Posts tagged Installation

The Yarns We Spin

I was honored to be invited to create an exterior installation for the 5th Annual Kingston Design Connection’s Showhouse. The one catch was, I couldn’t attach anything to the vinyl siding that could cause damage. Once again I found myself having to defy gravity and make magic.

I thought this project would be a great opportunity to collaborate with my long-time design partner, Buddy Valentine, who’s recent work has been creating incredible yarn patchworks. I initially took inspiration from classic window details and treatments. Translating these shapes into yarn forms for the exterior of the house. Buddy I were then worried about the long yarn strands tangling so we ended up changing the concept to smaller sized checkerboard pattern in lively colors. The colors were derived from the Ukrainian Flag, the transgender flag and since it was for October - orange for Halloween.

The secret ingredient that keeps the panel intact are siding clips used for hanging Christmas lights. The best find of my life.

Enjoy the following galleries showing the transformation form our first ideas to the finished product…

Our initial inspriation photos…

Our first design direction - more like curtains on the outside and our color pallet…

After being fearful of tangles, we moved into this direction… A checkerboard pattern. And then went into production. We had 25 total panels to make.

Next, the installation with ladders and a wonky scaffold. Did I mention I’m scared of heights?

And the final product…

Photos by Phil Mansfield

Architecture, design, display, installation, interior design, kingston, Kingston Design connectio, art installation, yarnChris BickOctober 11, 2022Installation, yarn, design, kingston design connection, design house, installation art, colorful, KingstonComment

I "Hearth" You

Check out my latest and greatest Holiday store window display for Half Moon Books: a fireplace made of books.

I started with a composite “inspirational” image that I made in Photoshop and went from there. The fireplace frame and hearth are all made of books. The mantle and deer head are cardboard covered in pages from The Ugly Duckling story. And then I just packed out the display with books, books and more books! I went opposite of my usual minimalism for this edition.

Happy Holidays.

Paper Dress

Introducing my newest window display installation for Half Moon Books in Kingston, NY. The title is “Let Them Read Books.” Very Marie Antoinette meets Vogue.

With the coming Fall / Back to School season upon us, I wanted to do something that I hadn’t ever done before. Whenever I finish a window I feel like I’ll never have another ideas and then here we are - a paper dress extravaganza. I actually got the idea from an episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race where the queens had to make garments out of one of Ru’s books. I thought yes, I have to do this, but a fashion piece is really out of my “architectural” comfort zone. But if you’re not challenging yourself, you’re not growing, correct?

So, I found these images as my inspiration. I fell in love with the paper pleating: I told myself, “I can do this!”

To make the paper gown I bought some fabric costume pieces to attach the paper too. Gotta love hot glue guns and spray mount - They’re magical. And of course I had to do a pair of pumps.

But then I had a huge predicament. I had build the dress offsite in one piece - how was I going to get it to the bookstore without damaging the design - walk her across town of course. I am a “put on a show” kinda girl after all. So, off we went.

Here’s some shots of the final installation. I added a chandelier for the full fancy vibe. I hope you love it as much as I do. Check out more of my displays at Half Moon Books here.

White Heat

Another new Holiday Store window display complete… This one for Kingston’s very own Bop to Tottom.

The client mentioned doing a window in all white (a fresh, calm feeling for this Covid Christmas), so I ran with that motif. But as usual, I wanted to use unconventional materials and play with light. I used florescence light fixture diffusers to distort the hanging light bulbs… Like a frosty window. I also used white corrugated roofing material for a “ski slope” backdrop for the dress forms.

Now, add some snowflakes, white wrapped boxes, Christmas lights and white ribbons and you’ve got yourself a wintry scene. I also wrapped the logs from last year’s display in white paper… Created such a cool effect and a lot quicker than painting them all.

Chalk it up

Check out the new Fall window display I just completed at Bop to Tottom in Kingston’s Historic Uptown Stockade District.

My design was to create a retro-class room vibe… Since many students would be learning online and missing the IRL experience. The client wanted to save some money on this display so I figured out some inexpensive alternatives for this window update.

Inspired by the artist Cy Twombly and chalk scribbles, I created these simple chalkboard vertical banners of 1/4” lauan wood and chalkboard paint with fun chalk scribbles. Since face masks are now top sellers, I printed photos of the owner and staff at a large size and hung them on old cork boards that were in the basement of the store - added bonus for the classroom vibe. Then I used photo murals on the back and side walls for that high impact fall colors background.

