SOOZ BLOG

With an unusually busy first half of 2008, I’ve decided to put more focus on maintaining a balance in life. I’m already pretty health conscious—I’m a vegetarian, I exercise regularly, and I spend a small fortune at Whole Foods monthly—yet I’m feeling the need to take it to the next level.

I’ve decided to embark on 3 new steps toward more balance, both personally and environmentally. First, I’ve started a new “wellness” program with a wonderful local acupuncturist, Gina Renee, L.Ac. Next, I’m attending a lecture on raw foods, and getting the equipment to prepare them. I’d like to incorporate 60% raw food into my diet (in other words, 40% of what I eat can be cooked). I figure if the majority of what I eat is raw it will be easier to determine the added energy boost—which is supposed to be quite noticeable.

Finally, and most importantly, I want to go green at home and in the office. This is a fairly long process, starting with little things like changing light-bulbs and detergents, and ending with replacing large appliances, purchasing a hybrid vehicle and installing solar panels. My goal date for being totally green is December 31, 2010, but I reserve the right to extend if it turns out to be unrealistic.

I will blog occasionally on my progress with these 3 new ventures as I learn more about each one. For now, I’m looking forward to learning new ways to live, feeling better, and contributing to a healthier planet for all.

I can’t believe a month has gone by since the Graphic Artist Showcase at UC MBEST. I apologize to my family, friends and clients who weren’t able to be there, that it’s taken me this long to give you a recap! I guess the exposure served it’s purpose, I’ve been busier than ever.

First, thank you to my colleagues Steve & Tina Zmak, Juli Hofmann and Lenore Masterson. Our combined efforts and talents made for a diverse array of visuals and information for the public to enjoy. More thank you’s to English Ales Brewery and Fusion Catering for providing delectable refreshments—almost too good for guests to go observe the art offerings! And finally, to my husband Jay and the other artist’s significant others, for being so gracious and working the wine table, raffle and general promotion of our work.

There looked to be around 75 guests throughout the evening, coming and going… I spent most of the time in my exhibit area, talking to old and new friends and potential clients. It was a great way to explain my work—virtually standing inside my portfolio. The most gratifying element for me was seeing everything put together in one space, and realizing the magnitude of work I’ve done over the years. It so often gets tucked away and forgotten. I was very proud of the variety of communications I’ve created and clients I’ve served since opening my studio in 1995.

The biggest response I received was from the “logo wall” in my exhibit. It included 40 logo designs I’ve created over the years. I made it by hand, first reversing all the logos to white on a black background and printing them on 11″ x 17″ card stock, and trimming them to bleed off the edges. I then hole punched them on all 4 corners, and attached them together with book rings, 8 across and 4 down. I attached the whole wall to thin strips of wood on the top and bottom and hung it with small chains from an exposed pipe in the ceiling. My husband called it the “logo memorial” because people would walk up to it somberly and slowly make their way from one end to the other, looking at each logo and talking amongst themselves.

Hopefully these photos will do the display some justice. If not, you’ll just have to make it to the next one! I had a fabulous time and would gladly do it again.

Photos: (top) guests mingling, delicious appetizers, (bottom) logo wall, video display & sample table, me by the Soozworld display.
Photos courtesy Chuck Hague

I recently mentioned to my friend Mary how beautiful the blooming poppies are along the 101—bold splashes of bright orange on green and golden hillsides. She sent me the above photo of her and son Bode on Easter Sunday at Figueroa Mountain in the Santa Ynez Valley. I had forgotten what a glorious site that mountain is this time of year. We used to take field trips up there in grade school to see the wildflowers. It’s gorgeous all over the central coast right now. Gardens are popping with fantastic color, crystal clear skies, and sparkling oceans. It’s hard to be motivated to sit in an office all day. I highly recommend taking a trail walk at lunchtime or after work. Wildflowers don’t last long… get out there before the poppies dim!

