What are the products we use in our everyday lives, and what impact do they have on our planet? These are the questions proposed in “Design for a Living World,” an exhibit from The Nature Conservancy now on display at the Coral Gables Museum.
The exhibit features intriguing works from 10 of the world’s most renowned designers, including Isaac Mizrahi, Kate Spade New York, Yves Béhar and Maya Lin.
In developing the exhibit, The Nature Conservancy invited these designers, plus Ted Muehling, Stephen Burks, Abbott Miller, Hella Jongerius, Christien Meindertsma and Ezri Tarazi, to create usable objects from sustainable materials sourced from around the world.
Wood, wool, plants and other organic materials from the hardwood forests of Maine to the mangrove waterways of Micronesia were transformed into innovative yet practical items, revealing extraordinary stories about regeneration and the human connection to the Earth’s natural resources.
The collection of stunningly beautiful designs, including clothing, furniture, accessories and more, is on display in the exhibit, along with the photographs of award-winning photojournalist Ami Vitale, who documented the people and places associated with the project. The “Design for a Living World” exhibit suggests that together, designers and consumers help reshape our economy and advance a global conservation ethic by consciously choosing sustainable materials that support, rather than deplete, natural environments.
“Design for a Living World” premiered at New York’s Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum, and was later shown at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix and the Field Museum in Chicago. This stop at the Coral Gables Museum is the final opportunity to view this important exhibition.
The Nature Conservancy will host a closing celebration on Oct. 25, featuring a live auction of the one-of-a-kind objects showcased in the exhibit. For additional information about the exhibit, visit online <www.nature.org/media/design/index. html>.
The Coral Gables Museum is located at 285 Aragon Ave. in the heart of downtown Coral Gables. The museum’s focus is on architecture, urban design and planning, sustainable development and architectural and environmental preservation.
For more information about the Coral Gables Museum, visit the web at www.CoralGablesMuseum.org
