max bill – the master’s vision

A documentary feature film by Erich Schmid

The film about Max Bill (1908-1994) moves between the dynamic fields of art, aesthetics and politics. Max Bill was probably the most important Swiss artist of the 20th century and the most famous student to come out of the legendary Bauhaus in Dessau. He was an ardent anti-fascist and all his avant-garde work as an artist, sculptor, architect and typographer showed a social responsibility and environmental awareness right through his life. His views have become incredibly topical.

During his lifetime he was a rebel – today he lives ever present on the upper spheres of the most influential artists of the 20th century. His name stands for a whole avant-garde life-work, which is firmly focused on the future, which bears a social responsibility and which intrinsically contains an engaged political message. What mattered for Max Bill was the creation of our environment and a green consciousness, which is currently of incredible imminence.

For all those who want to understand Bill’s oeuvre in relation to his biography, Erich Schmid has directed documentary film «bill – the master’s vision». For six years he has been working at this 35mm documentary feature film, in order to open up eyes and minds for many unknown facts about Max Bill for the big screen. That much can already be said: It’s a highly potent mix of arts, aesthetics and politics. Max Bill – the master’s vision will be released in cinemas in Switzerland from 11th September 2008.

-          Where: University of Washington, Architecture Hall, Room 147 (350 seat Auditorium)

-          When: 6pm, Wednesday, February 1, 2012

-          The venue is free and open to the public.

-          The film’s director, Erich Schmid, and the widow of Max Bill, Angela Thomas, will both be in attendance.

-          A reception will follow the viewing.

-          For more information about Max Bill and the film see the director’s website:  http://www.maxbillfilm.ch/dsp.php?en,5,1,2,0

Funded by the Consulate General of Switzerland. Supported by UW School of Art + Department of Architecture

UW Department of Architecture Lecture Series

Tuesday 31 January

CONTEXT AND CONVERGENCE
Todd Schliemann|Ennead Architects

12:00 pm
Henry Art Gallery Auditorium
University of Washington

Todd Schliemann is a design partner in Ennead Architects. His work is recognized internationally for design excellence and has received numerous awards, including national AIA Honor Awards, New York State and New York City AIA Awards, and American Architecture Awards from the Chicago Athenaeum.  His careful analyses of specific physical, environmental, historical and societal conditions have resulted in designs that expand the vocabulary of contemporary architecture and elevate public awareness of architecture’s expressive power.  Among his projects are: Natural History Museum of Utah, The Standard, New York and Rose Center for Earth and Space at the American Museum of Natural History.

Mr. Schliemann will discuss the meaning of context and the making of architecture as it relates to what he calls the “parallax view.” That is: no two people stand in the same place as they view the same object.  Using examples of his recent work, he will explore the way an architect can bring multiple viewpoints into convergence. This becomes most apparent when architecture is made in the public realm.

This lecture is sponsored by the UW Department of Architecture.  It is free and open to the public.

Uprising, detail: wood, plastic, paint and sound; photo by Rick Araluce.

Rick Araluce and Steve Peters

UPRISING

23 January – 13 April 2012
Artist Reception: Friday, January 20, 5 – 7 pm
Artist Gallery Talk: Saturday, January 21, 12 pm

UPRISING: Installation by Rick Araluce and Steve Peters opens to the public on Monday, January 23 and continues through April 13, 2012. The artists’ opening reception is scheduled for Friday, January 20 from 5 – 7 pm, and the artists’ talk will occur in the gallery space on Saturday, January 21 at 12 pm. Regular gallery hours are Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm, and admission is free to the public.

Suyama Space is centrally located between Battery and Bell in Belltown at 2324 Second Avenue, Seattle.

UPRISING is an elaborate network of hand-crafted, trompe l’oeil plumbing that appears to emerge from the floor, walls and ceiling of the century-old building. The historic pipes, carefully hand-crafted by artist Rick Araluce suggest the building’s internal infrastructure has broken from its long-hidden recesses to assert itself, claiming a balance between formalism and something more unruly and chaotic, perhaps even a bit menacing. Sounds recorded within the space are acoustically filtered by composer Steve Peters through the network of pipes, transforming them into abstract drones.

