LIVE 2 OCTOBER 2021 @ 2—7P (EST) & 10 OCTOBER 2021 @ 5—8P (EST)

MONTCLAIR DESIGN WEEK × MIDHEAVEN NETWORK PRESENT “IF NOT NOW, WHEN?” — EXPERT PANELS & PERFORMANCE ART, LIVE FROM THE HUB @ MDW21

MONTCLAIR DESIGN WEEK × MIDHEAVEN Network proudly present IF NOT NOW, WHEN? produced as a hybrid experience at THE HUB, centrally located in Montclair NJ.

We are at an inflection point: COVID’s effects are subsiding, and many of us are seeing a return to “normal”. It leaves us wondering, if the old normal brought on crises of epic proportions, what is the alternative?

If we've learned anything from the past year, it's that life can change in an instant, and the future we want won't design itself. This year’s theme asks us to listen to our inner sense of urgency, and respond with creativity that beckons action. Because — IF NOT NOW, WHEN?

Philip Fimanno of Trend Union and Studio Edelkoort headlines this live-broadcast telepresence panel with a presentation of Labour of Love, co-authored by Li Edelkoort, followed by responses from panelists Jose Alcala, Ragna Froda, Soojin Kang and Taeg Nishimoto. Respondents will explore more of the book's themes in relation to design research and education, slow manufacturing, craft, the future of materials and climate change.

DesignShed Founder Petia Morozov moderates as our panel of designers and architects shares their thoughts on what lies ahead for design in a post-consumerist world.

All Ages — REGISTRATION HERE

New Jersey is inspiring the next generation of design publishing, and this lively panel with Dense Magazine will uncover why. Dense advisors Anita Bakshi, Jarrett M. Drake, and Brian McGrath will discuss the stakes of accessible design and the future of storytelling, moderated by Dense cofounders Lune Ames and Petia Morozov.

All Ages — REGISTRATION HERE

Hosted by long time collaborators – internationally acclaImed artist Victoria Vesna (Pig sign), and renowned neuro-scientist Siddharth Ramakrishnan (Sheep sign) – and inspired by the Hox genes controlling body plans of different animals, we invite you to share your offering for dinner as your Chinese zodiac animal to partake food and exchange conversations around our relationship to animals as pets, food, science experiments and myths.

Each dinner participant will don a lab coat, signifying them as the resident expert/scientist – which we all were with regards to food before it became an industrial commodity. Guests will also be encouraged to share menu ideas based on the ingredients associated with each animal, which will serve as another way to share ideas over food. You are welcome to EAT your animal or BE EATEN. When registering, include your contribution. This can be before or after our event. We may include your offering in our upcoming Hox Zodiac Cookbook!  

Each year, we bring our community around the table in the form of a benefit dinner, to help support DesignShed's year-round programs. We are delighted to present this event at three tiers of participation and support, $150 seated at the table, $75 seated in the room, $25 seated at home.

21+ — REGISTRATION HERE

MIDHEAVEN NETWORK is a brave, generative space of healing and for the building — not “rebuilding” — of a fully inclusive society. MIDHEAVEN EXISTS IN PARADOX: FROM MANY, ONE.

THROUGH live arts programming from A GLOBAL phalanx OF performance, visual art, social justice, human development and cinema/ digital/ VR voyagers, MIDHEAVEN will ADVANCE COURAGEOUS, loving & possibility-driven VISIONS to the world.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR × EXECUTIVE PRODUCER GEORGE DEL BARRIO

art director AL-KHABIR RICHMAN

DIRECTOR OF AUDIO ADRIAN MARTINEZ

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY BRIAN GONZALEZ

CAMERA OPERATOR IAN CHEN

COMPOSER + ASSOCIATE PRODUCER bandit lu

©2021 MIDHEAVEN NETWORK

“Remember the Power of the Pause”