A Tour for Art's Sake

Walking into Patricia Bell’s South Orange home is a little like stepping onto the set of a magical Tim Burton movie. The entire house is saturated with rich colors and every wall and surface is covered with striking art. In the foyer, ruby and sapphire-colored glassware gleam from geometric built-in shelves, set against bright green walls, and a cowhide rug pops off the hardwood floor.

Bell’s beautiful home was one of two stops on a fundraising art tour benefiting the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey last Friday.  About 90 art enthusiasts gathered at the VACNJ in Summit to preview its “Blank Canvas Event” and then boarded buses to the homes of two South Orange residents who graciously invited attendees to view their extensive contemporary art collections. 

The VACNJ art committee gave blank canvases to more than 100 artists, inviting them to create unique work that was auctioned off the following evening to support the Center. Friday’s tour was also part of the VACNJ’s For Art’s Sake Weekend which helps raise funds for education programs for children, adults and those with special needs.

One event sponsor was Pat Bell, who has lived in her house in the Montrose area of South Orange since 1999. Although its bones are not modern, Bell knocked down walls in reconstruction so the house has an open loft feel and her art can be admired from many rooms all at once.

An avid collector of all kinds of visuals, Bell displays her passion everywhere you look. There are paintings, photographs, prints, ceramics, sculptures made from recycled materials, and crafts. Works by emerging as well as established artists—many from New Jersey-- fill the home and come in every size, from a tiny glass figurine or miniature furniture piece to enormous photographs and paintings that take up an entire wall. Some of the work is dark and disturbing, other pieces are whimsical and ironic.

Each room has its own color scheme, complimented by art pieces and creative décor. Throw pillows doused with color and texture stood at attention on each bed. One bedroom was deep orange with contrasting reds and blues. Another was decked in greens with purple accents that made pink, orange and blue paintings jump off the wall. Tucked behind the modern kitchen was a giant indoor swimming pool lined with windows and decorated with a bright blue rug, modern furniture, and several works of art.

Tour participants marveled as they walked through the home, many smilingand shaking their heads in wonder at the sheer volume of pieces and how they all work together in the space.

“The depth of the art is outstanding. The photo collection is like no other I’ve ever seen,” said Donna Margolis of Short Hills.

Bell was happy to let strangers roam her home as a way to share her passion for art. “I love the work and I like other people to see it. It makes me feel good when others appreciate what I appreciate.”

VACNJ patrons Mel and Ann Schaffer also welcomed the tour into their home in the Newstead area. Their vast contemporary collection is full of surprises.  The circular entry hall is covered with artwork and visitors are greeted by a carousel horse sculpture and video installation displaying two eyeballs as they enter.

The Schaffers have been collecting art for nearly 30 years and have found ways to incorporate hundreds of diverse pieces into their elegant home. They told the tourists they acquire art based on its mysterious quality and depth-- not only visual appeal-- and they want it to challenge the viewers emotionally each time it’s viewed.

In their formal living room, photographs, paintings, and new media works blanket the walls, while collections of glassware and ceramics adorn the tables. Ann Schaffer explained that she and her husband carefully consider each piece before placing it among other works. The combination of art on every wall, and in every room and area of the home has significance.

It all melds together with the couple’s personal furniture and belongings so they are living amongst the art. In the family room, a four-foot metal sculpture towers over family photographs and a Jeff Koons piece sits on a shelf below a large screen TV. 

As the group wandered into rooms discovering treasures in every corner, the Schaffers answered questions and provided context. “Sharing creates conversation. It’s a significant part of what our collecting is all about,” said Mel.

Walking through these homes is a reminder that art isn’t limited to pieces hanging in a cold museum. It’s everywhere.  Ann Schaffer gathered Raggedy Ann and Barbie dolls on a shelf in her closet, evoking pop art nostalgia. Pat Bell placed snow globes on a coffee table among other glassware to reflect sunlight from the windows.

Who knew such amazing art existed right in our back yard? Tour participants got a rare look at two prodigious collections and a lesson in art appreciation.

Each of these collectors encourages people to find art in unexpected places and let go of conventional ideas of how art is defined. You don’t have to be a major collector or historian to appreciate art, you just have to open your mind and your heart…. and take a trip to any of the local galleries in our community.

The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey offers a studio art school, exhibitions, and outreach programs that aim to engage the community in visual learning, interpretive programs, and hands-on art-making experiences.  For more information log onto: www.artcenternj.org.