Art Np2

JULY 15 TO JULY 30, 2011 Reception and open house Sunday, July 17 1 - 5 p.m. a tour of the Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park will be available at 2 p.m. free and open to the public FINDING THE LINE - Artwork by Jeff Stevenson made during and inspired by the Ragdale Residency. As a thank you to GSU for support that made the Ragdale Residency possible, this exhibition features the 42" x 360" (3.5 foot x 30 foot) mixed media work on paper titled Finding the Line, and additional pieces made by artist Jeff Stevenson during and since the April residency.

JULY 5 - JULY 12, 2011 Graduate thesis exhibition by Wayon Collins, "Don't Shoot the Messenger" will be on display in the Visual Arts Gallery at Governors State University from July 5, 2011 to July 12, 2011. The exhibit and the closing reception on Tuesday, July 12 from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. are free and open to the public. Collins' work explores current events and crisis through comic inspired screen printed posters and intaglio printed portraits of real life characters he thinks you should know. Gallery Hours: M/W 2-4:30 T/Th/F 5-9 Saturday Noon-5 by appointment 708.534.4021, email artsgrad@govst.edu

James Farm: Joshua Redman, Aaron Parks, Matt Penman, Eric Harland [+Digital Booklet]

Ann Petry The Street is a novel written by Ann Petry in 1946. When first published the book was widely read and sold a million copies. It is an American classic that tells the story of Lutie Johnson, a loner, a mother, and thoughtful African American woman reaching for the American dream from a poverty stricken Harlem neighborhood. Chapter one describes 116th in Harlem, as cold, discouraging, and strewn with garbage. (1-2) Some readers might ask why Lutie chooses to live in such a desolate and gloomy place. Lutie and her son Bub move to escape the negative influence of her alcoholic father and his drunken girlfriend after being forced to move in with them following the breakup of her marriage. Unfortunately, she cannot afford to live anywhere else.  Her income from her job as a file clerk is barely enough to cover her rent and other bills and so it is Lutie verses the street. The omniscient narrator allows the reader to see how Lutie’s life came to be through her many, m...

Florida beaches can be beautiful … but floods are far from fun (and all too frequent). This house, however, seems to welcome (or challenge) oncoming waves with a huge sweeping arc of its own. This impressive mid-sized vacation-and-guest residence is situated on a thin barrier island, straddling a forested strip of Casey Key turf sandwiched in surf on both sides. Designed by Totems Inc to mimic canoe and ship hulls, glue-laminated pine beams bring wooden warmth to the inside (and reference surrounding oaks) while allowing curves that would be impossible with traditional lumber. Sometimes the best home property insurance for a flood lies in the architecture rather than a contract. Lofting the main living quarters a story above the ground provides built-in management, as damage is much harder to clean up in occupied interior zones (and mold is a serious issue). The simple main-floor plan consists of a single bedroom, bathroom, living area and kitchenette – a cozy bed...

By Steph in Architecture & Design , Furniture & Interiors , Travel & Places , Urban Images Imagine enjoying your own little private enclave with a vast outdoor space and virtually unlimited view – right in the middle of London, perched atop the Queen Elizabeth Hall, no less. A competition organized by Living Architecture and Artangel called ‘ A Room for London ‘ sought submissions for a temporary one-bedroom ‘hotel’ that will be available to two guests per night for all of 2012, and this entry – by Design Initiatives – is almost cloud-like, floating in the space between the ground and the sky. Design Initiatives puts forth this proposal as a zen, contemplative place of withdrawal and retreat even in the midst of 2012 London, where the Olympic Games will certainly incite more activity, noise and rowdiness than ever. The abstracted curvilinear shape makes the temporary living space a sculptural object, acting as both a focal...

By Steve in Architecture & Design , History & Factoids , Travel & Places Kuwait officially achieved independence 50 years ago today, so please join us in celebrating the country’s most famous architectural monuments, the Kuwait Towers. Designed by Swedish architects and built by a Yugoslav construction firm in the 1970s, this trio of soaring spires spearheads the tiny, wealthy Persian Gulf nation’s march into a second half-century of oil-based prosperity. Liquid Gold (image via: Fasi_Cooldude ) The Kuwait Towers ( Burjan al-Kuwait ) are located in downtown Kuwait City, just off the seaward side of Arabian Gulf Street. They occupy a promontory shaped like the curled haft of a traditional dagger that juts into Kuwait Bay. (images via: Icukuwait , Arabic Pictures and Hussain Shah ) There are no other highrise buildings in the general area of the Kuwait Towers, which contributes to their easy visibility and popularity with photog...

By Steph in Architecture & Design , Furniture & Interiors , Travel & Places Top-shelf cocktails, fine cuisine and unparalleled views of some of the most exciting cities in the world – what can beat that? These 13 sky bars represent the coolest, most chic rooftop recreation spots in Bangkok, London, Mexico City, Melbourne and of course, New York. Fire pits, live music, movies and stargazing only serve to sweeten the experience. Sky Bar at Sirocco, Bangkok, Thailand (images via: femtalks ) Ascend to the heights of one of Bangkok’s top luxury hotels – the second-tallest building in the city – and gaze over the glass walls of the rooftop deck at the sprawling metropolis below. Not only does The Dome State Tower boast the visually thrilling Sky Bar, but the adjoining restaurant, Sirocco, is said to serve food that’s even more impressive than the view. Rooftop Cinema, Melbourne, Australia (images via: world architecture news ) Thi...