Austin Gray & Artist Terry Redlin Team Up To Introduce New Lifestyle Furniture Line In High Point

Furniture World News

As one of our country’s best-loved artists, Terry Redlin aims to bring his vision of “Americana” into homes across the nation through a new lifestyle furniture line he’s launching in partnership with case goods importing company Austin Gray at the Fall 2005 IHFM. For more than 45 years, Redlin has captured the heart and soul of the American spirit on canvas through his serenely nostalgic and heartwarming scenes of rural America and wildlife. In fact, his artwork has been so broad in appeal that Redlin was voted “America’s Most Popular Artist” for eight consecutive years in U.S. Art magazine’s surveys of fine art galleries. This same spirit is now captured in the clean lines, elegant feel and rich finishes of his furniture series that offers Main Street America great family heirloom styling at great values. Austin Gray’s fall rollout builds on the success of the new company’s debut and the “soft” launch of the initial Terry Redlin American Portrait collection in spring. Key early placements who will be receiving deliveries in September include RC Willey in Utah and Nevada, Furniture Outlets USA in South Dakota, and Rose Furniture in North Carolina, among others. Ron Crouch, president of Austin Gray said, “Retailers responded so positively to the Redlin line and our overall company strategy in spring that we decided to significantly ramp up our launch commitment and even expand into complementary categories like leather upholstery and accent chairs.” In addition, Redlin’s current stable of licensees offer a variety of products from limited edition art prints to home textiles and bathroom accessories, and the brand plans to round out its home furnishings lifestyle assortment with key licensing announcements expected soon for lighting, accessories, and rugs. Partnership opportunities also exist for upholstery and a variety of other categories. At the fall market, Austin Gray will showcase a total of forty-two SKU’s of Terry Redlin furniture. The rustically elegant American Portrait collection has been expanded to include bedroom and dining room furniture, home office furniture, entertainment centers, occasional furniture, a “signature” gun cabinet, and coordinating leather upholstery and accent chairs. Cherry veneers and hard wood solids with a warm, rich cherry brown finish are complemented by ultra suede and leathers to offer simple lines and casual yet sophisticated looks for today’s consumers. The new Boulder Ridge bedroom collection focuses on architectural elements from Redlin’s home. Darker walnut and cluster oak burl veneers and slight distressing offer rustic traditional styling. The new Reflections bedroom collection combines the clean lines of arts and crafts styling with antique cherry veneers, warm mid-tone cherry brown finishes, and lighter scaling to offer more feminine, sophistication. Terry Redlin, of Watertown, South Dakota, began his solo art career with the release of “Winter Snows” in 1977. In addition to his recognition as “America’s Most Popular Artist” for eight consecutive years by a national art publication, U.S. Art, he was also honored by the magazine as a “Master Artist” and “Hall of Fame” inductee. Among his best-known works are his series of “America the Beautiful” paintings, depicting lyrics from the patriotic hymn and chronologically charting the development of the country from Western expansion to the present day. Painting in warm, vibrant colors, he has a rare gift for capturing light ‑ at sunrise, at sunset, in the woodland shadows, and even by night ‑ and incorporating it into memorable, heart-stirring scenes. He continues to work seven days a week and releases four or five limited editions annually. The majority of Redlin’s original oil paintings (over 150) are on display at the $17 million Redlin Art Center, located in Watertown, South Dakota (see www.redlinart.com). Conceived and designed by his son, Charles, Redlin built the museum and donated it to his home state of South Dakota. The highly acclaimed museum has welcomed almost 2 million visitors since its opening in June 1997. In August of this year alone, approximately 25,000 fans attended the museum’s annual celebration event which included museum tours, Terry Redlin artwork signings, a Lee Greenwood concert and fireworks. Wild Wings, LLC of Lake City, Minnesota, is the official licensor of Terry Redlin art and art-inspired products. “We are extremely pleased to hold the license for Terry Redlin art. He is a master artist with an extensive volume of work to draw from (over 200 oil paintings), and we have a huge opportunity to expand the range of products inspired by his artwork in key categories like home furnishings,” stated Randy Eggenberger, president of Wild Wings. “Like Terry, Wild Wings’ longtime focus has been on wildlife and nature-themed art, including Americana, and we share a number of common interests, including a fervent commitment to wildlife conservation and preservation.” For more information about Austin Gray or to set up an appointment to preview the Terry Redlin furniture line, please contact Ron Crouch at (336) 885-4729, e-mail rcrouch@austin-gray.com, or visit the showroom at 100 South Main Street in High Point, NC (across from Nobel’s Restaurant and the Radisson Hotel) . For more information about Wild Wings, LLC or Terry Redlin, please contact Shari Wald at (651) 345-5355, e-mail shari.wald@wildwings.com, or visit www.wildwings.com or www.redlinart.com. Please direct all licensing inquiries to Regan & Williams Co. at 336-248-8080 extensions 22 or 23.