Gallery Exhibits Change Monthly

Whether you are hungry or not, its hard to resist a sumptuous smorgasbord. Normally, you won’t find food at Hunter-Wolff Gallery but you will find a tempting smorgasbord of art to sample.

Can’t decide what to sample first? With dozens of award-winning artists’ artwork to indulge in, expect a full course meal of art ranging from giftware to heirloom collectibles. Can you imagine dozens of chefs whipping up your smorgasbord? Visitors always find something that appeals to their unique tastes. Soup to nuts, you can pick from a variety of two- and three-dimensional art confined to an area not much bigger than a volley ball court.  In spite of limited space, the curator displays and interprets the gallery’s collections to help inform, educate and inspire every visitor.

Not familiar with kiln-formed glass? Raku? Drusy? Then you are in for a treat, because the staff is prepared to share as much detail as you want and have handouts to help you learn more about the pieces you find interesting.

Hunter-Wolff Gallery has a dozen painters, each with their own unique style and appeal.  Before stepping away from the buffet of paintings, consider all the three-dimensional art made from wood, glass, bronze, clay and more. For extra sweet treats, the jewelry cases are filled with beautifully designed and fabricated silver pieces and necklaces, bracelets and earrings in colorful gemstones, pearls, etc., to satisfy today’s contemporary woman.

Hunter-Wolff Gallery has one extra bonus.  No calories!  And, when you can’t find what you want from this smorgasbord of delights, ask the staff to check its sources to find what you’re craving. Hunter-Wolff Gallery’s artists are happy to whip up a new recipe to satisfy your hunger for art. What are you craving?

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In only ten days, Saturday, November 24 is Small Business Saturday^®—a day to demonstrate your support and celebrate local small businesses that boost the economy and invigorate neighborhoods across the country.

Hunter-Wolff Gallery is proud to participate in Small Business Saturday and we look forward to your support by shopping with us on November 24th. Get a jump on your holiday gift purchases; we are well stocked with great fine art made here in America by award-winning artists at affordable prices. Shop Small^® and together we can make this November 24th the biggest day of the year for small business.

To learn more, visit ShopSmall.com and remind your friends and family to do the same!

We’d love to hear why you like shopping small business.

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Donna Gordon Blown Glass Collection

In recognition of the 2012 nationwide celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the American Glass Studio Movement, Hunter-Wolff Gallery is featuring beautiful blown glass by Colorado glassblower Donna Gordon in appreciation for her years of dedication and creativity and for being part of this movement, which continues to foster new interest in utilizing glass as an art form. The gallery is also taking this opportunity to introduce kilnformed glass by former Chicago-area Tom Donaldson.

Tom Donaldson’s exhibit of kilnformed glass gives collectors another option, primarily intended for display.  For more than 26 years, Donaldson has studied and developed a lesser conventional style. Donaldson rarely creates pieces in multiples unless it is a series of glass tiles or for lighting.  He strongly believes that the value of art is diminished somewhat with large production numbers and often looks to nature for new inspiration.  He credits nature for many of his award-winning pieces and explains, “Nature combines the precision and logic of math with the gentle variations of form and color. In almost everything in nature there is a repeating pattern, color and shape and that makes nature very desirable and useful in creating abstract and representational art.” Donaldson says he continues to push existing theory pertaining to kilnformed glass and collectors appreciate his results. Both exhibits will run concurrently July 15 to September 30, 2012 for visitors’ appreciation of contemporary art glass.

Tom Donaldson Kilnformed Art Glass

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Making Customers Happy

Sometimes it only takes a single image to spur a decision. That is exactly what often occurs at Hunter-Wolff Gallery when we publish our monthly newsletters filled with images, or send a image via email to a customer based on his/her interest.  It helps when we know what you like and when you communicate your interests.  Servicing customers based on their interests is a win-win-win.  You get what you like, artists are rewarded for their creativity, and the gallery continues to do what it does best . . . satisfy a special desire for original artwork.

For example, we have been working with Barbara for a number of years and placed numerous paintings and other beautiful artwork in her home. She recently shared that she wanted multiple pieces that could be grouped together but not necessarily by the same artist.  Barbara saw an image of the raku and fiber sculpture by Karen Pierce and Marc Jenesel on the day it arrived in the gallery.  The next day Barbara owned it.  We were fairly certain the piece would meet her request: she wanted unique multi-medium sculpture that highlighted colors she wanted to bring into her space. She was upfront from the start about her budget and what she wanted her space to look like. We then scoped out potential pieces, including a blown-glass platter and several floral paintings for her grouping.  She liked all our recommendations and made her decision.

Sometimes it takes an in-home trial of a piece to get the perfect artwork.  Selecting and investing in artwork takes some decision-making, but it is always helpful to us if we understand your needs, likes and budget.  We want you to have what you like, not what we like, and we want you to enjoy it for a lifetime.  Tell us what you want and we will get busy helping you.

