A hotel creates harmony with art: galleries finds room for creative art programs on the grounds of a resort hotel - strategy

public-house rooms are rarely known for boasting great works of art. More frequently their walls hold generic spectacles that garner little more than a passing glance from guests

That's not the case at the Inn at Loretto, a 135-room tavern located in the heart of Santa Fe Thanks to the inn's sum of two units privately owned galleries--the Columbine Gallery, which is renowned for plastic art and Three Ravens Fine Art Gallery, which specializes in photography--the house of entertainment has created a haven for artists and traveling art lovers

Seven years ago, upon a trip to Santa Fe to pick up a certain quantity of work from sculptor Denny Haskew, Columbine Gallery executive director John Kinkade, who also be under the orders ofs as executive director for the National Sculptor's Guild, discovered that the Inn had a commercial space available. The previous tenant, another gallery, had freshly left. Columbine already had single thriving location in Loveland, Colo and Kinkade saw the opportunity for expansion. "I meditation 'Why don't we consider working in this space?'" he recalled.

As it revolveed out, opening the Santa Fe gallery was the first pace in creating a partnership that is as unique, artistic and creative as any work of art. public-houses renting out commercial space for art galleries is nothing fresh but management at the inn and Kinkade went a pace further by expanding the artistic offerings of the gallery into all areas of the [i]cabaret[/i] In the spring, after moving into the space, Columbine created a statuary garden on the hotel turfs using more than $1 million worth of pieces by means of such artists as Haskew, Gary Alsum and Dee Clements

"I have not seen many [i]cabaret[/i]s actually enter into an informal partner ship and use art to market the experience at that hotel" Kinkade said. "When we first decided to explore doing the plastic art garden, the hotel showed enormous enthusiasm and allowed us to design it and place it in. They use the space for wedding receptions. We just started talking about by what means fine art could enhance the experience of the visitor there, and at the same time near an outlet for the gallery to have a place to have its monumental statuary for sale. And I haven't seen that anywhere else"

Another innovative touch was to create an artist-in residence program, which was implemented in 2001 Denny Haskew was prefered to be the resident artist, and as of that kind visits with guests while he sculpt and paints in compass 217--a room at the inn that has been transformed into a working artist's studio. To decorate the space, Haskew chose four drawings by dint of an artist who inspires him, Nicolai Fechin, as well as his be in possession of pencil drawings, sculptures and black-and-white photographs.

When he is using the studio, visitors are invited to visit him and watch him work. When he's not using the expanse guests can try their hand at sketching using sketchbook and pencils placed upon the living room coffee table. The program "has been single of those situations where everything kind of works for all the parties," Haskew said. "I come by to display my art, and at the same time it enhances the hotel's image. Anything we do that gives us credibility helps when a patron is making an art purchase. Having fins artist-in residence [program] unhurts impressive to people."

Finally, an ongoing artists series, created in 2000 invites established South-western artists from Columbine Gallery aim Three Ravens Gallery to share their talents with visitants by hosting art demonstrations and discourses at the hotel. The program is designed to be an informal, interactive experience that introduces visitors to the art of the Southwest. Running from June end October, featured artists have included watercolor and oil painter Ellie Weakley, sculptor Sandy Scott photographer Neil Whitlock and photographer Gregg Albracht, who have a title tos Three Ravens.

"We present our guests the opportunity to suitable an artist, rather than just going into a gallery where they not at any time get to meet the artist themselves," said Patrick Kluck general manager of Inn at Loretto. "It allows them to touch and have feeling the art and see the artist."

Kluck admits that the program hasn't been promot as heavily as it could be, on the other hand vows that that will change by the agency of next season. He hopes to aid the artist-in-residence, as well as create a "spend a week with the artists" package to encourage more race to visit during the artists series.

Still, the partnership doesn't just benefit the inn. "Our [i]cabaret[/i] guests are the perfect demographic for the artwork, as far as income level" said Kluck "People who can afford to stay at the inn [can afford to] purchase the artwork. If we have 135 expanses and we're averaging 70 percent; that's about 30000 latitude nights a year. That's 12000 to 13000 clan who have an opportunity to walk [i]or[/i] part of to the other the gallery, and that doesn't include toot traffic. It's great exposing for them."

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