Editor’s Note: Getting Personal

A sneak peek at one of our 2008 emerging artists work: Jocelyn Braxton Armstrong’s unglazed porcelain Adonis.

I spent this past weekend visiting Nashville, Tenn., for the very first time. It was an exciting trip for me, as a country music enthusiast, and as luck should have it, my mini-vacation coincided with a popular local art event: the 37th Tennessee Association of Craft Artists Tennessee Craft Fair. The outdoor event, held in the heart of the city on the grounds of Centennial Park, attracts 180 regional artists and 45,000 visitors each year. I spent the better part of Sunday afternoon milling from tent to tent, talking to artists and admiring their work (and I have the sunburn to prove it!).

True, I’m lucky enough to have a job that exposes me to beautiful pieces of art every day, but it’s an all-too-rare occurrence when I’m actually able to get out there and connect with artists face-to-face. And, as you well know, holding a piece in your own hands is radically different than admiring it through a digital image on a glossy magazine page. This personal connection made the souvenirs I brought home even more special.

There are 10 other artists that I’ve recently connected with, although I have yet to meet any of them in person. They’re all part of our 2008 Emerging Artists package. The work of artists like Gary Stevens and Jocelyn Braxton Armstrong stopped me in my tracks the first time I saw it, and I hope it does the same for you. After paging through the section, you’ll also get a sense for who the artists really are: what drives them to create, what motivates them, what keeps them up at night.

You’ll get an intimate look inside the Potomac, Md., home and collection of Silvio Imas and Linda Morra-Imas. This couple offers a refreshing take on what it means to collect and how to make tough purchasing decisions.

I’m off to buy some aloe and start hanging all of my weekend acquisitions! Enjoy!

Sara Jerome
Guest Editor