PamelaWeir-Quiton is an influential Los Angeles based woodworker who has been making finely crafted sculptural works since 1965.
Her work has appeared in multiple publications over the years, including the cover of LA Home Magazine, and has been exhibited and collected nationally since the 1960s. She is considered an important part of the West Coast studio movement, and she is one of only a few veteran female artists working with wood. A lover of fashion,she originally planned to be a fashion designer. She has become a ‘bandsawfashionista.”
Known for her stylized functional doll forms and life-sized ‘rocking animals,’ Weir-Quiton is currently celebrating her 50th studio year. Championed by thelegendary LA curator, Eudorah Moore, her work was included in the seminal“California Design” exhibits (1964-1976) at the Pasadena Museum which definedthe look of West Coast design for generations.
Weir-Quiton’s work is a part of the fabric and history of the LA Design scene. Earlier this fall, a retrospective of her work was held to much acclaim at the Craft in America Center in Hollywood. A recent visit to her West Adams studio revealed how the artist is currently thinking about her work and her legacy.
KN:Your work has largely focused on animal and human figures made of wood. How has your observations of the interaction between man and critter effected your work?
PWQ: You know being in a military family, I would talk to my cats. And later, to my dogs. Being here, working alone in the studio and basically being an outsider, my dogs are more than muses. They are almost human to me.
When I was very young, my father was in the Air Force. My mother and I moved to Indiana to be closer to family. There is a place there, a nature preserve, where we would go for walks. That’s where my“nature walk “ necklaces come from. (photo)
I have always believed in fairy tales. So my fairy tale is like a kind of Hansel and Gretel, only with a good witch. So in my version of the story, we would gather nuts and things and we would go back to the good witch’s cottage where she just happens to have a wood shop, and a drill press. And you drill holes in everything you have found and you string it together!
KN: Is that a view of the creative process as a kind of magic, as alchemy?
PWQ: It is that, I’m not doing it. And, that anyone can tap into this channel!
All that I can say, is that it is intuitive. And now, more so than ever for me. It’s really has become crystal clear by thinking about the law of attraction. By asking, how does this make me feel? I’ve always been able to capture the frame, and hold it, and sketch it. In the new studio (West Adams), I feel even more connections. I’m seeing piles of sacred scrap from older projects, and I’masking “what can I do with this?”
The materials and the tools, nothing else matters. That’s who I am. We don’t travel. There is nothing else that I want to do. Once I discovered woodworking at the wood shop at Cal State Northridge, there was no turning back, it was100% commitment. It’s like an obsession that grabs you by the throat. It’s like Colin Kaepernick, the “take a knee guy” – find something you love and if you have to – risk everything. That’show that am.
KN: If you were to go back and tell your 23-year old self something, what would it be?
PWQ: (Laughs) I guess I would tell myself that it always worked out!
You can only have one thought at a time, and the trick is to be able to shift it and focus. That’s what coming in, and turning on the lights in the woodshop, does for me. It’s vibration, it’s frequency, it’s energy. The woodshop is my yoga,my meditation – it’s everything good.
I know who I am. It’s not an ego thing. I’m not afraid to put myself out there, because I don’t feel like I’m pushing myself. It’s “come and play with me inthe Universe!”
Katie Nartonis is an Art + Design writer, curator and auction specialist based out of Los Angeles, California and sometimes Taos, New Mexico. Earlier this year she curated “Nature: Human Nature” an art +design show at Loft at Liz’s gallery in Los Angeles. She is currently finishing co-writing and publishing a book on the late San Diego designer/maker, “JackRogers Hopkins: California Maverick”(with Co -Writer/Editor Jeffrey Head). Sheis the founder of The Nartonis Project and is Art + Design Editor of SoCalMagazine. www.thenartonisproject.com
For National Men’s Grooming Day, it was important to me that I find a grooming service worthy of publication. It had to be memorable, it had to be satisfying, it had to be “Golden”. I also threw in a convenience factor as I wanted to be sure it was in the San Fernando Valley being that I reside in North Hollywood. Thankfully, I didn’t have to travel too far as I was directed over to GoldenHour in Sherman Oaks. Owned and operated by young entrepreneur, Jalon Webster, GoldenHour takes pride in being the Valley’s best men’s grooming experience available because they hold themselves up to the highest standards in town.
