When we imagine a great cultural exhibition, rarely does our mind transport us to a resort art gallery, but Post Gallery is no ordinary gallery, nor is Post Ranch Inn an ordinary resort. The Post Gallery which is situated near the center of the 100 acre property that is Post Ranch Inn is an exciting cultural oasis in the no man’s land of Big Sur, California. Post Ranch, seated prominently on a ridge that is 2,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean enjoys the surrounding of nature’s bounty. The Post Gallery’s Director, Trevor Martin describes the environment of his gallery as being “surrounded by coniferous forests and meadows, with a multitude of resident species including deer, raptors, turkeys and the occasional bobcat.” The gallery has some rather interesting neighbors too, being just adjacent to the resort’s furniture workshop and a garden for Sierra Mar, Big Sur’s premiere dining destination.
Trevor Martin, previously of FIFTY24SF Gallery in San Francisco, takes a unifying approach of transcendence and love to his exhibitions at Post Gallery. Martin, whose passion is immediately apparent when describing the space, is quick to credit the Gallery and neighboring garden as the “soul, or spiritual center, of Post Ranch Inn.” The Gallery which is filled with unique fine jewelry, photography, and sculpture is curated through a collaborative approach that Martin shares with Post Ranch Inn Founder, Mike Freed, Buyer, Stacy Lauer, and local artist Trevor Meeker. Together the team selects what Martin calls “exquisitely hand-crafted products and objets d’art that are synonymous with the experience we create for our guests here at Post Ranch.”
To learn more about Trevor Martin and his unique approach to the Post Gallery, read our Q&A below.
Do you employ any particular philosophy when selecting new pieces?
“While we represent artists across a wide range of styles, universal criteria that we employ when selecting new pieces include: excellence in execution, unequivocally representative of the artist’s unique voice, and restraint. As far as exhibitions are concerned, we look for continuity, character development, rich storytelling, and a cohesive narrative that takes the viewer on a mini-journey within their experience here at Post Ranch.”
What special step do you take to ensure an exhibit, or piece truly connects with the environment at Big Sur?
“Our visionary founder, Mike Freed, laid the groundwork for what Post Ranch has become today back in the 80s. Having worked with renowned architect Mickey Muennig to create a unique design language throughout the property, we rely on the framework of the environment and buildings themselves to inform the artwork selected. Our goal is that each exhibit or piece be intrinsically connected to the original vision and current spirit of the environment at Post Ranch.”
With the reality of most resort galleries being rather mundane, to what specific element do you credit your unique inventiveness?
“We are lucky to have local artists and friends of Post Ranch who are incredibly creative individuals. We feel a responsibility to honor the incredible beauty, both natural and man-made, that surrounds us here, challenging us to select works of art befitting of this special place. One artist that exemplifies this is Trevor Meeker, who also happens to be the Curator of the entire property. He has worked as a fine artist locally for the last 20 years, creating collages of recycled metal, and producing truly incredible work. He creates vibrantly colorful, painstakingly crafted works of art from discarded metal that would otherwise have been melted down or ended up in a dump.”
One specific element that truly sparkles, is your collection of fine jewelry by artist Sasha Samuels. Can you tell us about some of your favorite pieces from the collection?
“My favorite thing about Sasha’s work is its connection to the artist, herself. I asked her one day, “How do you even do that?” To which she answered, “Just 40 years of hard work, is all.” I am humbled by the opportunity to represent an artist with the uncommon ability to master ancient techniques, such as Etruscan-style 22k gold granulation. Her expertise and artistry was recognized with “The Contemporary Etruscan Jewel” award from the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, located in Pontecagnano, Salerno, Italy.
The amazing thing about Sasha is that she has achieved an extremely high level of specialization while still managing to produce exceptionally well-executed work across a wide spectrum of styles, ranging from art nouveau, to art deco, to avant garde. Unlike many artists who tend to stick to one discipline, she is always challenging herself and seeking new inspiration; you never know what kind of work she’s going to surprise you with next. Her eye is unparalleled and her technique unrivaled.
I am particularly fond of the Tanzanite Wave Ring that features a superb trillion-cut tanzanite stone. The contrast of the deep violet with the 22-carat granulated gold bezel is scintillating. However, the Watermelon Tourmaline Shard Suite really takes the prize. Just the pure audacity required of someone to even consider attempting such a creation is hard to fathom. In this suite, Sasha has beautifully brought together a set of hand-fabricated, geometric, gold-linked earrings and matching bracelet with a jaw dropping shard necklace. The bracelet hooks into the necklace modularly to extend it if desired, and the cohesive design language throughout makes for a one-of-a-kind treasure. “Cosmic high-priestess” comes to mind when attempting to describe this beauty.”
In addition to jewelry and sculpture, the gallery also showcases black and white photography, with that said; can you walk us through your latest exhibit by Robert Knight?
“Robert is one of our most talented local artists who has a fine art photography gallery located in Carmel. Not only is he full of positivity and love for his craft, he’s truly a joy to work with. In the current exhibition entitled “Spiritus,” Robert takes us on a spiritual exploration of his journies to Bhutan and Myanmar during some of their more peaceful times. Robert’s artist statement says it best:”
“I see my work as opportunities in mindfulness. Each photograph is a meditation. The work on display is from journeys to Myanmar and Bhutan. The prints are celebrations of the people and icons of these countries, honoring their devotion to Buddhism. The prints are expressions of this connection and moments on the path to enlightenment.”
“I hope the photographs provide a peaceful emotional response when viewing them. For me they feel like an opportunity to take a deep breath and remember the importance of awareness and compassion.”
One piece that visitors find difficult not to be infatuated by, is a drawing of a dystopian scene of Paris, titled MORIAPOLIS by Octave Marsal and Theo De Gueltzl. How do you believe this specific piece fits into the collection at Post?
“Yes, these two young artists are on-fire at the moment, having recently completed some very impressive product collaborations with the French luxury designer, Hermés. We are truly lucky to have had the opportunity to collaborate with Theo and Octave on exhibiting this piece, entitled MORIAPOLIS, which is a “4 handed” pen & ink drawing (they happen to be ambidextrous) that took over a year to complete. This massive and mind-bendingly complex drawing fits squarely into our sustainability ethos which has been part of Post Ranch Inn since its inception. It’s a foreboding warning against global-warming, outlining the aftermath of a mysterious cataclysmic event in 2106 that left the human race with only fragments of nature, preserved within giant glass terraria. The inspiration for this piece came from the phantasmagorical novels of Thomas More and Yevgeny Zamyatin.”
What’s next for the Gallery?
“We are just finishing the installation around 20 large-scale bronze sculptures throughout the property by a group of Bay Area based artists including Jud Bergeron, Mars-1, Wayne Shaffer, Albert Dicruttalo and Grant Irish. The work ranges from cubic/geometric, to industrial, to wildly psychedelic, to dystopian hyper-futuristic. We can’t wait to share it with our guests our ongoing guided art tours , every Friday and Saturday at 1:30pm.
Where can we follow you?
IG @PostGalleryBigSur / Postranchinn.com
Images Courtesy of: The Extravagant & Post Ranch
