'Where Should I Put My Sculptures?'

'Miss Victoria 2' and 'Black Rose' enjoying the spectacular decor at the Dancing Bear Aspen

On a recent trip to Bermuda, I had a chance to sit down with the great team responsible for selling my sculptures at the Rosewood Tuckers Point Hotel.  We visited about the busy summer that had just past and reminisced about all the sculptures that went flying out the door!  In an effort to better understand the people who are collecting my work, after all- I don't get to always meet them, I asked Sherry Alvarado to share with me the questions she gets from collectors.  While some guests are interested in reading my bio and others simply ask who I am; many, many of them are looking for suggestions on where to place their sculpture once they get it home.  As some of you know, I have been doing a 'Fantasy Decorating' series in my blog where I pair sculptures with designer decorated interiors to spark ideas on where my sculptures would look best.  (scroll down to see recent posts)  In today's post, I share images of where my sculptures have been placed with other designers and collectors.  Suggestions include: entry hall table, sofa table, coffee table, bedside table, dressing room, bathroom/bedroom vanity, kitchen island, desk..............  What are you suggestions- I would love to hear your thoughts!

'Miss Roselyn' in her new home gracing the bedside table of this elegant bedroom.

'Miss Royal 2' adorns this entertainment bureau.

'Miss Royale' & 'Miss Olivia Rose' enjoy each other's company and the view!  I love these two paired together.

'All Ruffled 2' & 'Saturday in May' act as unique centerpieces.

'Blue Belle' on a cocktail table and 'Rumor' decorating the bar at the Viceroy Snowmass.

Inspiration Boards, How I Use Them

Using inspiration from these two gowns, I created 'Constance'.  17 H x 10 W  $2750
Available from Rosewood Tuckers Point, Bermuda , 441-298-4000

I am love, loving Pinterest; the latest online social media tool/toy!  Pinterest allows me to draw inspiration from numerous sources, organize them into categories and revert back to them whenever I choose.  It also allows me to share these inspirations with my 'followers'.  While not every detail of every gown I 'pin' can be translated into tile, I can take certain details like a neckline, a colorway, a waistline, a hemline- and interpret them into tile mosaic gowns.  In this blog post, I have grouped together the inspiration images with the finished tile mosaic gowns.  Let me know what you think by joining in the 'conversation' on Pinterest, 

click here.

Loving this one shoulder dress by Jenny Packham worn by Kate Middleton and Angelina Jolie.  I paired by favorite blue and white china with deep black tiles and beads to create 'Miss Willowby', 22 H x 12 W, $3250,
Available from Rosewood Tuckers Point Hotel, Bermuda , 441-298-4000

I combined this Valentino dress worn by Felicity Jones and the colors separated by 'Chip It' tool from Sherwin Williams to make 'Miss Alford', 17 H x 10 W, $2750,
Available from Rosewood Tuckers Point Hotel, Bermuda , 441-298-4000

Felicity Jones again, this time wearing a Miu Miu dress.  I used white beads throughout to replicate the pearls on Felicity's dress to create 'Miss Roselyn', 22 H x 12 W, $3250,
Available from Rosewood Tuckers Point Hotel, Bermuda , 441-298-4000

Show Opening at Rosewood Tucker's Point Hotel, Bermuda

Upon arrival, I paired each base with the pre-broken tile and china I planned to use.

I have just returned from a whirlwind trip to Bermuda.  While this may sound exotic to most, I was working.  I have a great relationship with Rosewood Tucker's Point and this trip represented my 3rd annual working sojourn to the island.  I spend about 10 days creating sculptures for the hotel to display and sell in their lobby shop, Regali.  The hotel provides me with a studio space to work in.  

How did this come about?  I was a resident on the island for 17 years, married to a Bermudian.  We had our three children on the island and are still very connected to friends and colleagues.  During the Grand Opening Celebration of the hotel, I was invited to display my sculptures.  They were so well received, the hotel invited me to keep a few on hand to sell.  I now sell more sculptures from the hotel than all my galleries combined.  

When we moved to Colorado almost 3 years ago, I had to figure out a way to keep showing my work on the island with out paying enormous shipping costs and incurring customs fees on completed pieces.  Simple math is that it is cheaper for me to fly over, take my materials and create the pieces on site.

Sculptures with completed mosaics, ready to grout.

 You may ask how I can spend only 10 days and create so much work? These days are just the time I spend doing the mosaic and the grouting.  In advance of my trip, I spend time gathering delicate china from antique dealers, auction houses and flea markets.   I attend bead shows to select strands from around the world.  I source  tile from Italy and Mexico.  I spent over six months designing the unique Styrofoam structures, created especially for me, and used as the bases for my sculptures.  I source dress inspirations throughout the year.  I translate dress designs into tile. In advance of my travels, I break the tiles, cut all the china and cover the Styrofoam bases with fiberglass and several layers of concrete, allowing me to hit the ground running when I arrive.  Once on the island, I throw open the doors of the studio, let the fresh air and sun shine in, and get to work! 

