The Collectors: Paula Lemme
Owner of Elsewhere Salon
How would you describe your art collection?
It has a spacey, trippy, creepy vibe. I would say it’s eclectic.
How do you choose pieces to add?
I look at something, and I fall in love. It’ll strike me in a certain way. It speaks to me.
What’s your favorite piece?
It was something I inherited – my great grandmother’s Maxfield Parrish print. It’s quite old and awesome.
What was your first piece?
It’s a David Stoupakis piece (framed piece, right of window.) It’s kind of creepy. It’s called “Happiness,” which is interesting consider the subject matter. It’s of this young girl with pale skin and white hair. There’s a swamp scene in the background. There’s Jesus’ head in a birdcage the upper right corner. I bought it at a tattoo convention in Woodstock, New York.
What made you buy it?
It was the color of the dress that drew me. The intensity of the red drew me in. I looked at it all weekend … On the last day of on the convention, I said to myself, 'Before I leave I’ll say goodbye.' I joked with the artist saying, 'It’s a shame you don’t take credit cards.' They did. I never regret it.
Do you have any favorite local artists?
Wendy Kowalski and Carolyn Suzanne. Many pieces in my collection are from local artists.
LOCAL ARTIST HIGHLIGHTS:
1. original painting by Carolyn Suzanne Colby
2. "Getting in touch with my feminine side" original sculpture by Creations by Justine
3. original painting by Gabriel Lehman
4. print by Wendy Kowalski
5. painting by Tatum Longworth, Lemme’s stepdaughter
6. “Elysium” original painting by Kate Sinclair
7. original painting by Jason Jones
8. original quilt by Barbara Lemme, Lemme’s mother
Click Here to read about the art collections Terry Espy.
Click Here to read about the art collections of Justine Ferreri.
Click here for more photography by Katherine Clark.
