"The Last Thing You Hung"

We loved getting Grant Gibson's blog post this morning thanking House Beautiful for including him in their June 2011 issue. The feature is called "Send Us a Picture: The Last Thing You Hung." The headline says, "Designers know that one of the quickest changes of all is to hammer a nail into a wall and hang a painting, a photo, a gleaming mirror." Grant then highlights a piece of wall decor by a San Franciso artisan that has the power to change a room entirely.

(image courtesy of Grant K. Gibson, "the blog")

At the risk of overstating the obvious, we feel exactly the same way! While it can be intimidating to hang a statement piece of artwork on a wall, creating a focal point for the room, that piece of art has the power to set the overall tone. Don't be afraid to start with a painting that moves you, and let it be the inspiration for the space it hangs in. Alternatively, it can be a very exciting thing to hang a piece of art in an effort to restore life to a room. Allow art to be a conversation starter, and let your personality show through your selections. We are often asked the best way to go about making a purchase of fine art, and we always say, go with your gut. After all, you are the one who will be living with it.

Another example of this we spotted recently was in the latest issue of Lonny. The images of Todd Romano's new LA store, along with his own home, show how his personality, and his fearlessness when it comes to letting art do the talking in a room. Don't let convention stop you from placing a contemporary, abstract piece in a formal dining room. Look how fun that piece is that Grant hung to the right of the "branchlers," on what appears to be grasscloth walls...Not only is that a room we would love to spend time in, but we also want to meet the inhabitants!

(above two images courtesy of Lonny Magazine)

Jennifer, Patti, and Peggy

The Power of Now, Julie Blackmon

Oh, Happy Day, Maggie Taylor

Elvis from Arrangement in Green and Black, Aline Smithson

Pipelines 3, Michael Marshall

Introducing: Jennifer Schwartz Gallery

Jennifer Schwartz opened her gallery two years ago to serve Atlanta's growing contemporary photography community and market. A Southerner at heart, Jennifer hails from Richmond and has her BA from Colgate, and her MA from Georgia State. Prior to opening her photography gallery in 2009, Jennifer owned a successful commercial photography business for a decade.

Just last month, she relocated to 1000 Marietta Street, and happens to be directly across the parking lot from us, over on the Westside. Previously located in TULA Art Center on Bennet Street, the gallery is now a part of the Westside Arts District. Open Tuesday - Saturday, 11 - 5, Jennifer Schwartz gallery seeks to promote both emerging contemporary photographers, as well as more established artists.

Please join JSG this Friday night from 7 - 10 p.m. for the opening of Still.Life., featuring Julie Blackmon, Michael Marshall, Maggie Taylor and Aline Smithson.

(image courtesy of google.com)

Meet: Patti Smith

Author of Just Kids

If you haven't read it yet, go buy it now. A poetic memoir regaling the roller coaster ride that was life at the Chelsea Hotel in the late 60's, and early 70's, Just Kids is beautifully written. Rife with high-highs and low-lows, the rise to fame and success for Patti Smith and her love Robert Mapplethorpe, was not an easy one. At times depressing, and often enlightening, Smith takes you down the rabbit hole into another world altogether. By the end, you might feel you could call Janis Joplin or Jimi Hendrix a friend, not to mention Patti herself.

Although not a brand new release, Jeremy Irons brought this book to our attention back in March, when we were seated next to him at lunch in New York City, following a trip to the Park Avenue Armory Show. Over 'Cajun poulet' and cappuccino, he feverishly read Just Kids after finishing the crossword in the Times. As it so happened, during that trip we were in the process of reading the last few pages of our then current read, Peggy Guggenheim: Confessions of an Art Addict, and in dire need of a new book. If you are looking for a fantastic memoir about life as a relentless champion of the arts in the early 20th century, this is a MUST READ! Responsible in large part for launching Jackson Pollack's career, Peggy's life journey is fascinating, and you will not put it down.

Suggestions for our next book??

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!