Home & Design Magazine (November/December 2011)
bucking the TREND
by Philippa P.B. Hughes
Photography by Michael Ventura
Despite the sluggish economy, four visionaries have opened galleries in the DC area over the past year. Though their offerings are diverse, these curators share a conviction that art transcends the everyday and offers solice in every climate.
...Morton Fine Art
Amy Morton, who believes that anyone can become an art collector, developed a flexible gallery model that allows her to reach broader communities that might not otherwise collect art. Her hybrid model includes a traditional gallery space in Adams Morgan along with a mobile gallery that pops up in communities that may have lost galleries during the economic downturn. She says, "These tougher economic times have allowed me to be more responsive to both the artists' and collectors' current needs. It was high risk, of course, but I felt compelled to take the plunge." Morton, whose own collection includes both antiques and contemporary artwork, advises clients and potential collectors to "buy work that has great personal meaning to you.". She says that living with art in her home allows her to interact with her collection every day - and therefore she considers it to be her most valuable material possession. Morton believes that the arts in DC are starting to make a unique impact on the local, regional, and national scenes, much of it driven by novel approaches to the traditional gallery system.