Posted January 13th, 2012 by Rachel
Posted November 14th, 2011 by Emerald
“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”
~Henry David Thoreau
"Seconds Count" by Jason Wilbur
In the face of natural disaster, where others see devastation, Joy Feuer – and the many artists & volunteers who work with her – see opportunity for transformation and renewal. Life is often about new beginnings. Since 2008 Joy’s non-profit organization, ART From the Ashes, has been helping communities and individuals rebuild from the ashes of their former lives.
The concept for ART From the Ashes came to life autumn of 2007, during one of the most destructive fire seasons in the history of California. AFTA was created to use the cathartic properties of art as a means of supporting the renewal of lives devastated by wildfire. Members travel to a disaster site and from it reclaim materials – burnt wood, ruined household goods, architectural elements, anything that inspires – to be transformed into works of art and later sold at an exhibition-auction benefitting the effected community.
Joy Feuer, photo by James Carbone
The process is deeply meaningful for Joy.
“We have seen up close and personal the powerful connection and healing properties that our art programming has on communities in Southern and Central California,” she said. “In the wake of disaster…watching what occurs to people and places, in that moment, you are there as well. Its human nature to want to help in any way possible. In the actions of ART from the ashes, we can provide resource and support to communities in need. Art provides a connection, provokes inspiration and invites hope. There are no boundaries geographically or creatively. Our desire is to honor this and expand our mission to help as many people as possible.” Read the rest of this entry
Posted October 26th, 2011 by Rachel
Thought I would give you a peak at the LEED Home Tour I participated in last Saturday.
This is the first tour for the Newport Beach Green Home.
As you can see, this project is still in the early stages of construction.
Man, have you ever seen more beautiful framing? Seriously, this stuff is a work of art. Almost a shame to cover it up with drywall. Of course, if we didn’t, I sorta wouldn’t have a job, would I?
Lots of people showed up. Read the rest of this entry
Posted October 25th, 2011 by Rachel
If you are in the SoCal area in November, you couldn’t find a better thing to do than go see The Dunnage Show at Inheritance. A collaboration of all the members of L.A. Box Collective, the exhibit will showcase what happened to 12 tons of dunnage – headed to the landfill – when this creative group of master woodworkers got hold of it. Expect amazing pieces of furniture and accessories, if their previous work is anything to go by!
Place: Inheritance – 8055 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048-4517 ph (323) 658-6756
Date: Opening reception November 3rd, 2011 from 7-10PM
RSVP: BoxCoEvents@gmail.com
Posted October 21st, 2011 by Rachel
If you are in the Southern California area this Saturday, stop by and say “Hi!”.
Here is the information:
Guided Tour and Open House
Saturday, October 22nd, from 10am to 12pm
Tour a LEED for Homes registered custom home in Newport Beach while it’s still under construction with exposed studs. Builder John Steed of Maverick Home Builders, Project Manager Laura Sanders of Jeannette Architects in Long Beach, Interior Designer Rachel Hulan of Path Design, Consultant Evan Little of Permaculture Properties and other design team members as well as USGBC-OC volunteers will be on hand to answer questions and lead two scheduled tours through this cutting edge home. Targeted certification level is Platinum. Targeted certification level is Platinum. Light refreshments will be served.
10:15am – 1st guided tour begins
11:15am – 2nd guided tour begins
Parking:
Street parking is limited. Try parking at Grant Howard Park off Heliotrope and 5th.
Cost:
$5 Students
$5 USGBC-OC Members
$15 Non-Members
Registration:
Tickets are limited, so make sure to reserve your spot early. Contact the USGBC-OC chapter at 714-832-3616 for more information or go to our website at www.usgbc-oc.org to register.
Thanks for visiting, and hope to see you there!
Rachel
Posted September 7th, 2011 by Emerald
The latest installment in a series of artisan profiles by contributing writer Emerald Atkins.
The ancient Greek poets were said to be inspired by the Muses, nine goddesses who were the source of all art.
