While beauty in the form of art of any kind is indeed its own excuse for being, site-specific art also can be a design solution. Art can provide a focal point in an amorphous space, disguise intrusive structural elements or meld clashing components into a whole.
The idea of commissioning an artist to create a special work of art for a home or business is becoming less daunting to homeowners. The practice is more common among those who employ a design professional, such as an interior architect or an interior designer to execute their desires.
Commissions can be as small as a glass doorknob, as practical as cabinetry created to stand against an arched wall, as illuminating as light sconces that match a home’s architecture, as wondrously intricate as a handwoven tapestry.
But where, oh where, to find the right artist to execute your dream? “The Sourcebook of Architectural & Interior Art 16,” published by GUILD, has been introducing artists to homeowners, collectors and design professionals worldwide since 1986. This updated softbound edition of 440 pages and 850 color illustrations, is rich with ingenious designs and unique as a direct-call resource. Contact information for each artist is included in the book.
(Thane Ryland, a Guild spokesman, says the work of many artists in this “Sourcebook” fill public and private spaces in Chicago. The large neon light and music display along the United Airlines terminal “people mover” at O’Hare Airport by Michael Hayden and Kristina Lucas is just one example of a GUILD “Sourcebook” commission, he adds.)
The “Sourcebook” is $37.50 plus $3.95 shipping and may be purchased by calling 877-344-8453 or ordered online at www.guild.com.