Eaton Fine Art (EFA), a full-service art consultancy firm based in Austin, is showcasing its art curation for the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa, an iconic Forbes Five-Star, AAA Five Diamond resort in Carlsbad, CA, that reopened its doors in October 2020 following an extensive renovation. This spa and golf resort getaway offers 327 newly redesigned guestrooms and suites with world-class recreation and relaxation amid 200 lush acres of natural beauty overlooking the Batiquitos Lagoon, one of the few remaining tidal wetlands on the Southern California coast.
California-based architectural firm WATG and its interior design studio, Wimberly Interiors, reimagined this estate-style resort with a transformative design, fit for every element of the celebrated property. The design team, spearheaded by Senior Associate Erin Nichols, drew inspiration from the resort’s stunning natural landscape—verdant rolling hills and valleys, lagoons, lush trails, an abundance of wildlife and breathtaking ocean views— for the hotel, including its lobby experience, outdoor spaces, restaurants and bars, guestrooms, grand ballroom and meeting space.
A key component of the design was the curation of artwork showcased throughout the property that speaks to the resort’s design. Wimberly Interiors collaborated with Austin-based art consulting firm Eaton Fine Art to curate an art collection that further connects guests to nature and immerses them into the cultural heritage of the location. Selected artists are from Carlsbad, Oceanside, San Diego, Los Angeles, as well as other parts of California and across the nation.
Led by Gwendolyn Mesa, director, projects, Eaton Fine Art was tasked with assembling a modern art collection for the resort’s courtyard, guestrooms, lobby, specialty restaurant and meeting and event spaces.
“[The artists’] work provides a sense of the beauty that drew inspiration from the resort’s stunning natural landscape,” Mesa said. “For instance, the guestrooms have a custom sculpture over the headboard that evokes the birds from the local Batiquitos Lagoon. There are numerous sculptures and paintings throughout the property which, also, provide the calming sense of water as well as tranquil beauty of blooming plants or birds in flight.”
When curating the art program for the Park Hyatt Aviara, the Eaton Fine Art team wanted each piece to have a subtle yet thoughtful connection to the resort’s surroundings and its local birds and wildlife.
“It is important for the curated art collection to provide a visual relationship with nature, especially for a resort which is surrounded by so much natural beauty which guests find at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa,” said Terry Eaton, president/chief curator, Eaton Fine Art. “Biophilic design elements include the use of natural materials and forms as well as views that capitalize on the surrounding environment. Artwork also reflects that nature.”
The collaboration between Wimberly Interiors and Eaton Fine Art led to the creation of modern, abstract bronze wall art for each guestroom, which abstractly references the stately Great Blue Heron soaring in flight. This modern artwork, which showcases sophisticated references to the soft curvatures of this majestic bird, along with paintings that replicate the pattern of native plants from the lagoon in sophisticated brushstrokes, creates an authentic escape from everyday life.
“Park Hyatt Aviara Resort has many native California plants, blooming flowers and large trees, as well as the Batiquitos Lagoon. We wanted to bring those features into the buildings with a mindful, curated art collection,” Eaton said.
Eaton Fine Art collaborated with a number of California-based artists to curate noteworthy art pieces that not only create a warm and welcoming atmosphere throughout the public spaces, but give guests the opportunity to further explore the beauty of the surrounding lagoon. Some pieces showcase abstracted views of rippling and flowing water, while others reference the elegant curve of a wading bird’s neck or the suggestion of its wing as it takes flight. A variety of media and texture are included in the curated program, to add interest and sophistication to the collection.
“The connection to nature found with the three-dimensional and two-dimensional art curated throughout the property piques guest interest and encourages travelers to enjoy the outdoor beauty,” Eaton said. “Biophilic-inspired art also enhances hotel employees’ understanding of how art can connect to the natural beauty surrounding their property.”
A few highlights include a metallic mesh wall sculpture, located behind the concierge desk in the lobby, that greets visitors with unique composition and forms that reference drops of water and lily pads—commonly seen in the nearby lagoon. Situated opposite to the lobby reception and concierge is the art gallery, home to a large-scale commissioned painting by a local artist that showcases brushstrokes of colors associated with the lagoon such as blue, turquoise, and sand. Another highlight in the public area includes a free-standing sculpture, situated at the entry to the ballrooms and meeting spaces. Made of dark walnut wood, the sculpture unexpectedly dons the shape and curvature of a Great Blue Heron’s wing, soaring seven-ft. high on a stone plinth.
Despite the numerous challenges associated with the global pandemic in 2020, Eaton Fine Art crafted solutions that ensured the delivery of the art pieces was timely and followed proper safety measures. The team collaborated closely with the selected artists and artisans to ensure safe delivery for the shipment of art materials and supplies for the public spaces—prior to the anticipated opening date.
The carefully curated artwork achieves a refined, elevated and casually elegant aesthetic in the guestrooms and public spaces, something that property owner Xenia Hotels & Resorts Inc., wanted for the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa. The result is an updated resort with a dramatically modernized, elegant design with a distinctly residential-like experience for guests to enjoy.
