James Welling rug, Photo courtesy BravinLee Programs, Welling represented by David Zwirner Gallery

Chelsea gallery BravinLee is using tough times to get creative, producing a series of  limited edition hand-knotted rugs by artists James Welling, Nina Bovasso and James Siena. The rugs, produced in an edition of 15, are made in Nepal and priced $8,000 to $15,000. A portion of proceeds benefits children in Kathmandu.

“Art needs to get out of the white box,” said John Lee. “This is born out of the current economic environment in a way.”

Fine artists have turned to product design over the years. During the Great Depression, New York art dealer Edith Halpert encouraged artists, including Stuart Davis and Georgia Keeffe, to design ties, scarves and other products. (Read more about Halpert and her remarkable Depression-era sales tactics here.)