Visitors to the whyrHymer Store in Los Angeles may well believe that a tenth Muse is informing Brandon & Sundeep Morrison on their own creations. The couple & their work have been featured in California Home & Design and California Homes. The style of their lighting & furniture is solid yet elegant, evoking the philosophy of the early 20th century Arts & Crafts movement yet speaking in its own distinct, thoroughly modern voice.
Posted August 1st, 2011 by Rachel
It’s not often that I get excited about a product made of plastic. Even if it is the recycled sort.
However, most products made of plastic don’t look this good!
Dynamic Headboards, of Santa Monica, California, has just opened up shop on the web with some very stylish solutions for dressing up your bedroom. Manufactured in the United States out of 100% post consumer plastic, these headboards are available in 3 sizes and 10 different water jet cut patterns. Read the rest of this entry
Posted June 28th, 2011 by Rachel
On Friday, I spent several fun, if a bit exhausting, hours traipsing through Dwell on Design 2011 in Los Angeles. As always, there was plenty to see, although the big sponsors continue to grab more and more real estate, further pushing the independent innovators to the periphery. But be that as it may, it is still the biggest modern design show on the West Coast, and as such deserves at least a moment of our attention.
Here are a few things that caught my eye:
The Molo Design booth was one of the first things I saw walking into the show, and it was also one of the highlights. The honeycomb paper construction they are known for was used for walls, lighting and seating, to great effect.
This was the view inside their little paper tower. Part of me just wanted to hide out the whole show in that nice, calm space.
The pounding sound of the human heart beat drew me to Japanese artist SASAKI’s rad set up to benefit Architecture for Humanity’s rebuilding program in Japan. Of course, I had to participate! I wish I’d thought to have someone take a picture as I sat there with a heartbeat monitor attached to my finger, watching SASAKI airbrush my heart beat onto the canvas. The money I donated as a participant will help rebuilding efforts in Tohoku, Japan. Read the rest of this entry
Posted May 5th, 2011 by Rachel
If you are in Southern California this Friday or Saturday, you should head on over to AltBuild in Santa Monica. Some favorite folks of mine will be there, including The L.A. Box Collective, Harding Construction and Sustainable Solutions (along with their ReUse Haus), Eric Corey Freed, and Tondro Green Art.
I’ll be checking things out tomorrow morning, so if you see a daffy looking red-head wandering the hall be sure to say hi!
Posted April 15th, 2011 by Rachel
I’ve recounted my experience dyeing with woad this last weekend to quite a few people in the last several days, and almost every one of them had the same question, “what the heck IS woad?” So, for those of you who have the same question, here is a little background:
Woad comes from the common Isatis tinctoria plant. It has been in use as a pigment and dye since Egyptian times, and possibly longer. Many have thought that the blue pigment the Picts (early Scottish tribes) used to color their skin blue was woad, although there is some debate about that. Oddly, for a dye that has been around for so long, it is surprisingly difficult to extract. Because of that, the cultivation and processing were controlled by wealthy “woad masters” throughout much of European history. Until Napoleonic times, the extraction method took a full year and a half, and involved a long fermentation in urine filled vats. I can’t even begin to imagine the smell! And not just any pee would do. In order to have the proper ph level. it had to be human male pee. Thus the preponderance of taverns near where the woad was produced. Cheers!
image via woad.org.uk
Even once Napoleon’s chemists had figured out a quicker (and hopefully less odoriferous) method, so as to supply his army with blue cloth, the extraction was still a laborious process. Above are workers hand rolling “woad balls” in order to put them out to dry. Unfortunately, the heavy manual labor required to extract the dye made it fall out of favor, and the last woad production ended in England in the early part of the 20th century. Happily, some dedicated people, like those at Bleu de Pastel de Lectoure , have been working hard, to not only revive the art, but to improve upon it and make it a commercially viable, natural, alternative to synthetic dyes.
image via woad.org.uk
