JAMES COMPANY CONTEMPORARY ART PROJECTS PORTFOLIO

James Company Contemporary Art Projects curated and assembled a custom art collection for The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel. This historic Queen Anne building in lower Manhattan, designed by James Farnsworth in 1881, was one of Manhattan's first skyscrapers and features 287 rooms, including 45 suites, two iconic "turrets" with private rooftop terraces, a stunning 9 story atrium and two restaurants by Tom Colicchio and Keith McNally.

The art program theme was inspired by the history of the building and site, and created to add a sophisticated layer of depth and magic to this already magical landmarked property. There are a total of 62 artworks in all media by 22 artists, most from the lower Manhattan area, and 3 site-specific commissions that explore different aspects of the hotel such as its unique literary history and its location near City Park Hall and the East River.

We researched and designed the curatorial theme for the art collection, managed the art budget, selected artists and artworks for all guest rooms, pre- function rooms and public spaces, created the contracts for the commissioned artworks on behalf of ownership, negotiated licensing agreements with the artists for the guest room artwork, oversaw and managed all aspects of the installation and site-specific commissions, and wrote all copy on the art for press releases, printed brochures and hotel merchandise, coordinated partnerships with relevant arts organizations, and mounted special pop-up exhibitions.

The award winning property and art collection have been widely covered online and print outlets including Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Architectural Digest, Vogue, W Magazine, Smart Traveler, Business Insider, Town&County, Gothamist, Hospitality Design and many more. The collection was awarded Top 100 Finalist for CODAawards.

The collection features three original commissioned site-specific artworks for the Lobby, Concierge Area and Bar Room. A selection of exclusively licensed images by leading contemporary artists for the guest rooms, seating areas and suites. Original art was sourced for both of the hotel’s bespoke Turret Suites. We conceived, curated and managed the collection and public art program for Jumeirah Essex House, New York (now a JW Marriott Hotel), a 509 room historic midtown hotel that underwent a 90 million dollar renovation in 2006.

We managed the art budget, all art acquisitions, technical services and vendors, negotiated all art sales with dealers and artists, created relevant RFPs, licensing and agreements on behalf of ownership for the artists work, and terms of use and engagement. Managed and oversaw the installation design, provided all copy for the art program and coordinated publicity with marketing departments.

The program grew as we developed an artist-in-residence program and commissioned new artwork by Eve Sussman, ArandaLasch, Atta Kim, Mark Innerst and others including photography, painting, sculpture, film and website imagery; curated rotating on-site exhibitions; created cultural and institutional museum partnerships; conceived, researched and curated a 98 piece exhibition on permanent display of the history of Central Park with MagnumPhotos and The Museum of The City of New York; and much more. Projects with Jumeirah Emirates Towers and Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai followed.

The first hotel art program of its kind in New York, it became the basis for a global art platform designed for the luxury hotel company Jumeirah Group and was expanded out to its international chain of hotels. This project and the art program were very widely covered in domestic and international press including the creation of a white paper commissioned by The Center for Hospitality Research at Cornell School for Hospitality.

Katherine Gass Stowe, contracted as the Jumeirah Global Curator, managed the expanded the programming across the hotel group worldwide, which was branded Culturally Connected. The platform offered best practices and a working template for how to successfully collaborate with the art institutions and businesses, and support local cultural communities where the brand had properties. She implemented the platform and trained hotel managers and staff, gave art tours and press interviews on the platform, and wrote all marketing materials related to arts and culture for the Group. She also initiated the annual Jumeirah Group Arts and Cultural Award, announced in at the annual Luxury Briefing Gala, to recognize luxury brands that support artists and non- profit art institutions in innovative ways.

. Lobby views of site-specific commissioned artwork and exhibitions that connect thematically to Manhattan’s majestic Central Park. Artist-in-residence projects featuring architectural designers ArandaLasch and National Geographic photographer Alison Wright, among many others. 8 THE LUXURY BRIEFING AWARDS 2011 THE LUXURY BRIEFING AWARDS 2011 9 Jumeirah Group

