Don’t be fooled by this article’s title. There’s nothing cheesy about Photographer, Artist and retired commercial Model, Lauren Berley-Chidiac. In fact, the only thing remotely cheesy about this diverse, talented Talent is perhaps her wonderful and latest eco-friendly offering, ORIGINAL CHEESE BOARDS, which she calls nature’s “resplendent waste.” We here at Style TV call her unique wood-burnings, pretty damn cool!
Lauren’s burned-in drawings depict nature, mythology, and the pagan spirituality. In her own words, “I find beautiful, neglected scenes in these pieces. Thirty years of growth, solar energy, and wind went into making a pattern, and I try to honor that by creating something that builds onto the pattern rather than removes it in any way.” Each of her wood-burned pieces, environmental statements within themselves, have shown in various galleries in New York and Los Angeles since 2008 and in 2009.
“Why not an artisan board to display an artisan cheese?” asks Lauren. And with that, her “cheesy” journey began. Seen in wine tasting rooms near Santa Barbara, Lauren’s cheese boards make an excellent display for cheeses paired with wine or other beverages. She acquires the unique raw, wood stock from builders, suppliers and the occasion find while biking or horseback riding through the Santa Ynez Valley.
Creating these original, one-of-a-kind masterpieces is no simple task. Each illustration is fine-sanded and burned into the wood. She then treats each board with food-safe mineral oils. Later, she titles and signs each piece on the underside. The boards are eventually fitted with feet making them ready for table-top use and are certainly durable enough to be used time and time again. And just as most fine cutting or cheese board manufactures suggest, occasional rubbing with FDA approved Butcher’s Block Oil will help preserve the piece.
Interested in buying one? Of course you are. Contact the artist directly for more info here laurenbchi@gmail.com and tell her Style TV sent you! Maybe you’ll get a discount. 