Halloween in Hancock Park, 2017, Photo Romi CortierHalloween in Hancock Park, 2017, Photo Romi CortierHalloween in Hancock Park, 2017, Photo Romi CortierHalloween in Hancock Park, 2017, Photo Romi CortierHalloween in Hancock Park , 2017, Photo Romi CortierHalloween in Hancock Park, 2017, Photo Romi Cortier
Halloween in Hancock Park is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. If you’re not familiar with Hancock Park, and neighboring Windsor Square, it’s because it’s one of LA’s best kept secrets.
The affluent neighborhood was founded in the early 1920’s by developer – philanthropist George Allan Hancock, and includes roughly 1200 homes. The homes tend to be architecturally significant, sitting on palatial lots, frequently with guest homes and pools tucked behind them. And when it comes to Halloween, these magnificent homes are frequently decorated to the nines. Why? Because trick or treaters come flocking to these homes by the thousands… and I’m not exaggerating. I’ve seen it first hand year after year.
The magic starts at sundown, with the youngest goblins strolling in. As the moon rises in the night sky, the streets get more and more crowded. The lines outside each home can be 50 to 100 deep, with zombie cheerleaders, biker babies and little mermaids filling their bags with some of the best candy south of Melrose avenue. One of my clients who lives in the neighborhood told me he spends on average of $500 a year, or more, on candy. With numbers like that, maybe I should be donning a mask and making the rounds too… kidding. Seriously tho, It’s so much fun to see so many happy faces making the rounds, awed by the Disney-esk mansions. Maybe someday when they’re older, they’ll come to truly appreciate theses grand Mediterranean and Spanish Revival homes for their architecture… but for now, it’s all about the Candy.
‘Hitch Hiker’ Acrylic, Ink and Vellum on Archival Paper, Micheal Muller & Sage Vaughn, Photo Romi Cortier‘Attacker 1’, Acrylic, Ink and Vellum on Archival Photograph Paper, Michael Muller & Sage Vaughn, Photo Romi Cortier‘Echo Chamber’, Acrylic, Ink & Vellum on Archival Photograph Paper, Michael Muller & Sage Vaughn, Photo Romi Cortier‘Peeper’, Acrylic, Ink and Vellum on Archival Photograph Paper, Micheal Muller & Sage Vaughn, Photo Romi Cortier‘Garden Party Crasher’, Acrylic, Ink, and Vellum on Archival Photograph Paper, Michael fuller & Sage Vaughn, Photo Romi Cortier‘Attacker 2’, Acrylic, Ink and Vellum on Archival Photograph Paper, Michael Miller & Sage Vaughn, Photo Romi Cortier
I LOVED the recent art exhibition of Michael Muller and Sage Vaughn. I’ve been aware of Sage’s paintings for years, but I’ve never had the opportunity to see his work in person. This recent exhibit featured Vaughn’s painting over the photographic images of Michael Muller. Most images were 48″ x 60″ and some as large as 60″ x 90″, ranging in price from $16,000 – $22,000. I was elated to see so many red sold dots on the pieces.
Over the last decade Sage has had multiple solo shows, from New York to London to Germany and Geneva. There have also been several group exhibitions from Los Angeles to London, San Francisco to Belgium… it’s safe to say, Sage is everywhere. I wish I would have known about his work a decade ago, as it might have been a bit more affordable. But that’s what drives prices up: the international solo shows and a list of top notch collectors.
Below are a few more images of Sage’s work from his web site www.sagevaughn.com.
I’m not Trying to Forget, Acrylic, Ink and Vellum on Paper, Sage Vaughn, SageVaughn.comThe Gazer (R Prince) 2014, Oil, Acrylic, Ink and Vellum on Canvas, Sage Vaughn, SageVaughn.com
As an artist, I’ve been very enamored by Sage’s use of the Butterfly, combined with his drip paint technique. Below you can view a YouTube mural making video that I created in 2014 inspired directly by his paintings. I have no idea if he’s ever seen my work, but I do hope that he would be flattered and not offended by my interpretation of his beautiful fine art.
79th Annual Chinatow Moon Festival, Los Angeles, Photo Romi Cortier79th Annual Chinatown Moon Festival, Los Angeles, Photo Romi Cortier79th Annual Chinatown Moon Festival, Los Angeles, Photo Romi Cortier79th Annual Chinatown Moon Festival, Los Angeles, Photo Romi Cortier79th Annual Chinatown Moon Festival, Los Angeles, Photo Romi Cortier79th Annual Chinatown Moon Festival, Los Angeles, Photo Romi Cortier
The 79th Annual Chinatown Moon Festival was a happy accident for me. I’d recently gone to LA’s Chinatown to do a little research on Chinoiserie Architecture, when I noticed that many of the buildings were trimmed in neon. I can only imagine how much work it must have taken to do that, so I promised myself I’d come back the following Saturday right after work, so that I could see the neon at dusk. Well, when I arrived there were signs and banners everywhere for a festival. I asked the parking attendant ‘what festival’? The Moon Festival he exclaimed. Ugh, I thought. So many people everywhere… maybe I’ll come back another day. I’m so glad that I decided to stay.
As the evening progressed, it got more and more enchanting. Children were everywhere laughing and screaming, throwing confetti into the air. There were performers on stage including a contortionist. Food trucks were parked along an alley way, so I dove into a rice and raw salmon burrito wrapped in a paper thin shell. Overall I spent nearly nearly 2 hours at the festival, soaking in the pure joy of it.
