La Cienega South Design and Art District Debuts With
First-Annual Event, Jan. 17-20
CULVER CITY, Calif., Nov. 30 – The newly formed La Cienega South Design and Arts District (LSDAD) is hosting its first-annual Design Show over a four-day period from Jan. 17-20, 2008, featuring lectures from prominent designers, a charity auction in conjunction with Project Angel Food and a general open house at all of the eight companies that are members of this creative organization.
This thriving community of diverse art and high-end furnishing wholesalers nestled in an industrial nook of Culver City is presenting its public coming-out party. In addition to presenting the art and design excellence of the district, the La Cienega South Design Show will feature a series of events including guest speakers such as Thomas Schoos, designer of celebrated nightspots Tao Restaurant in New York and Las Vegas, the Wilshire Restaurant and Koi, and Charles Trotter, founder of CaBoom: Festival of Contemporary Design.
The Design Show will also include complimentary hors d'oeuvres and cocktails and a charity auction and party benefiting Project Angel Food, an organization that provides nutritious food to men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS, cancer and other serious illnesses in the Greater Los Angeles area. Many members of the LSDAD will donate pieces for the auction, with all proceeds going to charity.
It’s this rare non-competitive spirit between the members that fuels the camaraderie that exists between the companies that have set up shop in and around La Cienega Blvd. between Washington Blvd. and Jefferson Blvd., adjacent to the buzzing Culver City Art District.
“I’ve been grateful when fellow LSDAD businesses have sent customers to us, and vice versa,†said Bruce Hughes of member company Bo Tree Source. “As we all concentrate on high-quality, one-of-a-kind items, each item is distinct and different. If we can keep customers happy and offer them a lot of choice, that’s a draw for them.â€
The companies that comprise the LSDAD represent some of Los Angeles’ biggest and best importers, wholesalers and artists in a burgeoning design district that caters primarily to the rising stars of the interior design, retail business and architectural industries.
“As more businesses came to La Cienega South over the years, we all wanted to create a district where people in the design community would be confident they’d see a lot of related products,†said Zaid Alhakim of Berbere Imports, an LSDAD member. “There’s synergy in numbers.â€
This banding together of complementary businesses in an untested area just miles from West Hollywood’s well-known Pacific Design Center buildings has proved to be a beacon for designers, architects and aficionados looking for cutting edge, better-priced items and selection outside the traditional design industry model.
“This is a creative group of importers and talented people,†said Alhakim. “They have demonstrated it by staking out an out-of-the-way area that many, perhaps, were reluctant to come to years ago. We’re more pioneer-types out here because we’ve taken chances to get larger showrooms and more unique products. And our clientele definitely appreciates this.â€
A full schedule of events, addresses and times will be provided separately.
*ABOUT LSDAD:
The newly formed LSDAD is a group of established and complementary companies in the design and art world, based in and around La Cienega Blvd South in Culver City, Calif. We specialize in an eclectic mix of high-end furnishings, import furniture, accessories and artwork catering primarily to the interior design and architectural industries. The member companies of the LSDAD have joined forces to create awareness about this growing creative community and to promote the revitalization of this area.
*MEMBER COMPANIES:
Baoku / Berbere Imports / Bo Tree Source / Bradford Stewart / Classic Tile & Mosaic / Out of Asia / Peking 62