and she remembers the great American architect walking through and sharing them with her. “I began to see them through his eyes.” A visit to Wright’s house—now a museum— in Los Angeles brought back memories of her childhood. On the second floor is a study where Hiroshige prints all over. “I knew what painting was to come next. I could taste the familiarity of them.” Talking about her Hiroshige is a sentimental journey back to childhood for Ashley and her home definitely speaks volumes of her past. Aside from her Hiroshige prints, there’s a preponderance of Ming Dynasty [1368-1644] and Qing Dynasty [1644-1911] vases. Aside from Hiroshige, “I have a lot of antique blue and white porcelain.” “I have a cocoon vase from Han Dynasty,” she says referring to her oldest piece of art in her collection. [After the death of Qin Dynasty Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi—the Chinese emperor whose imperial tomb complex is guarded by thousands of life-size terra cotta warriors — China was ruled by Han Dynasty from 206 B.C. to 220 A.D. — avz] Describing her oldest art piece, Ashley says, “I find that piece very beautiful in its simplicity and its durability.” She also tells Spice she has inherited a lot of artwork from her grandparents some of which were given by dignitaries. She has a pewter rice bowl and keeps the rice hot. “I do have odd pieces that were personal gifts from my grandparents,” she says. Designing for others If she were to design somebody else’s house, Ashley says, “I believe artwork in your home is something that you’re passionate about.” She adds, “I don’t care if they are donkeys, birds or hats—it doesn’t matter. If you are passionate about it, it‘s going to work in that environment.” According to her, if the artwork “moves you or it reminds you of the beautiful day you had, if it elicits some emotion in you and it is yours, you should have it on your walls.” For Ashley, to put a décor in the house just because your designer told you so “is you’re selling yourself short.” She says art is an outlet “to calm us down, to get back in touch with our part of our soul that needs to be soothed.” For Ashley, people sell themselves short when they say they know nothing about art. “Truth of the matter is they know a lot more than they think they do.” If she were to design for others, she will ask about the person’s background, what he or she october 2011 october 2011
‘TANSU.’ From her modest inheritance, Ashley Moffatt acquired four Japanese chests called “tansu” from the Edo Period or Tokugawa Shogunate period.
likes, if he or she comes home often, among other things. “What’s important is it works for you,” says Ashley of the decors in the house one puts in it. Asked by Spice if it’s not just art for art’s sake. “No—not at all.” The kitchen When not contemplating on her art or teaching ballet, cooking —culinary art—is another of Ashley’s passion. “There’s a dish that I am just crazy about. It’s from a restaurant in Pasadena called Chronicle,” she says. She describes the dish as more like a chicken kiev wallowing in a divine sauce made of tarragon and thyme. Every time she goes to a store and sees tarragon and thyme, she says, “I go berserk and I have to find that chicken,” says Ashley bursting in laughter. Art is her life Looking back on the years she spent workspice l home && garden spice l home garden
ing as a consultant and much farther back to her childhood, Ashley lived and continues to live and breathe art. “I feel responsible for all these beautiful things that I have amassed,” she tells Spice. She says it’s her job to protect them—keep them safe. She’s blessed, she says, that she has been allowed to keep them. Sitting on her purple, velvet chair in the living room with a view of her art collection, she finds peace and joy. “I never get bored with them,” says Ashley. As she relaxes on the chair with Alessandro the cat (named after Sandro Botticelli)—she feels comforted by the thought that every piece of art in her home echoes a rich past and provides a sentimental journey back again to the days of her tea parties with the grand dames of Virginia and back again in the loving arms of a grandfather who was instrumental in her obtaining an extraordinary art education. [Those interested to seek her advice on art, natural healing and interior design can contact her at amaci@msn.com.]