Guggenheim | Inspiration Galore

Continuing on my journey of discovering inspirational and creative spaces, I ventured to The Guggenheim, a staple of the New York City art scene since its opening in 1959. Not only is the architecture of this building stunning, the interior aestheticism will take you for a spin (literally).

Upon entering this beautiful behemoth of spiraling gallery space, museum goers are escorted into an elevator and taken up to the sixth floor in order to begin their descent down each floor of exhibitions. The unique architecture of the space is an experience in itself, the unconventional rotunda design provides visitors a fluid sense of interacting with the contemporary collections in a way that feels more personal. As I began working my way down each floor I couldn't help but notice the amount of young artists that stood along the sidelines, sketchbook and pencil in hand, consumed with the artwork in front of them in attempt to find inspiration in the work of the greats. Frank Lloyd Wright, the architect behind the art museum, sought to elevate and enhance the human experience through his designs and I must say he succeeded.

Vision by Alphonse Osbert

From Van Goh to Picasso and every great artists in-between the stark contrast of the slanting white walls and the modernism adorning them draws your undivided attention into each individual piece. As I was working my way past Calder and Pollock, I noticed something ahead, something that didn't match the rest...was that a burgundy hallway in the distance? Yes, it was in fact and it led to my favorite exhibition, Mystical Symbolism: The Salon de la Rose+Croix in Paris 1982-1987. The exhibition space features works that take a step away from the contemporary and more modern art of the main space of the Guggenheim and takes you to a more magical and extravagant artistic point of view. With blue velvet sofas accenting the space and beautiful frames surrounding the paintings, I was completely enamored with the change in atmosphere.

The Death of Orpheus by Jean Delville

Personage by Joan Miró

Stepping back into the main space, I continued in my journey through contemporary art and I had a startling realization. I realized how many people move through the museum as quickly as possible without noticing the very short, yet in depth descriptions written about specific works of art that hide within them insight into the minds of artists and their creative process. As an artist I believe it is imperative to understand how other creative minds work, because that open-mindedness allows for the flow and exchange of creative energy. The beauty behind visiting an art museum is just that, allowing yourself to be immersed into the inner-world of an artist through each and every work of art they produce because those canvases are an extension of their being.Although some may joke and ask, "How does this piece make you feel?" that is the point of art to my understanding; creating a piece of work that makes someone feel something, whatever that may be.

Take Miró for example in the above description of his creative process, without reading the description how could one understand the process behind the abstract Personage painting? Now I'm not saying that every artist has to go through a hunger-induced hallucination to create art, but there is beauty in such madness.

The Guggenheim as an entirety opened my mind to the experience of a space and the impact that has on perception, from the architecture to the pragmatic placement of each piece of work the space speaks to the creative process. After leaving the museum, my interest in the uniqueness of the experience left me with a thirst for wanting to know more in how it all came together. So of course, as any millennial would, I took to my right-hand man Google and it all started to make sense in why the nonsense felt so right. In an excerpt from an article about the museum's architect, Frank Lloyd Wright and his creative process;

Good architecture, Wright wrote in a 1908 essay, should promote the democratic ideal of "the highest possible expression of the individual as a unit not inconsistent with a harmonious whole." That vision animates the Guggenheim Museum. In the course of descending the building's spiral ramp, a visitor can focus on works of art without losing awareness of other museumgoers above and below. To that bifocal consciousness, the Guggenheim adds a novel element: a sense of passing time. "The strange thing about the ramp—I always feel I am in a space-time continuum, because I see where I've been and where I'm going," says Bruce Brooks Pfeiffer, director of the Frank Lloyd Wright Archives in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Every moment of my time within this space made me feel as though I were taken into another realm, one that allowed a pure and personal experience of interacting with art, yet also a very conscious collective experience of existing within the space itself.

Keep it creative xx

P. S.

How Hospitality Helped my Creativity

As a New Yorker working in the service/hospitality industry is almost a right of passage, if you haven't been under-tipped by a tourist or yelled at by an over-worked restaurant manager have you really lived in New York City? Over the span of the almost 5 years that I have lived in this mass of beautiful chaos I have worked at 3 restaurants with locations ranging from Times Square to FiDi and then SoHo and currently I work full-time at a boutique hotel in Midtown Manhattan. As many of you know these four districts are vastly different in terms of clientele and atmosphere, but I consider it a privilege to have worked in such polar environments because in turn I ended up meeting a colorful plethora of people that have both frustrated me, but also have taught me a thing or two. I want to share with you how hospitality helped my head and my heart creatively.

