The artist Ana Vizcarra Rankin is sitting under a blanket of stars. From her vantage point, she can see both Orion and the Southern Cross. Polaris shines from its position in Ursa Minor and in the distance, there are the twinkling lights of Mexico City.

The Philadelphia-based artist, who was born in Uruguay, can almost hear the constant fireworks exploding in the night sky from the festival celebrating the Lady of Guadalupe from her spot on a floor pillow in the upper-level of the gallery at Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

The blanket of stars above her is her piece Untitled Starmap (Mexico), which is part of Holding Space, an interactive installation, a mediation room with star art and pillows. Holding Space is part of Rankins Butterfly Effect exhibit, which runs at PCA&D through April 12.

By inviting people to gaze into the night sky of Mexico, she is playing with perspective. The viewer is in two places at once. Rankin is in Mexico in her mind and in Lancaster in her body. Rankin envisions the Holding Space as a place for students and visitors to let their thoughts drift.

Im a big advocate of just sitting around in the dark, Rankin says. Its super nice to sit outside and relax and not be staring at a screen. Enjoy the darkness, enjoy the silence.

The blanket of stars that hangs overheard on the gallerys ceiling represents the approximate location of the night sky from a trip Rankin and her husband took to Mexico. She made the work by sketching the night sky with her naked eye while in Mexico and using various star gazing apps to check her positions. Rankins work takes on vast subjects like the universe or the planet and makes them personal.

For instance, the night sky above her reminds her what she was looking at during her trip to Mexico. Constellations and single stars have long been used as a navigation tool. As an artist, Rankin uses the night skies to navigate her position in the world, as well as her memories and emotions.

Butterfly Effect features art based on star maps, world maps, changes in ocean temperatures, the amount of planes in a sky in a given location on a given moment in time and paintings of different nebulas. Theres plenty of room to think, explore and engender curiosity.

The Butterfly Effect is from chaos theory, Rankin says. Its this idea that a seemingly infinitesimal and inconsequential occurrence can affect its surroundings in ways that are extraordinary and supermassive. The guy that coined the term used as an example that a butterfly flapping its wings in the U.S. could cause a typhoon in the Pacific Ocean.

Rankin admits shes taken liberties with some of the scientific material, but shes allowed, she says. Shes an artist, not a scientist, and artists are allowed to be biased, she says.

One of her pieces, Warm Acid Bath, shows the change in ocean temperatures due to acidification.

These heat maps are all rainbow-colored, and I am particularly partial to the idea of the rainbow as a symbol of diversity and inclusiveness, Rankin says. Im using this imagery that is hopeful and positive even to indicate a lot of the things that are going wrong, because I think its not too late. I think we can dig ourselves out of this. Weve just got to plant more trees.

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She may be speaking as an artist and not a scientist, but shes about as close to a scientist as an artist can get. Her father is a professor of animal sciences and her mother a professor of literature.

Dinner conversations were like freewheeling lectures for Rankin and her family. There was often dry ice in the freezer. Rankin and her siblings would go to her fathers lab and gaze into the microscope at the tiny worlds on the slides. Her mothers influence drew her into making art about mythology.

I have always been an artist from when I could speak, Rankin says. Theres a little Super 8 film of me going Yo quiero ser una artista! My hands on hips saying I want to be an artist!

Rankin moved with her family from Uruguay to Oklahoma when she was 11. Later, she moved to Philadelphia and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in art history from Temple University and her Master of Fine Arts from Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.

Her work in Butterfly Effect offers a chance to view our world through a different perspective. For example, her piece El Sur is an inverted world map.

You think about your position on the planet and if youre always on the bottom and suddenly it gets flipped, it changes the way you think of yourself and where you are with respect to the rest of the world, Rankin says. I mean, you have to think of the world in some way, and it makes sense to homogenize things to a certain degree, but I think theres a danger to this idea that everything has to be so standardized.

The standardization of things is something Rankin is obviously fond of playing with.

I think one of the biggest disservices we do to ourselves is this idea of standardization up to a point where you dont even know the questions you are not asking, Rankin says. The more you are bombarded by the same image over and over again, the less you even consider that an alternative is possible. So, as an agent of chaos, I can be like Hey, but what if, this were quote-unquote upside down. And its not even upside down. Theres no upside down in space.

Here she pauses.

Thats what I love about making this kind of art, Rankin says. Every day is like an existential conundrum.

What: Butterfly Effect.

Where: Pennsylvania College of Art & Design, 204 N Prince St.

When: Through April 12. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 8 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m.

Cost: Free.

pcad.edu/gallery-exhibit/butterfly-effect-by-ana-vizcarra-rankin.

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Artist Ana Vizcarra explores a sense of being from a personal perspective and scientific observations - LancasterOnline

The five-star hotel is close enough for those all-important business meetings, but feels a satisfying world away when it's time to unwind

Apparently you should never mix business with pleasure however, a truly exceptional five-star hotel does exactly that.

