SEEING potential in some properties can require a huge amount of imagination. In December 2009, when builder and developer Ian Murray viewed an A-listed garden apartment at 31a Heriot Row in Edinburgh’s New Town for potential clients Grant and Laura Clouston, he needed all the imagination he could muster.
The previous owner had been a taxidermist and 31a was his home and workshop. Each room in the basement level flat had one tiny access window, and all were boarded up so there was no natural light.
Ian is managing director of the Edinburgh-based SI Construction, which specialises in everything from refurbishments to extensions and new builds. Grant Clouston, had asked for his thoughts on the property. Was it possible to transform a tired, gloomy, partially subterranean apartment into a vibrant, design-led, aesthetically exciting second home for himself and his wife, Laura? And could Ian tackle the project, working closely on the design concept with Grant and Laura, while the couple were based 3,600 miles away in Dubai?
The answer to both questions was yes. Looking at this immaculate interior, it would be easy to overlook the work required to create this five-bedroom home. Number 31a is the lower two levels of a Georgian townhouse and, because the building is A-listed, various permissions were required before work could begin.
The property was rewired and replumbed, and new drainage was laid. Light wells were built at the front, with large iron grilles inserted into the stone patio, pulling light into the two guest bedroom suites.
The master bedroom was reconfigured to create an en-suite bathroom behind a wall of bespoke storage. This involved losing some bedroom space but it improved the proportions, while adding wardrobe space and a striking en suite. French doors were also installed here, opening onto a stone patio and the rear garden.
There was substantial structural work involved in the refurbishment, both at basement level – especially the master bedroom – and above in the new L-shaped kitchen-dining-living space. The most problematic task was removing the wall between the dining-kitchen and the snug, as this wall formed the main spine that extends up the townhouse. Ian says: “The structural work to achieve this opening was staggering.”
The kitchen-dining-living area, the master bedroom suite and the drawing room at the front were the three areas that took priority in Laura and Grant’s brief to Ian. “We both had quite a clear vision of what we wanted, and in particular with the kitchen, which Ian created exactly as I wanted,” says Laura.
Ian, Grant and Laura shared ideas via the Dropbox app, enabling Ian to take progress or product photos on his iPhone and share them with the couple, which in turn allowed Grant and Laura to upload images for Ian to view. Between them they shared just under 4,000 photos during the whole process.
“It was a fantastic way to watch the photographic progress and milestones that Ian was achieving,” Laura agrees. The couple, who have a nine-month-old son, Henry, and a daughter due in May, scoured online sites and magazines for design ideas, plus, as Laura says: “Living in a city full of amazing interiors and architecture gave us inspiration.”
The kitchen was inspired by photos the couple spotted online, and reproduced in detail, down to the handles and chrome edging under the worktop, by bespoke kitchen designers Murray & Murray. The cabinetry is painted in Strong White by Farrow & Ball (the company’s paints were used throughout), and contrasted with dark walnut cabinetry and Ceasarstone Misty Carrara worktops, while retaining the original range was part of the planning consent.
The bold chrome pendants came from Marks & Spencer, and the couple added individual touches, as with the colourful mismatched dining chairs from Annie Mo’s. Laura says: “Opening up the kitchen and snug absolutely made it for us; it’s our favourite room.”
2012年1月16日星期一
Houses get historic look at salvage warehouse
Walk into the building at 908 23rd St. and you might find several 1880s solid oak church pews or an antique roll-top desk or a marble fireplace mantle from the old Hutchings Sealy Bank.
Doors, windows, shutters, handrails, crown molding, bead-board, baseboard, chair rails — you name it — it’s here. Walk out back and peruse the assortment of claw foot tubs, porcelain sinks, wavy glass window panes, roofing tile, brick — there’s even a prefabricated commissary house from the early 1900s.
Welcome to the Architectural Salvage Warehouse, which is supported by the Galveston Historical Foundation and sales from donated items.
