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The Faux Finisher - Summer 2002 Article

International Decorative Artists Share Their Talent

Nicola and Leslie Vigini and the staff of Vigini Studios, Inc. hosted the seventh annual gathering of international decorative artists, known as The Salon, in beautiful San Antonio, Texas, May 10th-12th. Salon 2002 was dedicated to the memory of Salon member Lars Grano. Patrick Kerwin painted a memorial tribute in Lars' style. Ninety-one decorative artists from 12 countries met in this historic south Texas town for fellowship, sharing and camaraderie.

The Salon stimulates communication between members from different countries by offering ongoing demonstrations and lectures throughout the three-day event. One of the principal goals of The Salon is to encourage gifted painters and craftspeople to aspire to integrity, commitment and discipline in performance of our ancient art form. Members' work was exhibited to the public in the Russell Hill Rogers Gallery at the Southwest School of Art and Craft. The U.S. contingent exhibiting this year made a strong impression with traditional decorative arts, together with innovative textural, verre églomisé, stenciling and collage techniques. Concurrent public demonstrations helped to bring awareness and create interest in the craft, while inspiring and expanding the knowledge of the viewer.

The International Conference of Decorative Painters is an invitation-only gathering of dedicated decorative painters from around the world, who come together to display their work and discuss old and new techniques, products and information. Members are decorative artists from respected schools or studios that have a historical background as decorative painters and are highly respected among their peers. Salon days are a time for these artisans, teachers and students to learn, participate, demonstrate and communicate on a casual basis. Enduring friendships are formed, brotherly and without rancor or competition. The members complete a community project every year.

The public events of this year’s Salon were widely attended by decorative painters from across North America.  It was a rare opportunity for these decorative painters to view the quality and profound beauty of the work of master decorative painters from other countries.  Salon visitors were fortunate to have French master Yannick Guegan and Swedish master Benny Karlsson painting a grand wood and marble panel throughout the public event.  Another treat was the American icon, Ina Brosseau Marx, who lectured on her restoration projects and varied career.  Ina received a Lifetime Achievement Award this year for her distinguished service to the art of decorative painting.

On Saturday morning, a young boy, Eddie Olea, approached Yannick and held out a single sheet of paper he did not speak French and Yannick did not speak English. Yet Yannick stopped painting, hugged the boy and signed the paper. The boy's father and uncle had driven him from Austin just to meet his hero. They are decorative painters, and young Eddie wants to follow their footsteps. It was a moment that exemplified the true spirit of The Salon.

The private demonstrations, held Vigini Studios, were open to Salon members and their select students.  Attendees could meet the artists and watch them work on such traditional techniques as mural, trompe l’oeil, gilding, scagliola, fresco, woodgraining, faux marble and calligraphy.

THE HISTORY OF THE SALON

The Salon traces its beginnings to the early 1990’s when a modest international assemblage too place in Kuurne, Belgium.  It was initiated by Alfred Marrecau, a noted grand master, and was sponsored by the Belgium Independent Painters Society. In March 1996, Yannick Guegan rekindled the concept of an international gathering by inviting the leaders of the decorative arts world to visit his studio and school in Quimiac, France. This gathering was considered to be a celebration of decorative art. The 86-year-old Alfred Marrecau attended the event and, of course, was delighted to see his idea flourishing and progressing. 

In 1997, Joris Arts and J . Berghuis Jr. desired to continue the gathering and hosted, with help of the Dutch Employers Union (FOSAG), the gathering in Utrecht, The Netherlands. From that date, these professional gatherings had a name: "The Salon."

THE SALON MANIFESTO

Decorative painting has been a form of visual communication from the beginning of mankind. Through- out the ages, it has proved its power and service to societies, but has always had an affiliation to buildings and the environment. Decorators are professionals in every sense of the word and offer a service and commitment to the client within a timescale and to a contract. The decorative painter is not only highly skilled in a wide range of techniques but also in aesthetics, the use of colour and the knowledge of surface coatings and their substrates. This diversity of knowledge and skills combine to produce craftspeople who are independent and individual in their own right.

Styles are a reflection of the culture to which they belong and their importance in society.

The quality of craftsmanship is directly related to the organization and structure of education and industrial training within society. Most techniques in the craft of decorative painting have been derived from ancient masters using materials originated from medieval alchemy. Many are described in books and writings, which can now be easily produced for the benefit of serious painters who are able to continue the traditions of Van der Burg, Logelain, Kershaw, Taylor, Sutherland, Desaint, Petit Bisaux, Souris, Violet le Duc and even modern decorators aspire to the qualities of their forebears.

Salon 2003 will be in Bruges, Belgium. If you missed The Salon in San Antonio, you will have another chance to visit one when it returns to the United States in 2005. You may view photos of past Salons on the Web at www.salonforever.com.

Editor’s Note:  Some information contained in this article was obtained from the Web site www.salonforever.com. Look for more Salon photos of demonstrations and a description of the lectures and presentations in the Fall issue of The Faux Finisher.