Urbanism 29 October
Selector.com launches in New Zealand 
This week sees the launch of selector.com, a new online product database for architects and designers. But why should you be interested?
If you need to source architecture, design and landscape products quickly and easily, then this is the site for you. But it’s also a useful resource for anyone interested in design products.
Suppliers and products are grouped under keywords, so try typing in “chair” and you’ll get a list of design-led places to park yourself, as well as the contact details of people who’ll sell them to you. Basically, it’s a way for us to present all of our industry contacts to you, in one constantly updated spot.
Try it now. Go to www.selector.com
and sign up for our fortnightly newsletter, and you’ll go into the draw to win a case of wine.
Ain’t No Crime 
It’s a measure of the extent to which attitudes to graffiti art have changed when a bus company voluntarily surrenders its rolling stock to a spraycan team – for the public good, no less. A new project featuring the stencil work of Auckland’s Cut Collective on the backs of ten Metrolink and Link buses launched in September this year and will run through November. The designs are intended to provoke thought on issues ranging from swine flu to the recession to tall poppy syndome: Ain’t No Crime to Shine.
The project was sponsored by Tiger Beer, which is giving away two six-packs to one lucky winner. To enter, email sam.eichblatt@agm.co.nz with the answer to the question: How many artists are in Cut Collective? Entries close 11 November.
>> Visit http://www.cutcollective.co.nzPortrait of a Practice 
Running until 15 November at The National Portrait Gallery in Canberra, an interesting new exhibition took seven architect teams and asked them to create an installation to reflect their creative philosophy. The installations act as a ‘portrait’ of their practice alongside new black and white photographic portraits of the creative individuals and groups behind the work, which are all printed in the uniform A1 size to link the exhibition together. Each team is known for its contemporary and distinctive work and contribution to Australia’s design culture. They include CO-AP, Denton Corker Marshall, Johnson Pilton Walker, Kerstin Thompson Architects, Sean Godsell Architects, TERROIR and Troppo Architects.
>> Visit www.portrait.gov.au/exhibit/architectureBig in Lodz 
The Lodz Design Festival in Poland opened its doors last week to around 3,500 visitors, reflecting the country’s growing appetite and talent for fresh design. The three main shows, curated by Agnieszka Jacobson-Cielecka, Marek Cecula and Tomek Rygalik were grouped under the theme, ‘My Way’ and situated in an old textile factory, with satellite events taking place in other locations around the historical Polish industrial centre. These included a series of lectures and workshops, an architectural film festival and a Schools Review exhibition with work from Europe and the US.
Another special feature was a visit by Daniel Libeskind, who was born in Lodz and signed a letter indicating his commitment to regenerating 90 hectares of land in the central city. Watch this space… Lodz could well be on its way to an East Berlin-style rebirth.
Shelling out … 
And lastly, for a bit of surreal kitsch that walks a fine line between art and ornament, Cathy Gould is exhibiting a range of shell and coral pieces at the Design 55 gallery, opening Wednesday 4 November. Using only coral sourced sustainably from the Great Barrier Reef, these pieces are a nice update on the Nana-chic of shell art.
>> Visit Visit www.design55.co.nz www.design55.co.nz
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