A Look at Art & Design

A Bit of Finnish Art and Design History

I sometimes believe the spirit of Finland repeatedly knocks upon my door.  I don't mind the knocking, so much, because on a personal level I believe I could grow to love Finland (not having been there yet) and goodness knows I certainly love it's people and seem to have an affinity for attracting Finns in my life.  Nevertheless it always rather surprises me at how often, and in such unexpected ways, Finland comes to visit me. 

Some weeks ago while undergoing construction at my house, I found a knife with the inscription of Tapio Wirkkala on the blade. I knew the name was a Finnish name and I liked the simplicity of the knife design. I really didn't think much about it... other than "how strange to find a Finnish knife at my house."  I put the knife upon my bookshelf and pretty much forgot about it.

Today I received via email my installment of MetropolisMag.  Huh... an article about Eero Saarinen catches my eye in an article entitled Predicting the Future, a new exhibition at the Cranbrook Art Museum.  The museum is hailing Saarinen as "an architect way ahead of his time."  Knowing a bit about Finnish culture and art history, I know Saarinen was the architect responsible for the St. Louis Gateway Arch.  Indeed, a beautiful curvaceous structure, despite whatever Vince Scully has to say. I found the article to be quite interesting and decided to click some links and learn more about the Finnish born architect.

Saarinen's father, Eliel, was also an architect and went to Cranbrook to design the art academy, school and museum.  Eero was 15 and the family accompanied Eliel to the job site.  Later Eero graduated from Yale University.  It would appear (and here's the stuff I love about art history... somehow everything seems to fit together) that while at Cranbrook, Eero met up with Charles Eames and together they developed the very famous Eames Lounge Chair.  Huh... what do ya know?  It just seems these Finns are all over the place!

I decide to do more research on Saarinen and now I'm kinda interested in the relationship with Eames as well.  I discover that Eames is the guy responsible for this very cool film I saw 15 years ago, called Powers of Ten. (If you haven't seen it, you must!)  I had no idea that the Eames chair guy was the same guy responsible for this movie.

Ok...enough about Eames I want to know more about the Finn.  I discover on www.eerosaarinen.net that "Shaping the Future" is a TOUR beginning in Helsinki, continuing on to Cranbrook and other destinations and ending right here in New Haven in 2010 the centennial of Saarinen's birth.  Saarinen, I learn was also responsible for The General Motors Technical Center (1948-56), and the TWA Terminal (1956-1962) at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport.  I think one of the quotes I like from Saarinen is from Jayne Markel's article at Metropolis. Talking about the film (yes yes..a documentary has been made), Markel includes a quote from Saarinen, “Tech­nology has given us the ability to do almost anything we want. Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies, and Le Cor­busier have given us the ABCs. It is up to us to develop the language of Modern architecture.”  WOW... it all sounds so Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead, doesn't it?

Wikipedia has a section on Finnish Designers. Crazy!  And here is where I learn about Tapio Wirkkala... remember, my knife?  The knife is called a Puukko.  It's a specific carving knife, designed by Tapio, a major figure of post war design.  Wirkkala's range was pretty vast as he designed not only knifes but the Finnish Markka banknotes introduced in 1955, stoneware, jewelry, sculpture and glassware.  Guess who designed the Finlandia Vodka bottle from 1970-2000?  Yup... Tapio, my knife guy.  And that knife... the designer used a traditional Finnish carving blade to do much of his design work and later developed his own variation, the Wirkkala Puukko, which was built by Hackman Cutlery and marketed in the US in the early 70's by Brookstone.

Well ok...that's enough on Finnish Art History for tonight.  I'm off to bed to read The Kalevela and get some sleep.

Andy Rutledge scores a big TEN (10) when Falling Down

Wow! WOW!  I just finished reading an inspirational article entitled, Falling Down, by Andy Rutledge over at Design View.  Comparing design conundrums with the ability to fall down gracefully at his dojo, Rutledge provides some eloquent advice and insight as to how designers can maintain professionalism during the bad times.  Well done Andy!

"If you’re a designer, you know that perfect designs do not always spontaneously flow from your pen. You know that truly creative solutions that effectively serve the client’s and users’ needs do not always present themselves when you want them to. In short, it is simply not enough to be highly competent under the best of circumstances, when you’re filled with inspiration and all the gears are turning. What matters most—and most often—is how competent you are when things are not going well."

Feed readers make me a bit sad

I use Bloglines for my feedreader.  It does it's job very well, allows me to consolidate all my favorite feeds in one place and it's certainly convenient and keeps me updated.  But somehow I really hate using it and when I come upon a well designed blog that I love, I always feel a twinge of sadness at having to add it to my feed reader.  Feeds are ugly. 

I think one of the great appeals of reading a blog is also the design work that accompanies the content.  I suppose this is because I'm a designer and I really appreciate the personality associated with the design work of someones blog or website.  I get pleasure in viewing the "stuff" not just the words displayed on a reader.  Yes yes... I know I can access the actual blog from the reader but somehow I just don't manage to that as often as I'd like.

I thought I'd journey out of my feedreader to visit some favorite blogs... not just because of their written content but because some blogs should be experienced.

