New Art Exhibit Featuring Allen Russ: “City of Trees: The Natural Monuments of Washington DC”
Over the weekend we had a new art exhibit go up called “City of Trees: The Natural Monuments of Washington DC” from DC-based photographer Allen Russ.
Allen Russ on the series:
“This is an ongoing book project of landscape photography focusing on the trees of Washington DC. I am working on this project in conjunction with the Trust for the National Mall. For the next several years, I will be adding photographs as I create them.”
As you may recall, Allen has exhibited at Vastu before back in 2010 as part of a $500 or Less art show and was even interviewed, at the time, by Cecile Oreste from Borderstan.
About his work:
“I would characterize my work as equal parts science and art. Often when I conceive of a photograph, so much of my intent is to capture some biological, chemical and physical symptom of the effects of time on my subject as well as the geometry of the subject and the scene of which it is a part.
It is often the case that I manufacture or manipulate my subject over weeks and months. Treating it chemically or simply leaving it to be affected by weathering. Although, many of my subjects are man-made relics of the industrial era, I am primarily photographing nature.
I am trying to capture not just the symptoms of time, but the actual passage of it. This means that I spend the time around many of my photographs under long exposure conditions trying to contain 30+ minutes on a single piece of film.”
"Mulberry 1, Monument"
What:
Allen Russ exhibit, “City of Trees: The Natural Monuments of Washington DC”
Where:
Vastu
1829 14th St. NW / Washington, DC 20009
When:
January 30, 2012 – March 25, 2012
DC: Home to the Small (But Mighty) Home
Image by flickr user tvol
A recent Curbed article written with data from Realtor.com shows that Washington, DC has the smallest median home size in the country.
At 1,000 square feet, DC falls below the national median square footage of 1,761. We’re also home to the smallest median lot size (2,375 square feet) and the second-highest median list price at $432,500. First was Hawaii at $575,000. The typical home in the District has 2 bedrooms and 2 baths while the rest of the top 10 have 3 bedrooms. Read more for tips on how to maximize the space you do have.
Spring Blossoms for Your Walls
A clear winner from HGTV’s Showhouse Showdown, based on all the calls we’ve already received, is the Spring Blossom Wallpaper Eric Kole used in his master bedroom. Sold in 4-roll sets, measuring a large 78.75″ W by 118″ L (that’s roughly 6.5 feet by 9 feet, 10 inches).
In using this specific graphic, Eric was evoking the cherry blossoms that DC is famous for and that people come from all over the world to see in the spring. It’s a great way to add interest to your walls without the use of paint and can definitely be an unexpected and fun design element.
While Spring Blossom wallpaper does come in its standard size, it can be scaled up or down to fit any wall in your space. For pricing on this and other products you saw in the “Loads of Layers vs. Less is More” episode on Showhouse Showdown, give us a call or visit us today!
Colorful Glass Eye Candy from the West Coast
Check out what we just got in yesterday to the showroom!
Bulb Incalmo Vase
Tube Top Vase
These glass vases are made in Portland, Oregon and come in different sizes, shapes and colors to suit your fancy. Read more
HOW TO: Buy Steven Anthony Furniture During Dog Days
In anticipation for the weekend, we thought we’d put together a short how-to for buying Steven Anthony furniture so you can get your 20% discount during the MidCity Dog Days sale!
Step 1: Choose a style.
Steven Anthony builds custom sofas, sectionals, chairs, dining chairs, benches, ottomans and beds. Within these different categories are several styles and variations.
Step 2: Indicate a size and/or dimensions.
All sofas and sectionals are available in any length in 6 inch increments (e.g. 60″, 66″, 72″, etc). Benches, ottomans, and upholstered beds are fully customizable to any dimension (think length, width, and height).
Step 3: Select a fabric or leather and color.
If you’ve ever stopped by the Vastu showroom, than chances are pretty high that you’ve noticed the two very large walls full of fabric samples. Steven Anthony pieces can be done in fabric or in any leather. All you have to do is choose one that fits within your space.
Step 4: Decide on finishing details.
