Tag Archives: Design

Brodovitch did it first.

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Alexey Brodovitch by Kerry William Purcell ★★★★

Born in Russia in 1898 to an aristocratic and wealthy family, Alexey Brodovitch fled to Paris in 1920 as an exile, where he found himself in a community of russian artists. He was hired as a painter of stage sets for Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes, which in turn inspired him to work as a commercial artist. In 1930, Brodovitch moved to Philadelphia to take on a teaching position in advertising design at the Philadelphia college of Art. There he started the Design Laboratory, an experimental workshop for some of his more advanced students. Among the photographers who attended his classes were Diane Arbus, Eve Arnold, Richard Avedon, Lisette Model, and Garry Winogrand. Photographer Ralph Steiner who worked for Harper’s Bazaar (which was owned by William Randolph Hearst) introduced him to Carmel Snow, editor-in-chief of the magazine. Snow is credited with saying: “I saw a fresh, new conception of layout technique that struck me like a revelation: pages that “bled” beautifully cropped photographs, typography and design that were bold and arresting. Within ten minutes I had asked Brodovitch to have cocktails with me, and that evening I signed him to a provisional contract as art director.” During his 24-year reign from 1934 to 1958, Brodovitch created a unique look for Bazaar using avant-garde photography, typography and illustration. He was helped by old friends like Man Ray, Jean Cocteau, Raoul Dufy, Marc Chagall and A.M. Cassandre. One of his regular contributors was former student Richard Avedon, who became an iconic photographer in his own right (his obituary in The New York Times following his death in 2004 stated that, “his fashion and portrait photographs helped define America’s image of style, beauty and culture for the last half-century.”) Continue reading →

365 Days of Creativity

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Giraffe Drawings_3784

One of my friends, K, whom I had originally met in a painting class said something on Facebook just a short while ago about looking forward to starting a new art class as she hoped this would get her painting again, something she’s been finding hard to do lately. I understand the frustration of wanting to create things and feeling held back by lagging motivation. In my reply to her, the idea just popped into my mind that maybe I could start a group and/or blog where people would be encouraged to post a creation every day, in whatever medium they choose. Back in March, I blogged about wanting to find a project that would entail me showing my creations on a daily basis and gave myself a month to think about what I could possibly want to do every day for at least 365 days. I set myself a deadline to figure out what that thing would be: April 11th. This date is fast approaching and up until today I’ve been dreading it. Making that process interactive and having other people contribute their own creations too however… that seems a lot more exciting to me. I’m thinking that a group effort will encourage participants to keep going and stay motivated if only for the pleasure of sharing their creations with others.

I’ll think this over and share what format this group/blog will take on (making it user-friendly being a priority), when the start date will be, as well as how others can join me in this project, etc this Sunday April 11th. I’m hopeful that others will want to start this 365 day adventure with me or at least participate occasionally. If you’re interested, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment—I’d also be curious to know what you think you might like to contribute, though I encourage everyone to participate in whatever medium they are most comfortable with, be it photography, painting, drawing, knitting, doodling, poetry, design, recipes, short stories, music, sewing, videos, haikus, baking… basically ANYTHING that is your own creation and which you can show others via internet. Anyone from beginner,  or amateur to professional is encouraged to participate. We’re not looking for perfection; participation is the only goal and any kind of effort will be encouraged. Suggestions are welcome.

Whether there are other participants willing to start on Day One with me or not, I’ll set the whole thing in motion in hopes that others will want to join along the way, though I’d love it if at least a couple of people joined from the start. Are you in?

This photo by Smiler was originally  featured in this post.

Notes From the Cave

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Mimi Quad7_1317

Mimi Quad9_1319

It would seem that the cats and I have entered a state of hibernation this month. I’ve been on battery-saving mode for a while now, which is a good thing because I also happen to be completely broke for the next week or so. Which is actually quite funny considering I have a closet-full of cashmere, seriously gorgeous (and stupidly expensive) brand new Belstaff boots and some beautiful handmade Little Bowls by local artist Dorothy Deschamps, to name just those very few things. The bowls I got at the Souk @ SAT on an outing to look at affordable contemporary design with my lovely friend K last Friday, which is where I also found out my spending had finally reached it’s absolute limit. We both got jars of Ethiopian spiced coffee, I got myself a silk knot necklace and a tasteful do-it-yourself cardboard Canadian log cabin for the cats. And the little bowls (also known as pinch pots) of course. I was also very tempted by several very cool stuffed dolls, ultra-modern laser-cut wood hangers, a handmade pink-glazed ceramic figurine of a geisha with a deer head (which I thought could inspire quite a few paintings), letterpressed stationery, lots of great ceramic mugs and dishes and various small items—from salt shakers to side tables—for the house. K was much more reasonable than me and only got a pair of the miniature golden bowls to give to a much beloved auntie in Prague, which is where K and her family will be spending the holidays this year. I know auntie V will be pleased with the bowls.

