Santa’s elves have been busy at my house … and I apologize for the resultant lack of posting!  My hubby and I decided to do some minor remodeling (more on that later) at our home as Christmas to each other, so I’ve been wrapped up with that … and client work, of course.  But here’s one thing that I did manage to do – score “clear perfection,” the small oil painting in the photo below.  Isn’t it chic?  It’s inspired by a La Marie Ghost chair by Philippe Starck and artwork by Andy Warhol.  I own two Louis Ghost chairs, also by Philippe Starck, and I wish I owned a Warhol … which is why I really loved this particular painting! 

The artist - Kimberly Applegate – posts a “trial sized” painting on eBay each day.  The paintings feature a chair and usually a piece of art … which happen to be two of my very favorite things!  Aren’t they fabulous?  While “clear perfection” is the first painting of Kimberly’s that I won, it’s not the first painting that I’ve bid on … so I am certain you will find something you love, probably sooner rather than later!  Kimberly also has 2010 calendars – in three different themes (“modern,” “relaxers,” or “birds love chairs”) – available for sale on eBay and her blog.  Does the January painting in the “modern” calendar look familiar?  Anyway, I subscribe to her blog emails so that I get the daily painting in my in-box each day.  I recommend that you do the same! 

By the way, you should also check out Smart Furniture, the online store to which I linked for the Louis Ghost chair.  Finding that link was like a blast from the past.  I met Stephen Culp, the founder of Smart Furniture, years ago on a plane flight back from San Francisco.  I can’t even recall why we started chatting; I was exhausted from having run the Bay to Breakers race the previous day!  Anyway, I was impressed with the Smart Furniture design back then - enough that I remembered it - and I’m even more impressed to see how the company has evolved.  Kudos to him!           

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It’s no secret that I adore Hodges Taylor Gallery in downtown Charlotte.  I’ve been a big fan since the day I attended a presentation by Christie Taylor about how she and Dot Hodges acquired artwork on behalf of (what was at the time) the law firm Smith, Helms, Mulliss and Moore for their new offices.  I was very impressed by the firm’s commitment to the arts, as evidenced by its decision to build a real collection, and Christie’s talk was truly inspiring.  Smith Helms has since split and then merged, and I don’t have any idea what became of its art collection.  I hope it is still displayed in its Charlotte office as beautifully as it was the day it was installed.  For the record, I am still coveting the carved wooden bowl by Michael Bauermeister!    

Today, however, I’m featuring another artist that I discovered thanks to Hodges Taylor - Judy Pfaff.  Personally, I fell in love with Judy’s work when I saw one of her pieces displayed in a local showhome.  Judy’s Feet First (shown above) hangs in my foyer and is shown in the background of the “after photos” of the chair I featured in this post.  Truth be told, I’d rather acquire art than almost anything.  There’s a reason that Feet First hung in my foyer before I replaced my student-era sofa.  After all, art can inspire the entire look and feel of a house!  And after Decorno herself inquired about the piece, I figured it was a more than worthy topic for the blog.  Unfortunately, I don’t believe that Hodges Taylor represents Judy any longer.  I’m still pining over a piece I saw there years ago that just wasn’t in the budget (even without buying any furniture).  I wish I could share it with you, but I cannot find it on Judy’s site.  Fortunately, there’s plenty more to talk about!       

Judy is perhaps best-known for her installation art, but – as she herself has pointed out – she’s always done prints and drawings because that’s what’s practical for people to display in their homes.  Judy has received numerous accolades for her work, including a MacArthur Foundation and a fellowship from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation.  Judy is also the subject of a monograph, although you can see many of her pieces on her website.   

Enjoy!

Photo from Judy Pfaff

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Years ago, my hubby and I were on vacay in Seattle when we stumbled across Foster/White Gallery, an amazing art gallery with a large location in Seattle and other locations in Canada.  Well, let's just say that we fell in love!  We splurged on a large piece by Tom Burrows and a smaller piece by Dale Lindman.  I would have loved to bring some other pieces home as well (Chihuly, anyone?) if only the budget would have allowed.  As much as we have loved our purchases over the years, I get almost as excited when I get mailings from Foster/White announcing new exhibitions.  It's almost like a virtual stroll through the gallery!  Above you'll find a piece by Stephen Filla, entitled "Its presence is revealed only through its interactions."   Stunning, isn't it?  I love it! 

Here's a brief background on Stephen Filla, as provided on the Foster/White Gallery website. 

"Stephen Filla chooses to work in abstraction because it sets fewer presumptions about final meaning. He believes that there is no right way to view a piece, no 'getting it'; the viewer is to identify with the piece in their own way. Filla works with layered polymer resin and enjoys the added dimension that the clear layers give to suspended paint. His frequent Pacific Northwest wilderness travels, along with travel abroad, allow him to study and collect images for inspiration and material. Collections of Filla’s work include the Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis."

"Stephen Filla received his MFA in Visual Studies at the College of Art & Design, Minneapolis in 2004. In 1999, he received a BFA in Painting from the University of Minnesota."

I think he's amazing.  Maybe one day I'll be able to add a Stephen Filla to our collection ... and you can bet I'll be calling Foster/White! 

Photo from Foster/White Gallery