Stash Studios

Never Forever.

Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe by Gerard Malanga

Tobias George

The Chelsea Hotel closed its doors last Friday for renovation. In approximately a single year, properly-funded tourists will run their fingers across newly finished walls imagining but never truly knowing the layers beneath.

Most often we associate the Chelsea with famous names and infamous incidents but that is simply what got the most press. At the core, the Chelsea was about the community.

Photographer Julie Calfee explains quite well in the short film Inside.  "It is possible to come live in the Chelsea Hotel without questions about your past, without a job, without any credit or credit card or checkbook. This unconditional acceptance has enabled so many to acheive greatness and so many others just to nourish themselves on the greatness of others who have made it. The concept of human dignity, based on a system of values which is not purely materialistic is synonymous with the Chelsea Hotel." - Julie Calfee, excerpted from Inside: The Chelsea Hotel. 

And as utopic as all that may seem for some, Julie also admitted to feeling at times like a fly in a spider's web when there was a risk of being eaten alive if she made the wrong move.

Built originally as an apartment building, the Chelsea became a hotel in 1899 and was the tallest building in New York. Now the fabeled spirit of the place will live solely in film, song, story, poetry, and photography. A few of these things are shared here. 

"Eyeing the traffic circulating the lobby hung with bad art. Big invasive stuff unloaded on Stanley Bard in exchange for rent. The hotel is an energetic, desperate haven for scores of gifted hustling children from every rung of the ladder. Guitar bums and stoned-out beauties in Victorian dresses. Junkie poets, playwrights, broke-down filmmakers, and French actors. Everybody passing through here is somebody, if not in the outside world." - Patti Smith in the S/S10 issue of AnOther Magazine. 

Ethan Hawke by Linda Troeller

In 2007, photographer Linda Troeller, former assistant to Ansel Adams and resident of Hotel Chelsea since 1994, published her experiences in Atmosphere. Each image is accompanied by a letter addressed "Dear Chelsea Hotel..." in which the photo subect shares what they love about the place, what drew them there and kept them all these years.

Milos Forman About Chelsea Hotel from DOX Centre for Contemporary Art on Vimeo.

We end with an extended  but fascinating video featuring a reminiscence of the Czech-American filmmaker Milos Forman, known perhaps most famously for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Amadeus. 

Enjoy,

The West is Dead.

In the spirit of celebrating other designers with similar goals and vision, The West is Dead is a new line of American Workwear. Denim, chino, and knit. All made in the USA with thoughtful cuts and details. 

Made by two men - Will and Kaelen - who didn't originally consider themselves designers but became friends while living in Northern Montana and embarked on an 8,000 mile road trip learning all they could about denim brands and figuring out their own line.

The last thing about their story that strikes a chord with me is their effort to invest a portion of their profits to help repopulate Native American lands with Bison. That's pretty cool.

 

The Beginning

My mind is whirling with stories to tell you. I want to just grab your hand and take you on a tour through all the places and things going at the moment. It seems like the beginning of something I am not fully able yet to wrap my head around. But I will surpress sophmore enthusiasm and employ patience to process and tell the story in measured time as it is ready to unfold.

Though quiet here on this website, the week was a whirlwind behind the scenes. We moved to a secondary production location in record time. When my crew left and I was quietly tidying up the space, it became clear that the building was intent to have a conversation with its new inhabitants. The windows whisper and rattle, the building groans, the stairs sound as if someone is forever climbing them. As I stood taking it all in, roosters began crowing in the distance and I had the most comforting sense that I had returned home. 

There is much work to be done. Family and friends are coming together to help clean and organize the space. Our plan is to work together to help the owner preserve and embrace the history of the space while employing it to once again support American-made goods. 

Ready for the Flood

Mark Olson

Gary Louris

Olson and Louris. Founding members of the Jayhawks. On doing your own thing. On doing something that doesn't readily fall into a neat category or genre. On Simon & Garfunkel. Ready For The Flood. New West Records.

Dana Lee

I identify most with designers who began their career filling a niche for something they were seeking. Dana Lee, rising star and men's workwear designer is throwing her collection into the ring. As you can see from the photos, a relaxed personal style infuses her collection of classic, textured and potentially enduring pieces. The OEN® has a great interview with Lee. 

Opening Photography by Maya Villager and Spring 2011 Lookbook Imagery shot by Jody Rogac.

Stag, In All Its Glory

[photo credit mine but found on www.stagaustin.com]

I've had to travel to Austin on business several times in the last few weeks, so I finally got to stop by and see Stag in person. Don gave the me the tour and asked me to snap a few shots for their blog. What a fantastic shop and a fun time. The staff is outstanding, helpful, friendly. Great vibe. The goods are so meticulously selected. I made it out with some vintage vinyl and other miscellany but I need to get back because there are a few articles that I'm kicking myself for leaving behind.

Thanks guys,

 

Another Ace

Happily realized this little beauty is one of the points of interest on an anticipated adventure for 2010. Cool.

     

Vintage Storefronts

Great discovery on flickr. Vintage storefronts and much much more from Vintage Collective.

 

 

 

forgash

 andrew. forgash. photography.

 

Backyard Bill: Quetzal Saunders

via backyardbill.blogspot.com