Last month Urbancase launched their new line of products at ICFF.  The firm, founded in 2002 by Darin Montgomery introduced a four-piece series which includes the One-by-One-Chair, the Ledge, the Mantis lamp, and… The Emergency Cocktail Station.

It’s a clever wall mounted bar with a drop down work surface that comes equipped with the tools to cure most any cocktail emergency.  (You supply the medicine).  Able to cure most urban cocktail emergencies.

Tanya is a furniture designer/maker looking to start a brand new artist collaborative, Artists Helping Artisans (AHA), which focuses on helping artisans in marginalized communities whose craft traditions or livelihoods are at risk. With the current economic crisis, and tourism dwindling, many of these craft communities are in dire need of help.

A large scale exhibition of Tanya’s work is scheduled for Sept 2010 at MACLA, Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latinoamericana, in San Jose during the Zero1 Biennial.  MACLA has created an opportunity to use the exhibition to showcase (and kickstart) collaborative works with artisans—and for the first time in Tanya’s art career, allowed her to become a catalyst for social change through the creation of craft.

Tanya is looking to raise $7,000 to begin the project which will help cover the costs of:

·        Plane tickets for Tanya and a documentarian/assistant

·        Shared hotel accommodations for 1 month

·        Stipend for artisans involved in workshops

·        Per diem for myself and a documentarian/assistant

·        Materials for creation of collaborative pieces

·        Car rental for 1 month

·        Shipping of works from Mexico to US

To read more about this project and to offer your support, follow this LINK.

The Zebra Series of case goods features highly graphic Zebrawood (a sustainable veneer product made of plantation-raised Poplar) framed by dark Oak, and sophisticated touches like bronzed pulls, and dovetailed drawers.

Heiloom quality goods.

On the floor at INSIDE MODERN...

The Wavelength Series is a seating group inspired by the motion of waves and the movement of shorebird legs. The basic form is designed to cradle the derriere on a simple repeatable shape. Each piece features tightly upholstered seating with thin padding, and may be ordered in Walnut, Oak, Maple, Espresso, and with or without Ebonized legs and trim.

Splt Wave Bench features built in table.

Superior build and elegant lines on the Wave Bench.

Greg Bergere of GO BUILD STUDIO founded his furniture company in 1998 in San Francisco and the eclectic collection currently celebrates simple and useful design with the varied influences of plain Shakers, mid-century moderns, and high-low cosmopolitans. Bergere learned to build things while working alongside his father, a self-starter, tinkerer, and craftsman who built and fixed everything around the house. Greg never learned of hired help so developed a strong skill-set for building things. He went on to receive degrees in art and architecture and practiced architecture for some years. Ever the “doer,” Bergere eventually quit architecture for furniture making, having tired of what he describes as the “…labyrinthine requirements of getting buildings approved and built in the Bay Area.”

Bergere describes his design process as “…both direct and relaxed, searching for thoughtful and reserved simplicity.” The work shows “…an appreciation for traditional forms and the long history of craft in furniture making informs our contemporary outlook.” General concepts that inform his work: style over fashion, classic forms, geometry, substance and longevity, craft and lineage, contrast and balance, gravity and levity, generosity and spaciousness, transparency and opacity, and openness. Materials chosen are of the highest quality and reflect GO BUILD STUDIO’s commitment to sustainability. Each and every piece is finely crafted in their San Francisco-based workshop.

The bedrock of inside’s iconic collection is from Modernica, the California-based manufacturer responsible for the revival of the George Nelson Bubble Lamp, the classic 1950 Fiberglass Arm Chair, and Case Study daybeds, couches and shelving. They are also an authorized dealer for the Cherner Chair, designed by Norman Cherner in 1958 and still regarded as one of the most dramatic designs utilizing the technology of molding plywood. Their friendly, knowledgeable and helpful staff are waiting for you at the showroom on149 Gough Street in fashionable Hayes Valley.

You may see more of Greg’s work here and peruse the current offerings at inside’s site as well. Stay tuned for pictures from their showroom floor…

Stay tuned for news from kengo's title fight in Pancrase.

Laguna Beach locals Daniel Wacholder, Nick Sheridan and Bret Englander started working together at the tender age of 14.  You might remember them from their launch at the Kim Sing back in December.

Their first project was a boat build from scratch they used to sail up and down the California coastline. A few years later they restored an RV and traveled cross country in search of new things and ideas. A lifelong partnership was born and years later it sparked a creative partnership spanning furniture, industrial, and environmental design.  According to Bret “…the work acknowledges a…conflict exists between art and science.”

They just sent us some new photography on their Era Table which we thought we had to share.

Drops Tables

Our friends from Spain who brought us the RS#2 Foosball table,

their super slick foosball table, have been getting all kinds of attention for their whimsical designs.  The crate’s been unloaded and Ford&Ching is representing RS.

You can view samples of their designs and furniture at the KimSing and soon at selected retailers in the U.S.

Greg’s headed down to Los Angeles to debut the new Wavelength Series and the newly redesigned Zebra Series on March 6 at the FORD&CHING showroom. The Wavelength Series is a seating group inspired by the motion of waves and the movement of shorebird legs. The basic form is designed to cradle the derriere on a simple repeatable shape. Each piece features tightly upholstered seating with thin padding, and may be ordered in Walnut, Oak, Maple, Espresso, and with or without Ebonized legs and trim.

The Zebra Series of casegoods features highly graphic Zebrawood (a sustainable veneer product made of plantation-raised Poplar) framed by dark Oak, and sophisticated touches like bronzed pulls, and dovetailed drawers.

These pieces are available for purchase and viewing at the Kim Sing Theatre in Los Angeles.

Tanya has designed a beautiful, tactile line of pillows available exclusively through Ford&Ching that exemplify her organic modernist approach to design.

Fold Pillow Closeup

Using a process called nuno felting, raw wool is naturally adhered without adhesives to hand-died gauze.

Loop Pillow Closeup

Those familiar with Tanya’s Wool Lace Necklaces will recognize the technique used on the Loop Pillows.  100% wool yarn hand laid to create a lacy/loopy pattern then stitched to retain its shape.

Gauze Pillows

The Gauze Pillows also utilize nuno felting combining natural raw wool with hand-died and pulled gauze.  These are really beautiful in person.

Tanya’s pillow line is launching at the next Ford&Ching event at the Kim Sing Theatre on Saturday, March 6th, 8 – 11pm.  Tanya’s line of handmade pillows is available through Ford&Ching for $180 each and soon at other select retailers.