Another Shade of Gray
Cult Design
Color + Design by Colorlovers
Debbie Millman
Design Observer
Designer's Who Blog
GraphicPush
Josh Spear
Nordic Design Blog
Veerle's Blog

Creative resources

Ok... so I'm not nearly caught up with my 1000+ unread blog posts but I've been seeking out some resources for creatives.  Here they are in no particular order:

Coroflot - Jobs & Portfolios for creative people :  A great way to network
Design is Kinky : Cruise jobs and submit news
Create Magazine :  A host of resources for the US.  Networking, chat, set up an online profile. Regional breakdowns
LuLu :  Self publishing.  Create your own book, brochure, CD/DVD presentation.  Very affordable. Nice.
LinkedIn :  Expand your network.
Graphic Design Jobs Central :  Yeah... graphic design jobs but also architecture, gaming, marketing, music and more.
Design Encyclopedia - Written :  Submit your design articles and essays here.
IdeaFixa - Art e-magazine  :  OMG... this was too cool.
Artivi :  Sorta like YouTube for artists and galleries.  Well done.
Wet Canvas : Art Resources

A Personal Note

Yes indeed, it has been some time since I've been here to write, to review, or to point my gentle readers toward some worthy site or blog of interest.  I haven't read any blogs and now find that since my disappearance on November 21, I have 1065 unread blog posts over at my bloglines reader.  I don't think, however, I can apologize for my absence as this blogger/designer needed some serious R&R. 

I will share with you now the fact that the months beginning in January of 2007 consecutively walloped me quite a few personal blows - a flooded basement ( seriously... 2 feet of water!) started off the year only to be followed by broken indoor plumbing pipes resulting in a completely water damaged bathroom, kitchen and basement.  There was also a broken car, the 8 month clinical depression of a loved one, the gutting and rebuilding of almost the entire first floor of my home, a broken furnace, broken water pump...Wow water was really not my friend!  It was a challenge but meanwhile business was going great.  My clients, I hope, never knew about my personal challenges (unless they are reading about it now) and it was work that was my bliss and my escape.

There were days and nights when I was sure that I was going to die from stress.  I slept with a paper bag next to my bed because often anxiety and worry would cause me to hyperventilate.  I was frightened all the time.  I found myself daughter to a mother with Alzheimer's disease, a mother to 2 teenage boys, a best friend, a business woman, a designer, a girlfriend, a homeowner, sole bill payer, and chief bottle washer.  Without the support of my sons and my friends, I don't think I would have made it...AND I did it without the help of drugs...perscription or otherwise.  I am titanium... well almost... we are all breakable, aren't we?

Sooo... the advent leading to 2008 found me preparing for Christmas, finishing up year end business and still...omg...still working on my house!  It was a big push to prepare the house for the holidays and (I swore) to greet 2008 on a better footing.  It was a mission and we all worked very very hard at making it a home again.

Being forced into such a reactionary mode for so many months, I determined that 2007 was the year of WORK. Many good things came out of 2007. Not that I want to experience that again...but I believe I've built a lovely nest for my sons with pretty painted walls, new appliances, safe heating, decent plumbing, and a lot less extraneous "stuff" cluttering up our environment (a lot of our personal belongings were destroyed by flood or indoor shower.)  My loved one who was so so sad during the first months of 2007 is now singing, playing music, laughing, and lighting up a room with his smile. Yeah... that is really nice.  Somehow we survived it and came out all the better for it. 

Every five years, I make a 5 year plan for my life.  I list out 4 or 5 major goals and work toward them...sometimes taking baby steps, sometimes taking giant leaps.  I've been pretty successful in this goal planning thing and have managed to meet most if not all my set goals.  2008 finds me with the task of setting up a new five year plan.

Having drank a glass of champagne to bid farewell to 2007, I greeted 2008 as the year of SELF IMPROVEMENT or PLAY.  How very strange when I visited the design firm of Cummings & Good and received my new 2008 Calendar which the design team entitled PLAY...how did they know?   

Back in 2007, I would find that my mind was often so cluttered by garbled random thoughts that I was unable to complete a thought or absorb any new topic.  Reading (one of my greatest pleasures) even became unmanageable...simply skimming the lines written on any given blog, website, book or magazine...comprehension ZERO.  I didn't go out to eat or go the movies.  I took no vacations. I went to the beach only once during the summer.  Days were filled with the thoughts of work or reconstruction or a fear of what on earth was going to happen next. 

Declaring 2008 as the year of self improvement and planning out my next five year plan is refreshing. I tell you it is almost like a rebirth.  I'm excited again. My mind is at ease... (for the most part as I believe it takes a bit of time to recover from chaos.)  During the Christmas holiday, I slept alot.  I took bubble baths. I read an actual book!  I got neck and body massages.  I was surrounded by love.  I'm looking forward to 2008 and the next five years reading and writing, developing my business toward Europe and Canada, learning new design skills, and taking care of myself.

I wonder if I'll actually have the courage to push the button here and publish what are some rather personal thoughts on a blog which has thus far been mostly a business/professional venue.  I suppose sometimes you just have to be honest and admit the fact that while yes we are professionals, designers, writers and artists; we are also people just trying to get through life.  It was Anaïs Nin who said "Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." So with that thought... I push the "publish" button and send happy 2008 thoughts out to all of you.