The One Thing That'll Make Sunny Weather Even Better
Condiment: Five Faves: Apt2b.com's Mat Herman
By Cathleen Medwick from O, The Oprah Magazine, August 2009
A wall hanging constructed of bottle caps, a woman made of pencils, a double-barreled George W. Bush. There's nothing matchy-matchy about art patron Peggy Cooper Cafritz's home--it's filled with the work of the talented young artists of color she's supported for decades.
Editor's Note: We were saddened to hear about the fire that destroyed Peggy's home on July 29, 2009. O contributing writer and editor Cathleen Medwick said, "Going inside that house was a delight and a privilege--it was so alive and filled with meaning. Peggy didn't just collect those pieces, she loved every one of them. It is a terrible loss. My heart breaks for her, and for all of us."
Read the Washington Post news coverage here and watch video footage below.
Inside the Home of Art Patron Peggy Cooper Cafritz
Making an Entrance
Peggy Cooper Cafritz stands in her entry hall in front of Federico Uribe's The Fox--made from painted pencils. Hanging on the wall to Cafritz's left is Mickalene Thomas's Rumor Has It, above a cast bronze console by Silas Seandel.
On floor: Boots, by Demetrius Glover
Inside the Home of Art Patron Peggy Cooper Cafritz
Eye Party
In Cafritz's staircase landing, Londoner Hew Locke's satirical England's Rose (far left) and Charles, genteelly poised above Chinedu Felix Osuchukwu's Chiquita.
Inside the Home of Art Patron Peggy Cooper Cafritz
Expect the Unexpected
A traditional seating area is sparked by visionary images: William Villalongo's It Was a Hell of a Fight Now It's Time for a Show and Tell (left) and Ruud van Empel's World #6. Guarding the stairwell, with its dramatic fall of hair--Nadine Robinson's Me 6--is Nick Cave's Sound Suit, made of fabric.
Also pictured: Throw (on chair), Armani/Casa. Floor lamp, Lucca & Co. Love seat, Dessin Fournir Companies. Pale pillows, Armani/Casa. Coffee table, Ed Wormley for Dunbar Furniture Makers
Inside the Home of Art Patron Peggy Cooper Cafritz
Atop the living room window, Robin Rhode's Bench Slide, and, on the rear wall, Mustafa Maluka's You Think I'm on Your Side. Hanging from ceiling, Alexandre Arrechea's Dust.
Also pictured: Sofa, De Angelis Custom Furniture
Inside the Home of Art Patron Peggy Cooper Cafritz
Outside Looking In
Cafritz's house, from the front yard.
Take the complete tour inside the art collector's amazing
Washington D.C. house
Subscribe to O, The Oprah Magazine and save up to 78%
Related Resources
Why Peggy Cooper Cafritz supports local artists
O, The Oprah Magazine goes inside the art collector's amazing house
Get Peggy's tips for how to start collecting art
How a little home improvement can make you happy
Go inside the August issue of O, The Oprah Magazine
Article by Cathleen Medwick and images courtesy of O, The Oprah Magazine, August 2009 ©2009, Harpo Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Reader comments (Page 1 of 6)
Ad spam ruins good boards. How about you go and get a REAL job? Can't you handle one?
ReplyI'd like to say, concerning the ARTICLE, that it is always a tragedy to lose original artwork. It's always been a dream of mine to be able to patron the arts like Mrs. Cafritz, and my heart goes out to her. No, it's not the same heartbreak as when you lose someone you love, but just like losing someone great, it's still makes the world less for losing it. At least her collection was well documented and already seen by many. Sadly, my next trip to DC is in October, so I have lost my chance to visit her home. Society is always richer for supporting the arts!
What ashame and great loss of art. Truly a tragic to watch not only a magestic home burn but knowing what was in that house. Insurance can never replace everything. I send well wishes to Ms. Cooper and knowing her love of art she will rebound. A true loss for the art world.
ReplyNot all that is called 'art' is really art. It is a terrible shame that this lovely home had a fire. However, as far as the loss of the 'art'---most of it was no great loss to the art world.
Further, what is so special about art by 'people of color'--is that not a racist attitude---that somehow this art is more 'special' than art by people who are not 'people of color'?? Why does the race of the artist have to be mentioned at all? Is that not what blacks have been claiming they want for generations? To ignore race all together?
Oh my. Her name is Cooper-Cafritz.
ReplyI wonder, just exactly how the fire got started? Have the fire marshall determine yet?
ReplyOh, wow, this saddens me. I'm an artist, this loss just makes me feel sick. I can't imagine the effects it will have on the owner and patron, and the arts community. My heart goes out to all affected.
ReplyI don't see what the big deal was about the art, too bad about the house though.
