Artists Circle is delighted to announce the upcoming exhibit of Katie Pumphrey in partnership with JLL. You can check out her work at the lobby of 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC.
Don’t miss the chance to meet the artist herself and get a closer look at her artwork during the free reception on Thursday, August 17th from 5 to 7pm. Drinks and hors d’oeuvres to be served. We can’t wait to see you there!
Murals: Why You Should Hire Us to Help!
Go ahead and Google “murals” or “mural artist”: it is admittedly not-so-tough to peruse through pages of eye candy before you land on something that appeals. But what happens next? Here are just a few comments from clients who ended up needing our help:
“I hired a muralist but she has never worked on scaffolding before and now she isn’t sure if she can do the job.”
“I paid a muralist to come up with a design, but it totally didn’t resonate with the design intent of the space.”
“This muralist that we showed to the owner of the building ended up wanting hundreds of thousands of dollars! We don’t have that kind of budget!”
“We want something specific in our mural and we can’t find someone who can create what we envision.”
“This mural is going to be in a heavily trafficked area. How can we protect it from damage?”
To give you an example of how much “behind the scenes” work can go into getting a mural completed, we are going to share one of our projects with you: The Escher for client JLB Partners in Twinbrook, Maryland.
STEP 1: SITE ASSESSMENT & INFORMATION GATHERING
ACFA reviewed the site plans and elevation, as well as conducted several site visits to verify equipment accessibility and requirements (scaffolding, lift, water access, etc.). Meeting with JLB several times to discuss site usage, demographics, intent of artwork, marketing goals, and talking about themes and art direction, ACFA honed in on the desired style and purpose of the artwork.
STEP 2: CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
After better understanding the project parameters, including timing and budget, ACFA sourced a portfolio of 8 different artists for the client to consider.
STEP 3: DESIGN PROCESS & FABRICATION
Once an artist was engaged, ACFA worked with him to develop a design concept that would fit the client’s vision for the space. The artist came up with two different design directions and because his work has layers/dimension to it, ACFA coordinated the shipping of several sample pieces for JLB to review. JLB favored the concept below, but didn’t like that it was lacking color and wanted it to feel as though it had more depth. ACFA worked closely with the artist, offering suggestions for how to integrate color/depth.
DESIGN #1: Design by David Hind.
DESIGN #1 REVISIONS: Design by David Hind.
One of the photos the artist sent to ACFA showing progress. The chicken was making sure everything stayed on track!
STEP 4: INSTALLATION
The ACFA Art Handler team unloaded the artwork from the truck after it traveled from Ontario to the DC area. The artist attended the installation to oversee, but our team was very hands-on in moving the panels and installing them. We couldn’t be happier with the finished project!
Exploring All Art Mediums
The intact medallion map extracted from the terrazzo floor, preparing for transportation.
For the past few months, Artists Circle has been working hard on our new project with the Montgomery County Planning Board. The board is moving their entire production from Silver Spring MD, to Wheaton MD. Their new 14-story building is highlighted by “The large, inviting entrance lobby, framed in glass and illuminating the new plaza at night to symbolize the transparency and civic-mindedness of government. The two-story lobby space will be open to the public and used for displays, celebrations and other events,” according to their official website. They chose Artists Circle for the difficult task of relocating its historic medallion map of Montgomery County, set in terrazzo, from Silver Spring to Wheaton. Terrazzo is a flooring material made out of chips of marble or granite, set in concrete, and polished to give a smooth surface, and in this case, can form art.
As seen above, placed in the lobby of the Silver Spring location is the terrazzo inlaid map of Montgomery County. Artists Circle’s Principal Jack Devine, along with Installer and Art Handler Dan Wasson, have both contributed an exuberant amount of time and effort into making this dream a reality! “The map in question is actually out of date. It was installed in the 1960s and at some point the boundary line between Montgomery County and PG County changed. The map, beyond being an archival item repurposed as a symbol of Park and planning, is also a historical record of the county's geography,” says Principal Jack Devine.
