LeT's Go CrAzY!!! CONCEPT BY :::donovanswick::: of ART-ECO
HAIR & SET by SALON AZURE
BACK STAGE :::donovanswick::::
MAKEUP BY STEPHEN MEE
DJ MICHAEL Xi
TELEPHANT W/ UT STRING QUARTET
GRRRRRRRRRL!
!
FINALE!!!
Once again, my apologies for the delay in a new post, but here we go! I am having my first own ART show this evening that will feature many mediums (furniture, jewelry, scuplture, lighting, publications, poetry, drawings, designs, sketches, videos, accessories, etc.) of artistic expression that I have completed over the last 20 years. I am also doing a Vintage/Reclaimed/Couture Fashion Show which I have embellished Couture Vintage garments with reclaimed fabrics, leathers, patches and the like. I personally have never done my "own" show, simply because I did not feel the need to and because I would rather fly under the radar. However, I have coordinated and participated in countless of such (art/fashion shows) both as a model and an artist/designer for a number of others. I just happened to be re-designing a new Historic Club in Downtown Knoxville (RELIX...Owner Daniel Schuh) when the idea just made sense to open the venue with a showing of all that I have touched over these past 20 years in art.Tribute to
William Kristopher Kendrick "Billy Ray"
and Rebecca Maxwell...
U both saved me from myself while teaching me to be
myself.
Thank U ...May U Both Rest in Perfect Peace
We salute you! My apologies for the delay as I have been in an artistic hurricane of activity. However, I am grateful and humbled by your support. Thank You for your patience. Now back to the news; uninterrupted coverage with no commercial breaks. Have you ever wondered where all of those wonderful iconic fashion ensembles came from that adorned the likes of the "Rat Pack", Elvis, The Beatles, Michael Jackson and Johnny Cash (among multiple others)? Well, the answer is simply, MANUEL. http://www.manuelcouture.com/ If you cherish a favorite iconic celebrity outfit, chances are MANUEL did it!
http://www.margecarson.com/
www.margecarson.com
Sleep is necessary and dreams are only ushered into our lives through this doorway. The bedroom is a very important, personal, romantic and unique place. It should be our own private sanctuary. As a result, it should feel as such. We spend more time on this furniture than on even our office desk chairs. These dreamy offerings are presented to you by Marge Carson Furniture. http://www.margecarson.com/ (Just a few examples of what you can create as the gateway into your castle in the air.) Explore the world within your visions of rest and relaxation. I encourage you to be daring in the bedroom: Not in the way that you are thinking, but in the way that you are decorating. Your place of refuge should reflect the fantasies of what inspires you yet leaves you recharged. Like a "New Moon on Monday," once you are well rested, you can embark on the journey that life has laid out ahead of you. So, dream a little dream and create! "SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF THESE..."
Fashion: the one form of art that seems to drive the bus in the entire industry of aesthetics. On top of that you add the wonders of vintage and you can surmise quickly the influence it has on what we see today. Designers these days are searching through the archives of history to find patterns, fabrics, products and materials that can be reinterpreted and modernized. As a result we are beginning to see new forms of old. Color studies that were ahead of their time way back when are regularly seen on the new products of upholstered goods we have grown to love in our homes of late. Look at how many clothing designers, namely Ralph Lauren, who now have their own furniture collections. It doesn't take long to do the math and see that this equation equals success. 
Pictures from the Sanctuary Vintage Fashion Show
So sorry for the delay as I have been working on a large commercial project. I truly cannot say enough about this company, Habersham Plantation Corporation. www.habershamdesigns.com The most glorious finishes on the planet coupled with the highest level of craftsmanship and design are the qualities that set this company apart. Often copied but never duplicated, Habersham creates all you would ever need for the complete home. They actually have a program called Habersham Home, which allows you to be the maestro and compose a home that is truly a masterpiece. From kitchen cabinetry to upholstery, from finishing trim to architectural elements, even to the dining chairs you retire into as you feast; this line will dazzle and delight most anyone. This is the company I spoke of in my introduction "What is Design", when I referred to actually seeing a client brought to tears in this showroom due to the overwhelming sense of grace and beauty of their products. 
"Old Glory" has never looked better. Patriotism and fashion salute one another as the "Star Spangled Banner" is represented on this glorious leather sofa by Old Hickory Tannery. I saw several flag-themed pieces of upholstery at this past market. From the Union Jack of Great Britain to the Drapeau Tricolore of France, from the Bandiera of Italy to the Stars and Stripes of the U.S.A., the forging of streamers onto items of everyday use was evident. Patriots can fly their colors inside their personal forts as well as outside on the standard flagpole.
I could see one of these in the Oval Office: You think? Perhaps President Obama should give me a call so we could set up an appointment. I could help him out, no question. I'm just sayin'...
