Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/692580
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF FLOR "I'M ATTEMPTING TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN STREET ART AND CONTEMPORARY ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM." —RENE GAGNON GRAFFITI RUNNER IN HOME DESIGN'S LATEST FAB-COLLAB, ARTIST RENE GAGNON TAGS THE FLOOR. BY KRISTA DEJULIO For many folks, the word graffiti conjures up images of swirly, trippy, profanity-laced scrawls across city streets and back alleys. But Rene Gagnon, a Fall River–born graffiti and street artist known for wild and emotionally charged prints, is hoping to start a different sort of movement: the collaboration between creativity and commerce. No swear words, promise. Case in point: Gagnon has partnered with fLOR, a company that creates playful, sophisticated modular carpet tiles and throws that allow customers to make their own bespoke carpets. The new Burlington store opened with a special twist, featuring Gagnon's signature "graffiti" rug tiles. "Our goal with this collaboration was to demonstrate the marriage of art and design," says fLOR president Rick Kilmer. "We wanted to make sure that we partnered with just the right artist to make this piece functional yet contempo- rary and eye-catching." For Gagnon, who became enthralled with rap and graffiti as a teen, the alliance fits perfectly with his current mission. "I'm attempt- ing to bridge the gap between urban graffiti/street art and contemporary abstract expression- ism," Gagnon says. His carefree expression with color lends itself organically to fLOR's do-it-your- self sensibility, and works as inspiration for clients. As Kilmer puts it, "We're always looking to instill creativity into our custom- ers." 19 Third Ave., Burlington, 781-362-4787; flor.com . SPACE DÉCOR 106 BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM