Dolls for a great cause.

It may have been raining in New York City on July 23, but that didn’t stop people from coming out for the highly anticipated Nesting Works event at DWR: Tools for Living in Soho. The event, which was a benefit for the New York-based charity organization Housing Works, was just as flooded with guests as the streets were with rain. 

Tools for Living invited eight artists, designers and illustrators – Claw Money, West One, Aaron Meshon, Mike Perry (pictured after the jump), Alison Riley, Travis Cain, David Zachary and Heidi Kenney – to each interpret our blank Matryoshka Dolls. While some of the artists, like Heidi Kenney (pictured above), did a rather traditional interpretation of the Russian dolls, others, like industrial design duo David Zachary, turned the whole concept upside-down, transforming the dolls into a set of functional lamps. 

The dolls were on display on the ground floor of the store but the real party was downstairs! Cocktails, compliments of Belvedere Vodka, and Sixpoint Apollo Wheat Ale were served, and guests had a chance to mix and mingle with many of the artists that participated in this event. The normally clean and modern white walls of Tools for Living were splashed with color in the form of prints by Mike Perry, Claw Money and Aaron Meshon, and toys, t-shirts and even a pair of customized Eames Rockers by the artists were for sale.  Stop by and see the show until August 15. Then it heads out west, to the DWR: Tools for Living store in Santa Monica, California. 

On October 23, Housing Works will auction all eight sets of the Matryoshka Dolls on their website, and the proceeds will benefit their work as the largest community-based AIDS service organization in the country. Housing Works provides lifesaving services, including housing, healthcare and job training, for homeless individuals living with HIV/AIDS in New York City, one of the front lines in the battle against AIDS in the U.S. 

Do your part by shopping at Housing Works’ nine upscale thrift shops and popular bookstore café in New York or by visiting their website. Thanks to all who came out for this great event. 

Posted by Josh Underwood, DWR: Tools for Living, SoHo

Comments

[Kristin]

This is really amazing! Whoever thought of this is really smart. The group of artists is impressive and interesting. Good to see DWR doing some good work for the community and charity!

[Jonathan R.]

Bravo to DWR for linking with a great charity for a great cause! Good to see you are working on some positive things for your community.