The Renaissance Downtown Hotel, Dubai is located at the edge of Dubais Downtown district and it does both rather well. Located just moments beyond the low-rise Arabian architecture of the areas exclusive Old Town neighbourhood, the hotel, which opened its doors just over two years ago, is close enough for access to those all-important meetings, with Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) just a short taxi journey away.

And yet its setting, on the edge of the Dubai Water Canal, where joggers and cyclists breeze by without a single care in the world, appears a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

There is an air of calm as soon as you pass through the revolving doors, where you are greeted by an art installation of Dubais impressive skyline; a hand-blown chandelier lends the space an impressive majesty.

Locally inspired art features throughout reception and into the elevators, with natural wood finishes and Arabesque patterns offering a touch of style that references the local culture and artistic heritage.

The hotel is large enough to feel a sense of privacy, but intimate at the same time to experience the personal touch from staff. It boasts 166 king rooms and 65 suites including 32 corner suites, 15 deluxe, 13 executive suites, four VP suites and one presidential suite. The deluxe suite is huge at 65 square metres and the floor-to-ceiling windows offer stunning views. A striking feature is Picassos camel sketch above the bed, re-interpreted into a 3D iron rod sculpture, it brings a sense of personality and avoids the anonymity that often pervades even five-star hotel rooms.

For those looking to burn off some energy there is the option to use the hotel bicycles and join the cyclists around the canal, or visit the gym on the third floor, which boasts a selection of Technogym equipment, weights and striking images of Burj Khalifa.

Indulgence beckons at the Six Senses Spa which is located on level five and features six treatment suites that are each dedicated to a different sense skilled therapists will knead and massage away the last of your business traveller fatigue, instilling a sense of profound contentment and relaxation.

And in terms of food, there is more than enough to satisfy your appetite.

Enjoy the sunset view with live entertainment and shisha at Bhar, with flavours from Chef Mohanad Al Shamali and sample his trademark Black Cod Syadieh, as well as other creations such as Crispy Soft-Shell Crab Saj with garlic mayo and harissa and duck fat chips. Basta! the brainchild of celebrity chef David Myers, combines the feel of a Roman trattoria, Florentine steakhouse and Neapolitan pizzeria into one restaurant. The new brunch is another highlight.

The Renaissance is also home to Chef Masaharu Morimotos first UAE outpost of his famed-eponymous restaurant.

And then theres the signature restaurant, award-winning Bleu Blanc. A creation of Myers, it combines French chic with the warmth of a farmhouse and is considered something of a gastronomic destination by the citys food cognoscenti.

While its location on the edge of Business Bay leads one to conclude it is a business hotel, the truth is the property is much more. It ticks all the boxes in that respect, but also offers free shuttle services to Dubai Mall, Kite Beach and La Mer and it is just a five-minute walk to Downtown, the citys de facto entertainment and lifestyle centre.

Renaissance-hotels.marriott.com

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Combining business and pleasure at The Renaissance Downtown Hotel, Dubai - ArabianBusiness.com

If your latest renovation project includes a new ceiling, don't panic at the thought of overhead drywall work. In the right situation, a suspended ceiling offers some real advantages over the permanent variety. First, ducts, pipes and cables hidden above a dropped ceiling remain accessible for repair or modification. And second, suspended ceilings are better sound barriers than drywall ceilings.

For the do-it-yourselfer, though, the real bonus is easy installation that requires only simple household tools. Comprised of a metal grid that supports lightweight panels, a suspended ceiling is well within the capabilities of most homeowners. If you're worried about the institutional look, drop-in ceiling panels have become more attractive in recent years, with a wide range of designs to choose from.

While suspended ceilings are not for everyone, or for every situation, they make a lot of sense in basements and in first-floor rooms with bathrooms overhead. If a leak appears in the overhead plumbing, a suspended ceiling can mean the difference between a costly, time-consuming repair job and a minor inconvenience.

All you need for a suspended ceiling is sufficient head clearance. Requirements vary, but most codes stipulate a minimum 7 1/2-ft. ceiling height in new construction. Some codes, however, will accommodate a lower ceiling height if it's part of a renovation project, so it pays to ask. You'll need roughly 4 in. of space between the old and new ceilings to tilt the panels in place, and an additional 2 in. if you intend to install drop-in, full-panel fluorescent ceiling lights.

We installed our suspended ceiling in a wood-frame drywalled room, though concrete or concrete-block basement walls wouldn't have changed the installation much. In this case, simply use masonry screws instead of nails to secure the perimeter molding that supports the ceiling at its edges.

Choosing a system

The installation steps vary from one manufacturer to the next, but not significantly. We chose an Armstrong Tegular Ceiling (Armstrong World Industries Inc., P.O. Box 173058, Denver, CO 90217). Tegular ceiling panels have a recessed flange that allows them to protrude below the grid roughly 1/4 in. While these panels are more attractive, they do require careful trimming when a smaller panel is needed.

Once you've chosen a ceiling package, give some thought to the grid layout. While home centers and retailers will be happy to work up a parts list, based on a scaled drawing of your space, you should have a general sense of how the components go together before getting started.

