One of the most fascinating aspects of sustainability that I have covered over the years is the convergence of the arts—oftentimes local arts—with hotel design and the guest experience. Look up “artist” on the Green Lodging News website and you will find more than 70 articles.
One of the most interesting art hotels to open recently is Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel in Milwaukee. Drawing inspiration from Saint Catherine, the patron saint of artists, Saint Kate is among the first hotels in the nation to broadly celebrate arts in its many forms—from painting and sculpture to dance and drama.
Upon entering the hotel, guests are welcomed by a life-sized cast bronze Deborah Butterfield horse sculpture, “Big Piney.” Next, a large lithograph by renowned figurative painter Alex Katz sets the tone at check in, and throughout the first floor guests can find works by Paul Druecke, Terry Winters, Michelle Grabner, John Riepenhoff, Judy Ledgerwood, Damien Hirst, Candida Höfer, Sky Hopinka, Beth Lipman and Mickalene Thomas. There are many pieces of art on the hotel’s other floors as well.
Diversity of Arts Community Represented
Each floor reflects a form of art—photography, industrial design, painting, mixed media, music, printmaking, illustration and performance—and celebrates the diversity of Milwaukee’s growing artistic community. Photographs of the hands of the hotel’s construction team indicate each floor number in American Sign Language, evidencing authorship of the space and proof positive of their creative roles.
In the lobby of the hotel is an art gallery established by the Museum of Wisconsin Art. The 1,700 square foot gallery features its inaugural exhibition, titled Downtown, which considers the vibrant historic traditions of Milwaukee’s core as well as the social realities that characterize its urban environment. The exhibition includes work by 10 artists who live and/or work in Milwaukee.
In addition to the visual arts, every day at Saint Kate is alive with dance, comedic, vocal, film and dramatic works.
Saint Kate partnered with local artists Lon Michels, John Grant, Rosemary Ollison, Reed Skocz and Cory Zimmermann to design and create five fully immersive guestrooms called the “Canvas Rooms” that allow visitors to literally sleep surrounded by art. Proceeds from each stay in the Canvas Rooms benefit five arts organizations.
Watch for additional coverage of Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel on Green Lodging News.
