ML GUEST BLOG: Expert Advice for Adding Art to Your Home

August 25, 2010 in Mountain Living by Christine

In Mountain Living’s “Best Of” Issue, I revealed in my editor’s letter that I was once one of those people who hung her artwork way too high on the wall. Thanks to my husband’s advice, I’ve reformed and our artwork is now happily hanging at an appropriate height. But I must admit that hanging artwork, especially groupings of art, can still be pretty daunting.

Fortunately there are helpful folks out there like Maren Bargreen, owner of Park City’s Gallery MAR (pictured above in her gallery), who upon reading my editor’s letter sent me an e-mail offering her expertise and this helpful tip: “I typically recommend a height of 61 inches for the center line of an artwork,” she told me.

I wanted to hear more of Maren’s advice for incorporating artwork into my home (and I thought you might too), so I asked if she wouldn’t mind sharing a few more tips. Here’s what she had to say:

Use your eclectics to create a “salon-style” wall:

“Several framed pieces can look fantastic on a wall, in a non-traditional collage. The key to success is to choose one element and go with it: genre, medium, frames or spacing. Lay out your pieces on the floor and negotiate the spaces between the works. You can measure and even use blue painter’s tape to lay out the installation on the wall. Or do what I’ve done in my own home (below) and freely hang the works, allowing for a more organic look that is less precise. Choosing a salon-style hanging, where the spaces between the paintings are never the same, keeps the wall from looking too regimented and lets you add to and expand the installation.”

Art as architecture:

“Sometimes the obvious choice for an architectural element in your home is just that: too obvious. Why not spice up your space with some unexpected and functional art pieces? Try using blown glass for a powder room sink and rinse your hands in fine art. One of my favorite ideas is to use a wall hanging or large canvas painting in place of a headboard. To hang the piece, allow about 5 inches above where your throw pillows sit. I recommend a 60-inch wide painting above a king-size bed. Or, commission an artist to paint a three-paneled folding screen for your living room. I saw a piece like this in a collector’s home in Scottsdale and it was the favorite piece in the collection.”

Fill your home with memories:

“Adding art to your lifestyle doesn’t have to be expensive. Do you make a beloved trip to Martha’s Vineyard each year? Next time, bring back a watercolor scene of your favorite private beach. Or stop at a glass blower’s workshop in Seattle for wine goblets that you can use all year to remember your trip to the Emerald City.”

About the expert: Maren Bargreen is the owner of Gallery MAR, an art gallery located on Main Street in historic Park City, Utah. The modern space showcases a selection of fine contemporary art, from detailed still life works to abstract landscapes and whimsical figurative pieces. To learn more, visit www.gallerymar.com.

Posted via email from Mountain Living Magazine

“Flower,” 20″ x 16″, $2075

“Bubbles,” 9″ x 12″, $1200

“Boutique,” 24″ x 13″, $1975

Currently Fred Calleri uses each piece as a new lesson. The desire is to have a goal for each piece that may relate to mood, palette, light or expression. By looking at the way Sargent used his palette or Vermeer’s light and use of pattern, Calleri is able to garner a small lesson from that and use it from that point onward. As he explores different paths, the figure resonates throughout each piece. While exploring the figure and representational painting in general, Calleri found by adding a slight distortion he was free to let the image take him where it wanted to go. By distorting the image the bonds of reality and style become less commanding and the piece develops a style on its own.

This year’s Arts Festival kicked off new program and venture for the Kimball Art Center: RELEVANT, through which young, emerging artists are mentored and supported and encouraged to flourish and create right here in Park City.

Daily work sessions included critiques by mentors and peers and round table discussions, of which I was able to be a member. The residency requires dedication, long hours, deadlines and flexibility and will continue next year in 2011.

Through this artist-in-residence program, students were given the experience of developing art for sale, while being challenged to expand their artistic boundaries. During the residency each student’s primary goal was to create a piece… of artwork that was sold at the Opening Night Art Auction and Gala. Ryan Hughes’ painting was picked up at the Friday night Gala by two very lucky collectors– myself and Mr. Mullin.

The rest of the weekend brought even more events and artistic experiences.  On Friday night, Ron Russon painted a demonstration here at the gallery and on Saturday and Sunday we featured two jewelry artists, Susan Richer and Cyndi Sharp, here at Gallery MAR.

Two of our Gallery MAR artists, Penelope Moore and Aaron Memmott, were featured in the festival, and we are fortunate to have new works by both artists in the gallery today. The BMI Cafe at The Downstairs blasted fantastic new musicians all weekend long, with our favorite Seattle-based shown artist above, Alan Stone.

Last night I arrived home at midnight from a whirlwind trip to the Sun Valley/Ketchum, ID area.  About 5 hours north of Park City, Sun Valley has incredible galleries, restaurants, biking, hiking, and skiing (later in the year!). We were amazed by the friendliness of the community and the events and activities that they have to offer their summer visitors.  It’s about as fabulous as Park City in the summer time… well, almost!

Gilman Contemporary Gallery, Ketchum [Ashley Collins Dog, Left]

Friesen Gallery, Ketchum [Michael Kessler painting]

There are quite a bit fewer galleries in the Ketchum area than there are here in Park City, but ones that are there are all top notch. Gilman Contemporary has received the Best Gallery award for two years in a row, but it is Gail Severn Gallery that truly stands alone. This vast gallery showcases artists from Chris Reilly, to Michael Gregory and (my favorite) Marcia Myers. Gallery MAR’s Michael Kessler exhibits at Friesen Gallery (who also has a location in Seattle) and his works truly shine in this space. Another highlight is Kneeland Gallery, who showcases local Utah artists and one of my personal friends Shanna Kunz.

Gail Severn Gallery, Ketchum [James Cook landscape]

What an inspiration to see so much fantastic art in a small town. In addition to the art tour, my husband and I rented bikes– we rode down to a bridge and jumped into the river for a quick cool off, then rode back to sit on the lawn and enjoy the Sun Valley Summer Symphony play with Garth Brooks for an incredible concert. Sunday brought us up to the Sawtooth Mountains and some river rafting on the Salmon. Whew! For a 30 hour trip, we certainly packed it in.

Local Utah painter Ron Russon will visit Gallery MAR on Friday, August 6th from 6 to 8 pm to paint in the gallery. Friday night is the “Locals’ Night” of the Park City Arts Festival, and the KAC is asking for $10 donations for non-locals. This is a great night to come by the gallery and see the newest works on and off the street.

Russon’s latest works are exhibited right now, in the “Color Theories” show. Mary Scrimgeour is also featured. Stop by and see the artist at work!

Park City Art Gallery

What a wonderful opening night for the “Color Theories” exhibit by Ron Russon and Mary Scrimgeour. The show  will continue  through the month of August so don’t miss out on these creatively colorful and expressive works of art.

Mary Scrimgeour and Ron Russon, the night of the opening reception

“All The Pretty Horses,” Oil,  2010  by Mary Scrimgeour

Ron Russon and a huge fan of his work

Wearable artwork by local, emerging artists!  Gallery MAR is pleased to welcome Susan Richer of “Eagle Designs” and Cyndi Sharp of “Rooted in Stone” for an exclusive Trunk Show August 7th and 8th, both days from 11:00 AM until 3:00 PM.

The Arts Festival is the perfect time to introduce these two exciting artists. Both Susan and Cyndi design unique, one of a kind jewelry, and are local here to Park City. Both artists will be in attendance here at the gallery over the Arts Festival weekend.

Susan turned her lifelong passion of designing jewelry into making wearable art, using organic elements that are thoughtful and respectful of their origin. It is important to Susan to know the history of the elements she uses: antique prayer beads, fossils, antique glass and ostrich shells (to name just a few).

Cyndi’s passion for rustic furniture lead her to learn the art of furniture making, through which she designed and built furniture of twigs and roots. She now designs on a much smaller scale: creating jewelry of burled roots found in the forests of Utah and gemstones from around the world creating very unique and interesting pieces.

Maren Bargreen (gallery owner) and Matt Mullin were married yesterday overlooking the incredible mountains and sunset here in Utah.  As you walked into the reception there was a beautiful  painting of the couple commissioned by one of  gallery MAR’s featured artists, Fred Calleri. With family and friends from all over, they exchanged vows and danced the night away.

It was a joyous occasion filled with so much love, laughter, and celebration.  What a wonderful union, with the art of marriage sure to be mastered by these two for years to come. Cheers to the lovely couple!

Shawna Moore

• “Bee Conscious” Exhibition August 20th-22 and Recycle Utah Fund Raiser

Honey bees take the stage for this exhibition of encaustic works by local and regional artists.  Stop by this weekend to view the latest in this ancient, wax-based medium. This exhibit will be mounted to raise awareness for the plight of the honeybee, one of nature’s most cherished and necessary animals. Works by encaustic artists Bridgette Meinhold, Gretchen Papka, and Shawna Moore will be featured. Montana-based Shawna Moore will also hold an encaustic painting workshop at the Kimball Art Center, details below.

Gretchen Papka

This “Bee Conscious” event kicks off a month-long fund raiser for Recycle Utah, culminating in Park City’s Non-Profit Awareness Gallery Stroll on Friday September 24th. Gallery MAR will be selling $10 opportunity drawing tickets to benefit Recycle Utah throughout the month of September. Enter to win your own “Bee Consious” encaustic artwork by a local artist and find out the lucky winner at the Gallery Stroll.

Bridgette Meinhold

The British graffiti artist Banksy has done it again… A decaying Packard Plant in Detroit was his canvas this May. But it seems the 1,500 pound painting was removed and exhibited at a local gallery, leading the plant owners to sue. Some sources I’ve seen tell me that the 555 Gallery removed the piece so as to preserve it, while others say they are guilty of theft.

Bioresource Inc.  filed suit this week in Wayne County Circuit Court to regain possession of the mural by the internationally known British graffiti artist. The painting (a boy with a can of red paint and the words “I remember when all this was trees” affixed to an 8-foot tall cinder block wall) was removed by artists of a nonprofit gallery, where it remains on display in southwest Detroit.

The suit says the mural may be worth $100,000 or more. Stars such as Angelina Jolie have spent more than that on Banksy works. But appraising Banksy graffiti is complicated due to issues of authenticity and the artist’s habit of disavowing works that have been moved from their original setting. Finding a collector willing to buy it or a museum that would accept it as a gift is problematic. Read more about the new graffiti in Detroit in this Metro Times story.

The Egytian Theater here in Park City has had similar troubles. It is assumed that Banksy also tagged our local Main Street Theater and the work of art (a rat wearing 3-d glasses, on a door) was removed and is in storage. How the theater will go about marketing and selling the piece is a controversial issue. Should it remain as is, here in town? Or should a struggling theater program try to reap some monetary rewards from the random tagging? Who does the art belong to, and when does it leave the realm of inspiration and become annoyance?

A slew of graffiti appeared here in town to coincide with the premier of the documentary movie “Exit through the Giftshop,” featuring Banksy (although not revealing his identity).  Read more on our previous blog, here. One piece, on the Java Cow building (seen above) has been covered with ply board, after additional graffiti “artists” decided to leave their own tags.

Park City Municipal removed one of the tags, on a historic building, and it is not known whether they knew the artist and his work or not.