Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Modernica x SpongeBob x Louis De Guzman x J Balvin Homeware Collection Releases

MODERNICA X SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS X LOUIS DE GUZMAN X J BALVIN COLLECTION


Modernica is happy to announce their brand-new collaboration with Chicago-based visual artist Louis De Guzman and global music artist J Balvin celebrating SpongeBob SquarePants' 20th anniversary!

The full collection of Fiberglass Chairs, Upholstered Chairs & custom printed Daybed is now available for a limited time. Visit https://modernica.net for more information and to shop the collection.



Modernica x SpongeBob x Louis De Guzman x J Balvin Case Study Furniture® Side Shell Eiffel Fiberglass Chair - Yellow
Regular price: $595.00 USD

Modernica has teamed up with Chicago-based visual artist Louis De Guzman and global music artist J Balvin celebrating SpongeBob SquarePants 20th anniversary.

The Fiberglass Shell Chairs were originally designed in 1948 as an entry in The Museum of Modern Art’s International Design Competition, and are easily one of the most important and recognizable designs of the twentieth century. Each fiberglass shell is created by hand, one-by-one, in Modernica’s Los Angeles factory. The print of the chair is embedded inside, due to the manufacturing process of the fiberglass chair, each chair is unique and contains different features.


Modernica x SpongeBob x Louis De Guzman x J Balvin Case Study Furniture® Side Shell Eiffel Fiberglass Chair - Multi Color

Regular price: $595.00 USD



Modernica x SpongeBob x Louis De Guzman x J Balvin Case Study Furniture® V-Leg Daybed
Regular price: $2,995.00 USD

Modernica has teamed up with Chicago-based visual artist Louis De Guzman and global music artist J Balvin celebrating SpongeBob SquarePants 20th anniversary.

The Case Study Furniture® Daybed, is designed with a one-and-half-inch thick top-quality, laminated hardwood frame. Metal springs, covered by a removable canvas cover, under the daybed mattress provide a little give for exceptional comfort. Furthermore, by simply removing the bolsters the daybed converts to a guest bed.

Made in California.



Modernica x SpongeBob x Louis De Guzman x J Balvin Case Study Furniture® Side Shell Eiffel Upholstered Chair - Yellow
Regular price: $625.00 USD

Modernica has teamed up with Chicago-based visual artist Louis De Guzman and global music artist J Balvin celebrating SpongeBob SquarePants 20th anniversary.

The Fiberglass Shell Chairs were originally designed in 1948 as an entry in The Museum of Modern Art’s International Design Competition, and are easily one of the most important and recognizable designs of the twentieth century. Each fiberglass shell is created by hand, one-by-one, in Modernica’s Los Angeles factory. The back print of the chair is embedded inside, due to the manufacturing process of the fiberglass chair, each chair is unique and contains different features.


Modernica x SpongeBob x Louis De Guzman x J Balvin Case Study Furniture® Side Shell Eiffel Upholstered Chair - Multi Color
Regular price: $625.00 USD

Modernica has teamed up with Chicago-based visual artist Louis De Guzman and global music artist J Balvin celebrating SpongeBob SquarePants 20th anniversary.

The Fiberglass Shell Chairs were originally designed in 1948 as an entry in The Museum of Modern Art’s International Design Competition, and are easily one of the most important and recognizable designs of the twentieth century. Each fiberglass shell is created by hand, one-by-one, in Modernica’s Los Angeles factory. The back print of the chair is embedded inside, due to the manufacturing process of the fiberglass chair, each chair is unique and contains different features.









From mitú:

J.Balvin’s Spongebob Collaboration With Louis De Guzman And Nickelodeon Was The Most Iconic Collab Of The Decade


Credit: Amy Tran.

What exactly does a SpongeBob gallery pop-up installation look like? Especially when it includes the reggaeton megastar J. Balvin, an iconic children’s brand most millennials grew up on, and a hometown artist. Pictures on Instagram gave curious parties a hint through a series of snapshots featuring sculptures, paintings, and merchandise. But on Tuesday, Nov. 13, a number of people braved the low temperatures to find out for themselves. Let’s take a look back at the most impactful collab in 2019.Credit: Amy Tran

While visitors like Melanie Lopez were expecting to satiate their curiosity around the project, most were not prepared to have the “Mi Gente” cantante greet them in the space. The global superstar surprised guests and helped kick-off a five-day experience exclusive to Chicago. But how did this all come to be and why the Midwest of all places?

