Art Exhibits & Events
Local Gem: David Brega Gallery
Nov 27 2012 ·1The David Brega Gallery in Marshfield is a must visit this Holiday Season. Tori Chesley Brega has curated an impressive collection of art work, her own outstanding jewelry creations and a variety of other beautifully crafted items perfect for gifts.
Chicago: Neighborhoods, Museums & All That Jazz
Oct 17 2012 ·0Another weekend, another weekend trip for me. This trip however was extra special as I traveled to Chicago to visit my son Fred. He just relocated there and he couldn’t wait to show off his new city to me ~ and I couldn’t wait to see it!
Alice in…the Boston Design Center?!
Jul 25 2012 ·0“Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”
~Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
I believe I fell down a rabbit hole when I entered the Boston Design Center last week! Right there before my very eyes in the windows of the Martin Group showroom were all the Alice in Wonderland characters dressed to the nines in Samuel and Sons trimmings!
Here is where the story begins…
Tweedledee and Tweedledum never looked so dapper!
I just love the detail of the ball fringe, so clever!
The Queen of Hearts is looking exceptionally posh in her opulent regalia:
And really, aren’t there days when your inner diva just wants to say, “Off with Her Head”??
Oh, to be able to wear such finery and be a tyrant…bliss!
Meanwhile, Alice seems to be feeling a bit odd:
Alice (via creator Geoff Howell Studio Inc.)
The details on her dress however are nothing but stunning!
Here is the ever unshakably mellow caterpillar who gives Alice sage advice, all while bedecked in his lovely green garb…
And for a close up:
So many gorgeous trims!
Just think of all the possibilities with these amazing pieces of passementerie! Wonderful pillows, shams, duvets, leading edges on draperies and upholstery, and table skirts just to name a few~ oh my! These exquisite tassels, trims, beads, tapes, ropes are just waiting to bejewel your home decor and with the right designer, that is not impossible at all!
xo,
Pamela
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The Bliss of Summer Arts Festivals
Jun 19 2012 ·0“When we artists put a painting on a wall at an exhibition, we bare our souls…at that time everyone becomes a critic.”
~Sidney Hermel
This weekend the South Shore Art Center sponsored the 57th Annual Arts Festival on the Cohasset Common and once again it was outstanding!
The festival is truly a celebration of the arts with nearly 100 juried exhibitor booths, a variety of live music performances, delicious food, artist demonstrations, children’s art activities and a young artists’ exhibition. For me, the highlight of the festival is always the juried art exhibition and members’ show. This year was no exception.
The Art Exhibit is staged under large, peaked tents which not only allows ample viewing space for each piece, but also make a beautiful statement on the Common with their iconic silhouettes.
On Friday, the festival officially opened with the distribution of ribbons for the the “Best of the Best” artworks. My dear friend and fellow GJP‘er, Page Railsback won a bright Pink ribbon in honor of Roz Farbush for her painting and she was thrilled (as was I).
My friend and another Girls Just Wanna Paint member, Sally Dean was not only the cover artist for the festival program and posters, but also won a ribbon for her beautiful and imaginative painting~
The art on display included many mediums, the broad array is one of the things that makes the outdoor festivals so appealing. Don’t you love this sculpture? 
I think this would look divine in a foyer.
This mixed media piece is nothing short of amazing. As you view it from a distance, it appears to be a swirling mermaid or goddess.
But then as you look closer…
Such attention to detail and composition, isn’t that incredible?
Jeanne MacFarland is a very well respected artist (and another GJP‘er) and her paintings have an “old world” quality to them. This boat at water’s edge is serene…
Watercolors are always very popular and this is a masterful example:
You may recognize this last painting, though it is a bit more fancy than the last time I showed it…
Dressed up in a new frame, it is one of my “petite interiors”. I was so proud to have it in the member’s show!
Art shows and festivals are truly for people of all ages…. I hope you get a chance to enjoy an Arts Festival this summer, always a delightful way to spend the day!
xo,
Pamela
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Girls Just Wanna Paint
Jun 04 2012 ·0As many of you know, along with being an interior designer I am also an oil painter. I am constantly working to improve my skills by taking classes with local artists and painting as frequently as possible. What a thrill it was then when I was recently invited to join the women artists of Girls Just Wanna Paint.
