GREGORY CLARK  with his classic entry table.  NOTE:  our favorite dining table, rear left.

WEBSITE FOR ARTIFACT HERE.  NEWS concerning Westonites HERE...

Displaying art works for...the table - learn about this craft here...click below for "CRAFT USA '08" - online from Silvermine Craft Symposium:
High Speed: http://www.aboutweston.com/SilvermineCraftSymposium11-30-08CableVersionUnabridged.wmv
Modem Version: http://www.aboutweston.com/SilvermineCraftSymposium11-30-08ModemVersionUnabridged.wmv


NEWS!

Weston women printmakers at Artifact make a positive impression
Weston FORUM
Written by Joan Lownds
Sunday, 30 January 2011 00:00

Weston artisit Kerry Brock is among the women printmakers whose work will be on exhibit at Artifact Design Gallery thorugh the end of the month.
The images range from swirling aquamarine tidal pools to geometric abstractions and birds on power lines. But the artwork on display at the Artifact Design Gallery at 2 Hollyhock Road in Wilton has a twist: It was all created by printmakers, and women only, for the show, “Imprint: Women in Printmaking.”

The printmakers are among the foremost in their field, according to Westonite Elizabeth Clark, the gallery’s co-owner with her husband, Gregory, a noted furniture maker.

The idea for the show stemmed from a desire to “address ‘techniques’ in art, after having just completed a show of the human form expressed in various mediums,” said Ms. Clark. “We were seeking contemporary works by women, and I have known and admired printmaker Deborah Weiss’ work for many years. She was the first artist I called.”

Ms. Clark said the aim was to “show all of the creative methods of printmaking: intaglio, lithography, monotype, silkscreen, woodblock printing. Our goal was to pull together these various methods and show them successfully as a collection.”

According to Ms. Clark, they also tapped into a convenient resource for the show, which sits right down the road: The highly regarded Center for Contemporary Printmaking in Norwalk, which she described as “the only nonprofit organization between New York City and Boston solely dedicated to the art of the print.”

Ms. Weiss, a Ridgefield resident who has exhibited at the Center for Contemporary Printmaking and several other galleries, described her work as “nature-based. Although most of my work is abstract, the inspiration comes from plant forms, water or natural occurrences such as weather and atmosphere,” she said.
Kerry Brock



Kerry Brock of Weston, another printmaker in the show, said her love of printmaking stems from those “a-ha moments, for the serendipity of when what you thought you wanted isn’t what you got, and it makes you thankful.”

Ms. Brock, who is also a broadcast journalist who has appeared regularly on PBS, CNN and Fox, said she uses “recycled and found objects, particularly packaging materials, which make their way onto my press. Often I apply ink directly to a malleable object, give it a few tons of pressure and enjoy the surprise, or be horrified and try it again.”

Ms. Brock said making art “satisfies a deep desire to work with tools and materials, to explore craft and forget oneself... My latest series of prints is called ‘Emergence,’ so named for an element of the science within string theory ... and its mathematical models of dimensions and connectedness,” she said.

“Sometimes these figurative monotypes are evident in one pass through the press. Other times they develop with additional printing, painting and collage. They represent the heart of my quest, to create art reflecting the connections between us all.”

Ms. Brock has also exhibited her work in several galleries, including the Lockwood-Mathews Museum.

Cecilia Fradet



Another of the artists, Cecilia Fradet of Weston, said the show is the first time she has ever been included in an

“I am thrilled and honored to be in this show as I know most of the artists there and the quality of their work,” she said. “Artifact Design Gallery is a stunning place to exhibit, a gem of a place. I have seen other exhibits in the past and walked away happy and inspired.”

To Ms. Fradet, “this process of painting onto a plate and then manipulating it is very spontaneous and yet thoughtful. One of the methods that I use is viscosity printing, which I find very exciting, a perfect balance of planning and ‘happy accidents.’ No two prints ever comes out the same. I also do solar plates, etchings and collagraphs.”

The artist is widely exhibited in juried and invitational shows and in private collections throughout the U.S. and Europe.

Ms. Fradet, who is also a member of the Silvermine Guild and a docent at the Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Arts, said she was born in Hong Kong, where she drew inspiration from “the kaleidoscope of colors, smells and sounds of the marketplaces of Hong Kong. I recall soaring mountains, deep blue skies and the vast South China Sea dotted with large shipping boats and diamond-shaped junks with faded red sails.”

