THANKSGIVING

Happy Thanksgiving to Spy Vibers in the States! I hope you enjoy the holiday (and day off!) in whatever manner you celebrate. Rather than share an entertainment story today, I thought I'd just check in personally from the Spy Vibe lair. In past years it was customary on Thanksgiving for my family to gather together around my grandmother in Connecticut. Her husband had been the head of the New York School of Interior Design (his family founded it during WWI), and she always lived in amazing houses. Even after she moved away from their original place in Wilton, my grandmother's eye for detail and design brought us to beautiful spaces, where I always felt safe and felt her unconditional love and support. One of my greatest joys is sharing cultural discoveries (probably why I'm a teacher), and she always validated my curiosity and made me feel heard. I have so many sweet memories of seeing the family expand and of my cousins growing up over the years, as well as memories of car rides with my aunt (which we usually spent processing the intricacies of family relationships). I imagine many of you have similar experiences? We lost my grandmother some years back and I miss her terribly. Perhaps like many families, she was the magnet that drew us all together. I do enjoy the independence that comes from living in the Spy Vibe lair, but holidays are a reminder of a different age, when traditions seemed to have more personal significance. I'm thankful now for the larger community we have built here on-line. And I will probably connect with family far away to see how they are doing. And if my grandmother were still here, I'd love to tell her about all the great films and music I've checked out this week. I think she would have loved these Louis Armstrong sets from Mosaic! Thanks for sharing this day with me, Spy Vibers. Enjoy! In other news, check out my episodes of Cocktail Nation radio as I introduce some of the great spy classics and soundtracks: Episode #1 (Danger Man) and Episode #2 (The 10th Victim), Epsiode #3 (On Her Majesty's Secret Service), Episode #4 (Roger Moore/The Saint), and Episode #5 (The Avengers), Episode #6 (The Prisoner), and Episode #7 (The Ipcress File), Episode #8 (The Man From U.N.C.L.E.). 

Selected Spy Vibe Posts: Spy Vibe Radio 8, Interview: Ryan Heshka, Mid-Century Modern Schulz, Agent Werewolf, Mata Hair Exhibit, Johnny Sokko 50th, Interview: Trina Robbins, Eddie Izzard, The Prisoner Capt Scarlet 50th, Hugh Hefner R.I.P., Jack Good R.I.P., Interview: Shaken Not Stirred, Callan 50th, Spy Vibe Radio 7, The Prisoner 50th Event, Spy-Fi Event, Kaho Aso 007, Two Million, Bo Diddley, Carnaby Pop, Le Carre Events, Billy Bragg Skiffle, Elvis 68, Jack Kirby The Prisoner, Casino Royale Concert, Review: The Prisoner Vol 2, Interview: The Prisoner Essential Guide, Maud Russell Mottisfont, Spy Vibe Radio 4, Batman Gallants, Adam West R.I.P., Village Triangle, Roger Moore R.I.P., Spy Vibe Radio 3, Sgt Pepper 50th, Satanik Kriminal OST, 60s Overdrive, Make Love in London, Spy Vibe Radio 2, Spy Vibe Radio 1, James Bond Strips, Propaganda Mabuse, Interview: Police Surgeon, XTC Avengers, 1966 Pep Spies, Batman Book Interview, Exclusive Fleming Interview, Avengers Comic Strips, Robert Vaughn RIP, UNCLE Fashions, Thunderbirds Are Pop!, Interview: Spy Film Guide, Lost Avengers Found, The Callan File, Mission Impossible 50th, Green Hornet 50th, Star Trek 50th, Portmeirion Photography 1, Filming the Prisoner, Gaiman McGinnins Project, Ian Fleming Grave, Revolver at 50, Karen Romanko Interview, Mod Tales 2, Umbrella Man: Patrick Macnee, New Beatles Film, The Curious Camera, Esterel Fashion 1966, Exclusive Ian Ogilvy Interview, 007 Tribute Covers, The Phantom Avon novels return, Ian Fleming Festival, Argoman Design, Sylvia Anderson R.I.P., Ken Adam R.I.P., George Martin R.I.P., The New Avengers Comics, The Phantom at 80, 007 Manga, Avengerworld Book, Diana Rigg Auto Show, The Prisoner Audio Drama Review.

HOME MOVIES

Happy Weekend to all of our agents out there in the field. Thanks to Kat Boyd of Mod Tales for putting this brilliant image on my radar. We may be enthralled with our iPhones these days, but gadget-envy is nothing new. This vintage cover design of 8MM Magazine from the UK managed to promise Cold War adventure, Space-Age Mod fashion, creative filmmaking, and a fireside tryst all in one dynamic image. It could be the new poster for Spy Vibe! I like to imagine cool lounge LPs spinning off-camera on one of Dieter Rams's stereo systems for Braun. See below for a bit of family history and some cool interior designs from the 1960s.

