Denizen Design Gallery Unveils 9 New Designers

Fine art meets function at Denizen Design Gallery's first open house of contemporary furniture and product designers

An exceptional grouping of West Coast high-end contemporary furniture and product designers will be presented Aug. 12 at an open house at the Denizen Design Gallery in the Culver City Arts District.

Denizen, a fantastic new multi-line showroom, is representing this group of talented artisans who create an eclectic mix of collectible, limited-edition and one-of-a-kind pieces for bed, bath, kitchen, living area and office. Each artisan pays close attention to detail and craftsmanship, using materials as diverse as wood, concrete, steel and plastic. The results are a marriage of fine art and function that will last generations. All items on display at Denizen are available for immediate purchase or can be made to order.

We are delighted to announce the following collection of designers Denizen is representing:


Andrea Kitts Designs
Andrea Kitts Designs offers lighting and decorative furniture with clean lines and sleek sophistication. Palos Verdes-based furniture and lighting designer Andrea Kitts creates clever and inventive objects that reflect her personality. She likes to inject humor and a little bit of the unexpected into her pieces such as "Glow-be" mood enhancers -- seamless, opaque acrylic spheres of different sizes set on die-cast aluminum bases.

Kitts is always searching for new materials for her pieces and likes to use elements removed from their original intent. Kitts' pieces are designed and manufactured locally with environmentally conscious materials and sustainable production is applied whenever possible. A native of Switzerland, Kitts has completed UCLA's furniture design program, as well as various wood and metal workshops. She formerly worked in international advertising and marketing in Europe and the United States.


DeWulf Concrete
DeWulf Concrete constructs cement pedestal sinks, fireplaces, tables and countertops with clean, architectural lines and earthy colors. The use of concrete as an interior design medium is growing in popularity, and Los Angeles-based DeWulf prides itself in using this versatile material for its cutting-edge designs. DeWulf is best known in the industry for its finishes, particularly its sensual and glass-like custom Cream Finish. Denizen will be showing a collection of DeWulf pedestal sinks and large scale, garden planter vessels.

DeWulf was founded in 2004 by James DeWulf, a former real estate developer. DeWulf's work can be found at the Malibu Tin House designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry in 1972.


jefdesigns
jefdesigns' 1950s-inspired hand-made wood veneer lamps and wall hangings evoke a sense of purity, balance and harmony. The lamps are made out of such fine woods as walnut, teak and zebrawood. The wall hangings feature colorful linear and geometric graphics accented by latex.

Based in Portland, Ore., jefdesigns founder Joe Futschik does custom design work for restaurants, cafes, department stores and residential spaces. jefdesign's mission is to create objects that enhance space and become an integral part of their environment. Futschik has a degree in fine art from Connecticut College.


JOHNSTON-READY
Johnston-Ready creates non-conventional furniture, lighting and interiors working in fine wood, steel, glass, plastic and rich textiles. Launched in 2004, Johnston-Ready is a design collaboration of Stephen Mark Johnston and Matthew Ready. Denizen will be featuring the Johnston-Ready Folded Aluminum line, a collection of tables, stools, chairs, shelving units and a stunning cocktail bar with matching stools. All are constructed of powder-coated sheet aluminum uniquely folded into geometric shapes and finished with two-inch solid walnut for seats, tops and bases. All of Johnston-Ready's pieces are manufactured in the United States.

Stephen Mark Johnston began his 24-year professional design career after studies in home building at San Antonio College, environmental design at Parsons School of Design, and architecture at the University of Texas, Austin. Pasadena native Matthew Ready studied painting and design at Art Center College of Design.


LAX Series by Mash Studios
Simultaneously refined and relaxed, the LAX Series by Mash Studios innovative furniture serves residential and commercial needs. The company's simple, touchable designs include beds made of walnut and birch plywood, and wood shelving with sliding aluminum doors. Bookcases and tables are made of Costa Rican teak that is grown on a plantation, a method that does not contribute to deforestation.

Bernard Brucha founded Mash Studios in 2002 in Santa Monica after working as project director for Los Angeles-based D-Tank, a custom office furniture designer and producer. A Chicago native, Brucha has a degree in industrial design from the University of Kansas.


MachineHistories
MachineHistories is a design collaborative that focuses on using the margins of mass production along with locating sentimentality, incorporating difference, involving mistakes and applying technology. Patrick Dachtler, Steven Joyner, Clancy Pearson and Jason Pilarski are the members that make up MachineHistories. The group's designs are derived from the idea of involving a collection of machines and technologies, and factoring in the language, the gesture -- i.e., the history of that said device. Denizen will be featuring a collection of furniture, jewelry and wall art by MachineHistories.

