how to: hang a rug as wall art

Much like tapestries from the Middle Ages—which were originally hung for better insulation in stone castles—hand-tufted rugs can enhance almost any wall with their colors, designs and texture.

big hint: once you’ve chosen the rug you’d like to hang, and the location or wall, visit your local hardware store for the best advice when shopping for screws, hardwood strips, and mounting hardware.

1. Cut two hardwood strips to a length proper for the rug you want to hang—just shy 1 or 2” from each edge—and miter one long edge of each strip at 60 degrees.

2. Attach one to the backside of the rug by screwing screws through the rug and with the miter in a similar position as shown. For best results, use a metal strip across the front to keep screws from pulling through the rug. If you’d prefer not to disturb the look of the rug design, consider smaller, flat metal pieces. They can be square, or round washers which can be painted to blend with the rug design. Just make sure they’re larger than the screw heads so they’ll stop them from pulling through.

3. Test the attachment of the rug to the strip by holding it aloft—without support for the weight of the rug—to ensure it’s well attached.

4. Next measure the location for a second wood strip to the wall in the correct location. Mount it with the miter opposite the rug-mounted strip as similarly shown.

5. Last, carefully ‘install’ the rug by positioning the strips so the mitered edges match yin for yang. Together, in profile, the two strips will create an elongated rectangle and ultimately the weight of the rug is supported by the strip mounted to the wall. This is known as a French cleat.

one of a finds: birds on a wire

Reclaimed Douglas fir planks, harvested from old abandoned buildings in Southern California, find their way home in wood “prints” inked with abstract birds silhouetted high on cable wires by artist Parvez Taj.

Documenting the history of each building and the source of each timber, he selects planks which are then hand-assembled and printed with eco-friendly, UV-cured inks.

Weathered and distressed, each birds on a wire print is evidence of the concept of beauty as rendered by the elements of nature over time. In his waste-to-energy initiative, Taj’s mission is to create art with minimal impact on the environment.

Why birds? In the artist’s words, “Birds have the ultimate freedom.”

One of a Finds original works are offered one time only as a limited edition for collectors and enthusiasts—birds on a wire has a fall 2011 release of 200.

one of a finds: fluorescent lips and eyes painting

With the film industry of India’s move to digital vinyl billboards, sadly, the talents of an almost extinct community of Bollywood artists—known for their kitschy, glamorous movie posters and sets—is no longer in high demand.

Once required to produce up to 20 posters a day, this special initiative provides the artists not only a new source of income, but also the opportunity for a slower pace focused on their skills and passion for painting.

In an effort to keep their art alive, each fluorescent lips and eyes painting is a collage of details that takes its inspiration from the most vibrant and colorful vintage posters and is hand-painted and signed by these original masters.

One of a Finds original works are offered one time only as a limited edition for collectors and enthusiasts—the fluorescent lips/eyes painting has a fall 2011 release of 624.

one of a finds: le chiot

First discovered in a 2009 gallery exhibition, French Ink by TT Crew staged at the Babù Gallery, le chiot—a papier mâché dog—made a lasting impression and two years later, have finally made it to CB2’s one of a finds.

Babù Art Co. Ltd is a professional art institution located in the Art Zone of Shenzhen, China. With a commitment to contemporary and concept art, it consists of Babù Gallery and Babù Space.

Babù Gallery is focused on the dissemination of contemporary art and Babù Space covers a wild range of contemporary fashionable arts like Street culture, design, installation and video, as it’s been promoting international art.

Featuring the four artists that make up the TT Crew, it was the drawings by one artist in particular that were so compelling and which were later added on to the papier mâché dogs.

Made by hand of wood and layered with Chinese ink paper, each is unique as are the small scale drawings embellishing them.

One of a Finds original works are offered one time only as a limited edition for collectors and enthusiasts—le chiot has a release of 448.

Note: this one of a find will be available mid-October.

one of a finds: accept and be poster

CB2 is honored to present a limited-edition of accept and be posters in celebration of Gay Pride Month, June 2011.

Created in collaboration with Kennedy Prints!, a one-man letterpress printery in Gordo, Alabama, each poster is created using handset wood type and oil-based inks on eco-friendly chipboard made from lumber industry salvage.

Three simple words—accept and be—are transformed into a powerful graphic mantra radiating optimism and confidence. Each unique poster is to be appreciated for its spontaneous colors mixed by sight and variations in layout and font.

One of a Finds original works are offered one time only in a small reserve for collectors and enthusiasts. This special poster has a limited edition release of 1139—271 available online; remainder available in CB2 stores while quantities last—and Kennedy Prints! guarantees no two prints will be the same.

free download: Accept and Be desktop image
Kennedy Prints! and CB2 share the mission of making art and design accessible to all. We invite you to download this free “Accept and Be” graphic by Kennedy Prints! as your desktop image. Spread the good words and share.