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SAKURA: Through the Lens of Doug Fogelson

Wednesday, June 9th, 2010

Detail of Sakura 15, 109" wide x 16" high

The blooming of Japanese Sakura (cherry blossom) marks the change of the seasons from winter to spring. However they also symbolize the transience of life (mujo) and play a tremendous role in Japanese culture and ritual.

In April 2009 Doug Fogelson traveled to Japan with the express purpose of photographing Sakura during the blooming process. His journey began in Tokyo then on to Yoshino Mountain, historically the most revered area of the country for Hanami (or cherry blossom viewing), and finished in Kyoto as the last petals fell. At Yoshino native Sakura trees climb far up a winding mountain valley. As altitude increases the temperature difference affects the bloom so that flowers open successively to the highest grove near the top (where the poet Saigyo [1118-1190] lived for years lovingly admiring the trees)

The series of images shown exclusively at Pagoda Red lead the viewer through the seasons and metaphorically through the changes in life–from winter to spring; from early budding to full bloom, to mature leaf.

Artist Bio:

Doug Fogelson uses an iconoclastic multiple exposure technique in order to depict our collective surroundings, producing imagery that reflects our own alien experience of nature, as well as the distanced perspective of the viewer. His images are the result of overlapping multiple exposures along the film within the camera at the time of shooting. Fogelson’s art depicts a measured study of time, complexitiy, and space to be found when scenes correspond and multiply. The viewer becomes enmeshed in the variegated forms captured by the photographer’s eye and via the machine of the camera.

Fogelson’s process takes a stance between motion picture and still photography as his images are often shot with changing vantage points of the scenes depicted and overlapped along the film. Movement is displayed-both of photographer and subject-yet a cognitive sense of the subject in consideration is rooted in time and perhaps personal reflection or memory.

Born in Chicago in 1970, Doug Fogelson studied at Columbia College and the Art Institute of Chicago, receiving his BFA in 1994. He has been recognized by numerous publications including Art News, Focus, and Photo District News, and his work is included in prominent museum, corporate, and private collections. Fogelson exhibits in galleries, museums, and public spaces around the world.

Off to the Shows!

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009

Show season is here in Chicago. I recently attended the openings of the Merchandise Mart Dream Home and the Infant Welfare Society’s Lake Forest Showhouse and Gardens and was truly inspired by how some of Pagoda Red’s favorite designers transformed their spaces.

Marshall Erb and Michael Del Piero both created amazing rooms in Lake Forest. Among the many pieces Michael borrowed from Pagoda Red, she was most excited about a pair of hand-thrown primitive 19th century urns and a free-form Chinese footrest. She paired these with volumes of antique leather bound books and weathered pottery from around the world to accesorize the bookshelves in the library of the historic Lansdowne Estate. It was an incredible combination of textures, shapes and provenance. Her knack for accessorizing is like no one’s. She told me that’s why she wanted the library—shelves and more shelves to let her talent shine!!!

Marshall borrowed more than 25 different shaped oversized blue and white porcelain urns from Pagoda Red. He used them on the front steps of his space, the pool house, to lure people in. Most were planted with bright yellow daffodils, which were spring perfect in combination with the deep violet crocus he planted in a giant clamshell, also from Pagoda Red. Flowering forsythia branches drew the eye to and cast natures light on the dramatic two-story drapery panels framing the pool house. The long panels were basic white outdoor sheers that Marshall ingeniously striped with hand applied canary yellow grosgrain ribbon—so preppy chic and clever.

Back in the city, Laurel Feldman designed the foyer of the DreamHome at the Merchandise Mart. A marble tub hand-carved with peoniesfrom Pagoda Red was the focal point. Laurel transformed it into a koi pond with help from a friend at Heffernan Morgan. Three rock crystal spheres“floated” in the water –they were actually mounted on custom lucite stands. Laurel repeated the peony motif from the trough on a gorgeous hand-painted finish behind an oversized mirror. I loved this finery juxtaposed with the organic Pagoda Red Chinese monumental root pedestalholding an over-the-top porcelain vase with seasonal flowering branches.

Mick De Giulio incorporated a live edge Nakashima style dining table with stainless legs in his clean kitchen at the DreamHome. Mick is a master of details-from the perfect pick chandelier over the table to the repeated chevron detail on the marble shelf.

Definitely not to be missed!

P.R.
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For more information about the showhouses and the designers mentioned above:

The Lake Forest Showhouse runs thru May 17th 2009. For more information, click here.

The Merchandise Mart’s DreamHome runs thru December 18th, 2009. For more information, click here.

Michael Del Piero Good Design: www.michaeldelpiero.com

Marshall Morgan Erb Design, Inc.: www.marshallerb.com

Laurel Feldman Interiors: www.laurelfeldmaninteriors.com

Mick De Giulio, de Giulio kitchen design: www.degiulio.org

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