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Notes From The Curator, Spring 2023

jeanlin

This spring we saw the launch four beloved new designers.

Scheibe Design, Nate and Tres (Nate's dad) from Nashville first came into my periphery back in 2018 when we did our Coast to Coast tour with Design Milk. To be honest, Nate wasn't quite ready for the Colony stage at that point. But persistence, an appetite for critique, and a positive perspective got him here five years later, and I couldn't be happier for it. 

SSS Atelier is the first self-produced furniture collection from Sarah Sherman Samuel, an absolute force of a woman who, as I can't help but constantly remind her, is kinda famous. Before meeting her, I was mystified by her unstoppable trajectory. But the mystery has since been solved. Sarah works hard and demands perfection. Her pieces reflect this rigor but they are also a portrait of the joy that Sarah brings to her work. The furniture is beautiful and undeniably approachable, and I think they are impossible not to love.

And then there are Alexis & Ginger and Marmar Studio, our most ambitious experiment to date. Since August, 2022, we have been hosting Ingemar Hagen-Keith, Alexis Tingey and Ginger Gordon for our inaugural Designer's Residency. Alexis and Ginger were fresh out of RISD with masters in furniture design. I was invited to teach a semester of their grad studio, and Alexis and Ginger shined. Their exuberant talent, their work and their work ethic made it an easy decision to ask them whether they wanted to join us as our first ever designer residents.

We first met Ingemar in 2017 when they were a student at RISD as well. I did a remote lecture and appreciated the sounds of approval that were coming from just off my screen. "Whoever was sitting *there" (pointing just down and right of my screened head) I said. "Thank you." An email came a few weeks later from that person I couldn't see, applying for an internship. They were a lovely intern, so much so that we hired Ingemar back full time a few years later. As much as I valued Ingemar as our employee, I was excited to offer the residency to them and give them the opportunity to fulfill what I knew was their dream to start Marmar Studio in earnest.

At Colony, we have a foundational imperative to support and celebrate emerging independent American designers. In recent years, my work in design education as a professor at both Parsons and RISD has inspired me to explore new ways to provide a bridge from designers in their nascency to professional practice. Starting one’s own studio is an enormous undertaking both creatively and financially, and a privilege that is not always afforded to many immensely talented designers. My hope is that this program allows more voices to shine, and more young designers to feel supported enough to take the leap into creating work that is wholly their own. 

If you are a designer with dreams of starting your own thing, I encourage you to apply for our next Residency. You can learn more about it here and you can download the application here.

I continually told the Residents as we were nearing the finish line to their show opening, this wasn't the end, it was just the beginning. I am so excited to share everything that's to come with you all. Thank you, as always, for following along our journey of growth here at Colony.

-Jean Lin

Spec Sheet: The Source Console Table No. 3

Madeleine Parsons

The Source Console Table No. 3 is inspired by the exceptional craftsmanship and architecture of Armenia. Anna Aristova and Roza Gazarian, the creative team at A Space, create one-of-a-kind objects inviting their viewers to connect with the most primal nature of its elements.

Hand-carved by two local masters in volcanic Black Tuff, The Source Console Table No. 3 balances the heft of materiality with the delicacy of light emanating from its slatted voids. While the porous material offers a visual density akin to stone, its subtle flecks and matte surface provide a softened, distinctive quality. We've neither seen nor felt anything quite like it before. 

Notes

Standard Materials: Black Tuff
Dimensions: 55"L x 10"W x 32"H
Custom dimensions & finishes available.
Lead time: 14-16 weeks

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Not composed of volcanic ash, but equally compelling alternatives: 

Cumberland Console Table

Triadic legs in bleached ash serving equal parts sculptural and functional. 

Movement Dining Table

If you are lucky enough to be blessed with a spacious entry way, the Movement Table makes a shapely statement. 

Repeat/Arc Console

An intricate layered arc detail extends the entire profile. 

Meet our Residents: Alexis & Ginger, Marmar Studio

Madeleine Parsons

The final countdown commences as we prepare for the Designer’s Residency Show this Thursday April 6th, 6-9PM unveiling the debut collections of our first class of residents. We ask that you join us as the design world embraces these three exquisitely talented, young designers launching their independent studios: Marmar Studio and Alexis & Ginger. We sat down with Ginger Gordon, Alexis Tingey, and Ingemar Hagen-Keith for a quick download ahead of the big night. 

RSVP HERE

ALEXIS & GINGER

Ginger and Alexis met in grad school at RISD and knew immediately that they wanted to work together; they each have a design process heavily predicated on research.

What was the design process like for the Ode collection?

A&G: We began by going to the NYPL picture stacks and sifting through the endless trove of folders filled with images of lace, gloves, architectural details, greek urns, and portraiture from every era. We find inspiration in the smallest details and the largest forms. Lines, textures, and materials are collaged, like the images we pull, as new forms slowly begin to reveal themselves.

What was your vision for this collection/your studio?

