ROCK'N RETRO ROOF RACKS & LITTLE ORGANS

Okay so I like to think I am not an A type personality and that I don't  suffer an addiction affliction. In states of self maudlin indulgence I have even tried to be an addicted tragic...

the sad / glad news is I am far to practical for all that. My system and mind set is far to sensitive and rational, a drunken poet I shall never be, my house will never be in shambles while my mind is exulted and smashed against the rocks of pure creativity. Nor am I controlling and uptight.

But every now and then I become fixated my little band of focus locks on and my laser light is unable to shift. Recently it was in relation to 'Chord Organs' oh bless the day I stumbled across one, I was looking at Lincoln Continental cars and wallop what hits me right between the eyes?

Add caption

 My heart skipped a beat...

Elegant anodized golden atomic legs, beautiful ivory and black faux leather carry case, the lid is removable, it has tiny brass hinges and latches and it sounds a lot like a Piano Accordion.

I had to jump through some hoops to get it but now this baby is mine. Its tiny, my giraffe like legs don't actually tuck underneath the height of the organ. Also I have another beauty coming from the USA a tiny table top organ, I cant wait to compare the sounds.

How does this relate to addiction and compulsion? Well like I said I don't think I suffer from addiction but I was fixated on this specific organ and was not satisfied till I owned this specific one - luck had something to do with it too.

I get these queer fixations they take over my brain its all I see. For a while it was roof racks! 

Seriously its hilarious what people want to strap to the roof of their car, some are like giant iron bed frames adorning some old clapped out car that is no doubt the workhorse of cars, others are sleek and modern and some are factory fitted and are fascinating on vintage wagons and mid size cars. If you open your eyes there is a world on top of cars out there.



Soon I will have a new addiction - ahem I mean focus, I try not to entertain the new fixation till I can actually allocate the time to it. I cant wait... it will be learning how to play the organs not buy roof racks.

:::Mr Burns Mates with the 50 foot tall Woman!:::

Imagine a giant, glowing, lumbering presence walking across your city.

Think Attack of the 50 Foot Woman / Mr Burns when he was radio active repeating 'I love you'... over and over again.

Today that's effective marketing.

Its stunning, slightly absurd, large, enters on a large scale and you cant ignore it. The gigantic penetrative Marketing Campaign.

Today's marketing needs an edge. There is on on going cut and paste derivative trend;

Hokey folkey warmpth, soft edged marketing. Think Sportsgirl, Portmans, Cocolatte, even Johnston and Johnston are going that way, from pasta to car manufacturers spouting tales of generational allegiance to their brands including Barilla and Volvo.

Cocolatte - I don't think these girls were at Woodstock.

Then there is the twee self effacing campaign think iinet and Buzz Insurance.

Does mocking yourself/the company make the campaign more successful?

Pre on trend Viral marketing, online social networking positioning, Hipper than hip so now it hasn't happened yet and very individual...to see a hard copy version the free VICE magazine Melbourne it is a perfect example of this niche platform and can be found at indy haunts and cafes. For the informed its blatant and completely transparent - I am sure it works.

What is interesting is that it all still leans heavily on the visual. So the Artistic Director and Photographer are pivotal - so some things don't change.

There is the sound bite that can rocket an unknown artist to stardom - anything associated with an Apple product is testament to that big. Brand + tune  (hand in hand) = a vertical market. Sure the multi faceted campaigns have to hit the mark from every angle but god what a perfect trade it creates.

So lets face it we all have to be a bit of a 'Radioactive 50 foot tall Mr Burns hermaphrodite' in the ad sense these days. The world just keeps getting savvier and the white noise of commercial competition louder, deafening us now. So how does one stand out from the crowd?

I might take a swan dive off the perceived common reality board into an altogether unplumbed depth... called genuine sincerity.

Image from a very personal shoot I directed with Paul Louis Villani a brilliant photographer

Currently I am marketing myself as a brand here on my blog and what is my Unique Selling Proposition?

I rely on two plain and simple rules: 

• I mean what I say and say what I mean. 
• The content is genuine its my own perspective.

We all have a unique set of reference points that we filter everything through - as do businesses, companies, and or individual staff / departments that purvey the message.

Not quite 50 feet tall in a gown I have made.

We know and hear sincerity on a very base instinctual level - even if it is in the guise of super slick marketing, sometimes we get it - it gets us in reality and the bond is set.

Otherwise its just white noise.

Image reference for last two photographs here

CARS, BABY CARS AND THE LOVELY MR IMPERIAL

Once upon a time when I was young, foolhardy and far too young to drive I fancied one of these. A giant boisterous cruiser.

Classic and Vintage cars have always been something I have appreciated my entire life but lately they keep me up at night. They call and tempt me I am flushed with compelling desire and its all about chrome, head or tail lights, streamlining and paintwork. Dashboards and instrumentation feature heavily. I imagine the luxurious interior, the possibility of pinhole vinyl, leather quilting, mahogany inlays or a faux timber veneer its all good as long as its not rigid formed plastic like the cars of today.  I really should avoid car shows and put blinkers on while I drive.

Sexy tail lights, like fluttering lashes to me.

Check out this loveliness!
Faux timber 70's dash inlay....ahhh and check the tail.

Now while my expectation may have not been met I did love my first car...

Ahh she handled like a giant majestic tank, slow and heavy on the ground, ahh the 3 on the tree gear lever, ahh the huge square red leather seats, the stunning mahogany dash - she was a gentle wide beaut! After much time and money though the 1965 Humber Vogue had to make room for a very practical substitute and so its been ever since.


Now call it madness but I have a thoroughly divided and intense band of focus it involves the following.

The small fugly car. The kind of car I never really understood - they made me snigger Escorts, Cortinas, Datsuns etc. I didnt get the guys that loved them in the 80's dropped an oversized or rotary engine in them spent a fortune on wheels and pimped them, I thought they were small comical cars - a tall woman unfolding from an acorn of a car...not me.

I have actually seen cars like this with roll cages and racing harnesses namely in the northern suburbs but really as a concept what's with that? Where are you going? Whats going on? I simply did not get it at all. Please don't mention Calder please or use the word 'Drag' as in racing - cringe shudder.

But now my cynicism has waned and I see an altogether design before me. This genre of car to me is a unique and fascinating anomaly - they are actually quite cool. Now I must state however my preference is for cars on their original state...strictly production line. I like the Venetians, original interiors and colours.

 

Note the 'Fastback'!

Look at this dignified 1963 Cortina  the grill and lines are quite beautiful for a compact car, they are seriously starting to fascinate me.

Moving right along...

Recently I met and made visual and tactile love to Mr Chrysler Imperial

All it took was one look...

'Hi I'm Chrysler Imperial, pleased to meet you'...swoon. Sounds like a really sexy guys name. Where do I start? Long, lean, streamlined, flamboyant yet elegant and tasteful, like a really classic suit design. I love the badges, I love the chrome, I love the lines of theses vehicles. The little boy in this image with me was a delight to chat to. His grandfather owns the car I was so happy to experience this machine it was truly magnificent. I better go lay down.