Louis Vuitton Time Capsule, Century City, Ca., Photo Romi CortierLouis Vuitton Time Capsule, Century City, Ca., Photo Romi CortierLouis Vuitton Time Capsule, Century City, Ca., Photo Romi CortierLouis Vuitton Time Capsule, Century City, Ca., Photo Romi CortierLouis Vuitton Time Capsule, Century City, Ca., Photo Romi CortierLouis Vuitton Time Capsule, Century City, Ca., Photo Romi CortierLouis Vuitton Time Capsule, Century City, Ca., Photo Romi CortierLouis Vuitton Time Capsule, Century City, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier
The Louis Vuitton Time Capsule in Culver City was a revealing experience for those who are new to the brand, and a heartwarming and reaffirming experience for those who know it well.
I’ve attended a few of their recents events thanks to a friend who now works at Louis Vuitton on Rodeo Drive, in fact, that’s how I heard about the time capsule exhibition. Founded in 1854, important works were on display from their impressive archives. The exhibition demonstrated the ways in which Louis Vuitton has anticipated changing needs and desires over the last 160 years.
One of my favorite pieces in the show was the turn table seen above, with a plexiglass top and LV branded sides. Can you imagine a DJ walking into a club and laying that puppy on the table to spin? It would be amazing. I also love the clear acrylic make up case seen third from the top.
The multimedia room towards the end of the show was very exciting, but difficult to capture with only still photos. Taking video was problematic, as I try to protect the faces of those who don’t choose to knowingly be a part of my blog.
Louis Vuitton Time Capsule, Century City, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier
Prior to arriving in L.A., ‘Time Capsule’ debuted in Hong Kong in 2017, then Bangkok, Berlin, Singapore, Dubai, Shanghai, Melbourne and lastly Madrid. The exhibit has closed in L.A., and as for its next stop… no one really knows, at least not yet.
David Hockney, 82 Portraits and 1 Still Life, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 2018
David Hockney:82 Portraits and 1 Still life, is a tour de force.
Let me be honest… there’ve been times that I haven’t loved the work of David Hockney, namely the time that I saw his large scale landscape in Paris, possibly at the Pompidou Center. While that particular installation was colorful, it felt crudely executed when in the presence of the more traditional fine art paintings in that gallery. I wanted to love it… but I didn’t.
That said, these current works are both energizing and poignant, and had me smiling from the moment I walked into the gallery. The shear force of all of that color flooded my eyes and made for an amazing presentation . The alternating background colors behind his subjects, in shades of blues and greens, hanging against the saturated red-orange gallery wall, created a visual rhythm between each portrait. The overall gestalt was one of strength and happiness. However, after looking at each portrait up close, a deeper sense of appreciation emerged. While the brush work was loose, the proportion and perspective was spot on. And then of course there’s the emotional life of each of his subjects.
Rita Pynoos, Acrylic on Canvas, David Hockney, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 2018
Rita Pynoos: Friend of David Hockney
Benedikt Taschen, Acrylic on Canvas, David Hockney, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 2018
Benedikt Taschen: Founder and managing director of the publishing house Taschen, one of the most successful international publishers.
Larry Gagosian, Acrylic on Canvas, David Hockney, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 2018
Larry Gagosian: Owner Gagosian Gallery, an upscale chain of art galleries.
Margaret Hockney, Acrylic on Canvas, David Hockney, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 2018
Margaret Hockney: Sibling to David Hockney
John Baldessari, Acrylic on Canvas, David Hockney, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 2018
John Baldessari: American conceptual artist featured in more than 200 solo exhibits in the U.S. and Europe.
J-P Goncalves De Lima, Acrylic on Canvas, David Hockney, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 2018
Jean-Pierre Goncalves de Lima: Studio manager for David Hockney
Still Life, Acrylic on Canvas, David Hockney, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 2018
Eighty two friends and business associates agreed to sit for Mr. Hockney in his Hollywood Hills art studio, for up to 3 days per portrait. The Still Life seen above was created on the day that one of his guests wasn’t able to make the scheduled sitting. For any artist to take on a project like this, it’s a remarkable and ambitious feat. Hockney just turned 80. I can’t imagine taking on a project like this at the age of 75. Hockney says that when he’s in his studio painting, he feels 30 again… so naturally he spends as much time there as he can.
