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.

Rest in Praise, Mr. Christenberry

Renowned Southern artist, William Christenberry passed away Monday, November 28th. His photographs of the dilapidated buildings and vanishing landscapes of Alabama have as lasting endurance as the writing of Faulkner or the music of Ray Charles. Christenberry epitomizes the great identity within Southern culture that was written about in Heritage of the South: "a loyalty to a place where habits are strong and memories are long. If those memories could speak, they would tell stories of a region powerfully shaped by it's history and determined to pass it on to future generations."

We remain grateful for his eye and the Kodak Brownie that captured his images. Rest in praise, Mr. Christenberry.

 

 

 

 

 

Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainme...

Sharon Shapiro / In Defense of Figurative Art

Artists since the beginning of time have attempted to capture their social realities in their work, mimicking their sights and surroundings and offering impressions of the people and places that are important to them. As artists became more experimental and photography emerged as an available method to capture the real, figurative work has often taken a backseat to abstract and conceptual art particularly on display in the world’s museums and galleries.
 
Alice Neel, Lucien Freud, Chuck Close, Kehinde Wiley, Eric Fischl, Fairfield Porter, Marlene Dumas, Wayne Thiebaud, Amy Cutler and Sharon Shapiro, an artist Amy Parry Projects is very fond of, all offer proof that figurative work is still so impactful and significant when done well.

Long Shadow, 1994, acrylic on canvas, 23 x 24 inches
Collection of The Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia (MOCA GA)

The first painting of Sharon’s I ever saw was Longshadow (above), a very odd little piece featuring a serious baby wearing a black glove. It was reminiscent of a portrait a wealthy family would commission of a child of great birthright, but what the heck was that glove all about? The thoughts that this painting provoked and the enduring uncertainty it offers is what I love most about Sharon’s work.

Amy Parry Projects is currently working with Sharon on a trio of layered, framed artworks for the guestrooms of a historic Atlanta hotel being renovated. In defense of figurative painting, and to attempt to explain why it can often be more interesting than a beautifully painted landscape, here are some words from some of Sharon’s collectors.

Please enjoy the thoughts and figures and let us know if we can connect you with Sharon!
 

I think for art to be serious and important, the kind that asks people to linger before it and really look at it, it has to have some kind of content. Abstract art, if it is more than decoration, makes an argument — i.e. has content — in its purely formal expression. But people can perhaps more easily overlook abstract art, and that is what makes it a safe choice for interiors. It is harder to walk past a face without engaging.
 
Figurative art demands attention because it opens a dialogue with viewers; it compels questions like who is she? What is she doing? What is she feeling? Where is she? but it doesn’t offer easy answers.

Pilgrimage 4, acrylic on canvas, 56 x 50 inches, Collection of Karen Goodchild

My experience is that people, whether or not they think of themselves as art-lovers or connoisseurs, are eager to enter into these conversations with paintings. They see a work and try out different narratives and meanings for the piece. These possible meanings make them look closely, asking question of the work that ideally will cause them to engage with the work’s formal qualities (how has the artist created the gleam in the figure’s eye? Why do the background trees seem threatening?). These questions will not always be answered, but I don’t find that viewers are upset at the open-endedness of their interaction.
 
Humans are narrative machines; we produce stories endlessly from the material of own experience, and figurative art offers an intense visual prompt to this story telling. Ultimately, living with Sharon’s work, has helped me see how deeply satisfying it is for people to encounter important art. Even though we are surrounded by endless images of people, a painted or drawn image carries a weight of creative intention through the effort of its facture that is satisfying on so many levels.

- Karen Goodchild, Chair of Art + Art History Departments, Wofford College

_______


The watercolor I have by Sharon Shapiro, titled 'Heaven,' is one of my most treasured works of art. Based on a vintage photograph, it depicts a topless pin-up girl in a swimming pool with one arm raised in a greeting. Lush greenery surrounds her. It's a charming and funny picture, really. I have it hanging in my dining room in view of another nude painting from the 60s that my aunt painted. 

