Monday, February 9, 2009

One Company Making Change

By Patrick Mahoney

The nature of our society has always been to explore the unknown, discover new and better ways and to utilize our natural resources to improve our lives. Every generation surpasses the last with ingenuity and developments that were not even imagined by our ancestors. It has always been a great learning experience and today we face another challenge. Our forests and land are beginning to dissipate from continuous use of our planet's generous gifts and our misconception that there will always be more. A change must take place and they are doing just that in the contemporary furniture field.

Orange22, a Los Angeles based design firm that was founded in 2000, decided that it was time to give back to society and our world to begin the much needed change. Their newly released project referred to as Blank Canvas Project is doing just that. Chosen icons in the professional art world are stamping their personal mark of design, making it possible for everyone to enjoy a piece of signature art in their home that is both unique and functional.

Populated by dedicated designers, Orange22's staff has accepted the challenge of striking the perfect balance between form and function in the furniture world. As though the intrigue of creating green styles to far exceed traditional furnishings, this company has yet another goal in mind " tackling problems on a larger scale like cancer, AIDS, and the deterioration of the environment.

Dario Antonioni is the founder and creative director of Orange22 and the driving force behind the Botanist Blank Canvas Project. Unequaled to any other program today, his group of designers begin with a blank piece of 'green' furniture and leave their own artistic mark of design, making it possible for anyone to own their legend. More importantly, a portion of the proceeds are donated to an organization or charity of the artist's choosing.

One of the most popular pieces, a design by Antonioni and Brandon Lynne, is the Botanical Floral Bench that merges the outdoors and the inside with its floral stencil lain to one side. Powder coated in a variety of colors, this piece can adorn a hallway, living space or patio interchangeably. Both environmentally friendly and lightweight, this example of the Blank Canvas Project is perfect for any setting.

Orange22 plans on continuing creating projects for contemporary furniture, using new and old materials to benefit the environment and make a difference. The overwhelmingly positive response to the Botanist Blank Canvas Project has already proven that society is acceptable to creating a better world. Currently, there are designers lined up for breathtaking designs through 2009 and 2010. - 17943

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