Barbara Barry for Ann Sacks

Barbara Cook, a professional metalsmith and award-winning jewelry designer, has dedicated a significant portion of her life to humanitarian efforts and the preservation of traditional arts in Nepal. Her home in Weaverville, described as resembling a Buddhist monastery with intricate carvings, prayer wheels, Buddhist paintings, religious statues, and hand-carved doors, serves as a testament to her deep connection with the country. Cook spends five months of the year in Kathmandu, where she designs and creates jewelry and works on program development for the Nepal Traditional Handicraft Training Center. During the remainder of the year, she is in the United States, organizing gallery shows for traditional Nepalese art and inviting home builders and interior decorators to view pieces imported through Himalayan Stone and Wood Carving, a company she established with Nepali artisans. Cook's journey to this calling began in 1989 when she embarked on an extended trip through Asia and the Middle East. Her travels were interrupted by the first war in Iraq, leading her back to India, where she found herself assisting a doctor at Mother Teresa’s leprosy center, translating German-labeled medications. This experience shifted her perspective from tourist to humanitarian. She subsequently returned to Nepal and became involved with Educate the Children (ETC), an organization that initially connected children with sponsors and later expanded its focus to community development, encompassing education, agriculture, and women's economic empowerment through micro-credit loans. ETC has since grown into a highly respected non-governmental organization in Nepal. In 2004, Cook collaborated with Global Family Village, an organization that aims to transform traditional institutionalized orphanages into more family-like environments by housing children in groups with surrogate mothers. Cook emphasizes her role in connecting visitors to Nepal with local NGOs, enabling them to make a difference in the lives of the Nepalese people. As an artist herself, Cook observed the decline of indigenous crafts due to a lack of interest among younger generations in learning traditional art forms. In response, she played a crucial role in the revival of the Nepal Traditional Handicraft Training Center in 2006, working with Nepal’s leading artists. Her long-term vision for the center is to establish a permanent facility where artists can live cooperatively, share knowledge, build a resource library, and foster community. Cook highlights the historical lack of recognition for Nepali artists, who were often considered laborers for palaces and temples and whose works were not signed. She notes that current dealers often discourage artists from signing their pieces to prevent direct client-artist relationships. Cook aims to bridge the gap between artists and buyers, ensuring artists receive a more equitable share of the profits from their work. To achieve this, she organizes Nepalese art exhibits in the United States, often bringing the artists themselves to the openings. These efforts contribute to the international art scene's understanding and appreciation of traditional Nepali styles and artists. Despite also selling her own jewelry in the U.S. art show circuit, Cook remains committed to her work in Nepal, deeply moved by the kindness and generosity of its people. #BarbaraCook #Nepal #HumanitarianWork #TraditionalArts #JewelryDesign #HandicraftTraining #NGOs #EducateTheChildren #GlobalFamilyVillage #ArtExhibits #Weaverville

Studio McGee has announced a new tile collaboration with Ann Sacks, a leading name in the tile industry. This partnership aims to create a versatile tile collection that reflects Studio McGee's aesthetic, which is rooted in neutrals with subdued accent colors and organic warmth. Shea McGee emphasizes that the collection was designed to be timeless and age gracefully with the homeowner, becoming an heirloom feature within a home. The collaboration features three distinct collections: Canyon Lake, Willow Heights, and Novah. The Canyon Lake Collection draws inspiration from old-world tile textures and movements, while being designed for modern everyday living. It is available in various colors, two sizes, and two finishes, making it suitable for a wide range of applications such as kitchen backsplashes, mudroom floors, or outdoor spaces. The tiles are designed for easy mixing and matching to achieve a collected look, and different colorways can be combined to create bold statements through accent stripes, soldier courses, or checkerboard patterns. The color palette, including shades like Antique White, Dusty Rose, Midnight, Mist, Sea Salt, and Stone, is inspired by natural elements to ensure longevity and organic warmth. The Willow Heights Collection is inspired by the classic elegance of parquet flooring. It is offered in three marble combinations, each featuring a Calacatta marble base with neutral accents. This collection is intended for spaces like bathrooms or entryway floors, and its sophisticated, understated palette is designed to withstand the test of time and complement a wide variety of decor styles. Finally, the Novah Collection is a dry-press porcelain collection inspired by the organic, well-worn beauty of tumbled limestone. It offers durability and easy maintenance, making it suitable for both large and small applications, including outdoor use. The collection's design allows for pairing different colorways to create diamond, checker, or bordered patterns. While primarily envisioned for floors, it is also suitable for walls and is highly transitional between different design styles. Shea McGee specifically sought to create a porcelain limestone with subtle variations, authentic texture, and versatile color options that were previously difficult to find, ensuring it hits all the right notes for a natural and timeless look. #AnnSacks #StudioMcGee #TileCollection #HomeDesign #InteriorDesign #CanyonLakeCollection #WillowHeightsCollection #NovahCollection #TimelessAesthetic

Bob Harris, the Senior Director of Decorative Concrete Consulting and a Principal for the SSI Team, is a globally recognized expert in the decorative concrete industry. A third-generation concrete finisher and former President of the Decorative Concrete Institute, Harris has dedicated his career to advancing architectural decorative concrete through pioneering ideas, extensive education, and practical application. His expertise is particularly notable in concrete repair, where he possesses a unique ability to make repairs undetectable. Harris has been a prominent speaker at major industry events, including the World of Concrete for 15 consecutive years and World of Concrete in Mexico City for four years. He served as Master of Ceremonies at the Con/Expo Con/Agg demo in Las Vegas in 2002 and has participated in numerous speaking engagements for the Decorative Concrete Council. His international teaching experience spans countries such as Canada, the Caribbean, Germany, England, Greece, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, and South Africa. He is the prolific author of several books, with over 37,000 copies sold worldwide. His 'Guide Series' covers critical topics such as Stained Interior Concrete Floors, Stamped Concrete, Concrete Overlays and Toppings, and Polished Concrete Floors. Beyond his written works, Harris has produced educational DVDs for his own brand and for organizations like the Portland Cement Association, AGC-Laborers, and the Concrete Network. His insights are also regularly featured in articles for _Concrete Network_, _Concrete Decor_, and _Concrete Construction_ magazines. Before his current role, Harris spent nearly a decade with a major decorative concrete product manufacturer, where he eventually directed product training. In this capacity, he conducted hands-on architectural concrete training seminars globally and was instrumental in technical support, research, and development. His contributions to industry associations, including ACI, ASCC, and DCC, have significantly advanced the education and training necessary for decorative concrete to become a prominent feature in modern buildings and landscapes. A significant part of Harris's practical experience includes six years as a senior superintendent, exclusively working on decorative "themed" concrete projects within Disney theme parks. During this time, he personally oversaw or supervised the placement of over three million square feet of decorative concrete, incorporating integral color, dry-shake color hardeners, and chemical stains, particularly in major Disney theme parks in Orlando, Florida. In recognition of his achievements, unwavering commitment to excellence, and innovative contributions that have fostered the growth of the decorative concrete industry, Bob Harris was among the first individuals inducted into the Decorative Concrete Hall of Fame in 2010. He also actively serves as a committee member of ACI 310, focusing on Decorative Concrete, continuing his influence on industry standards and practices. #BobHarris #DecorativeConcrete #ConcreteFinisher #ConcreteEducation #WorldOfConcrete #ArchitecturalConcrete #ConcreteRepair #IndustryExpert