I think most people are a little alarmed when they encounter it in such a prominent spot: I entertain a lot so guests are frequently confronted with it.

Heaven, 2011, watercolor on paper, 30 x 22 inches, Collection of Robin Bernat

After a while, and in context to the other works in my dining and living rooms, I think they are better able to settle into their enjoyment of the work and whatever initial uneasiness about what might be provocative melts away. Sharon's deft handling of the watercolor is irresistible in my opinion.
 
- Robin Bernat, Owner/Curator of {Poem88} Gallery

 
_______
 

In 2014 I bought the painting 'Seam Splitter' and it has brought me so much joy. Every time I pass it, I notice something new and wonder what this woman is thinking. On top of being really beautiful, it's light and airy and mysterious and intense at the same time.

Seam Splitter, 2013, watercolor on paper, 22 x 30 inches, Collection of Joanne LaMotte

I get positive feedback and comments on this painting a lot. People always ask me who she is and who the painter is. Most of the comments center around the painting being, delicate, beautiful, and intriguing. People wonder what she's thinking. She seems to be a throwback to another era which I like. I've also moved her around several times in my house and she works in every room. She's part of the family now! Folks always stop and pause to look at her, whereas they don't really notice or do that with my abstract art.

- Joanne LaMotte, Jewelry Designer

_______

  
Sharon’s painting 'Burn' has has been in place in my living room for ten years now and has inspired endless reactions and comments as guests have flowed through our home. It has an immediacy that is hard to ignore, and it is actually more than figurative.  The geometry of the ovals and stripes gives it a modern feel I think, and during part of the day, sunlight gives the illusion that the woman has temporary wings.

Burn, 2005, acrylic on canvas, 48 x 60 inches, Collection of Wyn Owens

It by far attracts more attention than the large William Albert Allard Montana landscape photo I have in the same room or the Alex Webb photo of school boys, although both are superb pieces in my judgement.
 
In my experience, Sharon’s works have a way of riveting bystanders. There is some magic there that I’m personally poorly equipped to articulate, but I witness the magic’s effect on people all the time.

- Wyn Owens, Investment Manager / Founding Partner of New Generation Advisors

_______


More of our favorite works by Sharon Shapiro...


 

 

Happy Labor Day!

Wishing you a safe and happy Holiday weekend from Amy Parry Projects

John Singer Sargent (1856-1925), White Ships, ca. 1908, watercolor with wax resist and graphite underdrawing, 14 x 9 inches, Collection of the Brooklyn Museum

Lela Brunet / ATL is Hot

We visited ATL artist Lela Brunet recently - what a treat. We were interested in meeting her to learn more about her striking, figurative work. We left with a new friend and a feeling of excitement about the groundswell of creative energy that can be felt in ATL these days. Lela and her friends are artists who are bridging the gap between street art and fine art, doing their own thing and finding great opportunities for support to continue to do so. Lela spent as much time talking about her people as she did her own work, so as a nod to each of them, their links are shared below.

Video courtesy of Mutiny Artwrx

A recent graduate of Kennesaw State University (College of the Arts) Lela just moved into a new studio space in Mutiny Artwrx, which was developed and founded by JP McChesney, an artist himself. You may also know him from his other endeavors over at Paris on Ponce where Mutiny artists are offered a space to show their work. Lela's studio mate is another artist we have been following, Megan Mosholder, who sounds like she is having an incredibly busy/successful year. We also met Ray Geier, who dropped by the studio during our visit and told us all about the street painting he had completed around East Atlanta Village. He led us through all the great things happening with Elizabeth Jarrett's performance space Downtown Players Club and collaborative entity Deer Bear Wolf, as well as with Notch8 Gallery which opened last year in South Atlanta.

