Happy Tuesday! Yesterday Artists Circle started the week out right- with an Art installation at Piedmont Office Realty Trust. Our installer Dan does almost every type of install job you could think of. His services include large scale installations, artwork transport, artwork packaging, placement assistance, installations requiring security hardware. The best way to start the week is with an amazing installation.
What's Better Than Sunshine, Palm Trees, Beautiful Weather and Installations?
Who doesn’t dream of palm trees, sand and sunny blue skies? This past weekend our installer Dan had all his dreams come true- he did installations for PNC’s new building in Fort Lauderdale Florida! He soaked up the sun and installed works of art that captured all the vibrant colors of Florida. Artists Circle has done projects all around the world- there is not a project we will not take on!
Lunch and Learn
Where is our favorite place to take our lunch break? YOUR OFFICE! Meeting new people to tell them all about Artists Circle! We try to select architecture and design companies once per month to partake in our AO presentations to introduce them to our company and services. Who doesn’t like an Artists Circle provided lunch and the opportunity to meet other businesses in our community?! Today we presented at KGD Architecture and took great pleasure in connecting with their team members.
The Project Manager, Olivia Zvara's Most Memorable Project
Artists Circle works on tons of fascinating projects. We decided to ask our project manager, who has been with Artists Circle for 2 years what her most memorable project was. In the Words of Olivia Zvara:
"My most memorable/educational project was with MSRB, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board. MSRB is responsible for regulating banks and brokers in the United States that issue municipal bank bonds to fund public projects. I had absolutely no idea what that meant when we first got pulled onto the project, but over the 4 month project, I received a crash course education in the history of municipal bond issuance in the US!
MSRB wanted to feature images of public projects that were funded by municipal bonds. This includes bridges, schools, airports, public parks, and zoos, just to name a few! I worked with their internal marketing team to track down the original bonds that funded each project. Some of them dated all the way back to the 1920s. Each image that lines the corridors, conference rooms, and lounge areas at MSRB is a specific, recognizable landmark or facility that was funded in some way by municipal bonds. The MoMA? Funded by municipal bonds! The Erie Canal? Funded by bonds! The Golden Gate bridge? Funded by bonds! Eventually, we plan to create a booklet to leave at MSRB’s reception desk that will feature the exact bond next to a photograph of the completed project.
The project was a challenge because Jack and I had to dig through old government archives and files to verify which public works were funded by bonds, but the history lesson definitely made it worth it! The result at MSRB’s office is an elegant nod to the company’s history and bright future."
Nokomis
An art consultant is defined; “As an Art Consultant, you help people select and acquire art – including paintings, drawings, photographs, and sculptures – for their home, business, or collection,” according to chegg.com, but It’s not a secret Artists Circle isn’t your typical Art Consulting Firm. Our most recent venture was helping Danny Lane, an artist that traveled all the way from the U.K., put together and install his latest work of art which is titled Nokomis. He was inspired by Algonquin/ Powhatan legends. Artists Circle had a blast working alongside Danny and his team for four days creating and perfecting the sculpture that is now placed at a new apartment complex located on Freedom Drive in Reston, Virginia. The sculpture is made up of 296 glass pieces and stands 14 feet tall.
Danny, our installer Dan, and the rest of Danny's team cleaning and getting the glass pieces ready to put together.
The sculpture being put togther (took 2 days to assemble on site in Reston, VA)
Meet Austin!
This year has been one of explosive growth for Artists Circle! We recently hired Austin Bristor as our new Installer & Project Assistant. You’ll see him at installations with Dan or helping Jack, Katie, and Olivia with client presentations. His can-do attitude and bright disposition makes him an important and valuable addition to our team. Read about Austin below!
Where did you grow up? I’ve lived in Mt. Airy since I was one year old.
What bands are you in and what instruments do you play? My main musical endeavor is my solo project called “Avstin” which has taken various shapes over the last five years. It’s allowed me to dive into various genres and atmospheres for different occasions and opportunities. I’m planning on releasing my debut self-produced album as Avstin by late Spring / early Summer this year! On this album I perform all of the instruments and tracks myself such as: vocals, guitars, bass, synthesizers, and drums. I also play bass in a really fun indie-rock band out of Mt. Airy called Flooring.
