So much of what I do is about getting from one city to the next and the discovery of all kinds of things worth noting as I go. All last year was spent primarily on planes and hotels shooting for my clients in some great locations around the country that I may have never decided to go to on my own. When I stop for a second and look at all I've done and where I've been this last year its quite exciting. I want to talk about some of these adventures in near real time in part to not forget the people and resources I come across that inform and inspire me and my work. Kind of a virtual role/memoir. Id also hope to inspire you to visit some of these places on your travels.
I'm writing this entry on a plane to Hawaii for a 3 week shoot for one of my bigger clients. Honolulu is yet to be discovered, but I will certainly have something to report back on soon.
Last night I spent at the Roosevelt Hotel on Hollywood blvd. Its a gorgeous hotel and if you ever have the chance you should stay there a night or two. Its old school Hollywood. The only drawback is the perpetual star tour announcements projecting from Grauman's Chinese Theater across the street, but even that seems authentic. Had a crazy expensive but uber delicious Dean and Deluca stocked mini bar that was hard to resist. Oh and my room had a heater fan situation that sounded like a diesel truck. But stay there. It makes you feel like a celebrity and that's very LA. I arrived at the Roosevelt after dropping my friends James and Alistair off at the airport. We had just spent the week between Christmas and New Year in a mid century house we rented in Palm Springs. Paid extra to have the pool heated but it was worth it. I found the house online at vacationpalmspring.com, and there were plenty gems to choose from. This house was called "a Place in Time". We chose it because it was an authentic well appointed home fairly close to everything. It was decorated well, bright and spacious. The grapefruit and tangerine trees in the yard kept or dining al fresco at the Saarinen table by the pool ultra California modern 1950's. The grapefruit were amazing and made for great mixers in our evening cocktails too! Palm springs was just as fun this time as any other time I've been. Its consistently the oasis its famous for, has the mid century twist, the saucy gay scene, the thin dessert air, and of course the shopping. Cold in Jan so don't be foolish to not bring a coat. We could have also done without the convertible but it was nice when it was warm enough.
Since shopping is always on the top of my list of things to do we immediately hit all the stores and kept finding more and more as we ventured around. A few favorites worth hitting while in town are Palm Springs Consignment, Retrospect, 20 first, Foundation for the Retarded, 111 Antique Mall, Revivals (numerous locations), and of course the Salvation Army. A more conclusive list of shops in the area can be found at orbitin.com, this is the site we used. I shipped a bunch of stuff all over (apartment in ny, apartment in sf and to my hotel in Hawaii) from Mail Box Plus, conveniently located in the same strip mall on South Palm Canyon Drive where there's not one but 2 revival thrift stores. Scoring there is inevitable. Don't go in unless your ready to walk out with bags of finds. I found a sputnik chandelier for a fraction of what I've ever seen them go for, some Danish teak trays, and other authentic bric-a-brac....
A few highlights from last week were the tram ride to the top of the mountain (pstramway.com), poolside grilling, skinny dipping at night under the stars, laughing with my good friends, collecting the million sun hats for my sudden brainstorm idea of a sun hat covered wall for my shoot coming up, the brief but super inspiring and informative chat with Laine Scott from Retrospect about Architectural Pottery (architecturalpottery.com). He had the best eye. Amazing pottery, furniture and fantastic objects in his shop. I bought a Frankoma ashtray that doubles as its own centerpiece because it so insane looking! I love the passion for mid century out west. Still very much alive, even post .com. The modernism show is next month and will attract all the top dealers and collectors from around the globe, too bad I will miss it! Go to palmspringsmodernism.com for more info.
Went to 2 places today worth noting in Los Angeles before heading to the airport. Blackman Cruz and Reform Gallery, both are museums as much as they are retail destinations. Completely different aesthetics but both had a newness in their presentation and distinctive points of view. Something always good to walk into when visiting a shop. Blackman Cruz (blackmancruz.com) can best be described as a showroom of great design, some big name pieces but more interesting were the found pieces of incredible form, material and patina mixed throughout. The glass cases of beauty were contemporary cabinets of curiosity. Very expensive, rightfully so, not only because of what they had in amazing condition, but the way the presented it all with style and pride. Fantastic. They are confident, bold and informed retailers. Very friendly people willing to answer questions without being pushy and there's an air of something else going on, almost like how Aero in NYC feels, and we all know how much Thomas O'Brien has going on. The paint color in the shop is Ralph Laurens Cascade, A perfectly soothing grayish oatmeal neutral (perfect color for the sf apartment). Reform Gallery (reform-modern.com) is one mans passion for pottery, sculpture and furniture gone wild. He's exhibiting and exploring full bodies of work from the hands and hearts of a specific group of artists and craftsmen. An academic collector with a vast knowledge who was willing to share the wealth of his passion. These kinds of experiences turn shopping into crash courses on any number of topics in the decorative arts. He's a major dealer/authority and seems to have cornered the market on California pottery, something that has peaked my interest but something I know only little about so far. I got a walking tour of his shop pointing out and discussing a variety of pieces, one more beautiful than the next. Very sophisticated forms and glazes from anyone who's anyone in the California pottery movement from the arts and crafts period onward. It was almost too much to digest. I ended up buying 4 books from him to begin the educational journey into the history of pottery in America (California specifically). It seemed smarter and more appropriate than buying a piece of pottery from an artist I don't know enough about yet. When I make it back to the shop it would be great to know what I'm looking at. Heightening the appreciation.