The building was constructed in 1909-10 and housed the staff of John Sealy, whose mansion was across the street.
Matt Farragher, project coordinator of preservation services, is the overseer who works in tandem with Joe Janota, warehouse manager.
Farragher, who divides his time between the warehouse and foundation, originally is from Ohio. He said he fell in love with Galveston on spring break while attending college in Indiana. He joined the foundation’s staff in August 2007.
“I answer questions from residents and work in the resource center where builders or residents come to get restoration help with an historical project,” said Farragher, who has a master of science degree in historic preservation. “I take pleasure in teaching future generations the importance of their heritage.”
Janota, born and raised in Oregon, visited his aunt and uncle in Galveston and liked it so much he moved to the island. He has a bachelor’s degree in anthropology, but his time as a park ranger ignited his interest in historic preservation. He manages the warehouse as well as owning his own construction business.
“This is a great place because it provides a place for locals to come and find resources for their houses,” Janota said.
The warehouse also helps to keep materials out of the landfill.
Although most items are available only to island residents, he does make exceptions with smaller items if the buyer is from Galveston County. But the main objective is to keep all salvaged items on the island, Janota said.
“We also give classes upstairs,” Farragher said. “We do hands-on teaching and focus on how to finish your floors, research your house, do environmentally friendly maintenance, and how to historically design your landscape. We had a course this past session where we gave instructions on how to clean up cemetery stones and had a work day there.”
The majority of items the warehouse receives include doors, windows and furniture.
“We recently got 10 to 12 doors and about 50 shutters,” Janota said. “We also have a lot of tongue-and-groove, bead-board, siding, flooring, spindles for porches or interior stairwells, picket fence posts — every day is different. People come in and look for specific things and since I see everything that comes in, I can usually keep an eye out for people who are looking for certain items.”
The warehouse operators don’t repair or recondition items.
“Everything here depends on style, size and condition,” Farragher said. “We don’t fix up items beyond basic cleanup and we don’t recondition so we can sell things at an agreeable price.”
Items go well in old houses as well as new, Janota said.
“A lot of people have a preconceived idea that they have to have an old house,” Janota said. “But you can have a newer house and repurpose with many things from our warehouse. Everything here has been loved and needs a little more love.”
The warehouse, which has been in business for 30 years, is open Wednesdays and Saturdays and is available for islanders to find what they need to finish their home improvement projects.
Doors, windows, shutters, handrails, crown molding, bead-board, baseboard, chair rails — you name it — it’s here. Walk out back and peruse the assortment of claw foot tubs, porcelain sinks, wavy glass window panes, roofing tile, brick — there’s even a prefabricated commissary house from the early 1900s.
Welcome to the Architectural Salvage Warehouse, which is supported by the Galveston Historical Foundation and sales from donated items.
The building was constructed in 1909-10 and housed the staff of John Sealy, whose mansion was across the street.
Matt Farragher, project coordinator of preservation services, is the overseer who works in tandem with Joe Janota, warehouse manager.
Farragher, who divides his time between the warehouse and foundation, originally is from Ohio. He said he fell in love with Galveston on spring break while attending college in Indiana. He joined the foundation’s staff in August 2007.
“I answer questions from residents and work in the resource center where builders or residents come to get restoration help with an historical project,” said Farragher, who has a master of science degree in historic preservation. “I take pleasure in teaching future generations the importance of their heritage.”
Janota, born and raised in Oregon, visited his aunt and uncle in Galveston and liked it so much he moved to the island. He has a bachelor’s degree in anthropology, but his time as a park ranger ignited his interest in historic preservation. He manages the warehouse as well as owning his own construction business.
“This is a great place because it provides a place for locals to come and find resources for their houses,” Janota said.
The warehouse also helps to keep materials out of the landfill.
Although most items are available only to island residents, he does make exceptions with smaller items if the buyer is from Galveston County. But the main objective is to keep all salvaged items on the island, Janota said.
