Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Christoph Niemann's Art

Master of the Universe
http://niemann.blogs.nytimes.com

Useful link:
www.christophniemann.com

Brilliant. I loved it.

Random Thoughts

The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt.

- Bertrand Russell

Spot on.

Telling Tales

The V&A's new exhibition Telling Tales delves into the fantastical world of contemporary design, taking visitors on a mind-blowing journey through furniture, lighting and ceramics, all inspired by the spirit of storytelling. Check out the link www.vam.ac.uk

Color Grading Natural Zircon

Brilliant idea. I think the zircon hues and appearances are very similar to to those of champagne (and cognac) diamonds. Hats off to Raja Shah! The existing C1-C7 color-grading system can be easily adapted to quartz + topaz. Why re-invent the (color) wheel? Spot on.

Next Generation Biofuels

(via Guardian) Gene scientist Craig Venter has announced plans to develop next-generation biofuels from algae in a $600m partnership with oil giant Exxon Mobil. His company, Synthetic Genomics Incorporated (SGI), will develop fuels that can be used by cars or aeroplanes without the need for any modification of their engines. I hope the new technology is economically viable and effective.

Useful links:
www.jcvi.org
www.syntheticgenomics.com
www.carbontrust.co.uk

Global Business BBC

Peter Day presents the story of Hiroyoshi Ishibashi + Weathernews Inc.
www.weathernews.com

Inspiring story, really.

Engineered Transparency

Engineered Transparency: The Technical, Visual, and Spatial Effects of Glass by Michael Bell + Jeannie Kim is a fascinating book about innovative glass technology + its impact in our daily lives.

Useful links:
www.wernersobek.com
www.icaboston.org
www.toledomuseum.org

Monday, July 13, 2009

Postcards Of Lost Royals

Reminiscent of a forgotten era of glamour, grace, and regal power, Postcards of Lost Royals brings history to life and distills the essence of a long-vanished world of royalty. One of my favorite, really.

Random Thoughts

Some extremely sharp investment advisors can get you in at the bottom of the market. Some extremely sharp ones can get you out at the top. They are never the same people.

- Gary North
www.garynorth.com

Spot on.

Rufus Wainwright

Rufus Wainwright's operatic debut Prima Donna has been unveiled at the Manchester international festival.

Check out the link www.rufuswainwright.com + www.mif.co.uk

Melbourne Recital Center + Theater Company

The Melbourne Recital Center and Theater Company, designed by ARM has won the 2009 Victorian Architecture medal for successfully crossing design boundaries (for public architecture + interior architecture + interior architecture). Congratulations!

Useful links:
www.a-r-m.com.au
www.melbournerecital.com.au
www.architecture.com.au

Scott Harrison's Story

Clean, Sexy Water. People always ask: What can I do to make a difference? That’s where Scott Harrison comes in. Read on. It's an inspiring story. Thanks Nicholas for the post.

Useful link:
http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com

Create Your Own Economy

Create Your Own Economy: The Path to Prosperity in a Disordered World by Tyler Cowen is a great book that will open your mind to think differently. A must read.


Useful links:

Michael Arthur

Meet Michael Arthur, a pen and ink artist who specializes in live drawing of theater, dance and music rehearsals. www.michaeldarthur.com

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Fabio Cammarata

Fabio Cammarata's unique pendant collections featuring precious people were brilliant. They all have a story.

Useful link:
www.fabiocammarata.it

Jorge Colombo Update

Jorge Colombo sketches limo drivers using the Brushes application (iPhone) and his fingertips. www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/tny/finger-painting

Significant Objects Project

A curious way to promote writing. Storytelling in a different way. Really.
http://significantobjects.com

Bill Cunningham Viewpoint

On the Street / Elevated
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/07/11/fashion/20090712-street-feature/index.html?hp#

It's fashion for the 21st century. This is the future. Thanks Bill. I loved it.