Take a look at this metal sculpture. "Yours Truly in the Hand of Design"
From casual to formal. "From Swick to Swank." Here is another interpretation of the classic Chesterfield style sofa brought to you by Hancock & Moore Furniture. http://www.hancockandmoore.com/ They truly have a passion for leather and skillfully produce some of the most glorious creations using such. This is another factory that I have had the privilege of visiting with the folks from MossCreek. http://www.mosscreek.net/ Nestled in the "Furniture Capital", Hickory, NC, at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains sits the most intriguing of furniture factories. In it are numerous master craftsman, carpenters, leather workers, upholsterers and visionaries. Out of it come some of the finest leather pieces crafted in the entire world. No matter what the style, no matter what the combination of materials, and no matter what you can imagine, they can deliver the goods.This particular setting reminds me of the first time I ever attended a symphony. The metallic treatment of the leather is your horns section, the mohair on the seat is like that I sat upon in the auditorium, and the marble on the table top is like that on the auditorium's grand staircase. What a beautiful experience. I have never been the same since. Speaking of metallic treatments, this is a huge movement as well in the design industry. From leather, to paint finishes, to the reintroduction of reclaimed metals and the post-modern usage of steel and aluminum, metal is hot: Cool too! There is so much more to share however, for now, I must go! Stay tuned and thank you!
This will be a "quickie" from "Swickey". Who says you can't have elegance on a budget? This sofa by Robin Bruce, aptly named "Donovan", is a favorite new item of mine for several reasons. Now, I know what you are thinking, and it is not just because we share the same name. But that doesn't hurt it one bit. This sofa is classic, fresh, responsible and a bit of casual mixed with elegance. This style is often found in leather however it is upholstered here in a natural washed linen: Very Eco. It is attainable. It is comfortable. Most importantly, it is made right here in the "good ol' U.S. of A."I am a big fan of reinterpretation styles. I personally wear a lot of vintage clothing on a regular basis. I particularly love the blue flame-stitch fabric ottoman as well. This blue was also a huge color for the Spring Market. Oh, by the way, this photo was taken at the Rowe/Robin Bruce showroom of the High Point Spring Market. Thank you to Sean O and all of the gang! For more information go to http://www.rowefurniture.com/ . Now, back to this discussion. Vintage is beautiful as it represents a wonderful story in design. We take something that is considered worthless by one person, given away or thrown out, and it becomes new again when discovered by the right person. Sounds like my life. It is spiritual in a way; in a good way. It is like the old record your parents stored in the attic that you may have come across, only to find that it was a doorway into another realm of your life, as you dance the night away. Such is the wonder of vintage.
This is a small glimmer of the meaning behind this blog: "ART-ECO". For more insights and behind the scenes looks, please stay tuned.
"To the best of my ability." This is the long-standing translation of the Flemish statement, "Als ik kan," adopted by Gustav Stickley as the motto for his wonderful and practical furnishings company, STICKLEY, circa 1901. To this day in up-state New York lies a true craftsman shop/production facility unmatched in today's furniture world. Gustav is long gone now, but a little town called Manlius, New York hosts artisans who still construct furniture to the standards by which all others should be measured. Birthed in 1905, two immigrant brothers, Gustav and Leopold Stickley, formed L. & J.G. Stickley. The rest, as they say, is history. The honest craftsmanship and practical design of solid wood joinery changed the world of furniture even to this day. Gustav has been termed, "the Father of the Arts & Crafts movement in America." Given the resurgence of Arts & Crafts style architecture in our country and around the world, it is not by surprise that this company continues to lead the industry. This picture shows the Morris Chair, inspired by William Morris, and the Settle as displayed in STICKLEY's High Point Showroom from this past Market. Both of these pieces are icons of the "Mission Movement." What you cannot see is how meticulously they are built. I invite you to zoom in on this picture and discover the inherent beauty of true quality workmanship.
Let there be light! Seems like someone special a long time ago said this and look at what we have now. This wonderful offering of luminescence is brought to you by Four Hands as shown at their High Point showroom from this past market. Four Hands does not simply do lighting as they are a complete "lifestyle line" of case goods, upholstery/leather, art, accessories and now even rugs. For what they do I have to say that they are one of my favorites. They literally travel the world to bring us the latest and greatest products at an incredible value. Their president, Brett Hatton, started out as a photographer who scaled the globe and along the way discovered a wide array of wonderful cultural displays. He started reclaiming teak before it was "chic". 
Another dynamic feature of this particular room is the black walls...this is hard to pull off but one of my favorite arrows to shoot. I am currently working with a client and we have scheduled for her dining room to be painted black. (Photos of this are to come once the install is completed). The play on texture, pattern, color, scale and lines of the varied furniture styles apart from one another may not make sense. But, this is design, remember? Proper design at that. Design enables the creative zone of the soul to harmonize different elements into an orchestra for the eyes. Aesthetics as a whole is like working with a symphony. Imagine being in an auditorium before the curtain is raised, and you are hearing the musicians tuning their instruments.The lights are low and there is this sporadic murmuring of sound. Once the curtain is raised, it all comes together and you are moved through the emotions created by the composer. This is the effect that this initial display had on me personally when I entered this showroom (Vanguard Furniture). What you cannot experience is the other senses of smell and sound that further embellished this setting. It was exquisite. ENCORE!
