A great architect weighs in on the the fundamental of contrast in art

Whatever our task, whether large or small, whether it arises from ugly banality
or the most sensitive emotional element,
be it a city or its part,
a building or a transport network,
a painting, a sculpture,
or a piece of utility-ware,
there is one absolute condition for its creation
before it can attain a value
that qualifies it as culture…
in every case opposites must be reconciled…
Almost every formal assignment
involves dozens, often hundreds,
sometimes thousands of conflicting elements
that can be forced into functional harmony
only by an act of will.

This harmony cannot be achieved
by any other means than art.

~Alvar Aalto
“Art & Technology”
lecture to Finnish Academy
3 October 1955

been so long, so long... | porcelain prince and pauper set

...to the East Coast and back. Friends Burlington. Friends Bangor. Family Bangor. Work and family Philly. so good to touch what seems so far away and yet is incredibly close.

As a reward for irregular blogging check out these
PresidentialShakers.com I photographed in the crib yesterday for Aldo and Gallery 13's
much discussed Sugarman

custom porcelain for $40 a pair? call me East Coast (please, please call me east coast). But I think that's a steal. Unlimited edition makes it a little Chinese sweatshop, but the American labor is priceless (Aldo Moroni's available for interviews if you bring beer. Contact Steve Sugarman at Gallery 13 for details)