Unexpected Guests: Marci Washington.

I've been very lucky lately to have been visiting the inspiring accommodations of some really talented artisans, crafters and designers. So I'm turning these visits - some live and in person, some via flickr, into a weekly feature, Unexpected Guests. That way, ya'll will get to pop in behind the scenes, homes and studios of the talented artists we may have a curiosity about. I always wonder what space a designer likes to work in, or even where they like to plop down with a good book, host dinner parties, or brew a pot of coffee and hang out with their partners and pets.


This week, I bring you the lovely and talented painter, Marci Washington. I met Marci briefly at the Rare Device opening the other night and was quite taken with her sweet demeanor and surprised that someone this amazingly talented was so young.

She has so much more to share with us as her story evolves. Marci says in her bio, " Currently I am interested in building a fictional narrative with connections to history as well as to the present. It's like I'm illustrating a novel that doesn't exist. If it did, it would probably be a lot like Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, or Bleak House - novels which function as social commentary as well as beautiful romantic epics. "

To see more of Marci's hauntingly beautiful work, you can visit her website here, as well as the online gallery, The Beholder. For now, we're going to take a look at how Marci lives, works and thinks. I asked her a few questions, because, well, inquiring minds usually want to know. And I thought it would be fun to be James Lipton for a little while...


Who is your favorite artist?
I don't have just one favorite, I have a long list of true loves.

What's your favorite food?
Lasagna and fried chicken, not together of course.


What is your most treasured belonging?
My grandmother's charm bracelet.

Favorite color?
Olive green.


If you could photograph anyone in the world, who might that be?
An apparition.


What do you despise?
People who are mean to animals.


What's your favorite word?
Right now it's 'craggy'.


Who would you like to sit down to tea with?
Angela Carter and Nick Cave.


What's the last great book you read?
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson.


Do you have a guilty pleasure?
Bad pop music and instant mac and cheese.

A craft project that will change your life!

GUEST BLOGGER: Kelly Niland

Hi Friends of SFGirl. You may remember me from a recent Unexpected Guest post here. It was extremely flattering to be included on a site along such fashionable and fun homes (thanks, Victoria!). And while I love my house and feel lucky to live here, there’s a lot of stuff you couldn’t see in the photos that goes on OUTSIDE the house that is, um, less fortunate.

I live in SF’s Mission District and have for many years. There are myriad things I love about the neighborhood; however, there’s no way around it—it’s still sketchy in a lot of ways. Yesterday, for instance, I stepped outside to scoop the newspaper off the front steps. There, next to our street tree, a midnight visitor had gifted us with this:

We get a lot of unexpected gifts around here. Recently, it was a vintage computer that was just about ready for the Smithsonian, sitting next to a ripped-up duffel bag. Some of these items can fit in my trash can, but some of them are too unwieldy or, as in the case of e-trash like computers and TVs, expensive to toss. So I’ve come up with my own one-woman-warrior solution, and that's to express, on behalf of the discarded item, the sadness of having been left behind, all alone in a strange place. Granted, the former owner is long gone by the time I’m discovering their belongings, but what I can do is remind passers-by, as well as would-be junk depositors, that trash on the street is a depressing thing, perhaps for the forgotten item (does plastic have feelings?) and definitely for the people who have to walk, and live, near it.

After the computer incident, I started thinking, Hmmm, so what would be the best way to convey such a message, in a way that everyone can understand? I settled on the most recognizable statement I could think of.

I went online and ordered some sheets of round day-glow-green stickers and then whipped up a frowny face template on the computer and printed up the whole stack. Now, I carry a sheet of stickers around in my purse and, when I’m out and about and happen upon some discarded bag of trash or mattress or TV sitting forlornly on the sidewalk, I slap a sticker on it.

