LIFE
// Location: London
I don't think I've stopped smiling since I landed in London. I also haven't stopped eating. London has been quite the adventure so far and Collection N 33 is well on it's way because of it. It's looking very... white. Which is different than anything CKD has done before. Thank you London for all your inspiration, it was very much needed.
// Location: Toronto
Meanwhile in Toronto, Palm Lane is ready for installation! Another Chase Group project I'm lucky to be a part of. Happy with the way this turned out.
// V & A Museum
I wandered into the V & A museum to see Balenciaga and spotted Pink Floyd's exhibit on my way out. So I paid 20 pounds, and walked right in. I never knew how incredibly forward thinking Pink Floyd was. The exhibit was so inspiring. Their graphics, album covers, stage direction and set design. They were the innovators of huge interactive stage sets for their fans. Just so effortlessly cool. The best remainder that CKD needs to keep pushing harder.
// Location: London, UK
It's 3:55 am in London at the moment and I'm very much jet lagged, so I thought I would say hi. It's been a nice change working from a different view. Although you can't really go wrong when the view is enchanting London. There should be an Advil equivalent for jet lag - call it "get on their time". Each bottle specific to the country with their flag as the packaging. K, night.
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The inspiration was cali/new york/ cool/aztec. Instead of going the traditional route, we thought we would flip aztec on it's head and do something different. So we added marble and weaved palm leaves throughout the print. Can't wait to see this repeated and on the wall. Here's just a sneak peek! CKD is currently in England at the moment. I'll be working from here for the next little while. Some exciting things in the works! updates later. x
// Location: 127 Strachan Ave, Toronto
Broncos is keeping summer alive all year round and happy CKD has something to do with it. I swung by Broncos this afternoon to take some proper photos. Very happy with the way this mural turned out!
// Location: West Village, New York
// Photo: 2014, Sunday night.
At 4 pm the restaurant closes down to set up for dinner at 5 pm. It's summer in New York and the sweat under my white Maple Leafs hat had made its way to my face. That hat still smells like food, the restaurant was small and the smell the food left on me was heavy. 5 pm set up was simple; sweep the floors, put away the coffee, restock the fridge, clean the tables, refill the salt and pepper, clean the windows, refill the ice. Which I always hated because ice is heavy and I had to climb a tiny spiral staircase from the basement to get it. 4 pm set up was my favourite time. The restaurant was tucked away in the West Village with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the most handsome streets, and I had it all to myself. It was 2014 and Nico & Vinz "Am I Wrong" was popular on the radio. Whenever it came on I would turn it up grab the broom as my mic and literally dance around the restaurant while I cleaned. For those 4 and something minutes life felt right.
This morning I woke up with my usual feelings, slightly out of place, anxious, scared, and uncomfortable. I've been climbing new mountains and they just keep getting harder. I turned on apple radio and "Am I Wrong" came on. I turned it up and was brought right back to 2014 broom in hand, sweat dripping down my face. If only I could show that sweaty backwards hat dancing waitress what she'll accomplish three years later. It's hard to follow your heart. The only thing hard about it is keeping yourself in the right mental space. Focused and completely connected. But, there's no denying how alive it makes you feel. The places it will take you, the people you'll meet, and what you'll accomplish will be greater than anything you can imagine. Because of that ckd will keep pushing, slightly uncomfortable, out of place, scared, and anxious.
// Location: Toronto
100 hours of painting and a couple glasses of whiskey = my life lately. I've been working hard on Mary Be Kitchen's life size mural. Here is just a small section of the 40 foot long design. Two more weeks on the grind before I take off on an adventure across the pond. Fun things are happening, updates later! x -C
