“Genius Loci” by Nekisha Durrett. Photography by Oriol Terridas…
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Nekisha Durrett Makes Her Mark on West Palm Beach
While various fairs were busy setting up shop in Miami, sculptor Nekisha Durrett had her sights set on amplifying the legacy of Palm Beach’s erstwhile Black community, the Styx, and the heyday of legendary jazz club the Sunset Lounge. The giant copper RCA-style gramophone that Durrett installed earlier this month in West Palm Beach is titled Genius Loci, a Latin term that translates to “the spirit of a place,” and invites locals and visitors alike to contemplate the voices of Palm Beach’s history that would be amplified by the earth itself.
Durrett pays homage to the plight of the Black laborers who developed the tropical resort town in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, only to have their homes razed and seized by eminent domain as their work on the Breakers and Royal Poinciana hotels comes to an end. According to the sculptor, the West Palm Beach Sunset Lounge, which is undergoing a massive restoration is located adjacent to Genius Loci, comes into play as “Black spaces for living, leisure, and entertainment have often offered respite and safety from a hostile world and that’s what the Sunset Lounge was for the Northwest community.” —Jenna Adrian-Diaz
“The Bat Cloud” by Antoine Bertin. Rendering courtesy of Clément Bertin Caracalla Architects…
French artist Antoine Bertin will create an AI-integrated installation called The Bat Cloud in the Mayan Jungle of Mexico. The winning entry in an open call by AZULIK and SFER IK, the installation will serve as a bat habitat and a public listening space to explore bat language through AI. Bertin, the recipient of the inaugural SFER IK artist award, will receive $100,000 and a two-month residency at AZULIK’s campus in Uh May. Designed to connect humanity with the natural world, the artwork will consist of eight tall structures for bats to fly around and will incorporate AI to decode bat sounds for research into interspecies communication. The winners were selected by a jury of art industry leaders including Roth, the founder and CEO of AZULIK, and Marcello Dantas, the creative director of SFER IK. .
Tang Tan, Apple’s vice president of product design, is set to depart the company in February, which may lead to significant adjustments in crucial product lines. Richard Dinh, who currently oversees iPhone product design under Tan, will take on an expanded role and directly report to John Ternus, Apple’s SVP of hardware engineering. Meanwhile, Kate Bergeron, an executive in hardware engineering responsible for Mac, will assume control of Apple Watch design. Tan’s departure is a loss for the design team, given his instrumental role in shaping key Apple products like AirPods and Apple Watch, which became major growth drivers for the company.
The U.S. Embassy in Oslo. Photography by Einar Aslaksen…
The U.S. Embassy in Oslo, designed by Finnish American architect Eero Saarinen in 1959, underwent a significant restoration and extension by Atelier Oslo and LundHagen. Due to security concerns, the embassy had been fortified over time with fences, bollards, and guards, deviating from its original concept as a public cultural hub. The restoration aimed to recapture the building’s original character and purpose, with meticulous restoration of materials, a glass mosaic addition by artist Diena Georgetti, and the creation of a new rooftop bar, restaurant, and a basement, expanding its capacity and floor space by 60 percent. Despite the major changes, the building’s external appearance and geometry were carefully preserved.
Tag Heuer is collaborating with Thélios, the LVMH-owned eyewear manufacturer, to create an eyewear collection. The Swiss watchmaker is aiming to set new standards in the category by leveraging its watchmaking heritage and sporting inspirations. The collection, to be unveiled during LVMH Watch Week in January and launched in Milan the following month will feature innovative designs, materials, and mechanical precision inspired by watchmaking. Europe will be the primary market at launch, followed by the U.S. and select points in Asia.
Relatives of the victims of the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue attack have collaborated to unveil preliminary designs for an outdoor memorial near the Tree of Life synagogue. The memorial, designed by Studio Libeskind, will feature 11 sculpted forms of open books, symbolizing the “Book of Life” in Jewish tradition, where the righteous are named. The process involved extensive deliberation, bonding, and a visit to the Flight 93 National Memorial to commemorate the lives of the 11 individuals who lost their lives in the attack and to raise awareness of antisemitism. The memorial’s cost estimate is yet to be determined, and fundraising will be overseen by the newly formed Tree of Life organization.