Typical systems have an L-shaped perimeter bracket, or molding, to support the suspended ceiling at the walls. From this molding, long stringers, called main runners, are installed every 4 ft. and run the length of the room. The ends of the main runners rest on the perimeter moldings and everything in between is suspended with wires secured to the joists above. Cross tees are installed across these runners at intervals of 24 in. This grid is all that's needed to support 2 x 4-ft. ceiling panels. With 2 x 2-ft. panels, an additional set of connectors divides each 2 x 4-ft. area.

The first step is to determine the maximum height of the new suspended ceiling. If you don't plan to install a drop-in fluorescent fixture, measure down about 4 in. from the existing ceiling joists and mark the wall. The 4-in. space is just enough to angle the tiles into place. (If you do plan to install a drop-in fixture, place the mark 6 in. from the joists.) At this mark, draw a line around three sides of the room using a 4-ft. level.

Measure down from the joists at several locations around the room to ensure that you'll have enough space above the panel grid at all points across the existing ceiling. If your ceiling joists don't lie on a level plane, make sure to measure down 4 in. from the lowest point on the lowest joist. When the three perimeter lines are level and at the correct height, connect them with a chalkline on the remaining wall.

With the perimeter established, locate the wall studs and nail the perimeter molding in place so that the top of the molding aligns with the perimeter lines. Use 6d nails and avoid scuffing the painted surface of the molding. Cut the molding to fit with tin snips. For long walls, butt the ends of two pieces of molding.

When you come to an inside corner, install the first length of molding tight against the corner and butt the second length against the first.

For outside corners, a mitered joint is more attractive. Using your tin snips, cut both moldings at a 45 degree angle and secure them in place with 6d nails.

With the perimeter molding in place, install the main runners perpendicular to the joists and 4 ft. apart. The trick here is to lay out the panel grid so that the ceiling appears balanced from side to side. Most rooms will accommodate a number of full-size panels plus an edge gap that will require partial panels.

Measure across the room parallel to the joists and divide by the panel length to get the number of full panels that will fit in the space. To determine the perimeter gap at each wall, subtract the sum of the panel lengths from the room dimension. If the gap is only 1 or 2 in. short of a full panel, you may be able to start against one side wall and continue across to the opposite wall with full-size panels. If the gap is anything less, it's best to divide it in two, placing half on each side. If the gap is 18 in. wide, for example, it will look better if both sides of the room have a 9-in.-wide row of partial panels. In this case, start your first main runner 9 in. from the wall, continue across the room with full panels, and end with a main runner 9 in. from the opposing wall.

A similar calculation should be made in the opposite direction. Here, intersecting members, called cross tees, are positioned in slots on each main runner. If you need to trim a few inches from the lead ends of the main runners to accommodate a row of partial panels, be sure to trim the same amount from each runner so that the cross tees will be parallel to the wall and the panel openings are square.

To install the main runners, measure out from the starting wall the determined gap distance and snap a chalkline across joists. Then, measure 4 ft. from this line and snap a second line. Repeat this procedure in 4-ft. increments until you reach the far wall.

To support the main runners, screw small eyebolts into every third joist along the chalklines. Then, fasten lengths of 16-gauge wire to each eyebolt. Twist the wire at least three times around itself at the top. Then, stretch string tightly across the room between perimeter moldings, about every 8 ft., so that the string is aligned with the bottoms of the molding. Use this string to level each main runner as you hang it from its wires.

Set the lead end of the runner on the perimeter molding and lower it until it touches the first string. Sight across the runner to determine where to bend the first wire support. Bend the wire, feed it through the nearest hole in the runner, bend it up and twist it at least three times.

Continue hanging the runners in this fashion until each is supported every 4 ft. If your room is longer than the runners, join them end to end, using the slots and tabs built into the ends of each.

Place an additional wire support near each of these joints. Trim the excess from the last length of runner with tin snips.

With the runners in place, tie them together with the cross tees spaced 2 ft. apart. The cross tees have a hook on each end that fits into a slot in the runners.

If the system you've chosen has 2 x 4-ft. panels, install the panels in the center of the grid now to help square the assembly. If your system has 2 x 2-ft. panels, install the 2-ft. connectors before moving on. These connectors parallel the runners and fit slots in the cross tees. With the 2-ft. connectors in place, install enough of the center panels to square the grid.

With the grid more or less square, cut and install pieces to connect the grid with the perimeter molding. Again, the factory ends hook into the runner and cross-tee slots while the cut ends rest on top of the perimeter molding.

If you plan to install a full-panel, drop-in fluorescent light fixture, you'll need to provide some protection for the wiring that extends between the the electrical box connected to a ceiling joist and the fixture. Codes will require that these wires be encased in flexible metal conduit.

Starting with the fixture, mount a 90degree conduit/box connector in one of the channel knockouts in the fixture. Then, feed three 14-gauge insulated wires (black, white and green) through a length of flexible conduit and into the channel box. Fasten the conduit in place by tightening the connector's set screw. Join these lead wires to the fixture's leads as you would normally, connecting like-colored wires.

Set the fixture in the grid in place of one of the panels, and connect the remaining end of the conduit to a blank, junction-box cover plate. Break the knockout from the plate and join it to the conduit with a standard box connector. Finish by making the wiring connections and fastening the plate to the box.

