Today I’m excited to share a home tour (and studio) with Vancouver-based artist Sarah Delaney. Sarah has a new installation, “Story of a Girl” right now here in Vancouver (on display in the windows of The Aviary between July 4-16, 2020). And to celebrate that (see below for a few sneak peeks) and her awesome eye for all things art and design, I asked her if she’d like to share a few pics from her gorgeously decorated home that I’ve been admiring from afar on her Instagram for quite a while now.
I love peeking into an artist’s home and studio and see how it’s reflected in their work or vice versa. Sarah’s home, which she shares with her husband Andrew and two cats, Indie and Gatsby, is a beautiful intersection between the two. The soft colour palettes in both merge together, crossing between home and environments, barriers met so effortlessly translating into something beautiful and serene.
Just before the pandemic hit, Sarah attended a two-week artist residency at Joshua Tree in California, and if you follow her on Instagram, you would have seen a glimpse of her inspiration for the show, referencing the beautiful soft hues and rugged textures of the area, and as Sarah explains on The Aviary’s website, her latest body of work, is a commentary on being female:
“I have a deep relationship with my surroundings, often meditating on the pulse of the earth and the movements all around us. My abstract paintings facilitate a glimpse into a narrative. This body of work tells the story of female identity. They were born out of solo expedition and the unknown. They examine personal identity, wrapped up in feelings of adventure, isolation, joy, fear, and discovery. “
Sarah’s new body of work fits seemingly well into the rugged background of Joshua Tree, as does her home, which one can also imagine it situated there. Although based in the Mount Pleasant area of rainy Vancouver, her space exudes a lightness, with desert vibes from the palette chosen, wicker features, natural woods, collected baskets and of course surrounded by her beautiful art!
(Home product sources and information about Sarah’s new body of work and installation “A Story of a Girl” at The Aviary at the end of the post).
Let’s take a look!
“Some of the key pieces are my dining room table and bench that were made by my Dad. They are made from a maple tree from a family friend’s yard. The rug was also custom made for my by a local Vancouver company Raha Roho. I designed the rug and then the makers in Morocco weaved.”
I’m actually in the early stages of planning a kitchen remodel. Nothing crazy — just new tile, new oven and possibly some open shelving. I am also updating my coffee table and room chairs (ordered them in the spring and still waiting). Not sure when these updates will be done though. Probably not worth waiting on since I’ve told everyone that I’m not in a rush.
Sources
Couch – IKEA Soderhamn
Cushions (Pom Pom) – Pampa
All other wool Pillows and blankets – atelier St George
Custom Rug – Raha Roho
Bar stool chairs – Wayfair
Wall Shelving – IKEA
Pendant light – Simons
Mirror – West Elm
Various baskets – Mostly thrifted. Small ones were bought travelling in Cambodia and Indonesia, The Philosophy, and in the Southwest of the USA (Arizona and Utah)
About “Story of a Girl”
New work by Sarah Delaney
July 4 – 16, 2020
The Aviary
637 East 15th Avenue
Vancouver, BC
V5T 3K5 Canada
theaviary.ca
The work will be on display in the front windows at The Aviary between July 4-16, 2020. If you would like to experience Sarah’s work in person, appointments can be made by contacting the artist directly at [email protected].
The circumstances of working during an international pandemic set up a resource- scare scenario that led me to produce work that under other circumstances I might not have even considered.
Excerpt from “Story of a Girl” artist statement:
In this body of work, it was important for me to reference some key elements that are symbolically perceptive as historically female.
I am drawn to patchwork for many reasons. Similar to Cubism, I love the multi-faceted perspectives that you can read from a piece. Patchwork is mostly a woman-centrered culture, stemming from traditionally sewn quilts, associated with family and ritual. They are a metaphor for a labour of love, carefully pieced together to serve as a warm heirloom. They often tell their own story, sometimes made from fabric with personal importance.
Traditionally they made from scraps out of necessity as a way to save on material by the working-class. While working in the era of Covid-19, the opportunity to replenish supplies became rare and this idea felt especially relevant.
Excerpt from Sarah’s Artist Statement:
“My paintings are about nature and the environments that I have visited. In March 2020 that place was Joshua Tree, a national park in San Bernardino County, California. The citizens in the surrounding towns of Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree, and Twentynine Palms, comprising of eccentric Artisans, refuge-seeking Bohemians, and self-proclaimed Desert Rats, all help to cultivate the mystic appeal of the region.
Off the grid and unique in every way, the national park feels otherworldly. The park is recognized by its unusual landscape of slow growing Joshua Trees and peach coloured boulders. These rock formations were made by erosion over time, sculpting smooth, rounded contours. Flash floods washed away the protective ground, creating stacked rock piles.”
Links
Site: www.sarahdelaney.com
Shop: sarahdelaney.com/shop
Instagram: @sarahdelaneyart
Story of a Girl – sarahdelaney.com/story-of-a-girl
Along with her originals, Sarah sells prints through Duende Curation (local Vancouver company) and Loom + Kiln (both female owned).
Thank you Sarah for sharing your beautiful home and work with us. I know I’m inspired to switch out all of my books on my bookshelf to baskets, and of course swooning to own a painting one day.
All photos courtesy of Sarah Delaney.
