Over the Rainbow

As this bright and warm(er) day has us dreaming of Spring, here are a few pairings of art alongside the projected trends in fashion and beauty for the sunnier season ahead. As seen in this month's Harper's Bazaar and Vogue, this Spring we can look forward to COLOR! We are big fans of color in art, and do not tend to shy away from it. In fact, one of the best features of contemporary and modern art is often abstract splashes of color. As can be seen below, our gallery artists are not afraid of bold hues either! For fashion-meets-interiors infused with color, visit Heather Clawson over at Habitually Chic!

(image courtesy of Harper's Bazaar)

Cecil Touchon, FS 2717

(image courtesy of Harper's Bazaar)

Carl Plansky, Iris

(image courtesy of Harper's Bazaar)

Dorothy Goode, Big Squares 12

(image courtesy of Harper's Bazaar)

Melanie Parke, Carmine

(image courtesy of Vogue)

Cora Cohen, Zig (Revised)

(image courtesy of Harper's Bazaar)

Jennifer Cawley, Calculated Risk

Anonymous

(Nate Moore, Skyward)

(photo courtesy of www.bing.com)

Just over a year ago, we posted a discussion about the intimidation factor associated with approaching a fine art gallery, which can be read here. White walls, high desk-tops, and imposing facades, among other things lend themselves to a bit of a daunting environment. Often passers-by stare into the gallery with blank faces, not quite sure what to make of the origami jets flying off into the distance, as is the case with our current exhibition seen above, or hesitate to come in because they have never purchased art before.

We recently stumbled upon a fantastic article in this month's Art in America entitled, Will the Mystery Guest Please Sign In? Peter Plagens laughs about the infamous "gallery guest book," and muses about its usefulness, or lack thereof, in modern times. He notes that the guest book is "a polite bourgeois artifact seemingly more at home in a potpourried New England B&B than in an intimidatingly stark contemporary art gallery." He humorously recounts a recent trip through the galleries of Chelsea, pointing out that he does sign in, just not always when someone is looking. Granted, he is an art journalist, and knows the danger of leaving his name upon entering, should the "dealer" spot him before he has a chance of enjoying his time perusing the gallery. But we often wonder, do walk-in customers or browsers feel off-put upon spotting the open guest book as they enter...

Does signing the guest book make you uncomfortable? Do you feel pressure to sign in? Does the guest book stare up at you as you walk in, making the experience only more intimidating or off-putting? We hope not. Used more as a device for tracking, and for following up with guests about upcoming shows, the guest book should be viewed as a friendly way of saying, "hello, I was here." Yes, on occasion we receive funny notes, drawings and illegible email addresses, but at the very least, we are able to fondly look over that particular day and its visitors. While we rarely get a visit from a celebrity, which might deem the book more of a collector's item, we still want to know who took time out of their day to come see us!

Abstract Interiors - Living with Contemporary Art

(images 1-3 courtesy of www.suzannekasler.com)

(images 3-6 courtesy of www.tobifairley.com)

When it comes to purchasing art, is your style "traditional," "contemporary," or the harder-to-pin-down, "transitional?" Is it possible to be traditional when it comes to furniture and interiors, and push the envelope a bit with abstract, contemporary art? We sure think so, as do many designers and avid art collectors. But often first time art buyers and clients ask for a little direction when it comes to pulling this off. We have pulled together a few perfect examples of interiors by two designers who are constantly using this approach to prompt the discussion. As you can see in the photos above, both Suzanne Kasler and Tobi Fairley can shed some light on how to accomplish this blend of styles. Abstract art can be a wonderful source of color and unexpected inspiration. It stands out against traditional, formal rooms and adds another dimension.

As with any purchase, it is most important to consider, "can I live with this piece?" What is the story behind it? One of the most exciting aspects of buying and enjoying contemporary art is the history of the piece. For example, if you buy from an emerging artist, in years to come you are able to follow their career and look back fondly on how you discovered their work for yourself. It is so refreshing to see a formal sitting room with a bold, color-block painting hanging above it all. That is not to say that contemporary art cannot be serious. In the first image, the piece lends itself to the entryway perfectly. It pulls the entire space together with its abstract composition and display of soft lines. Kasler is a master of blending these two seemingly uncomplimentary styles (eg: gilded gold side table and tufted chair with painting recalling mid-twentieth century modern masters). Ultimately, adding just one contemporary element to this entry foyer (the artwork) allows the entire room to project a more modern tone.

The next time you are looking to update your living room, I would urge you to consider placing a contemporary painting in an otherwise traditional setting. We have plenty of options (wink, wink!). As evidenced by the plethora of designers trending toward this convergence of styles; you actually CAN live with that French Louis XV commode with a fabulous Cy Twombly hanging above!