With absolutely no experience or connections in the restaurant industry I decided to turn to Craigslist of course and quickly landed an interview at an eatery just west of Times Square as a hostess. Being a quick learner, I was promoted to being a server within a month, which brought with it the responsibility of memorizing all 4 menus and cocktails which I had never done before. As the weeks progressed I began to understand the ins-and-outs of the service industry and began to learn efficiency (especially during our extra-busy Bottomless Brunch special on the weekends, where I had to serve and play bartender) Not only did I become quick on my feet, I also began to build a clan of regulars solely because I was still so new to the city and through them I began to become exposed to different cultures and mindsets. One of the most important things to note working in the hospitality industry is how much time you are about to spend with your co-workers and how in-turn that builds strong bonds with those people to the point that they become your second family. After over a year of working with a number of extra-talented aspiring actors and singers, I had to say goodbye and moved jobs to a brand new eatery in the Financial District.

The transition between a light-hearted tourist and creative crowd to a super professional and serious business atmosphere was quite the change, yet surprisingly enough this is where I had my first creative opportunity as an artist. This restaurant was located right across the park from City Hall, in turn I came in contact with a large number of Wall Street and financial business professionals. Being in such an atmosphere even within the first few weeks I realized how different I was than these people because I found difficult to strike up a conversation and had to learn to understand corporate America and all the sarcasm and dry jokes that it comes with. Here, more than ever before, I learned how to read people and gauge their expectations and reactions. Although this restaurant hosted a number of office parties and after-work happy hour customers, focus was on service and food/liquor knowledge, but management actually commissioned me for a little bit of extra work—creative work. I had the responsibility to write out and decorate the chalkboard that was placed outside of the front entrance everyday announcing our specials for the day. This soon became one of my favorite parts of my day because I got to showcase my talent and obsession in terms of typography and sketching. More often than not, my manager would catch me putting finishing touches on the sign instead of being on the floor. Unfortunately, this restaurant ended up being bought under new management and with that came a few months of construction and a new staff. With barely a weeks notice of the closing (yes, that happens) I had to find a new job ASAP or else it would be Ramen for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

SoHo, Manhattan
Liquid Chalk on Chalkboard

Luckily, the following week after another round of Craigslist interviews I recalled a random message I had gotten on Facebook a few months prior from the owner of a new farm-to-table restaurant in SoHo. Waking up with the a light bulb moment one morning, I immediately reached out to him and asked if they were hiring and later that day I had both an interview and a new job. I ended up spending two years working as a head hostess at this restaurant and to this day it holds a very special place in my heart because of the amazing and inspirational people that I had met, which to this day I am extremely close with. Not only did I gain a second family, I also made a good number of connections with the amount of fashion and art oriented individuals that walked through the doors.

Chalkboard for Sanctuary T

Coming to work started feeling like a breath of fresh air because I never knew who I could possibly encounter on a given day. I started getting invited to gallery openings and different fashion events, which taught me a more than a class could about the industries I so anxiously want to step into. This job also allotted me a wide range of creative freedom, in terms of personalizing chalkboards and creating flyers and signs for reservations and parties on a daily basis, which always got my creative juices flowing. Furthermore, I actually ended up acquiring an internship through a coworker at a fashion showroom working under the PR director that lasted 8 months, which allowed me to begin building a creative industry resume.

Chalkboard for HGU New York
Liquid Chalk on Chalkboard

Ironically enough, through one of the regulars at this Soho restaurant I ended up being offered a job at an art gallery, which at the time I had to turn down due to the timing in juxtaposition with my school schedule. Once last Summer rolled around, the same restaurant regular started telling me about a new boutique hotel that was extra art-oriented that he was involved in on the Food & Beverage side, which was looking for new staff. Even with the restaurant being extremely busy, being a hostess I ended up still living paycheck-to-paycheck so with the opportunity of a pay-raise I took him up on his offer and went to an interview. That was over a year ago and I am still currently working as a Front Desk Agent/Concierge at a hotel in Midtown. This experiences has taught me a whole different side of the hospitality industry, luckily within another very close-knit work family.

