I recently travelled to Palm Springs in search of art, inspiration and gallery representation. Downtown Palm Springs was like a Wild West ghost town when I arrived until I stumbled upon what looked like a deserted building, but was happy to discover the Palm Springs Art Museum. Inside I was greeted with some keen staff welcoming me to Palm Springs best kept secret. It is a small museum, about the size of the Vancouver Art Gallery in Vancouver, Canada. The museum houses a small but impressive art collection thanks to donors such as Frank Sinatra and Donna & Cargill MacMillan Jr. The MacMillan's have donated the majority of their contemporary and pop art collection to the Museum and it is a collection to be envious of...pieces such as Your Dog, by Yoshitomo Nara, Twin 6' Hearts by Jim Dine and Andy Warhol's Brillo Box dress...I was absorbing every minute in front of these amazing pieces I had only seen in print...Perhaps the most impressive or at least the piece that was causing the most unusual and shocking resctions was that of figurative sculptor, John De Andrea. I was admiring a 'Pile' (a pile of bronze Glad garbage bags) when I did a quick turn to move on and found myself staring at a young nude woman, at first I shyly glanced away and then back again in disbelief, was this a mannequin model? Was there a camera somewhere filming me and my response? As I inched closer I noticed a security guard hiding in the corner, watching intently, almost amused by my inquisitive stance. I finally came close enough to lean over and face the woman eye to eye, I noticed no pulse in the neck and she looked quite stiff and cold, then I read the plaque....I had been duped! I was grinning ear-to-ear, what a great experience, and an engaging piece. 'Joan' was created in 1990 by artist John De Andrea - oil on polyester resin with synthetic hair has never looked so real or so beautiful. I highly recommend making a trip to the museum if you are in Palm Springs. There is also a Contemporary Glass Exhibit on now which takes glass to a whole other level of which I have never experienced and was pleasently surprised. Palm Springs Arts Museum WebsiteFriday, March 5, 2010
Palm Springs Art Museum
I recently travelled to Palm Springs in search of art, inspiration and gallery representation. Downtown Palm Springs was like a Wild West ghost town when I arrived until I stumbled upon what looked like a deserted building, but was happy to discover the Palm Springs Art Museum. Inside I was greeted with some keen staff welcoming me to Palm Springs best kept secret. It is a small museum, about the size of the Vancouver Art Gallery in Vancouver, Canada. The museum houses a small but impressive art collection thanks to donors such as Frank Sinatra and Donna & Cargill MacMillan Jr. The MacMillan's have donated the majority of their contemporary and pop art collection to the Museum and it is a collection to be envious of...pieces such as Your Dog, by Yoshitomo Nara, Twin 6' Hearts by Jim Dine and Andy Warhol's Brillo Box dress...I was absorbing every minute in front of these amazing pieces I had only seen in print...Perhaps the most impressive or at least the piece that was causing the most unusual and shocking resctions was that of figurative sculptor, John De Andrea. I was admiring a 'Pile' (a pile of bronze Glad garbage bags) when I did a quick turn to move on and found myself staring at a young nude woman, at first I shyly glanced away and then back again in disbelief, was this a mannequin model? Was there a camera somewhere filming me and my response? As I inched closer I noticed a security guard hiding in the corner, watching intently, almost amused by my inquisitive stance. I finally came close enough to lean over and face the woman eye to eye, I noticed no pulse in the neck and she looked quite stiff and cold, then I read the plaque....I had been duped! I was grinning ear-to-ear, what a great experience, and an engaging piece. 'Joan' was created in 1990 by artist John De Andrea - oil on polyester resin with synthetic hair has never looked so real or so beautiful. I highly recommend making a trip to the museum if you are in Palm Springs. There is also a Contemporary Glass Exhibit on now which takes glass to a whole other level of which I have never experienced and was pleasently surprised. Palm Springs Arts Museum Website
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Monday, December 28, 2009
CityCentre Las Vegas marries Organic with Modern
CityCentre Las Vegas Revives Architecture and Brings Fine Art Back to Las Vegas
I recenlty visited Las Vegas, an annual trip for me, my interest this time was taken up by the new CityCentre development beside the grand Bellagio Hotel & Casino on the Vegas Strip. This new development is only about 75% complete, but it already impresses. The architecture is world class and dwarfs the 'adult Disneyworld-like themed' resorts that currently reign on The Strip.