I gotta say, it’s pretty cathartic. And, I'm not kidding: I’m convinced this act even increases the chances of prompt removal of said discarded item. I can’t prove it, of course, but have noticed anecdotally that these things don’t tend to hang around long after the sticker’s on. For instance, even though the 311 dispatcher I talked to yesterday told me I’d have to wait three days for pickup of the TV, look what I beheld just an hour after applying the sticker:

Really! No idea where it went, but it was gone, and that’s the point. I’m taking back the hood, one frown at a time! If you’d like to try some stickerfication of your own, let me know. I will send 5 sheets of stickers to the first 5 people who write to me here. And for those of you who would like to make your own, you can find the frowny face template here and order the labels here. Let me know how it works for you!

Turning frowns upside down all over town,
Kelly

Unexpected Guests - Teaser!

Stayed tuned for a very special upcoming Unexpected Guests post. Emma Rose Papery designer, Eszter Rabin and her husband Dan have bought their first home here in San Francisco and I can't wait to share it! It's not very often I am green with envy when I walk into someones home, but this place...oh la la! I love it and it makes me wish for a place of my very own!
Much more of their lovely new home to come...

Unexpected Guests: The 10 Cent Designer.

This is sort of a unique and special Unexpected Guests, because we're taking a look at my flickr hero, Lori Andrews. Her photographs are just so pure and funny and smart. I love everything about Lori Andrews' (aka The 10 Cent Designer) gorgeous photographs and never fail to either laugh out loud, or sit in awe and stare at them. Lori is an interior designer living in wild and woolly Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and in the gorgeous foothills of the Rocky mountains, she's designed this beautiful, and really sophisticated home. I never knew much about Calgary until seeing Lori's amazing flickr photostream, and it now makes me want to visit. Let's check out Lori's prolific flickr world! All of these images are just a glimmer at her photographic and design talents. Lori rocks the Canadian Rockies and way beyond!


What is your favorite outing in Calgary?
Heading out on Calgary’s great pathway system with my husband on our refurbished cruiser bicycles.


What's the best thing about your city?
It’s proximity to the mountain parks.



What don't you leave home without?
Lip balm and my camera.


What's your favorite shop?
Kit Interior Objects.


What's one thing about you that would surprise people?
My car is filthy, inside and out.


Who is your favorite artist?
I really like Margaux Williamson’s work and have purchased a couple pieces in the last few years.


Where do you find inspiration?
Magazines and the internet.


Who do you admire and why?
My husband, for his refusal to see bad in anyone.


What's the last great book you read?
Steven Pinker’s How the Mind Works.


What's your favorite film?
Wings of Desire by Wim Wenders.


If you could photograph anyone in the world, who might that be?
Annie Leibovitz.


Who would you like to sit down to tea with?
Annie Leibovitz.


Do you have a guilty pleasure?
Milk chocolate. Everyday.


What would you eat for your last supper?
Fresh salmon, asparagus, corn on the cob and garlic mashed potatoes.


What is your most treasured belonging?
My iMac.


What's souvenir did you bring back from your last trip?
A postcard from California.


Greatest indulgence?
flickr.


What is your idea of living hell?
9-5.


What are some of your favorites websites/blogs to visit?
Sfgirlbybay, 1st Dibs.


What music are you listening to these days?
Wolf Parade, Rilo Kiley, Wilco.


Thank you Lori. It's such an honor to know you through flickr and to be able to share your wit and brilliance. I couldn't admire you more! For more about Lori, check out her blog, website and of course, flickr photostream.

The Weekend Wrap-Up.

I'm starting a new weekly post, which I will run each Friday afternoon. It'll be a brief wrap-up of all the week's posts, just in case you weren't able to check in everyday (for heaven sakes, forbid!). This will give you a quick link to the posts that may seem most relevant to you, and you might like to take a look at it, or review again whilst perhaps you sip your weekend coffee. I am also planning a site re-design soon, to help archive things in a more organized fashion, so for instance, you'll be able to find all of my posts, including Sunday in the City, Unexpected Guests, Friends & Neighbors etc., as well as the extensive resource links, all in one very handy place. Stay tuned for more! And, as always, thanks for reading! Have a great weekend...