Midtown, Manhattan

I noticed that I had more of a platform to showcase what my passions entail in front of management and ownership, which just like at my previous two jobs included a chalkboard, but also began to expand to the marketing side of the industry. The Sales Director took notice of all of the small creative things that I would immediately volunteer for at the Front Desk and presented me an opportunity to design marketing & sales material to be sent out to hotel clients on a regular basis. Being a very art-centered property, the owner's private art collection is showcased throughout the first floor lobby, bar and restaurant, which has also sparked inspiration to educate myself on the artwork both in and outside my workplace. Due to the experiences I have has within this industry I have also started to commission my typographical work to other bars and restaurants in the city. Overall, my New York City hospitality and service industry repertoire has brought about a function of not only paying my rent, but also feeding my creatively thirsty soul. You absolutely never know what kind of creative inspiration in lurking behind every corner, especially in the places that you least expect.

Stay inspired xx
P. S. 

Modern Artistry: Hercules NYC

There is a difference between a photographer who takes a photo and an artist who brings life to an image. Meet Erick Urgiles, better known as Erick Hercules to his 68.3K Instagram followers, an artist, entrepreneur and most importantly, inspiration to young artists. Social media has gathered unsurmountable attention within the past decade, today platforms such as Instagram, Twitter and Facebook have become society’s go-to source of information for just about anything and everything. Young talents within the realm of the arts thus use the exposure that the internet provides to showcase their work and progress in hopes of gathering attention in their field of expertise.

I had the privilege of interviewing Erick “Hercules” Urgiles, 25, opera singer turned photographer, changing the Instagram game one puddlegram and levitation shot at a time. Coming from an artistic family, Urgiles has innately had a knack for the arts. At age eight, Urgiles began his singing career by auditioning to be part of the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, with whom he sang professionally until age 18. Urgiles graced the stages of Madison Square Garden, Lincoln Center, Radio City and Carnegie Hall throughout his professional singing career, one that still holds a big part in his life today.

It wasn’t until 2012 that Urgiles picked up a camera. “My friend and I started a small t-shirt brand, I needed a lookbook,” says Urgiles, “But after the shots, I decided to give up the brand and focus on music and photography.” It was then that Urgiles started posting to Instagram and began receiving good feedback, after a while people became more and more interested in his work and Urgiles found that, “photography was even replacing music.”

“I realized that photography was my forte when brands started emailing me about wanting to work with me,” says Urgiles, “My following growth rate also took me by surprise, it went from 50 new followers a day and is currently up to 100 to 150 new followers daily, now it’s a serious thing.”

“When I became a part of the Instagram community, I found it to be a place where many photographers met and supported each other. Slowly each person grows from looking at each other's work in a friendly competitive way,” says Urgiles.

“It’s about not being scared of a challenge, this community really pushes you to be a better artist,” says Urgiles, “I have done some pretty risky things just to get the perfect shot, including climbing to the top of the Brooklyn Bridge and breaking into abandoned subway tunnels among other questionable photo-adventures.”

“I want to ultimately be a freelance photographer for brands and magazines.  Ranging from photography for editorials as well as product photography. I enjoy making art out of all that. I don't mind landscapes, but I have found that my most meaningful images contain a subject such as a human or a product; brand marketing,” says Urgiles.

Urgiles, originally from Ecuador, didn’t realize until about two years ago that his photography was gathering attention. Social media and specifically Instagram became his biggest platform, now @erickhercules has reached almost 70 thousand Instagram followers.

What makes Instagram unique is the creative community that has been created through its’ means. Many are unaware that there is a secret society that has come into fruition within the past couple years. Every month or so Instagrammers come together from all over the world at what they call “Insta-meets”, which are usually hosted in major cities, New York City being one of the most visited due to the overabundance of creativity that walks its’ streets. At these events Instagrammers have the opportunity to praise their fellow artist’s and photographer’s work in person, thus creating a more close-knit artistic community.

What Instagram has enabled is a way for individuals to come together and mutually benefit from each other’s talents. With an interim so wide there are limitless opportunities presented to the virtual artistic community.