Many of you know that filmmaking has loomed large in my own career. I've made a few experimental films that have done well on the international festival circuit, including a short piece for a winning music re-mix I made for Yoko Ono and the Plastic Ono Band. Last week I had a chance to create a short project for my students about how my family has shaped me. I struggled with it for many days and really felt stumped. I had a pretty non-traditional upbringing (I could have invented the "it takes a village" slogan- no Prisoner pun intended). What stories could I tell them that would be appropriate and meaningful? The kids know that I'm all about art, teaching (and sushi!). I began to wonder if there were patterns in the family that could shed light on my own path as a teacher and artist. So I decided to do some detective work. And boy, did I make some discoveries! I knew about a few of these people, but I had no idea how far back the trends actually went- five generations of artists and teachers! I should post the film later on Youtube, but here are some highlights of careers and major vocations I discovered: parents (photographer, teacher, acting, music, recording), grandparents (concert musicians and teachers, advertising company founder, NY School Interior Design head, radio singer, drama school founder), great-grandparents (concert musicians and music professors, NY School Interior Design founder, Who's Who American Women, art teacher, muralist/Radio City Music hall), great-great grandparents (concert musician/Oberlin treasurer, architectural decorator/Vanderbilts/Whitneys), uncles/aunts (voice teacher, educator/poet/photographer, literacy project founder, admin private school, advertising director), great-great uncle (PT Barnum), and the list went on and on! So, did I find my path by nature or by nurture? I learned a lot by making the project, but the real take-away was finding a deeper appreciation and connection with the whole tribe. Maybe we've been non-traditional for generations in that our focus is primarily on art and education. That can be a bit isolating. But I'm glad I inherited that mission and wouldn't have it any other way. How about you Spy Vibers? Do you see patterns in your families? 

I'll leave you today with some interesting images from a 2013 exhibit at the NY School of Interior Design (founded by great-grandfather Whiton), featuring hotel designs by Neal Prince. Can't you just hear Mancini music? Enjoy!

Selected Spy Vibe posts: New Richard Sala Book, New 007 Comics, Unseen Fleming in new 007 by Horowitz, Designing Bond Books, Foster Spies, Green Hornet Manga, Margaret Nolan Art, No 6 Festival, Barbarella Returns, 007 Audio Books Return, Harry Palmer Blu, One Million Prizes, Designer: Gene Winfield, Avengers Blu-Ray, Avengers Interview: Michael Richardson, Ian Fleming: Wicked Grin, Jane Bond Hong Kong Records, Ryan Heshka Interview, Comics Week: Man From R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E., Comics Week: Archie, Comics Week: Robots, Comics Week: Cold War Atomic, Comics Week: SPYMAN, Comics Week: Jimmy Olsen, Diana Rigg at 76, Gerry Anderson Doc, Mr. Hulot's Box Set, Rare Avengers Scripts, Man From Uncle UK Comics, Mattel X-15, Thunderbirds Comics, Shakespeare Spies: Diana Rigg, Shakespeare Spies I, Batman News, Monty Python Fathom Spies, Rodney Marshall Avengers Interview, Avengers Book: Bowler Hats & Kinky Boots, George Lois Design & Mad Men, Richard Sala: Super-Enigmatix, Big Fun Toys, Danger Diabolik Soundtrack, Mod Fashion Dolls, Cold War Archie, Playboy Bunny Interview, The 10th Victim Japanese and Kindle, U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, The 10th Victim German Edition, The Saint books return, Trina Robbins Interview, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton.

MODERN ARCHITECTURE LP

I discovered an interesting treasure in the record bins yesterday that will appeal to fans of architectural design and Mid-Century Modern. In 1956 the Reynolds Metals Company released a vinyl album called Conversations Regarding the Future of Architecture. In this 34-minute limited-edition album, narrator John Peter recorded the ideas and philosophies of Eero Saarinen, Ernest Kump, Mies van der Rohe, Richard Neutra, Walter Gropius, and Gordon Bunshaft. Listen to sides one and two below. Amazon link here. 

John Peter's conversations with designers was later expanded in the 1994 book/cd release The Oral History of Modern Architecture from Harry N. Abrams, and included other luminaries like Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, and I.M. Pei. Amazon link here. Spy Vibe posts: Mid-Century Modern at Schulz, Dieter Rams Braun Design, Tati's Playtime, Bosko interview, Phillip Johnson Glass House, Set For Adventure. Other links of interest: Mies van der Rohe Society, Phillip Johnson Glass House, Eliot Noyes, Eero Saarinen, and the school my family started, the New York School of Interior Design. 




Recent Spy Vibe posts: Steranko S.H.I.E.L.D. Artist Editions, David Tennant's Ian Fleming audio books, The Prisoner & Captain Scarlet, HMV returns to Oxford st w Beatles promo, Diego Fortunato & Verner Panton,  Saturday Morning Cartoons, Assassination Bureau on DVD, new Young Bond series,  Peter Asher, Gerry Marsden tour, Elio Petri on Blu-ray, Sophia Loren, new Beatles BBC album, new Hercule Poirot novel, Beatles fall 2013 releases, A Hard Days Night cinematographer dies, Magic Christian on Blu-ray, Early Beatles image archive, Julie Newmar, Erno Goldfinger, Hitchcock tribute.