Heating ducts will also require special attention. In most cases, the job requires bringing the ductwork down to a level just above the top of the panel, cutting an opening in the panel and inserting a diffuser.

If your duct ends in a rectangular boot, make sure the boot has side tabs that will allow you to screw through the diffuser and panel and into tabs in the duct boot. This may require a bit of custom sheetmetal work on your part, but it won't need to be fancy.

If your ductwork ends in a downward facing elbow, or if you've had to bring your own duct to the room, you might opt for a round diffuser with adjustable output. These plastic or metal diffusers are sold at most home centers. Again, the trick is in bringing the duct to the panel.

To determine the best position, lay a level or a straightedge across the grid. Then, extend the duct down to a point just above the panel. You'll also need to frame a structural support across the joist space containing the duct so that it doesn't settle under its own weight.

With the duct ready, measure carefully from two sides of the grid and position the diffuser on the panel accordingly. Trace around the diffuser with a pencil and cut along this line to make the opening.

Finally, install the panel, push the diffuser into the duct and screw it to the duct by working through an adjacent opening in the grid.

When it comes to cutting panels to fill the smaller perimeter openings, always cut with the finished side of the panel facing up and always use a sharp utility knife. Avoid using power equipment--you'll create far too much cellulose dust and the job won't get done any faster.

Begin by measuring the grid opening and adding about 3/8 in. for the new flange. Slice through the panel completely, using several passes if needed.

To create a new tegular flange, lay the flange of a complete panel over the cut piece and scribe the new flange line.

Cut along this line, but only to half the panel's depth.

Then, lay the knife on its side and slice into the panel from its edge, at the same height as the factory flange. This will remove just enough material to produce a custom flange. Install the cut panel so the new, unpainted flange faces the wall.

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How To Install Suspended Ceiling Tiles Easily

The MAS-A100 Delivers Hands-free and Hassle-free Lectures and Presentations with Acoustic Feedback Prevention

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Sony Electronics Inc. today announced the U.S. launch of its new beamforming1 microphone, MAS-A100, providing enterprises an advanced audio solution to enable flexible and creative "hands-free" lectures and presentations.

Designed for a range of meeting, lecture and presentation environments, the ceiling-mount microphone offers advanced clear audio for both speech reinforcement and recording with a unique combination of beamforming technology and Intelligent Feedback Reducer function. The microphone has a dual-channel output for simultaneous recording that captures the speaker and student's/participants' voices.Together with the support for Dante2 and Power Over Ethernet (PoE) for easy installation, the MAS-A100will significantly improve the audio experience in education and corporate organizations.

Hands-free presentation with speech reinforcement The MAS-A100 achieves hands-free speech reinforcement without requiring hand-held or body-worn microphones and subsequent batteries or device management. This is enabled by a unique combination of beamforming technology and an original feature called Intelligent Feedback Reducer, which canextract speech soundwhile suppressing unwanted feedback with Sony high-performance digital signal processing. After capturing voice, the microphone's Automatic Gain Control function automatically adjusts the output volume to be consistent regardless of the presenter's location, making lectures and presentations easier to hear.

Wide-area recording with clear low-noise sound qualityThe beamforming microphone has dual-channel output that enables simultaneous speech reinforcement and recording. It covers a wide range and can record not only the speaker's voice, but also the students and participants. The microphone also has auto-noise reduction capabilities to minimize background sound from air conditioners and projectors, which makes it ideal for lecture capture and meeting recording.

Simple installation and management The microphone can be easily integrated into existing A/V setups and used with a wide range of products thanks to support of Dante, the digital audio-over-IP networking standard. The model also supports PoE, enabling installation and power management with a single network cable. The MAS-A100's unique Automatic Calibration function automatically optimizes the parameters of the audio processing for speech reinforcement by generating and capturing the test signal during the installation process. Sony's free-of-charge Microphone Array System Manager software (MASM-1) can help centralize configuration and management of multiple microphones in various rooms via an IP connection.

"Lectures, speeches, and corporate meetings can contain priceless wisdom. Yet, recording them has too often been mired by unintuitive, ineffective recording technology," said Theresa Alesso, Pro division president, Sony Electronics. "At Sony, we work in close cooperation with our customers and partners to address the real-life challenges they face every day. With the MAS-A100, we're offering our customers a powerful yet cost-effective solution that completely transforms the style of lecture and presentation. With its advanced speech reinforcement and clear audio recording features, we're setting a new benchmark for what organizations can expect from microphones."

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Derek Rabuck, IT Consultant and Project Manager at Rice University, is eager to test the new technology: "I heard the impressive Sony Beamforming Microphone prototype at InfoComm 2019, and I'm looking forward to hearing the final product. The hands-free, location-free features make it very appealing."

The beamforming microphone is expected to be available in spring 2020.

