The Art of Home: Worldly and local at the same time
Though tucked into a nondescript warehouse in Newport Beach’s Cannery Village, interior design boutique 503 Found is a gold mine of craftsmanship.
The open space is filled with neatly organized eclectic products from Paris, New York, Los Angeles and other points around the world.
But that is not to say that the owners of the business don’t rejoice in and promote local talent. They carry a good selection of locally created items and are preparing for the shop’s first Meet the Artisans event.
“I love to support small businesses and artisans,” said 503 Found co-owner Kim Rodosky, as she touched a macrame table runner made by Laguna Beach resident Jim Olarte. “It’s great to give them a place, and it’s even better to give them the platform.”
Since the store’s inception last year, Rodosky and co-owner Kim Johnson have sought to curate the home-decor business with pieces from far-flung metropolises — Rodosky has hand-selected from Parisian design shows and international flea markets — while also highlighting independent Orange County talent.
They have showcased more than 40 vendors in the design house, offering an urban style that can be accented with items from their wide selection of vintage pieces, pillows and china.
The Meet the Artisans event on June 27 will showcase 13 local artists, among them Corona del Mar resident Deborah Harold, who is displaying her abstract paintings for the upcoming presentation in the store that she frequents.
“I love this shop,” said Harold, who noted she has been painting for 20 years and has been an interior designer for 25. “I’m happy to be apart of the artist community because people are positive, and it causes you to look at the world differently. It’s fun to do something different and have people appreciate what I do.”
Harold said she always had an eye for color and enjoys using shades of blue in her creative endeavors.
To attend the show, guests must reserve a free pass. The event’s open-house format will allow customers to look at items, including ceramics, photography, fine art and woodwork.
They’ll also be able to ask artists questions regarding technique and inspiration behind a piece.
Rodosky said many of the artists do not have a retail store, so it’s a chance for them to teach customers different forms of art and explain how artists work.
The show is an opportunity, artist Marcelle Lynch said, for customers to connect directly to the brands they love.
Lynch is a Laguna Beach resident who is self-taught in ceramics, crafted vases, bowls and votive candleholders with etchings of delicate florals. Her pieces range from $120 to $780.
“I draw a lot from nature,” Lynch said about her inspiration. “I often think about simplicity and how to enjoy it.”
Deborah Allen, a rendering artist whose latest works showcase acrylic with a watercolor technique, will present “Stratiform Dreams,” a 30-by-72-inch canvas reminiscent of cloud formations and wind.
Joining her will be Lee Braun, a woodworker who made side tables and an outdoor bench, and designer, sculptor and painter Josette Patterson, wife of Corona del Mar jeweler Mark Patterson.
The event is intended also increases awareness of the benefits of doing business with local, independently owned companies.
By choosing a nearby shop, customers help build community, according to American Independent Business Alliance, a nonprofit helping cities build better revenue sources through arts, culture and other endeavors.
The creative team at 503 Found hopes to host additional events by collaborating with designers in the community.
“We’re happy for them to be here,” Rodosky said. “You want to keep the creativity alive.”
If You Go
What: “Meet the Artisans”
When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 27
Where: 503 Found, 503 31st St., Newport Beach
Cost: Admission is free
Information: (949) 877-0147 or visit 503found.com