Artist and Designer Andrea Valentini Creates Custom Gift Bags for Artists

American artist and designer Andrea Valentini has custom-designed the exclusive Eric Clapton Crossroads Duffel Bag as a very special gift for each of the participating artists performing at Crossroads Guitar Festival 2010. Ms. Valentini, who stewards a non-profit gallery for emerging artists in Providence, RI, has invited a team of recent graduates from her alma mater, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) to create the bags with her.

One of America's most recognizable fashion accessories designers, Andrea Valentini began her trail blazing career as an award-winning furniture designer and interior architect. Her distinctive textural bags, called "incredibly chic" by trendy Design Milk magazine, have caught the attention of everyone from fashion editors to celebrities like Kayne West. Her work bridges the gap between the fashion and fine art worlds and can be seen in New York City's Takashimaya as well as Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) stores worldwide. Valentini has been featured in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the London Financial Times, Surface, Dwell, Interior Design magazine & Metropolis.

"The cause for Crossroads Centre was the core inspiration for the design of this bag and hopefully will visually transcend Eric's intention," Valentini said. "I was intrigued by the Crossroads philosophy, 'that recovery happens when we make connections' and the idea that Eric had for bringing together a group of artists to support and recognize his cause. This concept resonated with me and my design process. Like Eric, I have brought together a team of artists from various disciplines to share their talents, in the creation of this bag".

Eric's logo design of a compass for the Crossroads Centre was the initial source of inspiration for Ms. Valentini's custom-designed fabric and duffel style travel bag. She directed her team to assist in developing the pattern and overall design of the bag.

In addition to the hand-made bags created specifically for each individual artist, a duplicate, limited edition bag will be raffled off at Guitar Center Village, with proceeds contributed to Crossroads Centre Antigua, founded by Clapton in 1997 to provide affordable treatment for alcohol and other drug dependencies and widely recognized as an international Centre of Excellence for addiction treatment.

Exclusive photos of the collector duffel bag will be made available at www.andreavalentini.com when it is revealed at Crossroads Guitar Festival 2010 on June 26th.