stick within the vernacular architecture of the area,” she says. “We didn’t want to stick out like a sore thumb, we wanted to fit in.” She shares the story of a particular series of objects d’art found throughout the hotel, casually placed in unlikely spots as small sculptures: “I was running and inspired by the bootjacks of palm trees,” she says, referring to the leaf bases left on the trunk of native Sabal Palm trees after a frond dies and falls. Their name stems from their “Y” shape that is reminiscent of devices used to help remove feet from boots. “They provide an organic shelter for the tree and I always said I wanted the hotel to be an organic shelter for our guests — to be ever-changing.” Julie started gathering bootjacks and asking artists to paint them when they visit. The art inside and outside of Hotel Palms is an artist series that Greg and Julie integrate into the hotel’s style seamlessly. When the hotel opened, there was no art on the walls. “We both believe that art is something you layer and something that happens more organically over time,” says Julie. The first pieces of art hung in the rooms were photos by Gunner Hughes, a New York City-based photographer and Flagler College graduate known for moody, uniquely-cropped landscape and nature photos, many focusing on surf and sand. “We found as we got more into art how rich a resource Flagler’s art program has been,” says Greg, pointing out two more artists displayed in the hotel who are Flagler graduates: artist and Surf Shacks author, Matt Titone, whose prints hang in the largest suite, and Jason Woodside, a muralist who painted the chimney and an in-room fireplace. While the 16 JULY | AUGUST 2019 25th Anniversary Schwartzenbergers like to let the artists create in their signature styles, unencumbered, Woodside was open to collaborating with Julie for the fireplace, since her aesthetic is more calm and muted than the palette of Woodside (seen in the saturated color of the chimney outside, which Greg says is “like a Lego”). “He softened his palette for the room,” says Julie. “It was nice to collaborate with him in making it all feel cohesive with the interiors.” More in-room pieces of art include edgy lifestyle photos by Los Angeles-based photographer Neave Bozorgi, and laser-etched skateboard decks by Mark Oblow, a decades-long fixture on the national surf/skate scene. Along with the bootjacks, these pieces are displayed sparsely, in a way that calls attention but evokes an overall sense of uncluttered expansiveness; a vibe of possibility, at a slow pace. Enhancing this breeziness is thoughtful spatial planning and simple furniture with clean lines, reclaimed wood headboards, and concrete floors. “In general, I want people to just pause and be in the present moment,” says Julie. “I think if you can edit your design and present things in a calm and uncluttered way it’s easy for people to receive and grow in themselves.” Julie also urges serenity inside the courtyard, which is achieved in impressive balance amongst wall and fireplace murals, an art form that Greg is passionate about. “I love street art, I love stuff that scales, love big walls,” he says. “I have a different design sense than Julie,” he adds. “She coaches me in embracing negative, blank spaces. When I see negative space I want to fill it.” There are multiple murals on the exterior of Hotel Palms, each created
Arbus Magazine July/August 2019: Page 16
