Arkitip and Comex have conducted a study in color at Ace Hotel & Swim Club in a handful of guest rooms, each repainted with three-color combinations based on Comex trend books. They invited five journalists to stay for along weekend, playing musical rooms each night to experience the myriad emotions conjured through color.
Our inspired cohorts at Arkitip are hosting a launch party tonight at Project Space in LA for their color-themed 58th edition. They’ve asked a group of artists to create pieces using Comex paint, and the party will feature installations by featured artists, not to mention frozen treats from The Good Times Classic Ice Cream Truck. See all you need to know here.
INTERVIEW : JANET JAY // PEARL+ SOAP & STUDIO J
The lovely Janet Jay hand-produces Pearl+ Soaps — using crushed pearls among other things — exclusively for Ace Hotels. You can find it in our online shop in gift packs for the holidays. But you can also find it at Studio J, unfinished, lined in trays, and scenting the air there with the wonderful smell of all of Janet’s (not so) secret ingredients. Pearl+ Soaps will be featured in a holiday trunk show this weekend with other local designers and retailers, Subject to Season, including two of our favorites, Hazel Cox and Adam Arnold.
We love Studio J — not only is it beautiful and full of light, it’s also the creative hub of Janet and her husband John Jay, of Weiden + Kennedy. They have all sorts of amazing projects together, and John and Ace partner Alex Calderwood co-curated a recent special edition of Arkitip magazine this year. We wanted to ask Janet about her process, Studio J, and Neufy.
What are you listening to today in the studio?
Seabear, Iron and Wine, Feist and Japanese hip hop that brings back good memories of living in Tokyo.
What’s the sky like out of those huge windows?
Grey but not raining!
Tell me what’s on the to-do list for today.
Meetings on a new project in Old Town and Pearl+ Soap production.
Is your grey kitty hiding out somewhere?
Neufy took the day off work today.
What’s for lunch?
Ping’s wide rice noodle and chicken. My favorite, stir fried twice…yum.
Tell us the story of Pearl+ — the pearl dust, and your grandmother.
Like many Asian women, my grandmother used pearl powder in creams and lotions to help promote clear beautiful skin. I was always fascinated by this and decided to develop a product that both men and women could use…Pearl+ Soaps was it. We used pearl powder and then decided to incorporate charcoal for the benefits of absorbing impurities and oils.
Pearl+ Soaps are made local and lovingly by hand here in Portland…and you guys are the only ones that have it!
Howie’s Top 10 Collaborations
Howie Pyro made a list of his top ten favorite collaborations caught on 45s. It was part of the recent X: Mark of Collaboration issue of Arkitip curated by Ace founder Alex Calderwood and Ace friend John Jay, of Studio J. Howie also hosts a weekly party at Ace Palm Springs called Intoxica Radio Live, a live version of his radio show on luxuriamusic.com. Howie is awesome — we did another post about him that you should check out.
Top 10 Collaborations by Howie Pyro:
1. FRANK ZAPPA & BURT WARD: BOY WONDER I LOVE YOU
A super weird 45 written by Zappa for Ward (aka Robin from 1966 Batman TV show.) Produced by Mothers & Velvet Underground producer Tom Wilson.
2. NANCY SINATRA & LEE HAZLEWOOD:
Anything.
3. JOHNNY “ROTTEN” LYDON & AFRICA BAMBAATA: WORLD DESTRUCTION
4. BUNKER HILL & LINK WRAY: THE GIRL CAN’T DANCE
Hill, a prize fighter/gospel singer turned Rock & Roll screaming madman, backed by the first thundering guitar hero, Link Wray, makes for the obliteration of anything in Soul or Rock & Roll up to that point. 1962.
5. BRIGITTE BARDOT & SERGE GAINSBOURG:
Songs recorded for 1968 French TV program.
6. DAVID BOWIE & BING CROSBY: LITTLE DRUMMER BOY
Great duet done for a 1977 Bing Crosby Xmas TV special.
7. THE VELVET UNDERGROUND & NICO:
What else can I say?
8. THE BEACH BOYS & CHARLES MANSON: NEVER LEARN NOT TO LOVE
This song, from The Beach Boys 1968 LP, 20/20, is actually a known Charles Manson original song, Cease To Exist. The song writing credit was given to Manson’s buddy (at the time), drummer Dennis Wilson, as Manson owed Wilson money for trashing his house. Crazy.
9. I ONCE SAW SKY SAXON, FROM 60’S GARAGE BAND, THE SEEDS
do a duet with Mark Lindsay from Paul Revere & The Raiders, backed up by the Mys- terians (of Question Mark & the Mysterians, most famous for their track 96 Tears.)
10. The A-Bones backing Hasil Adkins (or Ronnie Dawson or The Flamin’ Groovies!)
Howie Pyro’s musical career began in the late 1970’s when he formed the notorious NYC punk band, The Blessed. Since then, Howie has been member to acts such as: D Generation, Danzig, and The Action Swingers. He’s played at venues such as CBGBs, The Mudd Club, and Max’s Kansas City alongside such acts as The Misfits, KISS, The Ramones, and Social Distortion.Partnering with D Generation co-Founder, Jesse Malin, Howie opened the (now legendary) rock club, Coney Island High. Howie is currently hosting a radio show titled Intoxica on luxuriamusic.com. He is also working on books, CD compilations, and creating mashups/bootlegs under the group name The Illuminoids.
Portrait by Matt Held
We collaborated with Generic Surplus and Arkitip last year to create Ace-exclusive shoes perfect for the poolside and for walks in the desert. This spring, we’re re-introducing these very coveted kicks in new colorways, and with all the same great elements as the original. The classic low-top laced plimsoll silhouette has been re-imagined with a mesh upper made of quick-drying canvas that keeps your feet cool and dry. The vulcanized non-slip sole is perfect for poolside cocktail mingling on a Sunday afternoon.
Check them out early (they’re due out April 15) and reserve a pair with Arkitip. Keep them at the ready for your first foray into the sun this year at Ace Palm Springs.
ARKITIP Issue 0053X: Mark of Collaboration
Jeremy Pelley x Fritz Mesenbrink x Mathew Foster of OMFGCo
Arkitip asked Ace’s Alex Calderwood and John Jay of Studio J to curate their latest issue, X: Mark of Collaboration. It’s made up entirely of creative alliances between artists and innovators. After you look at this selection of pages and pictures of John and Alex working on the issue, you might want to get one. You can do that here.
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