are invited to sit on zero-gravity chairs designed by the artist himself. The work features moving light forms created with custom software that orchestrates the compositions, and an audio soundscape accompanies the visual display. Known for his mesmerizing large-scale public art projects around the world, the Hamptons-based artist has transformed such landmarks as Westminster Bridge in London, the Bay Bridge in San Francisco, and the façade of the Brooklyn Academy of Music. “Villareal’s monumental, mural-sized light sculpture references the history of mark-making and painting,” says director of visual arts, Melanie Crader. “It will resonate with our visitors as artists have always been attracted to the East End of Long Island for its stunning natural light properties. —Lucy Rees