detroit month of design
Stanley Lecznar Interior Designer, NEXT:SPACE in collaboration with M Contemporary
This September is the 11th edition of this annual festival presented by Design Core Detroit, a department within Center for Creative Studies, whose focus is championing design driven businesses and their role in strengthening Detroit’s economy. This festival highlights Detroit’s rich collaborative history between architectural/interior design and the visual arts.
A home that’s functional as well as beautiful is an oasis from the frenetic world. After so much care is taken to choose fabrics, flooring and furniture, the final flourish is the artwork. “Great art doesn’t match your couch” isn’t necessarily true. Generally speaking, if you chose a palette you like for a room’s design, you’ll choose similarly for the art. If you aren’t particularly familiar with art or what’s ‘good’, find someone you trust who’s knowledgeable to assist in choosing not only what complements your space but work that will hold its value.
Earlier this year, I was alerted by interior designer Stanley Lecznar to an empty space that was begging for just the right piece that would add to his overall design. Christine Hagedorn was commissioned for one of her signature vessels. She was given the dimensions of the space and the palette. She knocked it out of the park with the finishing touch on this gorgeous master suite.
NEXT:SPACE has collaborated with M Contemporary to create vignettes that offer some examples of how artwork completes a design. In this arrangement, the lovely Sue Carman-Vian’s drawings work off of the clean lines of the Cappellini lounge chairs while harmonizing in palette and texture with the occasional table. Her work creates a quiet interest that doesn’t overpower the room.
The bolder dining vignette requires work that can stand up to the heaviness of the table. John McLaughlin’s Pot Pies and Joshua Rainer’s Better Made are strong enough to hold the set while tagging on the room’s function.
Because NEXT:SPACE has been blending art and design, the shop has relocated to Milwaukee Junction in order to be more involved in that collaborative relationship as well as participate in the economic growth of the area. The premier show staged in her still-developing space, owner Isabelle Weiss presents Morphogenisis by Cody Norman who transforms previously used plastic through the use of robotic 3D printing and a hand held plastic extrusion gun. This work follows form and function while exploring one way to reuse and recycle the growing mountains of non-degrading plastics that are cluttering our planet.
Collecting art for art’s sake supports local artists while enjoying the contribution visual art makes to the overall home or business design. For the serious collector it can diversify an asset portfolio. Whether you’re a casual collector or serious about your acquisitions, you’ll never regret finding that perfect cherry to top your carefully crafted sundae.
Vignettes are on view at M Contemporary Art 205 E Nine Mile Ferndale through October 16
Cody Norman’s Morphogenisis on view at NEXT:SPACE 2863 E Grand Blvd (alley entrance) through Sept 25th
Stanley Lecznar of Stanley Jonathon Interiors
*images are mine unless noted
SHOWS OPEN THIS WEEKEND