Editors Note : Travel + Lists? Priceless

May 2008 | BY Hope Daniels | Issue 61 | NO COMMENTS

: You run into the most interesting things while traveling. This inviting street scene is along Quebec City’s Rue Petit-Champlain.

I don’t think I’ve ever come across a list I didn’t love. Seven Wonders of the World? David Letterman’s Top 10 lists? The 100 Places to See Before You Die? Any of the many ongoing New York Times Best Seller lists? Yes, yes, yes and yes! I’ll even admit to a particular fondness for “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.”

If you too are compulsively lured by lists, you know exactly what I mean: all those items placed in rank order to highlight the biggest, the best, the finest, even the worst are simply too hard (and too good) to resist.

Which brings me to AmericanStyle‘s Top 25 Arts Destinations. Started 11 years ago as what we thought would be a one-time-only readers’ poll, our U.S. arts cities competition has grown over the years into a major event fueled by travel-minded readers and encompassing everyone from city boosters, cultural organizations, grassroots arts groups and visual arts bloggers to the national media.

In the beginning the list was simple: 25 cities, large or small, selected by sheer number of votes cast by AmericanStyle readers for locations they felt had the most to offer travelers focused on the visual arts. Top performers in the early years always included New York, Chicago and San Francisco, as well as smaller cities like Santa Fe, New Hope, Saugatuck and (in 2000) all of Cape Cod.

As the competition continued through the years, however, we saw it becoming increasingly difficult for smaller (yet considerably arts-worthy) communities to compete. So in 2005 we leveled the playing field and restructured the ballots into three distinct categories based on population.

The result? Three lists of 25 Top Arts Destinations, large, mid-sized and small, and an even wider range of fascinating cities hand-picked by AmericanStyle readers to put on your own “Best Arts Places to Visit” list. Enjoy!

Hope Daniels
Editor-in-Chief

Arts Walk: Asheville

April 2008 | BY Marla Hardee Milling | Issue 61 | NO COMMENTS

: A 10-minute trip north of the city will bring you to the picturesque setting of Grovewood Gallery.

In the past decade, Asheville, N.C., has experienced a rebirth of sorts. Once booming, its downtown suffered a slump in the 1980s and became almost desolate. Today there are few reminders of that grim period, as the city’s heart pulses with a menagerie of new condos, cafes, entertainment and, of course, art.

Ranked by AmericanStyle readers as one of America’s Top Arts Destinations, Asheville is much more than just a naturally beautiful locale in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It practically qualifies as a work of art itself, with stunning Art Deco architecture, outdoor sculptures lining a creative 1.7-mile Urban Trail that winds through downtown, and a work-in-progress: the Pack Square Park. When completed later this year, this newly updated 6.5-acre public area, located in front of the Buncombe County Courthouse and Asheville City Hall, will boast the work of several area artists, including Weaverville, N.C., artist Kathy Triplett, whose one-of-a-kind sculptural ceramic tiles will decorate the main stage of the park.

There are many points of entry to begin an Arts Walk in Asheville, but you can’t go wrong by starting on Biltmore Avenue at some of John Cram’s successful enterprises: Blue Spiral 1 (38 Biltmore Ave., 828-251-0202) and the new Bellagio Everyday (40 Biltmore Ave., 828-255-0221). Cram’s first store, New Morning Gallery (7 Boston Way, 828-274-2831), and the original Bellagio (5 Biltmore Plaza, 828-277-8100) are both located in historic Biltmore Village, about 10 minutes south of the downtown area. Biltmore Village is at the entrance to George Vanderbilt’s famed Biltmore Estate—a tour through the estate, America’s largest private residence, is another treat for art lovers.

Last year, Cram bought the building next to Blue Spiral 1 and expanded the gallery, and also opened Bellagio Everyday, which offers innovative art-to-wear at a variety of price points. The new building included something that Cram says he loves dearly. It’s a freight elevator, which makes moving large objects among the building’s three floors a much simpler task. Blue Spiral 1 features 30 annual exhibitions, as well as works by more than 100 Southeastern fine artists and craftsmen. “The gallery keeps reinventing itself,” says gallery director Jordan Ahlers. “There’s always a different group of artists.”

