Artsplosure!

Downtown Raleigh just keeps getting better and better! I LOVE promoting it!

This weekend the City of Raleigh Art's Commission is hosting the annual art's festival known as Artsplosure! Artsplosure's mission is to produce high quality annual festivals that celebrate excellence in the performing and visual arts; to promote and bring recognition to national, regional, and local artists; and to bring artists and the larger community together to improve the quality of life and cultural environment.

Artsplosure was created in 1978 and realized with its first festival in 1980. Today and tomorrow artists' booths are arranged around the park as well as local food vendors and live music and entertainment. Here are some of the highlights of what NOT to MISS:

SATURDAY
MUSIC
7:00-noon Dixieland Jazz @ Big Ed's in City Market
2:00-3:00 Eve Cornelious & Chip Crawford, Jazz
4:00-5:00 Kellylee Evans, Jazzy Soul
6:00-7:00 Lonnie Walker, Rootsy Americana & Dance Party Punk (NC Locals)
8:00-10:00 Buckwheat Zydeco, Rocking Jazz & Blues!

ENTERTAINMENT
Aerial Angels acrobatic show 11:00, 1:00, 3:00, 5:00

SUNDAY
MUSIC
1:00-2:00 The Johnny Folsom Four, Johnny Cash Tribute
3:00-4:00 Funkuponya, Jazz Funk
5:00-6:00 Jonathan Scales, Steel Drums
7:00-8:00 Mel Melton & the Wicket Mojos, Bayou Jazz

ENTERTAINMENT
Aerial Angels acrobatic show 12:00, 4:00

EVENTS BOTH DAYS
Art, Art, everywhere Art! Be sure to check out all the local galleries..most are only open until about 5:00

Sand Art
Art-On-The-Move winners displayed, Saturday 11:00-noon
Marbles Exhibitions
Triangle Restaurant Week (last days) Saturday and Sunday: http://www.trirestaurantweek.com/
Winesplosure: Wine Tasting at Metro Cafe

Nostalgia

I’m back!

I spent the past week in St. Louis, Missouri…my family’s hometown. I stayed with my Grandma and my parents came to visit as well. If you can’t tell from the hundreds of images of vintage vehicles I’ve already posted on my flikr or facebook pages, I have a nostalgia for eras that I’ve never experienced first hand. Visiting St. Louis reaffirms this nostalgia and helps me understand where this love developed.

My mom and I spent more time than usual visiting the parts of the city that remind her of her childhood. Most of this revolves around food: Pretzels at Gus’s, BBQ at Phil’s, Slyders at White Castle, and of course multiple trips to Frederhofer’s Bakery. It also involved the more traditional tourist stops: the Arch and the Museum of Westward Expansion in the Arch’s foundation, the NEW Busch Stadium, and the warehouse and brewery (Busch and Lemp) district where my grandparents and their parents worked long, back-breaking hours. The city is nothing like the hustle and bustle days that my parents and grandparents grew up in…the stadium has been completely rebuilt (twice), the New Cathedral is rather old, hundreds of thousands of square footage of factory and brewery has been abandoned.

Despite all the negativity that surrounds the city’s disrepair…you can catch promising glimpses of what the Gateway to the West might have in store for the future. Warehouse space has been converted into uppity apartment lofts for young professionals. The introduction of America's Center Convention Complex, Edward Jones Dome, Ferrra Theatre, and the Executive Conference Center are drawing huge professional crowds and encourage Cards, Rams, and Blues, fans nationwide to bring their business downtown. And fundrasiers and live music festivals on the Riverfront are increasing in number and popularity. Just this past Saturday, over 66,000 participants gathered downtown for the Susan G. Komen Race.

In the area where my grandma lives, about 30 minutes outside the city, its an entirely different world. While much has changed, so much has remained the same. Some of the largest grocery stores, pharmacies, auto parts suppliers, and restaurants are still family owned…as they have been for the past 100 years (or more)! Grandma’s house is on one the most prestidgeous streets in the area…or at least it was 60 years ago when it was built. She raised her family there since 1950 and many features of the house remain completely original. The houses being built just 10 minutes down the road have maintained high quality…but the 2500 or so square footage of my grandma’s 60 year old house, could fit in the basement of the multi-million dollar monsters down the road. Also 10 miles from Grandma’s are most of the food selections mentioned above, Laumeier Sculpture Park, and the historic Grant’s Farm. Grant’s Farm was founded by President Ulysses S. Grant in the 1850s. The Busch family purchased the farm from President Grant over 5 decades ago. The 281 acres is the home of more than 100 species of animals from 6 continents and now serves as a stable for the famous Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales and an interactive, safari-style park, which is open to the public to increase wildlife conservation and education.

And there is SO MUCH I am leaving out!

Now you know, just in part, where my love for St. Louis and the historic past comes from….but what does this have to do with automotive? For one, the rise, and fall, and new rise of the city, should bring hope to those in Motor City during these trying times. For another reason...well just check out my next post…and my flikr picture set (which will be added soon)…and I think you’ll be in for a treat! I certainly was!

Eyes on Detroit Design

Michiganites!

This FRIDAY, June 19 from 9pm-12pm, the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology presents Eyes on Detroit Design at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum in Auburn Hills, MI.

"Eve of Eyes Designers Night"- an informal gathering of designers, engineers, marketers, car and product enthusiasts.

Join an international crowd of creative Designers for a charitable evening featuring Detroit Fashion, Cars, Music, 3D Visualization and Product Innovation. The promotion of Design Sustainability and the importance it has on environment and future product development.

Take Part in an International Networking Platform with industry leaders over food, cocktails and entertainment!

Events Include:

Detroit Design Showcase & Networking

Indoor festivities with strolling hors d-oeuvres, micro brews from the Rochester Mills, cocktails and music from local Detroit DJ's will fill the museum while you network with people from all design industries. Presentations from top designers product introductions, design competitions and head-to-head Sketch Off competition, are among the events of the evening.

6pm-9pm

Live Entertainment and After-Hours Party

As the Night time rolls in, so does the party! Experience the Live performance of Detroit's own Midtown Underground and local DJ's. Enjoy 3 levels of entertaining including VIP area with Cocktails and more!

9pm-12am

A Special Lifetime Achievement Award...

...to be presented to Willie G. Davidson (of Harley-Davidson)

Eyes on Design Automotive Design Show

2009: The Art of Automobile Advertising & Design

Sunday, June 21st at the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House, Grosse Point Shores, MI

www.eyesondesigncarshow.com

Tickets

Tickets are only $25 for Students and $40 for General Admission.

Both include food and drink until 9pm and thereafter a cash bar.

$100 for VIP Lounge, Cocktails and Networking and includes all food and bars until 12am.

Sponsors

Automotive Textile Solutions, datacolor, Autodesk, DetroitCity.com, Johnson Controls, Honda, Toyota, Audi, The Chrysler Foundation, cardesignnews, Benecke-Kauko, Human Solutions, Bridgestone, RTT, RLE, realfocus, Madge, PDX and grrlDog design

All of today's content is directly from the Eyes on Detroit Design website: www.eyesondetroitdesign.com

Be sure to check it out!

I'm certainly bummed that I won't be able to attend...so if you're in the area, please go and tell me all about it! Stephanie Rodgers of Automotive Textile Solutions even mentioned that MY WORK will be shown during the celebration! Cool, huh?!

Where in the World is Jenna?

New Brunswick, Canada!

Yeah...I've been here for a month...dog-sitting!

I'm at a friend's cottage on the lake, enjoying life. I'm in Jemseg, which is 45 minutes from the capital of Fredericton. Not only am I with an amazing dog, I am in a beautiful province with a lively downtown. Last week, I picked a friend up in Maine and we traveled to Prince Edward Island and Halifax, Nova Scotia. PEI was amazing with red clay beaches and thousands of acres of green gables. While in Halifax, we made friends with a group from Quebec, canoed, and danced around our campfire. We had a very short trip, but still managed an hours drive in the port area.

Yesterday, I took a trip into Fredericton for the Cultural Expressions Festival. The day was filled with a rainbow of ethnicities, food, arts, music, and dancing. I came back with a henna tattoo on my arm and one tired dog. Also in Fredericton, I've been to local concerts, local shopping, and even a Pow Wow sponsored by the local tribe of St. Mary's.

I'll be here just 11 more days and will have another visitor starting on Tuesday! Lots of fun ahead of me still, and lots of work behind me.

While here, I have also worked on a chapter I am writing for a new Woodhead Publishing book, New Product Development in Textiles: Innovation and Production. I'll be sure to post when this book is released!


