Vera Za’arour’s Sunrise rug and a long anticipated film sequel

The recent welcome news that Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke will reprise their roles for a sequel to Richard Linklater’s film Before Sunset – itself a ten years on sequel to his film Before Sunrise – got your scribe thinking again about the new rug collection of Vera Za’arour, which COVER brought to our readers last week.

Za’arour’s 100% New Zealand wool blend rug Sunrise captures those brief moments when the emerging sun seems a magical goblet of gold spilling endless possibilities for the new day. Small wonder Linklater used the liminal thresholds of sunrise and sunset – zones of promise and potential – for his movie titles (although it does raise the question what atmospheric zone will he use for the third film title?).

Limitless artists have been inspired by these zones, and Za’arour’s Sunrise rug seems to plunge into the centre of JMW Turner’s circa 1840 watercolour “Venice at Sunrise from the Hotel Europa, with the Campanile of San Marco” – to emerge as a glorious interpretation of Turner’s umber, gold, and blazing red Venice dawn. We know films can lift our spirits and provide hope in times of gloomy economic news, but can rugs? Yes they can. Sunrise fills your scribe with the belief and hope captured in the Linklater franchise, but unlike films, Sunrise can be an ever-present physical comfort and inspiration – part of the scenography of daily life for those fortunate enough to own one. DJ

Sunrise rug by Vera Za’arour. Photograph courtesy Vera Za’arour

Founded in Mexico & based in Miami: Odabashian custom rugs collaboration part 2

COVER reported earlier this week on Odabashian’s collaboration with leading Mexican architects, graphic and industrial designers and artists to created a limited edition rug collection. As Jaime Odabachian explained to your scribe, one of the objectives was “to promote the coming of age’ of Mexican architecture and interior design and Odabashian’s role in this history throughout the past 90 years”.

Odabashian independently commissioned eighteen Mexican practices to design twenty-one rugs for the collection. Hand knotted in 100 line Nepalese weave using semiworsted New Zealand wool and silk, the collection has a unique postscript – Kickstarter.

Odabashian’s creative leadership includes social media 2.0. The design and production of The Franz Mayer Museum exhibition for this collection was funded in large part by the world’s foremost crowd-funding platform, Kickstarter. The funding page video is still available at Kickstarter. DJ

Con taburate by Ariel Rojo for Odabashian. Photograph courtesy Odabashian and the photographer Fernando Etulain. Copyrights apply.

Lo que el Hombre se llevo by Ariel Rojo for Odabashian. Photograph courtesy Odabashian and the photographer Fernando Etulain. Copyrights apply.

Cho’oh by Aurelio Vazquez for Odabashian. Photograph courtesy Odabashian and the photographer Fernando Etulain. Copyrights apply.

Libertad by Benito Cabañas for Odabashian. Photograph courtesy Odabashian and the photographer Fernando Etulain. Copyrights apply.

Fragmentos by Emiliano Godoy for Odabashian. Photograph courtesy Odabashian and the photographer Fernando Etulain. Copyrights apply.

Odabashian custom rugs collaborate with leading Mexican architects, designers and artists

“Nuestro trabajo es Arte” was emblazoned on the side of Odabashian delivery vans when the company was founded in Mexico City in 1921. Their custom made, hand woven rugs were conceived as art and indeed still are after almost a century in business. Jaime Odabchian is a leading industry figure and a principle in the family-owned business founded by his grandfather Khoren (aka Joren) Odabachian, an Armenian who emigrated to Mexico from Istanbul in 1918. Jaime’s allowed COVER to reproduce this wonderful early 20th century photograph of his grandfather and colleagues posing with a company van.

Odabashian Rug Company founder Koren Odabachian is at far left wearing a fedora. Photograph courtesy Jaime Odabachian, and is subject to US and International copyright.

Visitors to Mexico who bypass Ciudad de México on their way to the “Mayan Riviera” do themselves no favours. Known as D.F. to those who love her, Ciudad de México is one of the most fascinating cities to be found, and it scrums with New York and Honolulu as your scribe’s number one favourite city.

Major supporters of emerging design, especially in Mexico and Latin America, one of Odabashian’s inspirations is D.F.’s richly diverse architecture, and a major project is being planned with one of Mexico’s leading architects. Recently Odabashian collaborated with eighteen Mexican practices to produce a limited edition rug collection. The rugs were exhibited at Museo Franz Meyer. Your scribe is delighted to be able to share these rugs with our readers, and in order to allow breathing space to each remarkable design, the rugs will be shared over several blog posts. DJ

Damasco, ciudad revisitada by Manuel Alvarez Fuentes for Odabashian. Photograph courtesy Odabashian and the photographer Fernando Etulain. Copyrights apply.

Submarino by Igloo (Griselda Ojeda y Mónica Peón) for Odabashian. Photograph courtesy Odabashian and the photographer Fernando Etulain. Copyrights apply.

Sustracción by Productura for Odabashian. Photograph courtesy Odabashian and the photographer Fernando Etulain. Copyrights apply.

