Eyes for Art : Children See the Possibilities in Creating Wearable--and Auctionable--Designs With Eyeglass Frames as Canvas
It’s not like painting “The Last Supper” on the head of a pin, but it does require skill and pretty good eyesight. That’s what designer Matt Pekjon of Newport Beach relies on when he applies metallic and porcelain paints to the thin temples of eyeglass frames.
Pekjon shifted from artist to teacher last week when he taught five children how to design frames for a charity event for the YWCA Community Counseling Services of Orange County. The kids’ frames, as well as three of Pekjon’s, will be auctioned off today at the “Reach Out Awards” at Sutton Place Hotel in Newport Beach to benefit the program.
Pekjon conceived of his class at the YMCA as a way for children to get involved in supplying auction items for the fund-raiser.
Last Thursday, he arrived at the YMCA in Costa Mesa with paints, brushes, eyeglass frames and paper outlines that were the same size as the temples of the frames the kids were going to paint.
“I showed the children my original frames so they could see what you can do with a little bit of frame space,” he said. “Then they came up with ideas, and they painted on the paper and got loose with the brush.”
Pekjon brought wrap-around ski-style and women’s fashion frames. The children, ages 9 and 10, brushed the temples with gold, silver and bronze paint.
“They had a blast being fashion designers,” he said. “They were really jamming and produced beautiful work.”
During the 15-minute drying period, Pekjon had the kids run around the playground to blow off creative energy.
“I gave them some small Italian sunglasses they could keep,” he recalled. “They were wearing them and feeling very hip.”
Pekjon will add some finishing touches and a protective sealant to the pieces before delivering them to the auction committee. All the frames are signed by the kids.
The designer says it took two years of testing different paints and glues before he found ones that would be durable and adhere to plastic frames. He sells his for $100 and more, depending on the intricacy of the art work.
Next year, he plans to release a line of signed and numbered handmade metal frames.
“My idea is not only sunglasses for everyone but for fashion,” said Pekjon, 37, who has also designed jewelry. “I look at them as a facial accessory, a mask. Frames should be selected depending on mood--crazy, classy, colorful. We should have a design for different needs, not just one design used by men and women.”
His items are available at East Coast boutiques and his Pekjon Studio in Newport Beach.
Today’s fund-raiser, hosted by KTLA’s Ed Arnold, will feature sports agent Leigh Steinberg as its guest speaker and will honor Margaret and Carl Karcher, whose Carl’s Jr. restaurants are credited with hiring young and disabled employees. Through ticket and auction sales, the committee hopes to raise $60,000.
The YMCA Community Counseling Services has been offering one-on-one counseling to the general public (families and individuals) on a sliding fee scale for 20 years.
Information: (714) 442-1000.
