The Ann Korologos Gallery has been a cornerstone in downtown Basalt for a number of years.  The community looks forward to frequent openings there as a time to enjoy excellent art, socialize and support local artists.  Ann Korologos brings a comfortable warmth to these gatherings as she discusses her passion for the West and particularly for art that captures the spirit of this great country.  Still involved in the pulse of DC, the valley has offered a respite for Ann and her husband Tom, a photographer at the gallery.  Always giving back, they provide a wonderful venue for collectors to frequent and they host many events that support the community.

Although the emphasis of the gallery has been western art, this year they had an abstract show that opened a door for those of us with an eye for the expression of art from an abstract perspective.  Look Studio is very proud to have pieces on exhibit at the gallery from April 20, 2013 through June 20, 2013.

The image below, “Continuum 1/10”, is available exclusively at the Ann Korologos Gallery.  I see these colors every day, especially this time of year, in the morning light or at dusk as the earth transitions at the base of a tree or mountain or at river’s edge.  These colors and textures remind me of the continuum of nature that propels the seasons and, likewise, moves us year after year through the stages of life.  Stop by the gallery and see the wonderful collection of artists currently showing at the Ann Korologos Gallery.

In a recent trip to Dallas, Texas to visit the design district, I was in the home of Leslie and Harold Bell who have chosen art as their primary interior design statement.  The furnishings are minimal and high quality, and their choice in art creates a colorful statement of modernism, pop culture and vibrant creativity.

When I look at their art, I want to know these people better.  Their collection portrays a sense of whimsy, fun and makes you smile.  They each enjoy individual artistic pursuits in their spare time that range from painting to sculpture and their home is a combined representation of their spirit.  Their son, Stanley Bell, is an artist in Carbondale, CO who fills his canvas with bright strokes of color and abstract representation.

As serious art collectors, Leslie and Harold support the art community extensively and have created a celebration of art in their home that speaks to their hearts.  Enjoy!

Wedding season is quickly approaching and Look Studio is pleased to be a part of aspenweddingguide.com.  This website is the valley’s best resource for making your wedding in the Aspen area the most special occasion of your life.  The two young women who spearhead this site, Windy Gillespie and Robin Proctor, are professionals who can plan every detail of your wedding and record the beauty of the moment with exceptional photographs.  There are many other outstanding resources for every aspect of your wedding plans.

Look Studio is part of this site as “unique gifts”.  Every gift you receive when you get married is special, but the idea of art as a gift makes a lasting statement that expresses the commitment of starting a life together with beauty and creativity.

Below is an Aspen photographer whose work I admire.  I particularly like the macro image below.  Check out the beautiful B. Casillas Gallery in Aspen where Aspen Wedding Guide hosted last month’s networking event.  Remember to share Aspen Wedding Guide’s website with any of your friends who are getting married.

The Art Deco design style is one of the most unique and distinctive looks in architecture and interior design.  Like many artistic influences from the French, a little goes a long way, but today the remaining art deco designs in architecture, furniture, fashion and art are golden treasures of a unique time that originated in the 1920’s.

The image “Eye Spy” celebrates the form and sensuality of deco graphic design.   Hand painted on a metal safe door, this ornamentation still resonates with modern appeal and has futuristic design elements.  Look Studio is always adding to the Gallery.  Two other pieces showcasing deco design are “Excalibur” and “Mouse Trap”.  These bold black and gold images make a strong statement in any setting.

Look Studio is proud to announce collaboration with Justin Dupont and Harry Crouse at Two O Five in Kilgore, TX.  East Texans no longer need to drive to Dallas for sophisticated interior furnishings–it’s available in the heart of East Texas.  Located in an historic building in downtown Kilgore, among oil derricks and remnants of the oil boom, Two O Five always provides an inspiration for home furnishings.  The store offers a selection of furniture, accessories, gifts and art with a sophisticated, elegant, warm and whimsical twist that is perfect for any home.  They know their market and offer some of the finest interior accessories and furniture available as well as distinctive interior design services.  Whether you’re a designer or sprucing up your home, Two O Five will inspire anyone looking for the perfect touch.  In the pictures below, see how Justin artistically placed Look Studio’s Blue Highways adjacent from their new aquarium.

