SHARING AND CARING: JINGLE & MINGLE FUNDRAISING EVENT

Finished wreath, looking beautiful!

The Jingle & Mingle Designer Wreath Auction, a benefit of Children of Shelters, is an annual event featuring donated wreaths from some of the West Coast's top designers. The Wiseman Group has stepped up to the plate with a stunning entry. The process involved in making the wreath was classic TWG: many of the firm's creative minds were involved in the wreath's conception, and fine local artisans were used to fabricate the final product.

Concept drawing for Jingle & Mingle wreath Artwork - Victoria Kennedy

James Hunter came up with the initial idea for the wreath while visiting Tuell and Reynolds, a TWG vendor in Cloverdale, California.  He spotted a bronze ring "drop," or casting remnant, from a table top they had cut down to make smaller. The circular shape suggested a wreath by the nature of its form. Paul Wiseman liked the idea and suggested the addition of a T and R casting of kelp, a remnant from a TWG custom project. The organic shape of the kelp is suggestive of mistletoe, holly, or perhaps a bow. A candle was added, and a way to mount the wreath was designed. Assistant Architectural Designer, Victoria Kennedy, did the concept drawing for T and R and spearheaded the rest of the production. Designer, Anna Sweeney, provided guidance and mentorship along the way.

Wreath profile

For the auction, the wreath has been hung on a painted door. Paul suggested painting the door a deep purple color he had seen on the home of Evans & Brown, another TWG vendor. Jafe Custom Finishing  painted the door with a rich, glossy finish. As one can see, this is a tremendous pro bono effort on the part of many talented people, all for a very worthy cause.

Back side of wreath

Jingle & Mingle Designer Wreath Auction

Thursday, December 5, 2013

6:30 PM till Late

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Golden Gate Club, The Presidio

135 Fisher Loop 

San Francisco, California

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Information and Tickets

OUT AND ABOUT: LE SOUK

James Hunter of TWG with Davis Dalbok of Living Green Design

James Hunter, Design Principal at The Wiseman Group, recently attended a grand opening at Le Souk, a San Francisco marketplace filled with antiquities, art, and decor from southeast Asia. The occasion? Le Souk was welcoming two new vendors under its roof: Living Green Design and Samana. The new vendors joined three other businesses located at Le Souk: Christian Armstrong Collection, Gil's Upholstery, and La Follia.

Richard Gervais, owner of Le Souk, first opened his doors as a small boutique in the Polk Gulch area of San Francisco in 1970. His business grew, and he eventually moved the Richard Gervais Collection to his current location, a cavernous 15,000–square-foot warehouse in what is now the up-and-coming Garden District. The shop is well-located off the burgeoning Third Street corridor.

Alton Irby, Zahid Sardar, and James Hunter

Davis Dalbok of Living Green Design, runs a multi-faceted business. Under his guidance, the company has been creating notable gardens throughout the Bay Area and beyond for over 30 years. Living Green represents some of the industries' finest lines, including Luciano Antiques, Wijaya Classics Lighting, Gladding McBean Ceramics, and Nature's Treasures — Minerals and Fossils. At his new location at Le Souk, Davis has transformed a former functional storage yard into a thriving exterior landscape. Living Green can now display garden-oriented water features, sculpture, unique plant material, and cutting edge vertical living walls. Within weeks of inhabiting the new space, birds and dragon flies have found a new home in this lively oasis. This new venue captures the spirit of what Living Green has always been about: using beautiful plants and soulful objects from southeast Asia to create outdoor living environments that are both well-appointed and spiritually grounding.

Stone roses and barnacles

Samana is new to the Bay Area scene. Their original store is in Los Gatos, California where they feature one-of-a-kind home furnishings, accessories, and gifts discovered or designed by the owners, Barbara Horscraft and Sandy Martinez. "The inspiration for the store's name derives from an ancient Hindu philosophy practiced by wandering monks that stressed individual, 'unconventional' form and traditions on the path toward enlightenment. And so, now we too wander the world and return with design inspirations and treasures to brighten your home and spaces with truly original offerings."

