I’ve been asked recently, if I could live in any time period, when would I choose to go back to?
A strange question, I know, and one that I’m sure many others would ponder for a moment, perhaps tossing up between the decades, trying to come to a definitive decision.
My answer was immediate. The 1920’s, without a doubt.
It may seem like an odd response to you, to choose, of all the fascinating times of days gone by, the 20s as a preference. But for me, you see, this particular decade resonates. I feel like it speaks to me. With its fashion, its décor and in particular, it’s artwork.
When I began to restore the Mountain Whispers property, The Gatsby, I knew immediately how it was going to look. It was all going to shine in the finer details. Taking inspiration from my favourite decade, from its visually astounding art deco period and its love of all things beautiful, I knew it would not be long before my vision became a reality – and a reality that I now get to share with our wonderful guests.
The Gatsby is a classic of its era; its luxurious muted hues and its subtle hints of days gone by in the detailed furnishings within. The linen, the ornaments, the framed paintings – they have all taken inspiration from a time when people saw beauty in just about everything. Ours guests are often left breathless, immersing themselves in the time period for the duration of their stay.
The Gatsby fills my heart with joy, and on a recent mission to find her an illuminating new piece of art to adorn her walls, I discovered Blue Mountains’ local artist – Tanya Loviz.
Tanya is held in high regard in the mountains – her work is often shown in Galleries across the State. She has also recently opened a brand new gallery in Warrimoo, only 40 minutes from Katoomba. Tanya’s pieces are stunning, they make you smile, and they take you to an era that we thought was long gone. Celebrating many topics, including our beloved landscape as well as the flaws of the female form, Tanya brings cheekiness and fun to highlight what others may choose to hide. She speaks through the paint, bringing to life characters who feel like they once could have danced across a stage. Tanya’s paintings are luminescent, in every sense of the word and for me, they entice you to wonder, to re-live, and to immerse yourself in the era, just as The Gatsby does.
Blanketed By Nature ~ by Tanya Loviz
Tanya’s personality certainly matches her favourite art techniques, and the self-declared CHEEKism founder freely says “I am the artist of cheeky love. Not the soppy, love-song type, but the kind that takes a firm hold of you and wraps its arms around the “whole” human experience. It’s the kind of love that finds the good in the so called “bad” – the “naughty” – which so often is the most fun.”
So whether you are on the lookout for something that makes you smile, both inside and out, if you are looking to recreate the world of yesteryear, or whether you are simply wondering which era you would return to, perhaps you’ll find all the answers you need at both The Gatsby, and in Tanya Loviz.