CityCentre is a 'bold' example of what human talent is capable of...with contributions from leading architects & designers; Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, RV Architecture led by Rafael Vinoly, Helmut Jahn, Studio Daniel Libeskind, Rockwell Group, Kohn Pedersen Fox, Foster + Partners & Gensler.
CityCentre is a 'bold' example of what human talent is capable of...with contributions from leading architects & designers; Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, RV Architecture led by Rafael Vinoly, Helmut Jahn, Studio Daniel Libeskind, Rockwell Group, Kohn Pedersen Fox, Foster + Partners & Gensler.
CityCentre will also become the centre for fine art in the city with galleries featuring the 'organic' glass artist Dale Chihuly and Cirque Du Soleil inspired bronze sculptor, Richard MacDonald. Amongst the 5 main structures of CityCentre you will also be inspired and pleasently surprised when you find yourself standing in front of art by Maya Lin, Jenny Holzer, Claes Oldenberg & Coosje van Bruggen, Frank Stella, Richard Long, Nancy Rubins and Henry Moore.
For more info about CityCentre visit the website here http://www.citycenter.com/
Monday, December 7, 2009
Salish Art & Great Coffee Combine to Raise Funds
Fresh Cup celebrates their 10th Anniversary Christmas Blend with Doug Lafortune – Local Tsawout Artist ‘Salish Santa Image’
December 2nd, 2009 – Saanichton, B.C. – Well known local artist and carver Doug Lafortune is putting one of his newest images to good use. This December customers will find Doug’s artwork on the back panel of the Christmas Blend. He recently came up with the idea of putting his new image named ‘Salish Santa’ on packages of coffee, roasted locally by Fresh Cup Roastery Café. ‘I originally did this drawing over 20 years ago, before the birth of my son Bear and came across it last year as I was doing some reorganizing’, reflected Doug, ‘At the time, I thought that it could be used for a seasonal event at some point’. Timing is everything and with Christmas coming soon the idea of raising some much needed money for the local band to rebuild the Tsawout Longhouse came to mind in a conversation with Jim Townley co-owner of Fresh Cup. ‘I donated a print last year to the Annual Saanichton Community Christmas Event as one of the prizes and Jim said that if I ever wanted to do something with the print to let him know’, comments Lafortune, ’So this year we talked about putting it on the back panel of their Christmas Blend and for every 1 – lb. sold, one dollar ($1) will be donated to the rebuilding project’.
Doug Lafortune was born in 1953 in Bellingham, WA. His parents are both of Coast Salish heritage. Doug was mentored by master carver Simon Charlie of Koksilah, who encouraged him to develop his own unique and distinct style of contemporary and traditional Coast Salish art. Doug’s artwork has sold to private and corporate collections worldwide, including a 30 - foot totem pole that went to Butchart Gardens recently.
‘Christmas is a great time for people to buy coffee as gifts and this is a great way to use the festive Salish Santa image’, smiles Doug, It’s the 10th Anniversary of Fresh Cup’s Christmas Blend so the theme is fitting. ‘I think this is an amazing image and it really reflects the Westcoast lifestyle nicely’, comments Fresh Cup Roastmaster Mel Townley’, ‘I wanted something special to celebrate our 10th Christmas season of roasting here on the Peninsula and this is a perfect way to do it ’. Combing artwork and coffee together is a great way to raise awareness of the important issue of rebuilding the longhouse. ‘This was such a ceremonial part of our community and I wanted to do something to help raise some money’, said Doug, ‘Fresh Cup does a lot of fundraising within the community and we are excited to work with them on this project in addition to what they are doing for the ‘Coins For Kids’ and the Sidney Lions Food Bank’.
