The Keeper’s Work | 01.11.2024
LOOK
Over the holidays I spent an afternoon at the Detroit Institute of Art - and in the midst of Winter, I was drawn to Summer, a work by American Thomas Wilmer Dewing. I was stopped in my tracks by the soft monochromatism capturing the mystical air of twilight as the moon emerges from behind the knoll and the seemingly carefree ladies meandering in the grassy forest. The figure’s embrace the transition from day to night, without fear of impending darkness. I found it a beautiful metaphor as the year came to a close.
TI
RECORD
A departure from the standard planner - this imaginative “Book of Hours” tracks astronomical phases and has daily prompts like “good day to back up your computer” or “good day to cry in the bath". By Zoë Wonfor & April Martin, available through Saipua’s online shop.
DR
READ
OKAY YES - I have a Stanley. But I like to think I came to acquire one through cultural osmosis rather than devotion to any #NicheTOK fandom. This article by Alex Abad-Santos offers an insightful look into the Stanley Cup Craze light on our current society’s values, status, and the dissemination of trends.
TI
FURNISH
As it bends and filters light, glass is an indispensable material to layer into the domestic sphere. Yali Glass has many options, ranging from tableware to furniture - but this stood out; a unique side table with a thick glass amorphous top on a white powder-coated industrial base, designed by Marie-Rose Kahane and fabricated in Veneto, Italy.
DR
ADMIRE
Along the coast of Denmark stands the lonesome Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse. Completed in 1900, it ceased operations in 1968 and in the years since it’s surrounding structures have fallen victim to the precarious sandy coast it was built upon. Expected to fall into the sea by 2023, the government spent almost $1,000,000 to preserve it, relocating it inland. Serving no function, JaJa Architects converted the tower into an installation that plays homage to its purpose. The mirror prism at the peak subverts the spaces original function by reflecting light inwards, casting a kaleidoscopic prism into the tower. I love everything about this project: it speaks to preservation, appreciation, and adaptation - quiet but necessary themes. I urge you to explore more here.
TI
DRINK, GROOVE (PHILADELPHIA)
A new bar whose typology I hope takes off, 48 Record Bar, located in the Old City neighborhood of Philadelphia, offers libations and more specifically, a spot to listen to vinyl. A take on small Japanese listening bars, they also feature DJs and special programming - just the other night was dedicated to all David Bowie album sides.
DR