“After a while this community has become an integral part of my growth as a photographer because I get inspired on the daily by all the amazing photographers I follow that truly make me take MY art to the next level,” says Urgiles, “I'm sure this works both ways. We tend to keep each other on our toes, seeing what each of us has to offer, and then learning from that and applying it to our art.”

What poses a challenge to aspiring photographers and artists attempting to get noticed on social media is the immense amount of competition that is already out there. Urgiles has managed to set himself apart and has created his own small community of Instagrammers through creating and coining the hashtags #thepuddlegames, #puddlegram, #iphoneonly, #bringthephoneback and #welevitate, through which he has been noticed by Humans of New York and websites such as; Buzzfeed.com, Risingabovethenoise.com, PE.greats.com, Scoge.co and Cyclonelife.net

Instagram has provided thousands of aspiring artists and photographers to expose their work in hopes of becoming successful, Urgiles has already been contacted by the likes of Mercedes Benz, Marc Ecko, Palladium Boots and Stutterheim Raincoats, just to name a few, to represent their brands through his unique photography style.

@erickhercules on #welevitate: “What inspires me the most is the transient feeling of ‘supernatural’ that one can capture in an elevated portrait.” says Urgiles, “I also realized that if my subject is captured midair, the viewer is pulled into an image that holds a moment in motion that has not yet reached its conclusion — hence, defying gravity, even if only for a momentary pause. To me, that definitely tells a captivating story of unpredictability since we don’t yet know what will follow.”

How-To Unlock Creative Roadblock

If you're like me, creativity plays a pivotal role in your livelihood and well-being as both an artist and a person. Unfortunately, most things that have such beauty also on occasion reveal an ugly side and in terms of creativity the biggest downfall is the dreaded creative block. Luckily just like a bad haircut, this lapse in creativity doesn't have to last forever. Take a deep breath and let me walk you through how to unlock creative roadblock.

Step 1: Stop what you're doing.

Taking on a creative endeavor requires interest in the subject at hand, so how are you supposed to channel new ideas if you're bored. If you find yourself staring at a computer screen, blank canvas or half finished sentence the best thing that I have found to work in my favor is to simply stop. A lot of the time forcing inspiration results in lackluster and stagnant work. Come back to it in an hour with a clear head and tabula rasa of the mind may bring with it a fresh perspective.

Step 2: Change your environment.

Atmosphere is everything when it comes to creativity, as I have mentioned time and time again. Everything from the chair you're sitting on to the guy talking with his hands in the corner of the room influences how well a person functions in a particular situation. So if you find yourself getting frustrated after spending what feels like eternity on a single task, just get up and go! Take a walk, get some fresh air, try out that new coffee shop across the street.

Step 3: Have a conversation.

Surrounding yourself with conversation is beneficial for a few reasons. Bouncing around un-finished ideas or concepts with anyone, even if they aren't themselves all that creative, can spark a new train of thought for yourself. Creative criticism, more often than not, can be encouraging as well as enlightening. Everyone thinks differently so sharing your thoughts with another person can lead to something great.

Step 4: Write it down.

New ideas sometimes come in moments of random inspiration. Carry around a small notebook or even open up a new note in your smartphone and jot down something, those moments of little nothings can amount to a whole lot of something. I almost never leave the house without a small notebook and pen in my bag and for those rare times that I don't I write thoughts down in my phone and come back to them. When you're feeling tired and un-inspired, take a look and allow your mind to fall back into that heads-space because you could have been on to something.

Step 5: Set small goals.

Alright, so you're back in the zone. Now it's time to try again, but before you do make a short list of what you are seeking to accomplish and break it down into smaller goals for yourself. Using this checklist as a guideline of progress, the seemingly impossible task at hand becomes more realistic.

Step 6: Reward yourself.

Motivation at times needs a little bit of incentive, so after setting small goals for yourself in the previous step work in some small rewards. They can be as simple as a snack (because who doesn't like food, duh) or scrolling through Instagram for 15 minutes, this way your mind takes a short break and your focus can be re-calibrated. Another tactic that I have found works wonders is setting aside a specific amount of time for whatever creative endeavor it may be and making plans afterwards, that way accomplishing your goal becomes movie night with bae or happy hour with the girls (win-win situation)

Step 7: Never stop creating.

