Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Font ...
I have decided on a deco font called odalisque. It has that distinct art-deco style with bold lines combined with distinct decorative curves.
Art Deco. Hedonism. Glamour. Luxury:
Art Deco Style is one of the most influential design movements of the 20th Century.
Although it was considered to be highly functional, it emerged as a purely decorative style, meaning that it's primary purpose was to be beautiful and ornamental. But more than an artistic-style, it has evolved to represent a particular lifestyle, an attitude towards life. It evokes images of nonchalant Wall Street suits leaning against a slick Manhattan bar, with a cigar in one hand and a slinky, red lipstick'ed blonde, dripping diamonds, in the other.
Or imagine the French Riviera, circa 1929 - real-live pin-up girls lounging around in candy-coloured bathing suits, fawning over the muscled beefcake keeping guard on the beach.
The Art Deco Style insinuates a lifestyle of pleasure, leisure, excess and all-out glamour.
Architecture, Interior & Graphic Design, Jewelry and Fashion in the 1920's and 1930's were all given a glamour-injection thanks to the Art Deco movement.
In recent years, this ultra glamorous style has seen a massive resurgence. So many of today's condos, hotels, nightclubs and restaurants have been 'art-decofied'. The world of fashion and jewellery has also jumped on the bandwagon.
But as the world tries to grapple with the doom and gloom of a global recession, our fascination with such a non-practical, hedonistic style seems, umm how can I say this politely? - out of whack.
Yet, it's precisely this swing towards prudence and thrift that makes us crave extravagance and superfluous luxury all that much more.
Art deco fonts:
If Art Nouveau was about finding beauty in organic intricacy, Art Deco was perhaps about finding beauty in geometric simplicity. First appearing in the 1920s and 30s, Art Deco made a comeback in the 1970s and 80s as well.
Almost by definition, Art Deco meant sans serif type. The most common such face is Avant Garde (1974, Lubalin), which is striking but hard to read at length. A more graceful geometric sans is Futura (Renner, 1927-39). There are also more quirky faces in this category, such as Kabel (Koch, 1927-30). A recent popular Art Deco display face is ITC Anna (1991?).
Examples of deco graphic design:
History of the name 'Odalisque': An odalisque (Turkish): Odalık) was a female slave in an Ottoman seraglio. She was an assistant or apprentice to the concubines and wives, and she might rise in status to become one of them. Most odalisques were part of the Imperial Harem, that is, the household of the sultan.
Odalisque:
Art Deco. Hedonism. Glamour. Luxury:
Art Deco Style is one of the most influential design movements of the 20th Century.
Although it was considered to be highly functional, it emerged as a purely decorative style, meaning that it's primary purpose was to be beautiful and ornamental. But more than an artistic-style, it has evolved to represent a particular lifestyle, an attitude towards life. It evokes images of nonchalant Wall Street suits leaning against a slick Manhattan bar, with a cigar in one hand and a slinky, red lipstick'ed blonde, dripping diamonds, in the other.
Or imagine the French Riviera, circa 1929 - real-live pin-up girls lounging around in candy-coloured bathing suits, fawning over the muscled beefcake keeping guard on the beach.
The Art Deco Style insinuates a lifestyle of pleasure, leisure, excess and all-out glamour.
Architecture, Interior & Graphic Design, Jewelry and Fashion in the 1920's and 1930's were all given a glamour-injection thanks to the Art Deco movement.
In recent years, this ultra glamorous style has seen a massive resurgence. So many of today's condos, hotels, nightclubs and restaurants have been 'art-decofied'. The world of fashion and jewellery has also jumped on the bandwagon.
But as the world tries to grapple with the doom and gloom of a global recession, our fascination with such a non-practical, hedonistic style seems, umm how can I say this politely? - out of whack.
Yet, it's precisely this swing towards prudence and thrift that makes us crave extravagance and superfluous luxury all that much more.
Art deco fonts:
If Art Nouveau was about finding beauty in organic intricacy, Art Deco was perhaps about finding beauty in geometric simplicity. First appearing in the 1920s and 30s, Art Deco made a comeback in the 1970s and 80s as well.
Almost by definition, Art Deco meant sans serif type. The most common such face is Avant Garde (1974, Lubalin), which is striking but hard to read at length. A more graceful geometric sans is Futura (Renner, 1927-39). There are also more quirky faces in this category, such as Kabel (Koch, 1927-30). A recent popular Art Deco display face is ITC Anna (1991?).
Examples of deco graphic design:
History of the name 'Odalisque': An odalisque (Turkish): Odalık) was a female slave in an Ottoman seraglio. She was an assistant or apprentice to the concubines and wives, and she might rise in status to become one of them. Most odalisques were part of the Imperial Harem, that is, the household of the sultan.
(Jean-Auguste-Dominique-Ingres, La Grande Odalisque, 1814)
Odalisque:
Name decision.
I've decided on borrowing 'Spanish eyes' (from the arcade machine) as my business name. There is a song too, (see lyrics below) originally sung by Al Martino, and covered by a number of other artists such as Elvis Presley, U2, Faith no more, Englebert Humperdink, amongst others.
