Pike Spotlights L.A. 'Tastemakers'

Laurie Pike, style director for Los Angeles magazine, has selected 15 Los Angelenos to profile as the “Tastemakers Class of 2008,” whose work will be featured at the Tastemaker Gallery, a temporary exhibition space at the Hollywood & Highland shopping center in Hollywood.

Spanning fashion, art and architecture, the list includes Society for Rational Dress designer Corinne Grassini; Undefeated owner and sneaker designer James Bond; designer and Resurrection vintage boutique owner Katy Rodriguez; jewelry designer Melissa McClure, owner of Jewelry Alchemy; White Trash Charms jewelry designer and retailer Brooke Dulien; Joel K, designer of menswear line K.Z.O.; Rosemary Brantley, founding fashion chair of Otis College of Art + Design; Betsee Isenberg, owner of the 10 Eleven showroom; Reiko Kondo, owner of Eenie Meenie Records; Mark Allen, owner of the Machine Project gallery; stationery designer Marc Friedland, owner of Creative Intelligence; furniture importers John Brady and Willard Ford, owners of FORDBRADY; home accessories designer Douglas Little, owner of D.L. & Co.; and architect and fashion designer Elena Manferdini, owner of Atelier Manferdini, who was named a tastemaker in two categories.

Pike launched the Tastemaker column in Los Angeles magazine in 2006 to profile influential local talent in fashion, art, jewelry, home design, architecture, music, graphic design and other creative disciplines.

The exhibition will kick off with an invitation-only reception on March 19, which will feature cocktails and hors d’oeuvres provided by The Foundry on Melrose Chef Eric Greenspan. The exhibition runs from March 19 to 30 and is open to the public daily from noon to 6 p.m. The show will feature a mural created for the exhibition by street artist Chase.

Sponsors of the exhibition include Audi, Glabman Home, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Onitsuka Tiger and Van Cleef & Arpels.

For more information, visit www.lamagtastemakers.com. —Alison A. Nieder