Women's Work

As we close out March and Women's History Month, we want to give a shout out to some women artists who are still killin' it at basketry, typing, dress-making, porcelain painting, quilting, weaving, floral arranging, stitchery, pottery, etc. even though they don't have to.

Because "women's work" is always FINE ART.

Enjoy!

The Wonderful Work of Eileen Braun

A couple of weeks ago we had an amazing studio visit with mixed media sculptor Eileen Braun and were fascinated by her transition in materials - from ceramics to rattan - in the creation of her extraordinary, otherworldly vessels.

Eileen Braun, Smoke, 2017, rattan reed, wax, pigment and string



We are sharing here, her description of the work and a glimpse at what she has been working on.

"In 2016, I put my clay work on hold and sought a new media less demanding of material constraints. After a lot of experimentation, I found it in encaustic wax and rattan weed. As I make the work, the forms grow increasingly more complex. Their sizes range from 3 - 7 feet high and the deep shadows (not easily shown in images), provide a completely different personal experience. The work is deceivingly light, weighing in at a mere 2- 6 pounds.

My art mirrors natural forms with a biomorphic edge. Often the exact life cycle stage one is viewing is too complex to pin down.  Is it focused on seed, mature growth, or the desiccation of this system? I leave that up to the viewer.

Movement, texture and complexity of form are integral to the work as well.  My hope is that the viewer will be drawn in by the shape. While approaching, they will be intrigued by the ever-changing views because one can see both through and around the form simultaneously. The texture, shadow and line created by the materials add to the multidimensional cornucopia of delights.

Process: The sculptures are constructed from rattan reed, encaustic wax, cotton string, and glue. In some instances I have added dress-makers pattern tissue - influenced by my research of Japanese Akari lamps.  The rattan reed is left natural or occasionally pre-stained; soaked, manipulated and secured at all junctions with cotton string.  Additional elements to the sculpture are constructed or texturized with encaustic wax. The exoskeletons in many instances have been en-robed in wax, giving them the appearance of metalwork."

Enjoy the work and imagine the possibilities - tabletop installations, wall-hangings, ceiling installations...

Just exquisite!

 

First Look | Atlanta Hawk's Owners Club | Chris Maynard

Hawks, 2017, hand-carved feathers, 60.75 x 23 x 2 inches

Feast you eyes on this image of the first piece of artwork completed for the newly renovated Atlanta Hawk's Owner's Club at Philips Arena. Created by Olympia, WA artist Chris Maynard, the work is made by carving miniature hawks out of actual feathers with a very small scalpel. With a background in biology and a clear passion for this medium, the work is precise and visually arresting.

It is also three-dimensional; by setting them off the background with tiny pins, the pieces create shadows which is integral to the work. This piece, created for the Owner's Club which will open this month, is about flight and ascension, alluding to the drive of the team's athletes toward the goal.

The Owner's Club is designed by Smith Hanes Studio and will also feature work by Atlanta artists Larry Jens Anderson and David Landis. Stay tuned for more images. This is just the beginning of the transformation of the Philips Arena Art Collection.
 

 

To learn more about Chris Maynard and his incredible, beautiful practice, please visit his website:

www.featherfolio.com

The Floral Art of Holly Bryan

Art can come in many forms. Like a visual artist creating a masterpiece simply by putting pencil to paper, our friend Holly Bryan makes stunning works of art by simply combining and arranging different varieties of flowers and plants. Her designs allow for a fresh rotation of art, enhancing any environment.

Please take a moment to appreciate this sampling of her work. The artistry is so evident.

“ART - the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.”
Source: http://www.hollybryandesign.com/

APP Out of Town / Palm Springs, CA

Winter in Palm Springs is just magical. In mid-January there are plenty of parking spaces and coyotes, and everywhere you look there are palm trees and rainbows framed by a spectacular backdrop of snow-covered mountains. Driving around with your mouth hanging open, there is inspiration literally at every turn.

