Waterstone walls offer a feast of color and art for every taste

Enter the lobby at Waterstone at Wellesley and you’ll be drawn towards four handmade silk tapestries by Tim Harding. The vibrant display of textures and color are one beautiful sampling of the widely varied collection of styles and mediums displayed throughout the property.

Choosing the art for a 207,742-square-foot luxury senior living community was an exciting proposition, says Waterstone art coordinator Mary Dawley, owner of Newton-based Chestnut Design. In fact, she said Ted Tye, managing partner with National Development, felt it could make or break the project.

“With a huge investment in architecture and furniture, the art had to be as good and it had to complement everything else.  It really had to be up to par with the architecture and interiors.”

And she had to meet her budget.

Dawley teamed up with Anne Webb-Johnson, principal at Interior Design Consultants, to find art that complemented a color palette, details and furnishings influenced by the celebrated 20^th century architect Frank Lloyd Wright and the Arts & Craft style.

Dawley said she also chose her selections knowing that the average Waterstone resident would be a sophisticated, well-travelled person, with knowledge of fine art. She says it meant choosing a wide range of artistic styles and mediums.  “It couldn’t be all landscapes, or all Impressionists. It had to be a mix to make it interesting.”

One of the most unique, original pieces at Waterstone is a 6’ x 3’ collage by installation artist Nadya Volicer.  The work incorporates 50 distinctive glazed orange bricks from the Grossman’s hardware store that previously stood at this location.

About 50 of the pieces are expert reproductions from early 20^th century artists, including John Singer Sargent, Marsden Hartley, Edward Hopper and Maurice Prendergast, to name a few. Dawley says she selected pieces she thought would be known to and appreciated by residents.  A digital technique known as Giclee makes it possible to print superior reproductions on canvas, at a reasonable cost, she explained.

Dawley also chose to honor local historical places and events with a special selection of black and white framed photos. And there is plenty of history to celebrate. Wellesely at Waterstone is built on the very spot where Alexander Graham Bell’s home once stood.

There are 240 pieces altogether. Dawley says she’s pleased with the final display. “It turned out beautifully, a good range of different types of art, colors, textures and frames. There is nothing cookie cutter about this art.”