Upcoming Event: Lawndale Design Fair

Every year, Lawndale Art Center hosts a lecture, party, and art and design market dubbed the Design Fair  as an annual fundraiser. The lecture is always free, the party is always exciting—and comes with free Smilebooth sessions—and the two-day market is always a well-curated event featuring primarily Houston-based artists, designers, and retailers.

 

PH Design Shop's booth from Design Fair 2012, image courtesy of Lawndale Art Center's flickr.

PH Design Shop’s booth from Design Fair 2012, image courtesy of Lawndale Art Center’s flickr.

 

With a handful of repeat vendors—Exquisite Corpse Booksellers, Smith’s Opticians, and Carol Piper Rugs to name a few—this year’s fair is focused more on design and craftspeople than previous years. It’s hard to argue with the $5 entrance fee when there will be textile design by Evens, home goods by Forma Revivo, and accessories by Sal Miel Jewelry.

 

Scott Cartwright and Jenny Lynn Weitz-Amare Cartwright of wacdesignstudio, image courtesy of wacdesignstudio.com

Scott Cartwright and Jenny Lynn Weitz-Amaré Cartwright of wacdesignstudio, image courtesy of wacdesignstudio.com

 

Another section of the Fair aim to push its limits this year as well. The Texas Co-Op, usually housed on the Center’s second floor, will feature live printing demonstrations. The demonstrations are courtesy of the area’s curators, Scott Cartwright and Jenny Lynn Weitz-Amaré Cartwright, known for their work as wacdesignstudio. The pair is bringing in 3D printing and CNC routing technology to engage directly with attendees. Surrounded by work from multi-media and graphic artists, the machines will be producing 3D models using this technology with help from the public. Scott and Jenny Lynn hope to develop new ideas for use of these machines and create new projects during the Fair itself.

 

Eric Cohler, image courtesy of ericcohler.com

Eric Cohler, image courtesy of ericcohler.com

 

In lieu of Michael Bruno, Eric Cohler of Eric Cohler Design, NYC will be presenting this year’s lecture, “A Collector on Collecting.” Cohler is also one of the country’s leading interior designers—he even wrote a book about it. He also owns a diverse array of rare artifacts and art pieces, many of which he found on 1stdibs. Cohler will be discussing his collection as well as how to begin and maintain your own during his talk on Wednesday, April 24 at 6:30pm hosted in the Brown Auditorium at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Admission is free.

 

Furniture from Forma Revivo, image courtesy of their website.

Furniture from Forma Revivo, image courtesy of their website.

 

This event runs from April 24-28: Wednesday, April 24, is the lecture. Friday, April 26,is the Preview Party & Sale—tickets are $60 for Lawndale member or $75 for non-members, including weekend admission. Saturday and Sunday, April 27-28, is the Market. For more information on the Lawndale Design Fair, including a full list of vendors and sponsors, please visit the event page at Lawndale Art Center.

Lawndale Art Center is located at 4912 Main at the corner of Rosedale in the Museum District. Parking is available in the lot and on the street.

By Chelsea Thomas
Published April 20, 2013
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