Sunday, February 28, 2010

By Leslie Linsley Special to The Citizen

If you didn't go on the White Street art walk last Thursday you missed a fun-filled, Key West event. The evening was not just cool, but downright cold, which made for some imaginative outfits. Combining the art with the interesting people resulted in a double whammy. The Key Westers, unlike the snowbirds, were layered in colorful attire with some funkiness to the décor. Snowbirds and tourists were wearing down and fleece coats they arrived in and didn't think they'd wear again until re-entry up North. There were more than a dozen boot-clad attendees.

Maybe the brisk weather had something to do with the energy, but more than likely it was the variety of art.

There are a few new exhibitors on the scene as well with a new store and showroom in Key West. One of the most exciting and different is the new furniture showroom that occupies the old Haitian Art Gallery on Southard Street. JanGeorge Interior Design held an opening party not long ago and the buzz is that sophisticated shabby chic has come to Key West. Even the loftlike industrial-style space is new and exciting. The furniture is a combination of Italian sofas, chairs and ottomans covered in white and natural linen and cotton fabrics, some slipcovered, some upholstered, with rustic farm chairs, handcrafted bowls and other interesting accessories. The furniture is fluid and sensuous and makes most American-made furniture look stiff by comparison. An oversized, beautifully curvaceous armoire is commanding against one wall and one can imagine it as the center of a living room in a large Key West home. Another white armoire is made of papier-mâché -- intriguing and commanding in a room.

Upstairs at The Studios of Key West, artist's spaces were open to the public with the artists in residence. Architect Guillermo Orozco's work struck me as totally working with the JanGeorge furniture. His style is contemporary and abstract and one can easily imagine any number of pieces above the sofas in the Southard Street showroom.

At Stone Soup, watercolorist William Welsh presented a variety of Key West scenes that included many of the different houses from the cigarmaker's cottages to the grand sea captain houses. They are perfect for Key West homes or for those visiting here who might like to have a piece of Key West in their home "away."

Someone once asked me, "How do you buy art?" It's an interesting question because there are so many art galleries in resort towns like Key West, and people often use their vacation time to do the gallery scene. If you are on vacation in Key West you might like to know that Key West, has been a home and inspiration to some of the world's top artists for more than 200 years. This is evidenced by the abundance of studios and galleries showing exciting and imaginative works by artists of local, national and international fame.

So, if you are in the market for a painting or craftwork, there's no better place to find something than right here. Most of the galleries in town represent local artists. Aside from art to hang on your walls, there is a wide variety of craftwork such as pottery, glass and artistic jewelry.

If you're on vacation, it's an excellent time to choose a painting or a print because you have the time to be selective. The pressure of schedules and "must-do" lists are nonexistent. Minds often are uncluttered and it's easy to leisurely focus on the discovery of that one painting that speaks to you.

You might begin your art walk with two wonderful galleries on Duval: Lucky Street Gallery and Gingerbread Square Gallery. Lucky Street represents some of the best local artists such as Rick Worth, Roberta Marks, Susan Sugar and the sculpture of John Martini. Gingerbread has paintings by Jon McIntosh and Michael Palmer, totally different styles and equally collectible. They also have marvelous art glass and sculpture. While on Duval, don't miss Hands On, a local craft gallery of handmade unique items from jewelry to clothing.

Sign of Sandford Gallery on Simonton features the watercolors of owner Sandford Birdsey, a Key West staple since the 1970s.

For an eclectic mix of fine crafts by locals, check out Helios Gardens Gallery at the Gardens Hotel on the corner of Angela and Simonton streets. Here you will find really nice contemporary botanical prints on paper and textile. The artist, Dawn Wilkins, owns Helio Graphics and has lived and worked in Key West for 30 years. Some of her fabrics are sold as pillows as well. I particularly like her crisp green ferns on white background. They would be striking on the white sofas from JanGeorge Interiors.

Art that is purchased on vacation is often representative of the island. With so much natural beauty here, many people want to re-live the experience often after they return home. It might be a water scene, a landscape, a view of town, a little conch cottage, a sunset or a garden blooming with island flowers. Realistic, stylized, abstract, oils, watercolors, prints, photographs, sculptures -- whatever you prefer, you'll find it here.

So to answer the question, "How do you buy art?" There's only one important rule and that is whether or not it gives you pleasure to look at it.

Leslie Linsley has written more than 50 books on crafts, decorating and home style. She resides on Nantucket with her husband, photographer Jon Aron, and has a store on the island that specializes in her one-of-a-kind creations. Her latest book is "Key West: A Tropical Lifestyle" (Monacelli Press), with photos by Terry Pommett.