edited by Barbara Harrelson

“Covering a vast range of disciplines, from the fine arts through to the very latest in digital technologies, artists, architects and designers are pushing the boundaries of their practice to the limit and looking to the future with their innovation and high standards of production.”
The British Council of Arts

How does art influence your work? Who or what has been your greatest influence?

How do art, design, and architecture work together—does one influence more than the others?

What excites you about opportunities in today’s markets—and specifically Santa Fe’s (and Taos’s) market?

These are questions that the editors at The Essential Guide put to various designers, architects, and gallery owners in Santa Fe and Taos.

 

Art is Primary, but Does not Stand Alone

The role of art, particularly the visual arts, was primary in the work of all these creative people. However, they also recognized the interactions and collaborative nature of art, design, and architecture as distinct disciplines.

“Every facet of my creative life influences all of the other facets,” said architect Pedro Marquez, who is also a musician, sculptor, painter, and poet. “As a creative soul, I am influenced by all realms of art … This is a humble effort on my part to achieve creative balance in my life as an artisto completo, or a complete artist.”

Architect Robin Gray is very influenced by color, patterns, changing trends in art, she says, aspiring “to be an artist at all that I do.” Gray, who also designs contemporary rugs and wall hangings, commented, “My rugs, as well as my architecture, have been influenced by the work of architect Luis Barragán, and artists Kandinsky and Miró, to name a few. I think we all pick up inspiration from many elements of various disciplines.”

Victoria Price, gallery owner (Victoria Price Art & Design) and designer, grew up in a home with “an exceptional art collection” and has both studied and taught art history. “In Santa Fe, where the visual arts are such a powerful presence, and have been so essential to the development of our regional style, the field of design necessarily grounds itself in the visual arts,” she asserts.

Jeanne’ Sei, Owner of Kitchens by Jeanne’ believes that “Beautiful art creates good feelings, and when a person steps into a space, you want that person to have those good feelings. Creating a Kitchen space should be a work of art using a blend of color, texture, light, comfort, and function. Just like a painting, it should be pleasant to look at and always give a feeling of satisfaction. This is sometimes difficult to achieve depending on the space and the client.”

Art is a big influence in my work. Says Steve Ozelton, an artist woodworker and master craftsman who co owns the soon to open Woods of Oz Gallery near Buffalo Thunder Resort. I find ideas for colors and shapes from all different styles of art forms and mediums. I love to collaborate with other artists. This is why I am so excited to open Woods of OZ Furniture and Art at THE STATION. I will be surrounded by other great artists. I will get a chance to work with glass blowers, blacksmiths and metal workers, leather artists and clothing designers.

The influence of the late Mexican architect Luis Barragán was also mentioned by Megan Lloyd Hill, owner and designer of Sunrise Springs Resort Spa, the area’s only “green” resort. Hill, an artist and former gallery owner, displays her work and pieces from her private collection throughout the property. She notes that “integrating the land, nature and plants with the buildings” at Sunrise Springs is an art.

Page Kelleher, Owner of Santa Fe Modern Home, doesn’t let Art with a capital “A” influence her work, She like to seek sources outside the “Artworld” to make her work more frash and less derative. “I feel its important not to rely on the past but to transport it into work that is current, yet has a connection to design history.”

At FaFa’s Furniture & Fine Arts in Taos, “We find inspiration from many sources, including art. The colors, forms, and designs of many of the artists in our gallery inspire us to reach beyond preconceptions of what home furnishings can be,” said Matthew Ryan, “and help us remain on the cutting edge of design. The free form and technological innovations that are coming through in contemporary art seem to come through in the flowing and whimsical lines of contemporary furniture. We are thrilled to participate in this dynamic.”

John Bosshard, of Bosshard Gallery, sums it up with “Art rules! … The best architects, builders, and designers (and short-order cooks) have become artists at what they do. The free expression of creativity (art) is at the core of any of these categories.”

Possibilities for Local Markets and Evolving Design Styles

As for the possibilities in today’s art, design, and architecture markets—particularly in Santa Fe and Taos—the consensus was that “Santa Fe Style” in its hackneyed forms is out and that the true vernacular regional forms are strong enough to “embrace a more diverse and contemporary aesthetic,” as Robin Gray described it.

Gray was excited that “more and more people are interested in alternative energy and building ‘green’.”

