Fairs | NYC, ICFF

Design Fairs | NYC, ICFF at the Convention Center

Spring is in full bloom, so is ICFF, the 22nd annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.

I have always enjoyed the fresh and innovative ideas, research on new materials often presented by the ICFF exhibitors, especially when compared to the usual stiffness and staleness of the recent current architectural projects in NYC.

The usual presence of established manufacturers --- such as Bernarhdt Design, Herman Miller, Kohler, Wilsonart --- is accompanied by a multitude of designers and schools, including Parson, the New School for Design, Pratt Institute, Yale School of Architecture. Particularly interesting among the design school is Art Future Design School from Russia, presenting furniture created from common Russian iconic objects, as matryoska.

"Green" and nature are the again the buzzwords in materials and design, often just used as cliché and quite questionable. Where is the sustainability of reclaimed wood imported from Asia ---what about transportation? And what is natural and sustainable in the recreation of trees, branches and flowers in steel and plastic?

Quite interesting ---although not new--- is the Canadian Molo line of products realized in non-woven polyethylene material, trade name Tyvek©. From modular walls to LED lighting this extremely lightweight material offers a very interesting vocabulary of forms.

Finally I found particularly of interest ---probably as related to my upcoming book on architectural geometry (to be published by Bentley Institute Press)--- the MGX by Materialise: functional and sculptural object realized in 3d-printing.

One missing element from the green + sustainability shebang: the human body.

Well, enough words; below a few images .

Tyvek© Walls and Lighting by Molo

3d Printing in Lighting Fixture by MGX by Materialise

LG Seating

LED Lightinh by QisDesign

Calendar........................................................... | May 10 - May 16

Friday 18:30 | Rome, Art Opening

Anselm Kiefer, Die Ordnung der Engel, Galleria Lorcan O'Neill | Via d'Orti D'Alibert 1

Friday, 18-20 | New York, Art Opening

"Reflection", Peter Blum Soho | 99 Wooster Street

Saturday, 10-17 | New York, Design

22nd International Contemporary Furniture Fair ICFF | JK Javits Convention Center |800-272-show

Saturday 18-20 | New York, Art Opening

Resurrectine, Ronald Feldman Fine Arts | 31 Mercer Street

Saturday 18-21 | New York, Cocktail Party (check for invitation)

Walt Disney Signature, Cappellini Showroom | 157 Wooster Street

Saturday 18-21 | New York, Cocktail Party (check for invitation)

Poltrona Frau, Milano Design Village | 157 Wooster Street

Saturday 18-21 | New York, Cocktail Party (check for invitation)

Flos, Milano Design Village | 152 Greene Street

Saturday 18-21 | New York, Cocktail Party (check for invitation)

Gaetano Pesce "Notturno", Cassina Showroom | 151 Wooster Street

Monday, 8:30-18:30 | NYC, Performance

Kate Gilmore, Walk the Walk, Public Art Fund | Bryant Park, Sixth Avenue at 41st Street

Sunday, 10-17 | New York, Design

22nd International Contemporary Furniture Fair ICFF | JK Javits Convention Center |800-272-show

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Monday, 18-20 | NYC, Book Signing

Annie Cohen-Solal, Leo & His Circle The Life of Leo Castelli , Gagosian Shop | 988 Madison Avenue

Tuesday, 8:30-18:30 | NYC, Performance

Kate Gilmore, Walk the Walk, Public Art Fund | Bryant Park, Sixth Avenue at 41st Street

Tuesday, 19-21 | NYC, Art Opening

Bas Princen, Refuge, Five Cities, Storefront for Art and Architecture | 97 Kenmare Street

Wednesday, 8:30-18:30 | NYC, Performance

Kate Gilmore, Walk the Walk, Public Art Fund | Bryant Park, Sixth Avenue at 41st Street

Wednesday, 8:30-18:30 | NYC, Artist Lecture

Harvey Tulcenksy "Notebook Project , Center for Book Arts | 28 W 27 Street

Thursday, 16:00-18:30 | Bari, Lectio Magistralis

Jannis Kounellis “Scirocco”, Universita' degli Studi | Piazza Umberto I

Thursday, 19:00 | NYC, Panel Discussion

Intersections: Social Issues in Contemporary Art, Remember the Upstair Lounge, No Longer Empty | 447 West 16 Street

Thursday, 8:30-18:30 | NYC, Performance

Kate Gilmore, Walk the Walk, Public Art Fund | Bryant Park, Sixth Avenue at 41st Street

Thursday, 19-22 | New York, Art Opening

Ray Sell, Stand Yer Ground, Leo Kesting Gallery | 812 Washington Street

Thursday, 16-21 | New York, Opening

Celebrate Contemporary Design, New York Design Center | 200 Lexington Avenue

Thursday, 18-20 | New York, Art Opening

Jeffrey Cyphers Wright, Roma Pas, Ruben Aubrecht, Selin Kocagoncu , AC | 547 W 27 Street

Thursday, 18-20 | New York, Art Opening

Laurent Millet "The Last Days of Immanuel Kant", Robert Mann Gallery | 210 11 Avenue

Thursday, 18-20 | New York, Art Opening

Justin Allen "Turquoise Afternoon", Robert Miller Gallery | 524 W 26 street,

Thursday, 18-20 | New York, Art Opening

Sean Henry, Forum Gallery | 745 Fifth Avenue

Thursday, 19-21 | Rome, Art Opening

Marco Tirelli, Oredaria | Via Reggio Emilia, 22-24

Friday, 8:30-18:30 | NYC, Performance

Kate Gilmore, Walk the Walk, Public Art Fund | Bryant Part, Sixth Avenue at 41st Street