Special report : Hotel art
As with cuisine , art with an authentic , artisanal feel resonates with travelers who want to experience life as a local . Sure , having a Henry Moore sculpture will be a draw for aficionados , but the core upscale travel market has probably “ been there , done that ” in terms of seeing the masters . The Waikiki Parc Hotel reached out to the University of Hawaii at Manoa ’ s gallery director and chair of the art department to create a fresh offer . Working together , they curated a selection of small 3D works to make the hotel ’ s gallery stand out .
Curating New York ’ s art scene isn ’ t a one-stop shop . So the Trump SoHo teamed up with independent curator Indiewalls , which specializes in city artists , to get a “ best of the city ” feel .
Hoteliers are also collaborating more closely with designers to curate their collections . Alfredo Arribas Arquitectos
Asociados , the architect of Hotel Soho Barcelona , brought a cool , youthful vibe to this property by commissioning renowned artist Franc Aleu to create his intriguing visuals — which were incorporated into the architecture by installing methacrylate illuminated panels .
Sandra Cortner , principal , HBA / Hirsch Bedner Associates , Atlanta , who recently completed the Jing An Shangri-La , points out that the art not only has to reflect the brand ’ s DNA , but it also has to fit with the scale and style of the interiors , and it “ has to require very little , if any , maintenance .”
Maintenance , security
Unlike museums , most hotels can ’ t rely on having expert , in-house personnel to keep the artworks in prime condition . The Kessler Collection brings in human resources personnel to train hotel staff in routine care for artwork and background
Ashley Huang exhibited at the Waikiki Parc as part of a university partnership to promote up-and-coming artists . on the artists in the collection . Art Series Hotel Group ’ s in-house curator Jane O ’ Neill manages a training program for all hotel staff . However , if artwork needs more sophisticated care or repair , curators will usually step in to find an expert . “ Technical and more long-term control is my responsibility ,” The Thief ’ s Nordgren says .
Keeping artwork safe has to be done with minimal intrusiveness — either physical or visual — to the guest . “ In most cases the artwork has security hardware , which makes it nearly impossible to remove without special tools ,” says Ari Grazi of Indiewalls , New York . “ To the guest there is no difference in the presentation unless they try and take the art off the wall , in which case they will have to carry out a chunk of the wall along with the art .”
At La Residencia in Mallorca , Spain , all sculptures are fixed to bases in the ground . In bars and restaurants , preventing accidental damage such as spills might necessitate using Plexiglass or another physical barrier to protect artwork .
Even with trained staff , monitoring is still a must . Discreetly placed security cameras should still be able to cover all entrances and exits from both the hotel and the exhibition space .
For hotels where the artwork isn ’ t in a dedicated gallery , keeping security staff nearby isn ’ t practical or , say some general managers , necessary . “ It would be difficult for anyone to remove a piece and walk out with it without staff seeing ,” says Ulisses Marreiros , general manager , La Residencia .
In gallery spaces , though , security personnel definitely have a place , says Mark Schwindenhammer , director of social catering at the Mandarin Oriental , Miami . “ We maintain 24-hour security as well as an always having front-ofhouse colleagues monitoring the area ,” Schwindenhammer confirms .
26 HOTELS January / February 2014 www . hotelsmag . com