Like all artists, I have filled our house with art, mostly that of other artists. There isn’t much room left for hanging or displaying but I never worry about that when I am compelled to purchase a piece. I’ve taken to hanging pieces salon style in the living room.
Above: Work by Eunice Parsons, Fred Swan, and Sheila Mahoney Keefe.
I experience some of the vintage family pieces I have as warm and inspiring examples of vanished design styles. I like to mix these examples of designs past with the new pieces we’ve collected. This is how the past and present co-exist in my mind, so the juxtaposed style fits.
The living room hosts my maternal Grandma Pauline’s tea wagon from the 1920’s. I was fascinated by this item as a child, though I have never seen it used for serving tea. I think the tea pot, cups, and cream and sugar went on the top. A fancy cake went on the bottom, or so I used to imagine.
Grandma Pauline’s wicker tea wagon with vintage books below. Above are tea vessels by
Jim McNulty and a ceramic vase by John Hutson.
Pauline Wheeler Spencer, c. 1914, owner of the tea wagon.
The living room hosts these much-loved 3-D pieces by Leighanna Light and Jo Grishman.
My Great-Grandma Mary hooked this rug from old clothing scraps.
Mary Belle Denhart Wheeler hooked rugs, embroidered, made hats and clothing, and painted. She was precise, exacting, and patient. My daughter takes after her. I do not.
In the dining room pieces from various artists from The Big 500, an annual benefit sale for the Oregon Food Bank, sit atop the picture rail.
Great-Grandma Mary’s tea kettle. I love how the lines of ordinary things used to be so graceful.
A bowl from ceramic artist Jan Edwards holds smaller treasures
A tray by Jan Edwards holds a monkey-puzzle pod, a picture of Mary’s mother (my great-great grandmother Gertrude), a fossil, and a piece of a building from Pompeii–it was just lying on the ground!
When I was ten years old, I wanted an old-fashioned doll so much. My paternal great-grandmother, Nellie, contributed a bisque doll head she’d had since she was a child. My parents had a doll-maker attach a body and arms to it. I was ecstatic. I named her Elena. I looked into her eyes a lot, as they were a beautiful liquid brown. Her eyelashes are delicately painted with a tiny brush.
Great Grandma Nellie Godard Spencer when I knew her. Her father fought for the Union in the Civil War.
A scattering of contemporary works on our walls:
I grew up seeing this painting in my Grandma Pauline’s house. It was done by a friend of hers who lived in another state. I only remember her first name, Ruth. When we were little, my brother and I always saw this as a face with two misshapen eyes, a thatch of hair and a wide red mouth. It wasn’t until much later that I suddenly saw the painting for what it is. I love the way the artist has caught the light of the southwest. I would say it belongs to the California School of landscape painting.
Painting by Tina Hesson
I discovered Tina’s work at her art and supply sale. Had to have this.
My partner chose this watercolor paintings by Emily Kepulis
This wall piece by Michael de Forest hangs in the front hall.
A fellow gallery member once told me that being in my house is like a visit inside my psyche. I hope you’ve enjoyed your visit.