Susan Venable
Title: TusconSTRATA
Liaison: Francine Ellman, Art Source L.A.
Site: Signature Grill, JW Marriott Starr, Pass Resort and Spa, Tucson, AZ
Photograph: Steven Meckler
"'Going green' is just smart," says artist Susan Venable. She speaks from experience, having designed and built her own energy-efficient studio in Santa Barbara, CA. Now, a large solar array provides more than enough energy to run the studio and her home on renewable power. Venable's studio is only five years old, but her choice of artistic materials has been guided by green principles for the past twenty-five years. "In the beginning art consultants and collectors thought recycled materials meant using bottle caps, etc. It's been fun informing them of how recycled and renewable materials are available, attractive, and not what you'd expect," she says. To create her mixed media wall pieces combining metal wire and encaustic, Venable uses 90% recycled materials.
Art consultant Francine Ellman knew from twenty years of working with artist Susan Venable that these wall pieces would be perfect for the Signature Grill restaurant in Tucson, AZ. "The area for the artwork was a red brick wall with white accents and a copper built-in buffet," she describes. "From past experience working with Susan, I knew the combination of the red pigment in her painting surfaces reflected the most light, as did the lighter color of copper." Venable, inspired by the beauty of the southwestern location, jumped right into the project. "I had traveled to Tucson in the past and was mesmerized by the spectacular sunsets over the mountains. When asked to propose a work for this commission, I wanted to include my memories and also make reference to the stratifications specific to the Tucson mountain range."
Although the client did not specifically seek out green artwork, the restaurant space did include many natural elements to reflect the surrounding landscape. "I have discovered that initially the collector or client is not aware that there is a green element to my work. They respond to the work itself. When educated about the benefits of using the recycled/renewable materials in my work, it becomes a big bonus." According to Ellman, Venable's contribution to atmosphere of the Signature Grill succeeded on every level. "Susan's artwork added warmth and originality, as well as being elegant, luminous, and yet understated. Fabulous!"