Recent Ian Fleming posts on Spy Vibe: Erno Goldfinger, Ian Fleming Music Series links: Noel Coward, Whispering Jack Smith, Hawaiian Guitar, Joe Fingers Carr, new Ian Fleming Catalog, Jon Gilbert interview, Double 007 Designs, Bond audio book reissues, discovery of one of Ian Fleming's WWII Commandos, James Bond book covers, Ian Fleming's Playboy interview for Kindle, Spy Vibe's discovery of a rare Ian Fleming serialization, rare View to a Kill, Fleming's Royal gold typewriter, Ian Fleming's memorial address, Spy Vibe's Ian Fleming image archive. 

MODERN LAIR FOR SALE

Thanks to Design Within Reach, an interesting item showed up on our radar today. For Spy Vibers who are looking for the perfect lair, now is your chance to own the Goodyear house by John Johansen. The home is located near where I grew up in Connecticut. Some of you may know that my family started the New York School of Interior Design. The Whiton home was designed and built in Wilton, CT, and my grandfather was also part of a modern design community in the area. For many years, we lived in a modern structure with large glass walls. Sadly, all of the houses in our community were later replaced by McMansions. Just over the hills from us, however, were protected projects by more prominent designers, Phillip Johnson, Elliot Noyes, and John Johansen. 

From DWR: "The only surviving member of the Harvard Five, architect John Johansen settled in Connecticut in the 1940s, along with Marcel Breuer, Landis Gores, Philip Johnson and Eliot Noyes. Drawn to the New Canaan area for its open landscape, the men experimented with new materials and construction methods as well as open floor plans and indoor-outdoor living. The homes they built for themselves and their clients attracted other architects to the area, which resulted in more than 80 modern houses being built over the next two decades.

The most famous is Philip Johnson’s Glass House, now a National Trust historic site and open to the public for tours. Many are still owned by the original families, and on the rare occasion that one of these homes comes up for sale, the hope is that the buyer will be a passionate fan of American mid-century modern architecture.

In the case of the Goodyear House, built in 1955 and located on more than two acres in Darien, Conn., the house is surprisingly large for its day, and nicely suited to today’s way of living. Listed by Halstead Propery, the house showcases Johansen’s use of spatial symbols, such as the cave, bridge and labyrinth. I’m guessing that the “lower level hockey arena” is not original to the home, but the structure appears to be unaltered." More info at DWR.

WHAT'S COOL IN DESIGN NOW?

My great-grandfather, architect Sherrill Whiton, started the New York School of Interior Design back in 1916. His book, Interior Design & Decoration, is still a design school standard today. The school itself was originally located around Madison Avenue and on East 56th street (in a building designed by faculty member & architect William Breger). Operations eventually settled in the current locations on East 69th & 70th Street.

The New York School of Interior Design has grown in interesting ways, expanding pre-college and graduate programs, and adding sustainable design and history to its mission. Check their website for upcoming open house, lecture, and college fair events. The Communications Team is interested in creating a virtual forum on Facebook to discuss current design. Find them on Facebook, "like them", and then upload a photo to their wall with a brief description. They are specifically interested in knowing what you think is cool in contemporary design. Spy Vibers, tell us here on Spy Vibe, as well. What's cool now?

"We’re looking for your favorite designs – in rooms, architecture, lighting, furniture, anything you love and would like to share with others. We’ll curate the submissions and develop a current snapshot of what we in the expanded NYSID community find Cool in Design Now! You can view the submissions as they are added and stay tuned for the wrap up in the weeks ahead."

NIEMEYER MUSEUM

Brazilian designer, Oscar Niemeyer, is known for creating buildings with free-flowing, sensual curves, which he finds, “in the mountains of my country, in the winding course of its rivers, in the waves of the ocean and on the body of the beloved woman.” Niemeyer just turned 103 and has opened a new museum and cultural center. Read more at the Design Within Reach blog here.

EERO AT CRANBROOK

Fans of the ultra-modern lines of the TWA airport will be familiar with designer, Eero Saarinen. Eero was celebrated at an exhibit at Cranbrook some years back- captured in this press release clip below. They are offering Saarinen house tours through October. Spy Vibe's look at Eero and other artist's impact on set design here. My family started the New York School of Interior Design back in 1916 and we grew up with all sorts of pieces that must have made an impression on me as a kid. I was not aware of Eero. He didn't loom large in my world of cowboys and secret agents. I don't remember the house being especially ornate. Rooms were airy, the furniture simple and functional. But when I got older and started to develop my own interest in design (thanks to spy movies!), I did have a neat moment of realization that I had grown up with a set of Eero's Tulip chairs! I guess those simple, modern forms rubbed off on me. The style has become a passion and an integral part of Spy Vibe. Where are they now, I wonder. I like to imagine they are in a cousin's swinging bachelor pad.