Daily News
From Home Furnishing Business
DCOTA Sets Designer Seminar Series
July 9,
2014 by in Designer Weekly 
The Design Center of the Americas, Dania Beach, Fla., invites professional designers and design enthusiasts to participate in the DCOTA Designer Seminar Series on four Thursdays in July.
"This is a great opportunity for designers to stay on top of the industry’s new coming trends from individuals who have renowned success and recognition in their respective fields,” said Alex Matamoros, DCOTA’s Director of Design Services. "Participants will be inspired by engaging speakers who will introduce them to new techniques and ideas within the creative world."
Here's the line up:
* Thursday this week, 1-3 p.m., Michelle Luongo, "Bring Nature into the Home: With the Five Feng Shui Elements." Learn about designing with the images, symbols and objects that invoke nature, creating a deep sense of balance and serenity in homes. Feng Shui advocates living in harmony with earth’s environment so there is proper balance between the forces of nature.
* Thursday, 1-3 p.m., artist John Stenger. Stenger's work can be best described as abstract expressionism of landscapes and flowers. The artist relocated to South Florida after being attracted by this area’s unique cloud formations and violent storm activity.
Thursday, July 17, 1-3 p.m.:
* Artist Twyla Gettert offers "Abstracts." Gettert specializes in large-scale abstract paintings, and will be showcasing a full selection of her art. A recipient of numerous awards for her paintings, she creates in several mediums, including monotypes, etchings, Chinese watercolor, photography and acrylic on canvas.
Thursday, July 24, 1-3 p.m.
* Artist Andres Conde offers "The Social Series." A Cuban born pop impressionist painter known for both his figurative and colorful graphic work, Conde will present his series “Social.” Social Magazine was the Vanity Fair of Cuba and ran from the turn of the last century through 1938.
* Author Stacy Conde offers "The Red Speck." Conde is a Miami author who blends lush, sensuous imagery with raw emotion in her new book about transformation. She will explore an allegorical adult fairy tale that will be a journey into the soul.
Thursday, July 31, 1-3 p.m.
* Artist Lorie Setton. Based in Miami and with formal training from Parsons New School University, the University of Florida and Florence University of the Arts, Setton’s most recent works are inspired by American landscapes and their surreal qualities.
* Yuval Ofit, "Caron Paris--History of Design." With more than 100 years of history and design behind it, Caron Paris is not only one of the oldest fragrance houses in existence, it still employs an in-house Nose.
"Following the lectures, guests are invited into a sponsoring showroom to preview the newest products, mingle and enjoy a catered lunch," Matamoros added.