Let’s have a look around the Barn, the place where I spend my days (and some nights) living with the gear I review here at Twittering Machines.
The money shot. The three paintings up top are mine (c.1980s), a signed Thomas Ruff poster Nudes und Maschien, Ausstellungsplakat Kestner Gesellschaft 2004, and an Eames Leg Splint. The side table was designed by Marcel Breuer and my everyday speakers are the O/96 from DeVore Fidelity.
When I sit and listen, I sit in a current production red Eames LCW (Lounge Chair Wood) designed in 1943 by Charles and Ray Eames. If you’re wondering—Is it comfortable?—it is. I’ve been sitting on Eames LCWs since the late 1980s and I wouldn’t have if they weren’t.
Detail of the Eames Leg Splint (c.1942) that hangs on the Barn’s front wall. A contract with the U.S. Navy to mass produce these splints kick started the company.
A tube caddy (detail).
Rolling Stone Magazine: October 15, 1970. Jimi Hendrix was first music love and if you look close at the top of this magazine, you’ll see a hand written note that reads “Do Not Throw Away”.
A pair of millstones.
I designed my equipment rack with the help of Box Furniture who made it. It’s called the Fallen A and it sits on footers by Ligno Labs. You can see a piece of the winged Lucellino light by Ingo Maurer.
The desk, designed by Eric Pfeiffer for Offi, hold a pair of ADAM A3X active speakers. Art includes a Joseph Beuys felt postcard, photo of Marcel Duchamp, Duchamp’s Eskimo Tongue Depressor (from S.M.S.), woodblock print from “Les minutes de sable mémorial”, Alfred Jarry ([Paris]: Editio[n] du Mercure de Fra[n]ce, C. Renaudie, 1894), Kurt Schwitters Anna Blume (1919), carved lion head, signed Polaroid by Hideki Tonomura, signed print by Emi Anrakuji (from e hakagi), and The Haunting printers block (I Slept in Hill House).
Detail.
An oversized garage door makes up the Barn listening area rear wall which I use as a place to display art. A few are mine, most aren’t. The set of six Handkerchief Chairs, some holding instruments, were designed by Lella and Massimo Vignelli for Knoll in 1985 (they’re comfortable too).
A corner of the listening area couch occupied by a Nick Cave Plush Doll.
Signed Nick Cave Polaroid “God”.
The shipping & receiving area.
On sunny days, the afternoon light’s shadow play creates wonders.
A series of book cases and an Ikea Expedit Shelving Unit separate the listening area from the art-making and lounge side of the Barn.
The Expedit holds some of my sculptures, objects, the score to John Cage’s 4′33″, and books. Two sets of Offi Perf Boxes, designed by Eric Pfeiffer, sit in either corner of the listening area’s front wall and also hold some of my sculptures.
Antique hat forms sit on top of the Perf Boxes. I bought these from the Alfonso Ossorio estate sale where I was responsible for selling his collection of antique hat forms.
Another Barn wall with art. The poster up top is signed by Bruno S., star of the screen in a number of films by Werner Herzog. The lovely black and white photo/poster is by Daisuke Yokota from his book Taratine (2015). The other works are by me.
The Barn’s lounge side.
Antiques hanging on the lounge side.
Framed cover of Rimbaud’s Illuminations designed by Alfonso Ossorio.
Another view of the lounge side.
Complete sets of Art Dudley’s Listener Magazine and Joe Roberts’ Sound Practices live in this cabinet. Buzz Aldrin signed the moon shot.
Part of a barrister bookcase turned curio cabinet. Top shelf: medical antiques.
CDs hide in a back room. “GLASS With Care” sign from a Western Electric 212e tube box (gift from Komuro).
DADA Movement Letterhead (1920) in the water closet.
Peeking through.
This is where I work on my art.
The outside of the Barn has its own character(s).
I carved the top of my walking stick.
There are stories behind every thing in the Barn. Every book, object, work of art and antique has a story to tell, too many for a single post to contain. [footnote 1]
I hope you enjoyed the tour.
- I tell stories about Barn things in videos for Patrons