Ojo tapatio by Adolfo Gonzalez for Odabashian. Photograph courtesy Odabashian and the photographer Fernando Etulain. Copyrights apply.

Fragmentos by Joel Escalona for Odabashian. Photograph courtesy Odabashian and the photographer Fernando Etulain. Copyrights apply.

Vera Za’arour’s award winning Bleachers is a hit with rug fans and wine lovers

Multiple awards including an Oscar were bestowed on the 2004 film Sideways. Its two hapless anti-heroes are aspiring wine connoisseurs on a tour of San Ynez Valley vineyards. One of the film’s infamous scenes occurs when failed writer Miles Raymond douses himself with a bucket of red wine. There were no rugs underfoot when he did so, but if the book’s sequel Vertical is made into a film, your scribe hopes the set designer gives a prominent role to designer Vera Za’arour’s award winning rug Bleachers. Why? Read on.

Bleachers rug by Vera Za’arour. Photograph courtesy Vera Za’arour

Vera Za’arour is the owner designer of her eponymous California-based company. (And her wonderful name reminds your scribe of the famously exotic Florida mansion Ca’ d’Zan.) Hand knotted in Nepal of hemp and wool, Bleachers may look like a simple striped rug, but Za’arour designed it for the “red wine lover”.

As Za’arour explained to your scribe, “when you spill red wine on it, it can be easily cleaned by pouring bleach on it [and some soapy water]. The carpet will look like new. I made this in a simple stripe, but any design can be produced using these colors.” As someone who once had to pay for specialist cleaning after her arm was jostled at a party and she splashed Cabernet on a white sofa, this is an idea not before its time. Beauty and utility are too often kept apart.

Vera Za’arour rugs are represented by several companies including venerable firm David Sutherland whose website states, “Vera weaves the richness and beauty of many cultures from around the world into her signature carpets. Her designs are exquisitely hand made with one-of-kind patterns, exotic colors & unique textures.”

Za’arour’s rug Stream – designed for Florida clients who wanted a rug to look like water flowed into their water front house – is hand knotted in Tibetan wool & silk. Stream employs multiple subtle colours to create the look of water. When the light hits it in certain ways, Za’arour says “it looks like it is in motion”. Stream (below) also can be viewed here in a Sutherland showroom installation. More rug delights from Za’arour will be posted soon. DJ

Stream by Vera Za’arour. Photograph courtesy Vera Za’arour

Ylva Ogland’s Snöfrid Distillery Pictogram rug wins MMF 2012 prize

The ancient town of Båstad shelters on the shore of Laholmsbukten, a six hour drive from Stockholm. Protected by its water face and the Hallandian ridge which guards land access, this Swedish town harbours a remarkable and long-lived collective of textile artists – Märta Måås-Fjetterström AB.

Founded 93 years ago, MMF continues to weave the designs of its founder, but more importantly, it supports new textile artists and new innovations in rug art. Ylva Ogland is the MMF 2012 prize winner for her rug Snöfrid Distillery Pictogram.

Snöfrid Distillery Pictogram by Ylva Ogland, MMF Artist of the Year 2012. Photograph Courtesy Magnus Torte/MMF AB

The annual MMF prize for textile art is a globally prestigious award, and previous winners include Olafur Eliasson and Charlotte Gyllenhammar whose Traum installation at The New Art Centre sculpture park (2007) is deeply ingrained in your scribe’s memory. The MMF Advisory Committee are Bo Nilsson, Chief Curator, Pontus Bonnier; Mailis Stensman, Art Writer; Angelica Persson, CEO MMF AB, Ulrik Swedrup, CEO, CV Search AB and Chairman MMF AB.

Although the title uses the word pictogram, the monochrome objects on the rug’s field resemble a photogram’s x-ray-like appearance. Readers can discover more about the inspiration for Ogland’s rug design on her website. Do also visit Märta Flies Again!, a website for a 2009 exhibition celebrating ninety years of MMF innovation and excellence. DJ

Ylva Ogland, 2012. Photograph courtesy Magnus Torle/MMF AB

Circular bullseye rug in 1991 film “Deceived”

In recognition of those who like your scribe are holding the fort during the dying dog days of summer while the big Kahuna and colleagues jump on the jitney for a Hampton’s break; clamber aboard the Scotsman sleeper train for a Highlands holiday, or catch a kai-to to one of Hong Kong’s idyllic island get-aways, your scribe is posting a carpet conundrum.

Deceived, the 1991 film starring Goldie Hawn (Damian Harris, Director), is currently on BBC iPlayer. The movie is set in Manhattan and Hawn plays an art conservator who lives in a smart but slightly boho loft. The cinematography is brilliant, with overhead establishing shots used to mark important plot shifts. Thirty five minutes into the film, the camera drops over Hawn’s onscreen daughter playing on a marvelous large circular bullseye rug.

