Posted by
Elana Safronsky, Managing Editor
Monday, November 30, 2009 11:31 AM EDT
Clockwise from the top; Batles Studio poster at Provide; graphite "Drawing Hands", $70-$79 CAN., Provide (available for shipping across Canada); "Twisted Leaf", $46 USD, direct from Batles Studio, San Francisco. Contact Batles Studio for further info.
I recently got back from a whirlwind tour of Vancouver and Victoria, BC -- lots to tell you about in the next few weeks! -- and while there I visited an exquisitely edited decor shop by the name of Provide. Robert Quinnell, a fellow Torontonian (there were many) and partner in Provide, has quite the eye for gorgeous things, one of which is a collection of solid graphite sculptures.
That's right, functional art. The sculptures are by San Francisco artist, Angelio Batle, and are forged of solid, smudge-resistant graphite, that you can go ahead and use as you would any pencil (well, OK, it's not like any pencil I've ever seen.)
Upon entering Vancouver's Provide, the approximately palm-sized, gunmetal objects immediately drew my eye. Sleek twigs, quills, bamboo, and casts of realistic hands (some with index finger extended for drawing convenience) lay as if precious artifacts, beckoning my examination. Once I found out they were functional, well, I had no choice but to add them to our Gift Giving suggestions. Starting at $50 CAN (quill) and up to $79 (hand), they're priced way bellow my usual shopping whims, and cannot be beat for originality.
Btw, if you wish to see a sneak preview of all the place CJ (FoodNetwork.ca) and I visited in the west, check out our twitter feeds; @hgtvcanada, @FoodNetworkCA