Tord the Lights

As a rule, it seems to me that people like 

the little twinkling lights used to trim Christmas trees, 

so much so the lights are left up well beyond the holidays. 

Years ago, the lights used as a part of outdoor 

holiday decor around downtown Indy have become 

permanent fixtures in the trees lining the streets. 

They light the sidewalks, adding a bit 

to pedestrian security.

 Not that that has anything to do with Tord Boontje's

lighting projects, but I find the crystal branch

shown above reminiscent of the trees lining the

Ohio Street near Monument Circle.

This chandelier, called Night Blossom, 

created in 2002 for Swarovski, 

has flashing LED lights next to the crystals. 

In addition to the one shown above,

another one was wall-mounted.

Unfortunately, I've lost the notes 

related to this fixture. The decorative elements 

inside the shade seemed like the floral motifs 

found on ornately plastered ceilings 

or on porcelain dinnerware.

Affordable Delicacy

I love this stuff.

The interplay of delicate light and 

shadowy forms holds my attention. 

Whenever I see one of industrial designer 

Tord Boontje's creations, I want to look 

at it forever. I don't know whether 

I first saw a big book devoted to his work, or

a large, lacy curtain made out of Tyvek, 

but his stuff ranges from vases, to textiles, 

to lighting and furniture. I wanted one of the curtains

to hang in a window of my boat, so I could

watch how the reflections off the river interacted

with the tracery of the curtain.

And it's affordable!

Heck, he's even created a line

for Target!