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Current Finds No. 19, 08.23

Current Finds No. 19, 08.23

Cafe: Everything at this new cafe / shop in Carroll Gardens looks so exquisite.Exhibition: A recent trip to the Met with my two young daughters reminded me of how lucky we are to live so close to such an amazing museum.  Their new...
Current Finds No. 17, 07.23

Current Finds No. 17, 07.23

Article: A fun quick read for some summer nostalgia about Andy Warhol and his estate out in Montauk back in the 70s - and all of the famous people who came and went and their trials and tribulations.Movie: Since it...
Current Finds No. 17, 06.23

Current Finds No. 17, 06.23

Weather: My husband turned me onto this instagram account about the weather in our area and it has become my go to.  Everyday the account gives a rating out of 10 for what the weather is going to be like...
Q + A with Miwa Neishi

Q + A with Miwa Neishi

We are pleased to now be carrying work from ceramicist Miwa Neishi.  Born in Japan, and currently based in NYC, Neishi’s work has distinctive characteristics that are defined from the palette, clays, and shapes which she chooses to create with. ...
Current Finds No. 16, 05.23

Current Finds No. 16, 05.23

Exhibition: Portraiture was one of the first art forms I was really attracted to when I was younger and Avedon in particular, putting this exhibition at Gagosian’s downtown location on my list.Another Exhibition: No one at TPE ever tires of...
Q + A with Tracie Hervy

Q + A with Tracie Hervy

Working with a pared down palette and stripping away all superfluities so that only the essence of the form is apparent, ceramicist Tracie Hervy’s work is a study of the fundamentals. With an education in ceramics that began in the...
Current Finds No. 15, 4.23

Current Finds No. 15, 4.23

Exhibition: The inaugural exhibition from International Objects - a new platform working towards diminishing the idea of keeping art and design separate is Local Objects, a group show with work created by artists and designers working in the greater New York...
Join us this Sunday to celebrate The Silver Table Book

Join us this Sunday to celebrate The Silver Table Book

Join us this Sunday April 23 from 3-5pm to celebrate Christiane Bussgen's The Silver Table Book.The book was created during the first lock-down during the pandemic, with everything Christiane ate out of her Jordan Colon cereal bowl from TPE.Small bites by...
How To, Mend Textiles

How To, Mend Textiles

Portrait by Georgia Hilmer How to Mend Textiles with Kellen Tucker and Lorenza Lattanzi of Sharktooth We value the art of taking care of things for the long term: a non-disposable life. The textiles in our lives—from blankets and bedding...
Current Finds No. 14, 3.23

Current Finds No. 14, 3.23

Exhibition: Thadeus Mosely’s Recent Sculpture, currently on view at Karma.Another Exhibition: Head Hi, the coffee shop and bookstore across from the Navy Yard is having their annual lamp show (image above), where a selection of lamps are chosen from an...
Current Finds No. 13, 02.23

Current Finds No. 13, 02.23

Exhibition: The great, highly influential potter Lucie Rie whose work has been an inspiration to many of the artists sold at TPE will have an exhibition showing over 100 pieces of her work at Kettle’s Yard. Since I cannot attend...
Q + A with Lars Soendergaard

Q + A with Lars Soendergaard

A deep rich blue has always been a color of choice at TPE, and the blue porcelain produced by Lars Soendergaard at his pottery studio in Suffolk UK is one of the most beautiful we have ever come by. We...
Current Finds No. 12, 01.23

Current Finds No. 12, 01.23

Bakeries: A very old bakery and a very new one just a little over a block away from each other in the East Village.  Maybe a little glutenous to visit both in one day but they look delicious, perhaps a...
Current Finds No. 11, 12.22

Current Finds No. 11, 12.22

Idea: Why not take the Polar Bear Plunge tomorrow for the New Year ?Article: About a group of Brooklyn Teens who have forgone their smartphones for flip phones, citing the effects of social media.  A nice reminder for a cleanse...
Q + A with Fresco

