Lara Knutson

American Design Club - Threat: Objects for Defense and Protection

2012-02-05T14:22:00.003-05:00

I'm excited to announce that my "glass grenades" will be shown in the American Design Club show titled THREAT on March 9th at Present Company (29 Wythe Ave. in Brooklyn)

Ambiente

2012-02-05T14:15:00.003-05:00

My vases will be featured in the New Talent show at Ambient from February 10-14 in Hall 4.0 F71.

Navajo show at Alchemist for Art Basel in Miami

2011-11-25T11:41:00.005-05:00

Inspired by natural turquoise rock commonly used in Navajo jewelry, these vases are chunky with multiple layers of turquoise thread and reflective yarn. They will be shown at in a concept stored design by Rene Gonzalez called Alchemist during Art Basel in the new Herzog and de Meuron parking garage. The entire show is Navajo themed. See them here at Cool Hunting.

SOFA Chicago 2011

2011-11-01T13:46:00.006-04:00

This new jewelry will be at booth #400 during SOFA Chicago 2011. They are made from Korean Jade, Moonstones, Opals, Reflective Glass fabric and iridescent acrylic.

Reflective Wreath on Fab.com

2011-11-01T10:04:00.005-04:00

A new Reflective Wreath is now for sale on Fab.com. This piece is made with a variety of neon threads and reflective thread knitted into a yarn and then crocheted. The bow is large and made entirely out of reflective fabric.

Product Placement 4.1

2011-10-11T13:44:00.001-04:00

Product Placement 4.1 : Extremism in Design. RSVP to watch this presentation.

fab.com - erlenmeyer vase sale - September 26th - 29th

2011-09-20T16:02:00.042-04:00

Watch this video above to see the vases for sale on fab.com shine when light hits them. They are grey and full of texture and react to light in a room in unexpected ways. You can see a vessel here, which is now part of the permanent collection at the Corning Museum of Glass and another here, that will be in the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian in July 2012.

Typically found on fire men's suits, traffic cops, sneakers and athletic clothing, so that cars can see them at night with their headlights, this fabric is comprised of 50,000 microscopic glass beads per square inch that are mirror backed and magnify light 100 times. You can see in the image below what this material looks like under a microscope.

What I love most about this material is that the light interacts with you and in a way, dances with the viewers. You have to see for yourself, because photographs just doesn't capture all the phenomena in photographs.

This is a photo of me holding the material showing what it looks like when light is hitting it with a flash. It's really very mesmerizing in person. These vases were created for a show at the Future Perfect for a show during ICFF 2011 which was printed in the New York Times.

You can read on Pokate.com or read two interviews - faebric.com and The Future Perfect to learn more about my work, or go to the Future Perfect where they can be seen in person.

Mondo Collection Show - September 27th - 30th

2011-09-20T16:02:00.021-04:00

New vessels made from nylon and reflective glass fabric for Mondo Collection. In person, they kind of look like they fell from outer-space and then washed up on shore. Better photos and other items such as a new textile they are producing and jewelry will be posted soon.

Santa Monica Museum of Art

2011-09-08T09:55:00.014-04:00

New Jewelry made from reflective glass fabric created for a show on September 9th at the Santa Monica Museum of Art.

Shown above: Nebula with giant white baroque pearls, Nebula with small and large black baroque pearls, Nebula with gold thread and labradorite, Nebula with iridescent thread and grey pearls.

Azure Magazine September 2011

2011-09-06T16:29:00.002-04:00

The "Soft Chemistry" vases that were featured in the Future Perfect show during ICFF 2011 were published in Azure Magazine this month.

Fab.com American Design Club Gold Sale

2011-08-20T09:53:00.007-04:00

Starting Sunday August 20th, for 3 days, this gold Nebula necklace will be available on Fab.com in the American Design Club sale. It's made from gold reflective glass yarn, metallic gold thread and gold nylon thread. This necklace glows in gold instead of the usual silver.

Nebula with Opalescent Glass

2011-08-13T14:01:00.007-04:00

Nebula with Opalescent Glass is now available at the MoMA Design Store. Opalescent glass casts yellow light onto the skin while the reflective glass fabric reflects light at everyone in the room. See it on the new catalog cover!

