A Note from Katie: On Curation, Full Circles, and Autumn at Home

My first job was in the gallery of an auction house in Boston specializing in Antiques and Fine Art. While it may sound glam, in reality it was long hours, tiny paychecks, and plenty of time bundled in a North Face puffer on the Park Plaza loading dock, clipboard in hand, tracking boxes of art in and out of trucks from the warehouse.

And yet, I loved it. In my early twenties, in my own apartment, working in my field of study, bopping around Boston, and galavanting to the Cape and Islands when auctions slowed down in the summer.

Most of the job was behind the scenes setting up consignments, managing inventory, and packing and unpacking said boxes. But when sale week came around, everything shifted. The hammers and nails were put away, packing paper smoothed into rolls and we got to work transforming the auction floor into a gallery space, curating an experience of the sale that conveyed value beyond the estimates listed in the catalogue.

I’d trek down Boylston Street to Trader Joe’s, buy out their fine cheeses to pair with prosecco (my two main food groups at the time), and swap my sleeping-bag puffer and vans for a little black dress. Music filled the room (Vince Guaraldi, always), guests filled their glasses, and my everyday office took on an entirely different frequency. The buzz of excitement for the event offered connection, to each other, to the pieces & the shared experience of the space. This echoed the feeling I'd get in the beautiful homes of my friends whose parents graciously hosted us on weekends. As I counted down the hours until I could put my vans back on and meet up at the Sail Loft for tequila and oreos, my future self beckoned..."this is what home will feel like someday." 

It was in those preview days that I learned the true power of curation: how thoughtful placement of beautiful art, atmosphere, and care could elevate an ordinary space. 

While Parker River Proper is always evolving, at its core this is what I am here to do beyond my own home: to create, curate, and offer pieces that bring layers of warmth, beauty, meaning, and connection to the places they land. This feels especially meaningful this time of year as we settle back into our homes from summer adventures and prepare for the inside entertaining months ahead. 

Thank you for joining me for the Autumn vintage drop and for the opportunity to keep sharing what I love. It means everything. I hope come Sunday you'll light a candle, throw on some jazzy tunes, peruse the sale and find something that feels like home to you, wherever that may be.

Katie