Hail thee Festival GAY!

Shunda-K and her dancers blew the audience out!

Since it’s inception, Rachael has been part of the community of folks helping to make GayBiGayGay, the annual queer response to SXSW, a magical reality. The open-invitation day party, that started with some folks gathering in a muddy backyard, has grown exponentially every year; and, with every year, we bump things up a little bit in the production area. 2009 was the best ever, and we really had a blast putting together the low-fi, mini-festival wonderland that has pulled folks of every persuasion from all over the nation (and Canada!) to make it happen. It’s such pleasure to pick up the screwdriver, paint, and whatever else makes itself available, to set the stage for this uniquely Austin event! Thanks to my helpers/collaborators this 2009: Amanda Joy (for real), Kim Barker, Hazey Fairless, Paige Gratland AND to everyone else (the incredible performers, hosts Hazey & Silky, Kevin!) who make this event so especially awesome!

Local shero, Rebecca Havemeyer - 2009

The stage, pre-fest - 2009: gold flaming branches; flannel fringe... everything is made from recycled materials-- fence pieces, found lumber, old shirts, brush piles!

Those dancers!

Erase Errata enjoy GBGG 2008

Dynasty Handbag hand it out, 2008

Love from the crowd--Dynasty Handbag, 2008

The stage, after... (2008)

Let’s catch up, shall we?!

One of the advantages of having our new Fresh Paint blog is that you guys get to find out what we’re up to faster and fresher than ever before! But what about all those promises of images of this project or that project you worked on in the last year but we still haven’t seen on your website, you say? Exactly. While we rearrange the furniture at redstart.org, allow us to use this time to take you down our more recent memory lane with a few shots of some special projects from the last year….

Redstart had a blast with the glue and paste on this childrens’ playroom project, sat in our laps by none other than the fabulous Tracey Overbeck-Stead. Calling in orders for vintage wallpapers from Germany (see  5qm) and conceptualizing a new take on the Austin landscape per the client’s request, we really delighted in the fruits of our playful labor on this one.

Silver-leafed bats take to the the sky above giant wall-papered bluebonnets and cacti, green painted monochrome skyline and landscaping, and a touch of Japanese-inspired collaged lanterns tie together the many desires of this adventurous client!

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Austinites may also recognize this compelling explosion of color featured on the main wall of KIRK Gallery in downtown Austin. With another lead from interior design master, Tracey Overbeck-Stead, Redstart created a beautiful host to the impressive collection of art and design objects that KIRK houses. The piece is also an eye-catcher after the sun goes down and the interior lights of the gallery show off the dynamic forms of the paint installation. Local artist Virginia Yount picked up a brush to help Michelle lay out the piece, which spans the width of the main walls and spills out over the sides, displaying variations in paint sheen that play not only with the bright colors, but with subtleties like glossy white paint on matte white, as well. Stop in at 210 Guadalupe Street and check it out! (Thanks, Ethan Stead, for the beautiful photo above!)

Ok, one last thing, and then we’ll let you go, for now.

Redstart had the special opportunity to trick out one of the check-up rooms in the children’s cancer recovery wing at the Dell Children’s Hospital. Interior design pro Jerri Kunz, who was asked to manifest a concept for the space, delighted us with the opportunity to collaborate once again. Together, Michelle and Jerri hatched up the following concepts and plans of action.

Jerri Kunz finished out the room with details like pirate’s hats for the children to don, and real fishnets hanging from the side of the boat, flanked with stuffed animal sea-life. The room is really spectacular– playful, and full of life– a wonderful addition to the beautiful facilities at the center.

One of the highlights of being over at the center was the opportunity to get a full tour from Art Coordinator Mary Frasher of all the amazing art that was made and collected to fill the entire hospital with life and humanity.

We are really proud to be a part of the successful efforts to make this space such a livable and dynamic one. Thanks to Mary Frasher, Dell Children’s Center and Jerri Kunz Design for making this such a special and rewarding collaboration.

“Let Me Entertain You” performance by Jill Pangallo sets by Michelle Marchesseault

On March 20th, Jill Pangallo mounted a live performance of her show, “Let Me Entertain You” at Fiesta Gardens stage here in Austin Texas. Michelle stepped up to create the stage set for the artist. The two drops  flanking the stage were 17 ft. high panels designed, painted and mostly hand sewn. A color palette was selected to give the stage a sort of ‘broken broadway’ feel, with aging glamour in mind and metallic fabrics, wigs and tinsel applied in a kind of collage affect. The images were also in concert with illustrations used for print media associated with the show including a book jacket cover that was printed by Monofonus Press and sold as a collected collaboration of work that inspired Jill’s  performance.

Installing the giant sails in high winds was quite a task but conditions enhanced the scene by blowing the huge , draping braids around for some dramatic affect.

Blog watch… Design Crisis

Redstart was featured in a witty and insightful design resource blog entitled “Design Crisis” a couple of months ago.  Thanks to Karly for giving us a shout….. here’s a shout back…

http://design-crisis.com/?p=249

Pozo Hondo @ Roundtop

In the spring of 2008, Redstart was commissioned to paint the interior and select colors for a recording artists’ studio and residency retreat in lush farmlands near Round Top, Texas. The space is complete with lots of quiet space to sleep and secluded acreage to walk, compose and contemplate. Here are some photographs of the somewhat furnished, finished paintings.

We were asked to work within the theme of ‘duende’, which is said to be a duality between lightness and darkness. There is a much more eloquent explanation of this idea and the location on the website for the studio, http://www.pozohondostudios.com/. Our process is most fruitful when we are able to research the subject matter and talk with the client about their ideas in regards to how they wish the space to feel and envision it’s use.

In this case, the communication with the client, and just the feeling of the place itself , not to mention all the designers and craftspersons that worked together on this project, produced a usable and gorgeous environment. The images we gathered to launch from were intended to complement the existing themes of Mexican Folk imagery used in other dwellings on the land–inspiration from Mayan and Aztec art and pictograms collides here with traditional Mexican folk patterns and forms.  Many of the images were blown-up or repeated and placed around the room, wrapping around the corners and up into the rafters.

Redstart’s contribution was completed in the fall of 2008.

Photos: Ana Klausman

Hi there!

Hello and welcome to the first entry of Fresh Paint. Our aim with this blog is to keep kind of a journal of ideas, projects and news related to our community and the business of being a design company… which we hope is a vague enough description to encompass anything and everything.

If you’ve stumbled on to the blog, Redstart Paint Design, aka, Rachael and Michelle, has a comprehensive website, www.redstart.org, that is also located in our links column.

Thanks! ….and enjoy your day!