The Revue, September 2020

Time flies, and somehow we find ourselves at the start of September. While summer may be on its way out, we have plenty to keep you distracted on those rainy days indoors, from retro American space travel to the extinction of some of Britain’s best cheeses, a trip around a Parisian contemporary gallery and a peek into the lives of two incredible mid-century artists. Jump in.

read: The Worm, Standards Manual

One of the most celebrated logos in graphic design history, NASA’s squiggly red insignia goes under the spotlight in this weighty volume produced by independent publisher Standards Manual. The Worm offers 200 images featuring the iconic symbol in both mundane and quite literally out-of-this-world settings. Originally designed by Richard Danne and Bruce Blackburn, and debuted in the 1975 NASA Graphic Design Program, this symbol of modernity and technological progress – now endearingly retro – has managed to retain its charm and relevance for nearly 45 years.

read: Everything She Touched: The Life of Ruth Asawa, Marilyn Chase                                                                                          

Journalist Marilyn Chase spent five years trawling through the Stanford University archives to produce this thorough biography of artist Ruth Asawa, published by Chronicle Books. Walking us through her childhood in California, dark days spent in a Japanese-American internment camp, to her eventual arrival at the legendary Black Mountain College, mentored by the likes of Buckminster Fuller and Josef Albers. Through everything, Asawa never stopped creating, her hanging-wire sculptures becoming her trademark although she was skilled in just about every medium available – an immense talent and truly one of the greats of the mid-century art world.

visit: Pierre Charpin: Similitude(s), Galerie Kreo

Paris’ Galerie Kreo opens its doors for a virtual 3D tour of Similitude(s), an exhibition showcasing new work from artist Pierre Charpin. Perhaps best known for homewares for the likes of Alessi, Hay and Ligne Roset, Charpin places recognisable forms including mirrors and pendant lights into a contemporary art context, “usefulness” overshadowed by form, bold colour and what he describes as “a warm geometry.” 

eat: How a Cheese Goes Extinct, The New Yorker

Food writer Ruby Tandoh takes a look at the fragile world of small-scale regional cheese-making and the inevitable extinction of some of Britain’s best varieties. When eccentric archaeologist turned cheese-maker Mary Holbrook died in 2019 with no family or expert trainees to take over the business, four award-winning goat’s milk cheeses, Old Ford, Cardo, Sleightlett, and Tymsboro, disappeared with her. The specialist knowledge and finely balanced alchemy behind these incredible cheeses requires an immense amount of commitment and support from makers and suppliers alike. Tandoh speaks to some of the industry’s leading lights to find out how they’re preserving the tradition.

read: The Home & Legacy of George Nakashima, T Magazine

T Magazine meets Mira and Kevin Nakashima to discuss the life, work and legacy of their father, legendary Japanese-American furniture designer George Nakashima. A story centered around their family compound in New Hope, Pennsylvania – built in 1946 – where the pair still live in separate, time-capsule homes, the siblings recount a childhood surrounded by their dad’s incredible hand-built creations, their mother Marion’s never-ending book collection, and one-off items from family friends including Isamu Noguchi and Harry Bertoia. Incredible photography by Chris Mottalini brings this story to life.

product focus: Royal Blue Heavyweight Suede Five-Pocket Chore Jacket

A luxurious update to the classic blue work jacket, heavyweight Crosta suede transforms this five-pocket garment into a striking and distinctive outerwear piece. Made in Italy, contrast stitching and horn buttons act as subtle points of detail while raw seams and a deep shade of indigo call back to utilitarian ‘bleu de travail’ layers of old.