This project involved a lot of planning: several site assessments, scans of the lobby floor and map itself, and even removing the glass windows on the Silver Spring building to fit the terrazzo out the door, and into its new home. “The first thing we did was use GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) to see what was below the surface. It is a bit of an inexact, interpretive science, but it did provide some useful information. Next we did a 1" core drill sample in a discrete area of the foyer. Again, this gave some information but ultimately we did a 2" core and went deeper. That core gave us a pretty good reassurance we could remove the terrazzo without it breaking into a million pieces. Ultimately what really allowed us to extract it, in addition to the care and meticulous work of our expert masons, was a very thin layer of parchment-like paper that was installed as a Bond Breaker between the lower building slab and the concrete poured to support the terrazzo,” Principal Devine explains.
Ultimately, this new and continued project has given Artists Circle the chance to prove our diverse skill-set in almost every art medium that's out there. We will finish the map installation in the Montgomery County Planning Board’s new Wheaton location, and continue to make their design dreams a reality!
Repurposing Existing Artwork in a New Space
As part of Artists Circle’s scope for law firm Akin Gump, we repurposed some of their existing artwork collection into their new space. The painting above is a piece from artist Agnes Jacobs, who is known for her 3-dimensional mixed media wall construction and brightly colored/textured monotype prints. She has had her work featured in the Washington Convention Center, the National Museum of Women in the Arts, and several corporate offices such as Akin Gump.
Although the pieces were not new to the firm, nor the individuals who work there, many employees were shocked at the transformation of space once the pieces were reconfigured in the new building. According to Sr. Associate and COO Katie Giganti, “Many of the employees who walked by thought it was brand new!” Seeing art in a newly designed area, along with new content, and oftentimes better lighting, can really help bring it to life as it was intended to be.
Celebrating the "Small Things" Nurses Do
Check out this video Suburban Hospital and Hopkins Medicine created about the “Small Things” collages Artists Circle helped procure for Suburban’s new addition.
Welcoming Employees Back
As more of our clients are implementing phased return-to-the-office plans, some are thinking about using artwork as a tool to help employees feel welcomed back to the workplace. Two recent Artists Circle projects - Northlane Capital in Washington, DC and a corporate finance company in Boston - use artwork to enhance the calming feel as one enters the spaces.
A beautiful painting of the Potomac River by DC-based artist Bradley Stevens.
Installed in the corporate HQ of a Boston client, this Carole Bolsey giclee print complements the other finishes while adding a bit of needed color.
A Natural Escape in a Healing Environment
Recently installed at Johns Hopkins Medical Imaging in Bethesda, Maryland, the spa-inspired pieces incorporated elements of local geography with a calming palette of greens and blues.
One piece to highlight is the larger, blue, rock sculpture displayed in a waiting room. This piece is an aerial view of the Rock Creek Waterway, a nearby stream that is recognized by many locals. Although the piece is close to an exact scale replica of the waterway, it is subtle enough that the tranquility of the piece can be appreciated on its own.
In addition to the waterway piece, there are two other 3-D wall hangings that were installed. One is a fused glass triptych, featuring shades of green and blues which is displayed in a walkway area of the healthcare center. The last notable 3-D piece really ties into the theme of flowing water. The piece comprises bent, flowing metal as well as blue circles on top, to further represent not only water, but flowing water.
The tranquility that these pieces bring to healthcare facilities is important, especially during this time. The goal is to bring a calm energy to the facility, which this collection will help in accomplishing.
A Homage to the Washington Color School Movement
A homage to the Washington Color School movement of the 1950’s-1970’s, these two huge, colorful 8’x6’ paintings adorn the elevator lobbies of this beautifully-renovated Metropolitan Square building in Washington, DC.
