‘ArtFull Living’ on Display in Cold Spring
Last autumn, the founder of Cold Spring Arts, Barbara Galazzo, was thinking of ways the work of local artists might be displayed so that first time buyers might be able to better imagine how the original works of others might fit into their own homes.
Looking to move away from the stark white walls and empty open spaces seen in many galleries, Galazzo came up with the idea of the ArtFull Living art and design show house located in the Glassbury Court housing development off of Route 9 in Cold Spring.
“Most design show houses happen in mansions,” she said of setting up the ArtFull Living showcase in the senior community of newly-constructed, eco-friendly homes. “I didn’t want to do that.”
Another move away from tradition showcase homes was creating the design around the art, Galazzo said.
“Art is usually the third element that is brought in. Here it was the whole design basis of the house,” she said.
Artists from Cold Spring and Garrison, along with others from throughout the Hudson Valley, were paired up with seven designers and together the visual artists created rooms inspired by a celebrity personality or a famous character.
One example of the collaboration between artist and designer can be seen in the master bedroom. Large -scale black and white paintings hang on the wall. The designer asked the artist who created them to have her work jump from the frame and continue on to the walls.
Large scale sculpture sit atop the bureau at the front of the room; a placement that even came as as surprise to the artist who made them.
“It was an interesting experience for the artists,” she said. “A lot of their artwork was used in a way that it wasn’t originally intended.”
Galazzo, who is a fused glass artist, was asked to make light sconces for the recessed lighting elements in the upstairs loft.
“Maryann didn’t want people to walk up the stairs and get hit in the eyes by the lights,” she said of the designer Maryann Syrek’s creative employ of the colorful glassware.
Every room in the two-story, four bedroom home has a unique design and a mixture of art mediums, including hand-crafted furniture. The attached garage was turned into a more traditional gallery type setting, with the requisite white walls, and showcases photographs, paintings and collage created by local artists. And outside are large-scale sculpture in the side and back yards.
Going room-by-room, Gallazzo easily explained the design of the rooms and the pieces of artwork found in each; from inspiration to composite.
Members of the community are invited to view the home and be treated to the same kind of tour from now until Oct. 14.
The ArtFull Living Show House is open from noon to 4 p.m., Fridays through Tuesdays and a $10 donation is suggested. Children under the age of 10 years old are not permitted in the show house.
The house also will be open for the 2nd annual Cold Spring Arts Open Studio event to be held from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13 and on Sunday, Oct. 14, when artists in Cold Spring and Garrison will open their studio doors to the public.
If visitors spot something they might envision hanging on the wall in their home, all of the artwork in the Artfull Living Show House is for sale, but everyone is invited to just come and enjoy.
“Maybe some of the pieces are not their taste, but people can see how they can live with art,” Gallazo said.
More information on the ArtFull Living show house and tour maps for the Open Studio event can be found by visiting www.coldspringarts.com.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.