I love this. I love the way you lean into both your knowledge and your angst, love the use of the article, and I feel like we’re in a call and response like Jazz or something. Thrilling to have this writing exchange in my life. Hanging pictures is always so fraught and wonderful. My parents compete on the walls of my houses as they did in my life and for my loyalty. I force them to get along in two dimensions.. It was my earliest attempts at a kind of reconciliation. I’m realizing it as I write this. Another gut response is this.. the incredible breadth of Earle’s talent! The range and virtuosity.
My own story, over 50 years ago when we moved into our fifth floor brownstore coop, the only thing we did was to paint all the brick walls white, thus expanding the sense of space. Then I made the decision to not hang any art on the twenty-foot western wall and have bookcases and artwork etc. on the eastern wall. Oh, and the room had full southern exposure, augmented by skylights in the adjoining entryway, so the light changed throughout the day. Even with the initial irritation of many artist friends (who were relegated to other spaces throughout the apartment), it was the best "decorating" decision I ever made. The tranquil room became it's own work of art as light shifted color and dimension from dawn to evening with natural light as the artist, playing on the texture of the white-painted brick.
I loved this piece and your thoughtful and honest inquiry into the decision of whether or not to hang your father's art!
Your example is great, Marnie. We have some white-painted brick in our house too, which will stay bare because I like the texture. And I'm glad to remember to think about natural lighting too-- the sun is streaming in our south-facing window right now and it's lovely.
This is such a great exploration. FWIW I love the sunflower painting. Orange is supposed to stimulate the appetite so it could have that effect!
I have too many bare walls right now and art to hang! Last year I made a body of work - encaustic monoprints. I was in love with them all and decided to frame and hang many of them. This was a dream of mine - my art hanging in my home.
I love them and think they look great. I wonder what others think and a friend hedged when I asked his opinion. Luckily, that didn't change how I feel about the art.
Great essay, Victoria. Gives me lots to think about and I loved seeing more of Earle's work.
Thanks, Cynthia! And good for you for making and hanging your own art--
I like how a lot of these comments are focusing on how the art makes one feel, instead of what it means or what it's "worth." That's a valuable reminder too.
I especially like the two photos of the white walls, strange though it may seem. Because it sums up your quandary, which I sympathize with. After all sorts of cogitations & reasonings on where to hang framed work by my father, other family members, and artist friends, I finally ditched the idea of doing it "right." I have a couple of walls that probably haphazard to someone else -- and they are! Basically my guiding principle is to hang the pieces I'm most attached to and that continue to speak to me in spots where I'll see them regularly. So .. an oil painting of our Cape Cod house hangs where I see it while eating dinner. A row of blockprints my father made around the age of 17 in a row across one wall of my study. A painting of the young Mozart (poster) by Pietro Antonia Lorenzoni (1763) on the wall facing the chair where I sit to put on my shoes. And so on. I confess also that when & if I get around to rotating pictures, I try to use nails that are already in place which isn't always ideal ...
Thanks, Clyde. I think you're right to give up on being right. And I really like the idea of thinking about your viewpoints. My sister rotates the art on her walls regularly and I love that idea too, though it would be ambitious for me. And it just seems wise to re-use the same nails!
I found this very interesting and I also enjoyed the O'Doherty quotes. I love visiting the Wallace Collection in London which, unlike the Tate or National Gallery, has its vividly coloured walls covered in artwork in glorious profusion. At home, though, I keep the walls bare.
Thanks, Jeffrey. I like those “old-fashioned” galleries too and they have an entirely different feel. It’s a different way to experience the art. I also like that in some people’s homes, when it really reflects who they are— houses that are full of personality from top to bottom. But I too prefer more space, so to speak, for my own home. Some breathing room—
I love this. I love the way you lean into both your knowledge and your angst, love the use of the article, and I feel like we’re in a call and response like Jazz or something. Thrilling to have this writing exchange in my life. Hanging pictures is always so fraught and wonderful. My parents compete on the walls of my houses as they did in my life and for my loyalty. I force them to get along in two dimensions.. It was my earliest attempts at a kind of reconciliation. I’m realizing it as I write this. Another gut response is this.. the incredible breadth of Earle’s talent! The range and virtuosity.
Yes! And it’s so interesting that you have two artist parents to “juggle” on your walls. Maybe that is another piece….
And I appreciate your vote of confidence in Earle, whom I’m too close to see clearly. Thank you for all this.
Glad you decided to hang the sunflower painting!
My own story, over 50 years ago when we moved into our fifth floor brownstore coop, the only thing we did was to paint all the brick walls white, thus expanding the sense of space. Then I made the decision to not hang any art on the twenty-foot western wall and have bookcases and artwork etc. on the eastern wall. Oh, and the room had full southern exposure, augmented by skylights in the adjoining entryway, so the light changed throughout the day. Even with the initial irritation of many artist friends (who were relegated to other spaces throughout the apartment), it was the best "decorating" decision I ever made. The tranquil room became it's own work of art as light shifted color and dimension from dawn to evening with natural light as the artist, playing on the texture of the white-painted brick.
I loved this piece and your thoughtful and honest inquiry into the decision of whether or not to hang your father's art!
Your example is great, Marnie. We have some white-painted brick in our house too, which will stay bare because I like the texture. And I'm glad to remember to think about natural lighting too-- the sun is streaming in our south-facing window right now and it's lovely.
Thanks for your thoughts!
This is such a great exploration. FWIW I love the sunflower painting. Orange is supposed to stimulate the appetite so it could have that effect!
I have too many bare walls right now and art to hang! Last year I made a body of work - encaustic monoprints. I was in love with them all and decided to frame and hang many of them. This was a dream of mine - my art hanging in my home.
I love them and think they look great. I wonder what others think and a friend hedged when I asked his opinion. Luckily, that didn't change how I feel about the art.
Great essay, Victoria. Gives me lots to think about and I loved seeing more of Earle's work.
Thanks, Cynthia! And good for you for making and hanging your own art--
I like how a lot of these comments are focusing on how the art makes one feel, instead of what it means or what it's "worth." That's a valuable reminder too.
Totally.
I especially like the two photos of the white walls, strange though it may seem. Because it sums up your quandary, which I sympathize with. After all sorts of cogitations & reasonings on where to hang framed work by my father, other family members, and artist friends, I finally ditched the idea of doing it "right." I have a couple of walls that probably haphazard to someone else -- and they are! Basically my guiding principle is to hang the pieces I'm most attached to and that continue to speak to me in spots where I'll see them regularly. So .. an oil painting of our Cape Cod house hangs where I see it while eating dinner. A row of blockprints my father made around the age of 17 in a row across one wall of my study. A painting of the young Mozart (poster) by Pietro Antonia Lorenzoni (1763) on the wall facing the chair where I sit to put on my shoes. And so on. I confess also that when & if I get around to rotating pictures, I try to use nails that are already in place which isn't always ideal ...
Thanks, Clyde. I think you're right to give up on being right. And I really like the idea of thinking about your viewpoints. My sister rotates the art on her walls regularly and I love that idea too, though it would be ambitious for me. And it just seems wise to re-use the same nails!
I found this very interesting and I also enjoyed the O'Doherty quotes. I love visiting the Wallace Collection in London which, unlike the Tate or National Gallery, has its vividly coloured walls covered in artwork in glorious profusion. At home, though, I keep the walls bare.
Thanks, Jeffrey. I like those “old-fashioned” galleries too and they have an entirely different feel. It’s a different way to experience the art. I also like that in some people’s homes, when it really reflects who they are— houses that are full of personality from top to bottom. But I too prefer more space, so to speak, for my own home. Some breathing room—