The vibe of GoldenHour is established as soon as you walk into the shop from the minimalist design with street art accents along with a music playlist that sets the mood to unwind. Jalon says, “We like to take you away from the hustle and bustle of the outside world and bring you to a place of serenity within the shop. We utilize curated playlists to set the tone with music. Then pairing our full service haircuts with our men’s manicures, pedicures, or facials allows for an experience that is truly ‘Golden’. I believe you have to give to yourself before you can give to others. The more you give to yourself, the more you can give to others.“
I received a fresh haircut from Jalon himself and a professional manicure from the on-site aesthetician and nail tech. The signature haircut also called “The Golden Hour” takes a complete 60 minutes because Jalon focuses on precision and giving his clients the best treatment available. He attributes his skill to the time he’s spent cutting hair altogether. “I’ve been cutting hair for over 14 years, which is more than half of my life. I love what I do and I love interacting with people. There’s something very therapeutic about getting a great haircut, and I want to stick to the old school idea that I’m not just your barber, but I’m also a type of therapist when you’re in my chair.“
It’s no wonder why GoldenHour has been able to establish itself as prime location for male grooming. Their services have garnered a celebrity clientele that includes the likes of Sarunas Jackson, Shannon Sharpe, Andre Berto, Donovan Carter, Omar Bolden, Duke Ihenacho, and more.
The flagship Sherman Oaks location opened in March 2018, but GoldenHour has been in operation for 2 years servicing the San Fernando Valley area. They take pride in being a local business as Jalon is a Valley native. “I love that I get to operate my passion in this community. I even celebrate the Valley on “818 Day” which is on August 18th, as a means to commemorate our famous area code. We make it a community effort, and I’m proud of this town.”
GoldenHour is located at 14084 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 and accepts appointments via their booking site HERE.
The fourth annual KAABOO Del Mar is almost here! The highly amenitized event, set to take place at Del Mar Racetrack and Fairgrounds in Southern California on September 14-16, 2018, has gone to great lengths to make sure that each attendee feels spoiled and is treated to a hospitality-driven experience that engages all five senses. At KAABOO multi-day annual events, guests enjoy a world-class music and HUMOR ME comedy lineup; an onsite Contemporary Art Fair in ARTWORK, plus a display of outdoor murals and installations; PALATE gourmet food and craft libation tastings; a Las Vegas-style day club called BASK, plus spa and relaxation services at INDULGENCES. KAABOO Del Mar overlooks the Pacific Ocean and enjoys pristine weather, ocean breezes, and numerous easy to access lodging options.
Over the last couple of months, KAABOO has also been offering a chance for local Southern California musicians to participate in the festival through their Discovery Tour program, which is a a unique program that is designed to showcase some of the amazing talent in our area. Every year, KAABOO has a stage dedicated to local and emerging talent. Three musical acts and one comedian will be selected as winners of the Discovery Tour, earning them the coveted opportunity to perform at KAABOO on September 14-16th, 2018, alongside the previously announced music + comedy acts in the lineup, including Foo Fighters, Imagine Dragons, Katy Perry, Robert Plant & the Sensational Space Shifters, Craig Ferguson, Iliza Shlesinger, Nick Offerman and more.
On Friday, August 10th, SweetTooth, Sophia Dion, Desert Rhythm Project, and Nick Crook will compete to win audience votes for the third and final music stop, and this Sunday (July 29th), comedians will then battle it out at the American Comedy Co. Details and ticket links can be found at www.kaaboodelmar.com/discovery-tour. Make sure to check out the TOURMALINE Stage and HUMOR ME at KAABOO to see these bands and many more local acts!
With every award show in L.A., there’s bound to be a plethora of events celebrating the socialites and celebs in town for the festivities. ESPY Week is no exception as the elite stars of sports are honored in their own way through an exciting ceremony that highlights these star athletes’ achievements.