The Museum of Modern Art in New York has an exhibit through April 15, 2013 titled “Inventing Abstraction 1910-1925”.  The New Yorker Magazine touts it as “a splendid historical survey”.  This exhibit gets at the origins of transformation into expressionism in the art world.  The MOMA website opens with a quote from one of my inspiration artists, Kandinsky, “Must we not then renounce the object altogether, throw it to the winds and instead lay bare the purely abstract?”  This statement is the essence of the process as I look through the lens and begin to summarize the subject into a solitary image.  The intention is not to discard the original object, but to take it out of itself, to present it in its most pure and simple form.  If you can’t get to New York, at least view the exhibit through the website www.moma.org.  Hopefully, you’ll recognize, and perhaps even understand, the passion that drives my work.  Below is a piece by Kupka.

It’s a new year and a time to reflect on the past year and plan for the new.  First of all, thanks to the clients who added my photography to their art collections in Alabama, Wisconsin, Texas and Colorado.  2012 exceeded my expectations, with the launch of the Look Studio website early in the year followed by acceptance into shows at the Carbondale Center for Arts and Humanities in February and March.  My work was represented at Sequoia Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM and Montecito Loft and Home in Basalt CO, and Two O Five in Kilgore, Texas through 2012.  New images are shown monthly at The Blue Pig Gallery in Palisades, CO as well as Vision Source in Aspen, CO.  The year ended on a high note with a show at Ephemera (Andrew Clark Photography) in Denver, CO and a two-month exhibit at the CMC ArtShare Gallery in Glenwood Springs, CO.

My goal this year is to push the limits of creativity as I look through the lens–to explore the outrageous and teeter at the edge extreme, and continue to provoke and interest the viewer.   On the business side, I plan to tap into the endless resources of the internet and to build alliances with the many artists and designer’s who are working hard to enrich people’s lives through beauty and meaningful surroundings.   Through the web, there’s an opportunity to collaborate with others and ultimately reach the buyer who will own an interesting piece of art in their home or business for many years.  I’m happy to be partnering with The Myers Roberts Collective to meet these goals and continuing a strategic relationship with Jeff Kochevar who creates magic on canvas.

Below is opening night at the CMC (Colorado Mountain College) ArtShare Gallery in Glenwood Springs.  The show will run through January 25, 2013.

Andrew Clark is a photographer who believes in giving back to the art community.  Each month he hosts an event called Ephemera where he features different artists in a variety of media from performing arts to body painting and more.  Reminiscent of the grand artists’ salons in Paris in the 1800′s, Ephemera is an experience of stimulating conversation, provocative art and a good time.  In October, Look Studio was represented at the lively Ephemera event.   As the first snow of the season began to fall, colorful abstract images filled the space to create a background for great conversation and an unexpected perspective on photography.

Andrew has played an important role in the art community in Denver for a number of years.  His photography captures the essence of his subject while adding a mystery and magical aspect to the portrait.  His fluidity in life is apparent in the beauty of his images.  Many thanks to Andrew who appreciates the art of abstract.

Just in time for election year, Look Studio is celebrating another year of independence and freedom to vote by releasing the Stars and Stripes Collection.  There are six new images taken from a hand painted, metal folk art American flag.  The peeling paint signifies our struggle as a country to hold onto our values while acknowledging the symbolism of strength and freedom that is dear to our hearts as Americans.

The Guggenheim Museum featured John Chamberlain’s sculptures this spring in New York and I was fortunate to see this outstanding collection.  Abstract Expressionism is one of the primary sources of inspiration at Look Studio.  John Chamberlain, who died in December of 2011, brought Abstract Expressionism to three dimensional art using different mediums but may be best known for using automobile parts. The colorful sculptures capture energy, movement and power in a three dimensional odyssey of reality and imagination.

Since seeing this exhibit, I’ve been inspired to photograph painted metal objects and am really liking the graphic metal abstracts.  The image below titled Pennant Race is old ceiling tins that have been cut and reshaped.   The texture of the folded metal has a deceptively soft look to it.  Metal is a fascinating medium for abstract art as John Chamberlain knew all too well.  An example of his work is below.