Gregory Orekhov’s “Black Square” Reflects Nature in Infinity

Art often aspires to reflect the scale and grandeur of nature. But Gregory Orekhov’s “Black Square”, a large-scale sculptural installation literally turns the world inside out into an infinity of possibilities and realities – a passageway mirroring the landscape of Moscow’s Malevich Park in multitude.

Located in an open space dedicated to Russian avant-garde artist Kazimir Malevich, Orekhov’s “Black Square” compels visitors to find passage through a path guarded by a pair of ominous black monoliths. As visitors continue to travel between each sculpture, their initial blankness gives way to “an endless corridor of reflections” created by two full-length mirrors made from highly polished stainless steel along the interior length of each monument. The effect is a disorientating reminder of nature’s presence that perseveres, a multidimensional “space” outdoors.

Orekhov utilizes the sculpture’s enormous volume to intentionally preserve its “unnaturalness” against the backdrop of the park, seamlessly integrating each structure within the built environment of the park, all the while connecting the viewer to the architectural capacity of the landscape in duplicate.

The spatial impact of the “Black Square” lies within the structure: a planned sensorial migration from the two-dimensional into a bewildering picture-with-picture reflection of the landscape reproduced ad nauseam.

The viewer turns into an accomplice, falling into an endless corridor of reflections. The dynamics of the viewer’s movement become intriguing inside the static figure…he [Orekhov] combines a crude form with a theatre of emotions that ultimately draw one in.

– Mikhail Sidlin, Curator and Art Critic

Gregory Orekhov’s work can be found in the collections of the Russian museum and MAMM, as well as in private collections in the Netherlands, USA, Italy and Jordan. In 2017 Gregory presented his work at the Saatchi Gallery in London.

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The Alphabet of Art at Warby Parker Celebrates Their 11th Birthday

Over the last decade, Warby Parker has grown in popularity for their commitment to offering stylish eyeglasses at affordable prices. In addition to their ever-expanding eyewear options, the brand continues to branch out from their online model with close to 100 retail locations throughout the United States and Canada. One of the many things that makes Warby Parker stand out is their love of art. Since the beginning, they’ve commissioned over 100 artists from around the world to create original works that can be found in and around their retail shops, on murals, prints, animations, lens cloths, enamel pins, postcards, wallpaper, cookies and much more. To celebrate their birthday, they’ve published the part encyclopedia – part retrospective, “The Alphabet of Art at Warby Parker“, that compiles all of the artwork via 352 large-format, full-color pages arranged in an organized A-to-Z format. You can learn more about the art and the artist behind it, while supporting Pupils Project, a Warby Parker program that gives free vision screenings, eye exams and glasses to children in New York City, Philadelphia and Baltimore. For every book purchased, 100% of the proceeds go to support the initiative.

Shantell Martin

Geoff McFetridge for Warby Parker Abbot Kinney (Los Angeles)

Alia Penner

Saskia Keultjes for Warby Parker Flatbush Ave. (Brooklyn, NY)

Kevin Lyons for Warby Parker King of Prussia (King of Prussia, PA)

Julia Rothman

ESPO for Warby Parker N. 6th St. (Brooklyn, NY)

Team Warby

Chris Ware

“The Alphabet of Art at Warby Parker” is available for purchase at all Warby Parker retail locations.

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There’s a New Way to Play HAUS With Kids

A quick google search and you’ll find that there aren’t many modern playhouses on the market. Most of them look too kiddish or dated. Some of them have out-of-touch, gendered design elements that are truly cringe-worthy. For the more contemporary options, you’ll have to employ some DIY skills, or pay a premium for the ready-to-build – and you still have to put it together yourself! When we found out about HAUS, we got excited because it solved all these pain points. Designed by Janos Stone, HAUS is a unique playhouse that acts as a blank canvas for kids to explore their creativity and imagination. Its design is rooted in Bauhaus principles that believe kids develop their academic, social and emotional skills from tools and environments that encourage exploratory play. Stone, whose grandparents Gyorgy and Juliet Kepes were members of the Bauhaus movement, designed this playhouse to carry on their legacy.

