“Sculptural Wall Tubes”
Larry Halvorsen

Last month, a Guild customer called me to talk about a new piece by Larry Halvorsen, titled “Sculptural Wall Tubes” that was featured in our Fall The Artful Home catalog. It turns out that she had collected Larry’s wonderful ceramic pieces for many years and was delighted to see him creating work for the wall.

We got into a long conversation about artists, and how the best ones continue to change and develop their work over time. A signature style is, of course, important. Halvorsen’s black, carved stoneware is immediately recognizable. But over time, he has created everything from serving pieces to small tables, and now, work for the wall.

I have always believed that growth and change are what keep one young at heart and mind. My belief was confirmed by the conversation with this particular customer. She closed our phone call by telling me that artists, and her own art collection, were an on-going inspiration to her. And, oh yes, she had just celebrated her 90th birthday!

“Transparent Flat Pitchers”
Michael Schunke
Photo by: May Mantell

For as long as I can remember, purple has been my favorite color. Just ask my poor mother, who suffered through my high school years with purple bedroom walls, bedspread, and curtains, along with clothing in various shades of purple or plum and the all-important lavender senior prom dress.

Over the years, my aesthetic preferences have matured and changed. With maturity came new color discoveries. Nothing serene and sedate, mind you! These days, I love rich colors that grab your attention and make you smile with joy.

When you think about your home, think like an artist. Introduce color in surprising spots – a bright yellow ottoman or a delphinium blue pendant lamp. An unexpected jolt of color can give the whole room depth and energy. Even small objects infused with color will influence the feel of a room.

P.S. I still love purple.

“Starburst”
Joshua Salesin

I love big, eye-catching works of art as much as the next person, but over the years I have come to appreciate the artist who creates exquisitely small pieces. These days, I find that some of the most beautiful and fascinating art objects are also the smallest.

My current favorite miniature-maker is Joshua Salesin, who works in the great tradition of wood turners. Using antique machines and tools that date back to the 1800s, Salesin applies age-old techniques to create exquisitely detailed objects that are less than two inches high. Carving intricate forms and designs in very small pieces of wood requires the utmost patience and skill, something this artist has in spades!

The result is wood turning at its best – and we have tiny, intricately crafted vessels to be admired, touched, examined, and coveted.

“Celadon Lamp with Natural Lotka Shade”
Jim Webb

I am a lamp freak. My collection includes beautiful and exotic lamps made by artist-friends, as well as unusual pieces (I say “unusual,” my husband says “strange”) found in flea markets. All serve to shed light on my activities and inactivities, transform the rooms of my home, and occasionally, transform my life.

These utilitarian duties are way too important to leave to the pedestrian lamps found in department stores. Our lamps serve as beacons, illuminating our surroundings and affecting our moods. They shape our view of the world.

The object lesson taught by the artist working with lighting is that function can be, should be, an artful blend of utility and beauty. It is not enough that the objects we use to adorn the places in which we live do the things they are intended to do. Lamps should grace the spaces they occupy and have some character as well.

As we move into fall and the shorter days of the year, my wish for you is a home filled with lamps that radiate presence as well as light.