Monday 6.2: Sunday in the City took us on a little trip through San Francisco's Mission District; and a look at lifestyle photographer Ellen Silverman's lovely work.
Tuesday 6.3: I shared self-publishing, software genius Blurb books with you; and I took a quick, little coffee break!
Wednesday 6.4: Unexpected Guests took us into the fabulous Victorian flat of creative director Kelly Niland.
Thursday 6.5: I shared my now, not-so-secret garden, the Fort Mason Community Garden with you; and let you know about artist Leigh Well's first solo show at Gallery 16, Friday (tonight), June 6.
Friday 6.6: I gave you a sneak peek of sustainable eco-friendly fashions available at The Studio; and shared a happy little photo from danske.

Lastly, I leave you with this new giclee show print by Melbourne based artist Kareem Rizk entitled Vandalism. You can find it in a small limited edition of only 50 (and it's just $75!), part of his solo exhibition with Phone Booth Gallery, in Long Beach, California.

Unexpected Guests: Jamie Alexander.

Thrift Store painting.

I'm very excited about today's visit because, well, I've been lucky enough to round up San Francisco gallery and shop owner and curator-extraordinaire, Jamie Alexander of Park Life, a small independent retail and gallery space based in San Francisco's Richmond district. Jamie and I cross paths often it seems while out and about in the city, and I was so excited when last I ran into him, he said he'd love to be a featured guest on Unexpected Guests! I love Park Life and the great energy they have helped to infuse into good old fashioned Clement Street. Now, when I hit my favorite Chinese markets, I can get my art on, too! Jamie and his wife are the proud new parents of baby Hank, and he's shared his amazing art collection with us today...thanks so much, Jamie! Prepare yourselves to swoon and emote great bouts of jealousy. For more on Park Life upcoming shows, and their online shop check these links.

Chris Johanson print.

What is your idea of a perfect day in San Francisco?
A day without meter maids.

Clare Rojas print.

What don't you leave home without?
My glasses, for viewing.

Margaret Kilgallen Linda Mar etching #edition of 30, 1999.

Andrew Schoultz acrylic on wood, 2007.

What's your favorite local shop?
The Other Shop on Divisidero. And on Clement Street…Super Tokio and Kamei Restaurant Supply.

Barry McGee 4'x8' painting on billboard.

What's one thing about you that would surprise people?
I can jump real high.

Chris Johanson painting, 2003.

Clare Rojas 33"x43" acrylic on wood.

Who are your favorite artists?
Ed Ruscha, Willem DeKooning, Jules De Balincourt, Peter Doig, Barry McGee, Margaret Kilgallen, Philip Guston, Kara Walker, Marcel Dzama, Chris Johanson, David Shrigley, William Eggleston, Diane Arbus…

Andrew Schoultz Schoultzloneelphant.

Barry McGee gaouche on paper, 2004.

Where do you find inspiration?
Movies, lit, people, art, food, design, architecture..not in that order.

Marcel Dzama litho.

Who do you admire and why?
Grade school/high school teachers.

Barry McGee acrylic on paper, 2005.

What's the last great book you read?
The new George Saunders book is pretty good.

Kyle Mock acrylic on paper, 2006.

If you could photograph anyone in the world, who might that be?
I can’t take a decent photo to save my life.

Matthew Palladino watercolor on paper.

Who would you like to sit down for a beer with?
The guy who writes the Do’s and Don’t’s for Vice Magazine.

Marcel Dzama small painting.

Do you have a guilty pleasure?
My old diesel Mercedes.

Baby Hank, born 2007.

What is your most treasured belonging?
Baby Hank (born 12/11/07).

Jacob McGraw.

Jason Jagel.

What's souvenir did you bring back from your last trip?
Unintentional sand.

Paul Wackers 30" x40" oil on wood.

Greatest indulgence?
Buying art that I can hardly afford.

Ben Peterson drawing/painting on paper, 2007.

What is your idea of living hell?
Another Bush presidency.

Andrew Schoultz 3' x 5' painting on wood, 2006.

What are some of your favorites websites/blogs to visit?
PaintersNYC - hilarious erudite pontification on art shows; MySpace/Kathy - blow by blow of the hipster NY art world; BldgBlog - so original.

Barry Mcgee 5" x 7" painting on paper, 2006.