How About this for a Water Institute - Amphibian Pavilion

peddle thorpe architects'(PTA) submission for the thematic pavilion of the world expo 2012 in yeosu, korea is resolved as a vessel - a floating exhibition space that can be sailed to other cities. it represents an evolution of architecture - a futuristic adaptable living building that can adjust to the unknowable future, encouraging multidisciplinary problem solving through sustainable solutions.

more at: designboom

Summer 2009 Gallery Night Picks

WHAT I'M GOING TO SEE
i scoured everyone's recommendations, went through the 8M facebook invites, and read all the press releases i got. then i checked out the art of all those artists. these are the shows i am most interested in. i can guarantee, if you are mike brenner, you will like these shows. except for the robot show. i have no idea what it is, but i am very intrigued.

Roy Staab at INOVA

MIAD Alumni Show at 2375 S. Howell Ave

InSite at Park East Corridor

The Pritzlaff Project at Plankinton and St. Paul

Bernadette Witzack at Brewed Cafe

Reginald Baylor at Design Within Reach

The Great American Kitchen at MIAD

Remarkable Women Show at Cissie Peltz Gallery

Interior/Exterior: Home as Portrait at Portrait Society Gallery

Jenipher Sob and James Kloiber at Skylight Theatre

Annie Lock at Gingrass Gallery

Robots! Alive! at Blue Ant Gallery

Milwaukee's Newest Public Art Debacle

Here's a JS article about the piece.
Here's the JS blog post with all the community comments
Here's the notes from the Public Works Committee meeting.
Here's my email to the Public Works Committee.
Here's the original phone message from Alderman Joe Dudzik.
Here's my remix, AlderBOY, (feat. Kanye West and Estelle).

Art Show Recommendations

I'm gonna try and make it as easy as possible for Milwaukeeans to make art a part of their lives.

If you're wondering, "What should I do today? or What art shows should I check out this weekend?"

Get on your mobile phone and text the word ART to 50500

Within a few seconds you'll get a text message back with my recommendations of art shows around Milwaukee worth your time. I'll include the abbreviated titles of the shows and venues as well as links to the venues' websites. So if you have an iPhone or mobile with a web browser you can go right to their website and get their phone number and address.

The service is free, but you have to pay whatever your carrier charges you to receive a text message. I know I get to send or receive 1500 messages a month as part of my plan.

So... Go put 50500 in the address book of your mobile phone now, and I'll do my best to keep you artfully stimulated.

Enjoy!
-mike

French Bus Terminal

Located in the southern suburban area of Paris along wide boulevards and roadway interchanges, in an industrial landscape characterised by a succession of boxes (at best basic), the RATP Bus Centre in Thiais controls all the bus lines of the south and east of Paris.

The centre accommodates 300 buses. 800 bus drivers pass through the building every day, including the administrative, the security and the maintenance staffs which manage the Bus Centre. It’s a flux building.

TONS more info at arch daily.

(via arch daily)

Student Housing in Paris

JDS architects have designed 'M6B1' - student housing in paris france. the site is located in a context that is in development. after fulfilling the required programming, the left over square meters were unfolded creating a spiral for social activities linking the ground floor to the roof terrace. considering the exterior of the building as generic as possible to respond to its unknown context, JDS decided to populate the inside of the social spiral with elements normally found on the exterior façade of buildings: light fixtures, flower pots hanging by the window, all of which contributes to the common space of students.

Bridge Innovation

This amazing lift bridge is located in the city of Leeuwarden, the Netherlands. The long lever arm and cantilevered weight opposing the floating street surface is a powerfully cool and elegantly simple design. It’s a smart solution for a small bridge, even though its size is a bit ungainly, and they somehow thought painting cute post-modern pastel colors was interesting.

My Randy Sprecher Interview

Here's an interview of Randy Sprecher I did for The Onion's new A&E site Decider.com.

City Innovations: Utility Boxes Use Art for Invisibility

via wejetset

diller scofidio + renfro's NYC project

i love this project. read more about it at designboom.

diller scofidio + renfro presents images of the high line public park project now in progress. the high line, in collaboration with field operations, is a new 1.5-mile long public park built on an abandoned elevated railroad stretching from the meatpacking district to the hudson rail yards in manhattan.

Former Milwaukeean, Dan Zweben, Releases Music Video with Law and Order Star

On of my best friends from back in the day, Dan Zweben, just released a music video starring Law and Order SVU star, Michaela McManus. You should check it out!