Recap of key features:

About Sony Electronics' Imaging Products and Solutions - AmericasSony Electronics' Imaging Productions and Solutions - Americas group develops and manufactures video and audio technologies and solutions for a range of professional applications. These include broadcast television and motion picture production, live event production, corporate presentations, meeting rooms, ENG/EFP, digital cinematography, and more. Sony professional technologies are used in market segments including media solutions, imaging solutions, education, corporate A/V, visual simulation and entertainment, theater, healthcare, and sports. Visitpro.sonyfor more information.

About Sony Electronics Inc.Sony Electronics is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America and an affiliate of Sony Corporation (Japan), one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world, with a portfolio that encompasses electronics, music, motion pictures, mobile, gaming, robotics and financial services. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Sony Electronics is a leader in electronics for the consumer and professional markets. Operations include research and development, engineering, sales, marketing, distribution and customer service. Sony Electronics creates products that innovate and inspire generations, such as the award-winning Alpha Interchangeable Lens Cameras and revolutionary high-resolution audio products. Sony is also a leading manufacturer of end-to-end solutions from 4K professional broadcast and A/V equipment to industry leading 4K and 8K Ultra HD TVs. Visit http://www.sony.com/news for more information.

1: Beamforming is a signal processing technique used in sensor arrays for directional signal transmission or reception.2: Dante is trademark of Audinate Pty Ltd.

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Sony Launches IP-based Ceiling Beamforming Microphone with Speech Reinforcement and Clear Audio Recording - Yahoo Finance

Gray Area is a politically-minded nonprofit arts venue focused on dissolving boundaries between art and technology, performance and life. The End Of You, open through March 1, is an exemplar of their mission.

The immersive art exhibition, designed to take around an hour and experienced with a staggered stream of other people, is the product of 12 artists work in Gray Areas incubator, the Experiential Space Research Lab, a collaboration between Gray Area and Gaian Systems, a planetary cognition lab. Artists took leading roles on different installations. The result is a collection that functions as a chaotic, yet cohesive, whole exploring humanitys abusive and inextricable relationship with the environment.

When you first enter, there is no clear path to follow, no indication of what you can and cant touch. Theres information availablea fold-out pamphlet distributed at the door, a seated exhibition guide to answer questionsbut the power of The End of You comes from the process and uncertainty of slowly discovering the space and unraveling your relationship and responsibility to nature through it.

Your first or last stop in the exhibition is likely the RegisTree, by lead artist Romie Littrell, a mutated bio-abstraction of a tree set off from the other two rooms. The RegisTree provides a photo of yourself blended with your choice of microscopic matter, a fun visual kickoff or cap-off that makes the overarching theme of the journey explicit. Past the tree, you find The Room of Revelations, by lead artist Kelly Skye, which is small and sterile, featuring a bizarre but entrancing mix of animal portraits, floating video panels with flowing images of wilderness, and printed legal news of efforts and successes to win protections and personhood for nature.

The main room begins with The Luxuriant Prolific Undying, by lead artist Yulia Pinkusevich, a slice of white-rock shore beneath red, fruit-like orbs hanging from the ceiling. Its an otherworldly surface with two hunks of tree and roots suspended in the air. Grab a headset and sit down on a shaved stump, run the salt rocks through your fingers, and gaze out on the twisted colors and hallucinatory imagery of The Uncanny Forest, by lead artist Stephen Standridge. Experience large panels of abstract, psychedelic color like flowing lava. Youre led on a quasi-meditation by a strange ethereal voice, Thoughts do not exist without bacteria. The voice is omniscient and judgmental but nurturing. Were reminded of our stardust beginnings, invited to re-examine the wasteful reality we participate in, and then are offered the freeing solace of considering our ultimate insignificance in the history of the universe.

The Luxuriant Prolific Undying. Photo by Naveed Ahmad for Gray Area.

On the other side of the room The Archive of Human Nature, by lead artists Celeste Martore and Jonathon Keats, is a collection of tagged inventory from the whole spectrum of human usagefrom moisturizers to mopeds to presidential campaign buttons, there are a playground-sized childrens slide and an aluminum duct hanging from the ceiling, everything open for touch and examination. There is a messy but eerily stark quality to their arrangement, the products we live by separated from their context and power.

After considering our cosmic origins and viewing the refuse of our daily life, we turn to absorb the horrors of active, specific environmental injustices. This Hammer by lead artists Kevin Bernard Moultrie Daye, is a smaller and more personal installation, but no less abstract. It explores the botched cleanup of the Hunters Point Shipyard Superfund site. Dangling from the ceiling are flickering tubes of large rolled-up newspaper headlines from the San Francisco Bayview, unheeded warnings and coverage of the fraudulent cleanup. The installation conveys a murder-scene feel, flashing emergency lights, the ghosts of marginalized human lives and poisoned nature.

Terminal Blurring by lead artist Orestis Herodotou is experienced by lying under a patchwork tent of connected triangles displaying organic textures, from recognizable foliage to spores of inverted colors all running and cycling at different speeds. Once the novelty of lying on the floor watching trippy images fades, the videos begin to hypnotize and disorient as you lose yourself in their seemingly endless loop.

Termina lBlurring. Photo by Beth LaBerge for Gray Area

At the end of the main room, the final installation An Immersive Game of Life, by lead artist Stephanie Andrews, is modeled after Conways Game of Life, a game from the seventies created by Mathematician John Horton Conway in which a player selects a formation of cells and watches without further input as they grow and evolveillustrating how complex systems can develop from simple rules.

In the modern interpretation of the game, one stands in an empty U-shaped space, surrounded and grounded in a projected world. Youre small, looking up at fungi of varying heights, scattered patches of digital plant growth. The landscape reacts to people and configurationsmore people and movement and the growth emerges, existing life twitches to new heights, weather changes, colors grow more vibrant. When theres too many people, the ecosystem is overwhelmed, it darkens, life recedes. The balance of this system is not readily apparent and its tellingly difficult to understand your role and impact. For the installation and for our planet, a little patience and self-reflection is essential.

Artists Featured: Brenda (Bz) Zhang, Celeste Martore, Jonathon Keats, Kelly Skye, Kevin Bernard Moultrie Daye, Orestis Herodotou, Rena Tom, Romie Littrell, Stephanie Andrews, Stephen Standridge, Yulia Pinkusevich

Dates: Now March 1, 2020Location: Gray Area at 2665 Mission StreetSocial Media Tags: @grayareaorg @endofyou.io #endofyou

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12 artists collaborate at Gray Area to immerse you in the environment - Mission Local

The art world descends on Tinseltown this week as the sophomore edition of Frieze Los Angeles gets underway. Local galleries and museums have pulled out all the stops to capture visitors attention. But sinceFrieze, Felix, and other LA fairs are arguably the center of it all this week, here is our guide to how to navigate them. Good news for those of you who dont want to spend all your art-buying money on Uber: This time around, the fairs are more concentrated and easier to travel between now that the Art Los Angeles Contemporary has moved to Hollywood from Barker Hangar. Happy fairgoing.

Gretchen Andrews Frieze Los Angeles information guide. Courtesy of the artist.

When: February 1316;Thursday, February 13, preview,invitation only; Friday, February 14, preview, check ticket and invitation time; Saturday, February 15, 11 a.m.7 p.m.;Sunday, February 16, 11 a.m. 6 p.m.

Where: Paramount Pictures Studio

What to Know: The second edition of the anchor fair, which attracted considerable buzz (not to mention celebrity cameos) in 2019, features 70 international exhibitors, making it considerably more manageable than the sprawling New York or London editions.This year, the fair boasts anew curated sectiondedicated to emerging art spaces in LA and new curatorsforFrieze Projects, which returns to transformthe Paramount backlot into an outdoor artistic showcase.

On the backlot, keep an eye out for a collective dance performance fromBlack Lives Matterco-founder and artistPatrisse Cullors thatinvites visitors to participate and reclaim time, space, andenergy, according to organizers. Other anticipated projects include those byLorna Simpson,Jibade-Khalil Huffman,andGary Simmons. Inside the fair, highlights include new paintings by art star Avery Singer at Hauser & Wirth and an immersive LED ceiling installation by James Turrell presented by Pace and Kayne Griffin Corcoran.

Tickets:Admission to Frieze LA is not for everyone. Tickets to the Friday preview range from $500 (including a curated tour, magazine, and tote bag) to $175; general admission on Saturday or Sunday is $125. Tickets to view the special programs only (outside the tent) are $60 on Friday and $25 over the weekend.

Coady Brown, Spellbound. Image courtesy 1969 Gallery, New York.

When:February 1316; Thursday, February13, opening reception, 6 p.m.9 p.m.; Friday, February 14, 11 a.m.7 p.m.; Saturday, February15, 11 a.m.7 p.m.;Sunday, February16, 11 a.m.6 p.m.

Where:Hollywood Athletic Club,6525 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood

What to Know:After years on the far west side of the city at Santa Monicas Barker Hanger, the11thedition of the long-running Art Los Angeles Contemporary fair is relocating to the historic Hollywood Athletic Clubon Sunset Boulevard. Although it has lost a number of heavy-hitting exhibitors since the arrival of Frieze LA, such as David Kordansky Gallery andSusanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects, this years lineup boasts50 exhibitors from 11 countries, including New Yorks the Hole and Los Angeless Luis De Jesus. The fair will also hostindependent publishers, special projects, and on-site artist interventions.

Keep an eye out for a project by Gozi Ojini presented by Court Space, a curatorial platform that pops up at Los Angeless public and private sports courts. Ojini will present installations and sculptures made from repurposed sports equipment, referencing the athletic history of the Club.

Tickets:$25 for a one-day pass; $30 for a three-day pass; $65 for opening night

The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Courtesy of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

When:February 1316;Thursday, February 13, 11 a.m.6 p.m., preview by invitation only; 6 p.m.8 p.m., public preview;Friday, February 14, and Saturday, February 15, 11 a.m.8 p.m.; Sunday, February 16, 11 a.m.4 p.m.

Where: The Hollywood Roosevelt, 7000 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles

What to Know:If Frieze LA is the art-fair equivalent of the Oscars, Felix is the Independent Spirit Awards. The hip hotel fair, now in its sophomore year, was founded by collector and television mogul Dean Valentine with art dealers Mills Morn and Al Morn of Morn Morn gallery. Taking inspiration from the historic Gramercy International Fair, which kicked off the art-fair phenomenon in the mid-1990s, Felix invites dealers to set up shop in individual hotel rooms. This years edition will feature 60 exhibitors fromChina, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Poland, and the UK, bringing back a majority of last years galleries and welcoming 25 new ones.

This time around, the fair has tweaked its structure to avoid overcrowding near the entrance, which frustrated some visitors during its debut. Felix is also hosting a series of special projects organized byWilliam J. Simmonsthat will appear in the lobby, ballroom, and outdoor bungalows. Highlights include a display of work by Judy Chicago selected by TV producer Jill Soloway and a video by Martha Wilson that shows the artist gradually transforming into Melania Trump.

Tickets:$25

Spring Break LA. Courtesy of the fair.

When: February 1416; Friday, February 14, 11 a.m.4 p.m., press preview and VIP afternoon first look, 4 p.m.9 p.m., VIP opening night; Saturday, February 15, 11 a.m.9 p.m.; Sunday, February 16, 11 a.m.7 p.m.

Where:Skylight ROW DTLA,757 S Alameda Street, Downtown Los Angeles

What to Know:You can expect a freewheeling, immersive experience at this fair, which was founded in New York in 2012 but expanded to LA last year to coincide with Frieze. As in New York, the LA version offers curators a free space to exhibit inside a disused urban building. (Transactions take place online through the Spring/Break site, which takes a final cut from the sales.) This years fair hosts 45 nearly exclusively Los Angeles-based artists, curators, and artist-run spaces, all responding to the fairs 2020 theme, In Excess. By keeping overhead costs for participants low, the fair hopes to encourage experimentation, meaning you are more likely to see an ambitious installation or new media work at Spring/Break than at some of the weeks other fairs.

Tickets:$2550

A visitor interacting with Camile Magrane. Image courtesy stARTup Art Fair.

When:February 1416; Friday, February 14, 7 p.m.10 p.m., opening night party; Saturday, February 15, 12 p.m.9 p.m.; Sunday, February 16, 12 p.m.7 p.m.

Where: The Kinney, 737 West Washington Boulevard, Venice Beach

What to Know:The opening night party is open to anyone with a general admission ticket ($15 in advance and $20 at the door). The scrappy fair hosts more than 80 artists who will transform the rooms and grounds of the Kinney Hotel in Venice Beach with painting, photography, sculpture, and installation. In addition to unrepresented artists, fair organizers give free exhibition space to local community nonprofits who show their art in hotel rooms or hallways, includingArt Share LA, theLos Angeles Center of Photography,the Los Angeles Art Association, and theLos Angeles Childrens Project.

Tickets:$10100

Image via Art Palm Springs.com

When: February 1317; Thursday, February 13, 5 p.m.9 p.m., opening night preview, VIP ticket holders only; Friday, February 14, 11 a.m.7 p.m.; Saturday, February 15, and Sunday, February 16, 11 a.m.6 p.m.;Monday, February 17, 12 p.m.5 p.m.

Where: Palm Springs Convention Center,277 N Avenida Caballeros, Palm Springs

What to Know: If you are looking to take a trip to the desert before or after Frieze Week, but cant stand to be too far away from an art fair, Art Palm Springs is for you.The ninth edition of the fair, which coincides with Palm Springs renowned Modernism Week, brings together 70 international art dealers with an emphasis on American art.Eckert Fine Art, which presents work from founder Jane Coats Eckerts collection of 19th- and 20th-century American art, is bringing works by Alexander Calder, while Swiss gallery Imago Art will present Cy Twomblys mixed-media piece Untitled (La Compositioni) (1964) from the collection of Baron Giorgio Franchetti.

Tickets:$25 for a day pass; $100 for the VIP preview plus a four-day pass

Link:
Heres Your Go-To Guide to All the Fairs Taking Place in Los Angeles During Frieze Week 2020 - artnet News

SnapAV just announced the Signature by Episode custom install speaker line. Signature by Episode offers 32 models across three series, one and two-step installation options, with seven optional cradle accessories that can be paired with pre-construction brackets, back boxes, and a plethora of grille options. The Signature by Episode 3 Series models feature polypropylene woofers and silk dome tweeters for all-purpose performance. Models in the Signature 5 Series are a step up and feature polypropylene woofers and adjustable silk dome tweeters, both with vacuum-deposited titanium for added performance. The Signature 7 Series features honeycomb fiberglass Nomex woofers and pure titanium tweeters for discerning listeners.

Crafted with premium components and tuned based on the sound principles of the National Research Council (NRC), Signature by Episode delivers lifelike sound that does not cause listener fatigue while providing more bass extension, and the ability to be played at louder volumes without distortion. Signature by Episode also gives integrators a completely tool-less speaker solution with Push Lock by Swarm technology, securing in-wall and in-ceiling speakers with the simple push of a button. And, for more challenging installations involving uneven sheetrock or popcorn ceilings, the dog ears can be cinched an additional 6 millimeters to ensure a perfect fit.