Above, just a couple of pictures I took while I played around with the QuadCamera application on my iPhone—you can see them all by clicking here. Below, my small collection of pinch pots.

5 Pinch Pots

Miscellanea

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Ok. So it’s already quite late, and I want to be up really early tomorrow, like 9 a.m. or so and I still have to get this blog post written, get ready for bed, and read a couple of chapters of Catch-22. So I must keep it brief. As it happens, I don’t have much to report, so I thought I’d just toss out a few a few random musings and observations.

1. As it turns out, Catch-22 is turning out to be a much more entertaining read than I was fearing it would be, for a book set in the war and describing life in the army. Which is cool because it’s an old edition and the fonts are so small I practically have to take out a loupe on top of my reading glasses to make out the text. At least all that work is turning out to be worthwhile. So far.

2. I ran into mix ex-assistant from my ex-job today and for once, I actually almost had my act together, appearance-wise I mean. I was recently showered and smelled okay and my hair was in a not-horrible state and I was wearing some new duds along with my beautiful leather jacket I bought a few years back which had been too small for me for the past couple years (up until now), so I looked very okay, I think. It didn’t change the fact that I didn’t have much news to report, but at least I didn’t feel like a total loser. Well, maybe like someone who’s taken a seriuos blow but who’s slowly getting herself back together again. Which is better than feeling like a total loser by a longshot.

3. No matter how I plan my day, I always end up getting to the post office at the last possible minute before closing, and sometimes (like today) up to half an hour after closing. For some reason it’s imprinted in my brain that closing time is a 7:30 p.m. when it’s actually at 7:00. It’s inside a pharmacy which closes at 9:00, so maybe it’s too much information for me to try to retain two closing times instead of one what with my drug-addled brain. It wouldn’t be such a big deal usually, except today I was transporting a giant, unwieldly (yet surprisingly light) box* and didn’t want to have to bring it back home only to have to bring it back again tomorrow. Then the nice young cashier lady took it upon herself to offer me to leave it behind the counter ’till tomorrow. Besides the fact that it was very nice of her and a big relief, I’m also glad that in our post 9/11 reality, she didn’t immediately assume I was a terrorist with an evil plan to blow up the pharmacy.

* Asa if you’re reading this: that box is soon on it’s way to YOU. And no worries, there are no dangerous goods there—just your bucket… which I hope you’ll be able to pick up this time!

4. Today I got really, really, REALLY, REALLY excited about… can you guess what it is? Facial tissue boxes. Even though it was one of my good days today the ONE thing that really made the day were those tissue boxes. No kidding. I use a lot of tissues because my nose is constantly running what with mild allergies to my two cats so there are tissue boxes in every room of my apartment, but the thing is, they’re always just horrendous looking. Not just bland. Not just boring. Not just sooo pastel. Not just kinda ugly. I mean… prints that look like reproductions of puke swirl patterns ugly. But today there were newly designed Kleenex boxes on sale (made with recycled fiber too! No doubt a smart response to harsh critcism from environmental groups) and they were actually visually attractive! As in… prints I might be inclined to put up on my walls! I won’t mention the fact that they feel like sandpaper after a few uses (hopefully improvements are underway). But hey! Kleenex boxes designed for the discerning environmentally friendly design connoisseur! No detail too small I tell ‘ya*…

*Well actually, an even cooler alternative would be to switch to handkerchiefs. I found an awesome site for handmade kerchiefs, but they only ship in the U.S.! (If somebody can help me out with that, let me know!)

5. On a much more serious note, there was a documentary on HBO tonight from 2007 called Ganja Queen about Schapelle Corby, the young Australian woman who was caught at a Balinese airport with some 10 lbs or pot in 2005. I’d heard about her story back then of course since there had been a seriously sick media frenzy. Weed is a very light substance, so 10 lbs is a MASSIVE amount. In Bali, the maximum sentence for drug possession is death by firing squad. Though Schapelle and her lawyers mercifully managed to evade the death penalty, she was condemned to 20 years in a Balinese prison with no chance for parole. I tend to believe that she’s not guilty and that the drugs were planted* as she stated in her defense, but regardless of that fact, it just breaks my heart to see this young woman (now 31) who was only 27 when she was sentenced to 20 years. By the time she gets out she’ll be 47 which is still relatively young of course, but that’s two decades when a lot of women evolve in their careers, date, find husbands, maybe have a few kids, and all that has been stolen for her. For a crime for which there are no victims, and a drug that is relatively harmless. For shame.

* Still, her plausible version of the facts made me take the firm resolution that from now on, I am NEVER traveling overseas without ensuring my luggage is locked and secure first. Scary.

Well, wouldn’t you know it, it’s taken me up till now, at 3:58 a.m. to put this “simple” blog post together. This is why I post so many quotes and video—so I can get some sleep!

Photo from: ill Seen, ill Said (a gorgeous blog by the way).
This photo does not depict the product mentioned but it’s a great shot!