This Weekend: Art, Art and more Art!!

Breakthrough, 48" x 66", by Micah Crandall-Bear

If there is one thing that Sacramento has in abundance, it is a thriving art community. Artists from all over  California and beyond, have found Sacramento a place that is quite supportive of their passion. There are ample opportunities and venues to show what they do to a population that has great appreciation. There are affordable places to find studio space. And there is a large community of like-minded souls who encourage  and promote each other.

I think that an interior is never complete without great art. I encourage my clients to look at art, find out about the artists and see what speaks or appeals to them..... 

New York II, 52" x 56" by Micah Crandall-Bear

This weekend, there is the perfect opportunity to see a huge amount of art in one fell swoop. This Saturday, September 10, 10am-4pm, and Sunday, September 11, 12-4pm  more than 150 artists are opening their studios to the public on the annual 

Capitol Artists Studio Tour

organized by the

  Center for Contemporary Art, Sacramento.

Writing in the Sand 5, 22" x 30"  by Sandra Beard

The Center for Contemporary Art, Sacramento (CCASAC) is also host to the 2011 Capitol Artists Studio Tour Exhibition, which started August 30 and runs through September 11. So....three things.....

1) CCASAC will have maps you can pick up for the weekend long Capitol Artists Studio Tour 

2) CCASAC will be exhibiting over 100 artists works at the 2011 Capitol Artists Exhibition

 AND

 3) CCASAC will be hosting an Artists' Studio Tour Exhibition Reception September 10, 6-9pm

White Lies 2, 66" x 50",  by Sandra Beard

 Got all that? If not, just click on over HERE to get all the scoop, see links to many of the artists' websites, and find out all about CCASAC.

Art acquisition adds beauty to our environments. And we need that.

So grab your bikes, head on over to CCASAC, pick up your maps and have a wonderful day viewing art, meeting the artists....and all for.......free!

Below the Surface, 40" x 28" by Cherie Hacker

Hope to see you out and about this weekend! I'll be the one sporting that beautiful head of helmet hair.

Have a gorgeous weekend!

Aren't We All?

........Animal lovers? 

I am without a doubt. 

I just received an email from a company called the Animal Blueprint Company. As soon as I saw what they do.....I was on board. I love an old blueprint, and if it is of my favorite canine or feline, so much the better. The team over at Animal Blueprint call it barkitecture. Hehe.

I am completely charmed and will be using one of these in the very near future for a client project, I hope!

 What do you think? Are you with me?

Pick your favorite breed on the Animal Blueprint Company's website HERE.

A Mystery at the Getty

 During Spring Break, my family and I decided to head to Southern California. We braved the LA traffic to spend a day at the Getty Center. Tim and I spent one of our very first dates at the MoMA in LA about 23 years ago, and it was time for a little reprisal of sorts.

The day was beautiful, and we were happy for a break from the Laguna Beach fog. I was very interested in the controversial gardens designed by artist Robert Irwin. We had never seen the museum and we went to every single gallery to take in the Van Gogh, Degas, Titian, Monet, as well as the current exhibits which included a fantastic display of Chinese Photography. 

 By now, everyone is familiar with the breathtaking architecture of the Center by Richard Meier, but seeing it in person is another thing altogether. The combination of structure and landscape was stunning. As much as I admired and appreciated all the glorious art inside, the exterior spaces were just spectacular.

There was a little mystery we had great fun with along the way. We came upon what appeared to be an umbrella that was left behind by a careless visitor to the museum (see above). We had stopped for a coffee at a stand in the courtyard, and found it hanging from a tree. Best to leave it there so when the visitor remembered it, they would find it again. We continued on our way.

 But it seemed that this forlorn umbrella had picked us as its new family. We found it hanging from a railing as we overlooked the city. How did it get here?

 We moved on to see the gardens that were part of the design by Richard Meier's team...

 We felt like we were in a village clinging to the side of a mountain....

 ....as we made our way down to the Central Garden, the area designed by Robert Irwin. We traversed the cobbled stream bed......

 ....and wound our way down to the story book bougainvillea arbors....

....which overlooked the pool with a maze of azaleas which seemingly floated on top...

 ....and on around the pool we strolled, taking in the garden sights and the beautiful day...

 ...when we came across our little friend. It seems that it had seen the Red Balloon and was playing the same game...

 Well....we played along. New friends are not to be taken for granted.

We saw each other again....

 ...but it was getting late. We walked back to the tram to go back to our car....

 Our friend decided to wave goodbye as we boarded the tram and left.....

I hope you have a chance to visit the Getty Center the next time you are in Southern California. Plan to make a day of it....there is so much to see, ...... and shade is provided for free whenever you need it.

SPLASH!

