"It's only the tip of the iceberg," Walter Cowie said as he showed off the contemporary lighting fixtures currently on display in the window of his design firm at 1043 E. 900 South. "There are many more fixtures throughout our offices and in our catalogs."
And Cowie, owner of Light Spot, is proud of this display, which includes desk lamps as well as floor, wall and decorative fixtures.He pointed out, however, that although one can find larger retail outlets for these contemporary lighting fixtures in New York and Los Angeles, one won't in most other cities across the country.
Cowie is pleased that he is establishing a contemporary lighting market locally.
"Salt Lake is ripe for contemporary," he said. "It's a perfect setting. Our mountains are big and massive. We have so much space. And these lighting fixtures lend themselves to our lifestyle."
Light Spot is a local dealer for four separate Italian lighting companies - Atelier International Lighting (A.I.), Flos Inc., I.P.I. and Artemide. All four companies have found innovative ways to take high technology and merge it with art. The end products are not only highly practical but aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
We've all heard that "form follows function." But these amazing lighting fixtures have altered that expression. Cowie points out that one does not necessarily "follow" the other. In most cases both are created simultaneously, resulting in a marriage of form and function.
The viewer is immediately attracted to the amazing artistic and design qualities of these modern lighting fixtures. But a demonstration of their versatility can add dramatically to his appreciation for them.
Cowie explained that most of the lighting fixtures use halogen bulbs. This means that the average life of the bulb is 8,000 to 10,000 hours. That's quite a comparison to the average bulb most of us use - 1,200 to 1,500 hours.
He explained that the halogen bulbs, through the use of heat, actually regenerate themselves, thus extending their longevity.
Each light is a conversation piece. In some, the light reflects on small, adjustable steel plates. In others, it bounces off large circular disks. Floor and reading lamps can be raised, lowered and swiveled.
Cowie pointed out that these reading lights are giving lamps a whole new meaning. But he knows that it takes time to educate people to this contemporary lighting.
"I take time to explain the features to my clientele," he said. "They soon grow accustomed to them and respond favorably to them."
"In our business, we try to be very organized and professional," Cowie said. "We feel that the key to our success is being very up-front with people."
Light Spot will continue to feature its current show, "Lighten Up," at the design firm through July 27. However, on July 28, 29 and 30, Cowie will move the collection to Snowbird for display in the Peruvian Room on the Terrace during the Jazz Festival. Viewing hours will be 2-9 p.m. daily.
This is the fourth year Cowie and his associates have set up interior design displays at Snowbird.
"It's a perfect location," Cowie said. "The contemporary lighting and furniture have an ideal backdrop - the massive concrete walls, the glass windows and the magnificent mountains."
He pointed out that the main purpose of this Snowbird exhibit is to expose people to what is available.
"When people see nice contemporary furniture and lighting, they like it." he said.
Housed under the same roof as Light Spot is Walter Y. Cowie Design, a firm that has been in existence for more than six years. Also owned by Cowie, it deals with office planning and layout, color and finish selection, furniture specification and interior and exterior graphics and signage systems.
Already the firm has an impressive list of design projects under its belt, including buildings on the Utah State University campus, the Heber M. Wells State Office Building, Dean Witter Inc., the Fidelity Investments Co. and the Marker Ski Binding factory headquarters in Garmisch, West Germany. A few projects now in progress include the renovation of the Engineering Building at USU and renovation and space planning for the Walker Center in downtown Salt Lake City.
Cowie graduated from Brigham Young University in 1976 with a bachelor's degree in interior design and planning. He later received his bachelor of arts there in graphic design.
Before starting his own company in 1982, Cowie worked for two years as a senior designer in San Diego and for four years as director of design for Conant Associates. He then moved from California to Salt Lake City to establish the interiors department with an emphasis on space planning and graphic/signage.
Cowie and his staff at Light Spot are anxious to introduce Utahns to their inventory of incredible lighting fixtures. They're convinced that this contemporary perspective of lighting for residential and commercial applications will "light up your life."