Over the past year, fifty-two guests have set aside time in their day away from painting, photographing, researching, sewing, designing, teaching, styling, writing, sculpting and more to share with you and I:
Designer Charlotte von Hardenburgh on how her love of cork stemmed from reading Ferdinand and the Bull
Floral artist Alex Crowder on encountering Andy Goldsworthy’s work 20 years ago
Stylist
on her love for Louise Trotter and peanut butter and jelly sandwichesIDEA co-founder and photographer Angela Hill with musings from her week
Musician and photographer Cobey Arner on his favorite performances by Kings of Leon from the early 2000s
Artist Emily Ferguson on the the color red in her paintings
Chickees Vintage founder Kathleen Sorbara on the joy of a staycation at Sunset Tower… she recommends going on a Sunday eve for an amaro and a sundae (hotel guests only on Sundays)
Textile artist and designer Sarah Nsikak on a quote that lives in her brain:
“There are years that ask questions and years that answer.” - Zora Neale Hurston
I was thinking about this quote the other day. My 20s have been a mix of questions and answers. In those moments of uncertainty, I’ve found myself scribbling down notes about an exhibition, a song that always sneaks into my playlist, or a book I’ve read. It’s therapeutic to write instead of letting thoughts fade. I don’t know if it’s a coincidence, but recently the answers have poured in — I’m excited to share more with you soon.
For now, from yours truly —
I. a book
I recently bought Derrières — a book that includes an elegant collection of Jeanloup Sieff’s photographs taken over several years. Sieff on derrières —
“[Derrières] is in point of fact the most protected and secret part of the body, the part which retains its childhood innocence which the look or the hands have long since lost. It is also, in a plastic sense, the most stirring (in women, I mean!), made up of curves and promises; it is memory, turned towards the past whilst we move inexorably forward, which looks back at where we've been, like children leaning against a car rear window, dreaming of the road flashing past without giving a thought to where they're going.”
II. a department store
Before Just One Eye, Maxfields, and Barneys, there was Bullocks. After driving by the art deco building on Wilshire just east of Vermont that was once home to the luxury department store, I went straight to two trusted sources to learn more—
The closest thing we have to this now is watching tourists strut down 5th Ave before heading into Polo Bar for a popover in New York. Luckily for my grandparents, John Bullocks collaborated with the father and son duo who built iconic LA landmarks like the City Hall, the Coliseum, and Union Station to design Bullocks — a stunning Art Deco department store and one of the first buildings of its kind in the U.S.
In 1929, Bullocks Wilshire opened as a 1 stop shop for everything Angelinos could possibly desire —
I love the term play shoes. I’m surprised there isn’t a brand named Studio of Beauty. I wonder what they talked about in the Women’s Lounge. The details of the building’s design — a valet for cars (new for the time), the murals on the walls, and the “doggery (an area for dogs while shopping) are not to be missed. The building is now a law school, but every summer they give tours to the public. I’ll definitely be going next summer. (To the tour, not law school.)
III. a photograph
Every day growing up, I drove down Sunset Boulevard, across the bridge, and over the 405. When I saw this Ed Ruscha photograph, I realized how much this building feels like a pin in time. I can’t help but reminisce when I’m in LA.
IV. a color
When I was in high school, I went to the nail salon and asked for Ballet Slippers thinking this was a classy and sophisticated choice. The nail technician looked up at me with her glasses halfway down her nose and said “what the hell, are you in your 80s? You’re too young to wear light pink.” She walked over to the wall of colors and reached for Essie’s Berry Naughty.
Essie’s description of Berry Naughty: “racy, wild and unapologetically sexy. this luscious, deep berry lacquer makes every night a night to remember. being bad never looked so good.” Something about this description feels like a chaotic night at The Jane in 2014, but the color itself got me because I haven’t strayed much since. Some get the color maroon confused for burgundy (see here for a silly explanation). Maroon is easy on my eyes… some might feel at peace looking at an ocean blue or a forest green. I do too. But maroon feels most like me (garnet is my birthstone).
V. a treehouse
I saw this photo of a treehouse recently (thank you Evan Kinori). I think I’ll need to make my way up to northern California this fall. I know I just said maroon brings me solace… but god this really did wonders too.
~ bulletin ~
los angeles
On view: Objects for a Heavenly Cave at Marta featuring Lily Clark, Valentina Cameranesi Sgroi, Mr. Liz Hopkins and many more. Green River Project and Kenny Matt’s Courbet’s Paintings at Trevor Cheney Gallery. Molly Rose Lieberman’s My Paradise and Brett Ginsburg’s Cadence at Matthew Brown. At Home: Alice Neel in Queer World and Nate Lowman’s Parking at David Zwirner. Vicky Colombet’s Flying Back Home at Fernberger. Josephine Halvorson’s New Hours at James Fuentes. Oscar Tuazon’s Los Angeles Water School at Morán Morán. Group show Cruising at Alabaster Projects. Andrew Cranston’s One Day This Will be a Long Time Ago at Karma. Ed Ruscha’s Now Then at LACMA. Antone Könst’s Singles at Castle Gallery.
new york
On view: Sophia Heymans’ Everything Dancing and Vincent Pocsik’s Paradise Never Bends at Shrine. Dike Blair at Karma. Judith Eisler’s Dreams, Jokes, Mistakes at Casey Kaplan. Soumya Netrabile’s Holding Current at Rachel Uffner. Hilary Pecis’ Warm Rhythm at David Kordansky. Group show Across the Pond: Contemporary Painting in London featuring Max Wade, Emma Fineman, and more at Eric Firestone Gallery. July Guzman’s Along the Line and Catherine Repko’s Hark at 1969 Gallery. Maris Van Vlack’s Time Warp at Superhouse. Group show Works on Paper featuring Joan Snyder, Mimi Lauter, Lily Ludlow, and Xylor Jane at Canada. Shara Mays’ Where We Walked, Who We Remembered at Hunter Dunbar. Mercedes Llanos’ Te Soñe Primero at Amanita. Group show Yours Truly at Nahmad Contemporary featuring works by Danielle McKinney, Salman Toor, Wolfgang Tillmans, Issy Wood and more. Meredith Rosen Gallery’s show Skulptual — the first exhibition of the late Hannah Villiger’s work in New York since 1991. Jenny Holzer’s Light Line at Guggenheim.
Today through Sunday: Collectible at Water Street Projects with Emma Scully Gallery. The Armory Show at Javitz Center.
Affection Archives is a weekly look into the archives of yours truly (Arielle Eshel) and people I admire. Follow on Instagram @AffectionArchives.
HBD AA! xo