Series 1 no. 1, 24" x 45.5", by Robin H. Reynolds

The weather is finally starting to warm up after a week of rain and mid forties temps. I am thinking of summer....just a wink away.

I am getting in the zone by gazing at this photo by Robin H. Reynolds I found out about Robin's work at the San Francisco Decorator Showcase, and I am sold.

Refreshing as a full run down the beach and a dive under a crashing wave.....

Have a great weekend!

Crocker Museum's New Gwathmey Siegel Addition

          

The Original Crocker Art Museum

Last Sunday, my mom and I, along with thousands of other art enthusiasts, decided we had to be a part of the opening day of the Crocker Art Museum's new addition. We have always known the Crocker in it's beautifully historic Victorian incarnation, having been donated to the City of Sacramento and the California Museum Association by Margaret Crocker in 1885.

Original Crocker Art Museum Entrance

  On 10.10.10, the new and very modern addition designed by Gwathmey Siegel and Associates was officially opened to the public. And what an opening! As we approached the building (I had been following progress for months prior to seeing it finished) there was a definite air of celebration. Parked on the street and in the park in front of the museum was a huge collection of cars on display. Not just any cars. These were from the Art Cars Fest 2010.These are cars decorated by artists who use them in their daily lives. I will have more on them later!

The Marriage of Original Craocker and the new Expansion by Gwathmey Siegel

The new building is very modern and creates a beautiful counterpoint to the Victorian tradition. For much more information about the design and process, click HERE.

New Expansion by Gwathmey Siegal

As soon as we entered, we were sold. The spaces soared, as did our spirits. I cannot tell you how we felt. A feeling of civic pride, sure, but also a feeling of excitement and anticipation that we were going to be able to have access to this fantastic new facility.

New Entry look out to the Original Crocker

We noticed how many volunteers were on hand to answer questions and direct traffic flow. Everyone was knowledgeable, helpful and enthusiastic to be a part of something grand. Their enthusiasm is quite catching. Both my mom and I are planning to become much more involved with the museum.

Kamehameha by Deborah Butterfield, with a very helpful docent

So let me show you around a little... This is the main entry level. Already we are seeing monumental art....

Pacific Ocean, by Jennifer Bartlett, "84

 And the space is awesome (to quote a teenager that happened to be standing near us). I discovered that the cafe in the Museum is under the direction of one of my favorite Sacramento restaurateurs, Patrick Mulvaney, owner of Mulvaney's Building and Loan. More info about the cafe HERE. I will be back.....often.



Crocker Art Museum Hall and Cafe Seating



We were advised to head up to the third floor, the main exhibit halls, before they became too crowded...so up we went....

....and in the stair well discovered this ethereal computer animated projection entitled Rapunzel by Jennifer Steinkamp



Rapunzel#10 by Jennifer Steinkam



Rapunzel just got us in the mood for more. The third floor is where the main exhibition galleries are located. We were lucky to see a couple of the galleries full of art that has been promised to the museum by generous donors. I was not able to take pictures here, but there was plenty more to see in the may other gallery spaces....



Cold and Cloudy Today, Tonight and Tomorrow Sam Richardson

This is an example of the spaces allotted to contemporary art....The skylights you see are the sawtooth design on the building exterior. They are reminiscent of the old factories in the Sacramento area....



New Gallery Space

 I have included just some of the pieces that stopped me in my tracks. There is so much to see that we are going to be coming back throughout the year.

Portrait of My Father by Stephen J. Kaltenback

Untitled (Disasters of War 10) by Gettfried Helnwein

Large spaces for large art

Birth of Cain by Troy Dalton

There are also new gallery spaces dedicated to historical California art...

New California Art Gallery Space

 They were buzzing with happy art enthusiasts....

More Gallery Space

California Gallery, Yosemite

This photo is where the new is married to the old. It was not intentional in my photo, but the white walls of the new wing looks almost heavenly as it leads a patron into the gracious tradition of the original building.....

Entering the Original Crocker

Not only did the Crocker treat us to an uplifting new addition to the Sacramento Cultural scene with the museum opening, they also reminded us there is a wealth of culture in the arts that are just as important. The Grand Opening had dancers from Mexico..... 

   

And India.....

And there was inspiring music...

Sacramento Youth Symphony

 I wish that I could have stayed longer, but other commitments were calling....and we promised ourselves we would be back often.

On the way out, I stopped into the Museum gift shop and saw a couple of things to add to my Holiday wish list....

The Crocker Art Museum Collection, Unveiled

The Vase Unveiled, The Sidney Swidler Collection of the Contemporary Vessel (This is one of the exhibits we did not have time to see...we are making it back to the Museum next week!)

I hope you had a memorable 10.10.10!