american craft Q&A/

Just wanted to let you all know there is a really nice feature story on me and a Q&A about my work and some of my unseen projects in the Feb/March issue of American Craft. It should be hitting newsstands now. You can link to the online article here.
This image is from Paul Loebach's studio. I really wanted it in the story, but it didn't make so...here you go! I have become obsessed with the combination of copper and pink since I shot this. So good!

june schwarcz/american craft magazine

Just a head's up that some of the images I have been shooting of June Schwarcz's home and work are featured in a story on her in the June/July issue of American Craft Magazine. You can see the story if you click here as well. The story was written by Deborah Bishop and focuses mainly on her new work. Of course I love June's work, but her curatorial eye for the objects in her home is equally interesting to me. Here are just a couple of goodies that did not make it in the story.

jess brown/martha stewart living

I am excited to say that a couple of my favorite jobs from last year are finally out in print for you all to see! At the end of last year the lovely people at Martha Stewart Living sent me to Petaluma to the studio of doll maker Jess Brown. This is my personal favorite from the day. I feel like it speaks so much to what craftspeople's lives are really like. When you work by hand, a lot of time is spent toiling by yourself in your studio. It is a solitary thing a lot of the time. Somehow this image captures that. See and learn more about Jess and her wonderful handmade dolls in the February issue of Martha Stewart Living Magazine. Or check out Jess here.

june schwarcz/yesterday

It has been a busy fall my friends. Lots of client work and not as much of my own projects as I would like, but yesterday that all changed. I finally got myself back to June Schwarcz's home in Sausalito. We had tea and chatted about her work and life and I shot a few new pieces (yep! She still is working everyday!). The beauty of my work more often than not is that these people end up being friends. And June is a bit beyond that for me. I love this woman. I go over there and have to remind myself to shoot because I love just sitting around having tea (and her lovely melted chocolate snow flakes!) and just talking. Her history is long, which happens when you are 92 (?). But she is also just so open and frank about every subject under the sun.
As I was shooting yesterday I looked back and saw her just sitting there watching me. The light on her was so beautiful, a bit Vermeer like. So I had to take a few shots. That beautiful little figure in front of the window on the right is a Japanese religious figure of some kind (she told me exactly what it was and of course it has flown out of my head). But it is exquisite, as is her taste.

maria moyer/light

Yesterday I spent the day with Maria Moyer, photographing her home for my project on craftsmen (and women). One of my favorite things about working on my own projects is being able to take a bit of time with these people and shooting their space. You can't really get to know a space by just showing up and shooting it right away. Spaces, like people, have moods. They change with the light, with the season, with what is going on in the person's life. Yesterday, I was able to just watch the light in Maria's house as it bounced off walls and ebbed and flowed with the day (see the two shots today of the same room only a couple of hours apart). I love being able to watch light. It is how you get the most beautiful image. Patience. And the beauty of being able to go back a second (or third, fourth or fifth) day to see what mood the space is in is how you really reveal what a space is really like. And somehow, I think it reveals what the person that lives there is like as well.

I'm heading here/

Back to the redwoods today to continue shooting for my new project. Here is a little taste. Of course no reception of any kind up where I am going so this image will have to keep you until I return.

paul loebach/brooklyn

As I mentioned awhile back (or did I?), I have been shooting furniture designer, Paul Loebach's studio in Brooklyn for a new project on craftsmen and women. This is one of my favorites images from the last visit. There is a lot going on in his studio but then there are quiet areas as well. This I would consider one of those. I am curious what the two little balsa wood configurations are in the upper right. I guess I should inquire, but I am enjoying wondering what they are...if I ever inquire (yes, I know I should), I'll let you know. But you should all enjoy the wondering, too. Sometimes not knowing leads you to so many amazing places in your own mind...