Rick Araluce is a Northwest artist who works by day as Lead Scenic Artist for the Seattle Opera, having been deeply involved with every major production the Opera has produced since 1997. He received a Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs City Artist Projects Award in 2006 for his “Stolen Hours” installation project. In 2008, he was awarded a Pollock/Krasner Foundation support grant and in 2009, an Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation Award. A number of his works were included in Tacoma Art Museum’s 9th Northwest Biennial in 2009. In 2010, artist-juror Judy Pfaff included his work in the Texas National 2010; and the same year, the New York Museum of Arts and Design’s chief curator, David McFadden invited Rick to create a specific work for the museum’s Otherworldly: Optical Delusions and Small Realities exhibition. http://web.mac.com/rickaraluce

Steve Peters is a composer and sound artist, based in Seattle who makes music and sound for a wide range of contexts and occasions using environmental recordings, found/natural objects, electronics, various musical instruments, and human voices. Attentive to the subtle nuances of perception and place, his work is often site-specific, understated, and contemplative. He performs with the Seattle Phonographers Union, and works as a freelance producer, writer, and curator. Since 1989 he has been the Director of Nonsequitur, a non-profit organization presenting experimental music and sound art, currently via the Wayward Music Series at the Chapel Performance Space in Seattle. His music has been released on such labels as Cold Blue, Palace of Lights, Sirr, and Dragon’s Eye. http://steve-peters.blogspot.com

UPRISING: Installation by Rick Araluce and Steve Peters is made possible through funding from 4Culture/King County Lodging Tax Fund and the Suyama Space Friends and was curated by Beth Sellars in partnership with Space.City.

This Episode: “Arts Education”

The Guests (click for bios)

Robert Eyerman, dancer and teaching artist

Julie Trout, teacher and artist

Lara Davis, musician, teacher, and activist

Daemond Arrindell, teacher, organizer, and poet

The Story

For January’s conversation, we’ll return to the topic of arts education. In this series, we last explored the subject four years ago, and it’s high time to get back to it.

As some of you may know, I’m a member of the board of directors of Arts Corps, and arts education is one of my fascinations. Arts Corps is the largest nonprofit arts educator in the Seattle area, putting professional teaching artists in schools, community centers, housing projects, and other venues across King County. The majority of students come from low-income backgrounds, and for a large number the students, this is their only access to art classes.

One thing that strikes me about the teachers and staffs of Arts Corps and their sister organizations (Coyote Central, The Nature Consortium, Richard Hugo House, among others) is their passion for the teaching they do. Another thing I see is an understanding that teaching art to children is not so much about trying to turn out massive numbers of painters and dancers (though that’s not a bad goal). It’s more about the realization that learning art is about learning how to be a full human being, learning how to reflect, how to take risks and fail, how to work on a team, how to imagine something completely new.

If we’re ever to create a vibrant, mature, confident civilization, how can we afford to not have those things at the core of each generation’s education?

For me, I have mixed memories of arts education. I can dimly recall art classes from childhood, sessions with cut paper or clay. As I recall, they were sweetly meaningless classes, more like unstructured play. Later, though, I recall a group of smart parents getting together and with their adolescent offspring and doing readings of plays. I can still remember the night we all read the parts in “The Madwoman of Chaillot.” The girl who read the mad Countess was superb, and for all of us it was an evening of pleasure and possibilities.

Come and bring your ideas of arts education.

This roundtable conversation series happens at Vermillion, an art gallery, bar, and neighborhood gathering place at 1508 11th Ave, Seattle (http://www.vermillionseattle.com/). For more information on the series, call John Boylan at 206-601-9848. If you want to link to this announcement, you can do so at http://boylanconversation.wordpress.com/

Monday, January 9, 2012 – 6:30 pm – Kane Hall 120, UW Seattle Campus

George Suyama: Inspirations and Place
2012 Dean’s Distinguished Lecture
Principal, Suyama Peterson Deguchi

Registration for this lecture appreciated. Please register online by clicking here.

Join us for a lecture, reception, and book signing with George Suyama, principal of Seattle-based architecture firm Suyama Peterson Deguchi. Long known for his Northwest Contemporary design, Suyama has devoted his 40-year career to exploring how nature defines architecture. He is inspired by modest architecture that articulates an elemental sense of shelter. In this lecture George will speak about his inspirations and place making, telling the story of a continuous search for truth.

George Suyama was born and raised in Seattle, Washington and received his Architecture degree from the University of Washington in 1967. After working for Northwest Modern masters Ralph Anderson and Gene Zema, Suyama founded George Suyama Architects in 1971 (renamed Suyama Peterson Deguchi in 2003). Suyama’s practice has included custom residences, resorts, art galleries, performance theaters, restaurants, offices, retail spaces, and cultural/community centers. In addition, his practice has expanded to include interior and product design. In 2002, Suyama Peterson Deguchi launched 3×10, a showroom housed within their Belltown studio which features the firm’s custom designed furniture, fixtures, and lighting. In 1993, Suyama was elected to the AIA College of Fellows, and he was awarded the AIA’s highest honor, the prestigious Medal of Honor, in 2009. Suyama has served on many boards and commissions such as the Henry Art Gallery, Seattle Arts Commission, and the Pike Place Market Commission. He is currently the director of Suyama Space, a non-profit venue for installation art located within Suyama’s Belltown studio. Founded in 1998, Suyama Space has received extensive media coverage, both locally and nationally, and has been lauded as one of the Northwest’s pre-eminent contemporary art spaces. 2011 marks the 40th year of George Suyama’s design practice.

