Today we’re introducing you to a brand new design project – NARA. – and its first collection, FAMILY. Founded in 2022 by Nara Lee and David Luraschi, NARA. is all about creating fun, playful, artsy furniture. FAMILY is a group of six colorful, modular pieces, each featuring their own characteristics, that can be composed into nearly limitless configurations. The collection includes a sofa, two armchairs, a coffee table, a side table, and a foot rest. Each piece is made in France, manufactured with a foam-base and covered in textile designs by Kvadrat. When it all comes together, FAMILY is durable, supportive, comfortable, and interactive. Create a functional seating space for home or work, then let your imagination run free to make other playful forms!
Both Lee and Luraschi are established artists in the commercial arts, who decided after multiple collaborations to launch their own studio. NARA. allows the duo to reach beyond their usual creations and clients to invent their own world and design language.
Photo: Thomas Cristiani
Photo: David Luraschi
Nara Lee + David Luraschi
To learn more about FAMILY, visit nara.world.
BUSAN, South Korea, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — On the 9th of August, Art Busan Inc., the organizer of the leading Korean art fair ‘Art Busan’, announced that they have successfully secured their first investment round. Despite concerns about the ongoing economic downturn, this investment round validates the sustained interest in the art market and the high value and growth potential of the ‘Art Busan’ brand. Prominent unicorn startup founders and renowned investors including Sanghun Kim, former CEO of Naver, Kelvin Dongho Kim, CEO of Korea Credit Data, Simon Seojoon Kim, CEO of Hashed and Tony Lyu, venture partner at SoftBank Ventures Asia are among the list of investors. Korea’s leading fashion platform Musinsa and global mobility group CTR have also joined this initial investment round.
Through this round of investment, Art Busan has successfully secured the optimal strategic partnership base required to expand its existing art fair business to Seoul and the global market. At the same time, it has positioned itself to operate a diverse range of new ventures within the on and offline sectors of the international art markets, which require strategic alliance.
Art Busan was established in 2011 with the ambition to transform the culturally marginalized city of Busan into a city of culture. In pursuit of this goal, they organized their first art fair, ‘Art Show Busan,’ in 2012. By 2022, Art Busan attained Korea’s top art fair brand title, in terms of visitor numbers, total sales volume, and art fair ranking conducted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, establishing itself as an art fair brand that gained not only domestic but also international attention. Through Art Busan, acclaimed international galleries have made their first debut into the Korean market, leading them to open their Korean branches. As such, Art Busan has been a key player in connecting major art institutions, galleries, art patrons and collectors. With its stable organizational culture and agile execution as a private entity, Art Busan has been a driving force behind the revitalization of the domestic art market in the absence of global-level art fairs. Now, with plans to host a new event integrating design and art in this year, and expanding its presence to Seoul, Art Busan aims to strengthen Korea’s brand power and make a leap into the global art market.
Sanghun Kim, former CEO of Naver, who has served as the Chairman of the National Theater Company of Korea, a board member of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, and the President of the National Hangeul Museum Support Committee, responded that “I firmly believe and support that Art Busan, which started in my beloved city of Busan, will grow into a leading brand in Korea’s art and cultural scene and play a significant role in expanding the foundation of Korean art market in the right direction.” Kelvin Dongho Kim, CEO of Korea Credit Data added that “I was strongly attracted by Art Busan’s founding story and how the local fair from Busan has grown into Korea’s leading art fair brand. I am excited to join this investment round as I wanted to contribute to the company’s vision of becoming a global art brand.”
Director Seokho Jeong of Art Busan said, “this investment holds significance as it recognizes the substantial contributions Art Busan has made to the advancement of the Korean art market thus far, and its unique brand value established within the art market.” He added, “moving forward, we aim to grow Art Busan as a global brand and take a leading role in ensuring the nourishing and sustainable development of the Korean art market.”
As a significant step in its full-scale business expansion and global leap, Art Busan will unveil the first edition of the premium design and art fair, ‘DEFINE SEOUL,’ in the Seongsu district of Seoul from November 1st to 5th.