At times, the sheer frustration and discouragement of creative block makes it hard to keep going. The one thing that an artist should never do is give up on their passion. This too shall pass and what is at the other end is silver lining sanity. Keep pushing forward because the satisfaction of creating something is the beauty of being the creator.

STAY PASSIONATE xx

P. S. 

"Silver lining sanity, carry me home." - Paulina Stanisz (ink on paper)

Procrastination Nation

A Beautiful Mess is a creative blog started by sisters Emma Chapman and Elsie Larson, this technically a lifestyle blog but the topics that they cover are not only do-it-yourself projects. These sisters actually have a handful of e-courses and one of them is called Blog Life which is all about how to become a blogger and sustain a functioning website. Since I am new to this blogosphere I was  browsing their blog and notices an aptly named article titled "Help Me I Procrastinate". Reiterating the fact that I do work full time and go to school simultaneously, that leaves little time to get to blogging. But this sister duo has a few key points that have helped me manage my time slightly better. These include;

1. Lists + Planning: Organize your schedule
2. Variety of Work: Don't bore yourself
3. Work Hours Rule: One thing at a time

Check out this fun and quirky article and see what else you can learn!

Keep your head in the game :)

P. S. 

Ace in this case...

As I had mentioned in my previous post Ace Is The Place the Ace Hotel's lobby is one of my favorite creative atmospheres. Many media outlets categorize this specific place as a communal work space, which is what drew me to the hotel in the first place. So let me tell you about my first experience doing work at the Ace...

Ace Hotel NYC Front Desk

Late one chilly February evening last year after leaving my busy job as head hostess in a trendy SoHo restaurant, I had a paper to finish for one of my communication courses that semester. So after skimming a few late night spots that Google threw at me, this particular place seemed promising, little did I know what was in store. Walking through the doors around 11:00 p.m. I noticed a spot at a table next to a lovely corner bookshelf, which I snagged right away. Sitting next to me was a peculiar character, who furiously typing on his computer gave me the impression that he was a writer. A lanky man, with greyish hair and dark features surrounded my papers and books was a writer indeed, a conspiracy theorist writer at that and the second-coming of Christ and the person that "predicted" 9/11 - what a guy. So after about 30 minutes of a conversation that started with this mystery person asking me about the book I'm reading - aptly titled The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell, here I was 2 hours later asking him what the point of his manifesto that he'd been writing for 10 years was. Not to much surprise, the point never surfaced, but at OK! magazine article with his photo in it did. I have since attempted to find it, but this stranger never actually introduced himself.

In the midst of the conversation, which at a point steered towards fractals (see video below) and the fact that the universe is a spec amidst a never ending pattern, little did I know I entered a never ending conversation until I made the conscious choice to leave (one of my better ideas)

Leaving the building, a person that was sitting at the communal table who I happened to make eye contact with amidst the insanity that I had endured sparked a conversation over a cigarette (don't worry, I've quit since) and what he was doing at the Ace was not writing a conspiracy theory, but attempting a art concept based around the Six Degrees of Separation which was a concept touched upon by Gladwell in the book I was reading at the time. Mads Madsen (yes, that's his real name) has since been one of my very close friends that I have pursued a few artistic projects with, we also shared a studio space for a while. By the end of our conversation, I had given his The Turning Point, without ever finishing it because the coincidence of the situation had been just too great. So circling around to why his project was so relevant, is that he had given a thousand dollar Contax camera to a stranger in the lobby of the Ace during a party and told the stranger to take a few photos and pass it along. By the end of the night, lo and behold, on just trust in humanity Mads got his camera back with a full roll of film resulting with the room buzzing about the concept of the camera. Not only did this experiment bring people together, but it proved that a space and its ambiance does have an impact on how people act and interact within its borders. 

