Now Showing | That’s Coal

The article highlights Jim Zivic's unique approach to design, focusing on his use of coal as a primary medium. For a decade, Zivic has been sculpting, honing, and polishing anthracite coal into substantial tables for notable clients. He sources 14 tons of coal at a time from a Pennsylvania mine, storing it in his upstate New York backyard. Zivic expresses an appreciation for the raw, earthy quality of coal, acknowledging the irony that the same material his neighbors use for heat, he transforms into high-value design pieces sold by Ralph Pucci. Ralph Pucci’s Gallery Nine showroom in New York is set to host an exhibition featuring Zivic’s latest creations. This exhibition will not only showcase his coal designs but also other works incorporating diverse materials. These include benches crafted from cotton bales, dining tables made of aluminum, and upholstered chaises constructed from hexagonal steel bars. Zivic describes these chaises as having a campaign furniture aesthetic but with luxurious cushions and a "pretty sexy" appeal. The exhibition will further include leather-clad shelves and a hammock featuring a felt headboard and a suede pad. Beyond Zivic's work, Gallery Nine will also display furniture and sculpture by Pilar Proffitt and Robert Bristow, quilts by Denyse Schmidt, photographs by Lisa Spindler, and concrete works by Stevi Michner. Additionally, Pucci's penthouse space will exhibit furniture by Jens Risom and paintings by Paul Mathieu, while his Los Angeles showroom will feature fiberglass furniture and sculpture by Vladimir Kagan. The main attraction of the Gallery Nine exhibition, however, will be Zivic’s new coal tables, which demonstrate his ongoing experiments with the material's inherent properties. Some tables are coated in silicone to enhance the anthracite’s natural luster, while others are presented in a rough, untamed state, appearing as if freshly extracted from the earth. Zivic employs innovative techniques such as pouring molten metal into cracks, mimicking traditional woodworking repair methods like butterfly joints and barbell-shaped repairs. He also uses plain epoxy in deep cuts to reinforce fragile sections of the coal. Zivic emphasizes that his works are displayed in various stages of finish. His intention is to illustrate that beauty can be found not only in polished perfection but also in the inherent roughness of materials. The exhibition at Gallery Nine, located at 44 West 18th Street in the Ralph Pucci showroom, is scheduled to run until spring 2010. #JimZivic #CoalDesign #RalphPucci #MaterialInnovation #FurnitureDesign #ArtExhibition #NewYorkDesign #SustainableMaterials #HomeDecor #JimZivic #CoalDesign #RalphPucci #MaterialInnovation #FurnitureDesign #ArtExhibition #NewYorkDesign #SustainableMaterials #HomeDecor