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Alára Sets Up Shop at the Brooklyn Museum
This past summer, the V&A debuted the critically acclaimed show “Africa Fashion” that opens today at the Brooklyn Museum. To mark the occasion, the institution is hosting the first-ever pop-up of Lagos-based concept shop Alára. Fashion and home decor from more than 100 of the continent’s leading designers are on offer, as well as U.S. labels within the African diaspora. Highlights include vibrant serving dishes by Yinka Ilori, Jean Servais Somian’s timber wall mirrors, and more. —Jenna Adrian-Diaz
Photography by Trevor Parker, courtesy of Bulgari…
Bulgari celebrates the Serpenti’s 75th anniversary with a Refik Anadol installation.
Bulgari has opened a temporary gallery in New York showcasing a multisensory Refik Anadol artwork. The pop-up exhibition honors the Serpenti collection’s 75th anniversary with dynamic datascapes that complement Bulgari’s snake-inspired motif. The exhibition features Anadol’s artwork and a mini exhibition titled “Bulgari Serpenti 75 Years of Infinite Tales” that displays 25 archival pieces and seven new high jewelry creations crafted specifically for the anniversary.
Octavia Butler’s sci-fi novel Parable of the Sower is inspiring art across the country.
Octavia Butler, renowned for her science fiction writing featuring Black protagonists overcoming catastrophic events, has influenced many artists and writers, particularly those interested in Afrofuturist concepts. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of her acclaimed novel Parable of the Sower, an operatic adaptation by Toshi Reagon and Bernice Johnson Reagon will be presented in full for the first time in New York as part of Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City program. Additionally, the pseudonymous American Artist’s ongoing project Shaper of God, inspired by Butler’s personal papers and including a life-sized gated wall reminiscent of the novel’s protagonist, will have a new exhibition at the California African American Museum.
Ex Macello, a former abattoir and the site of Alcova 2023. Photography by Federico Floriani…
Alcova, the roving showcase of independent designers in Milan, is heading to Miami.
Alcova, the roving platform for independent designers known for its exhibitions at unexpected locations during Milan Design Week, is expanding internationally with its first overseas exhibition slated to take place during Miami Art Week. “We’re convinced that Miami’s unique urban fabric, rich in traces of a dynamic and vibrant architectural history, is the perfect place to create a dynamic platform that fosters meaningful connections and interactions between exhibitors and visitors,” say founders Valentina Ciuffi and Joseph Grima. The Miami edition, scheduled for Dec. 5–9, will showcase a diverse selection of forward-thinking design in a distinctive location. More details about the program are yet to be announced.
Saudi Arabia is planning to develop a major domestic fashion manufacturing sector.
The Saudi Fashion Commission has outlined its vision to develop a fashion ecosystem in Saudi Arabia over the next decade in its inaugural State of Fashion in Saudi Arabia report. With a focus on local development and manufacturing, the commission aims to reduce the country’s annual fashion imports, currently valued at over $7 billion, and tap into the potential of the local value chain. Burak Çakmak, CEO of the commission, emphasized the importance of technical advancements, sustainability, and innovation in building a thriving fashion industry in Saudi Arabia, attracting both local and international attention and investment.
A resiliency plan to build 50 miles of seawalls along New York’s coast sparks criticism.
The Army Corps of Engineers has unveiled a $52.6 billion plan to defend New York’s coastline from rising seas and extreme weather. The plan involves building 50 miles of seawalls and other structures, but it has drawn criticism for its potential negative impact on the waterfront. Designers and environmental advocates are calling for a more integrated flood protection strategy, such as incorporating flood barriers into park landscapes and raising roadways, to balance resiliency with access and preserve the city’s limited park space. However, implementing effective flood-proofing measures will be a challenging and costly endeavor.
An ice scraper by Dieter Rams. Photography by Fernando Pérez Ordás/BraunDesign.es …
Today’s attractive distractions:
This modernist L.A. house may or may not be designed by Richard Neutra.
Is a 42,000-year-old Mongolian pendant the earliest example of phallic art?
A mysterious graffiti artist keeps tagging outside Anna Delvey’s apartment.
Dieter Rams is famously prolific, but we bet you haven’t seen his ice scraper.