When we say our Steven Anthony pieces are fully customizable, we mean it. You can choose between metal or wood legs, the color stain used on wood, the height of your legs, the number of seat and back cushions on your sofa or sectional, whether or not they’re tufted, the firmness (or softness) of your cushions, and finally the seams! All of these variables can instantly change the look of the final product.
Step 5: Pay and get your 20% Off Dog Days sale discount!
To receive your Dog Days discount, you do have to place your order during this weekend. With 20% off, you could be saving hundreds off a one-of-a-kind piece of custom furniture!
If you still need help narrowing down all your choices during the Dog Days weekend, just find a Vastu staff member and we’ll be happy to provide any advice or assistance you may need.
For other MidCity businesses and their Dog Days sale, check out the full list here.
Getting Ready for Dog Days!
MidCity’s Dog Days, one of the biggest neighborhood-wide sales of the year, is only a few days away!
As a reminder, here’s what we have going on at Vastu…
20% Off All New Steven Anthony Custom Upholstered Furniture Orders!
This includes sleek sofas like the Dupont, charming chairs like the Astro, and beautiful benches like the Lowell (among various other styles of sofas, sectionals, chairs, benches and ottomans).
Buy your tickets before they’re gone! Tickets are $100 and ONLY 30 are available.
One lucky grand-prize winner will receive a Hugo sleeper sofa designed and built by Steven Anthony (valued at $3,500). Also, every entry into the Dog Days Raffle comes with a beautiful throw pillow (valued at $150).
Need not be present at store to win. Raffle winner will be chosen at random and notified the week of August 8, 2011.
To see the full list of participating businesses in the area and their offers, head over to the MidCity website.
Designer Spotlight: Chloethiel Woodard Smith
Chloethiel Woodard Smith (1910-1992)
Birthplace: Peoria, Illinois
Notable Works: Harbour Square (SW Washington), the National Airport Metro Station, the Waterview Townhouses (Reston, VA), and “Chloethiel’s Corner” (the corner of Connecticut Avenue & L St. NW)
Chloethiel Woodard Smith was an American architect and urban planner whose career was centered in Washington, D.C. She designed many commercial, government and residential projects are the metro area and was influential in proposing a national museum to celebrate buildings and architecture. That building became the Pension Building which was renovated and continues to house the National Building Museum today. By 1967, Smith ran the largest female-run architectural firm in the United States.
Emily Ehrens, a Design Clique reader and TTR Sotheby’s International Realtor, just recently informed us that an original Cloethiel Woodard Smith home is now on the market in Bethesda, MD.
For more images and information, read below!
{In}cognita
The Cognita storage bench from Herman Miller is the perfect small space storage solution. It’s a great addition to an living or working space. Here’s a peek inside the walnut case…
New Art Exhibit Featuring Allen Levy
Vastu is pleased to welcome back artist Allen Levy. Stop by between now and July to see and purchase Levy’s great contemporary pieces.
From Fort Wayne, Indian, Levy graduated from Purdue University with a degree in marketing. After spending years in the corporate world, he decided to follow his passion and become a full-time artist, a passion he discovered while taking an elective art class in college.
He considers each painting a new artistic journey and is interested in the experimentation of color, light and luminosity while striving to create a sense of balance within each composition. In Levy’s pieces, you’ll often find an intense interplay between organic flow and structured ideas and the limitless possibilities that lie between.
Levy on his inspiration:
“My inspiration can come from a variety of sources including personal experiences, immediate surroundings, music, and the enjoyment of simply being creative. There are pieces that are densely and aggressively painted, and others that possess a more luminous and tranquil quality. I want my paintings to make you feel something and I use a range of mood, color and composition to get you there.”
Buying local… ART!
This weekend is the summer Midcity Artists Open Studios event. Not only does this annual event allow you to tour the studios of local artists, you can also support these artists by buying local.
What is the concept behind buying local?
These days, it’s very common for people to go to the farmers market to “buy local” products, which have been produced or grown in close proximity to where they live. But do people buy local because they care about the way the products have been treated or because in so doing, they can also sustain and grow the local economy of their neighbors?
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