Name: Erin
Age: tragically close to 30
Occupation (by day): Advertising Account Supervisor, though I prefer “Defender of Creativity”
Where do you live now? Over the (East) River, through the Woods (of Prospect Park) in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn
How did you get the idea to start Salvaged Grace?
I wanted a place to talk about reuse in design from a sentimental rather than environmental perspective.
What’s your favorite color for a room (paint wise)?
Apparently, it’s a moss green, as I’ve now used this in a room in each of my last two apartments. Overall, I dig darker colors (almost black midnight blue, gold, deep gray, aubergine) but I think it depends on how you want a room to feel.
What were you like as a child?
I used to turn my parents living room into a sound stage to recreate my favorite musical, The Sound of Music every Saturday morning.
Did you create things, fix things up, and enjoy design like you do now?
Most definitely! I’d move around not only my own bedroom furniture but also the living room furniture. I was concerned about how we could most efficiently use our space. I also drew house plans for fun, which is something I still do!
What’s your next project?
I am making lots of changes around my apartment: re-staining my kitchen table, stripping, repainting and re-upholstering two chairs, cover the top of an old table with faux leather and painting the legs for my study, and a bunch of other things I need to make time for! Also, Salvaged Grace’s one year anniversary is coming up and I want to make some changes for the new year.
What do you hope for?
Continued happiness and lots of adventures.
Website: www.salvagedgrace.com
All photos courtesy of Erin
*Interview was given on a train ride from Charleston, SC to New York, NY… late at night*
Name: Gleason, a.k.a. Gigi, Glea, Gypsy Lady, Zaza
Age: Can I pretend I’m still 29? Just turned 30 – feels surreal
Where do you live now: The “Mother I”. James Island, SC.
Occupation: Can I get back to you on that? Currently unemployed…Organizer, Interior Designer, Lady who pretends to lunch, Antique Dealer, Day dreamer… or dream weaver.
What were you like as a child?
Ummm Goofy! Stubborn (still am). ADD. Obsessed with constantly rearranging my room. Friendly. Imaginative. I feel like I laughed a lot about the dumbest stuff with my bestie Ann!
Were you encouraged to be creative and artistic?
I remember coloring a lot, but think I just enjoyed it. I’m not sure if it was specifically encouraged. I liked to go to art camp-haha.
Did you enjoy going to SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design)?
Yikes… the train is makin’ my handwriting shakkkky! but, Ohhh yes ma’am! Not only the school but the town rocked. I think my best memories are just being a part of Savannah. Swimming in the fountain at Forsyth Park, making friends drive through squares, Vinnie’s Pizza, The Rail, Metrapole, Eichberg, Tybee Island.. the list goes on..
How do you go about designing a room? I mean, do you want them to evoke a certain feeling, or let them evolve over time?
If it’s my own personal room then it definitely evolves (mainly due to budget) over time. For a client, I like to enter the space, get a sense of the natural light, and discuss the purpose and feel of the rooms future. Then I chill out with a stack of magazines and design books and a glass of “Sofia” champagne. Tearing out the pages gives me a strong concept to focus on, although the ADD still kicks in at times.
What is your dream job?
JOBS??? Sheep Farmer (seriously!), Gypsy Lady Design/Boutique owner. Anthropologie Homegoods Buyer (please!!!). Chocolate/champagne bar owner. Amtrak Interior Designer (this place needs HELP!). Fisherwoman (how chill would that be?). Published writer. World beach traveler.
What is your favorite color/colors?
blue. azure. turquoise. azul. bleu. azzuro. YELLOW. brooke. teal. sky. royal. canton. (Oh wait, those last 5 are from the Lewis family from my hometown). indigo. grey. BLUE!!!
What are 10 things you couldn’t live without?
- making lists
- Queen Elvira (my dog) & Stoli (my cat)
- DREAMS
- making out with boys
- Being able to read magazines, books and maps
- the dirty, dirty SOUTH – all inclusive
- other countries (well, the culture shock)
- laughter
- Seinfeld
- my MAC
- my perfect niece
- We-Funk Radio (okay, so I cheated. twice)
**Gleason is a local interior designer and master antique guru. Photographs are of Gleason’s home: her “morning room” , glimpsing into her lavender “dressing room”, and her much beloved hang out, the kitchen. The last is a portrait of the designer with her dog, QueenE, and a close up of the precious pup in a Cynthia Rowley scarf**
Name: Kathleen Rae Thielhelm
Age: 28
Occupation: ballet dancer, Bejart Ballet Lausanne
Where are you living now: Lausanne, Switzerland
Where did you grow up: Sheboygan, Wisconsin !!
