Thursday, 25 March, 2010
The books on someone’s bookshelves are so revealing, don’t you think? Which is why this book, Unpacking My Library: Architects and Their Books is so addictive. This is a peek into the personal libraries of 12 of the world’s leading architects. Each architect gives their Top 10 and the book features great photographs of their own bookshelves… so inspiring! Available here
Wednesday, 24 March, 2010
As part of an ongoing collaboration with emerging Australian artists, we have begun our first with Sydney-based graffit artist, 23:56. Yes… that’s his name. His first installation in our William Street, Paddington store is complete with The Ivy and Avalon to follow.
Tuesday, 23 March, 2010
We took five minutes with 23:56 while he was working on the Paddington store walls to find out more about his dynamic street art…
What was your brief for the store wall art pieces?
No brief. Ginger & Smart let me really do what I wanted. They tried extremely hard to find me, which shows they liked what I’ve done and what I do, which is very flattering. So we met up for the first time in the store, I threw a few ideas around and started a couple of days later.
You’ve already done the Paddo store, Ivy’s next, then Avalon… how will the works differ? Each store will be different depending on the wall space, size and the sense of the store and its surroundings. Paddo was small and I only had a certain amount of space to work with, but it also works perfectly for the store. It’s quiet, small and peaceful, down a Melbourne-style lane, which made a great canvas for the young girl to be reaching up for a ballon. A sense of ‘escape to freedom’ was created.
Ivy is big and bold. Very different. The people who walk past are younger. I want to do something they can see.
And Avalon, I’m saving something special for Av.
Come and see…
How will we know a piece of work is yours? On the street you can usually tell if I’ve done it. My signature is at the bottom. 23:56. My work has a few different styles, depending on my mood or the environment. Recently I’ve been working on my inner child… actually, more on a socialites inner child… and how we view ourselves, now, as adults juxtaposed with how children do. So clean, colourful, cheerful, pensive, nostalgic pieces. If I can make you stop and smile, I’ve succeeded.
What’s the philosophy behind your graffiti? To inspire! As arrogant as that might sound, I mean it with all honesty. I personally love being inspired by others. If I can get one kid who tags mindless, ignorant nonsense on walls to go create some art, and challenge themselves as a person and an artist. I’d be pretty happy.
I’m reminded of a famous quote:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened
about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do. It’s not just in some of us, it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Speech by Nelson Mandela, originally written by Marianne Williamson
Where else can we see your work? Most places you wouldn’t imagine. From the streets of Sydney City to Avalon or feature walls and ceiling of bars, lounges, retail store and on clothes. One of the best things about what I do is it can be everywhere, on everything and at the same time never be seen… or even known that I did it.
Why do you focus on this kind of public art rather than smaller pieces? Despite what the larger community may say, graffiti is not the lowest form of art. Although you might have to creep about at night and lie to your mum, it’s actually one of the more honest art forms available. There is no elitism or hype, it exhibits on the best walls a town has to offer and nobody is put off by the price of admission.
A wall has always been the best place to publish your work.
The people who run our cities don’t understand graffiti because they think nothing has the right to exist unless it makes profit, which makes their opinion worthless.
They say graffiti frightens people and is symbolic of the decline
in society, but real graffiti is art, it’s not tagging your name mindlessly
defacing the community.
Friday, 19 March, 2010
Linda is a long-time collaborator on our campaign shoots and fashion week shows. Her make-up is an industry stand out and she casts a consistently calm, meditative influence on our shoots. We like her, and thought you might, too.
How long have you been doing make-up? So long that I can’t remember how long it has been.
What do you love MOST about make-up?
1. The people that I work with are all so amazing and crazy, it makes it fun.
2. The freedom to be creative.
3. The travel. I get to go to places that I’d probably never go to if it wasn’t for doing make-up.
You’ve still got that signature curly hair going on. What do you use to keep it so hyper curly? “Kevin Murphy” Easy Rider.
What tricks did you use in the G&S summer 10 shoot that we can all try? I did both strong eyes and lips. The eyes were a strong shape done with grey and silver and the lips was a bright pinkish orange colour. For something fun to try, go for just the bright lip and add a little silver in the eyes without the grey. Or else just do a strong eye but make the silver the focus point.
What good stuff are you working on in 2010? Fashion week is just around the corner so I’m in the process of researching and getting ready for the crazy week. Lots of fun though!!!
Are you still nuts for yoga? Oh yes, I’m still doing yoga, it’s the one thing that keeps my feet on the ground.
What else are you nuts for right this MINUTE? I’m just loving this new skin care that was sent to me called DDF, Doctors Dermatologic Formula. This is so beautiful that I feel as if I could eat it. I’m also really loving this whole 90’s vibe that’s coming through in fashion at the moment. Never thought I’d ever be saying that!!!!
Friday, 12 March, 2010
Name: Amanda Norton
Store: William St, Paddington
Fresh from London, and her job with Chloe. Amanda’s moved back home and has landed with Ginger & Smart.