Art Goes Viral

(photo courtesy of vipartfair.com)

Last month, the 9th edition of Art Basel Miami closed after an exciting week of...sales! 250 galleries participated, exhibiting contemporary art from all over the world. Collectors came out of hiding, and purchased. Prices were up, as were spirits.

This month, the first ONLINE art fair opens. The VIP Art Fair as it's called, for Viewing In Private, opens on January 22 and features high-end contemporary art exclusively for sale online. General access is free of charge, just follow the instructions online. Featuring galleries such as David Zwirner, Fraenkel, Gagosian, White Cube and many other powerhouse names, the fair allows you to view and interact with contemporary art in an entirely new setting. Emerging galleries will be participating as well, including New York's Winkleman Gallery. Once logged in, and before bidding, one can research the artists, chat with a gallerist via instant messaging or Skype, and even zoom-in to view the piece in detail. Watch the video if you don't believe it.

As the co-founder of VIP and gallery owner James Cohan explains, it takes the "intimidation" out of the process, and is not intended to "replace a bricks and mortar fair." More than 2,200 artists working in more than 10 different mediums will be featured. As in a traditional fair, galleries will be organized in booths, and participants will traverse virtually around the week long event. While the galleries participating this year are well known and expected, is this the way of the future? Meaning is this the path that galleries of all types will take in years to come?

By removing the element of location, this new dimension definitely opens up the possibilities to very far-reaching sales. But, will bidders be as eager to buy sight-unseen as they are upon viewing a piece on stage at Sotheby's for example? Will buyers gravitate only towards the artists they are familiar with? Or will they be ready to take risks?

With 137 booths offering fine art for sale in a private, online format, surely some buyers will show up to bid!

I Wish They All Could Be California Girls...

(photos courtesy of Capella Kincheloe)

In light of the recent weather, and an overwhelming urge to see the sun again, today's post spotlights our favorite recent transplant from sunny So Cal with a seriously cool name, Capella Kincheloe.

Capella recently moved to Atlanta from Los Angeles and brought along her lovely design business, Capella Kincheloe Interior Design. Having worked with Michael S Smith for four years, Capella went solo and found her way to the deep south. This December, she was a featured designer in the Atlanta Homes and Lifestlyes Christmas House. We were fortunate to hear Capella speak this fall at the Miami Circle Marketplace Showcase, and just this morning, she spoke at the AmericasMart on "Adapting to Changing Design Clients." Capella also designs a gorgeous line of handmade pillows available on Etsy. A graduate of USC, and a California resident for a decade, Capella brings a fresh and exciting West coast eye to Atlanta's design community. We are so happy to have her in Atlanta, and look forward to what she has in store for our city!

We have asked Capella to compile a list of her 8 favorite things to do in L.A. in case anyone is lucky enough to be planning a trip to the West coast any time soon. And if not, just something to think about while we watch the ice melt. OK, it is clear that we have loved getting to know our new friend, so now on to her tips about how to soak up the sun!

1. Saturdays night movies at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery – a bottle of wine, bread and cheese to watch the sunset and listen to a dj spin records with a thousand people followed by a movie projected onto the side of a mausoleum.
2. Drive up PCH – sometimes it was only to visit a client, but having the Pacific Ocean on my left made me realize how lucky I was.
3. Every Thursday during the summer, bands play on the Santa Monica Pier for the Summer Dance Series. Add a bottle of wine and take out from Tacos Por Favor and you can’t beat it – doesn’t even matter who plays.
4. Hiking Runyon Canyon – filmed for so many movies & tv shows it is an iconic view when you get to the top. Plus it is quintessentially LA hiking – with a ton of beautiful people and their pampered dogs.
5. 2 hours away from LA you can get some of the best wine in the country in a picnic perfect setting. Plus there is a mini horse farm and who doesn’t love visiting dozens of mini-horses?
6. Some of the greatest designers in the country live in LA and a lot of them have shops – visit Peter Dunham’s Hollywood at Home, Harbinger from Lucas Studio, Kathryn Ireland, and Michael Smith’s newly opened showroom. There are also ton of great antique stores, but to get the bargains everyone goes to the Rose Bowl Flea Market. Go early for the best selection and to avoid the heat reflecting off the asphalt.
7. Every Sunday I would visit the year-round Beverly Hills Farmer’s Market to pick up fresh produce. When in season, there was a farmer that would have huge bunches of my favorite flower, ranuculus for $5. I miss him.
8. In addition to the farmer’s market every weekend, we would take our dogs to the unofficial Lake Hollywood dog park – sitting right underneath the Hollywood sign. Email me if you need directions – its a doozy to find.

