Unbrella 2009
Asked to take inspiration from the Mattress Factory s annex gallery we entered the 2nd floor apartment and recalled our first experience seeing Alan...
Description
Asked to take inspiration from the Mattress Factory’s annex gallery, we entered the 2nd floor apartment and recalled our first experience seeing Alan Wexler’s Bed Sitting Rooms for an Artist in Residence almost 20 years ago as design students. The multi-functional bed/sofa vibrates between absurdity and brilliance, efficiency and fun. The Unbrella comes from this same place — a utilitarian knee-slap for the artist in residence who may have arrived in Pittsburgh ill-prepared for the weather. The Unbrella functions indoors as a bright soft light but outdoors as a fully lit umbrella. To use, simply twist the Unbrella into the socket and pull the raindrop to light the room. The room also charges the Unbrella’s battery. Twist out to take to the streets, lighting your way on a dark, rainy day.
Vanessa Sica and Chris Kasabach have a broad range of experience merging the fields of art, design and technology. Their work in healthcare, housewares, fashion and the arts has been recognized by the awards, museums and publications that set the standard in design and business including the IDSA-International Design Excellence Awards and Medical Design Excellence Awards. Their work has been featured at the Smithsonian/Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, Vitra Design Museum, and as part of artist Mariko Mori’s Venice Biennale exhibition.