What was it like working for Chloe?
It was AMAZING! I was the Chloe Brand Manager at Harvey Nichols Department store. Which meant I was involved with the buys, and responsible for running all aspects of the concession. I frequently traveled from London to Paris for work, and got to go to all the shows! I worked there for a bit over a year. When I started Paulo Melim Andersson was in his final season, and then new designer Hannah MacGibbon came on board. It was such an exciting time!
Have you got a wardrobe brimming with Chloe?
I have a fair bit of Chloe RTW, Bags & Shoes… although not as much as I would love… you can never have enough Chloe!!
Living in London means amazing places like Berlin and Prague are a mere cheapo air ticket away… did you get to travel lots?
I am a travel junkie!! I’ve travelled all over Europe. My favourite country’s are France, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Scotland, Greece, Malta…. I could happily live anywhere around the Mediterranean. NYC is next on my list!
You used to be an actor, will you ever go back to that?
I was an actor for most of my life, I started acting at about 11 years old. I stopped 4 years ago, after being in a demanding play & shooting 2 films back to back – I wanted a break. Then I ended up working in fashion, and haven’t looked back since. I still view the world through an actor’s eyes… so maybe one day I’ll be drawn back to that world.
What are you loving from this season’s Ginger & Smart collection?
What’s not to love…?! My favourite pieces are the Test Pattern Trench and the Specular Dress… which I can’t stop wearing at the moment!
What blogs are you loving?
The Sartorialist is STILL my fave. It’s been around forever… but still captures the best in street style. I quite enjoy Bitching and Junkfood too.
What song are you playing instore?
My favourite band at the moment is Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zero’s.
Where will you be hanging out in Sydney now you’re back?
I need cheese, so Formaggi Ocello in Bourke St, Surry Hills, The Winery in Crown St, Surry Hills and I really want to go to The Danks Street Markets in Alexandria… apparently they’re amazing.
Saturday, 06 March, 2010
We are having our annual warehouse sale beginning this coming Thursday on March 11 – till
Sunday the 14th.
There’s loads of great stock at amazing prices.
See you at 42 Epsom Road, Zetland.
Thursday and Friday 8 – 7pm
Saturday 9am – 5pm
Sunday 10am – 3pm.
See you there…
Wednesday, 03 March, 2010
Ken, the proprietor of Seasonal Concepts, our favourite prop and set destination, has been a part of Ginger & Smart’s visual journey for a while now. His creative collaborations with us have helped create our instore vibe … as well as some inspirations for our homes. His labyrinth of an emporium in Sydney’s Redfern is pure fun! We wanted to share him with you:
What was the inspiration behind this amazing emporium?
I was raised on a farm in the 60s and have always loved anything kept in a shed. It was all too good to throw away, or waiting for creative inspiration to reinvent it, but most of all these things were worn, loved and functional. When my partner TR and I wanted to create a florist unlike any other in Sydney, we also wanted to marry the seasonality of flowers with the contents of the shed and present it with all the wonder that I experienced as a kid in the country. I wanted to create a retail experience that included wonder, exploration, questioning and discovery. So you can blame it on the big kid in me!
What are you buying now?
For me, I am buying Australian Pottery, in particular Harvey School pieces and ancient beads from Afghani bead traders in Bangkok. For the shop, I’m after Arts & Crafts furniture made from Australian Timbers, in particular silky oak… and Christmas Decorations for Christmas 2010!
You guys have a great interiors collaboration going on. How did that happen?
They first came to the shop with a seed of an idea. Over the next hour we had pulled the shop apart and explored a huge range of possibilities. It was very fluid, spontaneous and exciting. Some of these ideas have been acted upon and others are still maturing. We have met several times since and with each encounter I have experienced a burst of creativity and sharing of ideas.
Who are your customers?
Our customers are serious collectors and also those who have just moved into their first apartment. The one thing our customers all have in common is that they love things with character, a story, one-off pieces, with a bit of nostalgia and a longing for childhood thrown in.
You also have an incredible prop hire department for shoots. What could you never part with from that collection?
That’s a curly question! I’m not sure where the shop finishes and where my private collection begins, both are evolving with the arrival of new stock every week. But it’s probably the “Hiawatha Canoe”, a home-made canoe built from a design purchased from the back of comics in the 30s & 40s.
Tuesday, 02 March, 2010
Meet Remy, Rockie and Poppy… these gorgeous images are the result of a quick drop-in to photographer Simon Davidson’s place for a Sunday brunch… and impromtu shoot. Amazing, really, considering he only just managed to hold the girls still for a total of three seconds each before they raced off in search of more cupcakes. The shots are so detailed and intense they have a wonderful, rich illustrated quality. Simon’s preparing his submission for the Head On Photo Festival and is calling this series of portraits ‘Not My Glasses’… see more of Simon’s work: here.
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We are Ginger & Smart, an Australian luxury fashion label created by sisters, Alexandra and Genevieve Smart. This blog will share the everyday inspirations and passions that drive us and our brand.
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