Dan and I used to sit on his front stoop (or in his smokey basement under a glowing red light bulb) and play guitars for hours and hours as kids. We were in all the middle school and high school talent shows together, including our freshman year band with Citizen King frontman, Matt Sims.

Anyway... he's a Milwaukee kid who's still making a go of it and deserves support!



A much higher-res version is here.

Kevin Miyazaki on 20x200

One of the hottest places to buy art these days is on Jen Beckman's 20x200 website. Today she features my friend, Milwaukee photographer, Kevin Miyazaki. Check it out!

www.20x200.com

Milwaukee in iPhone ad

Summer Pavilion

why isn't MIAD, UWM or MSOE doing this? surely they'd like a high profile project to engage a larger segment of the public?!?
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Every year Charles Walker and Martin Self, two professors of the Architectural Association in London, organize a competition for the design of a summer pavilion open to twelve student participants. The winning entry this year was entitled "Swoosh," created by the Mexican student Valeria García Abarca. The jury was presided by Walker and made up of Larry Malcic, head of design at HOK, and Alex de Rijke of dRMM.

The concept of the pavilion came of studying the deformation of an optical model in two dimensions. Optical qualities were extracted from the visual dynamic and interpreted in three dimensions. Fabricated by students in the AA workshop in Hooke Park in Dorset County, the pavilion was presented in Bedford Square in London from July 14th to August 5th.
The structure, completely dismountable, is composed of 653 pieces of wood, columns, and transversal beams. The eight arches in the middle of the pavilion, gradually cantilevered, create an intimate space. Some of the columns are divided into two segments, sustained by a steel base on the ground and joined with metallic connections. The transversal beams were cut with a CNC machine; their angles were fashioned by hand based on their relation to the columns.
The geometry of the pavilion is symmetrical, but its shape varies as it goes along, from a radius of 2.2 meters to a height of 3.3. meters. All of the elements of the pavilion are vertical, so that the shadow it casts is a reflection of the original plan.

Another notable feature is the interaction of the design with the landscape, the end of the structure surrounding the lamp post. At night, the luminous effect is asymmetrical, emphasizing the visual flow of the beams. During the day, the shadows change dramatically, offering a different visual experience.

Art Shanty in MN

Art Shanty Projects 2009

NYC gets THIS and MKE gets a Pile of Rocks to Launch Fireworks Off of

New York’s Governor’s Island is set to receive an incredible set of renovations that will transform the 172-acre plot of decaying Coast Guard structures into a stunning eco-park. Designed by West 8, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, and Rogers Marvel Architects, the project is a hybrid of landscape and architecture based around a sinuous set of new paths, watercourses, restaurants, aquaria and even complimentary wooden bicycles. Slated for completion in 2012, the ambitious, new and improved Governors Island will incorporate a host of environmentally friendly features.

Sold to the city and state for $1 in 2003, Governor’s Island is set become the site of one of New York City’s greenest destinations. Diller Scofidio + Renfro say the plan “uses the man made topography of lower Manhattan as a starting point; the southern tip of the island is transformed into an artificial landscape with hills constructed of reclaimed materials from existing Governors Island buildings. As the new topography approaches the Western edge of the island, it transforms into EPDM-covered greenhouse structures, programmed as botanical and aquatic research centers.”

The proposal also features a Marine Exploration Center that consists of a set of off-shore “programmed structures” including a coastal plant greenhouse, marine life tank, vertical reef, and two restaurants. “Off-shore programmed structures emerge like bubbles from the water, moving with the tides…” say Diller Scofidio + Renfro, “The Oyster Restaurant floating directly across the harbor from the Statue of Liberty is an inflated sphere, 150′ in diameter, anchored by a man-made oyster reef. Rather than focusing its gaze on the world, it turns to the ecology of the local, allowing guests to eat the site by serving foods from the Hudson and the harbor.”

As visitors head to the southern tip of the island, they will encounter a “Vertical Landscape” of man-made mountains that will incorporate recreational, cultural, and educational functions. Though still in the development stage, features may include snack bars, exhibits, a funicular, and caves for spelunking. West 8 partner Jerry van Eyck says: “We wanted to give it the attitude of a national park, one with primal nature, robustness, where you don’t feel the hand of man.”