Making the List

(photos courtesy of Bing.com)

As Sunday brought a close to the magnificent Dali exhibition at Atlanta's High Museum, along with the worst weather system we have seen here in decades, it is time to look ahead at what is next for the institution. At number 8 this month on Town & Country's list of "The Culture Top 10: What to do, see, hear, and read this month," is the upcoming Toulouse-Lautrec exhibition which can be found, "down South" at the High. T&C points out that the show opens on January 29 and features a selection of the artist's prints and drawings. Fortunately for the High, Dali closed as the first paralyzing snowflakes fell on Atlanta, and now there is ample time for the ice to melt before "Toulouse-Lautrec and Friends: The Stein Collection" goes on view.

The "friends" to be shown alongside the famous French artist are three other Frenchmen - Bonnard, Degas and Gauguin, sure to be a nice complement to his style. One reason for Lautrec's acclaim stems from the culture in which he lived. France during his lifetime, Paris more specifically, was experiencing growth and change, and Lautrec was deeply involved in a vibrant and eclectic social scene. The subjects of his works included the personalities he met in and around places such as the Moulin Rouge during the late 19th century. A favorite dancer of his whom he frequently depicted was Jane Avril, pictured in the first image found above. A few of the highlights that will be on view are Lautrec's lithographs which are very rare. Lithography, a printing technique which involves a flat stone or metal surface, became very popular during Lautrec's lifetime, mostly thanks to the artist himself and his contemporaries. Almost fifty of the works included in the show, which runs through May 1, were a gift of Irene and Howard Stein. A must-see for sure!

New year, new blog!

Cora Cohen, 15-10

As we start the new year, we want to say thank you again to all of our loyal readers! Moving forward, we are going to give our blog a little bit more structure. Please keep the comments coming (!), and let us know if there is something that you would like to see more of around here. Starting next Wednesday, you will see two posts per week. On Wednesdays we will discuss art world happenings, news, current market trends and local arts events. Then on Fridays, we will focus on how our daily lives are affected by art art; i.e. how to collect, place and live with fine art.

And if you are not already doing so, please follow us. Thank you for reading, and happy weekend!

Narrative Over Form?

(view of MoMa's sculpture garden; courtesy of veranda.com)

(Marina Abramovic performance; courtesy of bing.com)

Last Sunday the front page of the Arts & Leisure section in the New York Times featured an article by famed art critic Roberta Smith entitled Hold That Obit; MoMa's Not Dead, in which she muses about current trends in Contemporary art while discussing the state of New York's Museum of Modern Art since their sweeping renovation in 2004. She points out that the first several years following the completion of the $800 million Yoshio Taniguchi structure in which the MoMa now resides, visitors and members alike were unsettled and disheartened. She notes that they feared, "we were witnessing nothing less than a major museum's suicide by architecture." One of the major complaints was that the galleries were way too small and the major connecting hallways, ramps, staircases and lobby were not conducive to crowd flow and left something to be desired, as the atmosphere was overwhelmingly "sterile" and "corporate."

Smith goes on to explain the difficulties that the new space created for curators and visitors. However, the gripping portion of the article, and most pertinent to our lives here at the gallery, was her recognition of the museum's "complete disregard for contemporary painting." True, the tiny escalators that force you upwards as you travel into the depths of the galleries along with a thousand other viewers, are a pain. And yes, the lobby with its mobs of people purchasing tickets, meeting friends, and following tour guides, tends to feel more like a train station than a sanctuary of art. Not to mention the months during which a "blockbuster" exhibition is running, such as the recent Tim Burton which closed last April, when utter mobs descend.

Once safely inside the galleries however, you might be surprised at what greets you. If you have visited the museum on W. 53rd Street lately, and enjoy contemporary painting, but tend to feel daunted by performance art, you might have been let down. To many, including Smith, the latest trend in art towards shock-and-awe, with a lack of content and experience, are more often than not, frustrating and disappointing. As Smith so poignantly puts it, "superficial sensationalism" has taken center stage. And, perhaps this is a consequence of the society in which we live, which is increasingly "attention-deficient" and focused on consumption. I.e. the ideal audience for performance and video art that can be quickly absorbed and create a flutter of excitement. What does this mean for those of us who remain captivated by paint on a surface? If you can't get your fill at the Modern, or feel unfulfilled upon leaving a "blockbuster" exhibition at a museum near you, it might just be time to get out to your local galleries instead.