INSIDE & OUT : SHARP CURVES
Bold strokes and swirling slopes of color are the marks of distinction for Craig French’s sculptural tables. Using a wide variety of materials to create the drama, French prefers to highlight the structure rather than the facade or finish.
“I like to see the internal core of the piece, reveal the beauty of the inner structure,” said French, who grew up in Laguna Beach and is a graduate of UC Irvine.
His X table ($7,500) doesn’t have a lot of covering, which allows all of the materials to shine through. French used stainless steel, acrylic, wood, aluminum and resin to complete the 12-foot-by-6-foot table. To give the colored sections a mottled look, he added paint and mother of pearl to the resin.
“The materials in the tables are traditionally used for stained glass and boats,” French said. The tables are an extension of French’s three-dimensional wall sculptures, which feature the same colors and materials.
French’s tables ($3,500 and up) can be purchased through the Sherwood Gallery, 460 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach. They will be on display at 7 p.m. tonight at the gallery. For information, call (714) 497-2668.
Arabian Nights
Scheherazade, the signature piece of the As If By Magic carpet collection by Christine Van Der Hurd, is a shaped wool rug reminiscent of the flying carpets often found in tales of the Arabian nights.
Van Der Hurd, a native of Great Britain, used a loop-and-cut technique for texture; the rich, intense color is inspired by Moroccan and Persian architecture, tile work and street bazaars.
“The richness of the colors and the tones of red are like fruits, such as oranges and tangerines, and also peppers and spices from the Orient,” said Van Der Hurd, who is based in New York. “Turn-of-the-century ceramics from Spain and Morocco also come into play.”
Scheherazade (in three sizes, $2,625 for 5-by-7, $4,050 for 6-by-9 and $8,100 for 9-by-12) is offered in three color combinations--shades of blood orange, persimmon, paprika and claret on a plum background; emerald, amethyst, citrine and garnet on a ruby background, and neutrals.
Van Der Hurd’s collection, which includes four other designs, is available at Modern Living, 8125 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, (213) 655-3898.
African Bedding
Kente for Kids is a line of baby quilts, sheets, bumpers and other nursery accessories made from the traditional tribal cloth from West Africa.
The Kente cloth--often used to mark special rites of passage in African and African American culture--used by Clothworks for the bedding, is authentic and imported from Africa.
Two patterns by the Illinois-based company are available in stores this month.
The Kente Afam, which means friendly and loyal, features a quilted patchwork design of primary colors on an orange background.
The Kente Kumi, which means warrior, has deep earth tones, available with or without an applique of the African continent.
The four-piece set ($229 to $279) includes a comforter, a sheet, a dust ruffle and a headboard bumper. Any of the 12 pieces in the line can be purchased individually, starting at $30.
For information, call (800) 783-1750.