Soicher Marin Says

What makes an original? Is it a point of view? Is it a way of life or a manner of thinking? Perhaps it’s all of the above. In looking back on millenia of invention and innovation, how can anyone claim originality without at least tipping one’s hat  at the source? Perhaps inspiration, not plagiarism is the true measure of originality in the post modern world. Through borrowing and interpreting, we are party to the genius of reworking concepts and revisiting ideas that made it. Ideas that succeeded. With every iteration and reformation of those ideas, we have an opportunity of imbuing them with a contemporary world view. Seen through the eyes of a 21st Century creator, a work of art or design brought back to life can reacquaint us with a grand past. At the same time, that new work can deliver a useful jolt to the senses with surprise and whimsy: something our  ancestors may have lacked, due to the serious work of inventing something from scratch. Then again, those seeking true, unfettered originality have a much higher bar set for them. Their litmus test is immediate and unforgiving.

In the visual world of art, unlike musical arts, the parameters of what makes art “art” seem much less stringent. For instance, if Jackson Pollack had been a composer rather than a painter, how many recordings would he have sold? If the chords struck by his orchestra were streaked, dissonant sounds booming across a vast hall, piercing wails and shrieking violins assailing the masses seated: how long would concert goers sit for a recital before the dissonance overwhelmed them? Yet, Pollack’s truly original, dissonant, screaming paintings created their own movement and disciples. These disciples whether real or affecting understanding revered him as a demigod. His bar, compared to that of a musician seems in hindsight, quite low. His contemporaries had no such forgiveness. Even the modernists in music corralled themselves into something that had a lyrical, traditional western nature. Pollack may have offended some, but others embraced him. Pollack the musical genius might easily have offended all.  So it is that we risk to create new ideas and make them ours knowing that it’s probably been done before. To be truly original may be impossible this late in the game. There are those that are satisfied to be too literal and hope not to get caught. Speech writers and politicians are notable examples. Between the literal plagiarist and the inspired “borrower”, lies the true genius. He is the ultimate recycler. The recycler of beauty, with his own unique point of view. He creates magic in new worlds for fresh, hungry eyes. -EM

Paris is one of those magical places that invites the hedonist to take part in an endless dance of tastes, visual splendor and sensory overload. As cliche as it sounds, around every corner is the potential for a beautiful picture or a splendid meal. I suppose Paris, in February is my favorite time: it’s cold, fashion week is either ramping up or winding down, my favorite eateries are relatively available (for Paris anyway) and the museums are empty of the usual clamor of shuffling feet. A particular treat this time was a visit to the Petit Palais. I confess, this is a spot that I’ve ignored for 30-plus years of travel to Paris. What a treat! Not only was it free, it provided unusual access to masterworks that you’d otherwise have to peer at from a distance at Musee d’Orsay, the Louvre or other more popular spot. The gardens and sculptures therein are worth the time. The Louis XV Hall is a rare treat without making the trek to Versaille. Next week I will share some of our favorite little spots to eat. Most are the in 7th which is a quiet and lovely residential district. The cafes, bars and small restaurants are very local in

nature but world class in quality. Until then. EM

Paris Door

Fence

Awning Standard

Floor at Kenzo

Floor at Kenzo II

Today is the first day of the 26th ASID FWC Design Resources Show and we are happy to be apart of it. I just wanted to share a couple of pictures of our booth along with the fabulous Jennifer Balest. Enjoy!

“The role of the design professional to maximize a client’s investment and elevate their environmental conscientious could not be more vital in these challenging times.”

The essence of Thom’s philosophy about his work and creations is that it be accessible, authentically American in nature and affordable. Inspired by his Upstate New York roots, the collection entitled “Moving Through Life” is a peek into Tom’s world, design aesthetic and easily accessible taste. Within the collection are scenes of “Earth and Sky” that reflect the bucolic life of his home town, to “Motion and Bootstraps” that speaks to the American ingenuity that built this great country. “A Moment in Time” are images shot from Thom’s own iPhone where he finds art in the most simple of objects. Thom’s vision is uniquely American and we’re fortunate to be able to share it with you.

Here is a special preview of just a few images that are part of a collection of over 60 unique images on paper, canvas and metal.

New York Map TF-0143A

People From Above III TF-0141

Grass Shoots TF-0138B

DC3 TF-0134

Flower Fields TF-0133A

New York From Above TF-0132

Outrigger TF-0124

Coupling TF-0121A

Raise your Glass, Lower your Standards TF-0113

Warm memories I TF-0111

Profile of White Horse TF-0102

Pop Icons TF-0101A

The whole quote attributed to Ben Franklin is “The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of the low price is forgotten“.  And it is tempting today to go down the road of compromise because business is so challenging. In the final analysis, when is it okay to cut a corner or bring in substandard products into your world? I don’t know the answer to that but I can tell you that cheap, as far as the world that our customer occupies is never the answer. Sure, it may be a temptation but at what cost?

