Arts & Entertainment The Grand Bohemian, Orlando Original Art at High-End Hotels Walk into the Casa Monica Hotel in St. Augustine and the lobby’s ornate frescos, fountains and chandeliers make you feel like you’ve arrived at the fi nest hotel in Morocco. The property features a gallery of works curated by hotelier Richard C. Kessler that include original and rare pieces, ranging from oil paintings and bronze sculptures to contemporary jewelry from international and local talents. The Grand Bohemian and Castle hotels in Orlando and the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Celebration are other Kessler hotels with galleries and noteworthy art. “Art is a great way for people to travel in their mind, to alter their perspective and become inspired—it’s an immediate mood enhancer,” says Susan Smey, corporate director of retail for the Kessler Collection. “Our goal is to create unique spaces that our guests can kick back and enjoy.” sculptures and glasswork by Florida artists including Christopher Still, Carrie Jadus, Duncan McClellan and Arnold Ruiz. The collaborative installations include Clear • Water, a fountain evoking a sunset and egrets in fl ight, and Ascent, a 3-D glass and metal sculpture representing the changing colors of waves. Grand Art in Small Spaces You may feel as if you’ve stepped into an upscale modern art gallery, but after checking into the 12-room Royal Blues Hotel in Deerfi eld Beach, you’ll realize the boutique inn serves double duty in showcasing owner Edward Walson’s personal collection. Also a Hollywood producer and director, Walson tapped into his creative community and found several expressive photographers and painters to introduce at his hotel property. There are typically 25 works on display, from rock ‘n’ roll celebrity photos by Brian Hamill to abstract canvases by Lorelei Linklater, daughter of director Richard Linklater. Bringing the Outside In Several hotels commission art specifi cally for their spaces. The new Opal Sands Resort on Clearwater Beach showcases Florida’s great outdoors with original paintings, Casa Monica Hotel, St. Augustine 58 4 VISITFLORIDA.com PHOTOS: THE KESSLER COLLECTION
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