I must go enjoy the beautiful weather! I'll upload pictures once I'm home with a stronger internet connection.

Happy Summer!

Mid-Century Modern

For those of you that follow my blog, or know me personally, this "hobby" of mine will come as no surprise. My passion for Mid-Century America goes much deeper than the automotive industry and has culminated in an apartment full of stylishly designed, well-crafted furniture, kitchenware, and clothes.

The term "Mid-Century Modern" refers to architectural, interior, product, and digital designs that thrived through the 1930's to 1960's. Some of the most influential designers of this era include Frank Lloyd Wright, Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller, Milo Baughman, Thayer Coggin, and Paul McCobb. The organic and simplistic lines characteristic of Mid-Century Modern are synonymous with Scandanavian design elements of this time period.

This movement was prominent on the West Coast and in large, "trendy" cities, which attracted designers and collectors. While LA and Chicago rank 1st and 2nd for concentration of mid-century architecture, Raleigh, NC is an unexpected 3rd. Much of this has to due with the NC State College of Design, the professors and lecturers drawn to the program by CoD Dean, Henry Kamphoefner and colleagues. The College itself is based on Bauhaus design principles (also a substantial influence on Mid-Century Design). Another notable source of influence to Raleigh's position in the Mid-Century Modern scene is the wealth of notable NC furniture manufacturers such as Haywood, Lane, Broyhill, and Drexel.

This fall Raleigh's Mid-Century Modern heritage has been flowing into the public arena through multiple outlets. On September 25, Triangle Modernists Houses hosted their annual tour of selected architectural jewels in the Raleigh area. NC State's Gregg Museum is hosting "Southern Roots of Mid-Century Modern" (August 19-December 18). Additionally, Mid-Century Modern private dealers are flourishing as Gen-Y is reconnecting with items from their parents' and grandparents' homes.

Below are images of pieces I collected with my boyfriend from dealers, thrift stores, flea markets, craigslist, and our parents. There's nothing more exciting than the thrill of finding a piece where the owners did not know what they were parting with and getting a real deal. I've also included an exterior picture of our building, the Beckanna. Our furniture has found a comfortable home in this 1960's uptown apartment.

Favorite Triangle Dealers and Deals
Father & Son Antiques
Good Bones Vintage
Modernique
Hipsteria
Cause for Paws
Habitat for Humanity ReStore

New Gigs, New Hopes

Good Evening Good Friends!

I've had some good news over the past month. I expanded my career search to include technical and performance textiles...with success! I'm in the middle of a couple of very intense interview processes and am remaining optimistic that I will be able to begin my professional career by September (fingers crossed!).

In the between time, I am also pursuing opportunities for extra income. One of my most exciting endeavors is to expand my passion for pets into a profitable experience. Check out my Paw Prints Website!

www.JenBensPawPrints.blogspot.com

Wish me luck!

Making My Way through Californ-I-A!

Sometimes the journey is all the fun.

On the 15th, I spent 15 hours of travel time getting from Detroit to Monterey. I landed in Monterey and was greeted by my dad and his 9-ton home on wheels. That night we stayed at a Super8 motel in Salinas because we booked too late (only 3 months in advance) and cost in that area for the weekend were so High! But we were in good company. The parking lost was full of Porsches, a Maseratis and many other racing vehicles. We were in the midst of a weekend full of not only the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, but also the Monterey Historic Automobile Race and the county fair (this is a different county than you might be used to!). Sunday we enjoyed the Concours and then began a 4-day drive south down the costal highway to Torrance. We couldn't make it 5 miles at a time without being passed by a Corvette, Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari...

Along the way, dad and I camped at Big Sur, Pismo Beach and Lake Casitas. It was a little cool for us along the coast, so we went inland and up until we reached the mid-90's at 5000 foot altitude. Here, the weather was perfect.

Edelbrock Performance

There are definite perks to having the same interests as my dad. Last Wednesday, we visited with Vic Edelbrock Jr., a long time friend of my dad's from the automotive industry. Magneti Marelli (my dad's company) provides parts, primarily carburetors, for Edelbrock Performance Products. Vic was kind enough to give us a tour of his facilities and many of his toys. Dad even got to drive us to lunch in one of Vic's toys: a vintage Chevelle with a 670 horsepower Edelbrock engine. He floored it, and needless to say, left a good bit of rubber on the LA streets.