Therefore it will have an association and a memory for many people in cultural consciousness, as well as having an air of mystery that will make people wonder what the business is. Though I may need to include a sub-title if I am going to be less obvious. It fits with the mood I want to create, and will go very nicely with the European art deco styling that I desire, the dancing aspect. The word 'eyes' also fits in well for the gallery aspect as we view with our eyes.
Therefore it will have an association and a memory for many people in cultural consciousness, as well as having an air of mystery that will make people wonder what the business is. Though I may need to include a sub-title if I am going to be less obvious. It fits with the mood I want to create, and will go very nicely with the European art deco styling that I desire, the dancing aspect. The word 'eyes' also fits in well for the gallery aspect as we view with our eyes.
Lyrics
Blue Spanish eyes teardrops are falling from your Spanish eyes
Please please don't cry, this is just adios and not good-bye
Soon I'll return, bringing you all the love your heart can hold
Please say "Si Si" say you and your Spanish eyes will wait for me
Blue Spanish eyes prettiest eyes in all of Mexico True Spanish eyes
Soon I'll return, bringing you all the love your heart can hold
Please say "Si Si" say you and your Spanish eyes will wait for me
Say you and your Spanish eyes will wait for me
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Aesthetics ...
I fell in love with Melbourne's art deco edge when I first moved here. I think it is something that everyone who lives in Melbourne can relate to, has an attachment to, memories of, etc ... I feel like the art deco aesthetic will work well for my concept as it has connotations of style, flair, being cosmopolitan, looks great in a cafe/bar setting.
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Art deco cafe
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I really like the pattern on the bar. Something similar would work really well in a logo/promo material.
Because a big feature of the space is going to be the dance classes I feel like a bit of a European flavour could be appropriate. Warm colours. Spanish style colours, terracottas, reds, yellow ...
This arcade game design has a great colour scheme. I like the name Spanish eyes too ... Hmmm
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Ideas... Influences ... Brain-storming ... Name-storming.
For concept gallery/bar/activity space ...
The space will be multi-functional as a gallery space, a bar or cafe/bar, and also host other activities such as various art workshops, dance performances and lessons, music performances and lessons, and more ...
My fantasy situation for the sake of my design brief is that it is a group of people, a collective come together from different industries to share a space that creates something different. A beautiful art deco style building has been bought in the inner suburbs of Melbourne and the next stage is to begin the design concept for the business.
The blog in itself has a design brief in that it be a tool for the collective to view the project's process and give ideas, comments and feedback by subscribing to the blog.
Similar things out there: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7002696964
Hopkinson Gallery, studios and Tea bar , The Art Organisation Nottingham: (from my hometown nonetheless) has similar elements as I'd like to incorporate into my concept. They also have a range of activities the space is used for, such as Yoga, life-drawing and pole dancing (!)
Listings for life-drawing classes at various venues:
http://www.courses.com.au/Category/creative_arts/life_drawing_classes/
I do realise that the idea of having a bar alongside a place of learning/creating could be seen as controversial, but I think there could be a balance reached where the bar is perhaps not always open, is shut while there are activities on. Obviously certain activities, such as samba classes would match perfectly with the bar, as after class finishes the class can have a few drinks, do some socializing and practice more of their moves.
The space will be multi-functional as a gallery space, a bar or cafe/bar, and also host other activities such as various art workshops, dance performances and lessons, music performances and lessons, and more ...
My fantasy situation for the sake of my design brief is that it is a group of people, a collective come together from different industries to share a space that creates something different. A beautiful art deco style building has been bought in the inner suburbs of Melbourne and the next stage is to begin the design concept for the business.
The blog in itself has a design brief in that it be a tool for the collective to view the project's process and give ideas, comments and feedback by subscribing to the blog.
Similar things out there: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7002696964
Hopkinson Gallery, studios and Tea bar , The Art Organisation Nottingham: (from my hometown nonetheless) has similar elements as I'd like to incorporate into my concept. They also have a range of activities the space is used for, such as Yoga, life-drawing and pole dancing (!)
Listings for life-drawing classes at various venues:
http://www.courses.com.au/Category/creative_arts/life_drawing_classes/
I do realise that the idea of having a bar alongside a place of learning/creating could be seen as controversial, but I think there could be a balance reached where the bar is perhaps not always open, is shut while there are activities on. Obviously certain activities, such as samba classes would match perfectly with the bar, as after class finishes the class can have a few drinks, do some socializing and practice more of their moves.
- (3in1)
- The sumthin' sumthin' gallery
- gallery+
- More than just a gallery
- Your gallery space
- Your space
- Open space
- The Melbourne multi-functional gallery space
- Ace space
- The ace of spaces
I want the concept to appeal to a wide range of the community, and of all ages (over 18 years of course as were dealing with a licensed premise). As there will be lots of different activities/different types of artists/event/music etc ... etc ... I want to appeal to as wider range of people as possible in the aesthetics. Perhaps the design for promotional material could be a composition of the business logo and the event could have its own space which could be targeted style wise to different audiences/demographics.
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