Urbanism 3 February 2009
Louis Vuitton Pacific Series
Cup fever has hit Auckland with the start of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series on the weekend.
Yachting is a sport centred around design so it is apt that Louis Vuitton, the sponsor of the Louis Vuitton Cup Series worked with New Zealand design company Coast in the design and furnishing of the VIP hospitality areas at the Pacific Cup base. The company’s design team has utilised many techniques and materials found the yacht-building industry, ensuring that all of its furniture and accessories will withstand New Zealand’s outdoor environment while looking stylish. Coast then also collaborated with design company Essenze to accessorise the VIP lounges with lamps, glassware and pottery from many of New Zealand’s leading artisans.
For those of you who wont be able to slip into the VIP area, there are many other art and design nooks open to the public. Head to the Louis Vuitton store to see the exhibition Wind and Sails that chronicles the history of the Louis Vuitton Cup and the America’s Cup through photography. The exhibition runs from Jan 29 to Feb 15 at Louis Vuitton, 56 Queen Street. And for those wandering through the yachting village, the sponsors’ tents, especially BMW’s white cube imported from Germany for the occasion, are also worth a look.
>>Visit http://www.louisvuitton-pacificseries.com/
Black Grace
Fresh from a sell out tour to North America and Canada, including a season at the prestigious Kennedy Centre in Washington DC, internationally acclaimed Dance Company Black Grace presents Gathering Clouds, a brand new full-length work created by founder and Artistic Director Neil Ieremia, which promises to be “beautiful in its fury”. Gathering Clouds will debut at the opening weekend of the Auckland Festival 2009 at The Civic, before continuing to major centres around the North Island including Wellington, Manukau, Kerikeri and Hamilton.
>>Visit www.blackgrace.co.nz
Yinka Shonibare
Auckland Art Gallery is delighted to present for the first time in New Zealand the work of one the United Kingdom’s most sought after contemporary artists Yinka Shonibare MBE. The exhibition Yinka Shonibare MBE, named after the artist himself, runs from 28 February 2009 to 1 June 2009, before touring to the Brooklyn Museum in New York and then onto the Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC. Shonibare works with diverse artistic media to explore ideas about African contemporary identity and the legacy of European colonialism in the present. His work seeks to playfully stimulate debate about culture, authenticity and issues of identity today.
>>Visit www.aucklandartgallery.govt.nz
Editor’s Blog
I find myself turning into a dribbly cliché as I say to myself, ‘I can’t believe it’s already February’, Forgive my tired expressions, my still-holidaying mind is incredulous that we’ve already knocked off a twelfth of the year.
The exciting part about February is that the latest issue of Urbis is out now full of the latest and best design. With recent holiday homes in New Zealand and Australia, an interview with hot Australian furniture designer Trent Jansen, a beautiful and voyeuristic look in at people’s collections as well as art, architecture, cars and gadgets, this issue is just the thing to read over the a long weekend to help take your mind off the rest of the news reports.
Don’t worry, I’m not going to launch into the current economic climate (which, by the way, is a terrific term, we can just about tell ourselves that this is just a brief patch of inclement weather with sunny skies on the horizon). I shall remain an optimist even whist I batten down the hatches.
But what these, um, blustery, conditions have made me think about is that old adage that money can’t buy style. Everyone has a friend who seems to spend nothing on clothes, but always looks amazing. Some people seem to have that golden touch with finding ‘vintage’ gems at the Sallies, but I’ve recently discovered that these style-makers can also lay down a lot of dosh on beautiful pieces, but with the rigorous understanding that less is more, quality rather than quantity, patience is a virtue, what other chestnuts can I come up with…? My most stylish friend wears the same clothes all the time, but they are layered and tailored in infinite combinations that that scrap of Zambesi always looks fresh even though it is five years old.
As with Zen and cricket, self control is hugely important is achieving style on a budget. Which is why I usually topple. But I’m working on it. And what better time to focus on a bit of self control than now. I’m not talking about holding yourself back from spending, even Dr Bollard is telling us to not tighten our belts more than necessary. But it will be that pause between a rush of excitement and the cash register that becomes significant. Why buy three cheap tops that will lose their shape when you could buy one that you love that values design, craftsmanship and longevity? It’s the same with furniture. Sure, you could fill a whole house with cheap, veneered, mass-market pieces but I’d rather have a single stunning couch or chair and then let everyone else sit on beanbags. But then, I’ve always liked beanbags. Nicole Stock
ECC Lamps
In the current issue of Urbis we incorrectly attributed three beautiful lamps to the wrong furniture company. These stunning lamps: the Obi Lamp; Muse; and the Bait Lamp are all available at ECC Lighting + Furniture.
>>Visit www.ecc.co.nz
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