“We also give classes upstairs,” Farragher said. “We do hands-on teaching and focus on how to finish your floors, research your house, do environmentally friendly maintenance, and how to historically design your landscape. We had a course this past session where we gave instructions on how to clean up cemetery stones and had a work day there.”
The majority of items the warehouse receives include doors, windows and furniture.
“We recently got 10 to 12 doors and about 50 shutters,” Janota said. “We also have a lot of tongue-and-groove, bead-board, siding, flooring, spindles for porches or interior stairwells, picket fence posts — every day is different. People come in and look for specific things and since I see everything that comes in, I can usually keep an eye out for people who are looking for certain items.”
The warehouse operators don’t repair or recondition items.
“Everything here depends on style, size and condition,” Farragher said. “We don’t fix up items beyond basic cleanup and we don’t recondition so we can sell things at an agreeable price.”
Items go well in old houses as well as new, Janota said.
“A lot of people have a preconceived idea that they have to have an old house,” Janota said. “But you can have a newer house and repurpose with many things from our warehouse. Everything here has been loved and needs a little more love.”
The warehouse, which has been in business for 30 years, is open Wednesdays and Saturdays and is available for islanders to find what they need to finish their home improvement projects.
2011年12月20日星期二
Ceramic Harmony is observing 25 years of old world ambiance in tile and stone
Twenty-five years in business. Twenty-five years of selling tile and stone for bathrooms, kitchens and other rooms.
In the beginning, Ceramic Harmony was a small tile-setting shop at the corner of Airport Road and South Parkway in southeast Huntsville.
Today, it's in a 12,000-square-foot facility at 11317 S. Parkway. Out front, the marquee proclaims, "Old world ambiance in tile and stone.''
There's a large showroom and a fabrication shop, where upscale installations - including a stone hood that's 62 inches long - are made for kitchens, bathrooms and floors.
"It used to be, when we first started, there was hardly any tile 25 years ago," said Werner Stark, Ceramic Harmony's owner and president. "There was standard tile.
"When we came in town, we brought in materials and stone from Italy, Germany and Spain.''
By and by, there was "a lot of ceramic tile in the early 1990s,'' Stark said. In the last 10 or 15 years, he said, the trend was more marble, granite and stone.
"Nowadays," he said, "our business consists of 50 percent stone and 50 percent tile."
Nowadays, Ceramic Harmony is observing its 25-year anniversary in business.
It was started in 1986 by Dr. Klaus and Leka Medenbach. Stark's involvement in the business began that year, after he responded to Medenbach's ad in a tile magazine.
Medenbach was looking for a master craftsman, as Stark recalled. He was plenty qualified, having completed four years of training in Europe.
His roots in the business were deep. Stark's father had operated a similar business in southern Germany, near Stuttgart, and Werner had risen to become its chief executive officer.
But he had always wanted to come to America.
Ultimately, he left the family business to move to Florida. After four weeks there, he returned to Germany, uncertain of where his career was headed.
"You have to have a dream, and it will come true if you stick to it," Stark said.
In his case, it was realized after he saw Medenbach's ad in the tile magazine. He responded to the ad and joined the company within a couple of weeks.
There have been challenges in the company's 25 years.
In November 1989, for instance, the showroom had recently been remodeled when a tornado barreled down Airport Road, destroying the showroom and office.
By 1998, though, Ceramic Harmony's business was such that it needed a larger location. The opening of the company's first fabrication shop on Triana Boulevard in the early 1990s had helped expand operations.
Today, many of Ceramic Harmony's customers are seeking the "wow effect," as Stark calls it. An example is one customer who told him, "I want a (master) bathroom where people come in and just go 'wow.' "
Price of that master bathroom: $80,000, said Stark's brother, Jim, who handles business operations.
"That's top of the line," Werner Stark said. "$60,000 to $70,000 is common."
But there are also the more moderately priced projects.
"Over the years, the customer base is people can't afford $80,000 (bathrooms), but they save up their money and they want something nice,'' Stark said. "They come to us. They know it's done right and ever-lasting, and it looks beautiful."