P. S. 

Iris Van Imagination

Up until this point I have harped about physical creative spaces and the emotion and inspiration that they spur. Today I'm going to take a bit of a different approach to creative space in terms of visually inspiring and idea fueling imagery. I have dabbled in many art forms, be that writing, drawing or design. Fashion has for many years held a special place in my heart, being 14-years-old I had stepped into a world that was intriguing yet terrifying—the modeling industry. From the many young models I have had the pleasure to work with and befriend, I always seemed to steer conversation in a different direction than measurements and castings. I more often than not rather discuss the creative process that went into fashion shows and shoots because it piqued my interest as to how these designers, stylists, makeup artists, hair stylists and photographers came up with the concepts for their work that in the end always became a beautiful composition. That being said, over the years fashion has been an integral part of my life academically, creatively and personally. As most industries, fashion is in perpetual forward motion yet innovation usually only comes in the terms of design, but what if that could be taken one step further—technologically. 

Meet Iris Van Herpen, a Dutch designer at the forefront the digital fashion movement. I stumbled upon this brilliant mind around FW16 last Spring and I was floored. Van Herpen digitized design and 3D printed garments that are impossible to make my hand and by impossible I literally mean humanly impossible. This past week during Paris Couture Fashion Week Van Herpen debuted her 10 year anniversary collection and the result was absolutely breathtaking. 

The fluidity of her garments seems natural, yet the pieces are not sewn via human hand, but computer code. Digitally designed garments can then be turned into code and programmed into a 3D printed and voila, you have fashion of the information age. The way in which technology has allowed for artistic imagination to have no bounds is magnificent, now garments that were not possible to make by hand have the potential to be created by a machine. 

I urge you to take a look and attempt to wrap your mind around the sheer progressive potential of the garment industry in itself. We are the future and individuals that have the bravery to color outside the lines of society are what keep our creative and pragmatic world constantly and consistently moving forward.

P. S. 

METatation

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has been woven into the fabric of Manhattan for over 130 years, its majestic structure is home to thousands of years of ARTifacts. This beautiful beast is comprised of countless different wings with an expanse of space for your mind to wander. Amongst the hundreds of priceless works by of Monet and Pissarro hidden away on the second floor lies the Met's newest exhibition: Commes des Garçons: Art of the In-Between.


Rei Kawakubo's radical chic is considered not only avant-garde design, but also art. What she calls "anti-fashion" has made its impact on both the fashion industry and within the creative world. I urge all of you to go and check it out for your selves as the exhibition only runs until September 4th. Just walking into the space I felt a rush of inspiration, not because every piece is a perfect example of design but rather the imperfection behind it all. Exposed seams, irregular shapes, gender neutrality - all coming together to form a ubiquitous feel of thinking outside the box. The starkness of the white walls in contrast with the abrupt garments brings about a different way of thinking, the strangeness of the experience almost challenges the onlooker into a different way of thinking. 



P. S. 

Chalk Point Concentration

The SoHo District of Manhattan boasts high-end boutiques as well as an abundance of chic eateries and in recent years has become home to a number of art galleries and studios. Hidden away on the corner of Broome and Thompson Street is a market-to-table gem, a restaurant whose heart is at the cross-section of fashion, art and food.

Chalk Point Kitchen, located at 527 Broome St. is not your typical trendy restaurant, it's mindfully trendy—if you will. Spearheaded by restauranteur Matt Levine and Michelin Star executive chef Joe Isidori, CPK opened its doors in April 2014 as one of the few market-to-table restaurants in New York City having not some, but ALL of its ingredients locally sourced in New York state. Since opening the local SoHo eatery has been featured in multiple publications including; Vogue, Interview and Vanity Fair putting this low-key spot on the art and fashion map almost instantly. Not only is Chalk Point a restaurant, but the basement of the space is a hidden away speakeasy piano bar with mixologists that will knock your socks off and the decor is reminiscent of stepping right into the Prohibition Era, except with modern fashion photography gracing the staircase and walls.

Knowing all too well that this spot is a favorite among New Yorkers, dinner and brunch are always hustling and bustling with an energy that is palpable. So I opted to pay them a visit during a weekday lunch, already knowing that I adore the atmosphere of the space. The entrance of this downtown staple speaks for itself being adorned with hundred of polaroid photos of its patrons, in just a short three years Chalk Point Kitchen has cultivated a culture and history all its own. The space itself is quaint, being barely 70 seats it provides a more personal environment complimented by an open air kitchen right behind the bar. With light pouring through the room, I was seated at an adorable white-washed corner table in a booth accessorized with Keith Haring art plates and red gingham napkins. With a menu that changes almost every month, its commendable to see a restaurant so keen on innovation and change—which also expands into their involvement by being part of and hosting events that work towards great causes including hosting a food pantry and raising money to build homeless shelters.  So much yes, just all around, cheers to CPK.

