the OAK bond street blog

Animal Collective confusing the hell out of closed captionists everywhere.

Here are some pictures of a boxing event my friends set up in a Soho loft. ^ My old roomate Zac fought in the first fight ^After some brief controversy, he was declared the winner.The Main Event:
Nicholas Lemmons vs. Billy “The Kid”

Nick ended up throwing his shoulder out (or so he said) in the third round. Boo. Still an awesome time though.
All photos taken by Dylan Forsburg
-John

I have seen and spoken to Mary quite a few times before visiting her. We carry her collection in our stores and showroom so our paths have crossed a lot. She is always coming and going quickly, a woman you know has a lot going on. But unlike most of us, Mary never gives you the feeling that she is panicked or overwhelmed. She carries herself without pretension and grace and always makes you feel comfortable. Mary is much like the clothing she creates.
I visited Mary early on a Saturday that just happened to be the coldest day in New York in nine years. After traveling from Chinatown to her Greenpoint studio (no working L train of course) we were frozen to the core. Mary opened her door with a big hug and smile, apologized for the noise her neighbors were making (they’ve been working on the music studio “for like year’), and offered us some tea.
When you walk in Mary’s studio/loft there is a big kitchen to your left and a bright and comfortable living room to the right. Both are cozy, clean and well lived in. It’s the place that you and your friends always wanna hang out at. Mary’s studio is just beyond the living room, separated by a free standing wall. There are two work desks, spools of thread on the walls, shelves that go up to the ceiling with neatly folded clothes covering them, patterns hanging off of hangers, and an ancient Mac. The room is warm and light. The walls are decorated with many pieces of art by her friends. I comment on a specific one. “Yeah it’s great,” she says. “It’s stoner art.” I laugh and agree.
Mary herself is one of those special hybrids that has experienced the best of both worlds. Born in California, Mary went to elementary and high school in Venice (she has fond memories of the board walk in the 80’s), and attended the California College of the Arts and majored in painting. After graduating from college Mary worked as a hostess and taught art to children to make money. Finding it hard to make a living out of fine arts school she was conflicted. “Artists are not taught a business plan when they are in school which is basically how to market yourself.”
She struggled finding different ways to express herself. One of these ways was making and wearing her own clothing. It started off simple enough, she wore her clothing to work. Back then it was a bit sweeter, more girlier, “shirts with lots of appliques.” People waned to know where she had bought them. Soon enough she had orders from boutiques.
But Mary didn’t feel like her style was progressing in Oakland, and wondered where she should take her business to the next level. New York seemed like the best option. Her long time friend and jewelry designer Lisa Levine had moved here, and New York is where her father grew up. Her mother is from Connecticut so there was already a saturation of people she knew. Thankfully for us she took the leap and moved cross-country.
Mary’s Spring 09 line was inspired by her vacation to a beach-side Rockaway bungalow. Prints set the tone and her cool and easy designs are easily imagined on everyone in their own beach side paradise.

In Mary’s studio there are many hand painted patterns on thick white textured paper. They are beautifully and skillfully drawn, simple and infinitely interesting. I ask her where they come from: her inspiration. All of them surprise me. One is from a basket that is sitting on the table, another from a blanket that is neatly folded on a chair in the corner. Mary was extremely influenced for her Fall 09 line by the African textiles show at the Met. She pulls out a book she bought there. “See this pattern, the book doesn’t show the whole of it but this pattern that I have made was inspired by what would be off of the page.” She holds the paper just above the page and the two images become one. It’s a wonderful and impressive thing when someone can find so much beauty in what most of us think of as shear repetition.
Mary does us a favor by taking the repetitious lines and enlarging them to where they are big enough for our scatter brains to finally stop and contemplate the history and easy beauty of simplicity.