The Brewery

Another great day with the Obscura society LA. As I  drive down the 5 freeway, I see  the tall smoke stack just on the northeastern edge of downtown. P1140020Years ago I visited here, it is an artist colony. So when the opportunity came to visit again, I jumped at the opportunity.

The Brewery is a fascinating place. Built in 1903 by the Edison company as their Electric Steam power plant – hence the very tall tower.  Later part of the complex was taken over by Pabst Blue Ribbon Brewery – which is where the complex gets its name.  Today we are so used to micro breweries, we forget that this is still a very large scale industry. Heck, even in the valley we have the massive Anheuser Busch Brewery right along side the 405 freeway.P1140007About 30 years ago the owners of the abandoned complex turned it into artists lofts, and it has been one of the largest thriving artist complexes every since. Barbara’s Brewery is in the middle of the complex and the artists often meet there for beer and food.P1140005This emblem on the building signifies that this is a multiuse building, artists both live and work in here. Of course this symbol is on all the buildings in the brewery and throught the Arts District where it originated. P1140008The catwalk connects two parts of the actual brewery.P1140019While crossing from one studio to another, I captured this image. The tree top, the shadows.P1140021As we entered the next building, the old stencils remain. The walls of this building are very thick.P1140009The first loft we visited was the artist Dave Lefner , here he is in black in his loft. Btw, pay attention to the image behind the stair case, this is an image from the second artist we visited, Kelly Reemstsen. She asked us not to photograph her work since she is prepping for a show, so of course I didn’t. But this is an older image of hers and Dave owns it, so you can get a feel for her work.P1140012Of the four artists we saw, I loved Dave’s work the most. There is my neighbor, the clown from Circus Liquor. Dave works in a very interesting technique of linocut printing. The fact that he achieves from 7 to 10 or 11 colors from one block in amazing.  He also mentioned how most people think of neon as a night time kind of art, but he just loves how the shadows are reflected during the day.P1140018I love the artwork and the mirror on the wall that just reflected the people and the other wall back at me, as well as the old fashioned kind of selfie.P1140013Close up of machinery! You should know by now how much I love this. This is a letterpress, not very useful for Dave’s work, but he just purchased a whole case of movable type, so we’ll see how that informs his art.P1140015This is the actual press he uses, with some of the linoleum blocks on it.  I am fascinated by the techinque and his work, who knows, maybe on the spring Artwalk I’ll pay a longer visit to the studio.

We then went to Kelly’s  studio. No pictures. The space itself was really large, her living space separated out from the studio by large glass doors.  IMG_4442I did get these from the artists, so the Girl with the chain saw is Kelly’s art and the wonderful painting that uses the Eastern Columbia building is by the next artist we visited.

Then on our way to the next loft there was outdoor art to admire.P1140027Next to the cowboy there is an emormous tire- probably from some massive landcover. For me this image is about all the textures, even if they got somewhat washed out in the bright light.

Teale Hathaway is our next visit. I’ll be honest, I could have taken pictures but I didn’t. I love her art as well, but didn’t feel I could capture it with my camera. Most of her art relates to architecture in LA, so what is not to love!P1140026She has a little outdoor patio and has created her own chandelier tree, which needless to say, I love.

The final artist was Coop, take a look at his website. He does very strong graphics, graphic novels blown up very large.  Nothing that I would ever want to own, but I liked his work.  It’s just not my style.

From there we went on to look at graffiti, that will be another post.

Leah

24th annual Art of Motion Picture Costume design

I was still a student at FIDM when the first exhibit of Costumes from the movies, took place. In those days downtown was very scary and I didn’t venture much beyond FIDM or the garment district.IMG_4387This masked angel greeted me daily, I always have fond warm feelings when I see her.

I haven’t seen all 24 exhibits, I’ve missed a few through the years but I have been to most of them. Sorry to say, this year was a major disappointment.

IMG_4389This was exciting, our friend’s daughter got five of her costumes in the show!IMG_4390I didn’t see the movie, to be honest I don’t think I saw any of the movies. I do like Courtney’s designs. Of course I love the big hand knit scarf, the detail on the vest is wonderful as well. She is very good at creating costumes for that dusty, 1930’s look.IMG_4393Since I really don’t know the movies, I won’t be mentioning the names. This is the first time that photography has been allowed, I guess they just gave up trying to prevent it with all the phones around  Here is another scarf, can’t tell if it’s hand knit or crocheted. I like the trim on the collar of the shirt, these are the small details I find intriguing.

