Today we’d like to introduce you to Virginia Cannon
Hi Virginia, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Boy, it’s a long story! I’ll try to make it brief. Fresh out of college I began working at Hirsch/Bedner and Associates, who were and are still the world’s leading design firm in luxury hotels and resorts. Moving my way up in the company I eventually was moved to their in-house Art Department which provided Art and Accessories for their hotel projects. Having studied Art and Art History in college, I was very excited to move into that department. The first project I ever worked on at 25 was the Hyatt Regency Koln in West Germany. The budget was 1.5 million for the Art Collection alone. There I learned all aspects of design including reading floor plans, elevations, reflected ceiling plans, etc., I basically learned everything I needed to know to run a company. Since we were a subsidiary of Hirsch/Bedner, we were a separate entity that needed to deliver a revenue stream in order to be viable.
With the birth of my daughter, Cheyenne, I decided to be a stay at home Mom but that didn’t last long. I then decided to open my own Art Consulting Company and work from home so I could still care for my baby. That didn’t last long either, haha, I was soon so busy that I needed help.
My former boss from Hirsch/Bedner offered to be my partner and provided me with a space to work out of. My husband quit his job and stayed home to take care of Cheyenne. By the end of the first year, we were so successful that it was obvious that I would continue on this path. I staffed up and we did projects for Hilton, Marriott, Loews, and W Hotels. We also ventured into the Corporate world of banks, company headquarters and even a couple of hospitals.
After 12 years of being on my own, I got a call one day from an Interior Designer in Nashville, Kathy Anderson. Kathy is the Designer to the Stars in Nashville and that started my journey into Residential Art Collections. My first Collection was for Tony Brown, Elvis Presley’s last piano player and at that time had become the President of MCA Records. I then went on to do Collections for the Presidents of Sony Records, Polydor Records and Capital Records. I did the Art Collections for Wynonna Judd, Kid Rock and many more celebrities over the years. It became obvious that a move to Nashville was the only answer.
In 2000, having gone through a divorce, Cheyenne and I headed to Nashville where we stayed until moving to Arizona in 2016. My father was in his 90’s and suffering with dementia so I came to care for him until his death at 94. Cheyenne also moved to Tucson after a stint in the Bay Area, so I decided to stay after the death of my Dad. I’ve continued to work with private clients in Nashville and recently completed a Hilton Hotel just outside of Nashville in Franklin.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth? Is Life ever Smooth all the time? The Art Business took quite a blow after 911. I had 5 major projects on my desk at the time and they all went on permanent hold or just went away altogether. I tried to hang on, thinking things would bounce back but they didn’t and still are not what they once were. The result is much lower Art Budgets for Hotels and the necessity to utilize images printed on paper, canvas and other substrates such as metal or plexiglass. My approach is to place original Artwork in key locations such as the Hotel Lobby or anywhere that folks congregate. I place the printed work in secondary areas where people are just passing by.
During the down time in the Art Business, I went to work for a Music Management Company that worked with stars such as Emmylou Harris, Pam Tillis, Nancy Griffith, Jon Randall, Mike Younger, Monte Montgomery and more. As the assistant to the President of the company, I learned alot of the in and outs of the music industry.
I was then offered a position with Voyage-Air Guitar who created a full size acoustic and electric guitar that folds at the neck and fits into a backpack for travel. You might have seen it on Shark Tank. The company was on four times and went on to be on Good Morning America to talk about the experience. My position as Director of Artist Relations
had me flying all over the country to secure endorsements with guitar players in bands such as Paul McCartney & Wings, Jimmy Buffett, Marc Anthony, John Oates, Bob Seeger and many, many more. It was truly a dream job, hanging out with rock stars and going to shows. I brokered the deal with Richie Sambora to buy 100 guitars and give them away to active military. You can still see the footage from Camp Pendleton when he personally came to hand out and sign guitars. Such a wonderful and generous gesture.
With the encouragement from the owner of the Hotel Indigo on Music Row, I started a Songwriter Showcase called Virginia Cannon Presents. That weekly show went on for 8 years. After my Father passed away, I began a Songwriter Showcase at Monterey Court in Tucson. This monthly show lasted 7 years.
Even during all this, I continued to be active in the Art World. I’ve decided to focus on that full time again and really delve into meeting as many designers in Tucson and Phoenix as I can. There are such beautiful homes in Arizona and I possess the resources to fulfill any style that the home owner enjoys. I’ve also noticed the constant growth in this area and the attention being paid to Public Art such as the amazing Murals all over town and large scale sculpture placed in key areas. I really want to be part of this movement to bring more Art related beauty to this gorgeous desert town.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Cannon Fine Art is a woman owned and operated full service Art Consulting Company. We specialize in Luxury Hospitality and Upscale Residential.
We’ve worked with every major Hotel chain and understand how to handle a project of that size. Our process involves reviewing the project and the finish boards put together by the designer. We then study the floor plan and elevations, working hand in hand with the designer to locate key areas based on the traffic flow. Our next task involves researching the flavor of the project (is it Southwest, is it contemporary, is it historical?). We try to bring in a local flavor and utilize local artisans where possible. However, our vast resource library includes artisans all over the world, 30+ years in the making. We are constantly on the look out for new artists. We also spend time to see what’s going on in the hotel world with trends and new products.
Our process for residential is similar but with a whole lot more client input. We aren’t necessarily working with a set budget as with Hotel/Restaurant projects. It gets much more personal and is handled that way. Kid Rock, for example, had a very specific vision for his art collection. His in-town condo was very vertical and he wanted each floor to represent a different musical genre. The first floor was Rock N Roll, the second floor was country music and the top floor Hip Hop. As Nashville Lifestyles Magazine called it “a tiny music hall of fame, alabeit one that doesn’t admit the public”. The Art Collection should portray the Home Owners style and interests.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Finding a good mentor or mentors is the key to success. I will forever be grateful for the people I worked with at Hirsch/Bedner for teaching me how to create a business that has sustained for over 35 years. Artists will always create Artwork and Art is always needed to beautify the world.
I’ve always tried to be a good mentor for my employees and teach them that a good work ethic will take you far. I’m very proud of my daughter, who creates and runs her own jewelry business. I think you interviewed her a few years ago. Life wasn’t always easy for her growing up with the hours I worked and the travel that was necessary to keep the company successful. And the years of having to spend every afternoon, after school at the gallery instead of going home to do homework or play. But I tried to balance that out with many trips for the two of us to Europe, Mexico and of course, we explored New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. I feel that travel is the best education and we had many adventures to look back on.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.virginiacannon.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virginiacannonfineart/
Image Credits
Sherrie Love Bohlinger
Jeff Fasano