Replythe bottlecap thing should be OK
My fellow person please try to follow and I promise to you that I won't speak over your head. Here we go. It's not so much as "what's the big deal" of this matter with what this country we so love and is so dear to all of our hearts can't fathom the concept of this black american female art patron, educator, philanthropist, of accomplished and of prominent means betsow nothing more than anything worth noting, worth respecting and with any research or estute analytical acclaim lie in full judgement to under value in utter ignorance until otherwise recognized by some inexperienced white critic who got to judge by ass kissing or a get one free whitey passed received at birth in some broken down hill billy trailer park. You ask, "What's the big deal?" It is not the big deal as it is the Big Idea. A mere idea created by one woman's life devotion to nuturing, respecting, honoring, uplifting under previledged, impoverished children of color who are extremely talented and gifted artist who otherwise wouldn't have a fighting chance in hell to have their art work seen and respected by the public masses or by hill billy pork eating stinking folk. Peggy Cooper-Cafritz has been a crusader in this fight for kids and have brought their dreams and magnificent artwork to full circle. Cooper-Cafritz has juxtaposed young student artwork she had commissioned and has juxtsaposed these student pieces right next to valuable and world acclaimed art pieces worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. So what you say? It's not the object my friend it's the message behind the art. It's Cooper-Cafritz to have the ability, passion, and true devotion to display priceless works of her art next to her student's art which she found to be just as priceless. See having the ability to collect and mix various of expensive pieces with unknown piesces is what possessing the true gift of humanity and being an American. Being able to appreciate the differences and place what's considered valuable next to unknown art is ingenius and is an of how we should view people in our way of life. We humans get too caught up if it's not mainstream or if we can't instantly recognized or related to the blonde and blue eyed world than nothing else matters. This is archaic and narrow minded thinking. Copper-Cafritz is a visionary and a patron for under privileged young artists who are frowned upon and snobbed and scrutinized by people who probably don't possess any artistic ability worth speaking of. Some of these young gifted artist albeit painter, dancer or entertainers have grown up to become world renown such as world renowned opera saprano singer, Denyce Graves and the famed comedian, Dave Chappelle.
You should read and study more. You will find spiritual enlightenment through the discovery of learning new things.
Sincerely yours,
fellow human patron
Sam;If there is no understanding about art then why the heck did you respond to the question or even check out the story. The women is about art,she loves art...you missed the point. It is a sad loss for her.
ReplyYa sam her art work was like your pic of you or your parents or grandparents.When there black and white and can never replace them ever or your kids. Amangen them in black and white now burn then all.Well peggy cooper my heart goes out to you.
How tragic. Her work is hand-made,unique, and beautiful. I don't know what I would do if that happened to me. If the fire was started on purpose, well then that's really messed up. People can be jealous, but you can't let the anger eat you alive to destroy other people's work. But if it was like a stove fire or something well, check your stove. My mom does that every time we go out about 3 times just to be sure.I wish she had really made more to put in art musems all around the world.Well at least we have the AOL pictures as a memory.And too bad for the house. I wonder if she is staying at a relative's or something until her's gets fixed. She should be on Extreme Makeover Home Edition. That would be really sweet. I'm sorry my comment is so long. I'm just bored and like to express my feelings about posts through comments. I hope you don't mind.
ReplyYou do not have to worry about Ms. Cafritz. The Cafritz family is extremely wealthy and powerful. They have other homes and lots of family. The true tragedy here is the loss of artwork and chronic issues that D.C. has with water pressure in their fire hydrants. D.C. also lost a great library (Georgetown library) and a national landmark (Eastern Market) due to fires that couldn't be brought under control due to the loss of water pressure in the hydrants. This is a chronic problem and one that D.C. REALLY needs to take seriously before we lose more great treasures and landmarks.
Who would do this!!!
ReplyThis reply is to "Parker" -- You are a RACIST!
I'm an artist, and Collectors who buy original art from local artists are the most important people in the world to me-th Medici's of the modern world. I hope Peggy is ok. I feel so bad for what was lost.
ReplyThis is one reason art belongs in museums and public galleries, NOT peoples homes. They would have been safe if she had DONATED them to a gallery in her name. A real pity.
ReplyIf all art was in museums you'd never see the vast majority of it. It's in closets and drawers and off-sight storage areas-very little of the collections in museums ever sees the light of day. And who would spend money to buy art and then give it away immediately? Do you expect her to buy posters of the work she should donate?? Museums have just so much to invest in art whether it is a living artist or a dead one so how are the living ones supposed to survive? Ms. Cooper Cafritz's loss is truly a tragedy but I can only hope she will rebuild her wonderful home and go on buying and collecting art. I collect as much original art as I can afford and someday I will donate it but in the mean time it's mine to enjoy every day.
HMMMMMM. you think maybe she got tired of that flea market stuff. I wonder how much insurance she had on the house and her collections.
ReplyHer new home will probably be more modern and fabulous.
Why is it that no matter what the subject someone throws in negative comments on race or politics??
ReplyThis was a great loss of ireplacable art that these young artist pour thier souls into,
I am just glad that one was hurt...