(Above) This house, made of concrete and embedded conch shells, was built in the late 19th century. Click for larger view.
(Above) Entrance to the Shell House. Click for larger view.
(Above) Another view of the entrance area. Click for larger view.
(Above) Detail of the embedded conch shells. Click for larger view.
(Above) Beautifully painted African-American barber sign. Click for larger view.
(Above) Naturally, I turned around when I saw this sign on the way to the airport. Click for larger view.
(Above) This sign was adjacent to the other on the same lot. Click for larger view.
(Above) This giant and majestic Live Oak is believed to be over 600 years old. Click for larger view.
(Above) Another view of the tree. Click for larger view.A FEW WEEKS AGO MY WIFE AND I WENT TO CHARLESTON, S.C. TO VISIT OUR DAUGHTER, who is attending M.U.S.C. (The Medical University of South Carolina). It was wonderful to be back in the deep South, where the Live Oak trees drip Spanish Moss and the taste of sweet tea still resonates with my taste buds.As it was on many Foster family vacations, my travel weary kids heard too many times the explanation: “daddy has to take a little side trip, kids” as we visited places like W.C. Rice’s Cross Garden or other art environments. On this trip, though, with children now grown, I was left alone for a few hours to explore. Alone. OMG! This is what I live for. To drive aimlessly into places unknown, guided only by instinct and a sense for the odd, obscure and eccentric.Posted for you, my dear readers, are some images from that day, my “daily catch” like the seafood signs one sees throughout Charleston. First up, I spotted this small house covered in sea shells. Of course, I was intrigued. Walking inside the open gates, I found that the small house was on the grounds of an exclusive private girls school called Ashley Hall, which was founded exactly one century ago in 1909. I spoke to one of the administrators who kindly allowed me to photograph the shell house and gave me this information: “The shell house was originally part of the estate of a Mr. Charles Witte, and was used as an aviary at his private residence around 1880.” Apparently, “shell houses” like the one I am showing you here were quite popular in Victorian England, according to their spokesperson. The shell house here was originally used as a chemistry lab in 1909, morphed into a smoking lounge in the 1970s, and is today used as a lounge for the seniors. Next up was a beautiful barber sign painted on the side of a building in an African American neighborhood. I liked the simple, illustrative way the sign was painted, with the barber standing ready to give a small boy a haircut. After that, were two great apocalyptic religious signs painted on full sheets of 4’ x 8’ plywood, with references to 9-11 and the “end-of-days” scenarios. These were excellent examples of our freedoms of speech and religion at work.Finally, the mighty and ancient Live Oak was found on the famous Boone Hall Plantation, founded in 1743. That tree alone, a survivor of hurricanes and witness to so much history, was a highlight of not only that day, but the trip as well.
(Above) Euler, 2007
4773 Hand cast encaustic crayons
19.5 in x 19.5 in.
(Above) Poppies , 2007
4773 Hand cast encaustic crayons
19.5 in x 19.5 in.
(Above) Experiment 5 , 2008
Hand cast encaustic crayons
12 x 12 inches
(Above) Experiment 5 , 2008 side view
Hand cast encaustic crayons
12 x 12 inches
(Above) Experiment 5 , 2008 detail
Hand cast encaustic crayons
12 x 12 inches
(Above) Girl, 2008
Hand Cast Encaustic Crayons
19.5 in x 19.5 in
(Above) Boy, 2008
Hand Cast Encaustic Crayons
19.5 in x 19.5 in
(Above) Girl, 2008
Hand Cast Encaustic Crayons
19.5 in x 19.5 in
(Above) Arnie, 2007
Hand Cast Encaustic Crayons
19.5 in x 19.5 in.
(Above) Untitled 6500, 2006
Hand Cast Encaustic Crayons
19.5 in x 19.5 in.
(Above) Untitled 6500 - detail, 2006WHO DOESN’T HAVE A FONDNESS FOR CRAYONS? CRAYONS HAVE THAT SWEET SMELL YOU NEVER FORGET. And I’m not talking about these current day intentionally scented crayons. I’m talking about the original, unadulterated Crayola crayons.
Crayons were probably the first drawing tool we used as children, possibly the first beginnings of a child’s visual creative efforts. I can remember my first set of Crayola 64’s. It might have been around 1958. I would have been in the first grade then. Sixty-four crayons with colors I had yet to even imagine! Colors like Periwinkle, Pine Green, Prussian Blue, Indian Red, Apricot and Thistle launched my creative life.
Can you remember how awesome it was to open that big box of crayons for the very first time? I do. Each little colored head sticking straight up in perfect order. As hard as I tried to put each crayon back in its exact spot, invariably they got out of order. I learned to live with that, but eventually another disappointment would occur. I would break one. Oh-h-h the humanity! The beginnings of self-inflicted disappointment. Early training for the real world. One more thing. I contend that the 64 box of Crayola crayons were part of my early recognition of what it meant to have a collection of something. Yep. This box with the cool die cut lid was a collection of the most beautiful colors in the world. In some ways, I hated to even use them. Neatly arranged in rows, I am absolutely sure that the Crayola 64 box planted an early seed in my life which grew into my very serious collecting of things as an adult.Artist Christian Faur creates his own crayons to exact color specifications and uses them in spectacular pointillist creations. His work is marvelous in concept, smart and deeper than meets the eye. I am sure that Faur has found great sales success and accolades with his crayon works, but based on the depth, sophistication and variation of his past work and other series, I’d say that Faur will always be exploring new series of paintings for us to marvel at.
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OK. I ADMIT IT! I AM IN LOVE WITH CANDY CHANG. I LOVE HER THINKING, HER CREATIVITY AND HER ART. You can love her too, and we'll have this gargantuan intellectual love fest with her. If you have never heard of Candy, let me introduce you.Candy is a designer and artist who currently lives in Helsinki, where she develops strategic visions for Nokia. She has a background in architecture, graphic design and urban planning and combines these disciplines to make city information and communication tools more accessible and engaging. For such a young woman, her resume of accomplishments is impressive, to say the least.Like this particular street art project Candy calls Sidewalk Psychiatry. Realizing that people walking along a city street are often engaged and immersed in their own thoughts about work issues, relationships, or last nights dinner, Candy set out with non-permanent chalk to prod people to focus on what may be bothering them. Her intent was that perhaps one of these questions would help someone find an answer, or seek professional help.
A former art director at The New York Times, she went on to work in Nairobi, New Orleans, Vancouver, Johannesburg, and New York City on collaborative community-based projects with residents, advocacy groups and local government.Candy is a 2009 TEDGlobal Fellow and she received a 2008 Sappi Ideas That Matter Grant, among others. As if that is not enough, this amazing woman uses nerdy computer programs and vintage keyboards to make music. She released her record Typography in 2003. She has performed her music in NYC, Detroit and Grenoble. Candy’s many projects are too numerous to mention, so you can learn more about Candy Chang on her Web site here. And Candy, if you read this, contact me and I will work to find the funds to bring you to St. Louis, Missouri to give a talk. Our city is making some great strides in urban planning and we would welcome you here!
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