"I Love Red" 6x6 oil on board by Mary Sheehan Winn
Formed in 2009, Girls Just Wanna Paint is group of 12 artists who challenge themselves each month to incorporate a selected object or idea into a painting. The paintings are posted at the beginning of each month on the Girls Just Wanna Paint blog where we invite your comments and feedback.
"Brush With Great Effort..." by Kelley MacDonald 6"x6"
The group meets during the first week of every month. We view each other’s work in person, enjoy some great food and wine, and decide what the next month’s subject will be. This is a collection of serious artists who also have a lot of fun–right up my alley!
I am delighted to be a part of this esteemed group of women. Most of the artists are professionals and teachers and all are very inspiring. Their individual spirit and soul comes through in their work. I invite you to visit the Girls Just Wanna Paint site and peruse the artists’ websites and blogs. I guarantee you will fall in love with their work as I have~
My next painting as part of the Girls Just Wanna Paint group will be up at the beginning of July. As a complement to this new venture, I am pleased to announce a new weekly feature on my blog. Each week at the end of one of the blog posts (typically Pamela’s Posh Picks) I will be sharing one of my petite Interiors oil paintings. I would love to hear your feedback on these paintings. Of course I am also open to painting custom pieces of your special Interior space in oil. These works can be framed or reproduced as beautiful stationery.
"Let the Fun Begin" by Pam Copeman
I hope you will enjoy this new feature and look forward to sharing my painting journey with you!
xo,
Pamela
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{featured paintings are from the GJWP May challenge: “Tools of the Trade”}
Art & Giving
Nov 07 2011 ·0You may not realize that right inside your kitchen cabinets you have the building blocks for not only creating unique artwork but also for making a difference in the lives of others. The building blocks I’m referring to are, of course, canned foods.
Yes, you read that right, canned foods!
CANstruction is a community service project that benefits thousands of hungry people. For the last few weeks, this year’s projects have been on display at the Boston Design Center. What an amazing way to showcase the artistic ingenuity of design industry professionals while at the same time providing a distinct benefit to food banks serving our community.
Here are a few of the incredible CANstruction projects…
Can you believe this pumping heart with veins, surrounded by a stethoscope, is created out of cans?
Larger than life Stanley Cup, celebrating the recent Boston Bruins championship.
WOW, the iconic Hood milk bottle, recreated using cans!
Ready for launch
This adorable owl is my favorite~ it reminds me of the candy castles my Em and Pally would make every year out of their Halloween treats.
If you squint you can see this animal shape and the letters at the bottom~ hint, the company has 4 letters, the first letter is P…
At this time of the year with Thanksgiving just two weeks away, why don’t we all take a look in our cupboards for some canned goods to donate our local food pantries. What a CANtastic way to kickoff the season of giving!
“Be the change you want to see in the world”
~Mahatma Gandhi
xo,
Pamela
P.S. Please visit my Facebook page to see photos of some incredible design events I attended recently!
Art for Interiors: Fort Point Open Studios
Oct 24 2011 ·0“Art and life are not separate domains”
~Piet Mondrian
Last weekend my friends, Ginny and Jen and I visited several art studios in the Fort Point Area of Boston.
Most of the art spaces in the buildings we visited are co-ops which means that the artist and their families (and often, pets) live in their studios as well as create there. It is simply ingenious the way they have arranged the living spaces: loft style beds to maximize floor space, camouflaged kitchens behind screens or curtains and loads of clever storage and display solutions for supplies and treasured possessions. Oh, and the painting, sculpting or print making studios take up most of the square footage! It was a delightful peek behind the scenes of some wonderful work environments and some unique floor plans for me~
These tubes are just waiting to burst with color
Believing the brush will convert your dream into a masterpiece~
Of all of the artists whom we met, here are 3 of my favorites~
Linda’s pottery is very organic. The designs are original shapes with interesting details, do you see the skyline nestled in the rhododendron shape leaves?
This vase is beautiful adorned with fleurs or not. Any one of her pieces would be a perfect addition on a bookcase, as a collection on a coffee table or of course could stand alone as a centerpiece vase on a table with a fresh bouquet.
