Catching the Light
No artificial light source is complete without a frame, a container, a base, or a shelter. Artistic light fixtures can draw attention as a focal point or recede dreamily into the flickering shadows. They create jewel-like pools of light in a room or outside space, attracting the eye with reflective metal and inventive designs that flow around the light in a natural way. Metal artists build around the light, fascinated by the dichotomies presented ever since kerosene lamps became favorable to candlelight—the play between negative and positive space, the fusion of the old and the new styles, the delicate balance of the ornamental and the functional in every aspect of the fixture. Today, electric light fixtures predominate, but in southern Louisiana, nostalgia prevails in many houses and buildings. The old designs and new features are thrown together in various forms; many fixtures are modeled after the classic designs built for gas lighting in the 19th century.
Ever wonder where those great old gas fixtures in the French Quarter come from? They are all the work of Drew Bevolo, his uncle, or his grandfather. Bevolo Gas and Electric Lighting is part of New Orleans history, with a family legacy of artistic lighting design dating back to the birth of the company in 1945. Their distinctive copper fixtures grace the Cabildo, Brennan’s Restaurant, the Omni Royal Orleans, and hundreds of other buildings, courtyards, and spaces throughout the city. Each fixture is handcrafted and riveted by Bevolo coppersmiths, masters of traditional metalworking methods and designs; they use the old shears, templates, and machinery to fashion bright sheets of copper into truly authentic pieces.
When Andrew Bevolo, Sr., began the business just after World War II, New Orleanians were importing gas lanterns from London, and most of his work was done repairing old fixtures. Andrew saw that the English lanterns had soldered seams, so he thought of an alternative—why not use rivets to join the copper instead? Rivets turned out to be more sturdy than commercially soldered lights, which tend to come apart over time. Andrew’s innovation, a method that is still used today, was a major contribution to the history of gas lighting. The Bevolos’ reputation has grown with each major project, and their name is now known throughout the United States as a family and company, leaders in the world of artistic lighting design.
Bevolo Gas and Electric Lighting produced the famous French Quarter Lanterns seen throughout the streets of the Vieux Carré, where the company is still located. Bevolo works with individual customers, trading photos and design ideas until the right treatment is found for the space. Each light fixture is still made by hand; the lanterns are works of art, from the classic French Quarter style to the traditional coach house lanterns. All lanterns are guaranteed to last a lifetime and have a stunning antique copper finish that adds a timeless air to any environment.
Another pioneer in New Orleans artistic lighting is Julie Neill, a rising star in the design world. Known for her line of elegant hand created chandeliers, sconces, and furnishings, Neill’s pieces are inspired by the beauty and aging grace of her native city. “This is a city of artists—it’s an antique city that’s beautiful and decaying and intense and European, and peopled by an amazing array of characters. The beauty of the architecture and the elegance of the old homes inspire me in every way. It’s a city of decoration and grandeur that’s tempered by a patina of decadence, a city that thrives on celebration, a city that stimulates all your senses. In this place, there is no way to escape being inspired.”
“I enjoy the dramatic tension of the antique and the modern, the simple and complex, and the decorative and the functional that plays itself out in my work,” Neill says. She designs each one of her pieces with the customer in mind, not just their space; in fact, most of the pieces are named after the customers or their loved ones. Each design Neill makes becomes part of her line, and she is always open to the challenge, working with a bright joie de vivre and a meticulous eye for detail.
She painstakingly handcrafts each piece at the Magazine street studio, combining old designs and modern refinement. Neill’s signature paint finishes are the crowning glory of each piece, creating a unique luster that resonates in the glow of the light. Neill calls her pieces “jewelry for the home,” offering exquisite chandeliers, inventive sconces, polished furnishings, and enchanting turned wood works of art.
“My favorite piece is my Isabelle chandelier because it was one of my first designs, and because it embodies everything that’s important to me. It is classical in form, its details are simplified and modern, it has a certain lighthearted elegance, it’s hand made, it doesn’t take itself too seriously, and it gives a sense of celebration to the room and the people in it. It is also named after my daughter,” Neill says. Her pieces bring style and elegance to every environment that she designs around, bringing a soft radiance and a personal touch to any home, business, or outside space. “I like to think my pieces will light up your spirits as well as your space,” she says.
Another talented artisan who creates jewelry for the home is Ralph Goodyear, who is both the designer and fabricator of Artistic Design Fabricators in Lafayette. With an extensive background in jewelry design and fabrication, Goodyear decided to expand the scale of the designs tenfold. “What I did was just enlarge it. I’m still basically making jewelry, but it’s just for homes,” he says. Goodyear now does considerable commission work with interior designers and architects. He designs and fabricates, handcrafting doors, winding staircases, balconies, metal sculptures, and chandeliers in a wide variety of metals, from stainless steel to sterling silver.
Goodyear’s talent is unique and intuitive; his vivid imagination is translated into whirling, rhythmic designs replete with swirls, graceful arcs, and delicate points. Like Neill and the Bevolos, he is partial to traditional designs, but he also creates strikingly modern pieces charged with raw energy and clean, unfettered lines. He recently designed a contemporary metal sculpture for a local couple’s outdoor space; it consists of two swooping, s-shaped metal forms that curl into each other and feature a highly polished stainless steel finish. “The two parts intertwine like dancers or lovers, the negative space between them becoming another shape. They create movement and narrative within the space, gleaming in the garden, catching your eye and your interest,” Goodyear explains.
His chandeliers lean more towards classic design, though all of his work is custom made to suit the tastes of his clients. He cuts and shapes each piece of metal himself, rarely using prefabricated pieces that many commercial companies use (even in custom work), and he favors natural motifs found in nature. Many of the chandeliers, lanterns, and sconces echo the textures of branches and the smooth, delicate tendrils of vines curling around a tree limb; the lights themselves are set like jewels or flowers nestled into the foliage.
The most beautiful accent one can give to a room is light, for without it, nothing else can be seen. Artistic lighting illuminates rooms with hanging flowers of light, outfitted with gold stems and petals of flame. As with jewelry, be sure you are in love with it when you make it a permanent part of your personal space. Choose artistic lighting that is tailored for you and the unique character of your home by only the best Louisiana has to offer. The right piece can unify an area, striking a bold statement or making it sing with soft warmth. ✦