Last but certainly not least, complimentary wood bicycles—designed by the architects themselves—will be provided for visitors to cruise the winding paths of the park. Attractions accessible by bike will include the tidal basin, the planned 10,000 seat amphitheater, and a perimeter promenade with killer views of the city and its legendary landmarks. Given the stunning design, recreational and educational opportunities the park will provide, not to mention the tourist dollars it will generate, Governors Island may prove to be the best $1 investment the city has ever made.

Milwaukee has Lake Shore Park

if you look closely, you can see a "neat" little bridge with "interesting" shapes in it.

from their unfinished website...

Lakeshore State Park is a 17-acre park surrounded by water and connected to Urban Park by the beautiful Lakeshore State Park bridge. The park will be open year-round and close daily at 10 PM. Park amenities include:

• WILDLIFE HABITAT & VIEWING AREAS created by restoring native short grass prairie for resident and migratory grassland bird species.
• LAKESIDE MULTI-PURPOSE TRAIL for walking, cycling, skating and dog-walking* connects the Hank Aaron State Trail and the Oak Leaf Trail completing a path from Lake Michigan's shore to the banks of the Mississippi River.
• ACCESSIBLE & TRADITIONAL FISHING AREAS & SMALL WATERCRAFT BEACH AREA designed for canoes and kayaks. This area is not designed for swimming.
• VISITOR BOAT SLIPS & OVERNIGHT BOAT CAMPING accommodates 20 boats up to 60 feet in length. Overnight stays limited to four days. Fees are $1.50/ft (minimum $30).
• GREAT VIEWS of downtown Milwaukee, Summerfest grounds, Discovery World and the Milwaukee Art Museum.

* Dogs must be on a leash not to exceed 8 feet and pet owners must clean up after their dogs.

Waterpod

waterpod is a floating eco habitat designed by a group of new york artists to combat
the rising tides. due to be launched in may 2009 along the hudson river the waterpod
is constructed with recycled wood, metal, plastic. structured as a triple-domed island,
measuring approximately 80 feet by 25 feet the waterpod will support a fully sustainable
community. the primary power sources for the floating habitat will be the hybrid
solar/wind system set up to run all equipment on board including rotating art installations
and a permanent projector illuminating the waterpod’s dome each night.

via designboom

Honda's New Ads Make the Road Sing

Honda turns asphalt into a musical instrument, HERE.

WI Paper Used for Inauguration Invite

Embedded video from CNN Video

The Inaugural Paper Choice
One of Neenah Paper’s greenest papers, CLASSIC CREST Papers Recycled 100 Natural White was chosen as the paper for the official invitation to the January 20 inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama.

According to John O’Donnell, president of Neenah, this paper is a befitting choice for such an event because it represents the absolute best of what the company has to offer in the way of premium papers that are high performance, yet eco-friendly.

“We are proud to be included in such a historic occasion. CLASSIC CREST Paper is the greenest premium paper in the world. The certifications carried on the line and its unmatched print performance are very likely what led the Obama team to choose it for their inaugural invitation,” says O’Donnell.

“Yet, ironically, very few of these invitations will ever end up being recycled due to the significance of the inauguration of President Obama. Knowing that these invitations will instantly become keepsakes or souvenirs makes this even more momentous for Neenah Paper.”

Be sure to check out a short video about the Brooklyn, New York printer who etched, engraved and printed the invitations – one million of them in three weeks. No pressure there!

Winter Gallery Night Picks

This month in my column, Now Hanging, for The Onion's Decider.com website, I give my top picks for Winter Gallery Night. It includes specific artists and artworks I'm excited about.
http://tinyurl.com/brenner011509

enjoy!
-mike brenner

Meat Cologne?

One of the largest American fast food chains Burger King has launched an unexpectable product - a perfume for men Flame. Now the fast food fans can smell a their favourite flame-broiled meat.

Burger King Flame is $3.99, concentration and amount unknown, at Ricky’s NYC.

via POPSOP

Gotta Love Milwaukeeans

There are no fans, like Milwaukee fans!

Old School vs New School Sesame Street Music

NEW SCHOOL


OLD SCHOOL


NEW SCHOOL


OLD SCHOOL


NEW SCHOOL


OLD SCHOOL

Negative Space

Decider Now Hanging 12/16/08

Here's a link to my latest Decider article about the shows at Dean Jensen, JM Kohler Art Center, Armoury Gallery and Paper Boat.

http://milwaukee.decider.com/articles/now-hanging,2615/