
On Tuesday night, as part of the NeoCon festivities, Luminare hosted a Belgian trio of Arne Quinze (founder of Quinze & Milan), Piet Stockmans (ceramicist), and Raf Simons (fashion designer for Jil Sander). Stockmans started out the night with a slideshow of his many years of work as a ceramicist and artist and an engrossing documentary short of him working in his studio to create an installation. The level of craftsmanship was outstanding.
Arne Quinze came on next with a presentation of what had to have been literally everything he has ever done. I was shocked at how prolific he has been in a relatively short period of time and how much of his companies work actually deals with interior design instead of the furniture pieces I had associated them with.
Following the lectures the crowd moved over to the Luminaire showrooms for beer (Duvel obviously) and a quasi fashion show for Jil Sander's fall collection designed by Raf Simons. The lanky models stood around the perimeter of the guests, stone-faced, as the last of the Neocon afterparties came to an end. Overall, it seems like the major themes of this year were texture, warmth, craftsman/womanship, and most importantly humanity with a sense of richness and authenticity. Chicago, out.
(I wasn't able to get around to any of the other offsite parties, especially one I was looking forward to, the Fulton Market Guerilla Truck, so any feedback from those events and NeoCon itself would be great to read in this posts' comments.)

Designers' Open 2008
DESIGN PHILADELPHIA 2008
LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL 2008
FREEDESIGNDOM 2008
ManufRactured EXHIBITION
London Design Festival 2008
Core77 visits NASA:
DesignPhiladelphia 2008
UGLY:
Comments
Aaah...I always respected Core for their articels and perceptiveness...but now >>>Quinze ? wtf...The worst thing that could ever happen to the Belgian design scene. Really this is one big media wh0re. Has no real good ideas. Doesn't know how to communicate his ideas. And his slaves do all the work. If your face is your logo > it tells enough. Sorry to be dissing here..but I'm fed up off him being a belgian design-ambassador. Greetzz
The Fulton Market Guerilla Design Show was just as interesting as last year's. It's a good mix of talent, my personal favorite was the art exhibit in Linda Warren's Gallery. Mixed media works ranging from wax on silk screens to paper collage by Lora Fosberg, all had the same general theme. I would compare her work to that of Jay Ryan, but more femme. I missed out on some of the great after parties at the mart, and on those cute ASI bags. Can't wait till next year!