Q + A with Fresco

Takeshi Tsujino has been crafting glass in the Izumi city of Osaka Japan for nearly 20 years.  After attending an exhibition on contemporary glass he chose to pursue a career working in the medium.  We spoke with Takeshi below about...
Current Finds No. 10, 11.22

Current Finds No. 10, 11.22

A Small Business: I was recently introduced to this children's book store in Lancaster PA by my sister in law, and will be shopping for books for the children in my life here for the holidays. Article: Since there are...
Gifting with Intention, A List of Charities

Gifting with Intention, A List of Charities

As we enter into the holiday season, we wanted to take note of various charities, many of which are in New York City, as an easy entry point for those interested and able to give as the year comes to...
Current Finds No. 9, 10.22

Current Finds No. 9, 10.22

Interior: The home of the deeply influential and very private former fashion designer Helmut Lang in East Hampton ( as published in Upstate Diary ) was really exceptional to me.Recipe: I made this soup last night and it was really...
How To, Reduce Single Use Plastic

How To, Reduce Single Use Plastic

Jenny Cooper is the owner of IXV Coffee, a small-scale coffee shop located in a redefined garage space on Pacific Street in Boerum Hill. Jenny takes a thoughtful approach to her own waste footprint, opening IXV in order to promote...
Paintings by Julia Felsenthal

Paintings by Julia Felsenthal

Julia Felsenthal is a Brooklyn and Cape Cod-based writer and painter. Working mostly in watercolor and gouache, she makes intimately-scaled paintings of flowers, people, and the sea. For TPE she created a series of flower paintings based off of the...
Current Finds No. 8, 09.22

Current Finds No. 8, 09.22

Interest: Yoko, who works alongside me at TPE has been pondering taking a class online here. When she showed me their offerings I thought they all sounded really fun, and am now considering signing up for one as well.Small Business:...
TPE at the Brooklyn Heights Designer Showhouse

TPE at the Brooklyn Heights Designer Showhouse

TPE is pleased to have partnered with our friends and neighbors at Assembly Line (373 Atlantic Avenue) for a collaboration at the Brooklyn Heights Designer Showhouse.The biennial event offers a rare opportunity to visit a historic home in Brooklyn Heights...
How to Take Care of Your Books (and Archive Well)

How to Take Care of Your Books (and Archive Well)

At The Primary Essentials, we offer a selection of rare vintage art and design books and have many in our own libraries, but when it comes to taking good care of such things, we’re not as knowledgable. We turned to...
Join us for a trunk show with Baina

Join us for a trunk show with Baina

Join us for an afternoon trunk show with Baina. Sunday September 11, 2022 2-4PM    The Primary Essentials  372 Atlantic Ave.  Brooklyn NY 11217    Small bites and drinks provided by GHIA We hope to see you there
Current Finds No. 7, 08.22

Current Finds No. 7, 08.22

Movie Trailers: I love watching movie trailers so much and coming across this list of movies coming out in the Fall gave me back to school esque excitement. If you watch only one of them, watch this one.Snack: I am...
Q + A with Abigail Castaneda

Q + A with Abigail Castaneda

The material an artist works with is always of great importance, and in the case of Abigail Castaneda this sentiment could not be more true. Based in Kerhonkson, NY, a small hamlet between the Shawangunk and Catskill Mountains, Abigail lives close...
Current Finds No. 6, 07.22

Current Finds No. 6, 07.22

Podcast: Deborah Needleman on the podcast Time Sensitive talking about slowing down, switching gears, and craft.Object: The work of sculptor and designer Ferreol Babin, and in particular this piece.Changemaker: The Laundromat Project was formed in 2005 to make art accessible...
How To, Take Care of Your Fabrics

