Mixed Greens 10th Anniversary

July 12, 2009

HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY MIXED GREENS!

I think it would be difficult to do residential design without considering art at every step of the way. It would be like designing a bedroom without a bed, or a living room without a sofa. Art is what makes our homes personal; it’s what allows us to make statements; it adds some edge or softens hard lines.

Last week I went to a very special opening, the Mixed Greens 10th anniversary exhibition: 84 pieces of art in all, including work by Ryan McGinness, James Hyde, and Andy Diaz Hope to name but a few. I was lucky enough to meet Paige West, the owner, about 11 years ago, when she was planning the opening of this gallery and even luckier to have been able to work on the design of her first and second gallery spaces.

I have always loved art, but Paige has taught me so much. Not that I now know lots of names or that I am particularly tapped into the art world, but I do know is what I like and don’t. She reinforced in me the knowledge that there are no rules to art–no matter how much it costs or where the art has been exhibited; if I like it, I like it, and if I dont, I dont. It seems pretty obvious, but some people in the art world can be pretty hoidy toidy and the entire scene can be…well, a scene.

Selecting art for clients is tricky because taste for art is so individual and there is no convincing a client to buy a piece or changing their mind on their initial reaction. Its more of a gut instinct kind of thing and I appreciate that.

I love the range of artists that Mixed Greens represents, and I love the hardworking individuals who run the gallery: Stephen, Monica, Heather, Rob, Courtney, and the rest of the gang. They are far from intimidating. They welcome everyone into the gallery warmly encouraging them to support their talented artists.