Although we were largely in the dark about most of those, Lela exhibits her work at Kai Lin Gallery and Kibbee Gallery, two venues we know and love. She was very gracious in speaking about Yu Kai and Ben Goldman, respective curators of those spaces and their support and encouragement of her as an artist. Prior to becoming her gallerist, she explained that Kai recommended her to Orpheus Brewing and she has since designed imagery for their labels, painted on site, etc.

In addition to her studio practice and pushing forward into a new body of work, Lela has done murals with Moreland Avenue Mural Project, Forward Warrior, Phoenix Fest and Living Walls.

What is she working on now? She just collaborated with several other ATL artists to coat the exterior walls of Hodge Podge Coffeehouse & Gallery in art and it looks great. She is also preparing to work on a mural for the new Mailchimp offices within Ponce City Market.

Basically, pretty soon you won't be able to drive around ATL without seeing Lela's work. In the meantime, here is a sampling of our favorite figurative works (available through Kai Lin Gallery).

Go, Lela!
www.lelabrunet.com

APP Out of Town - The Jefferson DC + PUBLIC Chicago

A comparison of two hotel experiences...

I have a background in art history, and in curating shows for non-profits and pop-up exhibitions. As a hospitality art consultant, selecting art for hotels is similar to creating a show. While curating for a museum or gallery, you are largely relaying a message, movement or concept that is punctuated by being within white walls. Art consulting for hotels is about creating an emotional, immersive time and place situation for the visitor. Many impressions are made because of the quantity of guests and the lengthier “shelf-life” of the design.

As a child, I remember going to see the Barnes Collection in Philadelphia. I was completely blown away. It was the first time I saw the luxurious experience of living with art. The beautiful home was filled with art, hung salon style, and co-existing with the elements of home: furniture, rugs and books. Traveling after that in Europe exposed me to more of the same. Places like Versailles are like Disney World to me. I don’t want to live there – that’s not MY luxurious life. It’s not realistic, and completely overwhelming for the senses. But I love being there, experiencing the time-period these places capture and the feeling of luxury they convey.

Great hotel stays should envelop the guest with a cohesive look and feel. Every hotel has a mission statement and the selected art is a large part of conveying that message. My work is in the luxury hotel tier and this is where I stay when I travel. While they really are apples and oranges, I want to offer a comparison of two hotels I stayed in this year: The Jefferson in Washington DC and Public Chicago.



THE JEFFERSON HOTEL, Washington DC (photos courtesy of the hotel)

I visited the Jefferson in February because I was working on a historical hotel project in the city. While I was already in the mindset working on a package that honors the aesthetic choices of a past era, I was deeply impressed with the authenticity of the entire hotel. All the furnishings and art were Jeffersonian; the photographs and portraits in the public spaces and the maps used in the downstairs bar offered a complete picture and feel. The frames were gilded but not themey at all. The hotel aura was classic and classy down to the last detail. And that’s what this job is about – the DETAILS. The fresh snacks I noticed along with the turn-down service, were apples. I was transported back in time and my stay was comfortable and comforting, exactly what I needed after two busy and cold days. This hotel exemplifies what we try to offer with our boutique approach. We try to develop the character of the space, enhancing the design with unique, perfectly paired pieces of art.

 


PUBLIC Chicago Hotel (Photos courtesy of the hotel)

On the other hand, my July stay at PUBLIC in Chicago did not have the same cohesion or comfort. Where the Jefferson had a specific tenor that it offered seamlessly, Public had a shtick, and the delivery was pretty jarring. Firstly, the lighting throughout the entire hotel was very dim. The dramatic mood did not provide a feeling of ease, and the layout of the lobby was not intuitive, giving more confusion than warmth at reception. Similarly, in my guestroom, the back lit headboard was an interesting “feature” but I really didn’t like having to work to create my own ambiance. The light was the hotel’s design element but I was in charge of it adjusting it.

