An Artist’s Eden: Whimsical retreat in Ponchatoula
Upon entering Louisiana folk artist Bill Hemmerling’s colorful home and studio, one is transported to an artful state of mind. You can sense his spirituality and love for found objects, as reflected in the fun and funky décor.
Hemmerling’s many diverse life experiences are incorporated into his work as reflected in this renovated, 100-year-old warehouse located in Ponchatoula next door to the Louisiana Custom Furniture and Art Gallery. His agent, Carol Siekkinen, runs the gallery with her husband Jake, who is the executive director of the gallery and a licensed contractor. He designed the space for Hemmerling. The Siekkinens, who live in a home built in 1914, have a passion for renovation.
“When we met him a few years ago, he was living in an old mill house, and was just retiring from working for 35 years at Sears designing window and floor displays,” Carol says. “He joined our association. One day he mentioned that when he was an old hippie he used to live in a warehouse, and how he’d like to live in the warehouse next door. So my husband and I sat down and drew on a napkin what he needed. My husband designed his living area according to what his needs were.”
Since then, it has been a work in progress. The ever-changing décor results from the prolific artist’s insatiable desire to recreate his environment. “There is a funky painting he did in the gallery that says, ‘When life gets me down, I rearrange my furniture. Life is better when you decorate.’ That’s what he did for 35 years at Sears and he continues to do so today,” Carol says. “He moves furniture around daily and changes things, so that tomorrow, it may look like a whole different place.” Hemmerling, who paints every day, never uses canvas, only recycled materials. “Every time they had scraps during the renovation, Bill picked them up and turned them into paintings,” Carol says. In his work, Hemmerling explores various themes of jazz musicians, nudes, famous artists, and authors, but he is perhaps best known for his Sweet Olive series depicting southern African American folk culture. Hemmerling’s love of using found objects and recycled materials in his art echoes throughout his home. “People connect to his art. It evokes a wonderful memory, of their childhood or something they have experienced,” Carol says.
Just as there is an element of fantasy in much of Hemmerling’s work, his fantastic imagination also carries over into his four-level residence and its recent outdoor renovation.
The whimsical design of the home and studio creates a sense of displacement and timelessness, while the deck and outdoor space resound with the alluvial undertones of Louisiana. A trickling fountain competes with the chirping of birds near a hammock on the serene outdoor deck, which is built into thick foliage. Moss draped branches extend into the deck over a tin fence that was once a part of the roof. An eclectic mix of folk art and religious art preside over the wilderness, where Hemmerling’s Eden soothes the soul.
“A lot of people that come here have an emotional experience, they feel that there is a message being sent out,” says Carol. “The outdoor addition, which my husband designed, was just completed in the past few months.” The original brick of the warehouse, which was once used to repair fire engines, remains. “It had an old tin roof,” says Carol. “We took it off and built a fence, right in the middle of nature. We built a deck right into the forest. We have created a paradise for him. It is almost like a fairy tale story, transforming an old warehouse into this remarkable space.”
At the entrance, which is in the rear of the warehouse facing the yard, a pair of antique pointed windows imported from Belgium and French doors welcome visitors into Hemmerling’s studio with a painting table. Beyond that is the kitchen, with its garage cabinets and folk art. You descend into the living room through a gate, “which is actually a door turned sideways,” Carol says. “That’s to keep the dogs in their own area. We left all the old, original tin and added new corrugated tin for contrast. The ceiling has all of the old, big massive beams and wires, and big metal chains. We added skylights, which gives a really nice contrast as well.”
In the living area, the shelves are made out of leftover floorboards. “All of the materials they used in the renovation of the warehouse are original. We used the same concrete bricks, the same windows, old shutters, and pipes.” The exposed pipes are used as handrails, a creative touch. “It was significant using the old pipes,” Carol explains. “Any attempt at modernizing anything was rejected by Bill. The old building spoke to him. We knew he would thrive in this environment. And that’s the comfort of this place. Because it is old and Bill paints on old materials, he is really comfortable in this space.”
On the third level are two bedrooms and a bathroom with an antique tub. “We cut a hole in the roof and put in a skylight so that it is truly sunbathing,” Carol says. There is a loft on the fourth level with a bed, and a balcony overlooks the verdant splendor of the yard. “Most of Bill’s furniture is from the gallery, made by Louisiana artists,” Carol says.
Evenings on the outdoor deck are “quite romantic,” according to Carol. “There are lights on the steps, along the deck, posts, and on the beams. It gives a very subtle effect.” A mister continuously cools guests in the warmer months, while an old antique fireplace warms in the winter. A large stone was turned into a fountain. “It sits in a big iron tub that was in the old warehouse. It was something used to repair trains with,” she says. A shower resides behind the stone fountain. “It doesn’t have a door in it, but the way the wood is positioned, you can walk in and won’t be seen,” Carol points out. In the shower, Hemmerling added a bench, a mirror, plants, and art. The entire back fence, which is made out of corrugated tin, came off the roof of the building. “When they bought the land they made it into a privacy fence,” Carol explains. “Then they cut a hole where the hot tub is, so that you can look out into the forest.”
“The people that come and visit talk about the peace and joy they get from visiting,” Carol says. “They’ll sit in the gallery and listen to music and enjoy the art. Then some of them may walk into Bill’s studio and look out into that wonderful green space.” For Hemmerling, this is the perfect place to create endless images of enduring beauty that capture his spirituality, in art and in life. ✦
