Eve on Adams, a new rooftop destination at the DoubleTree by Hilton in downtown Tallahassee, FL, has added a unique paper art installation by fashion and site-specific artists Paper-Cut-Project. The 10-ft. paper wall sculpture is on permanent view during business hours at the 17th-floor venue.
“I spent several hours walking around, gazing and trying to imagine how we would dress the walls in a way to complement the work of the architect,” said Emily Steiner, interior designer, Steiner Group. “A local muralist painted a scene depicting Adam and Eve in the garden, which was a force in the space that I did not want to compete with. I had this thought of finding a three-dimensional piece that could grow up and out from one of the focal walls, could stand on its own and complement the other elements. The universe conspired one afternoon and I stumbled upon Paper-Cut-Project’s Instagram page and immediately felt an energy that this was it.”
Paper-Cut-Project is a collaboration by artists Nikki Nye and Amy Flurry, based in Chicago, and Athens, GA, respectively. The duo has created one-of-a kind pieces for global fashion brands Hermès, Cartier, Kate Spade and Valentino, as well as a 16-piece collection of paper wigs for the Victoria & Albert museum Hollywood Costume exhibit.
The white paper floral construction is mounted to a wall in what will serve as a ‘VIP’ space in the open floor plan of the rooftop lounge. Hundreds of handcrafted flowers, leaves and blades are arranged in a single, continuous horizontal paper sculpture.
“Because of the name of the rooftop lounge, Eve on Adams, we had a theme happening in other elements and I did not want to elaborate more on that to avoid being a cliché,” said Steiner. “After getting to know Amy a little more after each call, I realized the Paper-Cut-Project team was capable to construct whatever I could envision. I even joked with my husband that these women were the paper sages. I wanted something that felt alive and had movement and could create an energy in the space. I gave the team my ideas and from there, they injected their brilliant imaginations and voila, we suddenly had a wall that unintentionally felt ‘Where the Wild Things Are.’ I personally love the palmetto portion of the piece as they are native to this area of Florida.”
“Like most all of the creative directors we have worked with, Emily gave just enough direction for us to get a sense of what she was looking for and then let us give that idea some shape,” said Flurry. “Our job is to interpret it, first in a sketch, and then to realize this in paper. We worked really well together as Emily trusted the process and has clearly worked with a number of artists. The piece was 9-ft.-wide and 5-ft.-tall. Every piece was hand-cut and then assembled in three panels, which we then shipped. We installed those then built out around the piece on location.”
Steiner believes that it’s imperative that hotels include art as part of the decor. “We are responsible for a patron’s experience and how they move and relate to a space,” she said. “You have the opportunity to expose people to art that they otherwise may never be in a location to see. One of the coolest aspects of collaborating with artists is that you get to see a vision that often is fluid and evolving come alive in a space. Original art has the ability to elevate the overall vibe, and in this case, has done exactly that. I was thrilled that the owners were willing to invest in this piece and introduce Tallahassee to Paper-Cut-Project.”
Flurry thinks that adding art to hotels can help them be different. “Hotels and hotel designers have many opportunities to stand out in a field of sameness and to really create an added experience for guests by showcasing the work of artists—especially regional artists,” she said. “That connection and support exhibits a priority, and that resonates with people.”