The extremely neutral color palette, lack of art in the corridors and very minimal and oddly chosen art in the guestroom did not mesh with the elegant, traditional art that could be found in the public spaces downstairs. The overall impression the Public gave me was that there were multiple designers on the job. And that brings up another important point: When I am staying in a (nice) hotel, I should not be thinking about the designers’ decisions, even if I am in the industry. The Public hotel was not successful at encompassing me or delivering their mission. I spent my two nights and had a wonderful time in the city, but honestly in regards to many elements in the hotel, I just didn’t get it.

Again, these are two totally different hotels. But in my opinion, every hotel should offer what the Jefferson did so well – a luxury, relaxing stay in an environment where all the details work so well together you don’t notice the process. 

 

- Amy Parry

 

Happy Independence Day from Amy Parry Projects!

This painting is a perfect expression of James Abbott McNeil Whistler's intent to create art for art's sake. Some of life's experiences are best depicted through nuance and implication. 
 

James Abbott McNeil Whistler, Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket, ca. 1875, oil on canvas, 24 x 18 inches, Detroit Institute of Arts

Whistler had given to literally flinging paint at the canvas and had become quite masterful at it by the time he created this Nocturne series. This city scene expresses very well the intangible moment that a burst of fireworks can imprint in spectators' minds. 


May you create memories and feel spectacular this holiday weekend.

 


Cheers!


Amy Parry Projects

Fran O'Neill Never Planned to Be an Abstract Painter

Originally published JUNE 9, 2016 // BY JAIME DESIMONE

 

The paintings of Australian-born Fran O'Neill rely upon a construction/deconstruction equation, where she uses her physical body to produce, alter, destroy, and recreate oversized gestures. Layer upon layer, O'Neill applies paint only to swipe, smear, and remove it with her body or another material. Her paintings are as much as an additive process as a subtractive one, where at times she reinvents imagery on the same canvas. In preparation for Confronting the Canvas: Women of Abstraction, O'Neill answered a few questions about her process and the ideas behind her work.

Fran O'Neill attends the members' preview for Confronting the Canvas: Women of Abstraction. Image courtesy of Thomas Hager.

Describe your approach to painting.

Having grown up in Australia and currently living in the city of New York, the mixing of past experiences of my life become and feed my painting. The ability to manipulate oil paint and watercolor is core to my practice; abstraction, color, movement of the paint, and shifting scale all come into play on the canvas/paper. I crave space, and how “space” can be open, compressed, complex, grand, intimate, and sometimes, all within the same image, intrigues me.

I look for moments in life that have a special or unexpected quality about them. Perhaps it is the way that light hits a surface, or the juxtaposition of shapes, textures or a tiny happening, a memory or a fragment of a dream or reality. There are times when I glimpse something, and I have no idea what I am looking at, or when the strangeness of real life seems dreamlike or indescribable for a split second, then materializes into focus. Sometimes it's that fleeting moment that catches my eye and plays in my imagination. I don't necessarily seek to recreate what I have seen but more the experience of how it felt and how I perceived it. I entwine those experiences with others, and as I begin to paint, and with that, the direct application of paint in the moment can add its own dynamic to the image-making process.

The act of creating becomes “all important” in my process, exploring the fluid movement of the paint as I apply it. How to recreate the tension or emotive quality without needing to name, locate, or describe a narrative or an exact experience/memory. Broad movements, simplified palettes versus intricate and sometimes cluttered space(s). Seeing the process take place on the canvas-drips, glimpses of under layers, forms take shape and/or break down on the surface, the rotation of the canvas, all coalesce to make a whole. My process is organic, intuitive, and improvisational.

I seek to always surprise myself, and with that, I am intent on researching beyond my “go-to mediums,” as I believe it is always necessary for an artist to continually reinvent one's imagery and not to be afraid of where that journey takes me. Striving for newness and to be open to change is a necessary part of my practice. 

Visitors discuss Fran O'Neill's forty untitled panels at the Confronting the Canvas members' preview. Image courtesy of Thomas Hager.

How did you develop this unusual approach to abstraction?

