Collecting

I was inspired by an article in the August/September 2008 Ready Made magazine about Shauna Alterio and Stephen Loidolt, an artist couple who, with their loves of sculpture, collecting, and design, make a very creative space out of their Philadelphia studio loft apartment.

"Shauna describes herself as a super-organized collector. 'I'm obsessed with multiples of things, from being a printmaker'" (ReadyMade, 64). This is shown in the images below: a collection of old classroom globes line the top of their studio wall, and a well presented display of plastic deer add character to the couple's headboard. Their collections are fun and unique, but also very polished due to their specific color palette.

Shauna's collecting ties into the article from our course reader in that, "artistic collecting is relatively open-ended, less goal-oriented" (Collecting, 22). In my opinion, her reason for collecting is more for visual pleasure than chaotic documenting and saving, however her collections also archives things from the past, "[Their home] is as refined as a finely curated art show, partly because the couple is fearless about getting rid of things that don't belong anymore" (ReadyMade, 67).

Their space is very inspiring to me. They are able to pair unwanted, random stuff into an organized and beautiful display.