Get Obsessed with Something #194

I'm obsessed with New York history at the moment so I pardon my posts being a little historical. I was saying to a friend tonight that the way you learn best is when you become obsessed with something. It seems weird to everyone else, but when you really like something you want to know everything about it. If you're a 'this is morgs' reader you've probably seen all the posting I've done about Editta Sherman. It all started last weekend when I was doing some research for portrait drawing. I decided I wanted to do some automatic drawings of people with interesting faces. I knew a little about Sherman's work mainly due to the fact that I'm such an Andy Warhol nerd, and she'd previously been a muse of his. Not only that, but I knew of her portraiture work from books I'd read on female photographers. I decided it was time to dig deeper. I began looking at her photographs and historical perspective. That led me on a internet trail spanning right back to the construction of Carnegie Hall (read: start of my obsession). I then by chance found out there was an exhibition of her work on display here in New York. I went to the exhibition. Did a little more research. Went back to the exhibition. Talked to Editta (who sits at the gallery everyday). Found out there was a screening happening of a movie she's in, and boom here we are tonight.

And all this happened just because I wanted to draw a picture of someone. Amazing. While I admired her work previously, it wasn't until I directly involved myself in her art that I was actually able to appreciate the perspective and process.

Moral of the story? Get obsessed with something. Ask questions. Maybe I'm a bit too geeky for some, but those out there who think learning is fun - yeah you! You know what I mean. You feel me?! Ok. Awesome.

And those drawings I was doing research for? See picture above.

☮ Morgs

The Weekly Wrap - Records, Being a Kid, & Editta Sherman #192

1. I underestimated the power of the sun. Hello heatstroke.

2. I went to a studio that P Diddy had used. I then took some records hostage (legally). I'm now the proud owner of some history. Read about it here.

3. I went on an adventure to Coney Island. I felt like a kid riding the ferris wheel. It also made me appreciate the OSH peeps in New Zealand. There is no way that rusty thing would stand up to New Zealand safety standards. Thankfully I survived.

4. I spent a lot of time standing outside the Chelsea Hotel imagining Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin walking up to it's doors. Or the day Sid Vicious was arrested there for allegedly stabbing his girlfriend to death. History.

5. I went to the Editta Sherman exhibition again. This time she chatted to me about her life. I bought a book she and Bill Cunningham did in the 60's called Facades. I told her I was working in fashion so she asked me, "Oh you know Bill?". Sadly I had to reply, "No, but I know of Bill". She talked about how they shot the photographs in period clothing corresponding to the age of the buildings. I'm so happy I got the very last copy of the book - complete with a signed note [see above].

6. Thanks Dad for playing me this when I was younger. I've been playing it on my guitar all afternoon.

7. Watching this on repeat.

☮ Morgs

Meeting Editta Sherman #191

Remember that exhibition I was talking about? The one about Editta Sherman. I went today and Editta was there. Apparently she's been there everyday this week. At 100 years old she doesn't let her art down. I got to say hello but I couldn't say much more for fear I would start crying like an idiot. I got some amazing prints and wandered around the gallery until it closed. I said I'd be coming back tomorrow to buy the book Bill Cunningham wrote about her, so hopefully I've given myself time to get over the initial shock and can have a normal conversation. Embarrassing fool I am. It really is an exhibition that will only be seen once. I urge any New Yorkers to check it out. It's real history. 

☮ Morgs

Portraits by Editta Sherman - Photo Friday #190

Editta Sherman is one of the last remaining artists that lived though the introduction of modernist art. Born in 1912 Editta is 100 years old this month! And guess what? She lives just down the road from me! To celebrate her 100th birthday, and her extensive portfolio of work, 25 CPW gallery is hosting an exhibition of her most famous portraits. She's photographed everyone from Howard Bernstein, Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Andy Warhol to most recently, Tilda Swinton. She's a living legend. These exhibitions only come around once in a lifetime. It's something I would be kicking myself for if I was in New Zealand and couldn't go. No guesses where I'll be this weekend.