From significant business changes to noteworthy product launches, there’s always something new happening in the world of design. In this biweekly roundup, AD PRO has everything you need to know.
Exhibitions
Chidy Wayne’s latest show unfolds in a ninth-century Belgian castle
Natural light floods the raw plaster and stone walls of Male Castle in suburban Bruges, making it an enchanting environment for the latest solo show of Chidy Wayne, who was recently named to AD España’s Best of España list. Echoes of the Self (on view through August 18) is presented by the Grège Gallery in Brussels. In the knights’ hall and chapel of this historic structure dating from the 800s—which most recently served as a residence for nuns—the Spanish Guinean artist has assembled minimalist figurative paintings, drawings, and, for the first time, sculptures that unite contemporary forms with a reverence for ancestral rituals.
AD PRO Hears…
…The Ticking Tent is setting up camp in Brooklyn this fall. On November 2, founders Christina Juarez and Benjamin Reynaert are bringing their one-day shopping event—and more than 40 top-notch home decor labels—to photographer Fabrizio Ferri’s sprawling Industria Superstudio in urban Williamsburg.
Design Happenings
Upstate Art Weekend put the spotlight on locally made treasures
More than 145 local arts organizations, galleries, museums, residencies, and creative projects across 10 counties came together for the fifth edition of Upstate Art Weekend in New York’s Hudson Valley and Catskill Mountains. Held July 18 through 21, notable local participants included Storm King Art Center in New Windsor, the Stissing Center for Arts and Culture in Pine Plains, and Dia Beacon. Among the memorable moments was the debut of furniture maker Michael Robbins’s dashing Terrapin collection of round, square, and rectangular coffee and side tables. On view at his showroom in Germantown, the rustic beauties are fashioned out of solid maple, walnut, or white oak and embellished with hand-stitched leather bands in the middle.
Project Spotlight
Hema Persad crafts a New London–style restaurant in Santa Monica
Very little of the original Santa Monica space that Hema Persad, founder of Sagrada Studio, transformed into the Chelsea restaurant was appealing. “The only real ‘pro’ was that it was already set up as a functional restaurant, so we kept the floor plan pretty much as is and focused on giving each area a distinct look and purpose,” explains the AD PRO Directory designer, whose firm is based in Los Angeles. “We completely renovated the bar with new arches, ambient lighting and shelving, Zoffany metallic wallpaper, and a rich green marble top with patinated brass front. We had traditional bentwood stools customized with seat cushions done in Schumacher fabric printed on commercial grounds.” Chelsea, an upscale take on London pub cuisine, welcomes guests with a custom Zellige host stand and block-print feature wall, before they are led into one of the three dining rooms decked out in Portola and Farrow & Ball paints. Even the bathroom, with its flocked velvet wallpaper and vintage Murano sconces, is a tactile retreat.
AD100 Stephen Shadley crafts a warm welcome for a Catskills historic site
Located on six acres in New York’s idyllic Hudson Valley, the Thomas Cole National Historic Site pays homage to the late artist and environmentalist, whose 19th-century house and studio are preserved on the property. But even starring roles need their supporting characters. On July 22, a ceremonial ribbon-cutting unveiled the Cole Center, the landmark’s stand-alone visitor hub designed by AD100 interior and architectural designer Stephen Shadley. The multipurpose space will host visitor orientation and a gift shop and is designed to accommodate events, talks, student groups, and creative activities. Shadley, a member of the board of trustees of the Thomas Cole National Historic Site, drew inspiration from Cole’s architectural designs when devising the new structure. His first-ever cultural building features 20-foot-high windows, which showcase the site’s spectacular panoramic views of the Catskill Mountains.
Product Launches
A design icon goes vegan