Circle rug in the movie Deceived, 1991, starring Goldie Hawn

Your scribe doesn’t know who designed or manufactured the rug, but it appears to be an homage to artist Kenneth Noland. Noland’s 1960s circle paintings hold a prominent place in the canon of modern art. Clement Greenberg posited Morris Louis and Noland in particular as “alternatives to an exhausted Expressionist art”.

So if COVER’s readers think they know who designed the rug, write your suggestions in the comment section of this post. And COVER wishes you happy summer holidays. DJ

Exclusive Preview: Classic Rug Collection’s new 20th Century Collection

The Northern hemisphere’s Dog Days of Summer officially ends this week. Scorching hot days and low rainfall were believed by the ancient Romans to be the domain of the dog star Sirius. But aside from scattered hot, dry days, England has been cloaked in rain for months. What brightens our day? Exclusives from our friends. COVER pulls out the office megaphone to announce Classic Rug Collection’s latest line, the 20th Century Collection.

Barbara Barran designed the 20th Century Collection (with a single exception – Bo Lundberg’s Manhattan rug which COVER blogged about last week). The luxurious, hand knotted collection officially launches during the Fall market, but Barbara, Yasmin and colleagues are giving COVER’s readers an exclusive preview. DJ

Contempo. Photograph courtesy Classic Rug Collection

Deconstructed. Photograph courtesy Classic Rug Collection

Italiano and Checkerboard Beauty. Photograph courtesy Classic Rug Collection

Slanted. Photograph courtesy Classic Rug Collection

Slanted. Photograph courtesy Classic Rug Collection

Macro Minerology views at Jan Kath Contemporary Rug Art

The Jan Kath Contemporary Rug Art two part post began yesterday and concludes today as your scribe peers down her petrographic microscope to examine rugs in the Jan Kath “Sliced” collection. Why a microscope? Your scribe is a geology and minerology fan, and the rugs in “Sliced” appear as glorious macro interpretations of mineral or rock sections. Lab coat please! Your scribe is going in for a closer look. DJ

Agate Blue. Photograph courtesy Jan Kath Contemporary Rug Art

Emerald Green. Photograph courtesy Jan Kath Contemporary Rug Art

Emerald Brown. Petrographic_microscope

Haematoid Red. Photograph courtesy Jan Kath Contemporary Rug Art

Quartz Beige. Photograph courtesy Jan Kath Contemporary Rug Art

Quartz Black. Petrographic_microscope

Fugitive beauty and magical intrigue of Jan Kath Contemporary Rug Art

Today’s blog post is a taster. Embarrassment of riches may mean an overabundance of a good thing, but when your scribe is presented with the exquisite contemporary rug collections of German company Jan Kath, the more accurate description is a cornucopia – a horn of plenty. Confronted with too much choice and unprepared to attempt to grab every treasure for today’s post (for a more prosaic image, picture your scribe in a frenzied bid to grab money in a Vegas casino cash cube), more Jan Kath designs will follow tomorrow.

The Erased and Evolution collections feature rugs in various stages of change or evolution. Imagine walking through a grand enfilade where the rugs “dissolve” and shift from room to room. Magical. From an art historical perspective, your scribe prefers the term pentimenti, meaning the rugs suggest evidence of previous work where the painter (or painters) have altered or overpainted the design during the life of the work. So too the term is a better fit with some of the Jan Kath titles. Doesn’t “Verona Vendetta” conjure in your mind Medici mayhem and court intrigue? Or is your scribe simply over inspired by hand knotted trove? Either way, pentimenti is treasure beneath the surface, and with Jan Kath rugs the treasure is beneath your feet. DJ

Verona Vendetta and Nighsa Sky. Photograph courtesy of Jan Kath

Roma Vendetta. Photograph courtesy Jan Kath

Milano Stomped and Ferrara Stomped. Photograph courtesy Jan Kath

Milano Stomped. Photograph courtesy Jan Kath.

Milano Raved. Photograph courtesy Jan Kath.

London’s hidden treasures – Le Corbusier tapestry

Although recognised primarily as an architect, Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris, known by the pseudonym he adopted in 1920 – Le Corbusier – tipped his hand to many pursuits as an urban planner, artist, designer and theorist. The Swiss Embassy in London is not open to the public, and few are able to see the Le Corbu tapestry that graces the ground floor salon. Your scribe attended a press launch a few years ago at the embassy and took these photos of the tapestry.

Le Corbu’s striking thick rimmed black glasses were placed with care on the speaker’s podium. This style of eyeglasses reminds your scribe of Edna Mode in the Disney film The Incredibles, rumoured to be based on fashion designer Edith Head. But so too this style of eyeglasses is sported by legendary fashion maven Iris Apfel, still going strong aged ninety. Corbu wasn’t the only man of his time to adopt this eyewear, but he was one of the most prominent. Would he approve their iconic status? Of course. DJ

Le Corbusier tapestry, Swiss Embassy, London

Le Corbusier tapestry, Swiss Embassy, London

Le Corbusier tapestry, Swiss Embassy, London

Le Corbusier tapestry, Swiss Embassy, London