Pie In The Sky

Sometimes, you spend hours networking and researching to find exciting new design. Sometimes, you just have a few drinks and stumble around New York City.  The latter worked a few weeks ago as we almost literally stumbled across a small gallery on the Lower East Side that had mounted an installation on sustainable design in conjunction with ICFF week.  Marilyn Garber, proprietor of Bridge Gallery at 102 Orchard Street, specializes in small installations of edgy architecture and design.  Her current exhibition is a one-man show of green designs by Bannavis Sribyatta of PIE (Project Import Export) Studios, titled “Wasted.”

Bannavis is a graduate of the Columbia School of Architecture who has turned his attention to the design and fabrication of both small and unlimited-edition furniture and lighting.  His work has been cited by the Cooper-Hewitt and by Interior Design magazine. He uses renewable natural materials such as water hyacinth, bamboo,and rattan, along with eco-friendly synthetics, and repurposed or found objects. As a teacher at Miami International University, he also employed his students to help work out the exhibition design.  The result is a highly creative, visually exciting show that is also good for you, or at least for your carbon footprint.  See the accompanying photos, and check out the show, which closes mid-June.