A passion for collecting has grown to fill this home Tand the youngest, the one they refer to as “the empress,” is eight.hirty years ago Norma Quintana married her husband, Sergio M.Manubens. Together they have raised three children: the oldest is twenty-three But it was someone else’s babies that first caught Norma’s eye. The Dionne quintuplets were born in 1934 to a couple living in a farmhouse in unregistered territory outside Ontario, Canada. They were the first quintuplets known to survive infancy, and they made world history. When Norma spotted a set of dolls made in their image, she knew she had to have them. Since then her desire to collect has grown, manifesting itself in a home filled with unique finds. Norma’s fascination with the unusual led to a ten year journey across the United States with a one-ring circus. Through the eye of a medium format film camera she documented the lives of performers behind the curtain, or as they refer to it in the industry, “the back of the house.” These hauntingly beautiful images give the viewer an intimate portrait of a unique group, a family of performers. At the end of the day it was food that brought everyone together, as people from all parts of the world sat beside one another in the cookhouse to eat. Norma’s family, like the circus community, is a blend of different cultures. Sergio is from Chile, their daughter, Frida, was born in Hunan, China and Norma grew up with Puerto Rican parents in Cleveland, Ohio. “In Ohio it was easy to define cultures,” she said. “Different nationalities had their own neighborhoods—the Italians, the Russians. . . .You always knew where someone was from.” Sergio’s passion is cooking. He whips up traditional Chilean recipes such as empanadas, while Norma’s love is staging the house. She tells me, “I have a passion for the endless variety of the world around us.” Their home reflects this, showcasing a myriad landscape of diverse cultures. Every room has a unique feel, like characters in a play. The house acts as stage while the props are a gallery of fluctuating art and accessories. In the powder room is a collection of Virgin Mary statues gathered in serene prayer. Above the family room fireplace hangs a pair of bull horns, and across the room is a Chinese apothecary chest originally from Napa’s Chinatown which displays a kaleidoscope of butterflies carefully preserved under glass. Norma describes these vignettes as “creative installations,” and like any good curator, she has a stockpile to choose from. In the garage is a custom-built cabinet which spans sixteen feet. With the push of a finger, these cabinet doors pop open to expose a wonderland of bric-a-brac. Instead of hiding away in a box, everything is exposed, ready to be used. Norma likes to decorate according to the seasons, parties, or just for the sake of change. She is drawn to curiosities, or as she refers to them, “oddities.” As a collector she recommends buying things in groups. Her advice to friends is, “If you’re going to buy, then buy in multiplicity.” Shopping with Norma sounds like it could be a dangerous adventure. As I leave Norma’s house, she gives one last piece of advice: “Take it out of the box!” Norma emphasizes the importance of using what you have, instead of storing it away in a box to be forgotten. I think there is something refreshing about this; it reminds us all to take a look at what we are holding onto and why. Currently Norma is collaborating with Antonio Navas to publish a collection of her circus photography in a unique coffee table book entitled Circus, A Traveling Life. To see Norma’s photography you can visit her website at www. normaquintana.com To see more photos visit Indra’s design blog: inspireyourlifestyle.com J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 2 33
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