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There is a definite buzz on the Avenue.  The 2012 ArtWalk season is about to  start, April 6 at 5pm – 8pm.  Brochures are printed, banners are hung, new artwork has arrived.  And, the weather is perfect for strolling the Avenue to explore 17 galleries and more than a dozen open artist’s studios.

For those who have yet joined us during ArtWalk, put it on your calendar today.  Hunter-Wolff Gallery will have live demonstrations each month.  This month, you will witness Gary Vigen in action creating delicate paintings on stained glass surfaces.  These lovely gems are really landscapes created out of all glass; glass fused to glass for a new twist on wall art.  Stop in and ask questions!

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Not long ago, one of our gallery potters delivered a number of new tableware pieces including teapots, chip/dip platter, serving bowls, tumblers, platters, casserole dishes, etc.

Not only were they fresh from the kiln but they had a new wonderful glaze in deep, rich colors of dark red, blue, brown and black.  I have never been much of a pottery collector but these pieces just made my eyes dilate.  Fact: Whenever we see someone or something we like, the pupils of our eyes dilate and grow larger. It’s almost as if our eyes are trying to see as much of this desirable thing as possible.

This is an involuntary and uncontrollable physiological response.

I couldn’t resist the color and it made me want to touch the shiny smooth surface.  I could immediately see it on my table … and on every cook’s table …. what a wonderful color combination.

Frank Gray, The Potter, said he just developed the glaze formula and really didn’t have a name for it yet, when I blurted out, “Black & Berries”.  Yes, look at the raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, and of course the blackberries!  The name was perfect.  The color is perfect.  Can’t you imagine servings of fresh asparagus, mashed garlic potatoes, pot roast, corn bread, cape cod crab cakes, golden fried calamari … you fill in the blank and fill your plate. Frank Gray’s pottery is far from gray and will look wonderful on any table. I bet everyone will want seconds.  Reminder:  Don’t forget to include color on your table. Add Donna Gordon’s Blown Glass Tumblers and you will have a winning table. I bet your eyes will dilate too.

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Donna Gordon Glass Collection Hearts

I love my life as an American and think you probably do too.   This would be a different world without the men and women who serve our country in a uniform. I’m talking about our military forces here and abroad.  Those who serve in combat know their life is at risk but few think about the effects of trauma when they return home.  We are grateful when they come home to us but are not always prepared for the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  It’s real and it isn’t always addressed until too late.

The Wounded Warriors, Colorado Springs, foundation has partnered with Aspen Pointe to help our combat veterans through Art Therapy.  It’s an effective method of therapy and we are here to support this fine group of caring friends in any way we can.  We are reaching out to you too to help us raise funding for this important cause and help those in need of our help.

During the Month of October sales proceeds from our Donna Gordon Blown Glass heart collection will be donated to the program to show our gratitude.  In addition, on Sunday, October 16 from 1-5 pm we are participating in a fun afternoon of food, demonstrations and a silent auction.  Proceeds from the day and silent auction will also help this important program.  We hope to see you here and look forward to receiving your help.

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From the Furnace to Home

Have you ever watched a surgeon perform a procedure and thought, “wow that looks fun”.  Maybe you even thought it looked easy.  That is how I felt when I watched Donna Gordon at her Colorado hot shop create a beautiful vase.  This was not my first visit and I expected to be uninspired seeing her work again since I’ve watched the process before several times.  Wrong.  She is amazing and glass blowing is incredibly difficult, labor intensive and VERY HOT. Aside from the intense heat, I thought maybe this time I would try one or two of the steps she performs but decided not to interfere with her rhythm.  She moves to and fro from the furnace to the glory hole, to the bench, to her torch, to her table for more colored frit and back to the glory hole. Like a dancer not missing a step.  I think I will just leave the glass blowing to the experts like Donna Gordon.

The Donna Gordon Glass Collection is refreshed with new work regularly.  She just finished blowing several dozen hearts for our October fundraiser to support the Wounded Warrior Art Therapy program.  Stop by and pick out your favorite color; they make great gifts and will make you feel great about yourself for helping our combat vets seeking help through Art Therapy.

Hearts to Support Wounded Warriors

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Donna Gordon Custom Blown Glass

Have you been burning up hours searching and searching for a perfect painting or piece of artwork?

We often hear someone confess he/she has been looking for months—even years—for a painting to love for a specific location.  Years of searching might seem extreme, but we know you are out there.  Sometimes available space requires a certain dimension and other times lighting issues are factors that can be addressed in a custom piece. 

The solution is to identify an artist’s style of work you appreciate, then work with their representative.  Don’t be shy about asking for specific needs–whether it is size, color or shape. We have completed many custom requests and have many examples to show you. Most of Hunter-Wolff Gallery’s artists enjoy creating custom pieces based on client needs.  If you plan to place a piece of art in your home, why wait?  Stop searching, start asking, and get the ball rolling. 

You can have the art you love now!

Laura Reilly Commission

 

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