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Monthly Archives: February 2012
February 15, 2012 — A Fashion Interlude
Recently I had the good fortune of meeting one of Ling-Ai’s nieces who had saved many of Ling-Ai’s papers and possessions. I am currently poring through documents and pieces of paper, looking for clues that tell more about the making of KUKAN. It can be a tedious job. So I took an afternoon off to explore some of Ling-Ai’s fashion accessories that had been painstakingly packed away. Ling-Ai had an obvious flair for fashion. And the vintage clothes lover in me went gaga as I opened this eye-catching tres MOD turquoise hat box.
The contents of the box did not disappoint. I discovered three exquisitely crafted little numbers. A pink brocade small saucer hat with a stunning plume was my favorite.
I had a lot of fun imagining the type of occasion Ling-Ai chose to wear this hat to.
While photographing this hat, I noticed the amazing craftsmanship that went into it’s construction.
A signed label was sewn into the inside lining of the hat. Nick Savage appears to be the talented milliner who made it.
These next two pieces were also made by Nick. And are equally exquisite.
The little details are marvelous. Check out the separate braided strands that start this gold pony-tail plume.
And the perfect positioning of the brocaded fabric.
The camellia on this inventive piece was a little a squished, but I imagine it was pretty sumptious when Ling-Ai wore it back in the day.
I couldn’t find any information on the internet about the talented Nick Savage. But I did find a little label in the inside of this camellia hat.
It had a New York City address — 350 East 50th Street — from Google Maps it looks to be a building just off Lexington Ave. If any fashionistas have any more information on him, please let me know. I have Mr. Savage’s millinery gifts, Li Ling-Ai’s fashion sense and her niece’s foresight to thank for a wonderful afternoon spent in a world of gamorous fantasy.
To top off my post I’ll leave with a few shots of another gorgeous topper in Ling-Ai’s collection (by an unknown maker).
February 19, 2012 — What do HUGO and FINDING KUKAN have in common?
Like many people who were charmed by Scorcese’s recent film HUGO, I had little knowledge of early film history or Georges Melies before seeing the movie, so I headed to the internet afterwards to find out a little more about him.
Although Melies is recognized today as an early film innovator with a fabulous imagination, he fell out of favor during his lifetime and many of his films were melted down or destroyed.
While reading about Melies, I ran across Wikipedia’s list of Rediscovered Films. Happily a couple of Melies’s films from the 1890s have been rediscovered in this century.
Scrolling down the list, look what film shows up in the 1940’s … Rey Scott’s KUKAN!
And that’s the answer to a film trivia question that might someday be asked on a game show in the far future – HUGO and FINDING KUKAN are both about rediscovering lost films and forgotten filmmakers.
Maybe someday KUKAN, Rey Scott, and Li Ling-Ai will have a postage stamp dedicated to them too.
January 30, 2012 — Georgia Remote Shoot
I got goose bumps when I first saw Michelle Scott’s paintings on her webpage two years ago, and I’ve been a fan of her work ever since. Since my discovery of KUKAN, Michelle has been using her grandfather Rey Scott’s China photographs in her paintings.
Recently she created a couple of exciting new paintings for a group show at 2Rules Fine Art Gallery that will open on February 3rd in Marietta, Georgia. While seated at my desk in Hawaii, I was able to interview Michelle about that process with the help of Skype and Atlanta DP Wes Browning of Sema Films.
Wes also got some nice shots of Michelle putting some final touches on her paintings before delivering them to 2Rules. Wes and Skype facilitated another virtual meeting and interview with gallery owner Becky Rule. Of course I would have loved to do be there in person for it all, but I’m thankful that Skype and Wes allowed me to be a virtual part of it. Here are some photos Wes took of the shoot.