Lisa is one of my favorite Fort Point artists. I’ve had the privilege of taking a portrait class with her and she is a detailed and profound teacher. I love her work and hope to add one of her masterpieces to my collection one day and I strongly urge you to do the same!
This is called Cupcake Dress, doesn’t the fabric look yummy?
3 Graces
One of the best parts of attending Open Studios is getting to know the artist and the story behind their work.
The 3 Graces is a drawing of Lisa’s aunt’s, mother’s and gandmother’s underpants. Lisa told me a touching story about the loveliness of these women and how they touched her life~ this work now means so much more to me. When you are deciding on adding a piece of art to your home and your life, I think it is important to have a personal connection to the piece whether it is the subject, the color or the emotion. You want it to move you, that being said…
Is Madonna missing her brassiere??
View of Lisa’s studio/home, love those dresses~
Bonnie’s prints are juicy in person, the colors jump off the paper and they are perfect for interior design~ I would love to suggest coupling 2 or 3 of these for impact on a wall~
Woodland Garden #2
The tiles are very unique and can be used in so many ways: backsplash for kitchen, studios, and bathrooms of course, but thinking outside the box how about tile table top of beautiful tiles or even just a beautiful accent highlighted at the center?
Wren
So many great choices for a wide frame for a mirror~
Leaves and Petals
Sunflower
There will be many Open Studios events with the upcoming Holidays. Why not consider giving a piece of original art as a hostess gift or a present to a family member or better yet yourself? I hope I have given you a few more ideas and inspiration for adding art to your interior!
xo,
Pamela
{Photos of studio spaces are courtesy of Jen Bowles, images of artists original work is from their respective websites}
My Love Affair with Dale Chihuly
Aug 02 2011 ·0“Glass is the most magical of all materials.”
~Dale Chihuly
I first fell in love with the work of glass artist Dale Chihuly during a visit to London to see my daughter Emily who was studying abroad at the time. There in the rotunda of the Victoria and Albert Museum was the most spectacular chandelier I had ever seen. I almost fell over the balcony railing, stunned by the beauty of the installation.
Chihuly rotunda chandelier at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London
Recently I made a pilgrimage to another exhibit of Chihuly’s work, this time a bit closer to home. “Chihuly: Through the Looking Glass” is currently on display at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts through August 8th. This spectacular exhibit holds appeal for all ages from young children to adults and is NOT to be missed!
Banner announcing the Chihuly exhibit at the MFA Boston
“One night in 1965 I melted a few pounds of stained glass in one of my kilns and dipped a steel pipe from the basement into it. I blew into the pipe and a bubble of glass appeared. I had never seen glassblowing before. My fascination for it probably comes in part from discovering the process that night by accident. From that moment, I became obsessed with learning all I could about glass.”
~Dale Chihuly
What Chihuly has done with that knowledge over the years is on full display at the MFA exhibit. A few of my favorite moments from “Through the Looking Glass”…
Ikenebana Boat~ have you ever seen a boat like this at any harbor you've visited?!
Such an inviting table...
This glass garden exemplifies Chihuly’s “when one is good, a dozen is better” philosophy just beautifully.
Mille Fleuri~ literally, a thousand flowers.
Unbelievable glass ceiling ~ not to be confused with the national debt ceiling!
I love the sense of whimsy here. Can you find the hidden starfish?
Another Chihuly chandelier, I have the perfect place for this one in my home!
Reminiscent of the Fiery Sunset Posh Palette Presentation Panel, I find these colors so vibrant and inspiring!
“Through the Looking Glass” is a phenomenal exhibit that will leave you both inspired and infused with a sense of wonder and awe. Truly amazing work by a visionary artist. I do hope you have a chance to visit!
“I never met a color I didn’t like.”
~Dale Chihuly (and Pamela Copeman)
xo,
Pamela
May I Recommend: Cocktail Culture at RISD
Jun 29 2011 ·0“Distinctly American, cocktail drinking inspired a new language of dress and design in the twentieth century…It spurred a culture of sophistication, including attire and barware, whose elegance and inventiveness reveal the rapid social changes that shaped their design.”
