TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 24, 2011) - A new idea, a unique design competition, the hidden talents of high school students and a team of talented weavers - that's where it all starts.
ERA's objective is to promote Canadian talent while raising funds and awareness for DAREarts, a charity that builds courage, confidence and leadership in children by harnessing the power of the arts: Discipline – Accountability – Responsibility - Excellence.
At the ERA 2011 reception, we will be celebrating the 5 students, winners of this year's rug design competition and unveiling the incredible 4'x 6' rugs that are to be auctioned off to benefit DAREarts.
With the ever talented Tabby Johnson, performer, speaker and educator, who will be the emcee for the evening, guests will take part in the first official unveiling, have the opportunity to meet the 5 talented young artists, and mingle with the team of interior designers such as John Tong of 3rd Uncle Design, who juried the competition.
Live Auction: The first of each of these 5 limited edition 4' x 6' rugs will be signed by the artists and offered for the live auction.
| 100% of the proceeds from the live auction will benefit DAREarts. |
| ERA Evolution of Rug Artistry |
| Weavers Art Contemporary Culture |
| 162 Bedford Road |
| Toronto, ON |
| March 31st, 2011 |
| Media preview: 5:15PM |
| Reception: 6PM |
| Auction: 7PM |
For ERA 2011 information please visit: http://era2011.weaversart.com/index.html.
About ERA
The ERA Design Competition was launched in 2009 as a challenge to Canadian designers. In 2010, ERA challenged Canadian high school students as a way to discover emerging talent while raising funds and awareness for DAREarts. All submissions were judged by a panel of interior designers:
| Anna Stranks, Studio A Design Cooperative | |
| Linda Boorman, Linda Boorman Interiors Ltd | |
| John Tong, 3rd Uncle Design Inc. | |
| Tim Au-Yeung, Humanscale |
The 5 ERA competition winners:
| Tasneem Merghani, 15 - Eastern Commerce Collegiate Institute | |
| James Sylvester, 16 - Eastern Commerce Collegiate Institute | |
| Anna Kan, 17 - Riverdale Collegiate Institute | |
| Daniel Roher, 17 - Etobicoke School of the Arts | |
| Markie Tuckett, 17 - Midland Secondary School |
The ERA winners worked with Michael Pourvakil, president of Weavers Art, to review all details, including yarn selection and colour, before the renderings were sent to Nepal where the rugs were hand-woven.
The students will be present at the unveiling reception to receive recognition and speak of their designs.
After the original 5 rugs are auctioned off on March 31st, a percentage of each subsequent sale of the remaining limited edition rugs will continue to benefit DAREarts.
Contributors:
Michael Pourvakil, president of Weavers Art , has generously supported this innovative design and fundraising concept since its creation. http://www.weaversart.com/index.php
Johane Lefrançois-Deignan, Principal at JNSQ Design, has actively participated in all of ERA since bringing the concept to Weavers Art. http://www.jnsq.ca/
Melanie Cantwell, Marketing Director, coordinated Weavers Art's involvement in the project. http://www.weaversart.com/index.php
Marilyn Field, Founder of DAREarts. http://www.darearts.com/main.shtml
Contact Information: For media enquiries, please contact:
Weavers Art
Melanie Cantwell
416.923.7929
melanie@weaversart.com
or
JNSQ Design
Johane Lefrancois-Deignan
416.944.3106
johane@jnsq.ca