Saturday, July 30, 2011
a visit with george
A week ago Saturday, my friend Glenn and I went up to visit George Ehling at his home--now known as "The Tile House", because of my posts about him and his amazing creation....For those of you new to this, there a number of posts with pictures, in the Archives......Start here.......and work your way through the rest of March April May and into June, 2010....I think I did 11 or 12 posts about this fantastic work of art!
For 44 years, George has been creating these magnificent Mosaic designs that cover the whole outside of his house as well as the inside....Here below, just a few examples to remind you of the incredible talent of George Ehling.......
This is just a little reminder of all the incredible work that George has done over these 44 years.....I have taken probably 700 plus pictures of 'The Tile House'.....George even tiled the outside of the Garages.....!
But, I noticed that he had not tiled the inside of the garages, and I actually mentioned that to him after I met him.....Taking a closer look below......
Well....that was then. This is now, below! George told me I inspired him when I mentioned the interior of the two Garages. And so, when he finished another enormous and monumental area in the back of his house---he began on those two small Garages......Here.....look!
This is one of the panels---there are 5 panels that are 8 feet by 8 feet in the second (2nd) and more complex of the two Garages.....We will see some more pictures of this 2nd Garage, a bit later...Below, here is the first Garage......
Let me say, that George is not really happy with what he did in this Garage. He said that his wife wanted him to finish it as fast as possible...so, I don't think he did what he might have done....Yet, there is something quite peaceful and beautiful about what he did do....I love that he tiled the floor as well----in both Garages, by the way.....
George said, that Ivenia, (George's dear beautiful wife), wanted him to finish this Garage as soon as possible---she doesn't like all the mess that goes with the cutting of the tiles---especially, in her Garage, and she wanted to be able to park her car back in the Garage ASAP, as opposed to parking it on the street! So he was pretty far along on that first Garage when Glenn and I were up there for our visit......!
And, he was working in the 2nd Garage, as we got there......
So, I was taking pictures of George, while Glenn was taking pictures of me taking pictures of George and the newly tiled walls of that 2nd Garage......
The door between the two Garages is a storage space where the Ehlings keep a lot of "stuff"......I don't think George is going to 'tile' that small area----too difficult to put everything that's in there, somewhere else, even temporarily---but you never know.....
This first 8 X 8 section that you see in this picture above, is so very complex and so very beautiful, too.....
George was pointing something out to me as I continued to take pictures---and then I noticed on the top interior wall of the Garage---at the entrance, which nobody will probably ever see---George had been filling in with little one-inch pieces of tile that he had cut from lots of left-over larger pieces of tile---creating a very random design.......
You can see that some of it has been grouted and some of it has not, as of yet, but it will be soon, if he hasn't done it already. And once the grout has been filled in, these little random pieces will stand out even more......Back to a closer look at the 8X8 panel we were looking at.......
I love these circular 'wheels' within the whole.......
I took a short little Video of George talking about this particular panel, and I hope it shows up here.....There will be a part 2 coming along here next time......
More To Come............
| posted by OldLady Of The Hills at 12:29:00 AM
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
the house of david's
One sees just about everything here in Los Angeles....Above, a House that has about, I believe, twenty reproduction-statues of Michelangelo's David out in front....They line the driveway, which goes through from one street to another----this being a corner property----and they go almost to the edge of the property on both sides.......
They kind of guard the house, in a way.....(All these photo's were taken through the car window, so the color and position are not the best....)....It is quite a sight to see---believe me.
There are some other statues, too...but The 'David's'---one might say---dominate, in all their abundance....! There is one---yes, just one that I could see, that is---Venus De Milo reproduction.......
She is featured in a spot all her own.....! Then, there are a few "heads" of other people on pedestals that are attached to the house itself---around and near the roof.....!
You can see them dotting the roof area covering different spots on top of the house---there is one that looks like it needs some help right there in the middle of the picture--you can see it better if you click on it to make it bigger......
This one above is listing a bit, too.....Below, a closer look at the Head, itself........
And there are a few of these Woman's Head, below, too......
I wasn't able to count them---but there are a number of them, also....The young man who decorated the inside and the outside of his house is a musician, thus, the G-Clef on the front door gate.......
As you can see in the second picture----the G-Clef, in white----is behind a black "N", the young man's first initial.....and I believe that is a security gate covering the front entrance to the house......Oh, and let's not forget these Lions heads that are here and there, too.......
But to me, the most interesting thing about this house, as well as the prettiest thing, too---in my view---is this window.......
