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Art & Knickknacks Make Memories
& Start Conversations
By Rick
Kelsey, Special to the Star-Telegram
Photos
by Kim Grubbs
Glass
by Vetro Art Glass
Dictionaries
define knickknacks as small ornamental articles, trinkets or trivial
things.
Ornamental? Definitely! Trivial? Hardly, say those who deal
in knickknacks and other decorative and art objects.
Sarah Garrett of The Artful Hand regards knickknacks not only
as decorations for home and work but also as memory makers.
"They're things that people like to look at, and they get a little
warm fuzzy from them. And they like to have them around because
they are a souvenir or something that helps them remember an
experience. Or it's a gift from someone, and there is usually some kind of
a memory attached," she said.
Shannon
Shumate, gallery manager of Vetro Art Glass, wholeheartedly agrees
and added that knickknacks serve as great conversation
pieces.
"They'll
kind of catch the person's eye, and they'll definitely be a nice
conversation starter. Knickknacks are a great way to strike up
a conversation and talk about something," Shumate
said.
And what kind of knickknack will do all that? Well, pointing
out ideal knickknacks is like classifying the best books
in a library.
There are all kinds! When people visit The Artful Hand
looking for knickknacks, Garrett shows them glass boxes
with painted
patterns, ceramic sculpted bobble heads or other pieces.
Her personal favorites
are small compressed graphite sculptures that you can use
as decorations and/or writing and drawing instruments.
"I
would ask what is your style like? Do you like modern? Do you
like whimsical? Do you want something to make you go
`Ooohh, isn't that sweet!' or `Ooohh, isn't that funny!"' she
said.
According to Shumate, clients can even commission a piece
if they can't find anything they like.
"If a client has a design that they are thinking about, we will
work with them, work with their color schemes and
what they're trying to accomplish for the room and for the certain area that
they're trying to decorate," Shumate said. "Some
people are looking for a certain something and they might
say, `Oh I like
that shape but I'd like it in this color.' Then with
a consultation with the glass blowers, they'll get it
going and do a test piece
and work from there."
And what's the best way to use knickknacks? Anything
goes! Don't think that you have to match everything,
follow the
latest style
or fad trumpeted in current magazines, or get the
new and popular product.
"Things that you like will work together because you like them,
not because somebody tells you it is the right
color. It's your space, and you should make it what you want as opposed to working
on what somebody else thinks you ought to have.
It has to speak
to you. Get what you like," Garrett said.
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