Sundance 2011

Congratulations to the Directors, Producers, Cast and Crews of four (1,2,3,4!) independent films coming out of Seattle and accepted into the Sundance Film Festival 2011!

The lineup:

"The Off Hours," "The Catechism Cataclysm", "The Oregonian," and "The Details"

Thank you Seattle Times for taking note:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/movies/2013580574_sundance03.html

And Thank You to Charlie Thomason of Recycled Cinema for including "The Off Hours" on his "most excited to see" list:
http://recycledcinema.com/festivals/sundance-2011/sundance-2011-films-most-excited-about/

I've got friends and colleagues on all of them, and I'm so excited to say that I worked on 2:

"The Off Hours" (Art Director) and "The Details" (Set Dresser).

So, We shall see You in Park City next month! 

(still from the set of "The Details", photo by Lisa b.Hammond) 

 More on "The Details" and "The Off Hours":

http://hammondrye.blogspot.com/2009/10/details.html

http://hammondrye.blogspot.com/2010/06/off-hours.html

Nothing Against Life

In his latest blog post, my friend Erik tells a little about my latest project, feature film "Nothing Against Life", written and directed by Julio Ramirez.  Cinematography by Carl Adelson.

http://www.nothingagainstlife.com/
http://blog.simkinsphotography.com/2010/10/nothing-against-life

Epic Tuesdays:

this shot is so perfect in so many ways. we've decided it had to be taken by our teacher, Mary White,
 possibly on a field trip to SFMOMA.

I'm so tired, my eyes can't even blink at the same time.

My KUOW Hall of Shame: a Grassroots behind the scenes special.

walnut shell boat from a long time ago

walnut shell boat from a long time ago
Originally uploaded by lbhstylist

I've threatened to create a"Stuff In My Mom's House" site for a while but have been busy working on back-2-back features, which leave precious little time for personal toilette much less frivolous blogging posts.

I made this little dingy in 3rd grade. It floats.

The Off Hours

Another feature under my belt:
The Off Hours
http://www.theoffhoursfilm.com/

This was certainly a proud opportunity to work with a wonderfully talented crew and cast.
Many of whom I look forward to working with again, soon. 
 A very Special "Thank Yous" to our talented and fearless director,
Megan Griffiths. You are a visionary and a goddess.
Not to mention, the incredible eyes of cinematographer, Ben Kasulke.
His shadows alone can support any script.
And many multi 'Hats Off' to producers: Lacey Leavitt, Mischa Jakupcak, and Joy Saez.
Each of which kept a secure watch over their 'flock' during production.
Also my friend, production designer, Ben Blankenship. His vision is beauty, but his truck has no brakes and really bad gas.

 set stills shot by me/not officially approved/more to come:

Win an iPad!

A few weeks ago I made mention to a campaign I'm collaborating on with my friends: incredibly talented and sassy photographer Darryl Bernstein and world travelor and producer Wendy Dreaney.
It Launches today!
Darryl will be creating a series of images illustrating the names of select advertising agencies as a promotional contest for Agency Access.

-Go Ahead, test your agency savvy and win yourself an iPad!
http://www.agencyaccess.com/index.cfm?go=promos.uni&p=May10_contest

Vote for: Featured Bedding of the Week

without sharing any details on either of this week's linen arrangements;

I'd love to hear which project you think was the bigger challenge, and why?

648+ Gerbera daisies

As part of a Spring campaign for a client, I built these images on foam core cut-out over a light table.  The entire image size was 5'x8' original.  The image was being shot from overhead with a Hasselblad H3D and, while it would be simple enough for it to be manipulated in post to avoid 'wasting' all the fresh floral, the final image would be printed in multiple media, including a direct mail 11" x 17" foldout on quality stock.  Because the goal was high end impact, we agreed that the real deal would be worth the effort.  It was literally back breaking, but who's to complain: I'm getting paid to surround myself with flowers! 
I did the math and pre-ordered 54 dozen gerbera daisies.  With the daffs, I needed a few more.  Carefully laid down, one by one for maximum pattern variation the first shot took about 2 hours to set up.  By the time I finished trimming off their little necks, I definitely wanted a manicure!

