Archive for the ‘Designer Diary’ Category
Letters from The Hawk,
These letters provide some idea of a part of Tattoo history. Here’s one letter from Lift Trucks Friend James Hawk with a little about Owen Jensen, a tattooist, with his wife Dainty Dotty, a 580 lb circus fat lady who was also a tattooist. They were originally circus folks who were nice people and lived great lives except for an untimely death for one, and another under poor, actually awful, circumstances.
Tom,
To start from the beginning of Owen Jensen, remember, Owen married Dainty Dotty when he was traveling tattooing the Circus circuit, Dottie, the circus fat lady at 600 lbs passed and left Owen with Butch before he was 4 years of age. When this happened Owens life kicked into a full gear, he’s around 60 years old and devotes everything to his Son, sending him to private schools, keeping a lovely clean and good home environment and never remarries and does it all with his tattooing and supplies and all alone . Tragedy strikes yet again after he does a fine job raising Butch when Butch is killed in a car accident at the age of 18 in 1967, Owen is then around 75 or 6 years old. Owen lets go of his home for an apartment and settles in to work tattooing on Chestnut in Long Beach until tragedy struck him again after working the late shift of 6pm-1am when he was mugged and stabbed for 30 bucks by three thugs on July 5th 1976 at the age of 85! Now that is a true tale in tattoo history. The man made his own way through so much tragedy and still would have kept pumping smoke to tattoo at the age of 85 if some thugs hadn’t done their deed. These photo’s are a wonderful piece of history that adds to the life and times of Owen Jensen, one hellova Man.
Art, Parrots and Pink Walls
I’m a designer, from education and from birth. So, naturally, I’m constantly thinking of ways to reinterpret and conceptualize mine and my clients surroundings. In school, they say concept is everything, in the real world, however, concept has very little affect on the final outcome, just an idea generator. If you’re lucky enough to have a client that has all the money to spend, but not a clue about design, you’re golden and free to conceptualize your life away. Please create the most fantastically awesome space.
Ok, so you’re wondering about the title right? Well I had an intriguing opportunity to experience such a space, and it happened to be in the Studio of artist Hunt Slonem. He has a huge space, just outside of Times Square with great views, northern light, a designer’s dream really.
Walking in, out of the elevator, my eyes are immediately assaulted with color and not jut any color, every color; on the walls, the floor, the hundreds of small scale Victorian frames, intricately yet sporadically mounted on almost every wall surface. Read the rest of this entry »
Off to See My New Art Friends (Part 1)
Ross Bleckner at Mary Boone
Through a series of events, I became a Plus One to a high-end art opening in NYC! The artist Ross Bleckner at the posh Mary Boone Gallery.
I wasn’t really prepared for this type of event you know, I had just come from work. Luckily, this particular Thursday, I had decided to wear my new black, suede over-the-knee boots, good for any occasion, and had a tube of just right, red lipstick in my purse, always carried for emergency. I have one last look in the mirror before I leave the office, check my hair; Smashing! I’m satisfied; out the door, on the subway, headlong toward my destination.
