Welcome Mat: Cranbrook hosts modernism book launch
Birmingham designer creates lighting collection
Birmingham designer extraordinaire Corey Damen Jenkins has already made a name for himself with his Leathercraft furniture collection. Now he’s expanding into lighting. Jenkins has designed a new lighting collection called Corey Damen Jenkins Exclusively For Hudson Valley Lighting that will officially launch with a gala party April 14 at the spring High Point Market in North Carolina. “We did a sneak preview for the industry at the Dallas Market show last month and introduced the first five lighting families: Zariah, Persis, Calypso, Octavio and Damaris,” said Jenkins in an email. Eighteen pieces have been released so far for industry review, “but that number will significantly expand this spring,” said Jenkins. He said he’s been working toward this goal for three years and “I can’t believe the moment is finally here!” The collection will be available all over Metro Detroit.
Fair Lane offers restoration, gardening workshops
Restoring a historic home isn’t for the faint of heart. Just ask the folks who are working to bring back the former home of Henry Ford and his wife, Clara, at Fair Lane in Dearborn. As work continues on this massive project, a series of workshops has kicked off that will pair the experts with people restoring their own homes who want to learn. Topics include Caring for Wooden Architectural Features (March 10), Early Spring Pruning Workshop (April 14), Landscape Design Concepts Talk and Tour: Jens Jensen vs. Ellen Shipman (June 9), Stonework Preservation Workshop (July 14), Caned Furniture Workshop (Aug. 11), Trims and Tassels Talk and Tour (Sept. 8), and Conserving Historic Furniture (Oct. 13). Each workshop costs $45 per person for Fair Lane Members or $50 for non-members; attendees also will get to see the progress of Fair Lane and its history. Space is limited. To sign up, go to henryfordfairlane.org.
Michigan Wildflower Conference will feature leading ecological planting design speaker
Claudia West grew up in Germany where her family ran a nursery, florist business, and design/build firm. She was “propagating plants before she could walk,” according to her website. Now based in the United States, West has become a leading proponent of a different type of landscape design called ecological planting design. West, the author of “Planting in a Post-Wild World,” will be the keynote speaker at the 31st annual Michigan Wildflower Conference March 4-5 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center on the Michigan State University campus in East Lansing. Presented by the Wildflower Association of Michigan, the conference will present local, regional and national speakers who are experts in the field of native plants. Breakout sessions will present speakers to talk about alternatives to lawns, invasive controls, environmental concerns, forestry, and landscape design. For more information and to register, go to wildflowersmich.org.
Consignment store cuts prices before closure
A Royal Oak-based home consignment store that gives its proceeds to causes that help women, families and children in the community is going out of business but there will be big sales as the store liquidates. Re|design Home, a consignment store in Royal Oak run by National Council of Jewish Women Michigan, announced in late January that it is closing. An exact closure date hasn’t been announced yet. The store, located at 32801 Woodward, is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. It sells fine furniture, lighting, rugs, crystal and art. Prices range from $10 to $10,000
Cranbrook hosts modernism book launch, lecture, signing
Brian Conway has been Michigan’s State Historic Preservation Officer since 1997 and has now written not one, but two, books about Michigan’s role in the modernism movement. His latest, “Michigan Modern: An Architectural Legacy” (Visual Profile Books) was published this week and delves into iconic projects by renowned architects and designers. Four of the featured projects are part of Cranbrook, including the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Smith House (pictured). The Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research will host the official launch of Conway’s book with a signing and lecture at 3 p.m. March 10 at the Cranbrook Kingswood Auditorium. The event is free and open to public. Space is limited. Call (248) 645–3307 or visit center.cranbrook.edu.