Lately I’ve been thinking about my father who passed away almost four years ago. If he were here, he’d ask me “Ed, if you were a suit, what brand would you be?” a good question. Notice, he would not ask what brand “am I”, but “would be”. That’s the engine that drives my thinking in my work and at home. Quality is nearly impossible to define so we create a narrative. My dad’s narrative was a suit, yours may be a fine time piece or a car, others may think of fine crystal or even wine. So if in doubt about what to do today or where to go tomorrow, we need to know who we want to be, because if we do not know where we are going, any road will take us there.

So, what suit would I be (and why)? I would be a Brioni. A Brioni suit is impossible to compromise. The name itself is a call to action if you are a tailor. The processes that created this brand are passed from generations through meticulous adherence to quality standards, materials and craftsmanship. Yet, the responsibility that comes with maintaining a legendary brand is daunting. Temptations to cut corners and work with inferior materials to appease threats of low cost options is always there. The opportunists that appear year after year ready and happy to knock you off your mount are many. Those that claim to have the Brioni quality with more a “modern” style and of course, lower prices sing persuasive until you drape the garment on your shoulders. I can’t afford Brioni suits but I know what they look  and feel like. I’ve even had a sport coat on at the store, fantasized about meeting mysterious people on the streets of Rome and looking impossibly dashing sipping my Negroni at Harry’s Bar. That is the standard by which I measure the suits I can afford and more than that, it’s the standard by which the uncompromising nature of our products are based. Like me, my company can’t afford Brioni, but it can sure aspire to the ideal of what makes it a legendary brand. We would be the company with integrity, quality and more than anything have our customers in mind when creating our world. The byproduct is what we sell: pictures. And in those pictures you would find 50 years of like-minded individuals all striving and working under the onus of a legendary brand with the responsibilities that comes with it. To trip-up or cheat or cut corners would be unthinkable. If you were a suit, or car or a watch or…what would you be? –EM

It’s been nearly 20 years since I’ve attended my last Dallas summer market. Timing is everything and where I once thought that Markets and Showrooms were a thing of the past, my mind has done a complete shift. Showroom and direct access  to view our products for our Designer clients is a must. Here are a few pictures from our Rep showroom Taylors on Ten at the World Trade Center. Jane and her crew at TOT are the brand standard for Rep Organizations. Thanks to them, our first market back in Dallas was a great success. Here are a few pictures from the Taylors on Ten showroom. -EM

A few weeks ago I attended a conference in Tampa and the Keynote speaker, a thirty-something, way too young and wonky executive from a large software company stood behind his podium. Behind him was his first PowerPoint slide. In large bold type the heading read: “Profiting in the New Normal”. He went on to expound on the new realities and how we should all adjust our marketing, sales techniques, new pricing models etc. to suit a New America. Excuse me sonny, but last time I checked this is still AMERICA: the most prosperous and productive economy in the World 14.1 Trillion Dollars! Our nearest competitor, Japan has 1/3 our GDP. China and Germany combined don’t total 1/2 our GDP? New Normal? I don’t agree.

In 30 years working at this company, I’ve witnessed and survived three previous recessions: one in the early 1980′s, one in the early 1990′s one in the early 2000′s and now this one. Spot a trend here? They all have one thing in common: they are ugly, fear-making, destructive to the careless and instructive to those who are listening. They also come to an end, people go back to work, industry rebounds (better than before), birds chirp, couples marry, kids are born and, after a time, we forget they ever occurred. When I was a young man just starting out in business I had never seen or experienced one of these. It was nasty and scary. I tried laying that “new normal” line on my father who at the time was my boss. He called me an idiot. He said “Son, this will pass. There is no time where people will not want things or want to better themselves. Everything is temporary”. He was right. He and his wisdom passed in 2006…everything is temporary.

There is an entire generation of young and talented people who joined the ranks of working folks during the most prosperous decade in our history. They only knew one direction on the Bell Curve: straight up. I would tell them the same thing my father told me: We enter these things hard, we adjust and cut and taper and reform our business so we can stay in the game. We become BETTER executives and merchants as a result! The exit is nuanced and at times, almost imperceptible, but the transition to normalcy, real normalcy does happen. Before you know it, this recession, Great or otherwise, is history. In the words of Winston Chruchill: “Never give up, never surrender”...[to the new normal]. We do not accept it. We will not capitulate. –EM