So OK its' been written about before this blog. But I kinda think this is cool enough for another mention. Popped into Hunt Valley Tile & Stone the other day to see a wall that looked like an Andy Warhol montage. Don Werneke, owner, enthusiastically explained that the wall was made completely of recycled skate boards. Pretty out of the box, pretty stoked I'd say.

Recycling has presented itself in many different apparitions.  Recycled glass fragments incorporated into counter tops using Skyy vodka bottles or Alehouse Amber makes a statement, as does utilizing post-consumer wine cork stoppers for floor tiles. I think I could contribute to that cause. In any case, the skateboard tiles really caught my attention.

They're fun, fresh and produced locally in Hanover, PA. The goal of Art of Board is to keep broken or unwanted skateboards out of landfills. Why do I like this concept when I haven't been on a skateboard in - well, never mind. I like it because of the visual appeal and environmental impact. Art of Board also celebrates that each board is not only a graphic work of art, but that all recycled boards have their own story - their dings and their dents are preserved to show the beauty of wear, of use, of skills learned. 

They're thrashed and they're proud. Alot like those of us that are warriors of life. Celebrating everyday wear and tear, of blows to the heart and soul. Wearing it out loud. And given yet another chance to show our many colors.

Weaving its' way in a consumer savvy landscape, Art of the Board can create a wall or floor that works with your color palette. These tiles can be grouped into various color segments, still random in pattern but can accommodate the desire to have a wall of yellow boards. Or blue, or green. Cool stuff. This sent me into such a tailslide I almost did a wallie. Custom tiles out of random art. Now wrap your head around that. 

To see a wall or visit the site, click on the links below. I gotta tell you, Hunt Valley Tile is always on the cutting edge of whats' out there. Good people that work toward bringing you what you least expect. Experience, enthusiasm and a way of seeing things anew by utilizing products morphed into diverse and different functions. Makes me want to rockandroll into a 360.



http://www.huntvalleytileandstone.com/
http://www.artofboard.com/
http://www.vetrazzo.com/

New Age Design...: Serious Style

New Age Design...: Serious Style: "There's this rumor going around that 'Aging in Place' has to have an industrial appeal. That walls have to be white to match the s..."

Serious Style

There's this rumor going around that "Aging in Place" has to have an industrial appeal. That walls have to be white to match the shoes and belt, and that the feel should be that of a santarium. Well I beg to differ. 

In designing a space that increases functionality and ease of use for the client, the result doesn't need to be sterile. Incorporating elements of design that wow the senses can create a bath remodel that looks good - and FEELS good. I very much believe and practice the Japanese sensibility of bringing the outdoors in. A tactile experience complimented with a soothing color scheme can create a customized space that simply allows a sigh of contentment. And what a better retreat than in a bathroom - where our day starts and ends.   

By utilizing natural elements like a wispy soft porcelain tile, pebble stones, teak and granite this recent bath remodel allows for accessibility with some stylish assistance. Oil rubbed bronze grab bars, taller vanity cabinets and ADA compliant comfort height commode assist in creating user stability without giving up fashion. The door was removed that enclosed the WC, the existing tub and shower replaced with a walk in glass enclosed shower. A hand held shower wand as well as a shower head on the opposite wall creates options and good looks. 

Streamlined and functional, two niches were created to house necessary soaps and shampoos and are treated with the same pebbles for visual appeal. Plenty of counter space and a framed mirror to reflect the window on the opposite wall expands the space and mind. The unusual pop of khaki green on the ceiling brings warmth, soothes the spirit and softens the hard surfaces. 


I feel an "ahhhhhhhhhh" coming on.  My client said she couldn't ask for anything more.

To hear a client say that at the end of a project - well, neither could I. 

Project partners' websites are below. How wonderful to work with succinct professional people that know how to have fun.  I love it when a plan comes together....

http://greenleafbaltimore.com/
http://huntvalleytileandstone.com/
http://franksgranite.com/
                                                                

Take a seat....: When is a chair not a chair?

Take a seat....: When is a chair not a chair?: "At a recent gallery opening at The Art Institute of York, PA, I was amazed to see how the mind can take an object that we utilize every day ..."

When is a chair not a chair?

At a recent gallery opening at The Art Institute of York, PA, I was amazed to see how the mind can take an object that we utilize every day and turn it into something quite out of the ordinary. The creative process is a very personal experience. The hard part is to be wiling to show the results to the world.  With artists, art can lay the soul bare - out for all to see, to judge. And that is where the "personal" comes in. Creativity draws on all types of experiences - ingrained, learned and percieved.

The amount of thought, time and work put into  these pieces is astounding.  And may I add that these pieces were all created by the instructors of the Art Institute from the Interior Desgin Department.  One piece, a handbag, was knitted from the caning of a chair. The designer and knitter in residence, Ora Bentz, relayed how her hands became raw and the hours that it took to finish the piece. Instead of throwing those calloused hands up she persevered, and the "purse" hangs in all its' glory.

Keith McCleary, Department Head of both Interior Design and Fashion Departments, took another route in redesigning the function of a chair with a combination of a chess board and ornamentation, including a portrait on the backrest of the chair. Not a detail is overlooked, and the chair is defined by its' meticulous presentation.

So when is a chair not a chair? When a single thought blooms into many possibilities.  Possibilities that represent a collective group as well as an individual. Possibilities that are translated from the minds and hands of teachers. Teachers that show why the arts should be a part of our classrooms. 

To expand possibilies though personal interpretation is a wonderful thing. Celebration of a simple object may seem like a simple task, but these teachers took that celebration and turned it into art. 

The show runs until the 25^th of Feb. Most of the items are for sale (a binder with bidding pages for all of the entries that are for sale is located in the gallery reception desk). Any funds generated from the sale will go to the Jackie Hirneisen Scholarship Fund for a student at the Ai York campus.

FE Ladies

Talk talk: FE Ladies: "If you don't know what FE stands for, it is the chemical symbol for iron. Yesterday at the gym I went back to work out with free weights. Fo..."

FE Ladies

If you don't know what FE stands for, it is the chemical symbol for iron. Yesterday at the gym I went back to work out with free weights. For quite a few years I lifted weights and was into bodybuilding. Please note, due to genetics I would never bulk up, but kept fit and most of all strong. I'm back at it after a break that probably went too long.  Not at the same intensity but back at it none the less.  

Usually that section of the gym is reserved for the big sweaty guys that grunt too much and drop their weights on the floor. My rule is that if you can't lift them to put them away, leave them in the rack. However, this early morning I was surprised to see all women working out - with one or two guys warily keeping a wide berth. The best part was that these women were my age-ish. And they were fit, focused and getting it done. Their form was perfect, side laterals lifted with a respectable weight. I was pretty impressed with what I saw.

My serious lifting days came at a time when women were sneered at in the free weight section. Told they didn't know what they were doing, laughed at, and yes, made fun of. You had to really prove yourself and I squatted 200lbs at the time without a grunt or roar. I got lucky - I worked out with the local policemen and partnered with a woman chiropractor who was a competitive power lifter. Yes, I was serious.

And here these women were on Sunday morning. Strong, accomplished, with their babies now grown. Each in their own space, working it. Not to reach an ideal standard from a magazine - but from an internal drive to push their own limits. Ladies I salute you. Personal satisfaction is far more rewarding than waiting to hear it from someone else. Kudos to you. You lift us up with your confidence and sense of self. How great to see just how far we've come.