A High-Contrast Take on the Traditional Art Form
Author:Sarah Virginia WhiteAs a child growing up in Cleveland in the 1970s, David Scheid dreamed of living in California—a desire spurred by the palm trees and glamorous lifestyles that flickered across his television screen. Says Scheid, “I remember sitting there watching CHiPs and thinking, ‘Why did God make me born to people who live in Ohio?’” His dream came true in 2005, when he followed a girl to Los Angeles and plugged into the creative community as a tour manager for indie rock bands. His own artistic awakening occurred three years ago: A close friend wanted a stained glass window for her home, so Scheid dusted off skills he had picked up on an odd job installing and removing colored panes for a small studio back in Ohio.
Scheid’s geometric, high-contrast take on the traditional art form has earned his work a following in retail hot spots such as Beatrice Valenzuela in Echo Park, and General Store in Venice and San Francisco. Since arriving in California, Scheid’s notions of palm trees and movie stars have given way to another of the state’s defining characteristics: earthquakes. The staggered slices of the state in this 24-by-12-inch panel reference the disorientation that occurs each time a quake hits. “After a tremor, it always takes me a while to remember where I am,” says Scheid.
This was originally published in the Spring ’14 issue of California Home+Design. Click here to subscribe.