Enjoy the long weekend my friends. And happy July! My favorite month!!!

paul loebach/brooklyn

Thought I would finish out the week with a wide shot of Paul Loebach's studio in Bed-Stuy. The day I was there Paul's interns, Sammy and Fiona, were working on getting things ready to send to Milan for the Salone Internazionale del Mobile. He is showing at Ventura Lambrate @ the Carwan Gallery. If you are lucky enough the be going to Milan this year, pop by and tell Paul I sent you.

Have a great weekend everyone!

paul loebach/brooklyn

A couple more shots from Paul Loebach's studio in Brooklyn. I think of all his designs, this ladder is the one I want for myself. It was inspired by 19th century orchard ladders. I love it. I would do away with my towel bar in the bathroom and use this instead.

paul loebach/brooklyn

During my trip to nyc the past few weeks, I was lucky enough to fit in a visit to Paul Loebach's studio. I have been following his work for awhile in hopes of including him the the American Craftsmen Project.
I guess you could call him a furniture designer, but that doesn't seem to really cover it adequately. He designed the shelf, vase and candlesticks you see in this image. I really like the way his brain works. He seems to take a material or concept and just push it farther than you think it could go and to stunning effect. I still marvel at this wood shelf. Yes, that is wood. It looks almost like it has been squeezed out of a tube, don't you think? I'm really looking forward to returning to his studio next month to photograph in more detail for the project. If you aren't familiar with his work, you should definitely check out his website.

Heath Ceramics/Bailey & Petravic Residence

All this talk of Heath Ceramics makes me think about Cathy Bailey and Robin Petravic's wonderful home.
I shot it awhile back and this is still my favorite image from the shoot. There is something about their living room that says modern Victorian drawing room to me. And the wallpaper choice is inspired! I believe it is Josef Frank.

heath ceramics/sausalito factory

On Sunday, I got really caught up in the cast shadows in some parts of the Heath Factory. I have no idea what these two images are of, but I love the quality of light happening here. love, love, love.

heath ceramics/sausalito factory

Plates awaiting their turn in the Heath kiln this past Sunday. The second shot is of one of the kilns open. They are so impressive when they are open like this. I wonder how many pieces are fired at once...I bet you learn this on the official tour.

heath ceramics/sausalito factory

I still have not finished editing through all the images from my first day of shooting at the Heath Factory and I shot there again yesterday. Most of my time was spent photographing a new portrait of Cathy and Robin, which was a lot of fun.  But there is so much more factory I have to cover. These two images are from day one but the top on is a favorite and I knew it the moment I shot it. The light reminded me of some of the images Constantin Brancusi shot in his atelier in Paris in the early 1900's. The little bud vases in the second image are what hatches out of these molds.

heath ceramics/sausalito factory

More from Heath to finish out the week. Obviously these are the molds for the pitchers. I think they are beautiful. I would love to have one just sitting on my table as an objet d'art.

heath ceramics/sausalito factory

A few more images from the Heath Factory -these from the mold room. The first one made me think of Brancusi's studio...

heath ceramics/sausalito factory

As I mentioned yesterday, I have begun shooting the Heath Factory in Sausalito. It is a magical place. I found myself wondering that a factory of this type still exists. Bells ring for break times and lunch, each worker has a natural light work space and they all are working to create a beautiful craft that is born of the earth. Afterall, each piece of Heath begins as a little pile of dust.  The first place I shot was in the clay making room where they mix up the clay from which all the products are made. I was caught up in the mystery of what happens in this room. In my mind, the guy in there was mixing magic potions.

heath ceramics/sausalito

So excited! Today I am going to photograph the Heath Factory in Sausalito, CA. I have been wanting to shoot the factory for about 2 years. This shot is from a tour eons ago. Should be a fantastic two days!

american craftsmen/barbara shaum

Looking forward to photographing the workshop of legendary sandal maker Barbara Shaum while I am here in NY this week. Here is a shot from when I scouted her workshop back in May.

june schwarcz/

Today and tomorrow I am photographing enamel artist June Schwarcz and her home for my new project on American Craftspeople. I shot this in the hallway today and both June and I were just marveling at the light. I love the way the glass in the picture frames are reflecting that spot of sun on the door...