SOURCE Art Busan
In a previous TWF Calendar competition, three Chattanooga area photographers were chosen from more than 3,400 submissions. Their pictures were featured on the 2021 TWF Calendar. (Photos clockwise from upper right: Joy Adams, Denise, Neuendorf, Braam Oberholster)
DULUTH — Whether you’re ready for romance, ready to rock or just “Confused,” the Twin Ports have activities for you to enjoy this week.
Contributed / Art in Bayfront Park
The annual juried Art in Bayfront Park festival hits the harbor Saturday and Sunday. Expect over 100 artists working in various disciplines including, not to be forgotten, the culinary arts. This year’s commemorative poster features a design by Minneapolis artist Barret Lee: “a friendly yeti painted over a collage of historic Duluth newsprint,” as the event’s
explains.
For information on the free festival, see
Contributed / Gramercy Pictures
Richard Linklater’s 1993 film became an instant classic not just for its depiction of high school culture in the psychedelic ’70s, but for its affectionate portrait of a generation coming of age in a disillusioned era. The movie’s ensemble cast includes a number of actors who would become well-known, including Ben Affleck, Milla Jovovich and Parker Posey. It’s Matthew McConaughey, though, who steals the show, playing a 20-something who just can’t leave high school behind.
The film has had a cultural impact well beyond its $8 million box office take. “The Pelican Brief” netted nearly $200 million the same year, but don’t expect any 30th anniversary screenings of that one.
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For tickets and information on Wednesday’s “Dazed and Confused” screening at Zeitgeist, see
Contributed / Patti Paulson
Minneapolis residents have grown to love “ArtCars”: automobiles customized with whimsical trappings. They’re seen in an annual parade through the Mill City, and now they’re coming north for a weekend of fun in Silver Bay. The festivities start with a Thursday discussion forum at Reunion Hall, continues with a Friday “sneak peek” at City Center Park and culminates in an ArtCar Beach Bash at Black Beach. The bash will include crafts, activities, competitions and food vendors.
For details, see
Dan Williamson / File / Duluth News Tribune
Last year’s inaugural Twin Ports Music Festival came together spontaneously, when a bluegrass jam west of St. Cloud was canceled and several acts regrouped for a concert in Superior. This year, the festival returns with a two-day lineup at Earth Rider Brewery. On each day, Saturday and Sunday, one act holds down the Cedar Lounge while four more rotate through the outdoor Festival Grounds stage. Artists include the Cactus Blossoms (6 p.m. Friday) and Serbian American blues performer Ana Popovic.
For details and tickets, see
Contributed / DECC
All the memes, all the CGI, all the Jeff Goldblum chuckles couldn’t have made “Jurassic Park” a smash hit 30 years ago without the soaring score of John Williams. On Saturday, the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra is going big, performing the entire score live while the film screens in Symphony Hall. Jason Seber, a gifted conductor known for bringing orchestral music to accessible contexts, will hold the baton for the highly anticipated show.
For tickets and details, see
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Tyler Schank / File / Duluth News Tribune
Can you believe it’s only been a dozen years since Castle Danger Brewery opened in its namesake North Shore community, serving 13 local establishments and selling growlers three nights a week? Today, having moved to a larger facility in Two Harbors, Castle Danger is the Northland’s largest brewery, with plenty of reason to celebrate. Water Cat, Big Wave Dave and the Ripples, A Band Called Truman and Woodblind will play a free (“and family friendly!”) party at the brewery Saturday.
For details, see
Contributed / Not Too Far Removed Press
Bookstore Romance Day isn’t about falling in love with a bookstore, though bookworms may well swoon at the sight of their favorite indie retailer. The national event is a celebration of romance fiction: one of the most popular book genres and yet one that’s still commonly stigmatized.
On Saturday, Zenith Bookstore will be hosting Duluth author Tashia Hart (“Native Love Jams”) and offering artisan chocolate bars to buyers of “Blind Date with a Book” wrapped packages. See
for details.