A closer detail of it, below........
The colors are much brighter but because all these photographs were taken through the car window---it cut back some on the true colors. Still, I thought this was a very pretty window.....! There is a video about this house and you can see it, here........
Los Angeles never disappoints, my dears....There is always something else one hasn't seen before, and I've lived here for over 50 years now.....! So, hopefully, I will come across some other things I haven't seen before and you can be sure that I will share them with you, if I do......More To Come..........
| posted by OldLady Of The Hills at 12:05:00 AM
Thursday, July 21, 2011
celebrating 80! - part 4
This is my dear sweet nephew Danny, with me.....I told him his beard was covering part of my head....So he decided it would be fun to actually take his beard and cover part of my face with it.....So here we are below......
It was fun! It was so great to have Danny and two of his kids here to help me celebrate my 80th Birthday.....
So....above, Carole Cook and 'Grand' Niece Sarah, and 'Grand' Niece Laurel, and me.....Carole and Tom were leaving and so we were near the front door......Carole was taking some Birthday Cake home....As Carole says--and I totally agree--"If it isn't Chocolate, it's a Vegetable to me!!" And below........
Here are some lovely people out on the deck.....Far left, Bridget H. and Leslie Caveny next to her---Dear Earl and my nephew Danny and 'Grand' Niece Sarah and Michael Franks way over on the right....I love pictures like this because it shows a certain animated quality, which gives you more of a feeling of what was happening at the party.....And below.......
Once again, Dear Leslie C., Seemah, and Anne Leyden Sehres....three terrific women.....! And Seemah has a Birthday coming up in a few days....she will be 87!!!! Talk about someone not looking their age....! And that is Craig Curtis, standing behind the three ladies.......
Above.....Dianne Travis and Andy Parks in an animated conversation...And that is Cousin Carol Smith's back, over there on the left, with David Shine and his Video Camera behind them all, in the background.......And below......
The person who makes it all happen---literally making these party's possible...the wonderful Will Grover.....And you can see Mary, at the sink---she has been working with Will forever, and is always here on New Year's Eve....and you can just barely see an arm over on the right; that is Crystal, who does a lot of the cooking, too.....I love looking behind the scenes, don't you?
That is Bill Serhes and Anne Leyden next to me---I officiated at their wedding 22 years ago, this year....! And Charley Berliner in the foreground.....More Theatre West connections....Anne was in my play, "The Dressing Room" developed at Theatre West and opened at The Matrix Theatre, here in Los Angeles, in September, 1988
Above....the adorable Anne with Chazz Palminteri, in his first Stage Production in Los Angeles....He was writing "A Bronx Tale", at the time---the play and movie that put him on the map.....And speaking of Charley Berliner....
Late in the evening....Charley and I were sitting over on the little couch talking with Sarah and Danny and Laurel----Danny had asked about my play "Jen The Hen", which was about the death of my mother---Danny's Grandmother.....And I told him that Charley had come up with the brilliant Production Design which pulled these three one-act plays together truly making the evening work. He was holding forth in this picture above, about that particular challenge....Charley is a brilliant Set Designer/Costume Designer.....
This production was done at Theatre West in 1981. (That was thirty years ago....My Lord!) That's Betty in the center, standing behind Annie Guilbert, who played 'Jen The Hen', and that is Seemah over on the right, seated next to Annie....Seemah played my sister Robin, (who died in February, 2005)....Robin, was my nephew and niece, Danny and Debbie's Mom........The continuity of a family and the continuity of a life. This picture below was taken by dear Debbie, as we sat and talked about that play.......
I was tired, but very happy! It had been a wonderful day, filled with wonderful people and wonderful food.....What could be better? So, there it is....my 80th Birthday Party.......
One more time: My niece Debbie with me....and then below, me with 'Grand' niece Laurel......
And below.....me alone!
And here are a few photographs of other earlier Birthdays........
1993, Turning 62 years old......Dinner in The Cotswold's.....A memorable trip and a memorable Birthday, in every possible way!
1947: The Coconut Grove at The Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles...my 16th Birthday.......
1937-38: At Huckleberry Hill Farm, Angels, PA. I either turned 6 or 7...I cannot remember which.......
1935: I was just four years old.......
1931: Baby Naomi.....Great Neck, New York......And now, I am 80 years old. It is difficult to fathom. Suddenly, it feels like the years flew by really really swiftly......More To Come........
| posted by OldLady Of The Hills at 12:06:00 AM
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