Art in Conservatory
Nancy's Artwork
Some of you might know that Nancy, my partner, was a fabric artist before leaving that calling to pursue building Tanglewood Conservatories with me.
People have often asked to see examples of her work, which are hard to come by since she was last actively producing pieces more than ten years ago.
She was however inspired to create a small piece a few years ago for some good friends in appreciation of their friendship. They have an abiding love of music and have sponsored many concerts at their home in the conservatory we built for them but it was a lesson that this couple taught Nancy and I that brought us the closest to them. It was one of the most important lessons we have even learned about doing business and one we will never forget.
When we arrived at their home for the first time, years ago now, we were amazed at the way they treated us. They didn’t know us, had never met us before, yet they made both Nancy and I feel that we were their best of friends, the kind of friends they had known forever.
It was quite amazing, but even more so when I watched them in their interactions with all the other people working on their project, and it was a very substantial project, and I saw that they treated EVERYONE this way. Even people who did not treat them well and some who obviously took advantage of their gracious natures.
They weren’t blind or acting like this out of some kind of religious conviction or any kind of idea they had in their heads, it was just the way they were. It made such an impression on us that we resolved to change the way we thought of the people we constantly meet in the course of our business and to do the same in our lives.
Now this has not always been so easy and as you might imagine, there have been many times when I wish my actions were closer to this high standard, but over the years I have continued to strive to hold this ideal in my mind and to work to come closer to dealing with everyone in this way.
The wall hanging that Nancy created was for them was to hang in their music room. If you look closely at the picture of it, you sill see the G-clef in the center in red.
It was Nancy who first pointed out the connection between music, the arts and the conservatories we design and build. She noticed that a great majority of the people who come to us seeking a really special conservatory, are in fact either artists themselves, art collectors, art lovers, or associated with the arts in some way.
They have ranged from amateur and professional musicians to dancers (a well known former ballerina), singers, collectors with stunning collections of paintings, art glass, furniture and many others who share a love of beautiful works of art.
Nor surprising, as someone recently pointed out, since we aspire to create works of art ourselves, that those with an appreciation of art are attracted to our work. It is true that we feel that we are not merely creating utilitarian rooms as the end product of a commercial endeavor, but we try to produce buildings that embody a quality of inventiveness, and are designed with the same consideration of proportion, scale and detail as any great piece of architecture.
Alan