Complementing the design work of Gensler, the paintings by artist Marcel Rozek provide an uncontrolled and intuitive contrast to the keen attention to detail in the other finishes. Marcel’s work is created by letting watered down paint absorb into the unprimed canvas. While he has some control over the fluidity and color, often the paint will “do its own thing and go where it wants to go.”
It was our pleasure to have worked with Gensler and Boston Properties on this project!
In the Thick of Battle, Art Helps Us Heal
Artists Circle's Sarah Martin, Principal Jack Devine, and Dan Wasson installing art at a pop-up COVID-19 treatment facility at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.
When ZGF Architects reached out to us about donating 440 pieces of artwork to a temporary hospital being built inside the Washington Convention Center, our Principal Jack Devine and COO Katie Giganti jumped at the opportunity. "Artists Circle was honored to be given the opportunity to aid in the global fight against COVID-19. We are glad we could do our small part in brightening the lives of those dealing with this disease," said Jack.
One of the nature-oriented pieces selected to hang in the facility.
Creating 440 pieces of ready-to-hang artwork in less than five days was a feat, but it wasn't as remarkable as the three-week design and construction of a 440-bed facility by Design-Build team Hensel Phelps and ZGF Architects, working with the Army Corps of Engineers and DC Government. The design and construction portion of the project began on April 17th and is being turned over to the DC Government today.
Another nature-inspired image now hanging in the new facility.
The artwork images, a series of uplifting photographs that depict local flora and scenery, was donated by Virginia photographer Angela Pan and Artists Circle's Katie Giganti, who is also a practicing artist. The Artists Circle team worked together to install the artwork in a single day, just prior to the facility undergoing its final disinfecting cleaning before opening.
An image of the field hospital via WAMU.(linked to source)
"The individuals that will be treated or work within this space will be in the thick of a world-wide battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether they will be fighting to survive or to help others survive, they are the center of focus of this crisis. Art has been proven in countless studies to reduce stress, provide positive distraction, and promote wellbeing and improved experiences for patients. The art donated by Artists Circle will help to pull them--even momentarily--out of their current condition and think of other places, times, and experiences in their lives," said Liz Raycroft, Associate at ZGF Architects.
We were honored to work on such an incredible project. It's why we do what we do. Thank you to everyone involved: Hansel Phelps and ZGF architects, the Army Corps of Engineers, our government officials, Angela Pan, and especially our healthcare workers, for all their hard work at the forefront of this epidemic.
How We're Staying Creative
It’s obvious that we think art is going to help get us through this quarantine; it’s kind of the whole reason we exist in the first place. Last week, on Instagram, we asked everyone on our team about their creative lives. Here’s what we all had to say.
Jack
In addition to running our company beautifully, Jack is also an accomplished gardener. For him, gardening is all about “allowing nature to do its thing, without taking over (too much),” as well as growing his own powers of observation. Plus, he adds, “It’s a practice in humility. I think it’s difficult for humans to see themselves as part of the greater whole, and I like fighting for the underdog!”
Sharon
It should come as no surprise to you that Sharon is an avid collector of art. “Some art makes my heart sing!” she says. She is also appreciative of art that is mindful of the environment, as you can see with that penguin pal—and, she notes, “The environment is art.” (We think Jack would probably agree. See also: previous post.) She’s passing along her appreciation of art to her loved ones, too, because, as she says, “You’re never too young to experience art!” Swipe through to the end to see Sharon’s grandkid at work: a portrait of the artist as a tiny tot! We hope this art makes your heart sing today, too.