A&G: We were interested in creating objects embedded with moments of the past, sharing stories through abstraction and composition of materials. Each piece is a keepsake, an ode to the silhouettes of architecture and the under-celebrated details of tapestry. 

What are your favorite materials to work with?

A&G: The best part about making furniture is that you are never required to stick to one medium. Materials and their different capabilities and qualities draw us to push our designs and to think of new ways to incorporate them. Light and shadow, heavy contrast, is something we are always looking to capture in our work. By mixing materials we are able to create this weighted balance.

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MARMAR STUDIO

Ingemar, how would you describe your personal and design style?

I: In one word, Fruity. 

What were your influences for Pet Collection?

I: The design process focused so much on the immediacy of attraction to an object. I wanted to follow my instincts and see the collection as what made meaning of those instincts, rather than using a framework to build something from. I think some of my greatest influences are the animals in my life, both in the joy they bring me and their beautiful forms and expressions.

Describe the moment this collection came into focus for you.

I: Quite honestly, when I finished the Clog Lounger. It was the piece I began with and the last piece I completed. Of all the pieces, it had the most iterations, and I think it is the product of everything I have learned making this collection.

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At Large: Introducing the Colony Residents

Madeleine Parsons

The excitement is building here at Colony as we prepare for the much anticipated Designer’s Residency Show on April 6th. Throughout their eight month tenure, our three immensely talented residents have worked tirelessly to produce their respective first studio collections; the fruits of their labor are even more spectacular than we could have imagined. 

Founded by Ingemar Hagen-Keith, Marmar Studio unites the practical and the fanciful with Pet Collection. The Pippi Nightstand, a playfully abstract interpretation of Hagen-Keith’s cat, highlights the intersection of smooth curves and crisp edges while the Noon Valet follows the recurring theme of animation in inanimate objects, with its circular cut outs casting unique and dynamic shadows that wax and wane throughout the day.

Alexis & Ginger is the namesake design studio led by Alexis Tingey and Ginger Gordon; together they present their inaugural collection, Ode, inspired by the delicate balance of weight in materiality, form, and color. An alluring inlay of mother of pearl undulates around the India ink dyed wooden base of the New Morning Side Table, beckoning a closer examination of moments often overlooked. Similarly with the Tower of Song Light, the hand pleated and cut ivory shade recalls architectural forms and details of tapestry.

Believe us when we say these collections in their entirety will live rent free in your brain until they can live in your home.

 

Notes

Further details forthcoming
Customizations available

RSVP HERE

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You’re Invited: The Designer’s Residency

Madeleine Parsons

On April 6th please join us to commemorate a momentous day in Colony’s history as we celebrate the launch of The Designers' Residency with the debut collections of our first ever designers in residence, Alexis & Ginger and Marmar Studio. Working from a rich foundation of curation, exhibit design, design education and collaborative design development, our 8 month incubator culminates this spring with the launch of two studios from 3 remarkable, emerging American designers. 

Founded by Ingemar Hagen-Keith, Marmar is a design studio guided by the harmony of animated gesture and refined form. In all designs, utility and form are aligned; making the use of an object an expression of its personality. Marmar’s ethos is to create the practical and fanciful - designing inanimate objects you can’t help but animate.

Ginger Gordon and Alexis Tingey, the designers behind Alexis & Ginger, are captivated with the tangible. Their objects are embedded with moments of the past, sharing stories through abstraction and composition of materials. Each piece is a keepsake, an ode to the silhouettes of architecture and the under-celebrated details of tapestry. 

We couldn’t be more proud of Alexis, Ginger and Ingemar, our first residents and three designers we believe will shape the future of independent American design. Join us for this moment of true discovery as we honor their extraordinary work.

The Designers' Residency Opening Reception
Thursday, April 6
6:00 -9:00 PM
324 Canal Street, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10013

The deadline to RSVP for this event has passed.

You’re Invited: SSS Atelier Debuts at Colony

Madeleine Parsons

On Thursday March 23rd 5-8:00PM Colony introduces SSS Atelier, the newest furniture collection by Sarah Sherman Samuel. Originally conceived as a virtual gallery home for a variety of her own original artwork and in-house furniture collection, each piece is fabricated in the designer’s native Michigan from the highest quality materials–oak, walnut, leather, and handpicked stones. Designed with legacy in mind, these unique pieces are heirlooms in the making. Please join us for a collaborative opening at Allied Maker’s Tribeca Showroom to toast this distinguished collection and addition to the Colony Family.

On View 3/23-3/31

The deadline to RSVP for this event has passed.

Spec Sheet: Cove/Arc Credenza by KWH

Madeleine Parsons

Featuring a concave arc detail that extends around the entire profile much like a subtle track, the Cove/Arc Credenza by KWH is designed to be admired up close. In exposing the signature end grain detailing, the arc detail adds more than just a visual flourish, it elegantly highlights the piece's intricate construction. 