Meanwhile, the Bookstore at Fitger’s is hosting author Julie McElwain (of the Kendra Donovan series) on Saturday, then Heidi Shertok (“Unorthodox Love”) on Sunday — plus offering “the biggest Blind Date with a Book you can imagine, quizzes, games” and, yes, chocolate. See
for details.
Arts and entertainment reporter Jay Gabler joined the Duluth News Tribune in 2022. His previous experience includes eight years as a digital producer at The Current (Minnesota Public Radio), four years as theater critic at Minneapolis alt-weekly City Pages, and six years as arts editor at the Twin Cities Daily Planet. He’s a co-founder of pop culture and creative writing blog The Tangential; he’s also a member of the National Book Critics Circle and the Minnesota Film Critics Alliance. You can reach him at jgabler@duluthnews.com or 218-279-5536.
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Oscar Zifang Wan is ready to present “Unveiling the Unseen” a photography exhibition at the “Untitled Space” gallery in Tribeca, New York. This compelling collection of Oscar’s photography will be on display from August 16 to August 18 at 45 Lispenard Street, New York, NY 10013.
Oscar, a talent emerging from Blair Academy, embarked on his journey into the world of photography at an incredibly young age. While his peers were engrossed in games and toys, Oscar’s fascination gravitated toward the Leica camera, a tool he would use to explore the world with unparalleled curiosity. His ability to capture the multifaceted essence of life has guided him across five continents and numerous cities, shooting everything from the urban landscapes to the serene beauty of rural vistas. Today, Oscar’s photographs transcend mere visuals, encapsulating emotions, intellectual reflections, and a profound commitment to environmental sustainability and that is what the New York exhibition is about.
Oscar is also redefining the known in his work, as in the photo above – Zifang Wan confronts traditional perceptions, dissecting the mysterious, and inspiring reflection. Each image offers a window into a realm where tangible forms give way to abstract concepts, encouraging viewers to interpret the complex interplay of shapes, colors, and thoughts.
“Unveiling the Unseen” beautifully explores Oscar’s growth and vision as a photographer interested in the changing world around him. It offers glimpses into the vibrant lives of fellow young students, the beauty that surrounds us, and a deeper understanding of our world’s state today. Oscar Zifang Wan exhibition serves as more than a visual display; it is an exploration of thought-provoking concepts and a mirror to our times through his personal visual diary.
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Oscar’s approach in this exhibition also takes a bold step beyond the familiar, delving into a realm where beauty is reimagined through a unique lens of creativity, and forms converge to redefine our connection with the natural world. For Oscar Zifang Wan the collection doesn’t merely present photographs; it narrates stories and reflections of our existence, advocating for a more sustainable future. Each image invites viewers to see the world anew, encouraging a renewed appreciation for the beauty and complexity that often remains unseen.
“Unveiling the Unseen” is more than a photography exhibition – it’s an artistic statement by a photographer who is deeply committed to raising awareness about environmental sustainability. Oscar’s dedication shines through every photograph, allowing the world to witness his unique perspective.
In the “Metropolitan Reverie” segment of his exhibition, Oscar breathes new life into cityscapes, transforming them into striking landscapes and serene contemplations of daily human reality. These captures elevate the ordinary, resonating with the very soul of urban life, laced with a touching profundity.
Unveiling the Unseen exhibition beautifully rounds up a visual diary, in and out of an urban landscape, also witnessing the change we have gone through around the planet in the past years. At the “Unveiling the Unseen” you can delve into a world of young creativity, where Oscar as a bystander documents all of our lives, at the same time creating an archive of visual landscapes.
Unveiling the Unseen at the “Untitled Space” Gallery
45 Lispenard St, New York, NY 10013
August 16 – August 18, 2023
Opening Reception: August 16, 6:00pm-8:00pm
General Hours:
August 16, 6:00pm-8:00pm
August 17 – August 18, 10:00am-6:00pm