Organized by the Royal Academy in conjunction with LACMA, the exhibit opened in London in 2016, then traveled to Venice, Italy: Bilboa, Spain: and Melbourne, Australia. The only U.S. stop is L.A. and will close on July 29, 2018.
Romi Cortier, David Hockney Exhibit , Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 2018
If you live here in LA, I highly urge you to attend this exhibition… you may find yourself inclined to visit it more than once. Personally, I can’t stop thinking about the show.
Waldorf Astoria, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi CortierWaldorf Astoria, Beverly Hills, Ca, Photo Romi CortierWaldorf Astoria, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi CortierWaldorf Astoria, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier
There’s so much to love about the new Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills, especially the views from The Rooftop JG restaurant. Standing at twelvestories above the streetwith unobstructed views, the city of angels has never looked more beautiful. That said, the only concern that I have regarding the 12th floor, is the height of the glass railing. It appears to be only about 4 feet high, and for the life of me, I can’t imagine how the city of Beverly Hills allowed this. There’s a cactus barrier on the north wall, but for the rest of the bar and restaurant, I fear for the safety of anyone who might have a few to many cocktails.
The Rooftop at JG, Waldorf Astoria, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi CortierThe Rooftop at JG, Waldorf Astoria, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier
On a more positive note, getting to the rooftop is a beautiful experience. The elevator banks all have striking vignettes with custom rugs and well appointed side tables, complete with lamps, vases, and object’s de art. Oh, and did I mention all the gorgeous wall paper? So elegant. There seems to be a running theme among their tonal palettes, with beautiful shades of green, even in the wall mural seen below.
Waldorf Astoria, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier
Another design element that I love about the Waldorf, is how they’ve reinterpreted 1920’s Art Deco. Take a look at the fireplace below. It’s tiered in three layers, which is a common hallmark of deco. I also love how they’ve tied in the soft shades of green with the chairs and frosted glass, which also relates to the images above. Large open spaces, especially in hotel lobbies, can be very stark and severe. This hotel strikes a perfect balance of warmth and comfort combined with modernity.
Waldorf Astoria, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier
The driveway and entrance feels a bit more Mid-Century then Art Deco, but it still oozes elegance with all of the uplighting on the landscaping. However, the use of all of those elements combined, create a sense of grandiosity that never goes out of style… especially in Beverly Hills.
Waldorf Astoria, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier
Peter Shire Studio, Echo Park, Ca., Photo Romi CortierPeter Shire Studio, Echo Park, Ca., Photo Romi CortierPeter Shire Studio, Echo Park, Ca., Photo Romi CortierPeter Shire Studio, Echo Park, Ca., Photo Romi CortierPeter Shire Studio, Echo Park, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier
Stepping inside the Peter Shire Studio in Echo Park, is like walking onto a playground for art geeks. It’s a kaleidoscope of color and texture everywhere you look. Shelves are lined with completed sculptures and pottery waiting for a new home. Other areas are work zones with active projects being completed for upcoming art exhibits in New York and Milan. And the most surprising element in the room…. Peter, actively working on a massive table sculpture, for a show opening in a few weeks.
Peter Shire, Peter Shire Studio, Echo Park, Ca., Photo Melanie Engle
Here’s his inspiration, compliments of Shire’s Studio…
Peter Shire Painting, Compliments Peter Shire Studio
This is an actual working studio, which is very different than a gallery setting. That’s what made this experience so special for me. In a gallery setting, works are placed on pedestals and are beautifully lit, having been curated with a specific point of view. As you can see by these photos, it’s about creating and storing the works of art, until they’re ready for their next exhibition. That’s why stepping into Peter’s Studio was so exciting, my eye could do the editing, jumping from piece to piece. I also felt like I was on sacred ground, invited to see the master at work. God knows I could never do a painting with someone standing over me, I need to be in a very comfy and quiet environment.
