RED DOT Project artist, Beth Kappa, recently completed a commission for a hip couple living downtown Cleveland.  Nate and Niki came to RED DOT Project looking for artwork for condo.  Loving Beth’s style, but wanting something a little different, Nate and Niki chose to commission a piece of artwork. 

Detail of Untitled

Beth loved the process of working with a set of parameters, in this case color, size, and indication of imagery, while still staying true to her vision and style.  Nate and Niki have a showpiece for the living space and a story about working with a regional artist to create a piece of their own.

All in all a beautiful piece of artwork for a great space.  Thanks Nate and Niki!

Here are a few shots of the piece that Rene Culler is working on for GCP Shared Services more commonly known as Positively Cleveland, Greater Cleveland Partnership and COSE.   This is a piece that has been commissioned for their reception area.  The work is comprised of lots (LOTS!) of flat round glass pieces that will be mounted from a the wall with a backing of wire mesh.

Rene has developed a technique to handpaint the glass that gives a range of color and pattern.  I am looking forward to the installation at the end of the month.  Look for more pics then.

Glidden House is a beautiful boutique hotel tucked into University Circle.  Their location and size make them unique, but really what sets them apart is their art collection.  Glidden House has made a committment to buying Cleveland regional artists.  RED DOT Project is working with them as they slowly work on renovations and improvements to provide the regional artwork that helps set a tone and gives the space the look and feel that is uniquely Cleveland.

They have recently worked on the Palette Lounge.  The space is intimate and comfortable.  New work by RED DOT Project artists, Ruth Bercaw, Lee Heinen, William Peck, Damon Reaves, and Brock Winans fill the immediate area.

Damon Reaves  ::  Recent Shadows

Check out their Palette Lounge after work, they have signature cocktails, an incredible wine list, and tapas by Sergios.  AND great art by regional artists. 

I am often asked what art sells best.  My reply takes on a rambling quality about the variety of art styles, colors or visual content has been selling.  The art that sells is the art that satisfies an individual requirement.  Sometimes it is color (’we need something blue to go with our carpet’). 

 Betsy Molnar, Cosmos

Sometimes it is content (’we want to show Cleveland’). 

Barney Taxel, Downtown from Garfield’s Monument

Sometimes it is style (’we want something contemporary’).   

Brock Winans, Untitled

More recently, a client found a print she loved by Kate Ward Terry.  Her sister had gone to school with Kate, and she was thrilled to add Kate’s piece to her collection. 

Kate Ward Terry, Disordered

It is hard to quantify what sells best because each decision is based on an individual’s or company’s goals.  What does work best is discovering an artist or a piece of artwork that you love and buy it, hang it up, and enjoy it.

This image comes via Housemartin.  Amy Butler sums it up best, “Great style comes from confidence.  Love what you love, and don’t be shy about it.”

June O’Neil’s textile construction piece, Ohio, has been installed at the Rocky River Library.  The Women’s Committee of the Rocky River Library purchased this piece and gifted it to the library. 

June works with raw edge applique.  The edges of the fabric are exposed and give her work a great deal of texture, places for the light to bounce and create shadows.  June is able to manipulate the fabric in a way that creates movement and energy within the piece.  More of June’s work can be found at RED DOT Project.  Check out this detail of Ohio:

We installed new artwork for M. F. Cachat Co.  This client has opted to lease artwork from RED DOT Project artists to enhance their workspace.  The artwork is rotated 3 times a year.  They enjoy the change that leasing offers them.  A fresh perspective, new artwork, and change.  Adam Pates’ Ohio Pyle Creek is in their lobby for the next four months.

RED DOT Project artist Mark  Howard’s new mural for Lorain County Community College’s Stocker Arts Center is being installed and will be “unveiled” on July 23, 2007 at the Stocker Arts Center “Spotlight” event, where the 2007 -2008 Stocker Arts Center Season will also be released.  The mural was designed to “tell the story of the Stocker Arts Center” and to paint a picture of what happens at the Stocker Arts Center, for the public and students in the Arts and Humanities department.  The mural project was part of an innovative learning opportunity created for painting students at LCCC, who  learned about the process of creating public art by assisting Mark as he executed the mural. Mark Howard has created numerous other public art installations in Northeast Ohio, including murals at The Cleveland Public Library, The Cleveland School of the Arts, Oriana House, and Rocky River Middle School.  He is best known for his 600′ laser cut steel public art installation at Cleveland Hopkins Airport, and is currently working on several integrated art projects for Cleveland’s RTA Euclid Corridor Project.

Photo - Mark, Nick and Tim from Eikona, LCCC students who participated in the project

Artists get paid, companies have artwork for their walls.

Leasing provides another source of revenue for the artist, clients may choose to rotate the artwork every 4 - 6 months, and employees can be inspired, motivated, or at the very least take notice of the creativity that surrounds them.

Lori Diemer’s Classic Cars in the Boardroom of the M. F. Cachat Company in Lakewood