How To, Take Care of Your Fabrics

Lately, we’ve been seeking to care for our fabrics better, our home fabrics and upholstery, but specifically our clothing. Taking care of quality clothing requires products without harsh chemicals (often used in dry cleaning or conventional detergents) to keep garments...
Current Finds No. 5, 06.22

Current Finds No. 5, 06.22

Donate: The National Network of Abortion Funds and The Brigid Alliance are where we are currently donating. Read: I just finished Smile, The Story of a Face by Sarah Ruhl, which is a memoir about a woman who discovers she...
Of The Cloth at TPE

Of The Cloth at TPE

We are pleased to announce that TPE will be hosting a Summer Pop- Up with Of The Cloth.Of The Cloth is a spatial design boutique housing a collection of personal objects, furniture and antiques that have been curated by Tione...
How to Travel Well, with Yolanda Edwards

How to Travel Well, with Yolanda Edwards

Recently, we have been thinking about travel (again) after months of not considering it at all, and one point we’re stuck on is the concept of an itinerary and what goes into it: researching, sharing, and knowing when to let...
Current Finds No. 4, 05.22

Current Finds No. 4, 05.22

Donate: Moms Demand Action.Life Hack: Precycle is a shop in Bushwick that sells package free bulk food, produce and home goods.  They have now begun a delivery option where everything comes in their reusable jars and tote, in a reusable...
Q + A with Twenty One Tonnes

Q + A with Twenty One Tonnes

Helmed by childhood friends Chessa Osburn and Mary Jane Bolton, Twenty One Tonnes celebrates traditional craft.  Supporting tradition and sustainability by working directly with artist the duo creates one of a kind, hand crafted forms, that are both surprising and...
Current Finds No. 3, 04.22

Current Finds No. 3, 04.22

Small Business: Close to where I live in Bed Stuy is Halsey / Lewis.  They have a great mix of books, records, apothecary items, vintage finds, and more.  It is the epitome of a great small retail store, always evoking...
Q + A with the mother / daughter duo behind KLAY

Q + A with the mother / daughter duo behind KLAY

KLAY is a homeware and clothing label based in Auckland, New Zealand run by mother-daughter team Kirsty & Hannah. Their cushions are meticulously hand made using high quality materials and traditional craft techniques, and have been a favorite at TPE...
How To, A New Approach to House Cleaning

How To, A New Approach to House Cleaning

Laura Cattano is an organizational expert who takes a thoughtful approach to cleanliness and order in the form of our relationships to our things, our homes, and ultimately ourselves. “A clean home is one that is consistently cleaned. Cleaning as...
Lottie Hampson

Lottie Hampson

We are excited to now have drawings by Lottie Hampson (b. 1993, London, England) at TPE. Hampson's artistic practice spans photography, drawing, food and ceramics, but often starts with analogue film photography. Using film helps her to slow down, and the images...
Current Finds No. 2, 03.22

Current Finds No. 2, 03.22

Plant: Every spring when I see the Hellebore in my backyard flowering I am so excited that the warmer weather is coming.  What a plant, it has been trampled numerous times by a crazy terrier and a toddler and yet...
The Context: Holiday Florals

The Context: Holiday Florals

Enticing arrangements for the holiday season in a variety of statement vases.  Photogprahs by Joanthan Hokklo, Flowers by Mizutama Studio.  Items from the story here 
Designer Spotlight: Simone Bodmer Turner

Designer Spotlight: Simone Bodmer Turner

California born, Brooklyn based Simone Bodmer-Turner’s ethereal hand built clay work feels like it comes from another place and time. Inspired by the longstanding clay techniques that many communities throughout the world used long before her, she pays homage to...
Current Finds No. 1, 02.22

Current Finds No. 1, 02.22

Introducing our new monthly newsletter Current Finds: a collection of ideas and recommendations directly from me, Lauren Snyder, owner and founder of The Primary Essentials, as well as from friends and others in the TPE orbit. Meant to be a concise...
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