Rest Easy With Well Chosen Art

Artist: Emily Clawson

We have some exciting guest bloggers joining us in the coming weeks. Here is the first installment from Artist/Curator, Patter Hellstrom. She will be bringing us the world of design, from an artist’s point of view. Today she will take us through the process of selecting art for a newly opened hotel, the Westin Jersey City Newport.

See more to learn how she transformed the hotel with an original art collection that engenders a sense of serenity in the bustling New York City area. Thanks to Patter, many wary travelers might find it easier to get some needed rest.

This unique art collection was formed in conjunction with the wonderful furniture, fabric, and design of New York City designer, Paul G. Brigido of Marcel Bequillard. Peter Zirnis and I, partners in Hellstrom+Zirnis LLC, selected 75 original works of art in a subtle and organic theme for the public spaces to act as counterpoints to the hotel’s geometric style.

The hotel is filled with handcrafted millwork, contemporary lush fabrics, distinctive furniture shapes and crisp architecture in a neutral-toned palette. Paintings, prints and sculpture softened crisp angles and play off neutral tones within public spaces, while creating a sense of tranquility.

Artist: Denevan

Thirteen artists from six states comprise this collection, which is consistent with the Westin core concepts of personal, instinctive and renewal. Artists represented are from both east and west coasts. This transcontinental dialogue through the curatorial practice became a visual reflection on the natural world. The center point of this collection is a site specific mobile entitled “Renewal” by Philadelphia artist, Kate Kaman. The soft metal mesh leaves and copper tubing create a fascinating organic flourish, drawing viewer’s minds toward instinctive relaxation and renewal through the beauty of nature.

Kate Kaman

The lobby is graced with a large-scale reproduction of “Seed Fusion”, an ethereal handcrafted lithograph by Tomomi Ono. This Japanese American artist uses seedpods as intuitive and abstract imagery to contemplate life force and the renewing energy generating from small seeds.

Tomoni Ono

The Westin Hotel opened January 26th and will welcome guests for years to come into its serene and smart decor. The hotel was built in the Newport community, which is the largest and most successful mixed-use community in the world.

Patter Hellstrom is a San Francisco based artist whose abstract works on paper are exhibited by galleries in both New York and San Francisco. In addition to her art, she is also a business entrepreneur. Along with her partner Peter Zirnis on the east coast, they own Hellstrom+Zirnis LLC which works with developers and companies to curate and place art in public spaces.