Have you ever heard of the book The Artist Way? It helps people get in touch with their creativity, and one of their exercises is to have an ‘artist date night’ with yourself. Well, the annual Moon Festival turned out to be my artist date night. There’s something so wonderful about being a silent observer, letting an evening evolve as it may. After I left the festival, I took the long route home through downtown LA, via Broadway. I finally saw the iconic Bradbury Building at 304 S. Broadway, an 1893 landmark with a skylit atrium. Next up was the recently restored Eastern Columbia Building at 849 S. Broadway. It’s a smashing 39 story blue terra-cotta structure that looks absolutely divine at night. I literally was stopped at the light and looked over and voila! There it was.
Eastern Pacific Building, Los Angeles, Photo Romi Cortier
Sometimes there’s nothing more satisfying then getting lost in your hometown, all by yourself. No rushing from place to place, just enjoying whatever pops up in front of you, letting the evening unfold. If you haven’t done this lately, I highly recommend it. You just never know what you might discover in your own city, or more importantly, about yourself.
Coca Cola Building, Los Angeles, Ca. Photo Romi CortierCoca Cola Building, Los Angeles, Ca. Photo Romi CortierCoca Cola Building, Los Angeles, Ca. Photo Romi CortierCoca Cola Building, Los Angeles, Ca. Photo Romi CortierCoca Cola Building, Los Angeles, Ca. Photo Romi CortierCoca Cola Building, Los Angeles, Photo Romi CortierCoca Cola Building, Los Angles, Photo Romi CortierCoca Cola Building, Los Angeles, Ca. Photo Romi CortierCoca Cola Building, Los Angeles, Ca. Photo Romi Cortier
The Coca Cola Building in Downtown Los Angeles is a Beautiful example of Streamline Moderne. I’ve seen photos of this building online for years, and finally made the trek into the industrial area of downtown LA to see it for myself. There are so many beautiful details that I discovered in person. One surprise was the color of the building. I’d assumed it was bright white, however, in person it was a soft tan color with the striking red and black stripe along the bottom.
Built in 1939 by architect Robert V. Derrah, who also built Crossroads of the World in Hollywood – considered to be America’s first outdoor mall, the permanently moored streamliner features beautiful porthole windows, a catwalk and a bridge. It was declared a Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument in 1975, number 138. I absolutely love the attention to details with the rivets around the windows, and along the top of the building. And that lone door near the rear is pretty amazing too.
I would love to see inside one of these days, but tours are not allowed inside the building. I recommend checking it out on a quiet Saturday or Sunday to avoid heavy traffic along Central Avenue, 1414 S. Central Avenue to be exact. Oh, and in case you wondering… yes, they still produce Coca Cola at this location and it’s surrounding buildings. Maybe that’s why there aren’t any tours, Trade Secrets!
Formosa Cafe, Los Angeles, Ca. Photo Romi CortierWAX, Los Angeles, Ca. Photo Romi CortierPDC, West Hollywood, Ca., Photo Romi CortierPeterson Automotive Museum, Los Angeles, Ca. Photo Romi CortierTommy’s Express Carwash, Los Angeles, Ca., Photo Romi CortierOWN, Los Angeles, Ca., Photo Romi CortierDomain Lobby, Los Angeles, Ca., Photo Romi CortierPDC, West Hollywood, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier
There’s an exciting new design trend happening in Los Angeles… RED!
This color isn’t for the faint of heart. From a psychological point of view, red is associated with energy, war, danger, strength, power, determination, passion, desire and love. Physiologically, it enhances human metabolism, increases the respiration rate, and raises blood pressure. It also attracts attention more than any other color and often times signifies danger. So why use red for the exterior of a building?
The use of the color red for interiors and exteriors can be traced back to the roaring 1920’s. The Formosa Cafe, founded in 1925, started out in a red trolley car. Today, while currently closed, the historically protected building still sports a red exterior. And Bullocks Wilshire, one of the cities most important art deco buildings, features this amazing geometric red paneled ceilings in one of its upstairs offices.
Bullocks Wilshire interior office, Los Angeles, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier
During the last forty to fifty years, red was reserved for things like signage and neon as a way to grab your attention while driving by. The colors red, orange and yellow were also frequently used in fast food, or quick service establishments, as a way to move their patrons through quickly. Remember the days of seeing a red stripe at eye level around a beige or tan room? It was known to quicken your heart rate, and keep you from feeling to comfortable. So you’d eat your burgers and fries quickly, and keep it pushing.
Red is considered a primary color, along with yellow and blue. And if you think about it, you rarely see any building exteriors in a primary color. That said, times are changing. Maybe it’s a desire to stand out in a world that feels a bit to monochromatic. Or maybe it has something to do with the development of new materials that can withstand fading from the increasing warm sunny days in Southern California. Whatever the case, I think it’s trend worth taking notice of. That said, I sure would love to hear from people who work across the street from one of these buildings. Are they more productive than sister locations that don’t look at red buildings? Are tensions higher in these types of offices? Do the employees have better love lives?
When it comes to red, the one thing that never gets old in LA, is a red carpet! They conjure up a sense of excitement and anticipation. The Beverly Hills Hotel in recent years installed a permanent massive red carpet to welcome its guests. From a branding point of view, it’s quite brilliant. Whenever I take friends and family there, they’re always wowed and can’t wait to have their photo taken on it… myself included. We live in a world of social media, where photo ops are worth their weight in gold.
Romi Cortier and Recio Carrington Young, The Beverly Hills Hotel, Beverly Hills, Ca.