Michael Donnelly of dogfork and James Hunter

The celebration started with a Hawaiian blessing by Patrick Makuakane and continued with music by Betty Roi and the her Kingtette. The Bogo Fusion dance band closed out the evening.  Exceptionally warm San Francisco weather was the backdrop for this delightful garden party. In attendance were Todd Cole of Strata Landscape Architecture, author Zahid Sardar, Ann Lawrence, Michael Donnelly, Alton Irby, and a host of other local design luminaries.

Davis Dalbok with chanteuse Betty Roi

Visit the Le Souk at 1465 Custer Ave. San Francisco, CA 94124. Hours are Mondays to Fridays 10am to 5pm; Saturdays 11am to 5pm.


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OUT AND ABOUT: GERAS TOUSIGNANT GALLERY

"Vortex 48" Oil, graphite powder , mineral spirits Painting size 2.5” x 2.5” Frame size 6” x 6”

James Hunter, Design Principal, recently attended a reception for artist Monika Steiner at Geras Tousignant Gallery in San Francisco. The gallery primarily features the work of photographer James Scott Geras and painter Daniel Tousignant, but in addition to their revolving show of contemporary works, the gallery features one artist or group approximately every six weeks.

James Hunter, Design Principal at The Wiseman Group,  with artist Monika Steiner and gallery owner and photographer James Scott Geras (R)

Monika Steiner's featured show of new works will run through August 4, 2013. This new series of small paintings references the energy of a swirling vortex. According to Steiner, "The innate properties of mineral spirits, oil paint and graphite interact to produce unexpected visual effects that take on a life of their own. I was intrigued by the process of binding together the unexpected and unique areas with washes of paint and graphite drawings. The colors and layers are subtle yet powerful like the energies that can be felt within a Vortex."

James couldn't resist four of Moinika's new works, now hanging in his SF apartment

Born in Switzerland, Monika Steiner currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area where she received her BFA degree from Sonoma State University in 2005. Since then she has had twenty solo shows and over thirty group exhibitions in the US and abroad. She has lectured at Stanford University’s TEDx conference as well as Sonoma State University and in 2010 she held an artist residency in Greece. Her work is also part of a dozen notable collections such as the Trump and Marriot Hotels and the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art.

"Vortex 34" Oil, graphite powder , mineral spirits Painting size 2.5” x 2.5” Frame size 6” x 6”

OUT AND ABOUT: ATELIER VIERKANT

Photo - Atelier Vierkant

The Wiseman Group is excited to welcome a new vendor to the neighborhood. Atelier Vierkant has been a favorite TWG source for artful ceramic pots used in both outdoor landscaping and interior design. The company's pots are substantial in weight and scale and manage to be both organic and highly sophisticated at the same time. Each handmade piece is uniquely beautiful.

The company's workshop in Beernem, Belgium Photo - Atelier Vierkant

Until recently, TWG had been ordering the Belgian-made containers directly from the studio near Bruges. Clients can now see a selection of styles and finishes in the showroom at 111 Rhode Island Street in the San Francisco Design Center. Customization is available. Minimum orders are no longer necessary as shipping will be consolidated with regular deliveries to California.

The timing could not be more perfect: TWG is ready to place an order with Atelier Vierkant for a lovely home in Hillsborough. The landscape architect for that project is Todd Cole of Strata Landscape Architecture, the design center neighbor to Atelier Vierkant.

James Hunter of TWG attends the opening of Atelier Vierkant's showroom in SF

James attended the showroom opening and was pleased to meet H.R.H. Prince Philip of Belgium, who was in California to promote Belgian design companies on the West Coast. A VIP reception was held for design industry leaders, and TWG was well represented. The Princes' entourage included the Belgian Ambassodor to the United States and his private security.

H.R.H. Prince Phillipe of Belgium (R) speaks with guests at the SF opening Photo - California Home + Design

Photo - Atelier Vierkant