In the beginning, Ceramic Harmony was a small tile-setting shop at the corner of Airport Road and South Parkway in southeast Huntsville.
Today, it's in a 12,000-square-foot facility at 11317 S. Parkway. Out front, the marquee proclaims, "Old world ambiance in tile and stone.''
There's a large showroom and a fabrication shop, where upscale installations - including a stone hood that's 62 inches long - are made for kitchens, bathrooms and floors.
"It used to be, when we first started, there was hardly any tile 25 years ago," said Werner Stark, Ceramic Harmony's owner and president. "There was standard tile.
"When we came in town, we brought in materials and stone from Italy, Germany and Spain.''
By and by, there was "a lot of ceramic tile in the early 1990s,'' Stark said. In the last 10 or 15 years, he said, the trend was more marble, granite and stone.
"Nowadays," he said, "our business consists of 50 percent stone and 50 percent tile."
Nowadays, Ceramic Harmony is observing its 25-year anniversary in business.
It was started in 1986 by Dr. Klaus and Leka Medenbach. Stark's involvement in the business began that year, after he responded to Medenbach's ad in a tile magazine.
Medenbach was looking for a master craftsman, as Stark recalled. He was plenty qualified, having completed four years of training in Europe.
His roots in the business were deep. Stark's father had operated a similar business in southern Germany, near Stuttgart, and Werner had risen to become its chief executive officer.
But he had always wanted to come to America.
Ultimately, he left the family business to move to Florida. After four weeks there, he returned to Germany, uncertain of where his career was headed.
"You have to have a dream, and it will come true if you stick to it," Stark said.
In his case, it was realized after he saw Medenbach's ad in the tile magazine. He responded to the ad and joined the company within a couple of weeks.
There have been challenges in the company's 25 years.
In November 1989, for instance, the showroom had recently been remodeled when a tornado barreled down Airport Road, destroying the showroom and office.
By 1998, though, Ceramic Harmony's business was such that it needed a larger location. The opening of the company's first fabrication shop on Triana Boulevard in the early 1990s had helped expand operations.
Today, many of Ceramic Harmony's customers are seeking the "wow effect," as Stark calls it. An example is one customer who told him, "I want a (master) bathroom where people come in and just go 'wow.' "
Price of that master bathroom: $80,000, said Stark's brother, Jim, who handles business operations.
"That's top of the line," Werner Stark said. "$60,000 to $70,000 is common."
But there are also the more moderately priced projects.
"Over the years, the customer base is people can't afford $80,000 (bathrooms), but they save up their money and they want something nice,'' Stark said. "They come to us. They know it's done right and ever-lasting, and it looks beautiful."
2011年9月19日星期一
Spacious living with room to choose
Sometimes a jolt of fresh energy is just what the housing market needs. That's how owners Jon Schwartz, chief executive officer, and Wade Grabeldinger, chief financial officer, felt when they founded Crimson Cove Homes last May.
They built a show home in Granville, a new development in west Edmonton just south of the Whitemud and west of Anthony Henday, and have been busy ever since.
It didn't take long for customers to become interested. Kate Cosentino was drawn in by the small-scale company and its modern show home. As a real estate agent for ReMax Elite, Kate knew the area well and was interested in buying her first house with her boyfriend, Cory Robinson.
"We bought our home when it was in the framing stage. The show home drew me in. I was impressed by the level of finishing. Other builders nickel and dime you on finishings, but at Crimson Cove it was already part of the package."
Kate and Cory's home was completed on June 24, and they are now enjoying home ownership and all that comes with it. Their 1,750square-foot, two-storey is done in what Crimson Cove terms the Atlantic style. Hardwood floors, ceramic tile, a tile fireplace and quartz countertops are some of the features of the Atlantic. The Pacific offers a lower price option with linoleum and carpet.
