Decorative Arts Society (DARTS), a Newport Beach-based philanthropic organization dedicated to appreciating the arts and supporting local nonprofit organizations that primarily benefit women, families and children in need, announced its lecture series 2022-23.
Featuring a range of renowned interior designers and authors, the annual speaker series returns this fall to Regal Edwards Big Newport.
Participation is free for DARTS members and $75 for non-members.
“We are excited about this season’s speaker series, where we will bring a respected array of art and interior design experts to the community,” said DARTS President Madeline Hayward. “These inspirational speakers are known nationally and even internationally for their style, design and the books they’ve written, so we look forward to hearing their stories and insights.”
DARTS membership fees help fund their grant program, which has provided more than $3.6 million to charities for women, families, and children in Orange County since its inception a year ago. over 25 years.
DARTS recently announced donations of $275,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations in Orange County.
The 2022-23 DARTS Lecture Series:
Tuesday, October 11: Philip Mitchell
Philip Mitchell has made a name for himself as a master modern maximalist. Renowned for his passion and energy, Mitchell’s approach to design is contemporary with a distinctive and elegant layered style. Her almost encyclopedic knowledge of design, architecture, art, textiles and historical references becomes an unforgettable journey for clients around the world as they collaborate on projects of all sizes.
Mitchell has twice been honored as one of the World’s Top 100 Designers by Andrew Martin Awards and is continuously named one of the Top 25 Designers by House & House Review. His passion for restoration has been recognized with numerous historic preservation awards and he has twice been invited to participate in the Kips Bay Decorator Show House.
Mitchell’s work has been widely celebrated in magazines, newspapers, books, and online, including Veranda, Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and others. He started his design company in 2002, which now has offices in New York, Toronto and on the east coast of Canada.
Tuesday, November 8: Suzanne Tucker
Suzanne Tucker is recognized as one of the nation’s leading interior designers. Tucker is known for her personal approach, enduring style, attention to detail, and passion for architecture and the decorative arts. She believes that by surrounding ourselves with the authenticity of thoughtful design and timeless architecture, we can enrich and enhance the quality of our lives.
Architectural Digest has repeatedly honored Tucker on the AD100 list of top designers and she is included in the Elle Décor A list and the Luxe Gold List. Having worked under the legendary Michael Taylor and often referenced as his protege, she and her husband/partner Timothy F. Marks founded Tucker & Marks in 1986. Suzanne Tucker Home was launched in 2010 with its line of textiles, table and furniture.
She has published two books, the third of which, Suzanne Tucker – Extraordinary Interiors, will be published this fall. Tucker has received numerous awards over the years, and in 2020 she received a Doctor of Humane Letters from the Academy of Art University.
Tucker sits on the board of the Hearst Castle Preservation Foundation and the West Coast Council of The Garden Conservancy.
Lisa Fine is a former Managing Editor at Elle Décor and House Beautiful, and is an internationally acclaimed textile designer specializing in hand-printed linens. Fine produces a range of both exotic and traditional designs, influenced by her extensive travels and a particular passion for India and Eastern culture. His coveted designs are used by many of the world’s most renowned interior designers.
Fine has launched three Indian-inspired collections: its eponymous textile line; Irving & Fine, a fashion brand in collaboration with Carolina Irving; and Langham & Fine Rugs, a limited edition dhurries she designed with Richard Keith Langham.
She is also the author of Near & Far, which features his homes in New York, Dallas and Paris, as well as many other designers and style icons. For as long as she can remember, Fine has had a passion for color, patterns, old world vibes and exotic elements that stir up the romance of distant lands.
“I love cute stacked bedrooms that pull you in and make you want to stay,” she says. “As a little girl in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, my favorite activity was going on house tours. I’m not a decorator, but I’ve always been obsessed with decorating my own homes. Professional training would have been out of Fine has an innate flair for succeeding in everything she does with that je ne sais quoi that cannot be learned.
Tuesday, March 14: Frances Schultz
Frances Schultz is a writer and artist who pivoted during the pandemic to become a Martha Beck Wayfinder Certified Life Coach and Master Trainer. Always passionate about decorating and design, food and entertainment, travel and style, Schultz conducts workshops and retreats on creativity and personal development at her home in California and around the world. Her mission is to bring light to the world and guide others to do the same in any way that brings meaning, purpose and joy.
Schultz is the author of several books, including “The Bee Cottage Story – How I Made a Muddle of Things and Decorated My Way Back to Happiness” and “California Cooking and Southern Style”. She is also the editor of Flower magazine on the West Coast and a contributor to Veranda magazine. Schultz has also written for House Beautiful, The Wall Street Journal, Town & Countries, and others. She was the on-air host of the award-winning cable television show Southern Living Presents for six years and was named one of the 2019 Salonnière Top 100 Party Hosts Nationwide.
Tuesday, April 11: Aldous Bertram
Aldous Bertram is an artist, illustrator, author and interior designer based in Charleston, South Carolina. Her interiors have been featured in House Beautiful and other design publications. He got his doctorate. from the University of Cambridge, specializing in the historical influence of China on the design and architecture of English gardens.
As an art historian and artist, Bertram has long been captivated by chinoiserie, a term for Western art and design inspired by a largely invented view of China. Marco Polo’s sensational account of his visit to the Exotic Orient in the 13th century sparked a fascination with China that peaked in the 18th century and continues to this day. Bertram’s book, Dragons & Pagodas: A Celebration of Chinoiserie, is a nod to his appreciation of this style of design.
The Decorative Arts Society, established in 1995, is a membership organization that offers an annual lecture series by nationally and internationally renowned experts in the decorative arts, including interior design, architecture, landscape, fashion and other aspects of the arts. Through subscriptions, donations, and other fundraising, the Society for Decorative Arts makes grants to charitable organizations in Orange County serving women, children, and families.
For more information about the Decorative Arts Society, membership opportunities and lecture series tickets, please visit www.decorativeartssociety.net.
