civilizr

civilizr

The Guardian: IKEA vs. the Antiques Trade

This piece in The Guardian yesterday started off with confessions of a design critic; and yes, it’s true, even the snobbiest among us may very well have an IKEA piece or two somewhere. If you choose wisely, you’ll find pieces…

Nonsense: The Power Of Not Knowing

How does the brain react to ambiguity? And are those reactions a good thing or a bad thing? Jamie Holmes takes a look at this and other concepts in Nonsense: The Power Of Not Knowing, an exceptionally relevant book these…

Green Chicken by Jaime Hayon

Here’s a bit of whimsical design for you – “Green Chicken” by Jaime Hayon. Seems fitting to ride out of 2016 on this, right? It’s his take on the rocking horse, but much more modern and playful – and with…

A Proper Drink, Anyone?

By now you’ve definitely noticed the proliferation of craft cocktail bars and that even casual spots have upped their game. But… where did this trend come from? Who are the people who saved us from an eternity of banal vodka…

American Masters: Eero Saarinen

“American Masters – Eero Saarinen: The Architect Who Saw the Future” very much looks worth checking out. The director of photography for the documentary is Saarinen’s own son, Eric, and takes us on a tour through Saarinen’s best-known works, with…

Rad Women Worldwide, An Anthology

Sure, everyone will recognize Frida Kahlo on the cover of Rad Women Worldwide: Artists and Athletes, Pirates and Punks, and Other Revolutionaries Who Shaped History, but this book spans about 25 centuries and 30+ countries of women who are rad.…

Yves Saint Laurent: The Perfection of Style

In or near Seattle? Here’s a retrospective worth checking out. Yves Saint Laurent: The Perfection of Style runs through January 8th, 2017, at the Seattle Art Museum. From the PDX Monthly review: Beyond the artfully arranged couture, the museum has…

Trachtenberg’s Red Blooded American Male

Award-winning photographer Robert Trachtenberg has another winner here in Red-Blooded American Male: Photographs. He’s captured men from all walks of life – everyone from Elon Musk unveiling a Tesla to Jack Black getting a pedicure, and a variety of celebs…