It is generally thought that the word travel comes from the Old French word travail, meaning work, labor. In the 14th century, the meaning morphed into “making a journey” which, at that time, was no doubt laborious no matter where the destination. Today, of course, travel is rarely either lengthy enough or challenging enough to be considered a journey; one would be hard pressed, though, to challenge the notion that travel can be laborious and is getting more so.
Yet, I love to travel. The high I get from seeing new sights, meeting kind people, feasting my eyes on the beautiful and the strange, feeling lost in an endlessly fascinating world never wanes. That does not mean, though, that I return from each trip rested, relaxed and optimistic. Often I come back feeling that the press of the traveling hordes is destroying the beautiful landscapes I love. After this most recent trip to Kenya and South Africa, though, I am convinced that it will be because of travelers that these countries will find the reason to steward their bountiful resources, to conserve their land, their animals and watersheds while also attending to the needs of their citizens. Taking time out to go a bit deeper into the issues that face people in foreign places is not always easy. It takes much discussion, a virtual walk in another pair or shoes, always compassion and a clear eye. The process is sometimes clarifying, rarely unemotional, and always illuminating and humbling. Travel is many things, but it is also work.
John Derian is a treasure. It's not that there aren't many with talent and vision because there are, the world over. But Derian has other attributes that make him so beloved. His eye is unerring, his sense of scale is perfect, he layers cultures and eras seamlessly in a room. And he is accessible in brick and mortar. His two shops on East Second Street have been haunts for years. One carries the decoupage he designs and constructs locally (and that make the best gifts ever) along with the coveted ceramics of Astier de Villatte. The second Dry Goods store next door showcases quirky antiques, an assortment of vintage furniture, stacks of heavy french linen, Moroccan rugs and soft cotton Indian clothing. Both are small, but intriguing and interesting enough to seduce you on a journey of the senses.
And now, Derian has opened on Christopher Street in a double-windowed storefront of a two-story 18th century house. It's like walking in to another world. Traditional Astier, and the later Derian/Astier collaborative pieces, line the walls from roof to floor of the front room. The back room, wallpapered in his new cabbage rose design and lit by beautiful Balthus-designed standing lamps with parchment shades, offers a living room in which to settle in, thumb through books and albums, and rest the soul.
So, go to shop, or simply go to travel in spirit to another place and time.
https://www.johnderian.com/pages/our-locations"
["post_title"]=>
string(21) "John Derian Goes West"
["post_excerpt"]=>
string(0) ""
["post_status"]=>
string(7) "publish"
["comment_status"]=>
string(4) "open"
["ping_status"]=>
string(4) "open"
["post_password"]=>
string(0) ""
["post_name"]=>
string(21) "john-derian-goes-west"
["to_ping"]=>
string(0) ""
["pinged"]=>
string(0) ""
["post_modified"]=>
string(19) "2018-06-07 09:33:42"
["post_modified_gmt"]=>
string(19) "2018-06-07 13:33:42"
["post_content_filtered"]=>
string(0) ""
["post_parent"]=>
int(0)
["guid"]=>
string(31) "http://lisalindblad.com/?p=8571"
["menu_order"]=>
int(0)
["post_type"]=>
string(4) "post"
["post_mime_type"]=>
string(0) ""
["comment_count"]=>
string(1) "0"
["filter"]=>
string(3) "raw"
}
}