~Joanne Dolan Ingersoll
Going on right now through July 31st at the Museum of Art at the Rhode Island School of Design, Cocktail Culture is a delightful journey back to the days of when having a cocktail was not just an activity but an elegant experience. As a practitioner of design and an artist, I found this exhibit to be not only a beautiful and fascinating window to a bygone era but supremely inspiring as well.
Do join me, put on an episode of Mad Men and take a peek at some of {my} highlights of Cocktail Culture!
Christian Dior, 1954
Nearly every woman has one, it’s the Little Black Dress. Embodying elegance, chic and sophistication, this exhibit explores the birth of this icon of fashion and how it “transformed the wearer into an alluring model of glamour.” Oh la la!
inspired by Dior, my watercolor interpretation
And for the gentlemen, another fashion “icon”…
Man's shirt, 1950s. "The Bar-B-Quer" by Pilgrim. Sold by Sears, Roebuck and Co.
The exhibit also featured several gorgeous pairs of shoes. And oh, how I love shoes!
Bejeweled and embroidered evening shoes, circa 1927 were the inspiration for this watercolor painting
Barware to die for!
Russel Wright, "Eclipse" glassware, 1957
Cocktail shaker, 1928 by Charter Company
Cocktail glasses designed by "Trader Vic" Bergeron, 1958-1971
My watercolor interpretation...
Delightful (and informative!) bar linens
Linen cocktail napkins, circa 1950
Fun cocktail accessories
Glass-Markers, West Germany. Would be fun to re-create with mini clothespins and colorful charms.
Whether Cocktail Culture inspires you to sketch, paint or refresh your wardrobe, it is a definite must-see for admirers of design, fashion and of course, cocktails!
Committee 2000 Champagne Glasses, 1982. Dye diffusion print by Andy Warhol
Cheers!
xo,
Pamela
Summer Art Festivals
Jun 08 2011 ·0Last weekend I attended the kickoff off the North River Arts Society Festival of the Arts. Held over Memorial Day weekend in Marshfield Hills, it’s a wonderful celebration of the arts showcasing a wide variety of local artisans.
Award winning painter, friend and mentor, Paige Railsback
2011 Festival poster artist Jody Regan's wonderful depiction of the street fair meets art show atmosphere
In addition to wonderful paintings there was also a silent fundraising auction featuring furniture hand painted by local artists who donated their time and talent to create beautiful, functional works of art.
My dear friend Ginny with her gorgeous sideboard
Such wonderful, vibrant blooms!
The South Shore Arts Center festival in Cohasset is coming up next, June 17-19. I’m so looking forward to seeing work by two more local artists and friends: Kelley MacDonald and Lisa Daria Kennedy!
Pretty Jelly by Kelley MacDonald
I can almost taste the jelly oozing out of the donut!
Still Gray (the day) by Lisa Daria Kennedy
Beautiful combination of colors
Summer is a wonderful season to explore your local arts scene. In addition to outdoor art shows and festivals, check for exhibits at libraries and conservatories which often feature rotating displays of local artists’ work. This variety of exhibits present a wonderful opportunity to enjoy and purchase local, affordable art for your home. Just like jelly in a donut, art in a space is the perfect finishing touch!
Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.
~Pablo Picasso
Hoping you’re inspired to go out and treat yourself to some new art this summer!
xo,
Pamela
Do Flowers Really Bloom in March?
Mar 25 2011 ·0The violets in the mountains have broken the rocks
~Tennessee Williams
What better way to break free of the lingering gray New England winter than to attend the Boston Flower & Garden Show? The Seaport World Trade Center was a feast for all the senses when I visited with my friend Mrs. Blossom (yes, I really have a friend named Mrs. Blossom).
Among the exhibits there was a plethora of hardscaping, particularly stonework. This wonderful stone arch was created by Massachusetts Master Gardeners Association.
Consider Living With Art: Local Artist Lisa Daria Kennedy
Mar 16 2011 ·0“A good painting to me has always been like a friend. It keeps me company, comforts
and inspires.”
~Hedy Lamarr
For me, an interior design isn’t finished until the artwork has been installed. Art is the perfect finishing touch, imbuing a space with personality, color and life. In my area, south of Boston, we have a wonderful creative community. Whether it be oils, watercolors, acrylic or mixed media, we are blessed with artists who create with ease and great talent.