What do you do in your free time / on the weekend? I enjoy living an active lifestyle. On the weekends you can generally find me running, hiking, taking day/weekend camping trips, or exploring new towns, music venues, and wilderness areas.
Do you have any pets? I have two Bernese Mountain Dogs named Nanna and Bear who are a BIG part of my life. They are litter mates and turned 3 years old last week.
What’s a ‘did you know’ fact about yourself? A couple ‘did you know’ facts about me is that in the future I wish to continue my education in either architecture and/or civil engineering, and I’ve eaten a vegetarian diet for about 6 years now.
If you’re ever in the Frederick or Mt. Airy areas, keep your eyes open to see if Avstin playing a show near you! Welcome to the team, Austin!
Creating Custom Artwork for Your Space
Project #1
Artists Circle was contacted to create a custom, bicycle-themed sculpture to be installed in the lobby area adjacent to the fitness center in a mixed use multifamily/office building in Washington, DC. Associate Katie Giganti developed several concept sketches and the client finally settled on the idea below: bike chains vertically suspended from horizontal armatures, mounted at different depths from the wall. Some of the bike chains will be colored in a palette designed to compliment the finishes in the space.
project #1: Initial Sketch
Project #2:
This custom art concept, developed for a lobby in Rosslyn Virginia, is designed to represent a topographic map of Rosslyn, the Potomac River, and Washington DC. The wall sculpture will be made of thousands of aluminum tiles bent at various radii to create the topo effect.
Mapping out the final product
breaking down how to successfully create the topo effect
Project #3
The Law Library of a local Circuit Court is being renovated and the designer integrated a large “floating wall” to separate the study area from the book shelves. Associate Katie Giganti first presented some wall sculpture concepts to the client and they loved the idea of something circular to break up the otherwise very linear feel of the space. However, they started thinking something with thematic imagery related to the use of the space would be more fitting than a purely abstract work of art. Katie then created a custom, 7’ diameter photomontage. The overlaid pieces on top will stand off at various depths
The final Product
The intial conecpt
Stamps: a Timeless Gizmo
Stamps, we’re all familiar with them. The necessity needed to send any type of physical mail. The first stamp was invented May 1, 1840 in Great Britain, and now in 2018 are used Globally to successfully communicate around the world. Before the internet, and before phones, there were very few ways to be able to communicate with people across cities, states, nations and Countries. To be able to achieve a universal way of communication there needed to be one crucial component- the stamp. Here at Artist Circle we come across all types of art, and this project was most certainly one for the books. Artists Circle commissioned this artist for Groom Law Group’s reception area. The unique use of color and the precision of stamps is eye catching and mind boggling. Our very own Jack Devine and Olivia Zvara worked on this project and will never forget it.
Upon stumbling up on this artwork by illustrator Diana Sudyka that focuses in on an artist who manipulates the classic stamp look, we couldn’t help but be taken aback. This reminds us of our project and leaves us speechless. We treasure the use of detail and the modern spin on something that is 178 years old.
The beginning of the Stamp piece used for Groom Law Group’s reception area.
The final mounted and finished at Groom Law Group’s reception area.
Work done by Diana Sudkya
Perspectives
If we know anything about life it is based on perspective, and if we know anything about art, we know life imitates art. This sculpture incorporates both perspective and art, a sculpture built to change its' own details as the sun changes. The constant change of artwork gives viewers a brand new perspective of the sculpture to observe. How does this work? The formation of the discs generate moving shadows in the courtyard and the glass. Take a look at what inspired us this Tuesday!
This sculpture is 20' h x 6' w x 10'
This sculpture is made of laminated glass, metal discs and stainless steel.
This sculpture is located in Silver Spring, MD.
Greetings From New York City!
Greetings from NYC! Our project Manager is visiting the Armory Show and is soaking up all the mind boggling works of art. So far she has seen a ton of Neon work, and is loving it. She has been to SCOPE, the armory show and Clio. Aren't these mesmerizing?