: If you’re ready to escape the hustle and bustle, Asheville offers plenty of opportunities, including the gardens of the Biltmore Estate.

Pick up a copy of the 2008 Asheville Downtown Gallery Guide before you leave Blue Spiral 1. It provides a map of locations for area galleries, studios and museums.

A few streets over, across from the popular Malaprop’s Bookstore, is Ariel Gallery (46 Haywood St., 828-236-2660), a cooperative featuring the work of about 20 local artists. Weaver Vicki Essig is one of Ariel’s founding artists, who came together in 2002. The gallery features handcarved pottery by Karen Newgard and glasswork by William and Katherine Bernstein, as well as exquisite jewelry, handcrafted furniture and works in clay and metal.

Eclectic and whimsical art fills Asheville’s former Woolworth store. Now called Woolworth Walk (25 Haywood St., 828-254-9234), the two-level space features booths offering jewelry, paintings of Asheville landscapes and familiar downtown buildings by artist Jeff Pittman, pottery and other art for sale. Plus, the old Woolworth soda fountain has been updated and is back in business.

From Haywood Street, turn up Battery Park and stroll to the Grove Arcade (1 Page Ave.), which contains stores like Mountain Made (1 Page Ave., Suite 123, 828-350-0307), boasting the work of more than 80 western North Carolina artists. Manager Melinda Knies points to Tommy Williams, who created the tile on the front of the store’s counter, as one of the rising stars in the pottery world. Mountain Made also features hand-blown ornaments and goblets by Jason Probstein and handcrafted furniture by Ronno L. Cooke. Profits from Mountain Made support Mountain BizWorks’ small business development services.

Another stop in the Grove Arcade is the Arts & Heritage Gallery (1 Page Ave., Suite 115, 828-255-0775). This gallery features rotating exhibits and demonstrations by artists in residence, as well as regular artwork for sale, including traditional Cherokee crafts, basketry by Billie Ruth Sudduth and small, layered wood bowls by Jim McPhail. Gallery manager Sylvia Organ shows off a unique part of this store—a huge Mountain Stories laser map. There’s an interactive screen to help viewers explore the history of crafts in this region.

And don’t miss the famed Grove Park Inn (290 Macon Ave., 800-438-5800), created by E.W. Grove, the same man behind the downtown Arcade. Located about 10 minutes north of downtown, the inn is decorated with Arts & Crafts furniture. A stop at the next-door Grovewood Gallery (111 Grovewood Road, 828-253-7651) is a must for its impressive display of garden sculpture, handcrafted furniture, ceramics, jewelry, glass and more.

Redefining Haute Couture

April 2008 | BY admin | Issue 61 | NO COMMENTS

: Jack and Elizabeth Gualtieri frame an abalone blister pearl with 22kt gold granulation in the “Empress I Pendant.”

When you hear the phrase haute couture, the first thing that probably comes to mind is high-end fashion. Artist Suz Andreasen is out to change that notion with The Couture Jewelry Awards, a highly selective new competition for studio jewelers, juried by some of the most knowledgeable curators and professors in America today.

A one-day exhibition and sale unveiled the winning artists’ work to the public in December at the Pratt Mansion in New York. It featured 44 jewelers, who sold work ranging from plastic married with silver to luxurious 22kt gold coupled with precious stones.

: Debra Adelson’s “East/West” pendant stands out with colorful acrylic and unexpected tanzanite accents.

Andreasen chose the word couture to emphasize the wearability of the jewelry. To “change the perception of jewelry, you have to completely re-identify it in a new movement,” she maintains. In essence, it’s not mere ornament, it’s wearable art.

For more of “Redefining Haute Couture,” pick up the June 2008 issue of AmericanStyle today!