Jan 6 – Jan 12

7:00pm & 9:15pm

URBANIZED

(Gary Hustwit, USA, 2011, Blu-ray, 85 min)

REQUIEM

(George Nelson, 1961)

NORTHWEST FILM FORUM
1515 12th Ave.
Seattle, WA 98122
tel. (206) 329-2629

www.nwfilmforum.org

The new documentary from the director of Helvetica and Objectified explores the design of cities, looking at the issues and strategies behind urban design through interviews with some of the world’s foremost architects, planners, policymakers, builders and thinkers.

Over half the world’s population now lives in an urban area, and 75% will call a city home by 2050. But while some cities are experiencing explosive growth, others are shrinking. The challenges of balancing housing, mobility, public space, civic engagement, economic development and environmental policy are fast becoming universal concerns. Yet much of the dialogue on these issues is disconnected from the public domain.

Who is allowed to shape our cities, and how do they do it? Unlike many other fields of design, cities aren’t created by any one specialist or expert. There are many contributors to urban change, including ordinary citizens who can have a great impact improving the cities in which they live. By exploring a diverse range of urban design projects around the world, Urbanized frames a global discussion on the future of cities.

Thanks to all of you who made it out to the holiday party. It was a huge success and a whole lot of fun!

More photo’s can be found here:

https://plus.google.com/photos/112366907013641267142/albums/5686794713047975281

space.city is pleased to reveal a number of the silent auction items available at our Holiday Party!

The auction starts at 5 with winners announced at 7:30. Most major credit cards accepted!

We sincerely thank all of the artists, business and individuals who donated the following auction items.

FURNISHINGS

1.       Colorstory Designs – 10”x10” mirror. Estimated Starting Bid: $50

2. Dish by EcoSmart Fire (Donated by Inform Interiors Seattle). Estimated Starting Bid: $400

3.      Riva Ludo Stool designed by Terry Dwan (Donated by Inform Interiors Seattle). Estimated Starting Bid: $300

ARTWORK

4.       Wyn Bielaska – Photograph on Aluminum – 40”x60”. Estimated Starting Bid: $650

5. Todd Smith – Triptych of 20” x 20” prints, photo on paper. Estimated Starting Bid: $150

6.       Moh Bilbeisi – Watercolor 9.25” x 11.75”. Estimated Starting Bid: $75

7.       Whitney Bosel - Photograph 12×18. Estimated Starting Bid: $50

8.       Ross Eckert - Graphite on paper. Estimated Starting Bid: TBD

GOODS AND SERVICES

9.       Jacquelyn Erbacher Photography – 1-hour photo session with CD of high-quality images. Estimated Starting Bid: $150

10a.       Tom Kundig: Houses - Signed. Estimated Starting Bid: $50

10b.       Tom Kundig:  Houses 2  - First Edition, Signed. Estimated Starting Bid: $65

11.   Woodhouse Wine Estates – Wine and cheese tasting for 10.  Estimated Starting Bid: $200

12.   Urban Yoga Spa – 10-class pass (does not expire, design by Olson Kundig). Estimated Starting Bid: $75

13a. 3 x 3: The Architecture of Suyama Peterson Deguchi - Signed. Estimated Starting Bid: $45

13b. Suyama: A Complex Serenity - First Edition, Signed. Estimated Starting Bid: $175

Discuss the Complex Serenity of life over a martini with George Suyama during the Martini Hour  included with this item.

Happy Holidays!

As we enter our 15th year of hosting cultural events in Seattle, we would like to take a moment to review one of our most ambitious to date. This Fall alone, we hosted four events with six firms and eleven speakers for the Expanding Practice lecture series.

We kicked off with Beyond Boundaries: Three Transcendent Design Practices as part of the inaugural Seattle Design Festival. This event featured lectures by Atherton|Keener, Ball-Nogues Studio and Lead Pencil Studio followed by a moderated panel discussion with John Boylan.

Building on that success, we finished the series with separate events for Höweler+Yoon, Stefan Behnisch, and El Dorado, each discussing how they expand their practice to ever more creative and diverse opportunities.

It truly was a great year for design dialogue in Seattle and we could not have done it without our generous sponsors, supporters, and you. Thank you! Please come be merry, share a drink, and help support space.city.

Thursday, December 15th, 5-8 PM
Suyama Space, 2324 2nd Ave
$20 Suggested Donation includes entry to our raffle and access to our silent auction.

Check back for descriptions and images of the auction items!