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ZZUNUSED
Local resident focuses love of art to make comfy condo
Chris Harris/The Herald-Dispatch Clayton McNearney's spacious living area of his condo Wednesday, September 3, 2008, in Huntington.
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HUNTINGTON -- Clayton McNearney says "remaking space is much like making a work of art."
This is clearly the case in his Huntington condominium. He has made his love of art the focus of his home with the textures, the materials and the projects he has worked into his comfort zone.
McNearney, chairman of the religious studies department at Marshall University, has fond recollections of raising his family in a house on Staunton Avenue. He remembers, "the house was always full of kids and when they grew-up and moved out I quickly sold the house. I figured it was a way of jump starting a new direction in my life."
That jump start led him to condominium living in the west end of Huntington.
Once he had purchased his condo he rolled up his sleeves and went to work embedding his own print on it. One of his first projects was adding a water feature and plants to the patio area. In his previous residence he had enjoyed spending time in his large garden, but it had gotten to be a lot of work. The alternative in the condo was an outdoor balcony where he took satisfaction building large flower boxes plus a pond and fountain. He then dressed the area with a variety of plants and created a shade feature by constructing a wooden screen.
"I like doing these things myself, I'm just having fun," McNearney said relaxing at the patio work table.
Inside the condominium McNearney has installed oak flooring to the main living area. He also laid a stone floor in the bath, kitchen and hallway. The interesting floors anchor the walls that display a variety of his own art work and pieces of other noted artists.
"I have been taking print-making classes at Marshall for over 10 years now. My goal is to integrate art into my home and classroom," McNearney said.
He will be co-teaching a class with Peter Massing this semester called Religion and Outsider Art.
McNearney has worked at bringing the outside in by using natural elements such as a large stone for a television stand. The Frank Lloyd Wright style seating in the room further enhances the natural artistic personality of the area.
The room is an eclectic mix of furnishings and art. Besides the Frank Lloyd Wright chairs there is a primitive bench and an ornate baby grand piano. Framing the furnishings and wall hangings is a small collection of West Virginia glass and big clocks that McNearney fixes in his spare time. Added to the area are his garden gods that once watched over the Staunton Avenue yard but now watch over this garden of art.
The kitchen and bath areas also reflect the natural look. The stone floors were laid by McNearney and he applied the cork walls in the bathroom. The walls offer an interesting backdrop for examples of his etchings. In the kitchen he has kept with the natural elements by installing butcher block countertops and glass block walls.
The rest of the condominium is occupied by study and bedroom both with sliding glass doors onto the patio balcony. This is one of McNearney's favorite aspects to his living space.
"This balcony offers a great view and I enjoy working out here," he said
By integrating his hobbies into his living space McNearney is enjoying the visual affects and the pleasure of creation. His space delivers a clear and a simple statement that doesn't need to be voiced.
"I love art!" McNearney said.
