The expanded Museum of Fine Arts, Houston opens to the public, Venus Williams is the guest editor of HD’s latest issue, and COVID-19 causes more tradeshows and fairs to delay globally. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
New building at MFAH showcases Latin American artists
The third floor atrium of the Nancy and Rich Kinder Building; © Richard Barnes, courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
This weekend, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) inaugurates its new Nancy and Rich Kinder Building, which showcases a lineup of artwork by 250 Latin American and Latinx artists. The opening follows two decades and more than $60 million dedicated to establishing a collection and research center to reflect the city’s role as a gateway between north and south. The New York Times reports that the new building, designed by Steven Holl as part of a larger campus expansion, will feature artwork curated by Mari Carmen RamÃrez to engage visitors with lesser-known names and work. Over the years, MFAH has accrued a collection of works with unpredecented Latinx and Latin American representation. The museum currently maintains 400 artworks by 71 Latinx artists and more than 825 Latin American artworks.
Salone del Mobile postpones 2021 fair
Photo courtesy of Salone del Mobile / Alessandro Russotti
Salone del Mobile in Milan has announced that it will postpone its 60th anniversary fair next year, rescheduling from April 2021 to September 2021. Dezeen writes that the decision was made in light of new and growing surges in COVID-19 infections across the globe that are expected to persist through spring 2021. It’s also reported that exhibitors encouraged the organization to delay the fair. Furthermore, Maison&Objet in Paris has rescheduled its fair, previously planned for January 2021, to March, while Design Shanghai has been postponed from March to early June 2021. Scheduling for the Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair, the Surface Design Show in London, and the Design Indaba conference in Cape Town have also been impacted by COVID-19.
Virgin Hyperloop completes first passenger test
The Virgin Hyperloop XP-2 vehicle; photo courtesy of Virgin Hyperloop
After more than 400 unoccupied tests, Virgin Hyperloop successfully completed its first passenger tests at its DevLoop site in Las Vegas. Virgin Hyperloop is now the only company on the planet to have reached this milestone in hyperloop technology testing. Cofounder and CTO Josh Giegel and director of passenger experience Sara Luchian were the first humans to ride through the 1,600-plus-foot site earlier this month. According to Designboom, the two-seat XP-2 pod vehicle, designed by BIG, will be expanded to accommodate up to 28 passengers in the future.
A historic restoration is unveiled in Brooklyn
Photo by Paul Martinka
The Endale Arch in Brooklyn, New York’s Prospect Park has been restored following a $500,000 effort funded by Tiger Baron Foundation and the District 39 participatory budget. Nearly 150 years old, the architectural intervention was developed with the Meadowport Arch by Frederick Olmsted and Calvert Vaux as part of the original designs for the park, Gothamist reports. Original details unearthed during the restoration included a motif of yellow Berea sandstone, New Jersey brownstone, white pine, and black walnut paneling. Drainage issues, invasive plant removal, and the stabilization of stone walls were also addressed during the rehabilitation. The arch also now sports native plantings and LED lighting.
The Guest Editor Issue: Venus Williams
Photo by Kevin Sturman
The tennis titan and founder of design firm V Starr lends her expertise and vision to Hospitality Design as the guest editor of our November issue. In addition to exploring creativity and design innovation, Williams assembles a catalog of creatives focused on social good and setting new standards in fields ranging from F&B to art. She also spotlights a diverse community of gamechangers in South Florida, where her own practice is based. Check out the November issue here.