Since this was shot during the spring harvest, it wasn't as pricey as one might guess.
That said,  I just didn't have the heart to toss them into the yard waste bin after the shoot. (which, horrifically, is where much leftovers go, including food, after most productions. Something I will address in a later post).
But I couldn't imagine who would actually appreciate 1200 flowers without stems? 
Mother's day was upon us, but these beauties would never survive the trip. Who did I know nearby whose could utilize all this sunshine?
Hoping they would last til morning, I filled up 4 trash bags with the legless beauties and loaded them into the car.
As I drove around the corner,  I passed a retirement home. AHA!
I looped back around and pulled into the drive.
After a brief introduction and explanation why I was offering 4 sacks of flower heads, I was escorted into the dining hall where the evening dinner ritual was in progress.
During college, I spent sometime volunteering in retirement homes and working with seniors.  Its funny with older people living in group homes: They can easily resign themselves to just being bored out of their minds.  So any little action out of the routine is looked upon with either suspicion or pure glee. 
I approached with caution and a quick apology as to why there were no stems, I was rewarded with smiles at every table.
Happy Spring!

Stickie Love

I love stickers just like the next kid.  but it still feels like cheating.

Here is how we used a garden collection from Wee Gallery the set of The Details (due out fall'10):

 

Stickers and vinyl decals are a simple and quick means to add whimsy or panache to any room with out committing to hours of sketching details free hand or from a projected image. And the vinyl are typically 'removable', which is great for kids and non-committal types (I don't even hang art on my walls)  The obvious use is for nursery, children and dorm rooms.  But there are some
Prices start around $10 usd and go up to $200+.
Here are some tastefully thought decals:

how cute would a vintage glider bench in red be under this "tree"?

(check out www.vintageglider.com)

                                    

image sources:
www.weegallery.com
www.urbanoutfitters.com
www.etsy.com/shop/glasshousecouture
www.dalidecals.com
www.paristic.fr
www.studionommo.com
www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk

the power of pattern

I recently found colourlovers.com and have since logged a few hours creating palettes and even 'new' colors that I get to name! This fun pass time is proving to be an inspirational resource and valuable design tool.


Of course, I've always known that a pattern can create atmosphere or evoke an emotion .  
And that in hand with color, can be an amazingly persuasive design force. But I've mostly practiced using the combination intuitively. This is a conscious exercise in application. 

At colourlovers.com, you can combine palettes and patterns and name them based solely on 1st inclination.  It happens completely intuitively.  Its wonderful!  Give it a try and let me know what you come up with.

http://www.colourlovers.com/palette/1123519/blogspot

baby bok choy stir-fry w/tofu

Shark Attack!

I am happy to be working on another project with 2 of my favorite and talented friends: Darryl Bernstein and Wendy Dreaney.   Darryl has been commissioned to do a series of images in the satirical style that he is well know for.

Together, we have a history of large campaigns and have developed an easy style of communication that makes producing complicated projects a piece of cake.

So far that is keeping me very busy: set building, casting, pulling wardrobe, props and styling.

The best part is collaborating with Darryl and Wendy: They are talented, articulate, funny, experienced, sophisticated, thoughtful, and direct.  Just a bit of what they have to offer.

Earth and Iceland

I've just dumped this set into the trash.

Generally, after the client gets their image, thats the way it goes.
 It filled my garage, took 2 days to cure and looked perfect: sculpted with carpet, roofing composite, concrete and orchre pigment, I built a minature Elah Valley for the fall of Goliath.  I can't show you the final image until it is published, but trust me, it will be award winning!












                                       OK, here is a tiny snip:














I seem to be drawn to tuscany tones.  Russets, amber, ochre and sienna. I am constantly picking up trinkets and iron relics to display on shelves, prop open a door, tack onto a fence, or wedge into a tree elbow.  Remembrance of things past.  A sense of antiquity.

But in this grey NW environment, these hues never ever make it onto my walls.  I subscribe Only to an icelandic palette and use primarily iced grayed whites for my wall.
And despite convention, I have no problem using a semi gloss on a plaster wall or a hi-gloss on the ceiling.  I Love mixing finishes.  One hue, used with different lusters, will create subtle mutations of reflecting light within a room as the quality changes through the seasons.

multiple finishes will take one hue in multiple directions.

it took me weeks to actually match these colors.

http://www.colourlovers.com/palette/1123133/scandinavian_ices

http://www.colourlovers.com/blog/2008/07/03/the-colors-of-corrosion-rusty-palettes

I was a Children's docent (loved it, left it, will return again)

After college and while I was working on the Pacific Coast Stock Exchange Options floor, I applied, was accepted and trained in the SF MOMA's Children's docent program.  MOMA was living at the Veterans War Memorial Building then; there was a lot of marble and grandeur.

