Revolve's Exhibition Space

The line between beautiful gallery installation and hi-fashion retail presentation has been further obscured by the recently opened boutique, Revolve, on Melrose. Revolve's entrance is pushed well back from the sidewalk, and even if you make your way toward the entrance, it isn't clear exactly what happens in Revolve. Corrugated black aluminum circles a massive picture window filled with visual narrative punctuated by hi-fashion.

Once inside, the presentation of apparel is clean and perfectly crafted. And then, Revolve then becomes an art gallery. The sliding glass door opens onto an enclosed courtyard surrounded by black corrugated aluminum and eight foot tall five-sided acrylic vitrines sitting atop cast concrete pedestals with built in up-lighting. Mannequins in hi-fashion can be contemplated from strategically placed steel benches. There is a proper intro explaining the concept and images to help explain the looks. Although short on interpretation, the visual narrative, superb presentation and element of surprise fit the subject perfectly. 

The stylings of Eric Daman, stylist for Gossip Girl, and the beautiful gallery space at Revolve can be seen at 8452 Melrose. If you like fashion more than presentation, forget about visiting the shop and go to their site www.revolveclothing.com for an education on what's hot in fashion right now.

Parking Garage Improvements

This afternoon I visited Westfield Century City and was greeted by the first useful improvement to a parking structure since painted lines. Above each space was a gleaming LED light in either green or red. Red means the space is occupied. Green means the space is available. I could see this light array from everywhere in the garage. In addition to the lights, an LED screen next to the entrance displayed the number of open spaces, however this was not nearly a helpful as the direct connection between the colored light over a space. If your goal is to make a pleasurable visitor experience - improvements to your first interaction, entering the garage and finding a space, is a great place to start.

Chinese Gardens at The Huntington

I visited the Huntington in San Marino this morning and found the Chinese Garden had fallen victim to what looked like a drunken sea captain's mishap with his oil tanker. I was assured it was naturally occuring biological sludge that had collected due to an underpowered filtering system. Apparently there is a beautiful lake there on every other day except the day I was there.

Aside from the smell of decaying algae and near 100 degree temps., the garden did a great job of blurring the line between authentic and synthetic. Brilliantly hand laid stones and impeccable attention to every kind of detail is a testament to the level of commitment to capturing the essence of a Chinese Chinese Garden. Some material choices - like plastic columns - and a general impossible freshness to these "old-looking" structures reminded me that I was in a re-creation and that it is impossible to truly re-create something.

I wonder if hinting at the idea of a re-creation with references and abstractions and allowing a visitor to use their imagination to tell a story is more rewarding than making a precise model that stands in for the original?