Intelligent Design

The Extreme Textiles exhibit at the Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum is a beautiful showcase of how, as we innovate in the fields of technology and engineering, we look to nature as a continued source of inspiration. Steven Vogel could not have conceived of a better collection of work to bring to life his book Cats' Paws and Catapults.

The collection spans areas of aeronautics, medicine, sports, apparel and architecture as it demonstrates how leaps in textile technologies are providing us with fabrics that are literally woven into every aspect of our lives. In striving to make these textiles lighter, stronger, more tenacious, smarter and safer - you see that these engineers and designers realize a beauty one might associate with haute coutour as much as high design.

Great examples include the Tumbleweed Mars probe, which is carried in the Martian winds along the surface of the planet, deflating itself every now and again to take a sample and then reflating to continue it's sweeping journey.

The Carnegie Mansion plays perfect home to this menagerie of forward-thinking objects. The exhibit ends Oct 30th, but the Cooper-Hewitt is always worthy of a quick pop-in, especially with Yinka Shonibare's chosen works from the permanent collection - which will be on display through May 2006.