Palm Springs architect and resident, Trevor O’Donnell offers a terrific Mid-Century Modern Architecture Tour. The approximately two-and-a-half-hour trip gives a drive-by view of homes that represent the best examples of this fascinating movement. So much to see and so many stories about the lifestyles of the families who lived in the homes, the competition (as well as mutual admiration) between architects and why the simplified, efficient designs, perfectly situated within the desert landscape, offered their inhabitants better, more relaxed living experiences. After all, Palm Springs is legendary - considered to be the ultimate place to step back and unwind.

Art consultants typically receive a plethora of details about interiors in order to make their suggestions for complementing artworks. In this case, it was just fun to imagine what could be found inside by only seeing the exteriors. The following images were inspired by this first trip of the year: mid-century modern homes paired with works of art from APP's endless art database.

We specialize in capturing a sense of place in our art packages. We could do this all day…

Source: http://www.psarchitecturetours.com/

In Transition / Take Action

"It's a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world..."

ATL Artist Anita Arliss created this protest image because in her words: "We may never know the USA we grew up in again. Things look dangerously unstable." She has made the image available for public use via Hair on Fire. Click the flag to download if you feel so inclined. 

Even though it feels as if the sky is truly falling, we must fight through this discomfort
and uncertainty and take action. 

 

Learn more about the Artist: www.anitaarliss.com
Quote taken from "Lola" by The Kinks. Listen here.
 

Source: www.haironfire.org

Past, Present + Future / We Love Boutique Hotels

One of the great points of pride for Amy Parry Projects is that we have worked in boutique hospitality since our inception. We understand the guest experience and the desires of our clients. We love that the consumer drives the developments in our business, and that hotel trends we admire and exemplify in our projects flourished in 2016 and will continue to do so in the coming year...

OLD BUILDINGS RENOVATED INTO NEW HOTELS

There is no greater way to offer a unique visual experience for a hotel guest than by welcoming them into a space with built-in history and character. Although chain hotels are some of the ones choosing old properties for their new concepts, each renovated hotel is able to convey an independent feel. Each hotel is set apart by the unique architectural elements which developers choose (or are forced) to keep during renovation. This trend “straddles history and hospitality,” allowing guests to stay in old offices, warehouses, hospitals, etc. The art and furnishings provide the throwback and often pay tribute to the buildings’ rich past. What we love most about this trend is that the older buildings are typically situated in urban epicenters. We are thrilled by the resurgence of downtown and their abundance of interest-generating landmarks. When you stay on a bustling Main Street or in an established, beautiful downtown neighborhood, you are immersed in the city’s culture. Your choice of hotel helps tremendously in that by providing you proximity and carrying the authenticity of a place throughout.

INTENTIONAL ART EXPERIENCES

Going along with intentionally putting hotels in context-filled old buildings, hotels continue to strive to offer spaces with a “lived-in” feeling. Larger hotel companies competing with the Airbnb experience are turning to the immediate resources to achieve this local flavor. Even West Elm, a furniture company, is entering the hospitality business, set to open a handful of boutique concepts in 2018. These companies are giving people more than just a place to sleep. Nowadays, when a guest stays at a great hotel, they can expect to be served local wine and coffee, hear local bands in the bar on weekend nights, take yoga in a studio also frequented by city residents, and play games with other guests in the lobbies. And at the top of our list, their guestoom might feature artwork by the city’s best artists and the first floor may boast a legit, museum-quality collection. As art consultants, it is so much more fun to pick art to complement a hotel’s character, rather than it’s couches (although we can do that too).

Amy Parry Projects is honored to provide art for boutique hotels.

The entire hospitality experience should be curated to make each stay memorable, comfortable and fun for the guest. Here’s to a great 2017 - we look forward to amplifying each project with awesome, intentional art (like the commissioned Jesus Perea seen below).

IMAGE 1: Jesus Perea, customized print for upcoming hotel (inserted local imagery)

IMAGE 2: AP on Site: "Cloud" being built in the ceiling of a historic boutique hotel designed to cover pipes required to stay through renovation.