Client: Here Nor There / Speakeasy

Overview

Austin Texas Speakeasy Exterior with entry through an alley on the left. The imagery and language on the face of the building is a compressed language that is made up of images and words that express the speakeasy and the work space next door. It is a compressed map of the contents of the interior. Dimension – 28' x 23 ' Material -OIl stick on matte black exterior paint / This was done on the spot – I had no plan – I was freestyle drawing in one hand while holding a list of words in another.

Goals

My intention was to make a compressed piece of language that was kinetic and that could hold the facade of the new piece of architecture as well. My intention was to make a LIVE wall by using just simple, tensile line. I was working with Standard architects - who were very generous in giving me a huge amount of creative freedom I grew up with two parents that were architects so my respect and reverence for architecture is great. I did try to innovate a new plane in which line and architecture could meet. I tried to create an architectural space onto the surface of architecture without using and literal or architectural techniques. I tried to describe the architecture of language in two dimensions.

Process

Standard Architects had designed a building that I had just worked on. They hired me to do their next project in Austin. It also included the interior stairway that leads down to the subterranean speakeasy as well. I was constanltly in dialogue with one of the lead architects ( Alan Delesandro )about the logistics of the project but for the most part they trusted me to do what I thought would look best. They thought that a half split between black and white space would look best- so I filled out the language with white dimensional space. There was a scaffold over the wall so I could not see it until I came down a second time to do the inner hallway. I was horrified and surprised with the results! I did not imagine it to look like a giant strange pushed painting that was so prominently standing into the street.