A Look Inside

Collector's Focus: Interior Spaces

Introduction by John O’Hern

In his book Genius Loci: Towards a Phenomenology of Space, the Norwegian architect Christian Norberg-Schulz wrote, “Man dwells when he can orient himself within and identify himself with an environment, or, in short, when he experiences the environment as meaningful. Dwelling, therefore, implies something more than ‘shelter.’ It implies that the spaces where life occurs are ‘places,’ in the true sense of the word. A place is a space which has character. Since ancient times the genius loci, or ‘spirit of place,’ has been recognized as the concrete reality man has to face and come to terms within his daily life.”Pontone Gallery, Corridoio, oil and mixed media on board, 11 4/5 x 23 3/5", by Matteo Massagrande.

Another favorite book in architecture school was The Poetics of Space by the French philosopher Gaston Bachelard who wrote, “A house that has been experienced is not an inert box. Inhabited space transcends geometrical space.”

Kenny Harris paints the poetry of spaces. He says, “My paintings are about light and space, and I am compelled to create spaces where the viewer is invited in, to create their own narrative. As such, my paintings are almost always devoid of people, but as I write this the emptiness of the interiors strikes me as surreal. The world in this moment resembles the emptiness of a surrealist arcade, a de Chirico: a conspicuously empty place. When I made this body of work, completing it just as the world was changing, I was working in a state of happiness, getting to revisit those places that visually struck me with their beauty and history. I hope the work will resonate on two levels: as a reflection of our temporary collective experience, but more so as a reminder of the wonderful world we inhabit—the mysterious every day.”Left to right: The Hunt Gallery, Inside the Old Mill, acrylic on panel, 16 x 12", by Michael John Hunt; George Billis Gallery, Bryce House Kitchen, Garinish Island, Cork, oil on canvas, 40 x 30", by Kenny Harris; The Hunt Gallery, Quackers, acrylic on panel, 16 x 12", by Michael John Hunt.

Margaret “Maggie” O’Sullivan’s every day was not mysterious. As the housekeeper of Bryce House on Garinish Island, County Cork, Ireland, for over 60 years, she kept her kitchen and the Bryce home spotless. As the light comes through the window in Harris’ painting Bryce House Kitchen, Garinish Island, Cork, it reflects off the floor onto the cabinets that she could have just left after scrubbing and polishing. The tactile nature of his paint lets us sense the tactile nature of the materials that make up Maggie’s kitchen.

The Hancock-Mitchell House is either the oldest or second oldest house on the island of Martha’s Vineyard—parts dating back to the 17th century. When Heather Neill first visited, it was under an enormous tent as the Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation restored the exterior. New Rust, Neill’s painting of the parlor available at Granary Gallery, shows the beginnings of restoration, fireplace and chimney removed, wall construction exposed, and scraping through layers of paint to reveal the blue milk paint. The elegant Windsor chair may reference the artist’s earlier career in woodworking and chair making. Granary Gallery, New Rust, oil on panel, 24 x 37", by Heather Neill

Granary Gallery, North Room, oil on panel, 16 x 24", by Tamalin Baumgarten

As a woodworker and as an observer, Neill revels in detail, lovingly celebrating the craftspeople who constructed the house and the families who have lived in it over centuries. She is also acutely aware of the sense of place, the old house in the middle of a 150-acre farm by the sea. “I was there in two seasons,” she says. “In the summer that sea was too far away to cool the air sizzling on that plain. In October it was rolling rough enough to be heard from inside this very room.”

Matteo Massagrande’s paintings, including Corridoio, are about light and space. They are empty but invite viewers in—until a sense of unreality overcomes them. He says, “My idea of space cannot be separate from the idea of ‘vision.’ Within my paintings I always want to create harmony between solid and empty areas, between light and dark areas, between colored and achromatic areas. These things are the foundations of my visions and I love to see the subject from several points of view even within the same painting, to create that feeling of immanence that I always felt. These places are almost never real because reality is not enough to me. Perhaps because of this freedom people look at my paintings and identify themselves with a familiar place. In everyone’s past there is a room of which we remember the light that it was filled with.”

There are spaces once occupied by others and spaces we assemble in our memories not quite as they may have been, but as they felt. Donald Yatomi, Reed Market Pub, oil on canvas, 24 x 48"

Donald Yatomi, Orange Jeep On Lift, oil on canvas, 24 x 48"

In the pages of this special section, we will highlight spaces that have captivated artists. They are filled with life and emotion or light and shadow, playing on the techniques each artist employs in their work.