Coming in pen and paper in hand on a Monday around noon was a marvelous idea, the restaurant had just ended their lunch rush and things were winding down into a comfortable buzz of 80's light rock and quiet conversation. The wait staff was absolutely wonderful, my server Cesar was a superstar in more ways that one. Not only was he superbly  knowledgable about the menu, he is also an aspiring Broadway dancer with such a wonderfully inspirational energy. The summer lunch menu boasted a number of both vegan and vegetarian options, don't worry you can add chicken, shrimp, salmon or steak to just about everything outside the Acai Bowl—unless that's what you're into. I ended up going for the Heart Healthy Avocado Toast (because avocado, obviously) and the Vitamin Powerhouse Chicken Bowl, both of which were well balanced, very fresh and simply delicious. It is obvious how much heart is put into every aspect of the restaurants atmosphere, its homey and comfortable with a heaping handful of happy.

Grab a book and go hangout at Chalk Point Kitchen and then you'll understand what you've been missing!

P. S.

Fostering Focus

As an artist, the thirst for creative expression is ever-present. As a student with a full-time job, bringing conception to reality sits at center gravity on a delicate scale of inspiration and motivation. Creativity is believed to be spontaneous by nature, yet the creative process is in itself a convoluted mechanism that is not unilaterally defined. The intricacies of the individual mind are manifold, thus divergent minds need different spaces in order to flourish. Visual atmospheres are a key component of fostering focus in physical spaces.

Personal identity is the driving factor for choosing an environment that encourages productivity and creativity. Some prefer being tucked away behind library corners and hidden by books in solitude and silence, others find inspiration sitting outdoors while immersing themselves in the noise and chaos of the city; individual predilections are bound to vary. I believe there is one specific factor that provides physical spaces the ability to influence creative performance and enhance ideation—ambiance, an interplay between the interior design, lighting and sound of a space. When I search for a location to make my creative home for a good couple hours, there are a few key elements that in my opinion create a perfect atmosphere. 

First, I'd like to touch upon lighting, both natural and artificial lighting must be taken into consideration. Natural lighting is proven to improve mood and alertness, the more windows a space has the better it is for your concentration. Now if you're more of a night owl (like myself) the interior lighting is crucial. In my opinion dimmer lighting works to my favor in that it makes the space feel more comfortable thus allowing me to delve into my creative consciousness. The important aspect of a dimly lit environment is that the lighting should be warm yet still bright enough to be able to read a book or scribble in a notebook, think vintage mahogany reading room. A recent study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology by two German psychologists, Anna Steidle and Lioba Werthh, examined the effect of light and darkness on creative performance. The investigation determined that physical environment can in fact facilitate or impede the generation of new and creative ideas. The results revealed that darkness increases freedom from constraints, which in turn promotes creativity.

Next, we have the sound of a space which encompasses both music and the level of conversational background noise. Some individuals prefer silence in order to concentrate—to each their own, but a bit of sound is actually proven to be effective as well. A low to moderate level of ambient noise activates abstract cognition because it induces processing difficulty and consequently enhances creative performance. Conversely, a high level of noise impairs information processing, thus an equilibrium must be attained. If your local coffee shop is paying pop punk from the 2000's I'd say steer clear if you're looking to accomplish any task. Personally, I find playlists including a mix of classic music and acoustic soundtracks very stimulating in that they provide a sense of calm as opposed to silence which promotes self-consciousness. A low hum of conversation also works towards the space being creatively positive in that those around you are engaging in purposeful small talk, but that also brings about the crucial aspect of the type of staff and clientele—both of which should be unobtrusive.

To come full circle, I'd like to briefly touch upon the aestheticism of the physical space. Interior design lends itself to the overall atmosphere projected by an environment, which is a vital part of an establishment's socio-cultural identity that determines what kind of patrons the space attracts. I'll start with the basics, i.e., work space and seating, comfortable desk-height tables and chairs are ideal, but couches and coffee tables are also helpful—depending on the task at hand. Next comes decor, I personally prefer spaces that provide food for thought through their design, books and art adorning the shelves and walls being on the top of that list, complimented by a neutral color scheme.