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As one of the leading luxury hospitality companies in the world, generate goodwill and make our guests’ time with us truly Jumeirah Group believes that discovering new environments memorable. Our Artist-in-Residence programmes, special through travel and fellowship refreshes the spirit, expands ideas exhibitions and performances, international art fair and elevates the quality of our experiences. This understanding sponsorships, curator-led collection tours and inter-hotel is the basis of Jumeirah’s Stay Different™ promise to our collaborations create fresh opportunities for artists to show guests. Whether it be through our growing portfolio of 5-star their work in exciting and unusual contexts, and allow us to 13 14 hotels, our lifestyle restaurants or other related business demonstrate our cultural engagement in unique ways. extensions, Jumeirah is committed to making our guests’ The Jumeirah Group Arts and Culture Award pays tribute to experiences exceptional by sparking their curiosity and the advancement of artistic practice through innovative creative engaging with their own individual tastes and interests. collaborations in the business arena that support community. Jumeirah Group’s Art and Culture Platform reflects our As a proud sponsor of the 2011 Luxury Briefing Awards, we are on-going commitment to promoting outstanding artists and to pleased to have the opportunity to initiate this award and to the importance of innovative expression. By forging links with encourage more wide spread support of artists and artistic our creative communities, we build business opportunities, innovations among other leading international enterprises.

Key to artists whose work has been commissioned by Jumeirah: 10 Mark Innerst Artist-in-Residence 2006, Jumeirah Essex House, New York (commissioned painting) 1 Dirk Karsten Artist-in-Residence 2009 Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts, Dubai, London, New York (commissioned photography for Jumeirah.com) | 2 & 8 George Steinmetz 11 Aranda\Lasch Artists-in-Residence 2011, Jumeirah Essex House, New York (commissioned sculpture installation) Artist-in-Residence 2009, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai (exhibition of photographs) | 3-5 Alison Wright Artist-in-Residence 2010, Jumeirah Essex House, New York 12 Hartwig Ebersbach Artist-in-Residence 2010, Jumeirah , (commissioned paintings) (exhibition of photographs) | 6 Paula Hayes Artist-in-Residence 2009, Jumeirah Essex House, New York (exhibition of sculptures) | 7 Neji Dahmani Puppeteer-in- 13 Eve Sussman/Simon Lee Artists-in-Residence 2008, Jumeirah Essex House, New York (commissioned 10-minute film) Residence 2011, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai (commissioned puppets) | 9 Atta Kim Artist-in-Residence 2006, Jumeirah Essex House, New York (commissioned photography) 14 Kashta Gallery Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai

An excerpt from Luxury Briefing Awards catalogue announcing Jumeirah’s Culturally Connected platform and the Jumeirah Group Arts and Culture Award. JUMEIRAH BEACH HOTEL, DUBAI JUMEIRAH EMIRATES TOWERS, DUBAI We are the lead art consultant and contracted art curatorial firm for New York Metropolitan and Tri- State Region. We curate, manage and acquire for the contemporary art collection on an on-going basis. Working with the corporate art team, we research, prepare and present proposals to senior executives; set and manage art budgets; research, recommend and manage art acquisitions; work with design teams overseeing installation design; oversee and coordinate all technical services and vendors related to the installations; coordinate with project managers and accounts payable; and negotiate with artists and art dealers of behalf of the bank. Headquartered in Bank of America Tower, , a state-of-the-art platinum LEED certified 58 story 2.1 million square foot building by Cook + Fox Architects, we conceived and developed the curatorial theme and acquisition strategy for the collection for this building that centered on the natural, built and social environment and inaugural exhibition for the Bank of America Gallery at One Bryant Park.

THE SOLACE OF AMNESIA CURATED BY KATHERINE GASS STOWE AND ALEXIS ROCKMAN

THE HALL FOUNDATION, VERMONT A group exhibition curated by American artist Alexis Rockman and curator Katherine Gass Stowe about the psychological effects of climate change at The Hall Foundation, Reading, Vermont. Approximately twenty-five artists artists including Damien Hirst, Katherine Bradford, Robert Rauschenberg, and many more, represented in The Solace of Amnesia, and selected from the Hall and Hall Art Foundation private collections. As author, environmentalist and activist Bill McKibben has said about our collective inability to do anything about it : “There is a tendency at every important but difficult crossroad to pretend it’s not really there.” (The End of Nature, 1989). The selected works explore some of the ecological, socio-political and psychological aspects of life in our world today. UNFOLD ART XCHANGE, DUBAI, UAE

As part of a conference on art in the built environment, Katherine Gass Stowe moderated a day of panels on the Role of Art in Guest Experience and Brand Marketing for Luxury and Lifestyle Hospitality. Panelists included Steve Wilson, Founder 21C Museum Hotels, USA; Tarissa Tiberti, Executive Director, Arts & Culture MGM Resorts, USA; Paul Bruce-Brand, General Manager, Ellerman House, Cape Town South Africa; Candace D’Cruz, VP Luxury Brand Marketing & Management, Marriott International, Middle East & Africa, among others. THANK YOU!

We can’t wait to hear from you! [email protected] www.jamescoart.com