Art Amongst Us

Written by MaryEllen Fillo

Peter Kirkile’s playful sculpture “Charms” and a pensive oil painting of a young boy and an elephant by Brian Keith Stephens, or an unusual circular textured paper piece are among the fine art pieces that grace the walls as one meanders around. An artistic settee made entirely of quarters by artist Johnny Swing provides a comfortable place to contemplate intriguing photos by Adrian Broom. The name of the museum? Delamar hotels.

Each of the Delamar Connecticut locations, in Southport, Greenwich and West Hartford, as well as its Traverse City, Michigan not only provide exemplary accommodations and dining, but also offer guests an equally impressive, creative, cultural experience with an array of quality art.

“My passion is art and design and I wanted to share that with our guests,” explained Charles Mallory, founding partner of the Greenwich Hospitality Group, which owns and operates the boutique-style, contemporary hotels. “We wanted the real thing, real art, not copies,” he said. “We do not want to shortchange our customers if we can provide the real thing,” the Connecticut resident and art connoisseur continued. “We think the caliber of the art in each of the locations speaks to the caliber of our hotels.”

And it does. Besides a wide breadth of artwork representing many artists, styles, and mediums, Delamar hotels has established curated art as part of its brand, the décor, and the travel experience.

“When Charles reached out to me to curate the art for his hotels, one of the considerations was branding each with a continuity or style because each hotel has its own personality,” said Diane Birdsall, a Connecticut artist and interior designer who has coordinated art for all the properties. “We do offer an eclectic range of art, looking to artists from each area,” she continued. “We explore some of the unique qualities of an art collection when we decide what to place in the hotels.”

Besides exploring area artists and their works, when it came time to choose art for the West Hartford Delamar, Birdsall explained a very different opportunity presented itself.

“That hotel gave us a blank wall and that prompted Charles to pursue a partnership with the New Britain Museum of American Art,” she added, referring to the 120-year-old, award-winning museum in New Britain, CT that is dedicated to American art.

Thanks to the partnership, the hotel and its guests have enjoyed rounds of rotating exhibits featuring famed American art pieces by artists like Sol Lewitt, Andy Warhol, Jim Dine, Jennifer Wen Ma and Ellen Carey.

“Both the hotel and the museum recognized the value of aligning art and tourism when we began the cooperative project in 2017,” said Lisa Lappe, spokesperson for the museum. “The museum benefits from increased exposure of the artwork and increased foot traffic from hotel guests.”

Cross-marketing is not new but is one that is gaining traction as places like hotels forge relationships with cultural venues in their cities in a symbiotic relationship that benefits both.

“The art in the hotel common areas is intended to pique interest,” said Birdsall. “We are not selling it but guests at our hotels see it and then perhaps decide to visit the venue while in town or investigate the website.”

In Connecticut, museum officials agree that getting the art out there into public spaces not only increases the opportunity for the public to quality art but educates and enhances the experience for visitors to the area, complimenting the West Hartford Delamar for the successful collaboration.

“Delamar West Hartford is providing hotel guests a portal to this world-class art museum with thoughtfully curated art exhibitions inside the hotel and free admission for all hotel guests to the museum,” says Brett Abbott, Director and CEO of the New Britain Museum of American Art. “This important partnership increases global exposure to our collection and amplifies the voices of American artists to a wider audience.”

Mallory said he is looking forward to ramping up the art program at the hotels.

“I want our hotels to have more exhibits, more often,” he said as he prepares for two new hotels and their art displays. “I don’t think artwork is compromised if it is in a hotel lobby or on a living room wall rather than a museum,” said Mallory. “Wherever it is, it represents talent. Everyone should be able to enjoy it, no matter where.”