2 posts tagged “art”
A customer sent me a link to a study confirming that spending time in a beautiful and calming environment can reduce stress levels by 45% in just 40 minutes! That makes sense of the sometimes daily visits by my neighbors. It's hard to get my paperwork done, but the visits confirm that I'm doing a good job. I want people to be delighted and inspired and happy when they leave.
Fran's! We have Fran's Chocolates again! Last seen in JayWalk this past May, my order slumped into puddles of goo the day we had 90 degree weather (more like 100 in the shop) because I wasn't prepared in time to get the chocolates into a fridge. Such special treats must be honored in a temperature controled environment, so I waited until I was certain there would be no more heat waves. The latest confection available is a Gray Salt Chocolate Thin that comes 10 pieces to a package. Much easier to share when you get back to work than a 3 piece package of caramels. The famous Gray Salt and Smoked Salt Caramels are also in, alongside the tried and true Almond Gold Bars.
The artwork at JayWalk is by talented, trained local artists. If you haven't had the opportunity to think about an original piece of art rather than a framed print in your home, please come into JayWalk to see what it feels like to be surrounded with marks made by hand. We have a new layaway plan to make it very easy to responsibly afford a large purchase.
A customer recently came in to tell me how her guests always compliment the two paintings she purchased here, and that the paintings make a person happy. My background is in art and art history, and I can tell you that much of what I studied in school did not make me "happy". Now that I am older and wiser I know that artwork does not have to confuse you to be good. It doesn't have to encourage long conversations to be worthy of being called "fine art".
A fine artwork can be something you want to live with because it simply delights you. That's why I danced in circles when Denise Takahashi said I could hang her Varied Thrush series here. Artwork can also take you on a journey each time you view it, such as Graham Fracha's paintings do for me. The landscapes truly pull me in as my favorite children's books did when I was a child. Christopher Ernst's paintings challenge me just enough- not too much- so they never become dull to look at nor do they put me off if I'm grouchy. For pure prettiness I enjoy having by my desk several crackled surface photographs by Drew Forsell and Rick Duque.
My store feels the way it does because I choose to fill it with things that I love, many created by people whom I love. I do not buy things that I think are hip or in style. It turns out that what I love seems to resonate with creative people and I am fortunate that my customers do buy the treasures at JayWalk.
Amy, Owner
