Page 87 - Forbes India (December 2015)

later in Cincinnati, 156 rooms inside (It resembles a moving field of grass.)
the once grand (and now grander) Themed exhibitions often showcase
Metropole Hotel. A conversation with work by well-known artists, such as
the couple’s friend Alice Walton led Cindy Sherman, Kara Walker and
to a third 21c in Bentonville, Arkansas, Chuck Close, and also feature dramatic
near Walton’s Crystal Bridges Museum pieces by lesser-known painters and
of American Art. That location broke sculptors. “I have found that in each
with convention and went into a of our cities there are wonderful
custom-built building. In March young artists,” Stites continues, “and
a hotel opened in Durham, North we work with them to either show
Carolina, 125 rooms in a 17-storey Art their work or work on our installation,
Deco tower (designed by the same which provides an opportunity to
architects who built the Empire State see great art that you might not
Building, which the hotel resembles). be exposed to in other cities.”
Within the next year two more Currently on display in Durham
21c hotels will open—in Lexington, is a collection of paintings, sculpture
Kentucky and Oklahoma City—and, and photography exploring how
by 2018, another three, in Kansas City, human perception can be swayed; in
Nashville and Indianapolis. Wilson Cincinnati, a Warhol-esque collection
and Brown’s desire for the hotels to of brightly coloured pop-culture
take their place as a city’s cultural portraits; and in Louisville, an
centre has kept their horizons limited exhibition meditating on how humans
(and away from megalopolises such Living large: (Top) Galleries are free interact with the environment. It
as New York and Los Angeles). to the public; (above) Serkan Özkaya’s includes a disturbing painting—created
gold ‘David’ in Louisville
Unlike most boutique chains, 21c by Louisville artist Grant Hayunga
hotels do not all look the same, but was doing a burnt carrot salad. No after peyote-fueled visions—of what
they share the same posh details one had ever heard of a ramp.”) appears to be a horse-headed woman
and playful spirit—from gourmet Look up from your meal in a 21c masturbating and streaked in blood.
chocolates on pillows and rubber restaurant, as I did from a dish of bison All of the work, naturally, is left up to
duckies in the showers to the meatballs (from a herd on Wilson’s personal interpretation. “I thought it
trademark flock of penguin statues in property), and you’ll find that the was a man,” Wilson says, shrugging,
each location (moved constantly by museum part of the stay has already when asked about the equine shape.
guests and staff). And fine dining is a started. The exhibitions stretch across Across the gallery, he spots a
hallmark, with menus pushing diners the entire hotel. “The art is integrated mother and child posing for a picture.
to expand their palates beyond local into everything we do,” says Alice Gray “Is that a selfie stick?” Wilson
fare. (“No one was serving octopus Stites, the firm’s chief curator. “You asks. A quick glance confirms—yes,
in Louisville before us,” Wilson says know, even the stairwell to the spa in a selfie stick. “Good. I like that.
proudly. “No one [in Cincinnati] Cincinnati is an artist’s installation.” They’re getting close to the art.”

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