SAYING GOODBYE TO GAETANO ?? ...AND HELLO TO SALONE! ????

SAYING GOODBYE TO GAETANO ??

Last week we lost a legend. I had the immense pleasure of knowing and working with Gaetano Pesce for more than a decade; I know that his tremendous contribution to design will endure.?See below for the recollection of our first meeting and his solo show at Collective Design fair in 2013. #restinresin

...AND HELLO TO SALONE! ????

If you're like me, your inbox is full of invitations and announcements for design events this coming week, when the design world converges on Milan.The main Salone Fiera always has a few surprises but for me, the best part of the week is Fuorisalone, the pop-ups and installations scattered around the city.?Unfortunately my plate is too full in Hong Kong to make the trip this week, so?I have sorted through it all and made a list of highlights for you.

Take a look below, let me know what you enjoy and I will?live vicariously through your posts!

Steven?

Gaetano Pesce, #restinresin MaestroIn late 2012 I was seated next to Gaetano at a dinner at the home of legendary design historian Daniella Ohad. As luck would have it I was finalizing the program for the first edition of Collective Design, opening in the coming May, and I asked Gaetano if he would be interested in presenting his work with me if I offered him an honorific position within the fair.?

The next day we met at Pier 57, a raw downtown space that he said reminded him of the industrial spaces in Milan. On the spot he agreed to bring his work to Collective Design, creating the first show of his work in over 30 years in his adopted city of New York. See the installation and interview he did with the New York Times T magazine here.?

For Collective Design, Gaetano organized an installation of over 1,000 square feet with dozens of his pieces. Despite being already into his 70’s, he climbed a ladder to hang a wall of drawings and spent a week at a 10’ long Fish table, greeting visitors and telling tales. Watching the joy he felt and shared became one of the highlights of my time hosting Collective Design.Next week there will be a launch of his latest book?with the bittersweet title, Nice to See You, so please visit to celebrate the life of this supremely influential designer.

April 15 - 21

Veranda Biblioteca Ambrosina, Piazza Pio XI, Milano

La Casa Dentro,?an immersive installation by FormafantasmaThe exhibition presents a selection of newly produced works constructing?an introspective vision of the domestic environment, where psychological and emotional nuances intersect.?Starting from memories of their own childhood homes, populated by decorative elements and handmade objects, Formatantasma sets up a critical reading of the ideological dogmas inherited from Modernism, which identified rationality and sobriety as components to be promoted, as opposed to ornamental tensions.

April 14 - 19 with a?Special Opening, 14 April 7-9pm

ICA Milano | Istituto Contemporaneo per le Arti.?Via Orobia 26, Milano

Food, Drink, Art & Design? ??????

Along with endless design offerings throughout the week, everyone gathers for the food and drink, from standards like Bar Basso to the various special events throughout the city that provide a spectrum of food options. This year?Barzante Atelier has joined forces with?Joséphine & Osama’s Bakery, SoCal Tacos' food truck?and a selection of natural wines, beers, and cocktails from?Palinurobar at Brazante Ateliers.

Palinurobar at Barzante Ateliers

10 AM - 8 PM from?

April 16 - 21 Via Gaudenzio Fantoli 16/3, Milano

Don't miss?Bar Unikko by Marimekko and Apartamento,?a week-long takeover of Milanese cafe Bar Stoppani from legandary?Finnish design brand?Marimekko?and provocative interior magazine?Apartamento.Bar

Unikko

8am - 9pm from

April 15 - 20?Via Stoppani 15, Milano

My old Montreal friends, contemporary lighting studio Lambert & Fils, have again partnered with ?DWA Design Studio, this time including?French artist Sophie Lou Jacobsen, to present the 3rd edition of Caffè Populaire, an immersive experience?and convivial environment.

Caffè Populaire

Hours vary from April 14 -18

85, via Giulio e Corrado Venini – Milano

MY SHORT LIST The first things I would see in Milan...

Rude Arts Club by Faye Toogood

Together with?Tacchini?and?CC-Tapis, Toogood has created the Rude Arts Club. The designer reimagined the CC-Tapis showroom for the exhibition, creating unique rooms for the collaboration.

Alcova?

Alcova, which launched its?first international edition in Miami in December,?is upping their real estate game in Milan by taking over two iconic villas for design week.?Villa Borsani and Villa Bagatti will be the settings?for?Gohar World's?return to the event along with a collab between?architect Junya Ishigami and?furniture brand Maniera, as well as?an installation by some talented Canadian friends, the?lighting brand?ANDlight.?

Objects May Shift by Rhode Island School of Design

This year Rhode Island School of Design?(aka RISD) will be introducing its "first-ever global multidisciplinary presentation of work" curated by two RISD professors, presenting the works of 20 students studying ceramics, furniture design, glass, graphic design, industrial design, interior architecture and textiles. Objects May Shift will be part of SaloneSatellite, a special section at the proper Salone fair created by?Marva Griffin, that?showcases?designers under the age of 35.

Follow me @steven_learner as I'll continue to share all that is coming my way from Milano.