ok... who designed THAT

Everything is designed... everything. The layout of the local newspaper was designed by someone. The embossed pattern on toilet paper was designed by someone. (Yeah that's a resume' highlight) Levi's were designed and redesigned. That little can of air, that I use to dust the keyboard of this designed computer, was designed by someone.

Sometimes, as I walk to the corner store. I HAVE TO WALK, THERE'S NO PARKING! I notice the ornamentation on the building across the street and the pattern at the base of the light poles. the paint colors of the buildings, the mini blinds or cheap curtains in the windows. And I realize, everything is designed. Now not all of these designed objects are as great as the Golden Gate Bridge or the Four Seasons Hotel.

Good design doesn't have to cost a fortune, but the designer should be compensated for using his creativity and talents. Each designer uses a personal criteria on how they determine what their talents are worth.

It may astonish you to learn that I am a designer. And I still haven't figured out how much I am worth.

I look at everything with an eye towards redesigning it. That aforementioned corner store needs a coat of paint and some modern shelves. Subway's counters need to be higher and better pics on the menu. The Chinese restaurant next door should lose the fluorescent lighting and use something softer. I don't want to look like a corpse while I'm eating chicken fried rice. I'd like to design some competence for the chicks at the pizza place on the corner. But even I'm not that good at what i do.

Trees. We need more trees, in beautiful designed planters along the sidewalks.

Can someone design some manners for the brats from the "Art Academy". Well maybe everything isn't designed after all.

But don't tell that to the guy who designed the embossed patterns on the toilet paper.

CSI San Francisco

I promised to make sense of the last post.

Here Goes... I've watched too many episodes of CSI.
This year at Bouquets to art, I was assigned a piece of conceptual art by Bruce Nauman. Two neon faces with flashing hands. each poking the others eye out.

The piece is titled Double Poke in the Eye II.

I have to admit I have never paid too much attention to this piece on my visits to the deYoung. In previous years, other designers have chosen to focus on the colorful neon aspects of this sculpture.

When I actually studied Nauman's work, I was struck by it's dark and violent nature. I used two manequin heads, painted white and gouged an eye out on each (that was FUN).

Red Hanging Amaranthus and Antherium are used to simulate blood oozing from the eye sockets. Rannucula petals, Vanda Orchid blooms and Hypericum berries were glued to the forms suggesting blood splatters. Hypericum berries peared on blades of Steel Grass mimic blood droplets in motion.

Yeah I know, I need therapy.

This piece ellicited many of the responses I expected at the opening night cocktail party, ranging from humor to horror.

Just like life.

I just want to gouge my eyes out...

It's an unexpected Saturday off... phone has been ringing off the hook.. (that means more than 4 calls).

what to do?

I have mentally redesigned my Bouquets to Art piece a million times.. Can't wait to gouge those eyes out. Trust me, that will make sense and not seem so violent on Monday.

Bouquets to Art is a fundraiser for the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Florists, Floral designers and garden clubs from all over the bay area are asked to interpret a piece of fine art in flowers.

On a Monday in January, 100's of us trudge off to the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park and wander the galleries looking for the piece of art that inspires us. Well, actually we specify our top 5 choices and then a committee assigns us one of those choices. This year I did not receive any of my choices. No worries... I let them know I would be happy with any location they gave me. I forgot about the neon...

Flash forward, I get the letter telling me of my location. I remembered the neon. ugh.

What I love about doing this project is the total lack of design "requirements". No one to tell me what I "have" to design or what they want me to design, no budgetary constraints other than the amount of cash I have in my pocket.

The only design restrictions are on certain types of materials. Obviously the museum is concerned with keeping the art safe, and flower pests can do irreparable harm to some of the more fragile pieces of "art". Taking all these requirements into consideration, causes the designer to really have to think about their design.

Some think harder than others.

So, I've spent the last couple of days constructing the design in my mind. All of which will probably go out the window as I actually design my piece on Monday morning.

Being a floral designer, one that is employed and has clients, my designs are subjected to the tastes of the consumer. It's very rare that a client doesn't play at being the designer or impose their favorite flowers, styles, colors and ideas (magazine pics, pics of other designers work, et al) on the process of designing an event. One just goes with the flow.

My definition of a florist... one who copies a pic out of a book or catalog...
A Floral designer is one that composes all the elements, textures, colors, vessels and accents to form an original creation. Possibly inspired and influenced by others, but the end result is his or her original perspective.

Monday's creation will be my original perspective.

Stay tuned...


For a glimpse at my past Bouquets to Art compositions visit ...

http://patrickknight.net/bta_001.htm

voted off the island... march 7, 2008

Imagine siting at a keyboard in an uncomfortable chair all day long doing nothing but pressing the 'Q' key over and over again and being paid to do it. At what point do you lose it and go "Floral"???

Going Floral is my equivalent of the wonderful 1980's craze of going Postal. This process involves no guns, but does require a very dull folding knife, a pair of expensive pruners with a rusty, nicked blade, 37 yards of corsage tape (light green is preferred) and the ability artfully arrange two dozen very old roses in an unconventional vase or orifice. Thorns on.

Now back to the story... Picture it ... Treasure Island, 2008

Imagine having to dumb down just to do a job. Would you? Could you? This week, I have been trapped on decrepit island in the middle of a decrepit bridge in the middle of the bay. A famous New York designer is in "town" to produce a wedding reception for wealthy clients. Well so far, he isn't in town, the "team" is. As with all successful people, the physical work is done by others. A job of this scale requires a crew of a people that work well together. And apparently people who don't mind doing mindless, agonizingly painfully boring work.

I do mind. This type of work, quite frankly is what i did when i was younger and inexperienced. Been there, Done that. Got the bad back to prove it.

When I am hired as a designer, I expect to use my skills, talent and intelligence to the benefit of the person that hired me. This is not one of those jobs. And as the little flashes of light started to appear in my field of vision, and the dull ache in my temples was just teetering on throbbing, I realized Fuck It, I need the money.

One of the things i will take from this experience, is the humor I will find in those who will boast for the next 25 years that they worked with Preston Bailey. I will find it both humorous and pathetic. We did not work with Preston Bailey. We preformed the equivalent of salting the fries at Wendy's. Dave may have come up with the burger, but Jose slaps the ketchup on and Darnell gets Karpal Tunnel shaking the salt.

No, I didn't work with Preston Bailey. I didn't expect to. I worked for his company. And for 3 days I got to do mindless repetitive boring work for which i am overqualified. Helen Keller wearing a blindfold could have done this job and still not have fucked it up.

I hope the bride and groom have a happy life together.