Everyone I know has gone gaga over the Cinderella dress. To me it was standard movie costuming – shiny fabric, not much fine detail, but I’m sure it shimmered and glowed on screen.IMG_4388You can see it in the background of this dress. I found the stepsisters dresses much more interesting. The lace detail on the collar as well as on the sleeves. IMG_4399The overlay fabric is painted, not embroidered. On Screen I’m sure it read as lovely embroidery. There was another dress that was very clearly painted as well. Years ago I remember seeing many costumes like that, poor construction, paint, puffy paint, big plastic gems. And then slowly that faded away as higher definition cameras came into use, the costumes would be impeccably made – even if those watching the movie could never tell the difference.IMG_4398Another lovely detail is in the reticule – or purse and of course the gloves.

I mentioned being disappointed, not only were many of the movies complete unknowns, the quality of the costumes just wasn’t exciting – from a Seamstress point of view.

IMG_4392The iconic images from Star Wars, it would have been so much fun had they been able to procure the original costumes, I’m sure these are much better made.

I didn’t find much excitement in the overall show. (Mad Max won for best costume???  Really??) I haven’t watched the Oscars in years, I got tired of the preening and the political pronouncements. Shut up and act, be gracious don’t be a scold. So I wasn’t surprised that this exhibit was dull and boring. Maybe they couldn’t get costumes from big movies, but they sort turned the whole show into a didactic about how the costumes inform the movie. Boring. Oh wait, last year there was an exhibit at the new Motion picture museum next to LACMA that did just that, and did it extremely well.IMG_4395So I looked for details. I’m glad to see that period pieces still are very elaborate.  For me, to see the inset ruched ribbon on the bodice continue down the front of the dress as a free flowing ribbon – is exciting.IMG_4414Along side the movie costumes, FIDM always displays historic costumes from their permanent collection. The idea being – look to the past to inform the present.  It is clear to see from this dress how the designer of the previous one created their own interest on what is a red dress. Not copying, simply being inspired.IMG_4405That inspiration follows through in a modern movie. There is detail in this simple little dress that probably wasn’t dictated by the story. The little waist band and the placement of the wonderful large border.  This is what I’m looking for when I come to this exhibit, to see those little touches that go unnoticed by most movie goers – but help build a more complex and fulfilling picture.IMG_4403Another period piece, oh my! Look at the placement of the stripes! The attention to detail is exciting!  IMG_4404Or these little wings on this suit. That takes a lot of planning as well as time and effort to create that effect. Of course I also notice the impeccable buttonholes and self fabric covered buttons.IMG_4408Sometimes the detail is in the shoes. I’m not sure if when the costumes are loaned to FIDM that they come with all the accessories or if FIDM has to use their own. They have a vast collection, so that is not a problem. Although I don’t wear very high heels anymore – I would love to find shoes like these!IMG_4409Most mens costumes are boring, sorry a suit is a suit. I’m pretty sure these shoes came with the ensemble because the shirt was the exact color of teal.  I know Hush Puppies made two tone shoes for a while. Not sure they are fashionable anymore, but these are fancy dress shoes!  Something else I’d love to see out in the world.

I’m glad I saw the exhibit, especially since I bumped into a fellow sewist in the Scholarship Store.  We met two years ago at an outing that some sewing bloggers organized. Oh and yes, I did buy some knit fabric for a dress and a skirt for $6, as well as some zippers. One can never have too many zippers.