Photos by Sasha Fornari, David Paul Larson, and Sasha Fornari
What were you like when you were a child?
Very active, always occupied. I played a different sport every season, ran, I did gymnastics, dance, piano – I think my parents were always carpooling us somewhere, and I can’t play video games to save my life because my brother and I got a Nintendo as a hand-me-down one Christmas, but it didn’t keep our attention very long. Personality-wise, I think I was very much the same as I am now, a little shy at first, kind of reserved when it came to making new friends,…. Just recently when I was home, my mother unearthed the box with all my childhood mementos, pictures, report cards, etc…. I laughed when I read my results from a few years of standardized tests, I must’ve been about 8-10 yrs old…. They all said that my skill levels showed, in so many words, that I’d be inclined towards something artistic, as opposed to, let’s say, academic.
Would you say you grew up in a pretty creative household?
I think I was encouraged to develop my creativity. My parents are teachers, very patient ones, of learning and speech-disabled children, so while it’s perhaps not a field considered as artistic, I certainly had that support when I showed any artistic interest. I think it became more and more evident that while I could play sports well, piano and dancing were more personal outlets for me.
Photo by Michael Smith
Where are all of the places you have traveled because of dance? Or more importantly, which are your favorites?
This season, my favorites would be Paris, Amsterdam, Antwerp, and Athens, so far,… but the tours for the remainder of the season include Lisbon, Milan, Israel, south of France, and Spain,… !!! I can’t wait to explore and sightsee those! Antwerp reminded me of Chicago, which I miss very much, with its vintage shops, vibe, and neighborhoods. This past January I performed in Paris at Palais Garnier, the home of the famous Opera de Paris, and it was an experience I never imagined I’d have, and still feels surreal!! I loved the laid-back and natural atmosphere in Amsterdam, and the freedom of biking around the city, and Athens was beautiful to experience, the architecture, the food, and the picturesque views from every direction.
Are there any particular artists you look up to, or that you enjoy more than others?
As a dancer, I’ve had the privilege of seeing and dancing with some beautiful artists, who give of themselves honestly onstage and off. I don’t think it’s fair to be specific, so many bring such personal qualities to their work. Most of all, I admire those who have the ability to bring a realness to their art, a full commitment to the moment, and an honesty and human-ness to their interpretations, whether it’s with their paintbrush, body, musical instrument, or words.
Rehearsal in Lausanne for Maurice Bejart’s ‘Mephisto Walser’ with partner Dawid Kupinski, photo coutresy of Ballet Bejart Lausanne/Mercedes Riely
Are you working on anything right now, performance wise?
Here at Bejart, we’re performing so much that the rehearsals are never ending, and very fast-paced. We’re always putting ballets from earlier in the season back together, changing casts, and lately we’ve been working on new contemporary creations for next season. Currently, my next big hurdle will be a Bejart pas de deux for our spring gala. It’s very physically demanding, artistically nuanced, and technically is on the edge of my comfort zone; that makes me anxious and yet I’m enjoying every minute of the process.
What is a favorite roll or character you have played in a performance?
Oof, this is tough to narrow down…!! I love anything with a character behind it, because I love to immerse myself in that, using my technique, and then forgetting it, adding the character as another layer, finding the ways to become that character without it being contrived. To me, it’s a freedom, and also usually some side of my personality I don’t usually show. My short list would be Myrtha, from Giselle, the 1st song in Antony Tudor’s ‘Dark Elegies’, and the 2nd pas from Jerome Robbins’ ‘In the Night’, set to Chopin. But the long list would include ‘Dance for Y’all’, a 2 minute piece to Edith Piaf music that starts with a trapeze swing out over the audience (what a rush!) and for me was an emotional outlet as a role, An Episode In His Past from ‘Jardin aux Lilas,’ another Antony Tudor piece, and George Balanchine’s ‘Apollo’, and Bejart’s ‘Webern Opus V’, both for their place as steps in my career.
Rehearsal of Bejart’s ‘Webern Opus. V’, onstage at the Palais Garnier, Paris, France, courtesy of Ballet Bejart Lausanne
What is on the walls of your bedroom?
Two tack boards, two wall hangings made from old silk-screened calendars, and two prints by the artist Cy Twombly.
What do you hope for?
I hope to be able to be content with life and its path, to start a family of my own someday, to give back the things that I’ve been taught and have seen, at some point in my life participate in some sort of humanitarian work abroad, to continue laughing, and to age gracefully.