Art Market Update

Orientalist art. Great review. Two crucial lessons for vendors in recessionary market: don’t sell unless you have to, and don’t be greedy in setting estimates. If the low estimate is pitched at a high level, buyers sense greed in the air and tend to hold off from bidding. In a buyers’ market, purchasers like to feel they have got a bargain, especially if they are spending a lot of money. Spot on.

Useful links:
www.cantonart.org
www.sothebys.com
www.christies.com

Karl Taro Greenfeld Viewpoint

Luxe Redux. Lavish. Silent. Undisturbed. Visiting luxury boutiques these days can seem like stepping into a time capsule. Spot on. Karl's report on the luxury sector was brilliant. Today the brand + consumer disconnect is real. How do you sell luxury in a post-luxury age? That's a two million dollar question!

Useful link:
www.karltarogreenfeld.com

Soul Power

Soul Power is an extravagantly entertaining documentary by Jeffrey Levy-Hinte. Don't miss. Check out the link www.sonyclassics.com/soulpower

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Heard On The Street

I don’t want to make money buying and selling gems. The idea is all about acquiring knowledge, and access to the top gems of the world.

Madécasse

Madécasse, made from cacao grown in Madagascar’s naturally organic forests tastes good. Try it. It’s traded fairly and is environmentally friendly.

Useful link:
www.madecasse.com

Jancis Robinson Viewpoint

Take the sommelier home with you
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/7033f200-6ce0-11de-af56-00144feabdc0.html

Useful links:
www.jancisrobinson.com
www.ft.com/arts/columnists/robinson
www.sarmentwine.com

Great review. Thanks Jancis.

The Hermitage Amsterdam

The Hermitage’s new satellite museum in Amsterdam should encourage visitors to spend an extra day in the Dutch capital. Certainly, yes and yes. Check out the link www.hermitage.nl

How Flowers Conquered The World

I have always wondered about flowering plants dominating the landscape. How did this happen? Have you ever stopped to think just how important they are? I love flowers. What would this world be like without flowers?

Useful links:
www.ncp.wur.nl/UK/Staff/Berendse
www.aew.wur.nl/uk/staff/MS

Fewer, Better Things

Antwerp hopes to keep its sparkle. Antwerp has certainly secured its place as capital of the diamond trade - 80% of the world's rough diamonds and 50% of all polished stones pass through the city. But these are hard times for diamonds. It's a fact!

Useful links:
www.awdc.be
www.antwerpdiamondbourse.net
www.worldfed.com

Marko Djurdjevic

Meet Marvel’s Marko Djurdjevic, the concept artist/artistic genius + explore The Marvel Art of Marko Djurdjevic.

Useful link:
www.sixmorevodka.com

Friday, July 10, 2009

Random Thoughts

An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less, until eventually he knows everything about nothing.

- Anonymous

How true!

Kalu Ganga River Auctioned For Gem Mining

For the first time in Sri Lanka history one of the main rivers (Kalu Ganga in Kahangamuwa) has been auctioned for Rs. 30.6 million by the Gem and Jewelry Authority for gem mining. Hard to believe, really.

Useful link:
www.srilankagemautho.com

Peter Galison + Robb Moss

Secrecy: www.secrecyfilm.com

Secret knowledge vs Open knowledge. A great documentary.

Jewelry Market Update

In a Downturn, Jewelers Aren’t So Precious. In this economy, many consumers would rather keep their money in their wallets than on their fingers, necks or ears. As people re-examine their budgets, jewelry is turning out to be one of the easiest places to cut back — or trade down (NYT). The half-carat is the new three-carat (Hayley Corwick). Spot on.

Artworks By Old Masters

Old Master price soars at auction. I think luck also played an important role. The painting was expected to fetch up to £250,000, but it sold for £1.3m as two bidders battled it out.