It was quite a privilege and responsibility.
It took a large time commitment and a small financial investment, which sometimes put me on the spot, because my colleagues were all either retired or enjoyed 6 figure incomes w/no kids.  I was fresh out of school. So when MOMA members held charity auctions,  instead of the glamourous spa services or vacation packages, I would hesitantly donate  my own photography work, mounted and framed.  (I was always secretly thrilled when they received bids).

More importantly, as a docent, I had a wonderful time with the kids.  Since grade school, I've always been involved with children in some educational capacity, and becoming a docent was a perfect marriage of art history, creative expression, and mentorship.  I found myself being inspired and enlighted by the simple unbiased interpretations of younger eyes.  I encourage everyone to visit a museum or gallery with a child and listen to their thoughts.  Try not to over think or complicate the art.  Because in my opinion, that can really dilute the enjoyment it may have been meant for.

This year marks the 75th Anniversary of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the opening celebration kicked off mid January with tons of events, speakers and parties!  While all the exhibits offer contemplation, I was most interested in The View From Here, which encompasses California photography and includes the history of SF MOMA collecting photography, and Artists in Focus, which included a room of Diane Arbus images.



While studying photography, I made trips to the Fraenkel Gallery for inspiration. For more than 20 years, Fraenkel Gallery has been the most important resource of photography on the West Coast.  Not surprisingly, Jeffrey Fraenkel was included as one of the 75 passionate people from the Bay Area's creative community to speak during the opening weekend and I was in town to attend.  Jeffrey spoke briefly of his relationship with and continuing admiration for Diane Arbus, including insights on A Young Brooklyn Family, currently on view at  SF MOMA.  A special treat for me.  Meanwhile, my father found more interesting things on the roof garden.

The parties are over but SF MOMA will offer special shows and programs all year.  I highly encourage a visit, and another. and another!

http://www.sfmoma.org/themes/anniversary
http://www.sfmoma.org/pages/participate_docent
http://www.fraenkelgallery.com/
http://www.artprojectsforkids.org/
3/22/10 JUST FOUND THIS VERY WONDERFUL GROUP: http://www.thebigartpeople.co.uk/

Writers block.

I have a bit of  "writers block".  I didn't realize that I could get it because I don't think of myself as a writer.  But a blog is just a journal and it needs content to manage.  And if you don't feel like making any even if you know you should, but not sure you can and it just gets worse so then you won't, well thats "writer's block".  Right?

Seattle CityArts mag has a spot entitled: Blog Digest.
It offers up some enjoyable and inspirational blogs by artists and creatives. The November issue featured DimensionsAreVariable.blogspot.com from Seattle visual artist, Sharon Arnold.  It referenced a post by Sharon that addressed the pressures of part-time bloggers, (not companies or corporate entities), to post more often than they feel they can. That's "writers block".  In my case, post relative and interesting content on a regular basis.


Sharon goes on to suggest that many bloggers, companies and other entities use blogs to 'push' a product or brand.  In the case of an artist, or creative, blogging is an effective marketing tool for ourselves,  and as my inspirations shift and my focus wanders, I wonder if so does my 'brand'?


Sometimes I get exasperated by the variety of ideas and narrative that can constantly loop through my brain. 


Sometimes I'll over-think something, a posting, letter or email,  to the point of feeling some illusory sense of completion, and then never actually do it!


Reading through more posts by Sharon Arnold, I found comraderie and encouragement.
Sharon puts it perfectly, "... This blog and what I write about reflects who or what I'm looking at and how, and in a way, demonstrates how it feeds my work..." 


So now I'm over it. for a while. I shot these at Castle in The Air, which has the most fantastic selection of writing implements to help with writers block.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lisabhammond/sets/72157614980431161/
http://www.cityartsmagazine.com/
http://DimensionsareVariable.blogspot.com/
http://castleintheair.biz/