Patrick Dachtler, originally from Zurich, Switzerland, and Steven Joyner, originally from Waycross, Ga., both have bachelor of science degrees from Pasadena's Art Center College of Design. Los Angeles native Clancy Pearson has a bachelor of fine arts degree from the California Institute of the Arts and a master of architecture degree from the Southern California Institute of Architecture. Allentown, Pa., native Jason Pilarski has a bachelor of fine arts from the School of Visual Arts in New York and a master of fine arts from the Art Center of College and Design.


Modern Convenience
Modern Convenience's colorful and funky playground sculptures will have you reaching for your inner child. The playful items are sized for adults and are embroidered and upholstered in rich provocative fabrics. Venice, Calif., native Didi Dunphy brings her background in sculpture, video and other time-based arts to Modern Convenience's recess line of art hybrid furnishings. This delightful line includes upholstered see-saws, swings and rockers that are perfect for sharing with friends. Denizen will show the Recess Swing designed for two that features an upholstered vinyl seat with oversized acrylic tassels, all suspended by Plastisol-coated chains.

Dunphy has a masters of fine arts degree from the Art Institute in San Francisco and has exhibited her work in galleries and museums across North America. She currently lives in Athens, Ga., where she teaches at the University of Georgia's Digital Media Department.


Primitive Pop by Rick Robinson
Primitive Pop's bold and abstract steel sculptures explode in a mass of energetic expression, reflecting Robinson's roots as a graffiti artist. The pieces, made from flame-cut steel, can be used as either interior wall art or exterior garden sculpture. Robinson is a long-time billboard advocate, creative consultant, public speaker, fine artist, teacher and writer. He has spent 20 years in the advertising business, and was Creative Director for the award-winning "Big Boy" Power 106 Radio campaign.


Sens Furniture
"Sensory, sensible and sensuous" is what describes Sens Furniture's Art Deco and mid-century modern-inspired pieces that are designed to meet the consumer's modern lifestyle. This beautiful and elegant furniture is crafted from the finest woods, as well as sustainable wood for the eco-conscious consumer. Each piece is meant to be distinctive, and is built to the customer's exact specifications. Denizen will be featuring a range of items from Sens, including a desk, chairs and a credenza.

Established in 2001, Sens Furniture features founder and principal designer David Goldenberg, director of business development Emily Goldenberg and assistant designer Justin Abee. David Goldenberg was educated at Stanford and has a background in humanities and law. Emily Goldenberg is an interior designer who has also won an Emmy award as a set decorator in the film and television industry. Justin Abee attended Savannah College of Art and Design, where he concentrated on high-end studio furniture in the French Art Deco and Modernist style.

More about Denizen
Denizen Design Gallery specializes in showcasing West Coast designers and promoting the architecture and interior design trades as well as catering to an ever-growing consumer audience of design enthusiasts and collectors. Denizen hosts monthly receptions and press events to introduce and support new design talent in a friendly and approachable manner.

About the proprietor - Megan Griffith
Denizen is the inspiration of Megan Griffith, a long-time champion of West Coast design and lifestyle markets. As a lifestyle & fashion trade show producer and Los Angeles Director for the wildly successful non-profit artist showcase, Gen-Art, Megan has boosted the careers of many of today's leading West Coast designers and artists.

Discovering and elevating both veteran and emerging design talent comes naturally to Megan, a visionary whose passions include building brand names and helping to establish some of the hottest West Coast tradeshows and artist talent showcases of the last two decades. Along the way, she added her stamp to LA Fashion Week, and other West Coast design exhibitions. Her enthusiasm and direction is appreciated by the retail community, and has resulted in strong personal relationships with many of the world's top buyers.

Denizen, Megan's most recent endeavor and life-long dream, is a culmination of her expertise in lifestyle branding, and her ability to identify and promote innovative talent. Through her boutique agency, M.Griffith, Megan also represents some of the most unique installation artists and furniture designers to the hospitality market.

Denizen Design Gallery Open House
Saturday, Aug. 12th, 2006
4-8p.m.
8600 Venice Blvd., LA CA 90034
Culver City Arts District
http://www.denizendesigngallery.com/
http://www.megangriffith.com/
310-838-1959

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