It all started at Complexcon last year where visual artist Louis De Guzman, a Chicago native who is the first from his Filipino family to be born in the United States, had a chance encounter with a Nickelodeon executive who took an interest in his work. The two discussed partnering on a project and parted ways. A short while later at the same event, the Filipino pop artist connected with J.Balvin. De Guzman says there was a mutual admiration for each other’s work and upon Balvin’s request, he slid into the singer’s DMs. The two built a friendship. Then the opportunity for them to fuse their creativity together to celebrate SpongeBob’s 20th anniversary presented itself. A partnership between Nickelodeon, J. Balvin and De Guzman happened organically.Credit: louisdeguzman / Instagram

“I was a big fan of [De Guzman] before I met him,” says Balvin. “We started talking and were like ‘why don’t we do a collab and do something with SpongeBob. [The cartoon character is] something people already know but [due to our diverse cultural background] we can add something to it. [De Guzman] is Filipino, I’m from Colombia. Exchanging cultures is beautiful.”

And so the work began with the support of arguably one of the biggest brands in children’s entertainment.

“We’ve done many SpongeBob collaborations in many different ways with high-end designers but this was really the first time it was reimagined in this way, in this art style,” says Marielle Donahue, Director, Retail Marketing and Social Media Strategy for Nickelodeon. “SpongeBob fans love to share their fandom and I think from Louis and J. Balvin’s perspective, they wanted to share the feeling of being inspired to do whatever you can.”

Donahue says the partnership felt natural because both artists had already shown a public love and admiration for the Bikini Beach character. She also pointed out Balvin and De Guzman’s popularity among different audiences—both of which incorporate distinct cultural upbringings into their work—but they both shared a message for hope, love and positivity that aligned perfectly with the kooky sea creature.

“All three embrace positivity and good vibes,” echoes Jose Castro, Senior Vice President, Softlines and Global Fashion Collaborations at Nickelodeon

And it’s perhaps this sentiment that will have people rooting for the project and the people behind it.

De Guzman teared up when looking around the room and talking about the significance of the project and his motivation—his family. He hints at their struggle navigating an unfamiliar country and the difficulties that arose from their immigrant experience. Overcoming the false starts and failures are ultimately why he chooses to focus on the positive. He says time has shown him that by focusing on the work, good things will come.

Balvin shared a similar story when given the opportunity to talk about whatever he wanted. He says he wishes people would ask him why he decided to pursue a career in music.

“It started because of my family. We went bankrupt and I was like ‘I love music’ but I didn’t know it was going to be the way to find a solution to help my family,” says Balvin. “If it wasn’t for my family and dad going bankrupt, I wouldn’t be able to be like ‘oh I have this talent and music to help them.’”

And while it might be easy to write off this corporate art partnership as nothing more than a money grab, the players behind it tell a different story.

“This is for the culture and God bless the Latino Gang,” said Balvin in a press release.

And as for why Chicago got the plug it’s because “Chicago is known by so many artists, there’s so many talented people here. This is [De Guzman’s] place, it’s where he was born. He’s from the US. I was here in the U.S. you know let’s do this together. I’ll come to your place and let’s exchange vibes.”


Credit: Amy Tran.

Credit: Amy Tran.

Credit: Amy Tran.

Credit: Amy Tran.

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SpongeBob SquarePants, which was recently greenlit for a 13th season, has reigned as the number-one kids’ animated series on TV for the last 17 years, while generating a universe of beloved characters, pop culture catchphrases and memes, theatrical releases, consumer products, a Tony award-winning Broadway musical which is now touring North America and a global fan base. SpongeBob SquarePants is seen in more than 208 countries and territories, translated in 55+ languages, and averages more than 100 million total viewers every quarter. SpongeBob SquarePants is created by Stephen Hillenburg and produced by Nickelodeon in Burbank, Calif.

Nickelodeon's is currently in the midst of the network's "Best Year Ever", a year-long global celebration of one of the most iconic TV series and characters ever created. The “Best Year Ever” launched with the premiere of “SpongeBob’s Big Birthday Blowout,” an original mixed live-action and animated special earlier this summer, and leads up to the Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies theatrical, The SpongeBob Movie: It's a Wonderful Sponge, coming May 2020.

A CG-animated prequel spin-off series, Kamp Koral, following 10-year-old SpongeBob SquarePants during his summer at sleepaway camp, is also slated to premiere during Summer 2020.

More Nick: Brian Robbins Reveals More Details About 'SpongeBob' Spin-Off 'Kamp Koral'!

Originally published: Saturday, October 19, 2019.
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