Behind Closed Doors

April 2008 | BY Karen S. Chambers | Issue 61 | NO COMMENTS

: Large-scale ceramic pieces by Beth Cavener Stitcher, including “Small Lives,” hold pride of place in this collection. Photography by Edward Biamonte

Behind the doors of an unremarkable house in one of Phoenix’s many gated communities that favor conformity in style over creativity lies a surprise: a collection of ceramics that is challenging and confrontational, disquieting and sometimes even disturbing.

From the front door the dining table is visible, with Beth Cavener Stichter’s “Small Lives” centerpiece setting the tone for the rest of the collection. Sitting on their haunches, the artist’s larger-than-life-size hares face off on the tabletop. If luck were determined by size, their large back feet would guarantee a record-breaking lotto win. With heads stretching upward like coyotes baying at the moon, these creatures are miles away from any cute cottontail.

: A pit-fired tulip vessel by Glen Nipshank is displayed in the dining room.

Another Stichter sculpture, “Object Lesson: Dissension,” dominates the living room. A ghostly white, full-size goat is hoisted in a sling by a winch anchored in the ceiling, counter-balanced by a full-scale wooden barrel. Again, Stichter has created a disturbing and enigmatic tableau.

For more of “Behind Closed Doors,” pick up the June 2008 issue of AmericanStyle today!

Arts Travel: A Capital Celebration

April 2008 | BY Christine Kloostra | Issue 61 | NO COMMENTS

Moving beyond its reputation as the birthplace of the Beatles, Liverpool was recently named the 2008 European Capital of Culture by the Council of Ministers of the European Union.

In celebration, the city has assembled a massive calendar of cultural events for the year, and kicked off the festivities in January with a performance at the St. George’s Hall Plateau that attracted tens of thousands of visitors.

Upcoming events include:

“Gustav Klimt: Painting, Design and Modern Life in Vienna 1900,” at the Tate Liverpool May 30- Aug. 31, is an expansive exhibition covering the artist’s life and work.
Design Show Liverpool at the Crypt, Metropolitan Cathedral, June 19-22, offers work from more than 150 top-notch designers.
“Le Corbusier—The Art of Architecture,” at the Crypt, Metropolitan Cathedral, Oct. 2-Jan. 18, 2009, will showcase the architect’s accomplishments.

And, in a nod to one of its most famous residents, a concert featuring Sir Paul McCartney will be held June 1 at Anfield Stadium. For more information on all the events, visit www.liverpool08.com.

Arts Travel: A Splash of Summer Color

April 2008 | BY Christine Kloostra | Issue 61 | NO COMMENTS

If you’re ready to pull on your tennis shoes and walk around town, then Wilmington, N.C., is your ideal summer destination. The Pedestrian Art Program, an outdoor public sculpture program, is showcasing new work by Carl Billingsley through July.

The project’s motto, “Art Everywhere, Everyday, for Everyone,” rings true. Billingsley’s sculptures practically jump off the sidewalks with bright colors. Located on medians, in the central business district and other downtown properties, this art isn’t just accessible, it’s pleasantly unavoidable.

This is the first time the sculptor has integrated color into his work, and he still considers it secondary to form and light. When challenged by a colleague to add color, Billingsley paired yellow with orange and blue in “Prism Arc I” and “Prism Arc II.” Although the yellow paint in both sculptures came from the same can, the light and contrasting colors make that fact questionable.

Sponsored by nonprofit WilmingtonCreative, the Pedestrian Art Program selects a new artist to feature every six months, spurring constant dialogue with its citizens, tourists and landscape. Visit www.pedestrianart.com to learn more or see it for yourself.

Arts Travel: Got the Blues?

April 2008 | BY Christine Kloostra | Issue 61 | NO COMMENTS

Last year, it saw red. This time around, The Textile Museum is feeling blue. Capitalizing on the success of its 2007 exhibition “Red,” as well as Pantone, Inc.’s declaration of Blue Iris as the color of the year, the Washington, D.C., museum hosts “Blue” through Sept. 18.

The exhibition traces the meaning of the color blue in textile arts through history, with a special emphasis on contemporary artists’ use of natural indigo dyes.

