Some Thoughts On Bringing Home What You Want
Collecting art can be a rewarding aspect of creating a happy home (or office) environment, especially in Western North Carolina, where it is such a hugemongous industry. There is SO much to choose from here that some folks could encounter art-buying paralysis, resulting in Perpetual Odes to Blankness on one or several walls. Which is a conceptual statement in itself, but I’d rather be stimulated by Walls Of Awesome Stuff, as if I’m living in The Louvre. Or perhaps in a back-alley curio shop.
I often encounter shoppers who love art, but are unsure of what they want. Initially, it can be fairly easy to say: “If you like it, just get it!”, but I know actual commitment can be a challenge. As consumers, we’re bombarded with so many glamorous product and lifestyle suggestions that, when combined with subtle (and not-so-subtle) hints that we must achieve perfection in our lives, we can become art-blocked.
To use an ice cream metaphor (I’ve shifted from sci-fi to ice cream references lately – probably due to this hot weather!), society tells me that I should want complexities that transport me to some magical land, where the perfect way to enjoy it is to lap it neatly from a cone, while meandering down a beautiful riverfront pathway with a supermodel, amidst happy Europeans sitting on benches overlooking grassy hillocks full of cute, frolicking bunnies. It’s all good, of course, but my reality is that I really like gluten-free vanilla. In a cup. And I’m very OK and happy with my choice.
Buying art is akin to this. Like what you like! At times, I gain a new understanding of an art style and become a fan of an artist, but most often, I already know what knocks me over, and what I’d enjoy in my surroundings.
My first suggestion to the hesitant collector: Try buying what hits you in your gut, just this once. Don’t worry about the whole room or house, and how it’s all going to look, or what your friends will think. Lean into it a bit, enjoy this one painting, or ceramic sculpture, or amazing chair. Revere it like a newly-adopted puppy.
Secondly, let the new arrival nudge something out of the way, if need be. A small rearrangement to feature a new item can be refreshing, providing a chance to really celebrate it. And rotating objects out can provide the joy of re-engaging with a stored item later on, or after a move.
And I encourage you to embrace your Inner Eclectic! Not everything has to match and be Architectural Digest cover-worthy. Although my thoughts here are really more about the plethora of original art in our region, old finds are fun, too. But if you realize you are unable to resist antique malls, be specific in your goals. “Today, I will only buy National Park Salt & Pepper shakers from the 1960’s!” (I’d like to say I made that example up. But I can’t.)
If an item hits you viscerally, take it home! You will have the additional satisfaction of knowing that you made an artist’s day by giving their creation a chance to shine in a new place.
Interacting with and choosing art can be a lot like that ice cream scenario: there are no bad choices, it’s just about going for what feels right to you today. Long live art – and your enjoyment of it!