Kicking off ESPY week, The Bespoke Men’s Club was hosted by current Super Bowl Champions of the NFL’s Philadelphia EaglesMalcolm Jenkins and Rodney McLeod. Both Jenkins and McLeod brought their off the field passions into full effect as owners of their own individual fashion boutiques Damari Saville(Jenkins) and Back of House(McLeod) with their ESPY week pop-up event. After winning a Super Bowl together, the duo thought it would be great to partner for a successful collaboration, just off the field this time with TheBespoke Men’s Club!
The Bespoke experience consisted of a gifting suite in Downtown LA’s Fashion District on Monday, July 16th & Tuesday, July 17th. Bespoke was curated to provide the best in clothing, electronics, and grooming in one Men’s Club experience and the event was just that! Each guest received a Talley & Twine luxury watch as they entered the lounge to commence the experience. Just past the shopping experience, guests were offered complimentary haircuts and grooming services on behalf of Luster’s S-Curl and The Mane Choice. While receiving grooming services, guests were able to get a sneak preview of The Equalizer 2 from Sony Pictures which is set to release on July 20th, 2018.
Vibes were set by a live DJ, artwork by Erik the Artist, passed bites and delicious cocktails crafted by Teeling Whiskey and ROAR Organic. The two-day event was all possible because of the support of brands ProJeweler, Clean Showroom, Todd Patrick, Gordon Crush, Packs Supply, Ainsley & Troupe, Gifted Apparel, Esquire Men’s Grooming,Fairplay, Jabra Headphones, Hard Soda, Mr13195 and Taylordblu.
Jenkins + McLeod had some of the sports world’s most prestigious athletes in attendance including Jalen Mills, John Ross, Trumaine Johnson, Jay Ajayi, and Dontrelle Inman just to name a few. Check out the rest of the images from this event below:
I’m still on a very specific search for the best products and regimens relating to hair thinning/loss prevention. Within my own personal circles, I’ve come across other men my age struggling with the same concerns about hair loss, so I felt like I could find something of value in my search not only for myself, but for my peers and the thousands of people across America looking for a solution that works best for them.
Launching this Summer is SeroVital Hair Regeneres, a combination treatment of supplemental capsules through their Hair & Scalp Revitalizing Corrector and the topical Advanced Hair Thickening Serum comprising of SeroVital’s trademarked proprietary compound called Chromaviv. The two-step system features a dietary ingredient that delivers melanin to the hair roots and a topical serum that impacts the scalp environment with external bioactives. I’ll be undergoing a trial using this product to see just how much my personal hair thinning decreases. I’m personally very excited to see any results and share SeroVital Hair Regeneres with our readers as a solution.
This is a unisex product that also works on the reversal of graying hair. SeroVital Hair Regeneres will be available online in July retailing at $99 for a 30-day supply, with a full release to national retailers August 2018. Check out more at www.SeroVitalHair.com
Summer is well underway, and men, I’ve seen the glory as it pertains to products for retaining youthful, well-moisturized skin this season. Kiehl’s partnered with Equinox in Century City to provide a media preview to two of their latest products within their Facial Fuel & Body Fuel Lines.
Eye Fuel – Due to its thin, fragile skin, the eye contour is often the first area of the face to show signs of
fatigue. Kiehl’s instantly cooling under-eye formula provides weightless hydration and refreshing
relief for tired-looking eyes. With continued use, the formula with Caffeine and Vitamin B3 helps
reduce the appearance of puffiness and dark circles. Fuel up after a long flight or a long night.
Body Fuel Antiperspirant & Deodorant – Kiehl’s delivers on its first ever global roll-on antiperspirant deodorant and provides 48-hour protection against sweat and odor. The quick-dry formula with Caffeine, Vitamin C and Zinc glides on easily without sticking.
So far, I can attest that both product samples we received are holding up to the standard of Kiehls’ brand quality that they’ve maintained for years. To further that claim, both are the perfect additions to these lines as the rest of the Facial & Body Fuel collection is particularly pleasing, with my favorite items being the No-Shine Moisturizing Lip Balm, the Energizing Face Wash, and the Facial Fuel Energizing Moisture Treatment.
What Kiehl’s is doing is starting a movement with their products and you can follow it on social via their #FindYourFuel hashtag.
Additionally, make sure to check out our media preview’s supporting partners who treated us so well during the product introduction before and after our Athletic Conditioning session at Equinox Century City.