One of her pieces in the show is entitled, “In Search of Self: Monotype,” in deep blues and greens.

“My art is concerned with imagery, memory and time, expectations and dreams. I hope to create through my art a mirror in which others can recognize something personal, relevant and meaningful,” she said.

Also in the show is Ann Conrad Stewart of New Canaan, who works in “solar intaglio, which is very structured and shows blocked forms,” according to Ms. Clark.

Liz Squillace of Bridgeport, another artist, is a member of the Loft Association Artists in Stamford, said she works in “water-based and petroleum-based ink... I’ve begun to play with the textures and patterns of fabric and love screenprinting high-contrast photographic imagery over pre-existing patterns, found fabric and even embroidery.”

The show is curated by Frank Foster Post and will run through Jan. 31.

Westonite's design contest is for kids
Written by Joan Lownds, Hersam Acorn Newspapers
Tuesday, 20 April 2010 00:00

“All children are artists,” Pablo Picasso said. “The problem is how to remain an artist once you grow up.”

Westonite Gregory Clark is seeking to solve that challenge with a new project that encourages children’s creative pursuits and “trains them toward aesthetic discovery.” Mr. Clark, a furniture designer and co-owner of Artifact Design Group gallery in Wilton, recently launched MyDesignFoundation, which aims to “plant the early seeds for the creative thinkers of our future and cultivate the arts in the community.”

The nonprofit foundation offers four seasonal design competitions for students in grades 6-12, beginning with “Improve A School Locker” for spring 2010. Others will include “Design A Water Toy,” “Design A School Desk,” “Design A Wake-up Device,” and “Design A Watch of the Future.”

“The preliminary launch will be for Fairfield County and then we expect to roll it out nationally,” Mr. Clark said.

For the contests, students develop a design and document it with a 90-second video. The MyDesign Foundation Web site offers tips on creating the designs, including looking back to history and how it was done in the past; how it may be done differently; picking good materials, and using science and nature for inspiration.

Middle school and high school students will be judged in separate groups. Each competition will have a panel of judges that will make comments and record them on a certificate of achievement. Each entrant will receive this certificate.

The grand prize winner in the Improve A School Locker competition will receive an Apple MacBook Pro; the second place winner gets an Apple iPod Mini; and the third place winner gets a Flip HD Camera.

Mr. Clark said entries will be judged on “researching and identifying a problem to solve; conceiving a design solution to the problem; building a model, drawing or communication method to present the design solution; and the verbal video.”

Judges for the first competition are Mr. Clark, a graduate of Rhode Island School of Design, and former consultant and product designer for Fortune 500 companies; Susan Babcock, business strategist, with a master’s degree in teaching from Stanford University; Joshua Freidman, inventor and manufacturer of 20 medical devices; Richard Castagna, designer, manufacturer, founder of International Sourcing Company; Joe Doe, materials engineer; and Joy Baldridge, communications expert and public speaking coach.

If the competitions help inspire students to venture into the the fine arts, “the world may one day thank them,” Mr. Clark said. Registration for the competition begins April 15. The fee is $30 and financial assistance is available.

For more information, visit www.mydesignfoundation.org.

No, you are not in the Museum of Modern Art - you are in Wilton, Connecticut, at  ARTIFACT Design Group, LLC custom furniture gallary .

ARTIFACT DESIGN GROUP is proud to introduce to you a new collection of museum quality pieces by emerging artist and noted industrial designer, GREGORY CLARK.  Each piece is signed and meticulously produced in the Artifact production studio in series of only nine.

Artifact Design Group's standard collection of Formal Contemporary(c) furniture represents some of the finest furniture being produced today.  Collectible quality it blends the purest old world techniques with many
new and exciting state of the art methods. Each piece can be customized with exotic materials or scaled to meet your specific needs. Our firm works with many top East Coast interior designers catering to clients in
Greenwich, Manhattan and the Hamptons.  

Our gallery and production studios are conveniently located in Wilton, CT minutes from I-95 or the Merritt Parkway.

