One of Launa's sketches for the window.What do you get when you combine a Jack & Jane of all trades, total creative freedom and an international bag designer? Here’s a sneak peek at what 3rd Ward Members Launa Eddy and Daniel Olshansky are up to -- bringing their quirky and totally unique styles to the streets of the West Village in the Crumpler main window. Crumpler has a history of top-quality, far-out window dressing; one former Crumpler window dresser went off to design the windows for Bergdorf Goodman. Launa and Daniel’s fantastical window will clash paper mache creatures with messenger, laptop and travel bags for one head-turning, definition-defying window. We checked in with Launa about how their concept came about. Stay tuned to the 3rd Ward blog as they build, install, and unveil this fantastical work sometime around Valentine’s Day.
3RD WARD: Tell us about the concept for this piece.
Launa: We wanted to create a scene with striking imagery and fantastic creatures, to build a bizarre world where beasts and bags interact. These surreal scenes will combine playfulness and raw wilderness, with a dash of insanity.
The main character is Hello Hellcat, who is part cat, part bird and part lizard. He is an amalgamation of sentient creatures jumping through life's fire. The flying Crumpler bags will protect the little squirrels from danger. It’s fun traveling via winged bag; we highly recommend it.
There will be an interactive aspect to this installation, inspired by taking Electronics and Circuitry classes at 3rd Ward. Suddenly anything is possible.
3W: How did this project begin?
L: Daniel and I have been working together on sculptural projects like this for years. Our processes are different but they compliment each other wonderfully. When developing a concept, I will start with one main character, and let my fingers decide the nature of the beast as the ink is hitting the page. The scenes don't always make sense. The less sense they make, the better. I like the viewer coming up with their own idea of what the story is.
We had talked about a variety of characters - gentlemen alligators in pink boas and squirrels with monocles and top hats, but this giant cat monster seemed to relentlessly crash our imaginations. Its hard not to go crazy with something like this when you have complete creative freedom, so we just go crazy.
3W: Have you done window installations before?
L: This is our first window installation, but we have been making sculptural pieces - masks, props and paper mache projects together for music videos and photo shoots. It started with an amazing Halloween costume for the Danger party a couple years back. We made a Zombie Fish that I wore on my head, and from that point on we have been offered and have created opportunities to make fantastic things. It’s really something that we enjoy doing and there are no limits to what can be created. The limits are that of your imagination.
To see more of Launa’s work, visit http://www.launaeddy.com/. Daniel’s can be seen at http://serpentongue.tumblr.com.
The Before Shot. A chair desperately in need of love.
The chair is stripped, revealing the old, yellowing padding underneath
Newm comfortable batting cushion is added.
The new fabric is fitted over the back and arms.
Voila! From scratching post to living room centerpiece.
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