I’m a big museum fan but if given the choice to see the art in the climate-controlled rooms of the Met or the studio where art is being made, I’ll choose the latter. That said, the Jersey City Artist Studio Tour might have been my dream exhibition. In its 19th year, the two-day festival doesn’t block off streets or close wings of museums to display the works of the 600 participating artists; it opens the doors to all the places creative works are made or supported.
A whole town effort, each neighborhood’s coffee shops, restaurants, hair salons, churches, bars, hotels, community centers and condo lobbies offered up their walls to support their local artists. Here, the Stockinette Knitting Cafe makes this gesture with a handwritten window ad.
The Stockingette awarded artist Matthew Caputo a solo exhibit. His quirky and intriguing oil paintings line the walls of the narrow space.
As far as public spaces go, the Balance salon may have been my favorite on the tour. For a hair salon with a specialty in Mohawks, it was hard to tell if the art made the exposed brick-space edgier or more sophisticated.
Bunches of colored balloons tied to a facade signaled the presence of art and cheese. All participating artists provided wine and hors d’ oeuvres for anyone that came through their spaces. Photographer Beth Achenbach uses her garage as her workspace and two-car gallery.
You would think these artists would be a bit jittery having thousands of strangers traipse through their homes–not this group. The dozens of artists I visited couldn’t have been more inviting–painter and leather maker Kirk Bray, included. Here, Bray’s art is displayed above his lofted bed for all to gawk and enjoy.
Beyond each artist’s prized pieces, I loved seeing their half-finished works and the tools the artists use to complete them.
Perhaps the most amazing part of the entire show was the pricing! Jen Bernstein was selling her sketches on vellum for under $10 with the frame. I adore the sense of movement between the overlapping figures and the urban vibe they have as a series. The middle print is conveniently covering an ancient and massive phone jack in our kitchen.
Artist Loren Abbate used the show as opportunity to have a moving sale. I couldn’t resist the sunset colors, the Van Gogh texture, and the $25 price tag on this painting so I bought it on the spot. I’ve been looking for some art to shake up my living room design, and this might be just the spice it needs.
You may have missed this show, but amazing enough, this weekend is your closest thing to a second chance. Considered to be the largest design and architecture event in America, Open House New York takes place across hundreds of private and public spaces throughout the five boroughs this October 10-11th. Truly an amazing way to experience new neighborhoods, meet all sorts of people, and discover new artists and art forms; this event is a must-see if you are in the New York area. I’ll sadly be away in Pittsburgh for a wedding this weekend so I hope you can go and post comments all about it!
An invitation that involves a river, friends, and free lodging makes all the details about the accommodations seem irrelevant. So when my friend Kristen McClement invited me and ten friends to her cottage in 1,000 Islands, Canada, we didn’t ask questions; we said yes. This water-covered area along the New York border is so gorgeous we would have been happy staying in tents, but I have to say, her property made the trip that much more spectacular.
Located on Treemont Island, a 15-house neighborhood in the middle of the St. Lawrence River, the McClements’ 1903 home is pure storybook material. The original hardwoods, stone fireplaces, wraparound porch, blooming window boxes, and two gables had me swooning but the use of outdoor space and landscape design made me never want to leave.
Their home is surrounded by flowers and sprinkled with herbs and vegetables. Mrs. McClement is a big gardener and plants seedlings in her greenhouse for all the window boxes, patio pots, and hanging flowers. The neighbors always know when they’ve arrived for the summer when their new annuals are hanging from the porch.
When the McClement family purchased the property in 1990 it came with a front deck but nothing this conducive to lazing and entertaining in the sun. The circular configuration gives views to all sides of the river and the wraparound benches hug its formation. For a dining surface, limestone slabs from a local quarry (as the story goes, they nearly sunk the boat) were turned into two outdoor tables. Mr. McClement used a diamond-tipped drill to create a hole for the umbrellas and now the deck is a perfect balance of sun and shade.
To capitalize on their island location, the McClement’s built an inlet for easy entrance into the lake. It’s the only “beach” on the island and the hot spot for the island’s little swimmers.
The hot tub (like the whole property) has a view of the river but because it’s adjacent to the inlet and obscured by lush foliage, there is a bit more privacy.
The yard extends to another entertaining area, equipped with a barbecue, tire swing, fire pit, and Adirondack chairs.
And to complete the outdoor experience, there is the fire pit. Because after a day of swimming, boating, and barbecuing, there is really nothing better than friends around a fire.
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