Kate was also impressed by Muriel Mckay, the area sales manager. "I know quite a few sales reps from being a realtor, and she (Muriel) stuck out as special. She wasn't only concerned about the sale. By getting to know us, she was able to help with our selections based on who we are and what we do. It seemed like it was a whole other level of service."
The Starling show home is a 2,006sq.-ft., two-storey with nine-foot-tall ceilings on both floors. Rectangular tiles cover the front entryway and flow to the mud-room. Hardwood floors extend into the main entertainment space. Bright quartz countertops waterfall over the cabinetry, giving the space a modern feel.
Jon describes the inception of Crimson Cove. "Wade and I had been working at a tract home builder, a big company. I'd been doing land development, and Wade started as a controller. We then became general managers. I'd been there a long time and saw that there were a lot of things I wanted to do differently."
One of those things was providing the opportunity for customers to customize their homes. Rather than being limited by a set scheme or design, buyers are invited to personalize their homes. "If customers are going to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars, our view is that they should be able to change more than the paint colour," says Jon.
There are several floor plans to choose from, ranging in size from 1,533 sq. ft. to 2,700 sq. ft. and from $375,000 to $650,000.
Crimson Cove has sold 22 homes, all in Granville, a neighbourhood next to The Grange Shopping Centre with banking, a Safeway store and restaurants, as well as easy access to Anthony Henday and the Whitemud.
Jon and Wade spent time measuring out spaces during the design process to make sure they functioned well. "When we built this house, we didn't have to make any changes during construction. We feel we really nailed it," says Jon.
They built a show home in Granville, a new development in west Edmonton just south of the Whitemud and west of Anthony Henday, and have been busy ever since.
It didn't take long for customers to become interested. Kate Cosentino was drawn in by the small-scale company and its modern show home. As a real estate agent for ReMax Elite, Kate knew the area well and was interested in buying her first house with her boyfriend, Cory Robinson.
"We bought our home when it was in the framing stage. The show home drew me in. I was impressed by the level of finishing. Other builders nickel and dime you on finishings, but at Crimson Cove it was already part of the package."
Kate and Cory's home was completed on June 24, and they are now enjoying home ownership and all that comes with it. Their 1,750square-foot, two-storey is done in what Crimson Cove terms the Atlantic style. Hardwood floors, ceramic tile, a tile fireplace and quartz countertops are some of the features of the Atlantic. The Pacific offers a lower price option with linoleum and carpet.
Kate was also impressed by Muriel Mckay, the area sales manager. "I know quite a few sales reps from being a realtor, and she (Muriel) stuck out as special. She wasn't only concerned about the sale. By getting to know us, she was able to help with our selections based on who we are and what we do. It seemed like it was a whole other level of service."
The Starling show home is a 2,006sq.-ft., two-storey with nine-foot-tall ceilings on both floors. Rectangular tiles cover the front entryway and flow to the mud-room. Hardwood floors extend into the main entertainment space. Bright quartz countertops waterfall over the cabinetry, giving the space a modern feel.
Jon describes the inception of Crimson Cove. "Wade and I had been working at a tract home builder, a big company. I'd been doing land development, and Wade started as a controller. We then became general managers. I'd been there a long time and saw that there were a lot of things I wanted to do differently."
One of those things was providing the opportunity for customers to customize their homes. Rather than being limited by a set scheme or design, buyers are invited to personalize their homes. "If customers are going to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars, our view is that they should be able to change more than the paint colour," says Jon.
There are several floor plans to choose from, ranging in size from 1,533 sq. ft. to 2,700 sq. ft. and from $375,000 to $650,000.
Crimson Cove has sold 22 homes, all in Granville, a neighbourhood next to The Grange Shopping Centre with banking, a Safeway store and restaurants, as well as easy access to Anthony Henday and the Whitemud.
Jon and Wade spent time measuring out spaces during the design process to make sure they functioned well. "When we built this house, we didn't have to make any changes during construction. We feel we really nailed it," says Jon.