The gallery is open 7 days a week / 10:00 to 5:00 ~ Monday to Saturday & 11:00 to 3:00 ~ Sunday.

From ARTIFACT at the beginning of this school year:

Or...integrate ART OF THE TABLE - sculpture, magnificent wall objects, too, with collectable furniture!

 "...Attached is a recent article from Fairfield County Business Journal.  As you will read, the article talks about a new venture to compliment our company - The Gregory Clark Collection of one-of-a-kind and limited series pieces (editions of 9). 

"Our clients have requested exclusive original works from Gregory to be signed and authenticated.  These pieces are conceived and intimately produced by Gregory with one of his finest veteran craftsmen.    The work will be available in a handful of the finest galleries in NYC and Miami as well as through gregoryclarkart.com.

"Artifact Design Group is continuing to grow and create beautiful designs for its collection as well as taking on non-stop custom commissions.  Feel free to visit our gallery to see our latest projects or view our internationally renowned textile art collection curated by Brown Grotta Arts.

"We look forward to seeing you soon."

Wilton firm taps into the simple and exotic 
Greenwich TIME
By Harold Davis, Special Correspondent
Published December 6 2006

If you're looking for furniture that's unique and artistic, you might consider Artifact Design Group LLC of Wilton. Owner Greg Clark designs and manufactures wood furniture that also incorporates exotic materials such as stone, steel or glass.

"I don't think we've made an identical piece twice," said Clark, who co-owns the business with his wife, Elizabeth.

"With a manufacturing factory, we're able to create what I come up with over the weekend and test-market it in the showroom. I call the showroom my laboratory," said the Weston resident, who employs a staff of 10.

Clark operated the business out of his garage for nearly two years. Then he bought land, and, nearly six years ago, constructed a building at 66 Danbury Road where he occupies about 7,000 square feet.

He typically designs three or four new pieces of furniture a month. They run the gamut, from upholstered items to cabinets and tables and chairs. Pieces start in the $2,000 range.

"I classify my design style as formal contemporary. It represents elegant, clean lines and exotic, rich materials," Clark said.

Fifty percent of his business comes from interior designers and architects, who are liaisons between him and their clients. The other half of his business is selling directly to the consumer, with his designs attracting customers from Fairfield County, New York City and as far away as Miami.

In the beginning, Clark made all of the furniture, but now he has a team of seven involved in manufacturing.

Clark's works often require collaboration. To add finishing touches to a particular piece of furniture, he may call upon someone in a network of about 200 artists to add their personal touch - in glass or steel.

He has always had an inventive spirit. He grew up in a family antiques restoration environment. As a child, he made award-winning miniature furniture.

Clark previously served as director of product development at Simco in Weston and operated We Walk, a shoe manufacturing dot-com business that created high-end shoes.

Working with furniture, however, was still an overriding passion for Clark, so he decided to pursue it.

And the 42-year-old designer is happy that he made that decision. He is thoroughly pleased about the way his business has developed and looks forward to expanding. He hopes to open showrooms in the Hamptons and in the South Beach section of Miami within the next two years.

Ali Schwarz, an interior designer of AS Interior Design in Redding, has worked with Artifact Design Group on projects. She said that she enjoys the detail that Clark puts into his work.

"He's done a few projects for me, various functional pieces like a tet-a-tet, a bench that sat in the middle of a room. I had a fabric with customized embroidery that he worked around. His finishes are of a superior quality, and I prefer working with him because of the end result," she said.

One of Schwarz's projects called for a painted finish, and she called upon Clark to do the job. While painted finishes are not Clark's specialty, she said he went to "great lengths" to make sure the project "met all the requirements."

Though custom-designed furniture is expensive, Schwarz said that people are increasingly interested in enhancing their home decor with unique furniture.

"I've always worked on the higher end," she said. "But I do believe, in general, that the public is becoming more savvy and getting into the aesthetic of their home."


ARTIFACT
D E S I G N   G R O U P    L L C

Furniture Designer Completes Showroom and Studio in Wilton - watch video interviews of Greg Clark and Tom Grotta at ARTIFACT:
"ABOUT TOWN" SPECIAL EDITION, IN TWO PARTS, ON ART FURNITURE AND "ART OF THE TABLE"

 A very special look at museum quality art furniture and table art, with distinguished guests Greg Clark, Weston resident, of Artifact Design Group, and Tom Grotta of browngrotta arts.

