Iconic Design : Albert Hadley

Creating an interesting, beautiful and livable room can be a daunting task. There are endless factors to be considered…where should I put the lamps? Table or floor lamps? Should the curtains reach the floor or be hemmed to dangle an inch above the baseboards? Round or square rugs? Shag or flat weave? How many throw pillows on the couch? Where do I put my latest Pure Sculpture Edition? The questions and considerations can be endless. Thankfully, there are some iconic interior designers that have traveled these roads before.

One of America’s most influential interior designers of the 20th century, Albert Hadley (1921 – 2012) created some of the most iconic rooms in design history. A Tennessee native that graduated from the Parsons School of Design, Hadley’s client list includes the 20th century’s most famous last names: Rockefeller, Getty, Astor, Paley and Kenney Onassis, to name a few. Known for his unique ability to create sophisticated and enticing rooms with a daring and intelligent design sensibility, Hadley’s creations have inspired designers across the world.

While there are many reasons to adore his rooms, we’re particularly fond of his use of sculpture to add dimension and interest to any room. We love this excerpt from Thomas Jayne in his New York Times Magazine article about the lessons he gained from Hadley:

I recall two of his “lessons” almost every day. One is that a great decorator always seeks out the new and the overlooked, rather than returning to the tried and true. This is why Albert’s work always had so many original elements. The other is the value of taking calculated design risks. The returns, he suggested, far outweigh the costs of remedying any mistakes. I can hear him saying, “Decoration without risk leads to uninteresting rooms".

Take a cue from Albert Hadley and his impeccable designs, consider scale, volume and height when creating your space. Most importantly, don’t forget about the art (especially sculpture) which adds dimension, texture and interest to every room.

Iconic Interior Designer Albert Hadley

The Great Create

On any given weekend Dallas residents make the tough decision of which activities will fill their leisure hours. There is something for everyone and for residents that love the visual and performing arts there is no shortage of happenings. On Sunday, April 28th Pure Sculpture artist and co-founder, Brad Oldham shared his passion for the arts with children from across the metroplex at The Great Create. 

The Great Create at the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas, Texas

A sold-out, family-centered fundraiser benefitting the educational programs produced by the Nasher Sculpture Center, The Great Create focused on engaging the artistic talents of children age 12 and under. The day was filled with workshops conducted by world-renown artists, giving children the opportunity to learn and exercise their creative muscles. The Nasher Sculpture Center described the event as their first-ever family fundraiser and art discovery day. Each year, over 45,000 people visit their facilities and participation in this event allows the Nasher to continue offering the highest quality of educational initiatives and programs to its visitors. The day not only included artist and community partner projects but also live music and animated shorts courtesy of the New York International Children’s Film Festival Kid Flix Mix.

Throughout the event, children worked with esteemed artists on everything from 3-D constructions to printmaking, digital photography and of course, sculpture. In total there were 10 stations, each with a different artist and activity. Oldham, led the children in a collaborative clay sculpture project that yielded a 4 feet-tall sculpture of a dog, covered in the creative marks and carvings of the participating children. In the weeks leading up to the event, Oldham created the life-sized clay based on his favorite canine friend, Pete. He documented this process on the project’s blog. On the day of the event, children learned about making art and the sculpture medium while contributing to the sculpture’s creation with the addition of their etchings in its surface. 

A photo of the dog sculpture taken by artist Brad Oldham

By the evening children, parents, volunteers and artists had spent the day absorbed in creativity, their imagination ignited and it benefited a great cause. In our books, that’s a pretty swell way to spend those weekend hours. 

Pure Sculpture Artist and Co-Founder Brad Oldham with the dog sculpture in his Dallas studio.

To learn more about the dog sculpture created at The Great Create, visit http://brad-oldham-dog-blog.tumblr.com

Amazing Surfaces

Welcome to the latest installment of Amazing Surfaces, our reoccurring segment devoted to matching your Pure Sculpture artworks with gorgeous tables.

Amazing Surfaces is our answer to the surface hunt. We love gorgeous tables and handsome shelves paired with our superbly crafted sculptures. Marble, mirrored, maple, oh my! So many choices (thankfully we've got plenty of sculpture to keep up with all of your surfaces). So, let's find a great a table to go with your beloved Pure Sculpture work.

This week's installment of Amazing Surfaces is focused on the 1950's. A period marked by post-war recovery that ushered in an exuberant outlook for many U.S. middle class families as they departed their urban dwellings and made new communities in the suburbs. From technology to interior design, innovation was of paramount importance as was making time for relaxation and recreation. Filling one's home with functional and beautiful objects gained in popularity. The world of interior and furniture design was forever changed. 

Sources:

1. Hand Carved Console and Mirror Set
2. Parzinger Original Credenza
3. Wood and Formica Credenza
4. Italian Carrara Marble And Brass Console Table
5. Black and Gilt Iron Table
6. Celadon Lacquer Commode

What are your favorite surfaces for displaying your Pure Sculpture Edition? We'd love to see photos of your sculpture in your home. Just send us a note!

Dallas Morning News + A Special Visit

Pure Sculpture is always over-the-moon when a publication takes notice of our commitment to three-dimensional sculpture, our love of collaborating with amazing artists and our passion for transforming the fine art sculpture buying process. So, you can imagine our glee when a superb article about Pure Sculpture leads to a new relationship with sculpture collectors that share our same passion. Thanks to this article in the Dallas Morning News by writer, Christopher Wynn, we had the pleasure of a visit from Dick & Jacqueline Grote at the Pure Sculpture studio.

Dick & Jacqueline Grote at the Pure Sculpture studio with Sweet Carrot

Intrigued by the Pure Sculpture mission and our artworks, in particular the upcoming Wild Crops Series, Mr. and Mrs. Grote knew they wanted to learn more about us. After a visit to our website, where they read all of our books about the PS Editions, they scheduled a visit. Upon their arrival, they met artist and co-founder Brad Oldham who gave them a personal tour of our facilities, gaining a firsthand view of our sculpture creation process. Delighted by the whimsy and grace of our Wild Crops sculptures, they have already picked out a special place in their home for Sweet Carrot. 

It was a splendid visit and one that Pure Sculpture will always remember. At Pure Sculpture, we don’t think there is anything quite like the extraordinary experience of interacting with art and we love opportunities to share that with the community. Thanks for the great visit Dick and Jacqueline, we hope you visit again and we can’t wait to make Sweet Carrot apart of your home!

And of course, thank you to the Dallas Morning News and Christopher Wynn.

Women of Importace at the Dallas Museum of Art

On March 25th the Dallas Museum of Art League held their annual floral symposium and luncheon, Art in Bloom. Each year this symposium, which takes place at the Dallas Museum of Art, includes a lecture by a floral design expert, a luncheon that features exquisite art and opportunities for attendees to bid for the floral designer's signature arrangements. It comes as no surprise that the lovely floral ladies from Jessica Jesse's Women of Importance collection were a perfect fit for this splendid occasion. As attendees entered the event, they were greeted by Waking Dream, Sauterne, Chimera and Valentina. We think they were a lovely addition to this exciting event. Below a few pictures of the ladies at the Dallas Museum of Art. Thanks to the event's hosts Chairman Renée Querbes Farren andHonorary Chairmen Harriett Gibbs and Diane Sealy for including the Women of Importance in Art in Bloom 2013!