HAUS is made from 100% recyclable corrugated plastic. It arrives flat in a thin, convenient portfolio and can be assembled within minutes. There are only two pieces to HAUS, which is shaped and held in place by velcro-like pads. The playhouse is sturdy, durable, colorfast and wipeable.

Our littlest Design Milk intern tested it out herself and, weighing in at 23 lbs, can confirm that she could sit on the outside box and the playhouse will not cave.

The simple design of HAUS is what makes it so great. Kids can use paints and markers to draw on it, and parents can hose it down after without any real wear and tear. We opted to use black circle decals for a Yayoi Kusama-inspired look, but the options are endless for making this playhouse your own. For hours of fun for the kids (and hours of rest for the parents), this playhouse is a great way to spend your afternoon indoors or outdoors.

>>> Get your own play HAUS here! <<<

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Friday Five With Brenda Danso of BD Interior Design

Brenda Danso, a California native turned Toronto resident, brings an educational background in mental health to her interior design practice, BD Interior Design. The spaces she designs are soothing, functional, joyful and the perfect fit for her clients’ needs. Brenda prioritizes using neutral colors, natural elements and playful pops of color. Her projects range from home staging and residential design to commercial design.

Today Brenda’s joining us for Friday Five!

1. Facial Steamer
I cannot live without my in-home facial steamer. The use of this product creates an at-home spa experience. After nine minutes of using the steamer, I feel relaxed and look forward to the added benefits of brighter skin. If you can’t go to the spa, bring the experience home.

2. My Kids
My girls, ages 5 and 6, really help me get through the day. From their witty personalities to their contentment around the simple things, all are constant reminders that we must be grateful. Their presence keeps me grounded, and I could not imagine life without them.

3. Spotify Music App
We all love good music, it entertains us when we’re going for a long car ride, it helps communicate our emotion and more importantly, it can help uplift our mood. My Spotify music app has also introduced me to international artists from various countries, this has been an opportunity to become familiar with other cultures by way of music.

4. Ginger Lemon Tea
As a designer and mental health practitioner, I’m always seeking ways to unwind. Enjoying my favorite tea is a way to slow down and mindfully relax. My favorite flavor is ginger lemon, as I don’t feel the urge to add sugar to it. Taking a tea break, intentionally, encourages recovery and offers a calming effect.

5. Foliage
A styled space is incomplete without foliage, adding a touch of greenery breathes life into it. One of my favorite flowers is hydrangea arranged in a vase, or stems taken from outside to bring in natural elements. During this time, we must find healthy ways to bring the outdoors in.

Work by Brenda Danso:

Photo: Janelle Gokule

Photo: Janelle Gokule

Photo: Janelle Gokule

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A Wyoming Escape Merging European Design + Asian-Inspired Minimalism

A California-based couple gets to escape to the Tetons in Wyoming to their Stone Ridge residence anytime they want a change of scenery. CLB Architects designed the home with a minimalist contemporary form as opposed to the typical rustic style common in the West. Overall, the house spans 5,735 square feet and boasts a European and Asian-inspired minimalist aesthetic that welcomes them, as well as their family and friends.

The material choices are kept simple with the exterior clad in silvertip limestone, red cedar, anodized aluminum cladding and steel accents, and then completed with a cedar shingle roof. White oak, light stone, white walls and steel details keep the interior clean and contemporary, with the addition of a color palette in neutral and gray colors, along with blue and gold accents.

The entryway is flanked with glass walls that bring natural light into the double height space. In the center a trio of ottomans reference the pebbles and boulders arranged in the courtyard.

A minimal steel staircase leads to the second floor common areas – a living room, dining room and kitchen from Poliform.

The second floor pavilion features vaulted ceilings clad in wood planks. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows frame views of the surrounding trees and ski resort off to the west.

The blue and gold color palette is inspired by the homeowner’s collection of Andy Warhol art.

Photos by Aaron Kraft.

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