Granary Gallery’s collection of art reflects the unique and diverse personality of its home, the island of Martha’s Vineyard. From landscapes of farms to harbors to the magical light and ocean surrounding, the Vineyard’s natural beauty inspires the gallery artists and influences their creative process. It is the gallery’s privilege to support local and regional, emerging and established artists, including Kenneth Vincent, Alison Shaw, Terry Crimmen, Thomas Hart Benton, Alfred Eisenstaedt, Wolf Kahn and many others. Artists such as Neill, Jeanne Staples and Tamalin Baumgarten also have their work featured and many of their pieces reflect the inside of homes and other personal spaces.

In addition to Granary Gallery, the family of showrooms includes the Field Gallery, home of contemporary work with an island story, and the North Water Gallery, a traditional fine art collection with maritime themes. While each gallery has its unique focus, they have a commitment to the island and its artists bring them together as the Granary family.The Hunt Gallery, Please take your seat, acrylic on canvas, 36 x 32", by Michael John Hunt

The Hunt Gallery in Kent, England, features the artwork of Michael John Hunt. In explaining his work, the artist says, “Our interior spaces are very revealing as they expose our personality, interests and lifestyle. In the current climate with video conferencing and Zoom, there has been a demand for interesting backdrops, such as bookshelves, saying this is how we like to present ourselves. I have always found interiors fascinating as they change throughout the day. I remember as a child having to remain in bed for a few days watching the sun circle the room picking out and highlighting pieces of furniture and creating all manner of shapes on the wall and floor.”

Hunt has a particular interest in historic interiors, he says, “where you can see how each generation is influenced by the latest fashion, be it furniture, ceramics, lighting, fabrics, even travel. It all ends up in our living spaces—and interiors are a much-neglected subject matter. Atmosphere is everything!”Top row: Granary Gallery, Still Point, oil on linen, 44 x 36", by Jeanne Staples; Ekaterina Popova, The Visit, oil on canvas, 30 x 24"; Hope Reis, Conversing with her Love, oil on canvas, 28 x 22" Bottom row: Hope Reis, Lost in Thought, oil on linen, 22 x 28"; Ekaterina Popova, Sylvie’s Room, oil on canvas, 30 x 24"

Bend, Oregon-based painter Donald Yatomi is known for his contemporary urban themes. In his paintings he “strives to capture the raw beauty of modern, industrial form” and does so through a loose, realistic style. Yatomi, who was born in Okinawa, Japan, has been a painter for more than 30 years and graduated from the University of Hawaii with a BFA in painting. He received a second BFA in illustration from the Art Center College of Design. In addition to his fine art career, he has worked in entertainment design for companies such as DreamWorks Studios and Sony Interactive Entertainment. Yatomi’s artwork can be found at A Gallery in Salt Lake City and at Peterson Contemporary Art in Bend.

For the past few years, Ekaterina Popova has been exploring interiors in her work. “The interest started as a way for me to reflect on my upbringing in Russia, but eventually progressed to exploring the overall idea of ‘home’ and what it means to me now,” Popova says. “The work has slowly evolved from being reflective and sentimental to being mindful and present in my current environment. I repeatedly paint my own bedroom, visit other people’s houses and use reference photos submitted to me by others online. My paintings include messy rooms, intimate items and objects that refer to human presence without including the figure.I pick up on the subtle tones, lighting and mood of each location in order to capture the emotion I associate with the space and then exaggerate the color to create a dreamlike image.”Left: Jeri Greenberg, Corner Comfort, pastel, 14 x 10" Right: Ekaterina Popova, Restful, oil on canvas, 30 x 24"

Artist Hope Reis often paints beautiful interior scenes, with and without figures. She says, “I resonate strongly with Eric Liddell’s statement from the movie Chariots of Fire, and when I paint I feel God’s pleasure! I know I’m doing what I’m supposed to and there’s no substitute for that. I hope the viewer can sense and share in that joy. For me, to see and express beauty is my job, and what a fabulous way to honor my Creator.”

Making the ordinary extraordinary has been Jeri Greenberg’s mission for her artwork. “Interiors let me visit small, intimate settings that mean something to the viewer and always elicit a powerful feeling in me while painting them,” the artist says. “Whether it is the ‘interior’ of my fridge or a special corner of a room, a rumpled quilt on a bed or a bright red couch against a white wall, each setting evokes something different.” —