Among the works on display are a Navajo Chief ‘s wool blanket from 1850, a 19th-century Japanese fireman’s coat and installations by contemporary Japanese artists Hiroyuki Shindo and Shihoko Fukumoto.

Arts Travel: Conferences Coast to Coast

April 2008 | BY Christine Kloostra | Issue 61 | NO COMMENTS

From Florida to Oregon, collectors of studio furniture, glass and fiber arts have a number of conferences on the calendar:

The Glass Art Society (GAS) travels to Portland, Ore., for its 38th annual conference, “Forming Frontiers,” June 19-21. The event brings together glass artists, collectors, students and educators for demonstrations, workshops, exhibitions, lectures and tours at a number of venues throughout the city.

The rare person with a specific interest in glass furniture will have to choose between the GAS conference and The Furniture Society’s annual event, held June 18-21 at Purchase College State University of New York. “Furniture08: State of the Craft” features presentations by artists, demonstrations (including chainsaw carving), exhibitions, and live and silent auctions.

More than 5,000 fiber aficionados will head south for “Convergence 2008,” a biennial international conference hosted by the Handweavers Guild of America. The expansive event takes place June 22-28 at the Tampa Bay Convention Center in Florida. With more than 100 seminars, 40 classes, 30 workshops, 25 exhibitions and three featured speakers, the conference focuses on a wide range of fiber arts, from sewing, dyeing and knitting to weaving and spinning.

Arts Travel: Culture in Context

April 2008 | BY Christine Kloostra | Issue 61 | NO COMMENTS

Do you want a mental jog and don’t mind sore feet? Then check out Context walking tours. Led by scholars and experts, the tours launched in New York and London this spring.

The company is a network of English-speaking docents who include art historians, writers and architects, and organize and lead themed tours. Context also offers walking tours in a number of European cities, including Rome, Paris and Venice.

Docents in New York offer a variety of programs, including “Cloisters: Medieval Art & Architecture,” “Art Galleries of Chelsea,” “Dutch and Flemish Painting at the Met” and “Architecture of New York.” Additional tours on immigration and the landscape of Central Park are in the works.

London programs include visits to the British Museum, Inigo Jones’s Queens House and an introduction to London architecture.

Most tours last three hours and cost about $65 per person. Tour size is limited, but private groups can be arranged. For additional information, visit www.contexttravel.com.

Arts Travel: City Lauds Public Art Program

April 2008 | BY Christine Kloostra | Issue 61 | NO COMMENTS

For three decades, the city of Albuquerque has been dedicated to beautifying itself with works of art by setting aside one percent of city construction funds for the acquisition of public art.

In celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Public Art Program, the city spent $39,000 to acquire 19 works by 17 New Mexico artists, including Cheryl Dietz, David Pittis, Peggy Trigg and Paula Castillo. The works were selected to represent both emerging and established artistic talent in the state.

After a seven-week exhibition of the works at the city’s Open Space Visitor Center this spring, the art is now on display at City Hall.

Other highlights of the Public Art Program include:

“Celebrating Nature/the Landscape Underground,” a neon and sound installation in the underground passageway from Civic Plaza to the Convention Center, by Barbara Grothus and Steve Peters.

“Bus Stop,” by Juan and Patricia Navarrete, a steel and ceramic tile installation at Broadway Boulevard and Avenida Cesar Chavez.

“Nob Hill Gateway,” a steel, concrete and neon structure by Terry Conrad over the intersection of Central Avenue and Girard Boulevard.

Arts Travel: Go for a Spin

April 2008 | BY Christine Kloostra | Issue 61 | NO COMMENTS

: The Empire State Carousel at the Farmers’ Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y., features handcarved panels.

It’s not often that you can describe a carnival ride as a work of art, but the Empire State Carousel is a singular exception. Handcarved by volunteers for more than two decades, the carousel features animals representing New York’s natural resources, as well as folklore and portrait panels depicting some of the state’s notable residents, including Susan B. Anthony, Grandma Moses and Jackie Robinson. A new portrait panel will be unveiled in May. The carousel is housed at the Farmers’ Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y., and is open for rides during museum hours.