Hidden in
the hills in eastern Napa Valley off Soda Canyon Road lies a magical place
where art, natural beauty and the creative minds of two gifted souls converge,
bringing a unique artistic experience to the Napa Valley. Villa Spankadellik - art villa was six-and-a-half years in the
making by the husband/wife artist team of Kristi Rene and Edmund Ian Grant. The
Villa, approximately 3,800 square feet, is designed around the extensive art
collection of the two internationally renowned artists, who just returned from
a month-long tour of Europe. The exterior is surrounded by a park-like setting nestled against Soda Creek, a place where the Wappo – indigenous
Indians of the Napa Valley – once lived.
“We actually lived in a converted chicken
coop,” joked Rene as she described the transformation of the existing home into
the now picturesque villa. “There was no heat and the roof leaked, but we
wanted to bring something special to the Napa Valley.”
Rene and Edmund, who moved to Napa
in 1985, now offer people an opportunity to immerse themselves in a
personalized, private gallery tour, art viewing, while sipping wine and
becoming a .....Spankaphile – a word created by Rene's interpretation
of Sinatra's Rat Pack jargon. They said it was “twenty-seven years of realizing a dream –
ring-a-ding-ding like – Spankadellik, if you will.”
Villa Spankadellik art villa is a place where art enthusiasts are welcome to tour the Villa's many
galleries to view the extensive art works, with an
opportunity to purchase unique original artworks and inquire about private art
tutorials.
The entire Villa is a playground
for the eyes, featuring Edmund’s whimsical jazz-influenced paintings and funky
teapots or Kristi Rene’s Warm Sensitive
Route towards art. Their creative endeavors are showcased
throughout the couple's gallery-studio live space. The architecture itself is a piece of art with free
flowing lines and unique accent touches.
Edmund Ian Grant is a self-taught,
award-winning artist. He said he likes to tell stories in his work. His
passionate approach to living connected him to many forms of art from an early
age. He began playing the saxophone at seven and continued through his
collegiate years with his own jazz band. After a long hiatus for a professional
career, he returned to the arts and taught himself to paint in the early 1980s.
His colorful, passionate, narrative and sometimes whimsical artwork has been
shown in New Orleans and many of the top galleries of California, including the
Dyanson Gallery of Carmel and the Vorpal Gallery of San Francisco. He is
collected internationally. Grant has had several one man shows and has been the
Artist in Residence at both Pat Kuleto's Kuleto Estate Family Winery and Jessup
Cellars, both located in the Napa Valley.
He has been invited to numerous
international shows, of which he participated in the 6th Florence Biennale,
Biennale of Chianciano held at the Art Museum of Chianciano Terme in Siena,
Italy. He was one of twelve international artists to show in the International
exposition in Milan, Italy, “Art Code.” In addition, he was one of a very small
group of Chianciano Biennale artists to be invited to London to participate in
a show celebrating the Chianciano Biennale at the Gagliardi Gallery in London,
last month. In March, he participated in the international art show Eternal Eve
at the Old Jaffa Antiquities Museum, Tel Aviv, Israel. Most recently, he has
been accepted and will participate in an international digital art show to be
held at the Museum of Chianciano, Siena, Italy, in September. Last year,
Edmund’s work was juried into the national book, American Art Collector 2009 edition.
Kristi Rene is also a self-taught,
award-winning artist whose art is “midway between the heat of emotion and the
coldness of intellect. There are places where man cannot compete with nature – except
in an ultimate individual abstraction.”
“My paintings are silent wings that
let me fly, to transmit life with canvas and color, never forgetting, with
great gratitude, the source from which all beauty and wonder come,” said Rene.
“My intention is to reveal truths around the relevance of love, forgiveness and
to embrace the beauty of impermanence.” Rene’s work explores the inner dialogue
between the human and spiritual.
In 1989, she experienced a
devastating automobile accident that forced the loss of a former professional
career. In the aftermath of that tragedy, a profound spiritual transformation
evolved. This life-changing event forged a path of serious painting and
sculpting. Rene has been fortunate to have had 25 group and solo exhibitions.
She has established patrons internationally, and has received many awards and
honors. Her skills have led her to participate in shows at the Napa Valley Museum
and the Vorpal Gallery of San Francisco. She has been accepted twice into the
oldest and most prestigious, juried, State of California-run art show for
professional artists, the California Works, at the California State Fair. Here,
at the State level, Rene received the coveted Award of Excellence in Painting.
Most recently, she has been recommended by the Napa Valley icon Margrit Mondavi
as one of four artists to watch in the Napa Valley.
The Villa Spankadellik is another
gem worth visiting in the Napa Valley. Edmund and Kristi warmly share not
only their home, but their passion for life, art and other captivating stories.