Megan Hill is heartened by the growing interest in green resorts and spas. She likes to approach her projects “organically,” by spending a lot of time on the land, getting to know it in all directions. At Sunrise Springs, Hill was challenged by integrating New Mexican elements into a traditional Japanese Teahouse. “We gave the Teahouse a salt cedar ceiling and used traditional mud walls inside.”

“For as long as I can remember,” mused Victoria Price, “I have been fascinated by that glorious place where two seemingly disparate styles or ideas or ways of thinking meet and spontaneously create something new. I like to use the metaphor of the wildflowers that seem always to choose to grow where the asphalt meets the dirt by the side of the road. Life is like that—wonderful things happen when two styles collide, a person moves to one region from another and brings both an open mind and an interest in learning about their new environment. The same thing happens when old meets new.

Pedro Marquez, an eleventh generation New Mexican with a ranching background, tries to balance the “search for new expression” with “a derivative of that which has already been done.” He also emphasizes that while he is influenced by “my modernist architectural heroes,” he has been more inspired by “the indigenous builders of this world.”

Matthew Ryan, at FaFa’s, believes that living in Taos is “an incredible artistic opportunity—if you’re paying attention. The colors here are extraordinary, especially during the “golden hour” before sunset. We always try to incorporate this palette of the American West into someone’s home when helping them with their colors. The vistas out of their windows can be drawn into their living space. I also love the adobe construction. Contemporary furniture design fits seamlessly in adobe-style homes with their flowing lines and curved angles.

“Beauty deserves a place,” states John Bosshard, adding that he is thinking of “outlawing” tape measures in his showroom, because, “A beautiful piece can make a whole room, so if it doesn’t fit, knock a wall out. There’s a certain lack of confidence and creativity when you forsake great art and design for bean counting,” he concludes.

But one must keep in mind that once a “Style” becomes the norm its no longer vital” states Page Kelleher. Which is why she believes that “Santa Fe, with its rich Hispanic and Native designs, traditions and crafts, there’s a huge opportunity to refashion, transform and build upon design that converges new and old.”

That brash advice notwithstanding, several of our respondents cited “listening to the client” as one of the most important indicators of success in any project.

Successful Projects Grow from Collaboration

Victoria Price says, “My job as a designer is to listen—to listen to what people like and dislike, to learn how they live, to listen to what they need to make their daily life easier and more enjoyable, to listen to what they aspire to and admire. If I ask the right questions and listen to the answers, then the right approach to any project will unfold.”

Matthew Ryan agrees. “Listen to the client first. Use their feedback to frame a home furnishing concept for their unique situation. Yet, we also strive to bring the unexpected into a client’s home. It is very satisfying to help people see different colors or styles than they would normally consider. We love to help people break out of the dated concept of southwestern style and realize that modern furniture and home furnishings feel as if they were meant to be in southwestern homes.”

Back at Sunrise Springs, Megan Hill collaborated with several architects, “one being Bill Lumpkins, who designed the Moonhouse.” She was involved with every building on the property, working on the design and architecture, as well as the Japanese Gardens. Looking forward, she is optimistic that “Santa Fe has an opportunity to show itself as a leader both in green building and in the collaboration of art, culture, and architecture.”

And in today’s economy, will building cutbacks be inevitable? “I think that many people are choosing to remodel their existing homes instead of contributing to the housing glut by building new,” says Victoria Price. “While the remodeling process is a terrific challenge for designers, it is also an incredible opportunity.”

Jeanne Sei, believes that “every project has a dream to fulfill” and she loves helping to creat that dream.” I’ve had a lot of great jobs in the last 25 years – from colorful artists’ palates to serene contemporaries. The most fun, creative, and challenging project a very recent one– clients building their very large dream home came to us to help them create their new environment. It was challenging------two side by side working kitchens (one for the caterer), different woods and colors that needed to flow from room to room yet have personality in each space, and a game room that allowed our creativity to flow. (You should see the pics!) The clients were great to work with. The end products are happy clients with great, timeless, contemporary design that works in their family home. It gives us great satisfaction to know the client now has their dream.

And to conclude, Steve Ozelton, would like to help clients to recognize and understand quality and that at times it does cost more! He says, “When I build a piece of furniture, if it is taken care of, it should last a lifetime. To me, that’s quality.”