Initially, I wanted to get vintage school desks and chairs as props but they were to expensive so I just used some furniture I had lying around. And voila… Instant store window display on a dime.

Say Watt?!?

The new window installation for Half Moon Books is all lit up… This installation is a trio of chandeliers made of books. It was challenging, as it is with books, because of their weight, but I think it turned out fab.

Just a few drill holes and some basic elec wiring and voila… Book Chandeliers!

And a huge thank you John Cox for letting me take over his workshop.

design, display, Half Moon Books, installation, Retail, window displayChris BickSeptember 2, 2020Installation, window display, window shopping, store window, books, chandelier, lighting, lighting design, Half Moon Book Store, Vintage Books, used booksComment

Bop to Tottom

DREAMS COME TRUE. I’ve always wanted to do the windows at Kingston’s signature gift shop, Bop to Tottom. The windows are incredible. They’re a vintage style, foyer wrap around on the corner of N Front St and Wall St. It’s reminded me for so long of Fred Flare. Giving me that nostalgic rumble.

When I heard that Karen, the owner, wanted me to do this year’s holiday windows… I was sooo happy… Absolutely thrilled. We had a tight schedule but it was so fun. I had a blast with Karen and her team. And here’s what I made…

The motif is “Sex and the City get an AirBNB in Pheonicia for the Holiday.”

Let’s take a tour…

The front girls… Rita, Dolores and Simone… At their front door.

THE NORTH-FACING WINDOWS: This is loosely interpreted as “inside” the girls’ AirBNB in Phoenicia. I merchandised little rooms and wanted to pack with the windows with great gift merch… So, every time you looked at the windows, you’d discover something new.

Check out the stumps as product platforms.

THE SOUTH-FACING WINDOWS: This is loosely interpreted as “outside” the girl’s AirBNB. I used a winter photo mural and loads of trees to give it that forest vibe.

It's Ornamental

Here’s a “how to” demo on making books as ornaments…

BOOKS AS ORNAMENTS HOW TO:

I picked a bunch of books that made nice fans. The paperback “romance novel” size seemed to work the best.
I drew lines on the covers where I wanted to cut them. 2 diagonal lines gave me the diamond shapes. Explore shapes!
Using my friend’s woodshop, I cut the books using a bandsaw. Be careful… Safety has NO QUITTING TIME!
Next, I cut 7/8” red ribbon in all different lengths and hot glue gunned the ends to the spine of the books.
Finally I would fan the book and hot glue the covers to each other… Creating an awesome fan effect.

Using my friend’s woodshop, I cut the books using a band saw. Be careful… Safety has NO QUITTING TIME!

Cutting the red ribbon in all different lengths and hot glue gunned the ends to the spine of the books.

About to glue the covers to themselves.

And voila… The finished product!

Wanna see it in real life? Be be sure to visit Half Moon Books on N Front St in Uptown Kingston this Holiday Season. Happy Holidays. xo, Chris

design, display, Half Moon Books, Holiday, installation, kingston, marketing, RetailChris BickNovember 27, 2019books, Bookstore, ornaments, Holiday Windows, Holiday, retail, window display, InstallationComment

Less is More

half moon books winter 2019 pioneer agency kingston ny.jpg

For the Winter 2019 Half Moon Books store window update, I wanted to do something interesting but also minimal. I think after Holiday, minimalism is a great motif. I thought of just one solid pillar of books spiraling. There’s repetition and pattern in the simplicity. #monolithic

Click here for more Half Moon Books installation

design, display, Half Moon BooksChris BickFebruary 3, 2019half Moon BooksWinter, Bookstore, Half Moon Book Store, window display, window shopping, Installation, store window, display, retail, bookstore, Vintage Books, used bookComment

Museum Quality

Time for a new store window display at Half Moon Books. For the fall 2018 installation, I wanted to do something like academia meets museum.

I created a plywood pedestal to feature key titles for the fall. I also wanted to highlight the ephemera (learned a new word) prints for sale in the store. I make a grid of clipboards to show the prints at different sizes. The grid keeps cohesiveness for the varied style prints. Postcards scattered at the base.

I also wanted that Museum of Natural History science vibe, so I included hanging magnifying paper to create interesting effects for the passerby. Enjoy and shop local!

Visit my complete Half Moon Books window display gallery here.