As they say on their site, Re-worked is a non profit industrial design and product manufacturing company that invests in green technology and social enterprise. What caught my eye was their composite board made from recycled HIPS (high impact polystyrene) and coffee grounds. All sourced and made in the UK, this material, Çurface, is water […]
One-minute blog of interesting things
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As a working contemporary artist I visit many exhibitions and shows, but sometimes it is the things I see that are part of daily life that capture my interest. My one-minute blog of interesting things reflects the fact that although we are increasingly time-poor, there is creativity all around us. Email me at info@carolinebanks.co.uk with your name and email to receive a weekly post that only takes 1 minute to read.
London Design Festival – Open House London
Although not officially part of the London Design Festival, Open House celebrates buildings or parts of buildings which we wouldn’t normally be able to visit. These include such iconic institutions such as The Bank of England, Lloyds of London and BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir to The Redundant Architects Recreation Association. Every London borough has something […]
Urban Landscapes in the 20th Century
A fascinating series of events begins this month at the Garden Museum in London : From Garden City to Green City, examining different aspects of urban landscapes. Topics cover, amongst others, food in the metropolis, realising the green city, landscape in the garden city. Visit the website to find out more.
Kirsti Taiviola – one of the makers showing at Origin next month
I’m really looking forward to seeing Finnish maker Kirsti Taiviola‘s new lighting work at Origin. She produces the most beautiful glass lights where the fixture is a vehicle for the entrancement of light. Watch this video of her preparing new work for Origin. Kirsti Taiviola in the studio
Design a garden bollard?
I spotted these last week, the first time I’ve seen “greened” bollards on a main road. Painted and knitted yes, but not covered with plants. This is an authorised intervention but I can see it developing into a guerilla gardening target. Any others spotted anywhere? Please send them in and I’ll include them.
Catherine Hammerton
I had mainly seen her cushions and textile designs which are pretty but think that Catherine Hammerton‘s wallpapers, particularly the 3D ones, are worth showing you. If you’re a pet owner, maybe you should stick to the cushions. And don’t forget the kids!
Swarm Home – Reusing and recreating
I’ve been reading about this company and really admire what they’re doing. Leslie Oschmann, former visual director at Anthropologie, has always been interested in gathering stuff from markets and creating something different from it. She’s now based in Amsterdam and it obviously suits her. Here are a few bits that caught my eye, especially the […]
Mizuho Koizumi silverware
I’ve been meaning to tell you about Mizuho’s work for a while now as she’s been working for several years. She graduated in 2001 from the Royal College of Art and is based in Cockpit Studios so I see her pieces at least twice a year when the studios have their open weekends. She’s focused […]
Zpine Chair by Eravolution
Eric Tong, the founder of Eravolution set up last year has devised a technique he calls honeycomb which is cheap, lightweight and strong: all qualities from the original bee structure but replicated in wood. It is additionally renewable and biodegradable being made from native birch. The chairs were launched at Tent last year and more […]
Road sign in London – if only…
I couldn’t resist photographing this the other day. Essex Road is very rich in roadside art. My apologies that it isn’t a great photo but this was just before one of the many downpours that lunchtime.