2011年9月8日星期四
Scratch the itch to remodel baths and kitchens with smaller projects
It's a reality of our fragile economy: Many homeowners who dream of the perfect kitchen or master bath are putting full-scale renovation on hold in favor of more limited changes.
"What's on everyone's minds is making the space feel a little better and function a little better until you can reach the ultimate kitchen or bath that you want," says Danny Lipford, host of a nationally syndicated home-improvement radio show.
But which small projects are worth it if you're going to remodel in just a few years?
Choose projects that offer big change at little cost or that serve as first steps toward eventual full-scale renovation, says Sabrina Soto, designer and host of HGTV's new series "The High Low Project."
Lipford suggests making changes to the biggest surfaces in a room, such as countertops or floors. Using a type of paint sold in a kit (Lipford recommends one found at Gianigranite.com), homeowners can paint over an old laminate countertop and then seal it with a coating that mimics the look and solid feel of laminate and looks surprisingly good, all for less than $50.
Tanya Memme, host of A&E's "Sell This House," agrees that big surfaces are a good place to start. "Any room will look bad if the floors aren't in decent shape," she says.
Cover a soon-to-be-replaced wood or tile floor with a colorful new rug, or put down peel-and-stick vinyl tiles. Good quality vinyl tiles resembling granite can cost several hundred dollars if you're covering a full kitchen floor. But the change is dramatic, so it may be worthwhile even for just a few years of use.
Old ceramic tile floors and tile walls can get a facelift for just a few dollars if you use grout stain, Lipford says. You can make dingy grout a pristine white again or change it to a new color.
Memme suggests adding a tile backsplash to a kitchen wall for a burst of new style. Do it yourself to save money. "It might seem difficult to put up tile," she says, "but actually it's very easy to do." Small tiles come on a mesh sheet, so you're not placing each one.
Installing under-cabinet or over-cabinet lighting probably isn't wise if you'll be removing the cabinets in a year or two, says Michael Hydeck, president of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. But a new ceiling light can be installed now and still be used when kitchens or bathrooms are renovated.
Changing window treatments also can change a room's lighting and bring in fresh color. Remove old blinds or shades and replace them with inexpensive curtains.
"What's on everyone's minds is making the space feel a little better and function a little better until you can reach the ultimate kitchen or bath that you want," says Danny Lipford, host of a nationally syndicated home-improvement radio show.
But which small projects are worth it if you're going to remodel in just a few years?
Choose projects that offer big change at little cost or that serve as first steps toward eventual full-scale renovation, says Sabrina Soto, designer and host of HGTV's new series "The High Low Project."
Lipford suggests making changes to the biggest surfaces in a room, such as countertops or floors. Using a type of paint sold in a kit (Lipford recommends one found at Gianigranite.com), homeowners can paint over an old laminate countertop and then seal it with a coating that mimics the look and solid feel of laminate and looks surprisingly good, all for less than $50.
Tanya Memme, host of A&E's "Sell This House," agrees that big surfaces are a good place to start. "Any room will look bad if the floors aren't in decent shape," she says.
Cover a soon-to-be-replaced wood or tile floor with a colorful new rug, or put down peel-and-stick vinyl tiles. Good quality vinyl tiles resembling granite can cost several hundred dollars if you're covering a full kitchen floor. But the change is dramatic, so it may be worthwhile even for just a few years of use.
Old ceramic tile floors and tile walls can get a facelift for just a few dollars if you use grout stain, Lipford says. You can make dingy grout a pristine white again or change it to a new color.
Memme suggests adding a tile backsplash to a kitchen wall for a burst of new style. Do it yourself to save money. "It might seem difficult to put up tile," she says, "but actually it's very easy to do." Small tiles come on a mesh sheet, so you're not placing each one.
Installing under-cabinet or over-cabinet lighting probably isn't wise if you'll be removing the cabinets in a year or two, says Michael Hydeck, president of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. But a new ceiling light can be installed now and still be used when kitchens or bathrooms are renovated.