I never planned on being an abstract painter. It was a natural and curious progression that began with working from perception. I began as a figure painter and moved to landscape painting. After a conversation with a friend who knew that I have sewn some of my own clothes, wondered if I'd ever considered using "patterns in my work," and I began to use patterned material from various locations as backdrops, teamed with a Balinese doll. Slowly, the doll began to exit the work, and the patterning took precedent. The use of pattern from highly repetitious work began to be more sporadic, and I discovered that it was “mark-making and movement” of the paint that really excited me. This has kept me occupied for sometime now.

What ideas do you explore in your work?

Movement, scale, light, and color. I'm always seeking to surprise myself.

Describe your color palette.

My color palette changes with each painting. I've been known to buy a color that I find ugly or just can't imagine using. Sometimes I use it straight away, other times it sits on my studio table for months, until the moment calls for it. I am after creating light with color and any means necessary to achieve this. No color is out of the question.

Visitors are framed by Fran O'Neill's leading at the Confronting the Canvas members' preview. Image courtesy of Thomas Hager.

Describe your titles. What meaning do they convey? 

I deliberately title work in “lowercase,” as I consider the title to be secondary to the painting and more of a way of identifying one from another, not necessarily the “meaning” of the work. I seek simple one- or two-word phrases that don't give too much of a narrative, to allow viewers to have their own experience, not to be swayed by my thinking. Sometimes I use lines from song titles. I've been known to re-title work, until a word or phrase sticks to the image.

What does “abstraction” mean to you?

Now that's a big question. Today, for me it has to do with sensuality and sensibility, in terms of surface. To me there is abstraction in figuration and landscape. It could be the simplification an idea to obtain its essence? Or does that sound just like some “art talk” …

Who, if any, abstract painters have influenced your work?

I've looked at the Abstract Expressionists and others including but not limited to Philip Guston, Joan Mitchell, Lee Bontecou, Helen Frankenthaler, Terry Winters, Elizabeth Murray, Joanne Greenbaum, Amy Sillman, Bill Jensen, Margrit Lewzcuk, and recently Daniel Hesidence. Variations on why they've held my interest include mystery in the making or imagery, a sense of spirit and purpose, along with surprise in the making, and this has allowed me a glimpse into how I see their approach to their vision. This has given me the ability to seek my own voice via paint.

How much do these influences or other inspirations guide your painting process?

We live in such a visual fast-moving word. It is hard to say what doesn't influence my work. In terms of painting and/or painters, I try to see a variety of work, and hoping that on both a conscious and sub-conscious level I am soaking in all that is good, mashing it around and that it comes out in an interesting way on my surfaces. 

Do you see yourself as an action painter or one who is continuing the tradition of Abstraction Expressionism?

I don't consider myself an action painter. Though I do recognize and see the link to Abstract Expressionism in my work.

Does being a woman change artistic output?

I don't think it does for me. I just work.

At times, paintings are discussed as masculine; at others, feminine. Are your works gendered?

I've had my work described as “masculine and muscular,” terms that I believe are coined to my work due to the scale and contrast of the mark-making. The connotations associated with gender and any stereotypical ideas are ones that I am not interested in. Either term can be good or bad.

What, if any, is the role of women painters in contemporary art?

I think it is the same as any other gender. To be true to oneself and to seek and go after the journey.

Why do we need this all-female show?

Hmm. Women are still making strides. I do believe that only I can make my work, and this is the same with any other gender. I do think that society does instill ideas regarding gender and that this occurs on a continued and not so subtle way. I struggle with this question. And think back to that quote by Joan Mitchell who was asked to be in a female painting show, to which she declined and said “ask me to be in a painting show” (or something akin to this), and I'm there. There is the chance that someone will not necessarily give it the same credence that they would if it was a male who painted it. I like to think this perception is changing and will continue to change. Like the gun laws, or lack of. Always debatable depending on who is at the table. (An abstract answer?)

Did the feminist movement impact your career?

