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Glinted Dreams, 23” x 23” x 11’
Fin&Fino Mosaic, 5’ x 18’
In January of 2024, Artist: Case Baumgarten and Denise Torrance, installed a large mosaic depicting two colorful octopi. We utilized recycled tile and found material including river rocks from the Appalachian Mountains, seashells, and broken pre- and post-colonial Native American, and colonial Old English pottery found on the shores of Wilmington, NC.
This project was built in celebration of the 20 year anniversary of Dressler’s Restaurant now reopening as Fin&Fino.
Chapter6 Mosaic, 12’ x 8’ , Map of Spain, France, Algeria, Tunisia, Italy, Morocco and Western Sahara
In September of 2023, Artist: Denise Torrance, lead the studio in the creation and fabrication of the Chapter6 Mosaic Map. Custom built for the new South End restaurant, our studio wanted to put an emphasis on each location’s geography. We utilized native stone and found material to represent each country’s unique topography. Other local materials used include river rocks from Sugar Creek and weathered stone, seashells, and broken pre- and post-colonial Native American, and colonial Old English pottery found on the shores of Wilmington, NC.
Along with the Mosaic, our studio also fabricated Copper Sculptures for the restaurant. The sculptures frame a large hand-woven rug from Morocco.
We want to give a special thanks to, Patricia Cho, Kwantai Cho and Ethan Ferguson in supporting with the creation of the mosaic.
LUX Lights, 2022
In June of 2022, artist Case Baumgarten led the studio in building a wayfinding sculpture in Charlotte’s arts and entertainment district, NoDa. Commissioned by Artistic Contractors, Charlotte’s specialized luxury custom home builder, the sculpture was created for a new housing development but is visible to and engaged with by the public, as it is situated along a road busy with passers-by. The development’s residents change the sculpture’s colors to recognize holidays, sports teams, and other meaningful events.
In July of 2018, artists Lee Baumgarten, Denise Torrance, and Case Baumgarten partnered with SunCap Property Group to create a public park that evokes the musical aspect of the Monroe Road (“MoRa”) community. The park’s center features a musical instrument called a pandrum that encourages intuitive engagement and produces sound through touch. Inspired by motifs of nature such as trees and the ocean, the park itself is ADA-compliant, offering rest, creative engagement, and an accessible pathway for people accessing the local shopping development and/or the public bus stop. Installment also included planting native trees and grasses to cool the area and reduce runoff.
2017 Embrace
Embrace was created form the help of Lee Baumgarten, Leslie Scott, and Baumgarten Studios. The artwork's purpose is to serve as a creative hub for the social community that surrounds the park. It was essential to share and build a safe space for the community members of MoRA. This art project would make the statement, "we are more than what is here today." We wanted a collaboration that generated new partnerships and would create a shared history and sense of place that, in and of itself, would be a vehicle for ongoing area transformation.
2015: Concepts and Ideas for the MoRA Sculpture with the community
2016: Temporary Sculpture unveiled to the public.
2017 : Groundbreaking of the site, public workshops, and finalizing Embrace came in effect.
Photo Credit: NICK DE LA CANAL / WFAE
As a community-conscious Art Studio, we jumped at the chance to fix a main social landmark, that of Hugh McManaway, between Providence and Queens Road. During the process of repairing, we were shocked at how much the residents of Charlotte missed and appreciated Hugh. This outcry from the community for his return fueled our passion for restoring and enhancing the natural beauty of the sculpture.
2017: Sculpture was subsequently damaged
2018: Sculpture was refurbished and structurally enhanced for unveiling in November.
Photo Credit: Arts & Science Council
Charlotte, NC 28134