This week, Soozworld.net opened it’s virtual doors with new products for your wearing, drinking and thanking enjoyment. Among the releases is a new character called “Seadragon” inspired by my friend Josh and hanging out in the Marina fog. Seadragon nods to ancient Nordic and Irish symbols yet is a natural progression from the original 6 soozworld characters. Seadragon is currently featured on hoodies, pint glasses and beer mats. We’ve gone organic with 100% organic cotton black hoodies featuring Seadragon imprinted in Kelly green. Organic cotton Tshirts in Summer’s hottest colors will follow, scheduled for release in early May. So please check us out when you have a chance and become a soozworld webstore regular!

The Flavors event was fabulous! I hope you had a chance to go. If you didn’t, below is a quick recap…

Decor: My Night on the Town concept was fully realized with a floor-plan that included a 100′ long main “street” running through the center of the room, lined on both sides with the participating food and wine sponsor’s tasting tables. Each sponsor decorated their own table elegantly, with lots of delectable treats. Down the center of main street, was a row of beautiful 10′ tall live trees interspersed with standing bar-tables. White lights were strung down both sides of the street above the sponsor tables.

There were two seating venues, one on each end of main street, designed as a beer garden and a jazz lounge. The beer garden had outdoor umbrellas, checkered tablecloths and votives and was hosted by Marina’s own brewery, English Ales. The jazz lounge was called Valentino’s Lounge, for Valentine’s Day, and had shimmering red tablecloths, red votives and a live piano bar. It was hosted by The Ginger People an international ginger product company headquartered in Marina. They were serving a ginger hot toddy that would warm anyone’s heart. The piano player, Yoriko Hongo, did a wonderful job creating a romantic ambiance.

Located in clear view on both ends of main street were incredible 3-D hand-made sign structures to enhance the decor. One was for Valentino’s Lounge that evoked a cool circa 1950s Vegas look, and the other was a giant replica of the skyline from my poster design. My great friends and associates Chuck Hague and Josh Gentle made the signs and did a lot of the decor planning, engineering and set-up.

Guests: Firstly, I was surprised how many people were already there when I arrived at 5:30! The crowd continually increased for the first hour, at one point making main street a little difficult to maneuver through. Both seating areas filled up to capacity, and people mingled in all of the live areas of our floor-plan. I think everyone was having a great time. There was no real schedule for the evening, except for calling the silent auction item winners at around 8:00 PM. Otherwise, guests just strolled, tasted, talked, and relaxed. Which is exactly what we wanted to achieve when planning this event. From my perspective, Flavors 2008 was a big success!

Left: Me, Tina and Steve on main street. Right: Chuck and me in front of the “skyline” sign. (Photos courtesy HDI)

I’ve been busy lately working with the Marina Chamber events committee, planning the 2008 International Flavors of Marina. It’s going to be a great event featuring local restaurants, wineries and breweries. This year we’re taking it to a new level, with the concept, design and décor. “Night on the Town” will be held February 13, the day before Valentine’s Day, so we are focusing on romance and night life. One of the most enjoyable things to do on a date, with a group of friends, or on your own is go out on the town and hop around to different establishments. Our vision captures the essence of a downtown scene, by creating a strolling “main street” complete with food and beverage vendors, trees, tables and twinkle lights. There are going to be 2 gathering places with intimate table seating, a patio-style pub garden and a romantic piano-bar lounge called “Valentino’s” in honor of Valentine’s Day. All of this inside Stilwell Community Center! Other highlights are valet parking, a silent auction and cooking demo’s. Please join us and enjoy a “night on the town” here in Marina, CA on Feb 13, 2008 from 5:30-8:30 PM. Tickets are $20 for Chamber members, $25 for non-members and $15 for students. They can be purchased by contacting me, or the Chamber at 831-384-9155.

If you can’t make it to the event, check back for my re-cap of the evening!

I spent the entire weekend in the yard, preparing for the onset of a harsh winter. Many of the plants have already yellowed or died due to the recent cold nights and limited sunshine. In Marina we are challenged with sandy soil and salty air, severely limiting our plant variety in the first place. Yes, it’s brutal out there and only the tough survive.

That’s why I’m turning my attention to hard-scape, or more appropriately “structural accents” until next spring rolls around. Not that I have plans to accomplish anything monumental, but from a design perspective, I’d like to think about creative structural elements that can be incorporated to make our home more appealing, whether we have lush greenery or not.