Peter Shire Studio, Echo Park, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier
If Peter’s work looks familiar to you, it’s because he’s been around since the 1980’s. He first burst onto the scene with The Memphis Group, an Italian design and architecture group founded in Milan, in 1982. He was the only American sculptor invited to be a part of this international group. And several of his pieces were included in the movie Ruthless People starring Bette Midler and Danny Devito. But his work hasn’t stopped there. He’s continued his iconic style, making chairs and other everyday items, into major works of art. And in case you haven’t been to one of Peter Shires exhibition’s, here’s a glimpse of a his recent show that closed on Saturday.
Peter Shire Installation, Kayne Griffin Corcoran Gallery, Photo courtesy Kayne Griffin Corcoran Gallery, Photo: Flying Studio, Los Angeles
As for L.A. experiences, this is on par with meeting famed photographer Julius Shulman in 2004. Artists shape the world in which we live, giving it life and meaning, and sometimes a whole lot of humor… which we can certainly use these days.
Thank you Peter for letting us spend a very special day in your studio.
Romi Cortier, Melanie Engle, Coco (aka MalibuPom) and Peter Shire, Photo courtesy Peter Shire Studio
3339 Ellington Villa Drive, Altadena, Ca. Photo Romi Cortier3339 Ellington Villa Drive, Altadena, Ca. Photo Romi Cortier3339 Ellington Villa Drive, Altadena, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier3339 Ellington Villa Drive, Altadena, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier3339 Ellington Villa Drive, Altadena, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier3339 Ellington Villa Drive, Altadena, Ca. Photo Romi Cortier3339 Ellington Villa Drive, Altadena, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier
Staging 3339 Ellington Villa Drive was a total blast, and served two purposes. The first purpose was to help out a client who was preparing to sell her home, it’s first time on the market in 40 years. The second purpose, was to create a set for filming an episode of Artful Living. Locations for filming can be very expensive, so it was a perfect trade, plus this gem of a mid-century ranch home built in 1957, was the ideal backdrop for our episode about all things mid-century.
The pilot episode of Artful Living was finished in the fall of 2017. After getting some great feedback from several of our contacts in the entertainment industry, we decided we needed to do a re-shoot to streamline the shows message. Therefore, we were looking for a new mid-century location to film an interview with architectural historian Eleanor Schrader. Eleanor was my instructor during my studies at the UCLA Interior Design Program, and I was elated when she agreed to join for such a special interview.
Romi Cortier and Eleanor Schrader on the set of Artful Living, 2018
If you’ve never been on a film set, it’s a long arduous day. We literally spent 13 ours filming our interview, which included a walk through of the home. We discussed my staging choices, as well as the design hallmarks of this mid-century ranch home.
When it comes to staging, each room needs to have a ‘color story‘ as I like to call it. I’ve learned from experience that a beautiful monochromatic room might feel wonderful while you’re sitting in it, but when you look at images of those kinds of spaces, they can completely die and have no life whatsoever on camera. Therefore, little spikes of color can make the space feel exciting and alive.
For the living room, I used my Purple Hydrangea painting (yes I’m a painter) as the spring board for the color story. I found nick nacks for the room at Marshall’s, Home Goods and T.J.Maxx, with the exception of the purple chenille cubes which came from my personal collection.
3339 Ellington Villa Drive, Altadena, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier
For the dining room and kitchen, my Yellow and Chartreuse Bird paintings were the spring board for my color story. I used a few simple items in those same tones, which kept the room looking crisp and simple. In case you’re wondering about the dining room table, it came from IKEA for less than $200, and was a perfect fit for the mid-century styling.
3339 Ellington Villa Drive, Altadena, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier
I’m happy to report that the home went into escrow during it’s first week on the market, and many people also commented on how much they loved the staging. We’re working hard with our editors putting together our show, and can’t wait to share it with you in the coming weeks! Stay tuned…
