Anyone who hangs a picture on their wall and thinks the room is decorated will be jolted awake by the ArtFull Living Designer Show House, which will open June 3 at Glassbury Court at Cold Spring.
The Putnam County 55-and-older community developed by Elmsford-based Wilder Balter Partners is collaborating with Cold Spring Arts to host a three-month focus on contemporary art, interior design and how the two can live together in style.
It”™s an innovative showcase dreamed up by Cold Spring glass artist Barbara Galazzo, whose work is featured throughout the project. The focus is on the art and how it can be integrated into the home. By showing the work in a room setting, as opposed to a traditional gallery, Galazzo said she thinks it may open some eyes.
“My idea was to show how you can actually have art in your home. It doesn”™t have to be over the top. You can live with it.”
It”™s also designed to bring the work of these 30-plus Hudson Valley artists to a wider audience ”“ Galazzo hopes the project will attract some 3,000 visitors ”“ while also putting the spotlight on the designers and sparking future artist-designer collaborations.
A swirling metal sculpture by Valley Cottage artist Eric David Laxman stands at the entry, giving a hint as to what will follow.
Laxman, whose own slogan is “Make a Space for Art,” was pleased to hear about the project. It is, he said, a great way “to get in touch with more interior designers.”
Indeed, he worked with several in the show house, his glass-and-metal sculptures and furniture dotted throughout the rooms.
“It”™s so rare,” he said. “I”™ve never seen a show house like this where the designers are specifically asked to utilize art.”
He also said that the project might broaden his own audience.
“People tend to want to put you in a box ”˜You”™re a functional artist,”™” and not a fine artist as well. “They don”™t really get that I can wear both hats.”
Teaming up with new designers was another attraction to participating.
“Hopefully with the designers it will continue into actual projects,” Laxman said.
The show house is a treasure trove of stylish finds, from colorful art-glass pieces to unique table settings, from wildly creative wall art to handcrafted furniture and accessories.
It all came together, Galazzo said, due to the creative process the show-house concept sparked in the participants.
“There started to be this synergy between the artists and designers,” she said. “It kept expanding because the designers wanted other things.”
The show house, which will continue through Sept. 9, will also raise funds for the Born This Way Foundation. For more details, visit coldspringarts.com.
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