Katie
Katie has been an artist for as long as she can remember. “My first masterpiece was a life-sized horse I created by peeling the paper off the drywall in my bedroom at age five,” she says. From there she never stopped: she went on to major in Studio Art and Art History in college, and then began working for Artists Circle. Later, she would serve on the board of an arts nonprofit that supports the arts in Mount Airy, Maryland, where she currently lives. Katie comes from a family of artists, including her Grandma (Nana), who inspired Katie with her appreciation of the natural world. Katie is an artist because, she jokes, “It is slightly cheaper than therapy! No, but really, art restores my mind after a long day of working and parenting. Creating art gives me a way to express feelings I can’t always articulate with words.” Well articulated, Katie! 😉 Of the importance of making art, Katie says, “Not everyone has to have a creative pursuit, but those who do are contributing a lot to the world; most importantly, they are sharing part of themselves with others, which allows for open discourse about feelings, current events, politics, psychology, and history.” What a perfect observation for this current moment, when that type of communication can feel so difficult. Thanks for everything you do, Katie!
Dan
Dan, our lead installer, is really into music. Sometimes, in the office, he’ll have his headphones in so he can listen to the artists he loves. He also is a musician himself, and has been playing music for 23 years. Dan picked up the bass guitar 5 years ago, and says that playing and writing music is a fun, satisfying way to express himself. When asked why he thinks it’s important for people to have a creative practice, he said, “I would say it’s important to be creative so you can illustrate the unique way you view things.” Well said, Dan! That’s good to keep in mind during these divisive times.
Bonnie
Bonnie just started creating jewelry this past fall, but look at how incredible she is at it. She made this ring in a class she took this year that she describes as “challenging and enjoyable.” (Note Bonnie’s use of the word “and” here. A lot of people would’ve said “challenging BUT enjoyable.” Not our Bonnie—she likes a challenge. “I think it’s important to challenge yourself,” she says.) She enrolled in the class, taught by a master goldsmith, at the urging of a friend, and ended up loving the art form. “Whether it’s cooking, knitting, painting, or whatever, it is a remarkable feeling creating something with your own hands,” Bonnie says. What are you waiting for? It’s time to start that project you’ve been meaning to get to for ages. Take it from Bonnie: you’ll be happy you did.
Sarah
Sarah is a visual artist, as you can see with this oil painting. “There is something about the way you can sculpt oil paint with the brush that is so satisfying!” she says. Painting, for her, “is a lesson in patience and focus.” But Sarah’s not just a painter; she’s also really committed to home improvement and building. She renovated her entire house herself! “Those projects are like giant logic puzzles in terms of space and function. It’s so fun to make my living space that much more efficient and beautiful.” You can see one of Sarah’s small home projects to the right: a mini vegetable garden she keeps with her kids. In Sarah’s opinion, creativity acts as an escape from and a way to challenge yourself in the digital age. “No matter what creative endeavor one chooses, it is so important to have one as a way to exercise that right brain.”
Clare
Clare does mean to brag when she tells you that this is probably only two thirds of the books she’s read in the last three years. The rest are either in a different stack on the other side of the room (😱) or at a Salvation Army in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Of course, reading isn’t Clare’s only creative pursuit. “I write,” she says simply. “If I don’t have any writing projects in the works, the world loses a lot of its vibrancy for me. I spend all my time either writing or feeling guilty or pointless because I’m not writing.” That’s why she thinks it’s important for everyone to have some kind of creative inner life: “I think producing work that’s unique to who you are is the best way to understand yourself and your relationship to the world you live in. And that’s the first step to figuring out how to live a good life.” She got her MFA and then did a yearlong fellowship in poetry at the University of Michigan, where she produced a book-length manuscript of poems. “That’s not going to be my first book, though,” she explains. “A lot of those poems feel so young and overstated. I’m much better now, and I want to write a book of all greatest hits. ‘NO SKIPS,’ my poet friend Kaylie Johnson and I always say.” A few of her poems have been accepted here and there for publication. If you Google her, you’ll probably find her. “Oh,” she adds, “I also write nonfiction.”
Whatever your creative endeavor these days, we hope you are finding fulfilling ways to engage your bodies and minds! Check back here for more content in the coming days and weeks to help get you inspired, and be sure to also follow us on Instagram @artistscircle.