Changing window treatments also can change a room's lighting and bring in fresh color. Remove old blinds or shades and replace them with inexpensive curtains.
2011年9月1日星期四
The ordinary turns extraordinary at SWIC exhibit
The latest exhibit at the Southwestern Illinois College Schmidt Art Center aims to change the way people think about books and wooden tools.
"BOOC: Beautiful, Outrageous, Original and Clever Books by Artists" and "Lyrical Objects" are two exhibits opening today at the Schmidt Art Center and running through Oct. 1.
"BOOC" consists of several "books" made of materials and in ways traditional literature isn't usually found. These include ceramic tile book pages, sculptural pop-ups and handcrafted poetry tracts.
"Visitors will be able to see things that aren't normally included as book components made into beautiful works of visual -- and literary -- art," said Schmidt Director Libby Reuter.
Works by artists M.J. Goerke, Marcus Griffen, William Harroff, Joanne Kluba, Bob Smith and Barbara Wiese will be featured.
"Lyrical Objects" features the sculptures of Jane Birdsall-Lander. These combine wooden tool handles and parts of musical instruments so each one takes on humanistic values to inspire the imagination of viewers.
The two exhibits will allow visitors to look at normal objects and see them as something extraordinary.
Birdsall-Lander "takes wooden implement handles and combines them with other wooden pieces, mounting them on the wall to make sculptures that resemble fantastical tools, musical instruments or ladders," Reuter said. "It will spark your imagination."
Several activities are tied into the event.
* A public reception is from 6 to 8 tonight. The event is free and refreshments will be available.
* Creative Kids begins at SWIC with artistic book-making projects at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Sept. 3, 10 and 24 and Oct.
* Joanne Kluba will lead a workshop to show adult artists how to create special folded books from 9:30 a.m. to noon Sept. 17. The fee is $50 and pre-registration is required.
And Sept. 22 and 29 from 6-8 pm. in the Schmidt Reading Room, Poets and artists will read from their works as attendees are allowed to handle pieces from the exhibit from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 22 and 29 in the Schmidt Reading room. This event is free and open to the public; no registration is required.
"BOOC: Beautiful, Outrageous, Original and Clever Books by Artists" and "Lyrical Objects" are two exhibits opening today at the Schmidt Art Center and running through Oct. 1.
"BOOC" consists of several "books" made of materials and in ways traditional literature isn't usually found. These include ceramic tile book pages, sculptural pop-ups and handcrafted poetry tracts.
"Visitors will be able to see things that aren't normally included as book components made into beautiful works of visual -- and literary -- art," said Schmidt Director Libby Reuter.
Works by artists M.J. Goerke, Marcus Griffen, William Harroff, Joanne Kluba, Bob Smith and Barbara Wiese will be featured.
"Lyrical Objects" features the sculptures of Jane Birdsall-Lander. These combine wooden tool handles and parts of musical instruments so each one takes on humanistic values to inspire the imagination of viewers.
The two exhibits will allow visitors to look at normal objects and see them as something extraordinary.
Birdsall-Lander "takes wooden implement handles and combines them with other wooden pieces, mounting them on the wall to make sculptures that resemble fantastical tools, musical instruments or ladders," Reuter said. "It will spark your imagination."
Several activities are tied into the event.
* A public reception is from 6 to 8 tonight. The event is free and refreshments will be available.
* Creative Kids begins at SWIC with artistic book-making projects at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Sept. 3, 10 and 24 and Oct.
* Joanne Kluba will lead a workshop to show adult artists how to create special folded books from 9:30 a.m. to noon Sept. 17. The fee is $50 and pre-registration is required.
And Sept. 22 and 29 from 6-8 pm. in the Schmidt Reading Room, Poets and artists will read from their works as attendees are allowed to handle pieces from the exhibit from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 22 and 29 in the Schmidt Reading room. This event is free and open to the public; no registration is required.
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