I wanted to start this week out with a perspective from the other side of the state. PA is big enough that the different areas each have their own distinct personalities. So I’ve interviewed Brigitte Martin from Luke & Eloy Gallery in Pittsburgh and the founder of crafthaus, an online artist community. She’s also a jeweler and must have the ability to stop time in order to get everything done!
1) What inspired you to open Luke & Eloy gallery?
I thoroughly enjoy interacting with artists, their creations, and the customers who appreciate them. It is important to me to foster understanding of and dialogue about art and craft, the quality of good workmanship as well as the work ethic and commitment of craft artists. It is wonderful to witness a customer who finds the perfect piece for him/her or a loved one, their happiness is only matched by that of the artist who created the work.
2) What different challenges do you encounter being both a gallery owner and a jewelry artist?
Running a gallery is a big commitment, and challenges you in many ways. Running a gallery also takes away from the time you need to be creative yourself. It is hard to balance the two, they seem to be on opposite ends at times. You tend to focus on other’s needs first, before you allow yourself to sit down and do your own thing.
3) How would you describe the Pittsburgh craft scene?
There are one or two other galleries in town who offer really high end craft, and these do a fine job, as far as I can tell from afar. Also, the Society of Contemporary Craft is, of course, exceptional. I think that Luke & Eloy has its own niche in town, because of the focus on art jewelry.
4) You’ve also started the online artist community crafthaus. How do you see online venues such as this changing the art world?
crafthaus is primarily an outlet for the initiated, meaning trained artists who look for peer-to-peer-networking. The site is strong on mentoring, and creating opportunities within our field. The big change I see is that through venues like these you have access to a really large audience of like minded individuals, because artists from all over the globe latch on to the concept, exchange ideas, and support each other creatively. It is exciting to ”meet and talk” to artists from South Africa, Tasmania, Lithuania (to name just a few of the more exotic countries that are represented on crafthaus.) If you are in – say Pittsburgh, you hardly get a chance to see work from the other side of the globe, and seeing new work is not only interesting, but also enriching in many ways. Will it change the art world ? Probably not so much. I think art always needs to be experienced personally, live. But it will change interactions between people. The immediacy of the contact is astounding, communication barriers come down quickly, and the connections that are formed are helpful, and beneficial in many ways.
5) Finally, a question I ask all my interviews. What one piece of fine art/fine craft that you own is your favorite, and why?
I received nice gifts, bought and collected many fine pieces over the years, and I like them all for different reasons, and the memories they represent. Among my favorite works is a painting (The Ark) from my friend, the German painter Artemis Herber. The work hangs in my living room, and depicts a huge ship with a big building on top. “The Ark” is painted in various reds, sailing across a choppy blue sea. I love the work because it exudes calmness, and steadiness paired with a sense of mystery.
Filed under: Interviews, community | Tagged: Brigitte Martin, crafthaus, luke & eloy gallery