I’m reminded of another place with sometimes “brutal” weather, only the conditions are quite the opposite from Marina, and that is Palm Springs, one of my favorite places to visit. I love the desert climate, and feel totally decompressed the moment I arrive there, but my adoration for Palm Springs extends also to it’s proliferation of mid-century modern and contemporary modern design.

In Palm Springs modern exterior stylings can be spotted while strolling down almost any neighborhood street. There are very clever uses of cement blocks, tile, stone, slatted wood, corrugated metal, glass and other fabrications. They incorporate contrast and texture variables into the structure of the home, which is usually quite simple in structure. They add detail and perspective to the exterior similarly to foliage, but without the need for water. I’m inspired by these design elements, and think they also work well on the central coast. Especially in a yard like mine that tends to lack in greenery.

Above and below are some photos I snapped for inspiration on a trip to Palm Springs last October…

It all started with my attraction to Mexican folk art pieces called “nichos.” They are a decorative metal picture-box with a glass window displaying scenes made from miniture objects, paint and typography. My first nicho, purchased in 1993, featured cards from the Mexican game “Loteria,” an element used commonly in the nichos from Estudio Cielito Lindo, where the pieces in my collection are produced. Another common element used are the skeleton figurines used for Dias de los Muertos.

I learned more about Estudio Cielito Lindo and Dias de los Muertos in 2005, when I went to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, with my husband and parents. It was amazing to experience first-hand the celebration of this unique holiday, in such a beautiful historic Mexican colonial city, which is also where Estudio Cielito Lindo originated.

Dias de los Muertos is a 3 day holiday, culminating in the main celebration on November 2nd. In San Miguel, we knew it had begun when city trucks dumped stacks of Marigolds in the down-town jardin, to be used for the production of public “ofrendas.” Ofrendas are “offering” shrines built to entice the deceased to come back and join the celebration. they are made with flowers, photos, skeleton figurines, sugar skulls, bread, fruit, and numerous other objects. They are everywhere—the town square, restaurants, public buildings, private houses, the cemetery. The entire town participates. We made our first ofrenda in the house we were renting, to honor our loved ones, and vowed to continue the tradition…

Last Friday night was the 3rd year we’ve celebrated Dias de los Muertos. The past two celebrations have included cooking, decorating, celebrating and telling stories about the people we’ve loved and lost with old and new friends. Everyone says it’s a shame we don’t have a tradition like this in America, because we all want to be remembered after we’re gone. I’m just glad to have discovered Dias de los Muertos, so I can remember the people I love each year, whether they’re here in body or in spirit.

Photos (L-R from top): Marigold truck in Jardin, San Miguel de Allende (2005), St. Miguel’s ofrenda in San Miguel (2005), Our ofrenda in San Miguel (2005), Our ofrenda in US (2006), Our celebrity ofrenda in US (2007), Estudio Cielito Lindo Nichos in San Miguel (2005).

I’ve always been both fascinated and disturbed by circuses. The energy, color and immense talent is a draw, yet the darker side, including transporting animals around the country in boxes and strange human side-show exploitations, creeps me out. My mixed emotions for the circus make it a great subject for creative exploration, which is why I was so enthralled when I learned about Australian folk artist, Sonny King.

His family story alone is incredible. His father, Mervin King, was abandoned at St. Leon’s Circus in Australia at age seven, and was raised by performers. By age seventeen he was training elephants and lions. He married a young female acrobat and they had Sonny. When Sonny was a year old, his mother left the circus and took him with her. He was reunited at age 10 with his father who by then had his own show—Silver’s Circus. Sonny travelled the country with his father and the circus for a year before returning to the city.

All of Sonny’s artwork is based on that one year of circus life. His amazing sculpture dioramas are a reflection of his memories. I love the color, detail, lighting and expression in them. I can almost hear circus music when I look at them, and hear the crowd oohing and ahhing at the performers. I hope you will visit Sonny’s website, Silver’s Circus and look at each diorama in full color (click on thumbnails going down left and right sides) to fully experience his artwork.

Photo: Sonny King, Lion Act (detail), 2005, Sculpture in clay and wood