Art in the Barn

My "Art of a Barn"A few years ago I went to my first Art in the Barn in Essex, Mass. on a gorgeous June afternoon and was enthralled. I asked my husband if he wanted to go back to the barns the next weekend too. That’s when I learned, to my dismay, that it’s an annual fundraising event. As much as I would like to spend many weekends each summer at the Greenbelt’s exquisite Cox Reservation, browsing inspirational art within venerable structures perched above salt marshes, I (and you) must make do with only one weekend per year. This summer’s event wrapped up yesterday. So why mention it now? Well it’s not too late to share some of the featured artists with you, even if you weren’t able to attend.

I spotted Carolyn Kerr’s porcelain dinnerware from Neptune Designz last year, and couldn’t resist it this year. I snapped up a colorful tray, convincing myself that my friend needs it, knowing full well that I wanted it for myself. Black & white photography by Ben Staples and Dorothy Kerper Monnelly, each of Ipswich, took my breath away. The rich, tonal range of their work captures the stunning beauty of uniquely New England landscapes. Look for the photography of Dorothy Kerper Monnelly in Between Land and Sea, The Great Marsh. It’s exquisite. Dazzlingly colorful, fiber collages by Claudine Lesk reminded me of The Quilts of Gee’s Bend in miniature. After a quick visit to Lesk’s website, I learned that she too makes stunning quilts. Whimsical, outdoor, steel sculptures by Chris Williams were also noteworthy.

Who knows what would have caught your eye, so next June be sure to look for Art in the Barn 2010. Maybe if enough folks express interest, the Essex County Greenbelt Association would consider a fall Art in the Barn. It’s probably worth asking.

by Katie Hutchison for House Enthusiast

Web tour: Boston Globe: Gardeners for hire

Wednesday's Globe highlighted a growing phenomenon which is win-win for everyone. Michael Prager's article features three "urban ag outfits" in the Boston area that participate in lawn farming. Their innovative business models range from full care, using homeowner property for community supported agriculture (in which property owners get a share or portion of a share depending on garden size); to garden creation, so homeowners can grow their own produce; to consulting. 

Living in a condo, with only a tiny patio, a lawn farm isn't an option for me, but I'd happily contribute to a nearby urban community garden farmed by others. (As I've confessed before, I'm not much of a gardener, more of a garden fan.) Or maybe, just maybe, it's time for me to give this community gardening thing a try. Either way, Grow Salem will be hearing from me.

by Katie Hutchison for House Enthusiast

Launching KHS photography: prints and note cards

I first discovered the bliss of photography while a student at RISD. For years afterwards I focused on black & white photography and the techniques of the zone system. Along the way, I dabbled with Polaroid transfers, photo polymer etching, the Holga toy camera, and pinhole photography. I came to digital photography and the world of color slowly. Today, I’m a happy convert.

My favorite subject matter, as you might expect, is home: exterior & interior, garden, landscape, seascape, and farm. I’m now offering select fine art photos for sale in the form of prints and note cards. I have a link to my photo gallery in the navigation bar of this website and here as well. I hope you’ll take a look. Of course, I also welcome custom photo assignments. In the meantime, I’m off to scout for more photo moments. Cheers.

by Katie Hutchison for House Enthusiast

Design snapshot: Patio season

To me, residential architecture extends beyond the built structures of our homes to the spaces around, in between, and within sight of them. Here, a simple, flag-stone patio, a few feet from a house and only a small step down from it, converts a sunny oasis, nestled within hedges and shrubs, into a living space. Sturdy, silver-grey cedar furniture, softened with comfortable throw pillows, invites leisurely conversation among alliums and soon-to-be-potted plants. Lanterns for votive candles atop a table tell us this place is also enjoyed in the evenings. Carving out an intimate space outside a French door can provide visual interest from the interior as well. ‘Tis the season for the outside to borrow from the inside and vice versa. Enjoy.

by Katie Hutchison for House Enthusiast

Design snapshot: Happy shack

This diminutive boat/barn hybrid has much of the appeal of both a boat and a barn. The inverted, hull-shaped roof beautifully suits its beach context. The elegantly projecting rake at the peak is more than a design flourish; it supports a pulley (as on a barn) to hoist lobster traps or whatnot into the upper loft. The boat-like roof shape combined with the barn-like board-and-batten siding, plus the pleasingly functional door- and window-placement make this fishing shack an original charmer. I imagine folks whistle while they work here.

by Katie Hutchison for House Enthusiast