The cohesive structure of a physical environment is a factor that many individuals don't take into consideration, yet there is a method to the madness. Everyone is different, but I truly believe that ambiance is everything when it comes to physical environments that foster focus, productivity and creativity.

P. S.

Ace Is The Place

While in college or working a demanding job, many New Yorkers don't have the luxury of having a workspace that promotes productivity. Being both a student and a working full time, my schedule pleads for a solace of sorts. Libraries have gotten stale over the years and Starbucks just doesn't cut it anymore. After losing the concentration game time and time again, I began my mission to find a space where my mind could let go of anxiety and my thoughts could finally find clarity again. So where does an inconspicuous silent meeting of the minds occur on a daily basis—The Ace Hotel, its lobby to be exact. The space is decorated with a melange of furniture and people alike, the atmosphere is quintessentially quirky with just enough ambiance to foster a sense of belonging without uttering a whisper to the millennial typing away on their Macbook two chairs to your left. 

The Ace Hotel sits on the corner of Broadway and 29th Street in midtown Manhattan, the building, erected in 1904, still stands as a commanding piece of architecture in what was to become an avenue of hotels. Originally The Breslin Hotel, the 344 room property was one of the most renowned residence hotels in the early 20th century. In 2008 the Ace Hotel Group bought out The Breslin's existing lease and in 2010 the architectural firm Roman & Williams completed what is now a property that layers both the old and new and draws business professionals and creatives alike. The lobby's communal workspace is a mix of the old and the new, with library style tables and velvety red couches, the dimly lit space boasts high ceilings and a jazzy soundtrack, all aspects being held together with the low hum of unobtrusive conversation. Those visiting the Ace in need of some inspiration can immerse themselves in the creative essence of the lobby's atmosphere, which is accented by books and paintings and brought to life through the unique clientele.

The Ace also offers an array of food and beverage choices including, Stumptown Coffee Roasters, The Breslin Bar & Dining Room, John Dory Oyster Bar and No. 7 Sub, all accessible without giving up your seat at the table next to an outlet. You can spend hours at The Ace without missing a beat and if you're productive enough maybe your night will end in a dance party. I'm not kidding, the Ace hosts "Lobby Nights" which feature a different DJ every Wednesday and Saturday night at 10:00 p.m. where the lobby itself turns down the lights and turns up the funk. 

As you leave the lobby, look to your left and painted above the front desk there is a phrase that just might keep you coming back for more: Excelsior—ever upwards.

P. S.

Slowly Drifting in NYC

My name is Paulina and I am a creative. Like many others, I came to New York City in the hopes of finding myself and my creative identity, yet over the years I have come to realize that amidst my chaotic soul searching I had ended up losing myself instead. Throughout the five years I have called this city home, I constantly find myself being pushed to figure out what sort of environment fosters my creativity, be that writing or sketching. I invite you to join me on the search for people and places that drive creative inertia.

It's 9 a.m. I'm the first one here. Bedford Street as the city awakens. My table, flanked by the coffee machine and the front window, affords me a sense of privacy, where I withdraw into my own atmosphere...The small café feels chilly. So why are the fans turning? Maybe if I stare at them long enough my mind will turn as well. It's not so easy writing about nothing. -Patti Smith, M Train

Patti Smith and I share two specific things, our conveniently literarily relevant initials P.S. (post script) and our passion for stream-of-consciousness writing. It's a beautiful thing to have the ability to exist in a current moment both mentally and physically, but with our lives moving a million miles a minute it is often difficult to find a space that fosters presence. Smith effortlessly describes her current state of being—simple and honest, yet striking. Even in her admittance of feeling uninspired, she refers to her environment to find a spark of inspiration. This blog is an homage to the daydreamers, the artists, the writers, looking for moments in a city of divine chaos. 

My head is still in the clouds, I'm just trying to keep my feet on the ground. Whenever I feel lost I always remind myself that; right here, right now, I am here and nowhere else. 

Let's make moments.

P. S.