I've been aware of the feminist movement from undergrad. I use to say that it didn't really affect me as a painter or my career, however, the further I get into my career, that more grateful I am for those women who fought for the right to make work that they wanted and to show the significance of being female. Unfortunately, sexism is still alive. When I teach, I really encourage my female students to find other female artists, present and historical, to enable them to see that anything is possible.

Fran O'Neill discusses her process in front of the grid of forty untitled panels at the Confronting the Canvas members' preview. Image courtesy of Thomas Hager.

Where do you find inspiration?

Anywhere and everywhere.

What's your workspace like? When and where do you like to create your art?

I have a studio in Long Island City with great natural light. When the weather is good, I ride my bike and aim to arrive to my studio early in the morning and work to late afternoon. Additionally, I have a very small room at my house that allows me to make work at home at anytime. Riding my bike gives me good thinking and looking time along the way.

What's your next project?

Always ongoing. To date, I would say that I don't have a start or finish of a project, though looking back, I can see moments when the work changed. And in that process, I step forwards and backwards constantly.

How will exhibiting your work at MOCA Jacksonville affect your career?

Exhibiting at MOCA Jacksonville is a tremendous step for my work and for my career. I see it as confirmation that I am on the right track. Exhibiting along side the other artists is a gift and a significant moment for me, and I am excited to see how the works might talk to each other. Ultimately, I hope the exhibition will allow the audience to see the impact and relevance of abstraction today.  

*********

Original post on MOCA Jacksonville site can be accessed here.
 

O'Neill's work can be seen in the current installation of All Tomorrow's Parties at Hathaway David Contemporary, in Atlanta, GA.

APP Words with Friends - Jody Fausett

We reached out to Jody Fausett a few weeks ago, asking to start a dialogue with him about his photography, his influences and his fascinating conglomeration of fashion industry styling and Southern nostalgia. The following is what he sent back in response. This vignette, an explanation of his process and an exploration of his work through its pop culture and family muses is everything.

We're obsessed. Enjoy.
 

Home Theatre by Jody Fausett

Fashion Editorial for Vanidad Magazine

I never had a studio. When I lived in New York and a stylist got a box from Louis Vuitton for an editorial, we would shoot it in somebody’s apartment and order pizza. After the model is lit, nobody worries about those Home Depot cabinets. I love working off of a real space. Interior flaws and knick-knacks add to the model’s character in the story. Kitchen dominatrix: those floors will be spotless, I promise. I always watch the body, especially the fingers in a photo. You don’t want missing digits.

Growing up in a small town, all I wanted was to work in New York. When I got to New York, all I wanted was to return to Georgia and work on my personal projects. My grandparents’ house was my favorite studio – all that stuff that I could light with strobe. It made the familiar become surreal and created a different domestic tension that got shifted into my version of home theater. When my grandfather got sick, I felt that the one trip a year I could afford to come home was not working anymore. I returned to be nearby.

When he passed away, I continued taking pictures there. The airless silence could be too morose, so I pushed for portraits.  My favorite model over two decades has been my grandmother. This is how I connect.

When setting up, I work alone and quietly move the lights around to figure out what I feel works. Usually, she mows the grass, her favorite thing, while I work on the pose to find the light. That way I can walk her into the ready shot and not have her wait too long.

Test Shot // "Gloria" (1980), Directed by John Cassavetes // Five Shotguns, pigment print,
40" x 50"


Decades of guns line the wall next to the vanity.  This portrait came up out of the conversation of being a widow and knowing how to handle a weapon.  Understanding the weight of the gun, you can take care of yourself.  With no more big suppers to cook, she becomes svelte, decisive, and feminine.  

Test Shot // "Siren" (1975), Roxy Music outtake photographed by Graham Hughes // Photoshop screen grab
 

For a long time I shot this perennial series in the interior domestic spaces, but I decided to move outside and capture images without borders, images of infinity.  An oil leak that has altered the surface of my grandmother’s carport for over fifty years provided a welcome set for this narrative.  I have returned to this space many times for different ideas, but on this shot I saw waves crashing over the rocks.  The detached car door found in a shed would do.

