INDESIGN
retrospective H AV E Y O U H U G G E D Y O U R M I X E R T O D A Y ?
If your mixer was a friend, it would surely be trustworthy, friendly, whimsical, brightly-coloured, durable ? and born in the 50s. Those mid-century attributes are finding their way into every room of the house, from campy bubble gum pink stand mixers to hand turned Ice-O-Mat ice crushers to curvy Cuisinart retro-style toasters. But, make no mistake, blast-from-the-past appliances can also be highly functional. This fusion of nostalgic design and up-to-theminute functionality — often dubbed retro modernism — is the strongest current trend in home accessories and appliances. And the trend isn’t limited to the 50s, according to Chris Morton at Urban Barn, where s Art Deco design is also “really coming back.“ Urban Barns big seller? A white tufted leather Barcelona chair ($) with stainless steel legs and an unbroken production lineage dating back to . The nostalgia mythology looms so large that even generations that didn’t live through a “safer“ time yearn for it today. Why? Perhaps it’s a wistful longing for peace and prosperity, perhaps a rejection of the soul-less’80s and high-tech ’90s. So it’s only natural that the pendulum would swing back toward products bearing the mark of the human hand ? even if it means crushing ice with that hand.
Find retro style at these Victoria stores and more: Urban Barn, Herald St. (+ Country Club Mall, Nanaimo, opening Fall ); Capital Iron, Store St.; London Drugs, Yates St.; Revive!, A Fort St. (for the real thing). NEEDING CUTLINE HERE FOR FOUND TREASURE CIRCA ABOUT WORDS
P H O T O G R A P H Y: T H O M A S S A N TA L A B
ARTS SQUARED = HOMEGROWN SUCCESS STORY Near the spot where Victoria citizens once gathered to watch the public hangings of men, artists now paint, knit, sculpt and craft some of British Columbia’s finest handmade creations as part of the wildly successful Bastion Square Festival of the Arts. The narrow square spills over with colourful artwork by juried artists and artisans selling original artwork, all complemented by music and entertainment from roving buskers. Don’t be fooled by the proliferation of camera toting tourists. This event
event
remains a home-grown success story, according to organizer Toni Sinclair, because the quality of the workmanship is kept consistently high. Our verdict? A lively and bright place to spend a sunny afternoon. Bastion Square Arts Festival runs Wednesday to Sunday from May to October , , between : a.m. and : p.m. LEFT: NEEDING CUTLINE HERE FOR SAMPLE PAINTING FROM BASTION SQUARE ARTISAN, AB OUT WORDS
summer
I IH&S magazine