To see images of the completed pieces and from the night of the Opening, please click here.  I am interested in securing another hotel venue to replicate a similar arrangement with my sculptures.  Please email me if you or someone you know would be open to having a conversation.

  

Fantasy Decorating with Tracery Interiors and House Beautiful Magazine

This is definitely a 'House Beautiful', I just want to move in! What a wonderful job the design team at

Tracery Interiors did with this home in Alabama.  The photography of these spaces is superb and really captures the intimacy of this home.  My sculptures would fit right in- don't you agree!

Wouldn't it be fun to see 'Miss Heather Gray' right on the corner of this over-sized island

'Miss Heather Gray'  22 H x 12 W
$4000.00
Available from E.S. Lawrence Gallery, Aspen, CO

I would love to see a sculpture tucked in under the sconce.

Commission Piece,  17 H X 12 W
Private Collection

'Natalia' would fit right in either on the coffee table or on the mantel.

'Natalia', 12 H x 6 W
$1250.00
Available from Rosewood Tuckers Point Hotel & Spa, Bermuda

As I continue with my Fantasy Decorating Series, I look to Country Living Magazine.  I am in love with Modern Country.  I sometimes pretend when I am sleuthing at a flea market that the person next to me is a secret editor from Country Living!  I wish I had more rooms to decorate in my own home with all the finds and inspiration from this magazine.  Check out which sculptures I would place in each of these rooms....

Country Living Magazine

'Miss Congeniality'  17 H x 12 W

Country Living Magazine

'Inauguration' 26 H x 12 W
In the Collection of Clive and Lyndy Thatcher, Bermuda
Photography by Sacha Blackburn

Country Living Magazine

'Miss Ginny' 22 H x 10 W
Private Collection
Photography by Amanda Temple

Country Living Magazine

'Miss Soleil' 22 H x 12 W
In the Collection of Joe Gibbons, Bermuda
Photography by Amanda Temple

Fantasy Decorating - In the Pink!

I'm feeling a little 'In the Pink' today.  Here are some wonderful photographs from House Beautiful Magazine continuing my Fantasy Decorating Series, I think HB agrees with me today!

House Beautiful

'Midnight Rose' 17 H x 12 W
Available from BlueStone Gallery, Philadelphia

House Beautiful

Commission for Donna Mastran

House Beautiful

'Miss Victoria'  22 H x 12 W
Photography by Amanda Temple
Available from Rosewood Tuckers Point Hotel & Spa
Bermuda

Artwork and the Hotel Guest

A recent article in the NYTimes, ‘Hospitality Boutiques’, by Terry Trucco, August 8, 2011; points to how hotels are recognizing the opportunities they have for revenue in enlarging their hotel gift shop offerings to include high end merchandise and art.  “With occupancy rates and the number of travelers on the rise, industry experts predict growth in high-concept hotel shops.  Shops are one of the remaining opportunities hotels have for people to say ‘This place is different, better, cleverer and more exciting than I expected,’ ” said Bjorn Hanson, New York University. 

When a guest stays at a hotel for a few days, think of the numerous opportunities for retail.  “If it’s done right, retailing is another layer that makes the overall experience more engaging,” said Alex Calderwood, of the Ace Hotel in New York.  Hotels have long been selling their bathrobes and linens and guests have long been stealing toiletries.  The same applies for artwork in the Boutique Hotel setting.  Rather than taking home a robe, guests are opting for the artwork in the lobby for their own homes.  Alex continues, “You want guests to find things they may not see everywhere else.” 

Artwork by Shelly Hamill
Photography by Amanda Temple
Rosewood Tuckers Point Hotel & Spa
Bermuda

Guests in the leisure hotel market must pass the lobby artwork on their way to breakfast, lunch and dinner; on their way to the pool, beach, golf and tennis- for several days in a row.  The image of the artwork is repeated and reinforced multiple times in any given day.  An emotional connection is made with the artwork and in the experience of a hotel, the convenience and ease of charging that artwork to their account makes it all the more compelling.   

Artwork by Shelly Hamill
Photography by Amanda Temple
Rosewood Tuckers Point Hotel & Spa
Bermuda

Good interior design also plays an important role.  Good design allows guests to actually see what a particular piece of artwork will look like in their own home setting.  Decorating a hotel lobby with beautiful artwork and interiors makes it easy on the collector.  The collector does not have to guess what a piece will look like with a sofa and a lamp, the concept already exists. 

Artwork by Shelly Hamill
Photography by Amanda Temple
Rosewood Tuckers Point Hotel & Spa
Bermuda

Honestly, what it really comes down to is we want that vacation feeling to continue once we get home.  We can think fondly of our time in XYZ every time we see the piece of artwork and we can share our love of XYZ every time a guest in our home expresses interest in the piece- no need to pull out the slide projector.