Leah

A different look at The Broad

P1120499I was downtown giving an Historic Downtown tour to kids from North Hollywood High. They were a great group of kids and the tour went very well. Since I was there on a weekday, I tried my luck and went and stood in line for standby tickets.  Met some lovely people from Seattle who had come for the Disney half marathon. Of course I recommended quite a few of our downtown gems.P1120496I’ll say it right now, I don’t like the art in the Broad, what interests me is the architecture. I want to see how the shapes and forms react both inside and out.P1120505Iconic image, going up the escalator.   As someone who studied design,  I like the focal point right above the woman’s head. How the lines just lead there.P1120510Ok, I found one piece of artwork I like. LACMA has a much more colorful version. African art, taking many pieces of tin, from cans and other objects and creating a large carpet.  A wonderful example of crafting with what you have.  As for the rest of the art, I’m familiar with his collection of 1980s art,  it leaves me cold. What leaves me angry is the newer art – if it doesn’t have an angry message, or an anti Western civilization message – it isn’t part of the collection. There wasn’t anything positive, it was all about racism, or anti war, or sexual deprivation.  I get it, we are eating ourselves and won’t stand and defend what the West stands for.  All we can do is malign and tear down.  I did shock one of the guards when I knew who one of the artists is. Doesn’t make me like her, but I’ve seen her angry anti White America art before. She should be lecturing on all college campii right now.

What this tells me is that many of the visitors don’t know art and coming here they are being ‘educated and enlightened’.  Oh for one single European Madonna and Child.P1120520Jeff Koons,  his highly reflective stainless steel, reflecting itself and the roof beautifully.  A win for building making this piece so much more interesting then when it was in other locations.P1120501So I aimed my camera at the walls, seeing the play of light and shadow on the structure itself.P1120506And found my comfort there.P1120539I had of course seen the window from outside.P1120531It took a while to find it inside, in a lecture hall.P1120542Once again on the outside, tilting my camera so the roof line is vertical.P1120512And of course peering through the windows to the street bellow.  Combining the soft edges of the window with the geometric lattice of  guard rails.P1120515And the view of both Disney Hall and the Dorothy Chandler Pavillon, with a shadow of the San Gabriel mountains beyond.P1120526And then this image, made my heart sing!   The Ped Xing sign, right over the skylights of the Contemporary Art Museum to the Tower of the Title Guarantee building.  This is what I love, standing in one contemporary building, looking over another to a wonderful example of Art Deco.  I love that architecture develops and changes, I wish that Art would do the same without being ugly and angry. Today positive  creativity is happening in the craft world, not in the art world. Here’s hoping they find their way back. At least Architecture isn’t wallowing in the negative.P1120544And finally, away from the Broad, looking at the upper station of Angels Flight.  This is a funicular that needs an angel. We need it to run again!

Leah

On the outskirts of the Fashion District

The fashion District downtown keeps on expanding. Santee Alley used to be one block long, now it stretches from Olympic Blvd all the way to Pico.  Other fashion business have followed suit.  P1090761This store must have been here for a while. Or else the California sun has taken it’s toll on the unique signage.

What caught my attention on the corner of Pico and Santee was this very interesting building.IMG_3690  It’s old, probably from the 1920s’,  when buildings were still using brick. Even the signage looks original.IMG_3688Today all the retail is fashion and the offices are all garment industry related, labels, textile finishing, studios.  I know this because I tried to find some info about this building. Nothing at all about when it was built or by whom. Just info about the current tenants.IMG_3689Even the details on the side are lovely.IMG_3685The front of the building, on Santee really marks it as a Tudor revival.  I’ve been doing my research, in the early 20s’ Tudor revival was a style that many a homeowner used for their large lovely homes.  Charlie Chaplain used this style for his studios on La Brea.  I’ve been looking for other examples of commercial buildings and can’t find any.  Pico Blvd was on the far southern reaches of the business district, from here downtown becomes  much more light industry. So for years, until the fashion district grew, it was simply a forgotten area and no one was either building or tearing down.IMG_3683Notice how the crosswalk is designated with the fashion district logo.  Today this stretch of Pico houses higher end women’s stores as well as children’s clothes. Many of the store fronts are open to the public and are cheaper than boutiques elsewhere. The quality of the clothes is much higher than in the famous Santee Alley. Some are storefronts for the trade only, this is where those high end boutiques come to stock their own stores.IMG_3686This is directly across the street on Pico. Those columns look original,  it looks like someone decided to paint them.  This is the terminus of the Santee Alley, it runs behind this building.  Right behind it the Bendix Arial tower can be seen.P1090760Another view from much further east.

The Fashion District downtown is booming!  Some of the older buildings have come down but it is still a low building district.  I’m wondering if at some point taller buildings will be built. Here’s the thing, the storefronts are doing very very well, the offices above are rented out. But most of the manufacturing is happening south and east of here.  It will be interesting to see how this area changes in the next few years. I’m just praying that 1300 Santee survives the change.

Leah