Useful links:
www.sothebys.com
www.bonhams.com

Michael Moore's New Film

Michael Moore has announced the title of his forthcoming documentary: Capitalism: A Love Story. Check out the link www.michaelmoore.com

Chaim Even Zohar Viewpoint

Playing with Figures
http://www.idexonline.com/portal_FullEditorial.asp

Useful links:
www.diamondintelligence.com
www.mckinsey.com
www.ndol.org

Fascinating post. Thanks Chaim.

Thursday, July 09, 2009

Diamonds In The Rough

The human rights abuses in the Marange Diamond Fields of Zimbabwe has been shockingly horrific. Could the Kimberley Process (KP) simply ban diamonds from one area? No one knows. I think the government of Zimbabwe + World Diamond Council should take some proactive steps, and do the right thing.

Useful links:
www.hrw.org
www.kimberleyprocess.com
www.worlddiamondcouncil.com
www.jvclegal.org

The Knot Report

What Brides Say About Rings....and You. What I found intriguing was that stone cut/shape and style/setting vied for the most important attributes, with 53% and 52% respectively ranking them as #1 or #2. Metal was the third most important attribute, followed by stone size and price/value tied for fourth place. The least important attributes for engagement ring shoppers were the retailers and designers. Interesting trend indeed. Thanks Deborah for the insightful article.

Useful links:
www.theknot.com
www.weddingchannel.com

Ponyo

Japan’s Master Animator to Be Honored in U.S. Visit


Useful links:
-
I am a huge Hayao Miyazaki fan and my favorite is Spirited Away.

Random Thoughts

History shows that the art market follows the stock market and the real estate market. I thought the recent contemporary auctions were pretty good. Every artist is different. You may see continued softening with some artists. When you have works of great quality, there will always be buyers who will want to step up to the plate, who will buy in good times and bad.

- Eli Broad
www.broadfoundation.org

Spot on.

Manchester International Festival 2009

If you are in Manchester, U.K, for the festival, don't miss Zaha Hadid’s extraordinary Bach concert chamber. Though a temporary one, it's a real masterpiece.

Useful links:
www.mif.co.uk
www.zaha-hadid.com

The Jameel International Art Prize

Between Islamic and contemporary art
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8138175.stm

An exhibition of nine artists and designers who've been short-listed for the prize is being held at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Corot To Monet

In pictures: Corot to Monet at the National Gallery
www.nationalgallery.org.uk

Brilliant, really.

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

The Road To Samarcand

The Road to Samarcand: An Adventure by Patrick O'Brian is a brilliant book and has economic wisdom and adventure. A must read.

Georgia O'Keeffe

Dove/O'Keeffe: Circles of Influence
www.clarkart.edu
www.okeeffemuseum.org

Great review. Thanks Judith.

IDEO Toolkit

IDEO's field-tested tools for social impact via Human-Centered Design Toolkit was brilliant.

Useful links:
www.gatesfoundation.org
http://designthinking.ideo.com

Milton Glaser

A new documentary by Wendy Keys: Milton Glaser: To Inform and Delight
Milton Glaser is the modern renaissance man. Don't miss.

200 Top Art Collectors 2009

The ARTnews 200 Top Collectors
http://www.artnewsonline.com/issues/article.asp?art_id=2702

Great compilation from a lot of great sources.

Swarovski Crystallized

You be the artist + create your own jewelry.
www.crystallized.com

Coral Update

The Coral Reef Alliance + Greenpeace USA + SeaWeb + Sierra Club + the World Wildlife Fund + other conservation organizations, along with more than 100 marine scientists, have sent signed letters to the U.S. Congress and the White House urging lawmakers to reauthorize the U.S. Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, legislation that was designed to support research and management of coral reefs. Check out the link www.coral.org

Useful links:
www.greenpeace.org
www.seaweb.org
www.sierraclub.org
www.worldwildlife.org
www.tooprecioustowear.org
www.cites.org
www.tiffanyandcofoundation.org