Journal Iconix

A Lion’s Last Roar

2007-03-19T04:40:33Z

Our friend the legendary art publisher Edward Weston slipped peacefully away on March 8, 2007. It is rare for a man to make his mark in two fields of endeavor, but Edward Weston was a brilliant innovator who set the pace in both television and art. After World War II, with the help of Uncle Sam (the military gave him broadcast training) Weston took the emerging business of television by storm. He managed K?? in St. Louis and was one of a handful of men who shaped the most powerful communication medium on earth. Edward was the first programmer to broadcast daytime TV and to run simulcasts with radio. He was also among the earliest (if not the first) programmers to develop cooking shows, kids shows, and license movies for broadcast. With these innovations, he became the first GM to run a station at a profit – something Edward was proud of throughout his life. He was so successful that he was able to retire at an early age (I think he was about 35) and live a life of leisure. That is, until a fateful vacation when he bought some art on impulse while relaxing next to the resort’s pool. Soon after, the art world would change forever. Edward brought his aggressive imagination to the sleepy art business and woke up an industry. He raised charity auction events to a new level, with a fleet of trucks driving across the country-- helping raise real money for churches and temples from coast to coast. He was also the first art dealer to stage art auctions on cruise lines. In short order, Edward Weston Fine Art became one of the most important art houses in America – publishing artists such as: Salvador Dali, Amleto Dalla Costa, Henry Matisse, G. H. Rothe, Louis Icart, Norman Rockwell, Philippe Noyer, LeRoy Neiman, Andy Warhol, and many others. Edward Weston also accumulated one of the largest collections of Picasso Edition Ceramics in the United States; parts of the collection are still on museum tour through 2008. Edward did not stop with traditional art. Along with the film historian John Kobal, and the art dealer turned actor Allan Rich, he pioneered the acceptance of Hollywood Glamour as a legitimate art form. Edward Weston was the first art publisher to exhibit Hollywood Glamour at the Basal Art Fair and helped organize museum shows throughout the US for the classic Hollywood Photographers, most notably George Hurrell. Edward also exhibited, published and developed friendships with the other important photographers including, Laszlo Willinger, C S Bull, Milton Greene, Ted Allan, George Barris, Andre De Dienes, Tom Kelley, and Bert Stern. As impressive as his business accomplishments were, one of the most inspiring things about Edward was the intellect behind these feats. His mind never stopped or even slowed down -- he stayed remarkably current for a man in his eighties. When we had dinner with him, it was like sitting and talking with a forty year old. An Idea Man who was always thinking of what he could do next, even while lying in bed with mere weeks to live, Edward was plotting a new Exhibition and Auction. Perhaps someday soon that event we spoke of will happen, but now my friend it is time to rest. Rest now, Lion. Rest.

Watson Photography Archive Joins PAI Family

2007-01-20T17:19:55Z

We are pleased to announce a new series of photography portfolios selected from the renowned Watson Photography Archive. First out of the shoot is Aviatrix: Women Aviation Pioneers. A photo survey of the courageous women who took to the skies at a time in our history when that was a truly dangerous profession and when most men thought women should just stay home and keep busy cleaning something.

Future photography suites from the Watson Archive amount to a virtual tour of the history of press photography from the early 1900’s through the golden age of photojournalism. Watch these pages for a complete profile on The Watson Photography Archive, Delmar Watson and his famous family of film and photography pioneers. Aviatrix: Women Aviation Pioneers will be released this summer. Francis Coiro Santa Monica - 2007

PAI Book Reviews

2007-01-09T01:17:03Z

Greta Garbo: A Cinematic Legacy By Mark Vieira OK full disclosure, we are working with Mark Vieira on a photography and video project. But setting that aside for a moment, THIS BOOK ROCKS! Twin engines power this journey through Garbo’s professional life; the first is the photography reproduction and the second is Vieira’s distinctive research technique. The photographs are unique, comprehensive, drop dead gorgeous – pick this book up in a store and you are going to stand there flipping through pages until your back hurts. Even if you never heard of Garbo, the images are compelling to the point of distraction. Mark printed many of the images for publication at his Starlight Studios in Los Angeles and the attention to detail and level of taste are truly remarkable. The research seems to be unimpeachable. Vieira built a timeline of Greta’s professional life by combing through vintage documents such as film production reports and staring at edge numbers on original negatives. Armed with this knowledge of where Garbo was actually standing on certain days he was able to verify or discount much of the Garbo Lore that has built through the decades. While the book is indeed homage to Greta Garbo’s film legacy, it also presents a fascinating revision of her personal life. There are a few surprises and the stuff with Dietrich is priceless. It’s well written and edited -- a must for film buffs and fans of Greta Garbo. But, I think the people who will get the most from this book are working filmmakers, actors, and photographers. It’s not a technical dissertation by any stretch but I have a hunch the pros out there are going to feel something that most of us won't quite fathom. Francis Coiro Santa Monica - 2007

PAI News 01.08.07

2007-01-05T04:14:57Z

Welcome to the new Journal Iconix. Can you keep a secret? Because what I’m about to tell you won’t be made public until March 1 at Art Expo New York. Well all right, you can tell your girlfriend or your husband -- your family and even your friends as long as they’re into vintage pop culture. But seriously we have a big PR push scheduled for March and I just wanted to share a little preview with our pop-arts.com visitors. So here goes…]]> We’re launching a broadband video network! We started shooting at the famous Raleigh Studios in October with Tyrone Powers (son of the charismatic 1940’s matinee idol) who will be hosting several programs for our Film History Channel. We are pulling some very cool vintage film clips from the Library of Moving Images and interviewing today’s most important film historians to give you an inside look at classic films and filmmakers. We’re also working on several programs to spotlight the most influential photographers and illustrators of the last 100 years. Its an eclectic mix of subjects -- in production right now are video programs featuring the poster art of Jules Cheret, The Rock & Roll Photography of Richard Aaron, and a long format program exploring the history of Hollywood Glamour Photography. Subscribe to our RSS feed and get the inside track on Video Iconix, our new pop-culture network. Also this month, we are pleased to release Fly Girls a portfolio of vintage airline stewardess uniforms designed by the legendary William Travilla – some of you will know this name from his film work (he’s a Hall of Fame Member of the Costume Designer’s Guild) and some of you may remember the renowned fashion house that bared his name. But all of you will love these stunning sketches – Travilla was an amazing illustrator who, honestly, if he had chosen another path in life would have surely been a museum grade fine artist. In the near future (as soon as we’re done printing) we will also be releasing a series of his fashion designs from the 1940’s through 1980’s. And I saved the best for last; we are working on a series of limited edition Travilla costume sketches of Marilyn Monroe! They worked together on some of her biggest hits including Gentleman Prefer Blondes, How To Marry A Millionaire, and Seven Year Itch. And finally, we have several thousand film stills, glamour portraits, and vintage illustrations in production. Check back every week to see new collector edition prints. Happy New Year! Francis Coiro Santa Monica, California - 2007