Be Original Americas Originality Deconstructed Exhibition at Ace Hotel Palm Springs Feb. 17-25
On view at Ace Hotel Palm Springs from February 17th -25th, 2023, the Be Original Americas: Originality Deconstructed exhibition celebrates creativity by pulling back the curtain on the “how” and “why” of some of the international design industry’s most iconic products, demystifying what goes into their conception. Commemorating Be Original Americas’ 10th anniversary and held during Modernism Week 2023, the showcase incorporates physical designs, disassembled elements, raw materials, and videos by Be Original Americas members Anglepoise, Bernhardt Design, Carl Hansen & Søn, Herman Miller, Fritz Hansen, Georg Jensen, Menu, Ligne Roset, Lumens, and Phase Design.
The exhibition is being mounted by independent design writer and curator Adrian Madlener with the generous support of Host Sponsor Ace Hotel, Imaginative Sponsor Lumens, Innovative Sponsor Fritz Hansen, and Inspired Sponsor Crypton. A first showcase was mounted at Ace Hotel New York in October 2022 and a third exhibition will be held at Ace Hotel Los Angeles from March 17th – 26th, 2023. Each presentation features different Be Original Americas member exhibitors and new deconstructed products to discover.
“We’re thrilled to be a sponsor of Originality Deconstructed and to partner with Be Original Americas in our joint commitment to the authenticity of design,” says Laura Walsh, Lumens CEO. “This traveling exhibition is a unique opportunity to peek behind the curtain and discover the whys and hows of great design. We’re so excited to learn more about the process behind so many of the brands that Lumens is proud to carry.”
Revealing the precision hand tools that go into making fine silverware items, the meticulously-milled wooden components that make up a historic chair, and so much more, the showcase will offer an in-depth look into different aspects of production that few ever witness in person. By uncovering the various facets of manufacturing, the exhibition will allow visitors to better understand issues surrounding sustainability—how materials are sourced and processed—and the challenges that come with ensuring the authenticity of a design. Brands are increasingly confronted with the new realities of the digital marketplace, the positive and negative effects of constant exposure. What skill sets, approaches, and apparatus can be harnessed to help promote originality among contemporary designers and entrepreneurs?
The capsule, vignette-style exhibition will be accentuated by a series of videos, providing even more insight into what goes on behind the scenes. Overall, the Be Original Originality Deconstructed exhibition will uncover how leading industry players consider every step of their proprietary processes.
A round table discussion moderated by Adrian Madlener and entitled Good Carpenters Celebrate Their Tool will be held on February 23rd from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. at Ace Hotel Palm Springs. The conversation will seek to highlight the literal and metaphorical inputs designers, architects, and other creatives implement in their practices. How do these various physical devices, digital programs, tools of the mind, and best practices allow them to develop original ideas and ultimately, standout? Panelists will include: Brad Wilson, CEO, Ace Hotel, Primo Orpilla, Co-Founder, Studio O+A, Lawrence Lazzaro, Owner, Modern Hacienda, Amy Auscherman, Director, Herman Miller Archives, Annie McKenna, Head of Contract, Fritz Hansen and Ann Petersen, Director, Brand & Trade Marketing, Lumens. To attend, please RSVP here: https://bit.ly/palm-springs-roundtable.
About Be Original Americas
Be Original Americas is a non-profit creative advocacy committed to informing, educating, and influencing manufacturers, artisans, design professionals, and consumers about the economic, ethical, and environmental value of authentic design. beoriginalamericas.com
About Lumens
Lumens is North America’s premier destination for modern lighting, furniture, and decor, serving trade and contract professionals as well as consumers. The company travels the world to source from over 350 global design brands, curating a product assortment that features iconic designs as well as the latest in contemporary interior décor, including exclusive pieces that can’t be found anywhere else. The Lumens mission to inspire and connect the world with good design has led the company to be a pioneer of innovation, delivering a best-in-class customer experience through our website, editorial content, customer support teams, dedicated trade program and print publications. Lumens.com
About Fritz Hansen
Fritz Hansen’s collection of furniture, lighting and accessories spans iconic designs from renowned Danish and international architects and designers to contemporary pieces by today’s most acclaimed creatives. From Arne Jacobsen’s Egg, Swan, and Series 7 chairs and Poul Kjærholm’s PK22 chair and PK80 daybed to Jaime Hayon’s Ro chair and Cecilie Manz’s Caravaggio lamp, each piece of applied art profiles a sculptural expression that unites function and form in unprecedented ways.
About Crypton
In 1993, Craig and Randy Rubin hatched an ingenious plan from the basement of their Michigan home. The duo wanted a fabric that could stand up to life’s messes and still be touchable and beautiful, a fabric that would change the way many people live their lives. They established Crypton to achieve that goal. Today, the company sells a wide range of products worldwide with the aim of making life easier. Crypton has 27 years of innovation and industry experience, 15 patents, and branded some of the most reliable, environmentally friendly, high-performance textiles in the world. In situations where heavy demands can be placed on fabric, Crypton offers superior performance with exceptional protection from stains, moisture, and odors.
About Ace Hotel Palm Springs
Ace Hotel & Swim Club is a mid-century desert modern former Westward Ho with a Denny’s — Ace dusted it off and gave it some love, turning it into a 173-room hotel, spa and resort in Palm Springs, CA. There’s a stargazing deck, a couple of very deep pools, and large, unique event spaces for meetings, weddings and parties. The rooms incorporate earth-friendly and sustainable elements, like recycled materials, low VOC paints and vintage furniture. Brought to life by interior design firm Commune Design, the property is simple, organic and bohemian. The hotel’s restaurant and bar, King’s Highway and the Amigo Room, serve redefined roadside diner fare and crafty cocktails into the late hours, and the Feel Good Spa offers treatments centered around fresh, reinvigorating local ingredients.
About Adrian Madlener
Adrian Madlener is a Brussels-born, New York-based writer, curator, and consultant. Over the past ten years, he’s held editorial positions at The Architect’s Newspaper, TL mag, and Frame Magazine while also contributing to publications such as AD Pro, Cultured, Disegno, Domus, Dwell, Hypebeast, Icon Design, Galerie, Luxe, Metropolis, Modern, and The Design Edit, He also develops copy and curates exhibition for select industry clients and cultural platforms. With a particular focus on topics that exemplify the best in craft-led experimentation and sustainability, he’s committed to supporting talents that push the envelope in art, architecture, and design. adrianmadlener.co
Be Original Americas: Originality Deconstructed
Opening:
Thursday, February 16th 5:30-7:30 pm
(By Invitation Only)
The exhibition runs from Friday, February 17th to Saturday, February 25th, (10 am-6 pm; till noon on February 25th)
Round Table Discussion: Good Carpenters Celebrate Their Tools
Saturday, February 25th, 4:30-5:30 pm. RSVP essential
Ace Hotel Palm Springs
701 E Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA
