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Around Town With HughE

A Celebration – Sebastian Errazuriz: Double Take

Last week at the Philadelphia Art Museum, Collab and the PMA welcomed guests for an evening that honored the boundless imagination of artist and designer Sebastian Errazuriz, this year’s 2025 Collab Design Excellence Award recipient. The celebration marked another milestone for Collab’s nearly 40-year tradition of recognizing trailblazers who expand the possibilities of art, design, and technology.

Honoree Sebastian ErraZuriz, designer and artist and Louis Marchesano, the Marion Boulton “Kippy” Stroud Deputy Director of Curatorial 

Established in 1986, the Collab Design Excellence Award has long been a platform for honoring figures who have reshaped design history. These very galleries have celebrated icons such as George Nakashima, Ingo Maurer, Zaha Hadid, Patricia Urquiola, Dieter Rams, Marcel Wanders, and Gaetano Pesce, each exhibition pushing the boundaries of what museums can present. Many were the first of their kind—ambitious, complex, and visionary—much like the work of this year’s honoree.

Amanda Hinckle-Soviak, Maeve Elliott, Jennifer Pardee,
and Christopher McCloskey
Lisa Roberts and David Seltzer major supporters of design, arts, and culture, particularly at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
David Rosenwasser, Founder, D ROSE MOD, Inc., DesignPhiladelphia’s Program AssistantJake Dombrowski, Zaina Diaoune, and Jelani Abdul-Aziz, DesignPhiladelphia

Guests gathered to toast Errazuriz, whose practice spans furniture, lighting, and everyday objects—though nothing he creates can ever be considered “everyday.” His work thrives on surprise and subversion, often twisting the familiar with humor, appropriation, and a conceptual edge. Beneath the sleek surfaces and sculptural forms lies deeper storytelling: personal memories, political observations, and cultural commentary.

Jermaine Jenkins, Collab Co-Chair 2024 | 2025 & Membership & Events and Eileen Tognini, Collab Co-Chair 2024 | 2025 & Design Partnerships

Celine Nassar,Isabella & Seamus Kirby,Augie Hutton, and John Caulfield

Tiffany Lambert, the Lisa Roberts and David Seltzer Curator of Modern and Contemporary Design, leads the vision behind Double Take. The exhibition also reflects the extraordinary support of Lisa Roberts and David Seltzer, two of Philadelphia’s most dedicated champions of design. Their longtime commitment to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and to Collab has strengthened the museum’s modern and contemporary design program, expanded its collection, and helped ensure that boundary-pushing exhibitions like Double Take continue to flourish.

The evening also offered attendees an exclusive first look at Sebastian Errazuriz: Double Take, a mid-career survey spanning 15 years of his multi-hyphenate practice. Curated by Tiffany Lambert, the Lisa Roberts and David Seltzer Curator of Modern and Contemporary Design, the exhibition invites visitors to reconsider the ordinary through a surreal, thought-provoking lens. The show will be on view from November 22, 2025 through August 16, 2026.

Spotted in the audience was artist Sosena Solomon, TV Producer Nancy Glass, Inga Saffron, Design Critic, Rachel Zimmerman, InLiquid Studio,Barbara Eberlein, Jerry Wind, Creative & Marketing Consultant Amira Smith, Melissa Brannon, event producer, and John Caulfield

Guests were reminded of the extraordinary role Collab—founded in 1970—has played in shaping one of the largest and most significant modern and contemporary design collections in any American museum. What began as an industrial arts collection in service of American industry has evolved into a powerhouse assemblage of European, American, and Japanese design.

Artist and designer Lindsay Bedford, Lindsey Scannapieco, managing partner and founder of Scout and Dorit Avganim, University City boutique Manzanita

As the night wrapped, Collab and the Philadelphia Museum of Art shared heartfelt gratitude with the members and supporters whose passion keeps design at the center of the museum’s mission. They closed with well-deserved congratulations for Sebastian Errazuriz, whose boundary-pushing creativity and conceptual daring now join the celebrated lineage of Collab Design Excellence Award honorees.

Thanks Andre Flewellen for shooting this for PCC and Collab.

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Philadelphia

Photos: Meet The Artist Event at Griesing Law

Good Monday Morning, hope you enjoyed the wonderful weekend.

GRIESING

On April 20 nearly 100 invited guests packed the offices of Griesing Law at 3 Logan Square. Members of the law, art and Philadelphia business community viewed the 14th semi-annual art exhibition and sale at the firm.
Griesing

Guests enjoyed a spring themed generous display of savory hors d’ oeuvres by JPM Catering. Crafty vibrant pink signature cocktails, mini cupcakes and dessert bars by Ashton Warren of Lady Bakery and Parlor were infused with local favorite Bluecoat Gin.

Griesing Anna Mudd, Christine Weller, and Heather Fine

The art show entitled “Wanderings” is a collaborative exhibition featuring  the work of three abstract painters representing multi- generational women graduates from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA). The collection of paintings by Mary Spinelli, Georganna Lenssen, and Nicole Michaud have been curated by the Stanek Gallery in Old City. The collaboration of abstract pieces creates a landscape of conceptual imagery.

With a keen appreciation for arts and culture and a law practice that supports many aspects of the arts and creative world Francine Griesing decided to use the walls of the office space to showcase local artists.

When Griesing Law LLC launched in 2010 founder and CEO Fran Griesing wanted to create a pleasant atmosphere for clients and staff at her law firm. Typically a visit to a law office can become stressful. The atmosphere at Griesing Law is more like an art gallery and everyone is invited to take a walk through.

Griesing
Bradley Gardner, and Emily Griesing

GRIESING Dale Livingston, Gloria Livingston, and Anna Mudd

Griesing Georganna Lenssen, Vanessa Werring, Nicole Michaud, and Oscar Ponce
5-1-2017 10-26-06 AM (Custom)

Griesing Kimberly Corbin, and Annette Gilbert

Griesing Morgan Murray, Ricardo Moura, Jessica Mazzeo, and Joe McManus

Griesing Rob Wonderling, Francesca Seltzer Rothseid, and Francine Griesing

GRIESING

The collection may be viewed and is for sale by appointment only at Griesing Law, 1717 Arch Street, Suite 3630 in Philadelphia now through September 13, 2017. Call 215.618.3720 or visit www.GriesingLaw.com for more information. All proceeds from the sale of art goes directly to the artist/gallery.

(photos provided by GriesingLaw)

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Philadelphia

Party Pixs: Speaking Out for Equality: The Supreme Court, Gay Rights, and the Constitution

Opening last week in time to coincide with Gay Pride Month in June and the 50th Anniversary of the gay rights movement in Philadelphia, Speaking Out for Equality: The Supreme Court, Gay Rights, and the Constitution  explores the gay-rights movement through the constitutional “conversations” that have framed the struggle for equality opened at the National Constitution Center (525 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19106). On Wednesday I attended the press preview, and Thursday night I swung by by the opening gala which was attended by over 600 people. (BTW Some of these photos may appear in my party photo column in the August issue of Philly Mag, so pick it up.)
Daniel Bernstein, Visit Philly, Meryl Levitz,  president and CEO of Visit Philadelphia, Emily Golomb, National Constitution Center and Michael Newmuis, Visit Philly.
Geno Vento, Geno’s steaks and Antoine Johnson I caught them on their way out to see the new Dave & Buster’s Dockside Bar , which features a gorgeous mural by Philly’s own, Alloyius McIlwaine.

Gunnar Montana,Visual/Physical Artist , Mike DelBene, Vice President of Development at The Mann Music Center (The Mann welcomes a Philadelphia favorite, Tchaikovsky with Fireworks to start the residency of The Philadelphia Orchestra on June 23) , Laura Burkhardt, Where Magazine, Daniel Briones, ACE Conference Center and Nonnie Cyd, artist.
Gunnar Montana’s video is #Everything (If you’re following me on twitter you know I’m over using this word but it pretty much sums up well, everything.)
Mesopotamia, AIDS law Project and Judge Dan Anders. The AIDS Law Project is celebrating their Summer Movie Party’s Sweet Sixteen, with the showing of “Hot Rods to Hell,”  on Friday, July 31st at the William Way LGBT Community Center, 6PM $20.
Robert Drake, WXPN, Alan Chelak, Christina Kallas-Saritsoglou, ‎Co-Founder/Manager at Philly AIDS Thrift, and John Stanley
Jen Smith, Amber Hikes, Dileimys Franco, Stacey Salter Moore,  Angela D. Giampolo, Esq., Tracy Buchholz and Katie Hinchey.
The Speaking Out For Equality Opening Party, included
food, cocktails and live performances by the Philadelphia Voices of
Pride and the Bearded Ladies Cabaret. Above John Jarboe performed the first drag show at the Convention Center. 
Thanks to Josh Middleton who captured the moment on video.
Renee Gilinger  Director, East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District, Bill Wood, Knock, Fergus Carey, Fegie’s Pub and Rue Landau, Esquire is the Executive Director of the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations (PCHR) and the Fair Housing Commission (FHC).
Rudy Flesher (went to the inaugural fetish contest, Philadelphia Fetish and Bootblack 2015! on Saturday returning to his showgirl days for charity.) and Mark Aufdemberge, Assistant Director, Management Reports & Analysis at University of Pennsylvania, Development & Alumni Relations
Jamie Larkin and his dad Ward “Ben Franklin” Larkin.
Diane Snipas, Chris Tadeo and Wayne Marquargt. Chris and Wayne participated in some of the early gay rights protests and are featured in the exhibit.
Louie Alvarado, Accenture and Scott Barnes, who recently took a position with the Philadelphia Film Society. They’re so lucky.
Congrats Alyssa Mutryn and Shay Selden on their recent wedding.
Allison Cassidy and B Proud, photographer of First Comes Love, the book on GLBT couples together. Recently B Proud sent a few books to the Supreme Court inviting them to check out the exhibit. (See A.D. Amorosi’s column in the Metro Wednesday to see what happened.)
Tameka Johnson and E. Darlene Rogers.
Chris Helker, Director, Clinical Data Management at University of Pennsylvania and Sharif Pendleton,  Multimedia Developer at Capital One
John James points to his 20 something self at one of the first gay rights march in Philadelphia in a photographed displayed at the  “Speaking Out for Equality” exhibit at the National Constitution Center.
Kathy Simon, Rick Lombardo, Franni Price, John Brady and Sharon Corrado.

Harvey Hurdle and Kevin Yoder, celebrated their 25th year together by getting married 2 years ago.
Chris Bartlett,  ‎Executive Director at William Way Community Center, Ronda B. Goldfein, Esq., executive director of the AIDS Law Project of Philadelphia, Bill Heinzen, Hudson River Park Trust.