For those who would like a chance to win a framed version of the ‘Salish Santa’ print, you can enter the draw on Saturday December 5th at Annual Saanichton Community Christmas event that runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Saanichton Village. People participating in the Christmas Tree Trail will have a chance to win this fabulous prize….and for those who love ‘Freshly Roasted Organic Coffee’ they can take home a small version on the back of the Christmas Blend through the month of December, while helping to raise money for the rebuilding of the Tsawout longhouse.
Cheers,
Jim Townley
Co-Owner - Fresh Cup Sidney
http://www.freshcupsidney.ca/
Featuring The Art of Brandy Saturley & Doug Lafortune
December 2nd, 2009 – Saanichton, B.C. – Well known local artist and carver Doug Lafortune is putting one of his newest images to good use. This December customers will find Doug’s artwork on the back panel of the Christmas Blend. He recently came up with the idea of putting his new image named ‘Salish Santa’ on packages of coffee, roasted locally by Fresh Cup Roastery Café. ‘I originally did this drawing over 20 years ago, before the birth of my son Bear and came across it last year as I was doing some reorganizing’, reflected Doug, ‘At the time, I thought that it could be used for a seasonal event at some point’. Timing is everything and with Christmas coming soon the idea of raising some much needed money for the local band to rebuild the Tsawout Longhouse came to mind in a conversation with Jim Townley co-owner of Fresh Cup. ‘I donated a print last year to the Annual Saanichton Community Christmas Event as one of the prizes and Jim said that if I ever wanted to do something with the print to let him know’, comments Lafortune, ’So this year we talked about putting it on the back panel of their Christmas Blend and for every 1 – lb. sold, one dollar ($1) will be donated to the rebuilding project’.
Doug Lafortune was born in 1953 in Bellingham, WA. His parents are both of Coast Salish heritage. Doug was mentored by master carver Simon Charlie of Koksilah, who encouraged him to develop his own unique and distinct style of contemporary and traditional Coast Salish art. Doug’s artwork has sold to private and corporate collections worldwide, including a 30 - foot totem pole that went to Butchart Gardens recently.
‘Christmas is a great time for people to buy coffee as gifts and this is a great way to use the festive Salish Santa image’, smiles Doug, It’s the 10th Anniversary of Fresh Cup’s Christmas Blend so the theme is fitting. ‘I think this is an amazing image and it really reflects the Westcoast lifestyle nicely’, comments Fresh Cup Roastmaster Mel Townley’, ‘I wanted something special to celebrate our 10th Christmas season of roasting here on the Peninsula and this is a perfect way to do it ’. Combing artwork and coffee together is a great way to raise awareness of the important issue of rebuilding the longhouse. ‘This was such a ceremonial part of our community and I wanted to do something to help raise some money’, said Doug, ‘Fresh Cup does a lot of fundraising within the community and we are excited to work with them on this project in addition to what they are doing for the ‘Coins For Kids’ and the Sidney Lions Food Bank’.
For those who would like a chance to win a framed version of the ‘Salish Santa’ print, you can enter the draw on Saturday December 5th at Annual Saanichton Community Christmas event that runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Saanichton Village. People participating in the Christmas Tree Trail will have a chance to win this fabulous prize….and for those who love ‘Freshly Roasted Organic Coffee’ they can take home a small version on the back of the Christmas Blend through the month of December, while helping to raise money for the rebuilding of the Tsawout longhouse.
Cheers,
Jim Townley
Co-Owner - Fresh Cup Sidney
http://www.freshcupsidney.ca/
Featuring The Art of Brandy Saturley & Doug Lafortune
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Luxury Automobiles meet Contemporary Art
The Showroom is now open...a unique business opens in Victoria BC Canada featuring Luxury Automobiles and contemporary art from The Art of Brandy Saturley.
Across from the Save-on-Foods Centre, this showroom will launch with a Grand Opening in Dec. 2009. Until then The Showroom is open Mon-Sat - or by appointment.
More info here...The Showroom
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
The Showroom in progress...
A new Luxury Import Car Showroom featuring the Art of Brandy Saturley will open soon in Victoria, BC. Here is a sneak peek..
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