We are excited to announce a new container has arrived from Bali. For those of you with special orders, we're calling you now. If all goes well, another container from Thailand should arrive in time for the party. We will showcase some of the most beautiful and unusual contemporary rustic furniture I have ever found. These new pieces range from Justin and David originals to stunning pieces by two furniture artists in Thailand. Accompanying these finds, is a trove of antiques, artifacts, and handwoven silk textiles from Thailand, Laos and Burma.

 

    From Indonesia there are our popular colorful boatwood panels and furniture, 25 new, chill-inducing, "Studio by David Alan" relief carvings, and some of the best Indonesian tribal and shaman pieces available. The goosebumps-per-square-foot meter is clicking...

 

    I have more exciting news to share with you. In June 2011, we will have our first shipment arriving from Japan. The aesthetics of this culture have long stood out in my mind as perhaps the finest in the world, so I jumped at the opportunity to explore and collect treasures from this amazing country.

 

David 

Entry NM4, Wayan Tosani, Age 16

Here Come the Elephants!

     

    Unless they are part of a wild herd, elephants are orderly, helpful,even affectionate beasts.  In the past, elephants were useful in diverse ways and were often lined up parade-style before heading off to work. They provided transport for goods and people, worked with their handlers on heavy lifting projects in forests and farms, and gave rides to hunters, travelers, and kings. They were highly valued throughout Asia,particularly in Laos, a country known as the "Land of a Million Elephants."

 

     Decorating elephants is a time honored tradition in Asia. Dressing up and painting these massive animals for major festivals or weddings was done by kings and rajas, villagers and farmers. At David Alan Collection, we are having a playful, mini-festival of our own, complete with 99 decorated and dressed-up 16 inch tall elephants.

 

"TAKE 99"

The Bali Trunk Show

 

The way people think about a simple idea or event has long fascinated me. I am surprised and at times confounded by the diversity with which individuals talk about the same play, paint the same still life, or describe the same casserole. We only have to listen to the varied reponses to a political speech to see how differently we react to certain stimuli.

 

    I thought we could have fun with this aspect of humanity through a creative contest in Bali.  The core idea was to give one hundred Balinese a  "blank"  wood sculpture, in this case an elephant with an upturned trunk, and ask them to decorate, carve, or somehow transform it into their own piece or art.

 

    Each person had three  weeks to complete and return the piece for an exhibition in America. The judging was based  on creativity,  craftsmanship, humor, and originality. There are significant prizes for the top eight participants, an important  motivation for  making things happen in Bali. The David Alan staff agreed the "blank"  would be an animal.  Dozens of possible forms were considered and eight samples were carved in a Balinese village, including a mouse, a couple of cats, a frog, and several elephants.

 

    Surprisingly, the Balinese and San Diegans overwhelmingly  agreed that the sleek, modern elephant was the best choice.

 

    As you walk through the show, you can see the name and age of each artist, as well as the awards won. People from at least thirty villages, an art school, my Bali home and studio staff, friends, and friends of friends turned the elephant blanks into works of art.

 

    If such diversity can come from one small island of  the 17,000 islands of Indonesia, from one area of the globe, the diversity and creativity of humanity is truly staggering. We can be wonderful, creative, insightful, and fun characters when we want to be. 

 

We encourage you to visit soon. The exhibition ends May 14th. 

      

    I was awakened one morning at 6:00AM by shouts from the rice fields in front of my house in Bali. When these strange, war-like cries continued, I knew I'd never get back to sleep. From the terrace I could see farmers walking through their fields, occasionally letting out a stylized cry that could be heard a mile away. I thought, "God, I hope this is some sort of ceremony for today only." My precious peacewas being disturbed. I watched, cup of tea in hand, until I saw the reason for this racket: birds. The rice is starting to turn from green to gold, and the birds were having breakfast. The rice farmers' banners of brightly colored cloth and tin foil blowing in the breeze were not getting the job done. Only a living, shouting scarecrow could save the crop.

 

    Half an hour later, a group of five boys, aged seven to nine, were walking along the raised footpaths through the rice fields, playing follow-the-leader. One minute they were hopping on one foot, the next they were all singing. It was one of the sweetest, most natural and joyful sounds I had ever heard. As they were marching past the rice farmer, each boy was practising his bird chasing whoops and laughing. Having completed their rice field tour, they walked single file up the path along the side of my villa with only their bobbing heads showing, once again singing their indescribably sweet songs.

 

 

  While the farmers were still in their fields shouting at the birds, my mind had been at war. I wanted to practice my war-whoops too, just like the kids, but being the quiet, mild-mannered soul I am, I rarely raise my voice. Just the thought of shouting at the birds in a Balinese rice field made me turn red with embarrassment.

     

    The tide of the internal battle turned, and I let out my first battle-croak. Embarrassed but undaunted, I tried again and again, until I was hoarse and laughing. I listened for the farmers' reaction, but heard only silence, perhaps shocked silence. Maybe they were all laughing. I only knew I had won my battle.

 

    I am slightly embarrassed as I write this, embarrassed, but laughing, still. My wife wonders if it could really be true that I shouted at the birds from the terrace. But I know I was out there with the best of them on that fine Balinese morning, whooping at the birds.

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And finally, please visit the DACMan blog. It reveals the heart and soul of David Alan Collection through a blend of humor and introspection.  

 

Come visit us in beautiful Solana Beach. The David Alan team is strong, happy, helpful, and handsome. We are ready to serve, share the stories of the pieces, and have fun with you. We are all grateful to have you as friends and clients.

 

David Bardwick

David Alan Collection