Turntable Tuesday :: 1%

99% INVISIBLE is, well lets say, very often gratifying and that’s reason enough to listen to anyone for any period of time. It’s name was inspired by Buckminster Fuller - American born architect, designer, futurist (the enchanting list goes on), who said “Ninety-nine percent of who you are is invisible and untouchable”. 

SURFIN’ STATE OF MIND IN URBAN ENVIRONMENTS

Snap Shots :: Paris Cakes

Snap shots of a patisserie on the streets of Paris. I particularly love the act of repetitiveness: one cake at a time daintly put down behind the window until it's filled up with hopes of emptying it again at the end of the day. Most times it’s by chance when visual inspiration sneaks up on me. When I’m lucky enough, I have my pocket camera on hand to reflect on the visual later and my graphic interpretation of what it meant to me just then.

Street Lettering or Polite Messaging

It’s not uncommon to come across chalkboard style street lettering on city or rural streets in Italy. They are often times humorous messages written by family or friends for brides and grooms on their wedding day. I absolutely love the graphic appeal. They are even let’s say, polite, as they don’t need public buildings for showcase, but only a wide enough street--no one to task in scrubbing away or painting over the writing on the wall, but just a matter of time to wash off with a bit of snow or rain.

2013 is just around the corner and it’s a time for reflection of what has been accomplished in the studio at Pirouette Press--how to make it better--anticipating future projects in the New Year. 

I think this street graphic communicates a message meant not only for the bride and groom on their special day, but for anyone who happens to be on that same road towards happiness, uncertainty and new adventures. 

“ E le Chiavi? Da Li - And the Key? Over there”

Snap Shots :: I shot a hipster

There are different sorts of projects I’m wrapping up and others on the horizon. One in particular which has been gnawing at me (I should add, gnawing at me like one does on a chicken bone) is developing a lounge|wine bar menù. The creative process topic is a popular one and I think there is no exact formula, but you end up figuring out what makes you tick. Sketch is such a popular method and some think it’s the truest one. Sketch for me starts in my head, more commonly known as concept. Then I like to approach the subject or topic by defining it. Give it a name then define that. Well, here’s a practical example I’m working on: the lounge|wine bar one. On a structural level, I have no idea it’s container. This is a photographic study only. My muse is Kevin, he’s a bartender, dabbles in public relations and hipster. Key word, hipster-the modern day dandy.

Il tema del processo creativo è popolare e penso che non c’è alcuna formula esatta, ma personale, troviamo quello che funziona per noi. Sketch è un metodo popolare e alcuni pensano che sia il metodo più vero. Lo schizzo per me inizia nella mia mente, poi affronto l'argomento definendolo, do un aggettivo e una definizione. Bene, ecco un esempio pratico su cui sto lavorando. Il menu per un wine bar. Magari non ho ancora idea circa il contenitore del menu, ma sicuramente il concetto è chiaro. Questo è solo uno studio fotografico. La mia musa è Kevin, è un barista, si diletta nelle pubbliche relazioni e ‘hipster'. Parola chiave, hipster-il dandy moderno.

Other images of the modern day dandy, click here

estuvo aquí // i was here

estuvo aquí//i was here

I consider conceiving the most fun part of creating,as it entails imagination and there are no limits to it. But then there is the the grimy part, which is sometimes almost impossible to do depending on where you live, resources and support available to you.

So, before the press in hand, I've created this blog and name along with it. I've even got business cards which I printed at the workshop, but no press...or letters...or ink, but ideas are flowing.

Pirouette is a state of mind. It was obvious to me that I needed a name that could be pronounced by Americans and Italians (given that's where I live), and French and Spanish too. Then there was the double sidedness to the name...to reel, to turn, to spin. I imagine my little press (to be) as a dancer on their toes doing something pretty.

Then, perhaps just as difficult as obtaining my first press (yes they exist in Europe),because they are expensive to transport (many in Germany and England), in need of repair, language barriers... is learning to communicate on this blog on a personal level. The blogging sphere is meant for this. It's easier for me to speak about art or the abstract then talking about myself. But, as I've come to understand that is what I like about other letterpress blogs (and food and interior design blogs too). The writer shares their troubles, frustrations and inspirations along the way, and you can see how things develop and grow with later posts.

It's the grime that leave its mark after all.