For Part 1, please  Click Here If You Are Using A Dial-Up Modem

For Part 1, please  Click Here If You Are Using A DSL Or Cable Connection

For Part 2, please  Click Here If You Are Using A Dial-Up Modem

For Part 2, please  Click Here If You Are Using A DSL Or Cable Connection

------------------------------------------

GREGORY M. CLARK, award-winning furniture designer, has completed his most-accomplished design – a beautiful showroom and studio in Wilton.  Greg, graduated from Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) with a degree in Industrial Design.  While at RISD, Greg had exposure to course work with master craftsmen/designer Tage Frid, and participated in studies with glass artist, Dale Chihuly.  He is a fellowship recipient from the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, to study at the European Center for Artisans in the Conservation of Architectural Relics, Venice Italy.  Since his studies, Greg has received 35+ patents for his designs in consumer products working with Fortune 500 companies such as Hoechst Celanese, Proctor & Gamble, Schick Razor, Scott Paper, Johnson & Johnson, Clinique, Kimberly Clark, Engelhard and Adidas.  During these years in the corporate world, he made beautiful furniture for his home in Weston.  It was this passion for woodworking that led him to the creation of Artifact Design Group.

Artifact Design Group creates elegant, formal-contemporary furniture that blends well with traditional decor.  Having grown up with antiques, Greg’s designs use time-tested, old-world joinery techniques and each piece receives hand-rubbed French polish finishes that best capture the true brilliance of wood’s grain and color.  “Most of the furniture today is soulless.” states Greg, “with unknown origins, designed for mass production and embody unoriginal adaptations of historical styles.”  Creating with Artifact Design Group is a thought-provoking process where the client’s interior space and desires are considered as much as the final piece.  “Our furniture will be the ‘antiques of tomorrow’ - intrinsically rich in materials and execution, to be viewed as collectibles and richly enjoyed by many generations.” says Greg Clark.

In addition to private commissions, Artifact Design Group has a product line that is sold in 70 galleries and contemporary furniture showrooms in the country.  The signature collection is more contemporary in design than the commissions, with clean lines, mixed-media materials, and extraordinary craftsmanship.  Visit the website (artifactdesigngroup.com) to see the collection that represents work from top artists in various mediums (blown glass, ceramics, iron, paper, etc.).

Artifact Design Group’s studio/showroom is newly constructed and conceived to reflect high-end design through originality, beautiful proportions and rich materials.  The building was designed with fundamentally traditional aesthetics on the exterior and with clean, open contemporary museum-like interior space.  Beautifully detailed with hand-cut stone, solid-handcrafted mahogany doors, copper details, and Italian lighting, the building complements the collection of furniture.  Intriguing details were considered in the final design such as a conference room with a leather floor by Edelman Leather that is available for private design consultations.  Selections of natural materials (stone, leather, exotic woods species, etc) and hand-crafted elements (ceramic, blown glass, paper, hammered iron, etc.) entice one to think outside-the-box for design.  In the back of the showroom, there are glass windows that allow visitors to view high-end, one of a kind, furniture being crafted.  In the center of the showroom there is an espresso bar and theatre viewing area where clients can watch video content to learn more about Artifact Design Group’s commissioned artists, furniture designers and the process of design.

In addition to its own collection, other lines of furniture and accessories are being sold in the showroom.  Knoll’s classics of the contemporary furniture movement of the last century are available for purchase.  A new upholstered line of furniture from Italy, Crivellari, is available with custom-design features.  Artemide, a line of lighting from Italy, is shown throughout the building (interior & exterior architectural lighting) and also available for purchase.  Various boutique furniture makers such as John Hartcorn of Boston Furnituremakers will complement Artifact Design Group’s collection.  “For all of our products, we celebrate the artists/designers and communicate to our clients the origins of each piece we promote and sell” states Greg.

A portfolio of current projects can be viewed at: artifactdesigngroup.com or contact Greg Clark (203) 834-7757 for a private showing.  The showroom, located on the corner of Route 7 and Hollyhock Road in Wilton, is open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 4:00 or by appointment. 

From the Norwalk HOUR front page Thursday, March 10, 2005...