30 Dec Collector’s Eye: Like Kids in a Candy Store

Susan and Jake Potje have a serious art addiction. To be fair, Susan’s parents, Tom and Ann Morrow, are to blame. They launched the Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale in 1991 and handed over the reins to Susan and Jake in 2008. With 100 artists who not only exhibit their work on site but essentially transport their studios to Scottsdale to work under the Celebration’s big white tents for 10 weeks, it’s no wonder the Potjes are collectors on a level that eclipses most.

Some people believe there’s a collecting gene passed down through generations. If so, Susan’s lineage can be traced back to her grandfathers — one a painter and sculptor, the other a writer. Her parents kept the artistic spirit alive through their art galleries, and when they conceived the Celebration of Fine Art, they pulled in Susan and Jake, who brought business acumen, creativity, and youthful energy, along with a genuine passion for working with the public.

“Jake and I met in the 1980s in the hospitality industry,” Susan says. “I was on the food and beverage side of things for a hotel, and Jake was a bellman — our incomes back then depended on how well we worked with the public.” And she adds, “A lot of people ask us if we’re artists, and I always say, ‘Our art is working with people.’ We’re passionate about serving our artists and giving them the opportunity to succeed. Part of ensuring that success is giving collectors the opportunity to meet artists, learn about their creative process, and watch them work. It’s a really powerful experience.”

Jake is also a whiz at solving technical problems. He oversaw the design of the event’s signature U-shape space, which features a central courtyard with an outdoor sculpture garden and café. And each year, he orchestrates the raising of 40,000 square feet of tents that shelter the display walls he also built. “Part of the experience is how open and easy the flow through the space is,” says Susan. “And that’s all Jake.”

This year marks the 36th Celebration of Fine Art, which runs from January 17 through March 29. The excitement of seeing so many artists in one place, creating paintings and sculptures, draws thousands of art lovers to Scottsdale. And while the Potjes buy at least one piece of art from their event, they also travel across the West to exhibitions including the Buffalo Bill Show & Sale in Cody, Wyoming, the Quest for the West Show at the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis, and the Laguna Beach Festival of the Arts in Southern California. And yes, they often return home with more art.

Naturally, their home is filled to the brim with sculptures and paintings. “We truly love the journey of collecting art as a couple,” says Susan. “We have fun discovering new works and getting to know artists and fellow art collectors. It is such an uplifting and inspiring experience to share this passion.”

WAA: What advice do you give to new collectors?

Susan: I’ve given presentations on what to look for when collecting. The main points I share with people: Buy art that sparks a sense of joy; get to know the artist if possible; don’t limit yourself to a singular style; and think outside the frame — add some three-dimensional works to enhance your collection. We also host the Art Discovery Series, featuring panel discussions each Friday during our show season. It’s a great place for people to come and learn about art through engaging dialogues on a wide variety of topics. For those just dipping their toes into collecting, to those who already have robust collections, the conversations help many people understand art on a deeper level. Each discussion sparks a creative buzz in the community that we have built around art. Plus, you get to spend time around artists and other art collectors to learn what drives their creating and collecting.

WAA: What are some of the qualities you look for in art you ultimately purchase?

Jake: Collecting art for us is sort of an occupational hazard. For more than 35 years, we have been exposed to many incredible artists working in various mediums. The challenge is where to put all of it.

Susan: Being surrounded by art makes our home feel alive with the energy of people and places we’ve traveled to. We have the joy of knowing most of the artists whose work we own, and the memories of the moment we fell in love with each piece make it even more special.

WAA: At this point, what are you looking to add to your collection?

Susan: Another home with more walls! We have a solid collection of smaller Western landscapes that we will likely continue to curate and expand. By collecting smaller pieces, we can display them together in a salon-style arrangement, which works well in our home.

WAA: At what point did you realize you were collectors?

Jake: I am a collector by nature. I collect cars, whiskeys and tequilas, and, of course, art. Once you get the bug to collect, it’s hard to stop.

Susan: As Jake said earlier, being in the art business and having so much exposure to great art, it’s impossible not to catch the collecting bug. Sometimes we make a selection on the spot when something stops us in our tracks. Other times, we let things simmer for a while and then realize we can’t stop thinking about it, so it needs to be part of our collection.

WAA: Do you have to agree on everything you buy?

Susan: No, we don’t have to agree on everything we buy. Art is personal; you gravitate to different things for various reasons. If one of us is drawn to something that sparks joy, the other is happy to add it to our collection. It’s part of the fun of collecting together.

WAA: Do you balance your collection between paintings and sculptures?

Susan: Like most people, we started with 2D art, and then we met Scott Rogers. Scott’s storytelling style is captivating. That inspired us to start collecting sculptures, and we haven’t stopped since.

Jake: I am a big fan of sculpture. I like the way it tells a story in a 360-degree format. Some of my favorite sculptors are Scott Rogers, Bryce Pettit, Todd Paxton, and Paul Rhymer. We have everything from miniatures to tabletop to a few life-size pieces. We also incorporate ceramics, metal, and wood pieces. And we usually have a sculpture on our dining room table as the centerpiece.

Susan: Something we also like to do is layer our artwork to create interesting spaces. We do this by mixing styles and mediums that are different but play well together. For example, we have Andrew Bolam’s bear painting that we purchased in Cody. It has a generous amount of white space, so in front of it is a Scott Rogers sculpture of the Pony Express, which creates a silhouette on the canvas. On another wall is a hanging sculpture of three feathers by Stephanie Revennaugh next to a contemporary bear painting by David Frederick Riley, an abstract city scene, a bold acrylic floral painting by Robin Branham, a raven painting, and an impressionistic mountain landscape. They are very different in subject and style, but together they create a lively collection. I tell people not to get stuck in a mindset where everything must be Western, abstract, or any specific style. I personally like to see a blend.

WA&A senior contributing editor Shari Morrison has been in the business of art for more than 40 years. She helped found the Scottsdale Artists’ School and the American Women Artists and directed the Santa Fe Artists’ Medical Fund for some years.