That's all for now, about to land, will get to the hotel, make my lists of things to get this weekend for my shoot starting Monday. I've already done most of my prep but am going to need flowers, foliage, food and maybe more sun hats!
BA
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Monday, November 12, 2007
Taking Breaks
This is the first post on my blog. Posts will be leaning towards the professional side of my life even though my professional and personal sides are intertwined. My goal is to explore and unveil a train of thought regarding my days of creative expendentures, the breakthroughs and the occasional deep thoughts. If there are those who care to sift through it great, but I am starting off doing this to just get it all out. I used to write a lot more than I do now. I miss that. My life has become way too busy for the pen and paper.
Starting with today. I woke up late on a half put together ikea platform bed I bought yesterday on my way home from giving a presentation to about 150 people at a Macys store. Shopping exhausted is never a good idea. I was hired to promote the Martha Stewart product line as a now independent entity but former long term employee of her company. This was the 2nd presentation on the same topic. Basically my role was to inform and inspire the prospective costumers by personally introducing them to the product, how to use it, decorating ideas, etc. I am not an actor nor a salesman by trade but perhaps I was asked because I have passion and thats something every good salesman or actor needs to convey. I love what I do. The lovely group of 250 ladies in Florida could see that, but the group in Connecticut seemed more reserved. Nonetheless I spotted many of them after the presentation going through the isles with their arms full.
I woke up late because I am finally able. I have been on too many planes and far away places lately. Sometimes back to back. My tallied work days 175 since march, woe is me. Full time freelance. Traveling all over this country and Canada to create stories for magazines, signage for stores, catalogs, ad campaigns, etc. A dream job. I get a daily dose of doling beauty, day after day. Its so much more about creatively solving problems than anything else and thats something inherent in me, I like to solve problems. My inspiration cannot be pointed towards anyone or any one thing, its more cerebral and based on common sense. Certain little mantras like "would you ever?" helps me to avoid cliches and arbitrary gestures, unless otherwise appropriate. My motivation isnt money as most would make it, its really about taking advantage of the constant flow of opportunity to create, although never saying no has its down side. Getting paid is a fantastic perk to an artist. Not that I would do it for nothing anymore, Ive earned my place here in the sun.
What enables me to keep this all a flow is my incredible friend and assistant. Shes never let me down. She is looking to move on, to which I should be raising my glass but in truth I am sad. Not that I will crumble or be able find someone else. Its that I am truly grateful for all shes done to help me grow and achieve the last 2 years and wish there was a way for her to hang in there long enough to have it pay off for her as it does for me. I cannot make this her passion, no matter how long this run will go. I will miss her. It scares me a little to feel alone. It always has.
There are many things going through my mind tonight. This is exactly why I sat down to write. I have piles upon piles of sorting, lists of things to do. Who doesnt? But I needed to take a break, a break from the routine of thought and vices that capture my mind and inhibit not only the progress I could be making during this precious me time, but the freedom of mind.
Thats one of those occasional deep thoughts. But then again its common sense.
Goodnight,
BA
Starting with today. I woke up late on a half put together ikea platform bed I bought yesterday on my way home from giving a presentation to about 150 people at a Macys store. Shopping exhausted is never a good idea. I was hired to promote the Martha Stewart product line as a now independent entity but former long term employee of her company. This was the 2nd presentation on the same topic. Basically my role was to inform and inspire the prospective costumers by personally introducing them to the product, how to use it, decorating ideas, etc. I am not an actor nor a salesman by trade but perhaps I was asked because I have passion and thats something every good salesman or actor needs to convey. I love what I do. The lovely group of 250 ladies in Florida could see that, but the group in Connecticut seemed more reserved. Nonetheless I spotted many of them after the presentation going through the isles with their arms full.
I woke up late because I am finally able. I have been on too many planes and far away places lately. Sometimes back to back. My tallied work days 175 since march, woe is me. Full time freelance. Traveling all over this country and Canada to create stories for magazines, signage for stores, catalogs, ad campaigns, etc. A dream job. I get a daily dose of doling beauty, day after day. Its so much more about creatively solving problems than anything else and thats something inherent in me, I like to solve problems. My inspiration cannot be pointed towards anyone or any one thing, its more cerebral and based on common sense. Certain little mantras like "would you ever?" helps me to avoid cliches and arbitrary gestures, unless otherwise appropriate. My motivation isnt money as most would make it, its really about taking advantage of the constant flow of opportunity to create, although never saying no has its down side. Getting paid is a fantastic perk to an artist. Not that I would do it for nothing anymore, Ive earned my place here in the sun.
What enables me to keep this all a flow is my incredible friend and assistant. Shes never let me down. She is looking to move on, to which I should be raising my glass but in truth I am sad. Not that I will crumble or be able find someone else. Its that I am truly grateful for all shes done to help me grow and achieve the last 2 years and wish there was a way for her to hang in there long enough to have it pay off for her as it does for me. I cannot make this her passion, no matter how long this run will go. I will miss her. It scares me a little to feel alone. It always has.
There are many things going through my mind tonight. This is exactly why I sat down to write. I have piles upon piles of sorting, lists of things to do. Who doesnt? But I needed to take a break, a break from the routine of thought and vices that capture my mind and inhibit not only the progress I could be making during this precious me time, but the freedom of mind.
Thats one of those occasional deep thoughts. But then again its common sense.
Goodnight,
BA
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