The Signature by Episode 3 Series starts at 195 or 225, Signature 5 Series starts at 260 or 300 and the Signature 7 Series starts at 345 or 400.

More information on the Signature by Episode 3 Series is here.

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SnapAV to Release the Signature by Episode Custom Install Speaker... - rAVe [PUBS]

The curtain wall is steadily rising up1059 Third Avenue, a 481-foot-tall mixed-use tower on the Upper East Side.Designed byManuel Glas Architectsand developed byReal Estate InverlandandThird Palm Capital, the slender reinforced concrete superstructure topped out at 30 stories andwill yield a total of 127,000 square feet. The development will contain 38 condominiums spread across 103,900 square feet, averaging around 2,740 square feet apiece.

Photos from street level show the state of progress. It is likely that the exterior could be completed by the end of 2020.

1059 Third Avenue, photo by Michael Young

1059 Third Avenue, photo by Michael Young

1059 Third Avenue, photo by Michael Young

The first large sections of continuous floor-to-ceiling glass have been installed on the top floors of the northern elevation.

1059 Third Avenue, photo by Michael Young

1059 Third Avenue, photo by Michael Young

More work on the southern elevation is needed. Several balconies hang over the side and will give residents views of Central Park and the Midtown skyline.

1059 Third Avenue, photo by Michael Young

Meanwhile on the wide northern profile, the metal frames that will hold up the panels in between the tight grid of rectangular windows are mostly in place.

1059 Third Avenue, photo by Michael Young

1059 Third Avenue, photo by Michael Young

The columns and edges of each floor plate have been painted gray.

1059 Third Avenue, photo by Michael Young

1059 Third Avenue, photo by Michael Young

Installation has yet to begin on the curtain wall on the ground floor and first several stories of the podium.

1059 Third Avenue, photo by Michael Young

The residences begin on the sixth story and go all the way to the top of the building. Some will have private outdoor terraces. The development will also contain 7,100 square feet of office space on the second floor and a hospital facility measuring around 9,700 square feet on the third and fourth floors. Amenities include a fitness center, a spa, and a residential lounge. The closest subway is the Lexington Avenue-63rd Street station, serviced by the Q and F trains. Also nearby are the 4, 5, and 6 trains at the 59th Street-Lexington Avenue station by the Bloomingdales flagship store. Central Park is four avenues to the northwest, while access to the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge is three streets to the south going along 59th Street.

So far, YIMBY has not heard of an official completion date for 1059 Third Avenue, though sometime in 2021 may be a safe estimate.

Subscribeto YIMBYs daily e-mailFollowthe YIMBYgram for real-time photo updatesLikeYIMBY on FacebookFollowYIMBYs Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews

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Curtain Wall Continues to Ascend at 1059 Third Avenue on the Upper East Side - New York YIMBY

"Submerge" installation at Artechouse, New York. Photography by Alkenz.

Calling all influencers: Pantone and New York art space Artechouse have teamed up on an immersive, eye-popping installation to kick off New York Fashion Week. The exhibit, named "Submerge," does feel a bit like taking an underwater plunge thanks to 17 projectors affixed to the ceiling. Together, these transform the enormous room into a canvas for shimmering animations celebrating "Classic Blue," the Pantone 2020 Color of the Year.

It's the second-ever exhibition at the multimedia artvenue, which opened last September in the former boiler room of Chelsea Market.This particular space, with its past life on display in a labyrinth of overhead ductwork, follows two other Artechouse locationsone in Washington D.C., the other in Miamiin what has become something of a chain. Since the D.C. location opened in 2017, Artechouse hasshownrenowned media artists and collectives likeRefik Anadol, National Cherry Blossom Festival, and Rhizomatiks.For this show, the venue and Pantone called in Mexico Citycreative collective INTUS Interactive Design to create the audiovisual experience.

"At Artechouse, we try to connect audiences to art in an entirely new way," says Sandro Kereselidze, art founder and chief creative officer at Artechouse. "Just as musicians use the notes to evoke feelings, we as artists use color to affect the psyche and elicit powerful emotions."

Continue for more photos of the installation, open to the public through February 23.

Read next: Classic Blue is Pantone's 2020 Color of the Year

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Pantone and Artechouse Kick Off New York Fashion Week with Immersive Installation - Interior Design

A surprise sale on Amazon today slashes the Fire TV Stick down to just $34.99, but theres another deal you should consider before you buy one. If you dont need to have the stick form factor, the Roku Express HD Streaming Media Player is easily the best value device out there even on a normal day. Its priced at $30 and it gives you access to all the different streaming services you use along with Rokus beloved software. $30 is indeed a great price, but Amazon is offering a discount today so you can snag one for just $24! Theres no way this deal will be around for very long though, so hurry up and grab one while you still can.

Heres more from the product page:

Follow @BGRDeals on Twitter to keep up with the latest and greatest deals we find around the web. Prices subject to change without notice and any coupons mentioned above may be available in limited supply. BGR may receive a commission on orders placed through this article, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes..

Image Source: Roku

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The Roku Express is only $24 right now - BGR