We find ourselves at this collective crossroad as the nightmare of the global pandemic persists but hope for the future is impossible to ignore. Our trauma has been both individual and shared, subtle and profound, fleeting and forever. Our lessons are blurry at best.
I'm hesitant (or embarrassed?) to admit that this forced hiatus was a necessary one. Not for clarity, because clarity has proven itself an illusion. Not for rejuvenation, because let's be honest, we're exhausted. Not for justice, because every tiny step forward has been followed by crushing blows back.
My lessons aren't your lessons, nor are my emotions, frustrations, dreams. My appreciation, however, is for you all. While crawling out of the rubble of 2020 and checking myself for breaks, I have never felt more thankful for the support, the kindness, the community around Colony. Thank you for seeing us, even in this hazy, exhausting and devastating time.
There's a moment in each day, when we're neither asleep nor awake, when the drama of our dreams fizzle into mist, and when the reality of the morning has yet to settle.
This familiar haze, dimly lit by a hopeful morning glow, offers us unexpected clarity in its temporary version of contentment -- free of expectations but full of the purest form of hope: undefined possibilities.
We walk into the day with restrained reverie, and hope you will join us.
-Jean Lin
Nina Cho is an artist and designer, currently based in Detroit. Nina was born in the United States and raised in Korea, where she studied woodworking and furniture design at Korea’s art school, Hong-Ik University. She then earned an MFA in 3D Design at the Cranbrook Academy of Art.
The Maung Maung mirrors reflects Nina’s design philosophy, a minimalist approach to design. “Through practicing the beauty of the void, I can respect not only the object itself but also the negative space that object created.”
Since launching Maung Maung mirrors with Colony in 2019, Nina has been awarded the NYCxDESIGN award for best accessories collection and the American Design Honors award presented by Wanted Design and Bernhardt Design.
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A newly envisioned design program, The Conception Series works to introduce the international design market to emerging American talent. Through a series of pop-up exhibits and exclusive, limited edition collections, the Series ushers forth a new generation of designers, artists and makers into the contemporary design vernacular of today.
Working from a rich foundation of curation, exhibit design, design education and collaborative design development, Colony works with a tightly curated selection of young designers guiding them through a vigorous curriculum of product development and design entrepreneurship. Each
Aries Rising Capricorn, Bec Brittain's newest collection of work is an unpredictable and unmistakably hand "drawn" series of lighting now on view at Colony.
I felt strongly compelled to create work that reflected a gestural drawing or a sculpture practice more than the precision typical of my design practice. I was very inspired by the singularity of each person's mark when they draw and wanted to incorporate my hand into the work.
-Bec Brittain
Please join us in welcoming Bec to our cooperative of independent American designers. We are so excited to share this new work and her entire collection with you.
Aries RC IV by Bec Brittain
Aries RC II by Bec Brittain
Aries RC V by Bec Brittain
Aries RC I by Bec Brittain
View Full Collection Here
Photography: David Mitchell