American Design Club - Gift Fair

2011-08-11T15:47:00.004-04:00

From August 14th - 18th my jewelry and vases will be in the Gift Fair at the Jacob Javits Center with the American Design Club. Join us! We will be located in the lower lobby by the entry.

Erlenmeyer Feather Vase

2011-07-07T19:13:00.006-04:00

This is an part of new series of Erlenmeyer vases with reflective glass fabric woven with feathers that are feed into my knitting machine. For sale at the Future Perfect.

"Soft Chemistry" Erlenmeyer skirt & sweater vases

2011-05-19T22:45:00.011-04:00

One-of-a-kind "Soft Chemistry" Erlenmeyer Skirt Vase & Sweater Vase on exhibit and for sale at The Future Perfect. Custom sizes and colors available. Made from reflective glass fabric and mohair. See it on CoolHunting.

"Soft Chemistry" Florence flask vases

2011-05-19T21:04:00.013-04:00

These new "soft chemistry" florence flask vases range from 50ML to 3000ml. Each piece is unique and can be custom made. Available now through the Future Perfect. Made from reflective glass fabric, mohair and cashmere.

"Soft Chemistry" Erlenmeyer flask vases

2011-05-19T20:40:00.019-04:00

"Soft Chemistry" erlenmeyer chemistry flask vases now for sale at the Future Perfect. Sizes range from 50ML to 6000ml. Each piece is inherently unique and can be custom made. All vases are composed mixtures of reflective glass fabric, mohair, nylon thread, kevlar, silk and cashmere. See them here on Core77 and Wallpaper.

Material Light

2011-05-04T07:47:00.005-04:00

This is a prototype for a new lighting series where light looks like an object, but it's an optical illusion. As part of my Master's thesis show at Power House Books (37 Main Street) in DUMBO Brooklyn, I've included 16 material studies which are pictured behind the lighting above. While creating work for this show, I created new LED lights as well that are enclosed in a tubes of knitted yarns. On May 11, I will be presenting this project at ABC Carpet and Home at an event sponsored by Apartmenttherapy.com

The Future Perfect ICFF Show

2011-04-24T15:00:00.007-04:00

These "Soft Chemistry Flasks" will be part of a show at the Future Perfect on May 14th during ICFF. Sizes will range from 50ML to 6000ML. Shown above are 250ML, 500ML and 1000ML. Made from commercially knit reflective glass fabric and glass chemistry flasks.

See my new interview on their website. Featured in the New York Times.

Nebula with Feathers

2011-04-24T14:58:00.005-04:00

Nebula is now feathered. For sale at the Future Perfect. Made from commercially knit reflective glass fabric, feathers and a magnetic clasp.

How it's Made

2011-02-21T15:22:00.014-05:00

I'm excited to announce that my work will be part of a show in Rotterdam titled, How It's Made until March 27th.

The premise of the show is to highlight the design process in which we will all be exhibiting objects from our "misfit" piles as well as some very labor intensive finished pieces.

I have to say that this pleases me because all those poor little failed experiments that I have scattered about myspace are in a way more precious to me than my final pieces because the failed attempts taught me most.

See it on BLEND, and ELLE.

Craft Futures: 40 Under 40

2011-01-19T23:25:00.014-05:00

My work will be part of a show titled: Craft Futures: 40 Under 40 in the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington DC starting in July 2012.

Jellyfish Pin

2011-01-09T12:28:00.006-05:00

This pin was made in 2002 when I started being interested in light and materials. This rutilated quartz acts as a lens and magnifies the top of the "nails" that I created to sit on the bottom of the bezel setting.

Nebula with Pearls

2010-10-11T22:09:00.009-04:00

Photos by Frank Ishman

Nebula now has pearls. This line is sold in the MoMA Design Store, online and will be in their Spring 2011 catalog.

Aurora Materialis

2010-09-14T12:21:00.006-04:00

This is a movie I made for my Master's Thesis in Industrial Design at Pratt. In essence, I believe that products that bring an awareness to the moment make people cherish them.