From years of fashion work, it’s obvious for me now to retouch. It is not a documentary so much as part biography, part novella.


Occasionally, my grandmother is my assistant with great ideas on how she sees things. When we torched an old chair in storage, she helped with the fire. Later, she told me that the fire was unimpressive and we should try again the next day. We would find another chair in storage, she said. It feels good to catch furniture on fire. 

Test Shot // "Miss World" (1994), Hole video Directed by Sophie Muller // Outtake detail

The back bedroom has all the original furniture from when my mother was a teenager. Now it is the secondary vanity with all the perfumes and powders. I use seamless paper to change the reception of the interior, to highlight a specific piece of furniture with all that history (shoelaces used as a drawer-pull now). Even after I stood in to test the lighting on skin, the perfume powders took about 70 times to get the spray right.
 

Test Shot // The Swing by Jean-Honoré Fragonard // Wet Driveway, pigment print, 24" x 36"

The final portrait I shot again with the driveway in the background when it was pouring rain.  I watched those magnolias tower and slowly cut off the sound of the highway to become something pastoral - this private garden, a place to reevaluate. I carefully directed her fingers in my plein-air studio, the carport off the highway.

- JF

 

Jody lives in Atlanta. For inquiries about his work please contact Jackson Fine Art.
If you want more, find Jody on Instagram.

The Iconic ATL Airport Ants

It has become more shocking to NOT see red fire ants crawling on the ceiling of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport than it ever was to see them there in the first place...

Brute Neighbors, a commissioned public art sculpture created and installed by ATL artist Joe Peragine in the summer of 2001 has just been removed without his knowledge. In the 15 years that the ants were scattered overhead the North and South Baggage Claim areas, they became iconic for so many of us. An article released by the Airport in November of 2010, highlighted the continued popularity of the piece and the element of surprise it offered travelers passing through.

Apparently, however, there have been intermittent grumblings about the ants from airport business owners and complaints from concerned parents over the years. As with other examples of public art, the sight of Brute Neighbors sparked both curiosity and controversy.

The circumstances surrounding the removal of the piece last Thursday are still not fully known. The ants will remain in storage until the fate of the work is determined and forthcoming renovations in the airport are completed. If you feel connected to this work and compelled to show support for its reinstallation, please send a note to the Airport Art Program Manager, David Vogt at david.vogt@atlanta-airport.com.

Details on the piece - which is described as being in the Airport’s “Permanent Art Collection" - can be found here.

 

 

To learn more about this significant artist, please visit Joe's website: www.josephperagine.com

 

Currently Inspired By...

While we try not to link everything back to the seasons, we are Southern and tend to live and breathe chatting about the weather. Here is a selection of imagery bursting with color and energy in anticipation of all the excitement of the coming months.

Everything that slowed down in the cold is fixing to speed up, honey!

Vivian Maier

March is Women’s History Month and APP would like to pay tribute to photographer Vivian Maier (1926 - 2009). Maier was a true testament to the fact that a person can live multiple lives and that our creative efforts are never in vain.

When a handful of collectors discovered her negatives in 2007 during a forced auction of her Chicago storage space, the world was introduced to a previously unrecognized master of photography who documented the streets of Chicago, NYC and LA for decades. This unselfish documentation of the everyday is now such a valuable glimpse at history through the eyes of a woman who experienced life primarily as a nanny whom a long-time client described as a real-life “Mary Poppins.”

She was the champion of bathroom selfies, of the window-shopping snapshot. The medium format film she used at the time probably only afforded her a dozen shots per roll, yet her oeuvre has been quantified to include over 100,000 negatives (very few ever actually printed by Maier).

Happy Women’s History Month. What passion are you exploring in your spare time?

© Vivian Maier/Maloof Collection, Courtesy Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York

Source: http://www.vivianmaier.com/