NeoCon East

NeoCon East, for those who haven’t been there, is a wide open, less congested, less frenzied version of June’s big show. Think yards and yards of white carpet, product you could really see and exhibitors with lots of time to talk. There were tours and seminars and a fantastic presentation by our own blogger Emily Pilloton who spoke to students about her call-to-action to an (anti) manifesto for humanitarian design.

There are not as many product introductions as we see at the Mart, but a few caught my attention.

Carnegie, the always reliable purveyor of deeply green fabrics, introduced its new Earth from Above, Sky from Below Collection from Anthology. Designed by Lori Weitzner, the collection takes its inspiration from that which surrounds us–clouds, mountains and terrains.  “Design is interactive,” says Weitzner, “It is defined not just by itself but also by how people engage with it.  When I work, I always keep all of my senses open.”  For example, Celeste (pictured) captures the spiral movement of celestial bodies in the sky.

Tokuyama America introduced Ibuki panels, made from “shikkui” lime plaster, available in sheets and tiles. It is an ancient building material that lasts hundreds of years, absorbs and releases moisture as humidity rises and falls, suppresses mold growth, and absorbs formaldehyde from the air. Plastering is a dying craft; Ibuki replicates conventional or textured plaster surfaces in an easy to apply form with soft colors. Warning: the Web site doesn’t tell you much. Request the CD from the company to learn important use and installation information.