100x magnification of my Nebula jewelry. Please visit Aurora Materialis which is the blog for my material adventure.

bright Young things

2010-06-19T20:18:00.046-04:00

Today at the Mermaid Day Parade, I photographed my friend Kathleen Scully wearing my jewelry for Day 8 of her bright Young things project. Follow her everyday to find out what she is wearing!

.
I'm inspired by bioluminescence, iridescence and all things reflective in nature and from outerspace. Everything on the three pieces of jewelry shown are either refracting, reflecting or casting light. Think about light reflecting off of a school of fish.

Nebula is sold at the MoMA Design Store and at The Future Perfect - made entirely out of reflective glass fabric. (nebula bracelet and nebula wide necklace shown)

Universe is currently sold privately - made from moonstones, opals, labradorite and reflective glass fabric.

Nacre 50 is currently sold privately - made from 50 cultured pearls and reflective glass fabric.

**I'm looking for high-end retailers to sell my jewelry**

If you would like to purchase any of these pieces or are in the city and would like to make an appointment please call or email me.

supernova

2010-04-05T10:37:00.016-04:00

Supernova is made with reflective glass fabric, silk thread, and rock crystal.

American Design Club BREAKABLE

2010-03-09T20:29:00.036-05:00

This "soft glass" vessel just became part of the permanent collection at the Corning Museum of Glass and was in the BREAKABLE show organized by the American Design Club at the Heller Gallery during ICFF 2010. It makes rainbows! See it on Nylon Wild, designboom and Core77.

This piece is made entirely from reflective glass fabric which magnifies light 100 times and has 50,000 mircroscopic mirror backed glass beads per square inch.

nebula

2010-02-02T16:45:00.039-05:00

The nebula collection is now for sale in New York City in the 53rd Street and Soho locations of the MoMA Design Store as well as the Manhattan location of The Future Perfect. See my bio for other locations around the world.
.

Comprised of microscopic glass beads, Nebula's soft reflective fabric glows when light is behind your head. Like a cloud of stardust, it is ephemeral with flashes of luminescence.

Produced in collaboration with adults in the Autism spectrum at Special Citizens located in the Bronx.

fuzzy

2009-10-16T21:51:00.005-04:00

Fuzzy is made from mohair, reflective fabric and industrial-grade diamonds. It's being shown at BOFFO until November 20th in an exhibit called Objective Affection along with several other pieces.

mica necklace

2009-05-27T21:21:00.005-04:00

Mica is the same mineral that is in cosmetics that make them sparkle. This necklace is made out of sheet mica that slowly flakes off while wearing and creates a continuous and subtle dusting of sparkles.

3 String Shelf

2009-05-13T20:28:00.023-04:00

*Was featured at ICFF in Pratt's booth called Design for a Dollar - May 16th to May 18th at the Jacob Javits Center. See them installed on treehugger.com , apartment therapy , mocoloco , New York Times and bloomacious.

All that is needed to make a shelf are three lines and six connections at the corner of a wall.

Bright in color, yet almost invisible, this shelving is adaptable by the simple placement of store bought eyelet screws along the corner of a wall with nylon rope tied at both ends.

This is the essence of a bookshelf as the shelf has been broken down into its most minimal components. Books stay in place by sitting on the angled bottom two strings while letting gravity do the rest of the work as the books lean into
the back string. This system can be strung as one shelf or as an interconnected corner shelving unit.

*The shelves will be published in a book written by Alex Johnson and published by Thames and Hudson. Publishing date is unknown.

Comet

2009-01-30T09:34:00.028-05:00

Photo by Lara Knutson

photo by Bill Kontzias

*Was part of the Model Model Citizens NYC show from May 16th- May 18th.

Comet is a knotted retro-reflective and opalite necklace.

I wore this piece once to an opening and a woman came from all the way across the room to look at it because of the light reflecting at her.

What I love is that the fabric and beads are always responding to the viewer in different ways. For a moment, the piece might look grey, then suddenly as the viewer moves a few inches, light flashes from the fabric or the beads cast yellow and orange light.