Commune

Some inspiration from our recent trip to Senegal. Although the etymology of Senegal is debated, we like the theory derived from the local Wolof phrase Sunu gaal, meaning “our canoe” e.g. everyone is in the same boat…enjoy

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Look out for Part 2…coming soon

Just a few favorites from the last century…

We just collaborated with Exquisite Surfaces on a new line of wood flooring. We were inspired by classic Nordic textile patterns and the Bauhaus. The floors are made of salvaged, oak wagon wood from France colored in sand, army drab, and indigo. The plank floors come with a brass Commune Signet produced by our friends at E.R Butler, as an artistic signature. The parquet floors are a modern interpretation of ancient Latvian grids with a Bauhaus feel. The patterns are fully modular, so you can arrange them any way you want.

More information visit communeshop.com

Peter Zumthor has a new exhibit of his architectural models at of course the only museum fit for them, the one he designed himself : The Kunsthaus Bregenz. The models so poetically sum up his focuses and concerns for each project that we must let them do the talking…have a look.

“The contrast between the mass of the earth below and the space of the earth above, which meet at the surface of the earth, is the primary datum of this space.” -DHVDL

A few months ago our friend Shin Nakahara from Landscape Products approached us about collaborating on a Summer pop up featuring Commune products that would start at his Tas Yard Café in Tokyo and move to Osaka and Kagoshima…the Pop Tour 2012 was born.

We designed a mark for the tour and some products….Landscape produced it all, and the result is a great little store for the senses – we even designed a “Commune loves Japan” tea blend and asked Valerie Confections to create a cookie recipe with California ingredients and a matcha filling that was served on our Heath Nude ware by a server wearing our “Commune loves Tas Yard” apron…Shin thinks of everything.

100% of the profit from the sale of the products we created with the Pop Tour graphics goes to a project that is dear to Shin. Last year he met three young people from the town of Onagawa, which was completely devastated by the Tsunami.  These kids, who lost everything…even their families, made a decision to go back to Onagawa and try to rebuild their town.  Shin decided to help them build a coffee house that would serve as a gathering place, somewhere to connect and encourage simple communication.  We loved this idea and very much wanted to be part of it…so here’s to you…Onagawa.

The Pop Tour left Tokyo a few days ago and is currently in Osaka until August 10.  It  then moves to Kagoshima from August 15th until early September.

The Pop Tour products are available here at our shop: communeshop.com

100% of the proceeds go to Shin’s relief project in Onagawa.

Back in the 1960 / 70’s, collectives like Archigram, Super Studio etc. began to reassess the form of structures, and with alternative forms come alternative plans.

1927-1983

All images from A Hundred Years of Film Adverts and Film Posters in Iran

“A vivacious young woman from Rio de Janeiro moves to New York to study design and is later appointed co-art director of the world-renowned Harper’s Bazaar magazine at age 25. After 10 years at Bazaar, she becomes the first art director of Ms., the magazine of the women’s liberation movement. Other accomplishments include designing award-winning books, working forRolling Stone, and being chosen to art direct the revival of the 1930s classic, Vanity Fair. She is at the zenith of her career and celebrated for her work when cancer takes her life at age 44.”

Images from the fantastic new book: O design de Bea Feitler by our friend Bruno Feitler published by Ipsis/Cosacaify.

Available here at Editora Cosacnaify

“Jane’s Carousel is a completely restored historic Carousel made by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company in 1922. It is a classic three-row machine with 48 exquisitely carved horses, and two superb chariots. The wood carvings, often attributed to John Zalar and Frank Carretta, are among the finest of their kind. In addition, the scenery panels, rounding boards, crests, center pole and platform are all original to the Carousel. It was the first Carousel to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places.”

Why are we making posters with Mike Mills? Because we both wanted to make something accessible that lives in the home…and we were jonesing to work with Mike. What are they about? Social unrest and change…or color and texture…whatever floats your boat. What was the process of making them like? A picnic in the park. Who printed them? We worked with Paper Chase Press on the offset and the ever elusive American Foothill for the newsprint.

Where can you get them? HERE at communeshop.com and we even did a couple for our friends at ACE..check out the interview with Mike at: Ace Hotel - Blog

poster available here:    communeshop.com

and here: Ace Hotel - Shop

Publication put out by a SF commune in the late 60’s.

thanks Alia for the tip.

Morera specializes in one item…a box. Father ( Los Angeles based architect Tony Morera) and son (Commune’s own Carlos Morera ) recreated an important component of their work room. Originating somewhere in Northern Spain, this work box has been in the Morera family for generations. Handmade in their Culver City studio, it takes on any use it’s given: from lunch table to stool. It has now been remade with a patchwork of materials including hardwoods, plywood and laminates…perfect for your living room or shed. (paint splatters and oil stains not included, but recommended )

available at the communeshop.com