Composed entirely of solid hardwood with concealed concave pulls, the Cove/Arc Credenza is available in an orientation of either four doors, six drawers or a customizable combination of both.

We have a walnut drawer version on view at Colony, so hit the inquire button if you'll be in the neighborhood. 

Notes

Standard Materials: Ash, Walnut, Oak 
Dimensions: 71"L x 17"W x 30"H 
Custom dimensions & finishes available.
Lead time: 16-20 weeks

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Did you know "credenza" is the Italian word for confidence? These storage stars certainly have ours. 

Canvas Credenza

Stands apart from the crowd with exquisite hand-dyed canvas panels. Big nonconformist energy. 

NOCTURNE CREDENZA

Challenging the rigidity of traditional case construction with soft, undulating joinery this storage series includes the Nocturne Credenza I,  Nocturne Credenza II and Nocturne Chest. 

Roebuck Nightstand

A bold oxblood laminated leather drawer pulls from beneath a walnut or stone top, dealer's choice.

Spec Sheet: Cantilever Bench by Phaedo

Madeleine Parsons

A predilection for sculpture and appreciation for what lasts is evident in the timeless Cantilever Bench by Phaedo, based in New York’s Catskill Mountains.

Classically Bauhaus this stripped-down design embodies the principles of the movement with a subtle storage shelf below inspiring the delight of an unexpected functionality. Enduring craftsmanship for holistic living.

Notes

Standard Materials: Ash, Maple, Oak, Cherry and Walnut
Available with or without arms
Dimensions: 60"W x 18.5"D x 35"H / 18" Seat Height
Custom dimensions & finishes available.
Lead time: 14-16 weeks

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LIFE/DESIGN

Available in a range of lengths from 60" to 108", the Cantilever bench has room for all three of our dream dinner guests:

Carl Phillips

Every good dinner party needs a bookworm, we'd pick the inimitable poet, Carl Phillips. Madeleine relishes the connection between the natural world and human relationships Phillips captures in his stunning verse which would undoubtedly make for some stimulating conversation. 

Lizzo

Equal parts ebullient, positive, and political, It's About Damn Time to invite Lizzo to Dinner. All Grace wants in this world is to hear her say, that meal was Good as Hell! 

Our Dearly Departed

We wouldn't be here today without them, the least we can do is cook them a meal. Jean would invite her paternal Great Grandfather, an agricultural maverick, who famously ventured over 2,000 miles to study farming methods in Japan and bring his specialized knowledge back to Taiwan for the good of his community. We feel accomplished when we send an email...

Spec Sheet: Bole Dining Table

Madeleine Parsons

Here at Colony, we love a little botany in our nomenclature. Taking cues from Naive painter Henri Rousseau, the Bole Dining Table from the team at Vonnegut/Kraft, derives its name from its very provenance: the trunk of the Sapele tree.

Abundance radiates from this piece with its root flare inspiration reflected in the curvature of its repetitive oversized reeded base.

Design so strong, accessories optional.

Notes

Standard Wood Finishes: Sapele
58"ø x 29"H
Lead time: 14-16 weeks
Custom dimensions and materials available.

 

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We all know a dining table is only as good as the chairs sitting around it. Here are some of our favorites.

Circlet Chair

A leather seat and back on this chair are available in natural veg tan leather, or black as seen here.

More info.

Layered Back Dining Chair 

Layered dual wrapping back support for double the functionality.

See more here.

Kana Chair

Mohair in conversation with lacquered wood? We're listening.

See more here.

Spec Sheet: Yellowbird (Kiroitori) by Hiroko Takeda

Madeleine Parsons

The experience of viewing Hiroko Takeda’s sculptural weavings is transportive. We become transfixed in their subliminal precision, like a warm awakening of memory. Yellowbird, the latest in her iconic Giant Waffle Series, activates the light in a room, and the brain, engaging the viewer in the minutiae of its depths akin to the space the artist herself makes for spontaneity in her weaving practice.

Notes

Standard Materials: Cotton, Silk, Linen, Mohair, and Feathers
Custom dimensions & materials available.
Lead time: 20-24 weeks

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LIFE/DESIGN

Since we haven't yet convinced Hiroko to create a wearable piece of art, we've pulled some inspiration below to incorporate the hues of Yellowbird into our daily wardrobe. 

Hibiscus Brooch 

Picking our collective jaws off the floor at the  Hibiscus Brooch in Carambola (star fruit) Yellow designed by Esme Vie. Available in a rainbow of colors, this hue feels right.

Abstract Ink Print

Known for the their offbeat prints and color combinations, Dries Van Noten's newest collection unabashedly mixes acid green and yellow without losing an enviable level of polish.

An unexpected pairing

Velvet and acetate; not two textures we necessarily think of as harmonious. These boots nod at a Victorian inspiration while their mixture of materials feels entirely contemporary. Sadly, we don't know who made them––so if they look familiar to you, drop us a line.