Travel through Billboards // LA comes to the Deep South

Why do we travel? There are too many reasons to list and it's different for all of us. But, within that long list, most of us would say "experiencing another culture" is a major reason. Most humans are fascinated by the way the rest of the world lives. Some of us are blessed with the time, resources, etc. to actually get out of our bubbles of normalcy and observe other cultures through travel. However, we aren't all afforded that luxury, which is one reason I'm obsessed with Los Angeles Nomadic Division's The Manifest Destiny Billboard Project featuring the work of Mario Ybarra Jr. along I-10 in Mobile, AL. The billboards allow anyone passing a billboard to peek into another culture.

Mario Ybarra Jr. (b. 1973, Los Angeles, CA; lives and works in Wilmington, CA) is a visual and performance artist, educator, founding member of Slanguage collective, and activist who combines street culture with fine art to produce site-specific urban interventions that often bring to light little-known aspects of a particular location’s cultural history. Ybarra Jr.’s chapter of The Manifest Destiny Billboard Project uses the artist’s ongoing collection of images of what he calls “barrio aesthetics” in Los Angeles. 

Ybarra Jr. is interested in inserting the daily culture and experience of one city and neighborhood into another, both contrasting and familiar... hence the use of billboards. 

I love the way the fact that the billboards not only gives the public access to art in our daily lives (commute to work, while pumping gas, etc.), but they also give every viewer a little "moment of travel" as you glance into another culture for a split second. 

This week the billboards are making their way from I-10 to downtown Mobile. Where they will make the Centre for the Living Arts their new home for the duration of the Pre-Glo exhibition, April 3 - July 25. If you are near/in/or traveling through Mobile, don't miss this opportunity to "travel through photographs" to the barrios of LA. 

-mrs.h  

Local's Look @ Coronado, CA // a.k.a. My Christmas Wish List

{Santa Ysabel Creek}

{Where the Board Walk Ends}

Right now the Christmas music is playing 24-7 in The Casa de H.  I've gotten our Christmas decorations up and the only thing we have left on the Christmas To-Do List is purchasing those last few presents. If you're having trouble finding that "special something for that special someone," look no further than today's Local's Look! 

{Sea of Grey // Bare // Sherbet}

Artist Gaynor Reynolds is not only one of my favorite artists, but she's also one of my all-time favorite people! She's a free spirit and a true lover of life. Her art embodies the freedom and love that she lives in. I love having (and giving) art that releases life into a home, and that's exactly what Gaynor's work does. 

{Nostalgia}

And, when it comes to gift giving, the best part of Gaynor's art is the variety of her subject matter... you can find something for anyone. I'm personally obsessed with Nostalgia and drooling over Bare, Mr. H wants one of her tarpons, Sherbet has my sister's name written all over it, my dad would love the Santa Ysabel Creek, and the list goes on! Plus, Gaynor's pieces have a wide price range that can fit many budgets. What's not to love, reasonably priced and insanely beautiful... the perfect gift giving combo! (Be forewarned, her work sells quickly on her new Etsy Shop. If you have your heart set on a piece don't wait! I loved Gold Valley Diptych and it sold.) 

Local's Look @ Coronado // Gaynor Reynolds

{This is a picture of Harry and me in front of our backyard bougainvillea!}

MMH: Favorite _______?

GR:

➺ Coffee Shop/Breakfast Spot - Clayton's serves great coffee and breakfast! Great place for people to go after beach yoga or surfing.  The young bohemian waitresses all wear 40's aprons. Very cute. You will usually sit near a group of young Navy men in their camp... not a bad way to start your morning. (The Naval Air Station is located on Coronado)

➺ Lunch - LeRoy's! They are an open air restaurant with a wonderful beer selection that rotates weekly.  SoCal farm fresh cuisine. They feature local artist and rotate paintings/artists monthly.  I was the featured artist in August!

{Harris getting friendly with rescue parrot on Orange Ave}

➺ Dinner - Miguel's. Since Mexico is only about 11 miles from Coronado you know the Mexican food is legit.

➺ Etc. (any favorite spot not covered above) - The Hotel Del Coronado is a dream (locals call it "The Del"). It is over 125 years old and the architecture reminds its viewer of a sandcastle. This time of year they have an ice rink on the front lawn overlooking the Pacific. 

{Enjoying a little red vino on the deck of the Del}

MMH: What does you perfect Saturday in Coronado look like?

GR: Harris and I would walk our dogs to the dog beach that backs up to the Navy base.  Then we would stroll along Ocean Blvd. to Orange Ave. and enjoy coffee and breakfast at Clayton's.  We might hit up a good ole Estate Sale on our way home.  We'd change for 11 o'clock Mass at Sacred Heart. Following Mass we would ride our beach cruisers down to the ferry landing and enjoy mango mojitos at Peohe's overlooking San Diego Bay and downtown.  There we would watch the Navy ships and sailboats cruise in and out of port. That afternoon we would head to Spreckles Park for Coronado's delightful "Concert in the Park" (which only runs from May - Sept) - wine, cheese and picnic blanket in hand.  Following the concert we would head to the Del's deck to watch helicopter drills and the sunset.

MMH: Sounds delightful - may we join? 

{Make it to the Sea}

{Tarpon}

MMH: Gaynor, thanks so much for sharing your favorite spots with us! 

GR: It was fun being reminded of the paradise we do live in.

MMH: After this week's Local's Look, we want to add two tickets to Coronado and several of your paintings our wish list from Santa!!

-mr.&mrs.h

Claire McCormack Photography | dallas

{portrait | Kelly Rucker}

We had the privilege of interviewing one of our favorite food photographers, Claire McCormack Hogan of Claire McCormack Photography. I love Claire for so many reasons... she's an incredibly talented artist, she's an open-hearted lover of people and life, and she's also one of those amazing dreamers who was courageous enough to pursue her dreams. Claire's work is captivating and Mr. H and I are also inspired by the way she lives life. She's so down-to-earth and celebrates life/people in such a humble, sincere way that it can be shocking when you find out her clientele includes: Superbowl XLV, The Ritz Carlton, Maggiano's Little Italy, Stephan Pyles, The Big 12 Conference, Weight Watchers & Jennifer Hudson, DuJour Magazine, The Scout Guide, Daily Candy, and Southern Living to name a few. 

We're honored to have her on the mr.&mrs.h guide today. If want to be inspired by beauty or need some inspiration for going after your dreams, read on because Claire's insight and art will do just that...

MMH: What led you to food photography?
CM: Art directors and editors looked at my website and encouraged me to focus on doing one thing really well. Food was what I loved most. I love the food scene and I've always had a passion for food. I love what food brings out in people. Growing up, instead of playing fort I played kitchen. I always wanted to be a food writer or chef. Food photography allowed me to be in the food world without the mean critiques. It was my happy medium.  

MMH: What was the biggest learning curve in taking on the world of food photography?
CM: I didn't go to school for it, so having to teach myself about owning a company, being in a technical art, and running a business has been a such a learning experience. But,  it's come naturally in the sense that it combines the things I love the most - people, relationships, and creativity. 

Now that I have a few years under my belt, it's definitely gotten easier. But, when you are an expert in a field or, in my case, trying to become one. You are always learning and I can get that wave of feeling like I'm drinking out of a fire hydrant. But, instead of focusing on that I've learned to love the experience of learning. 

MMH: Perks of the job?
CM: In the food industry, chefs are clearly passionate about what they're producing and I'm passionate about what I'm producing. That's an exciting element, to play off of each other in a sense. 

My favorite part, though, is the relationships I get to build.  It's great to get to know people and love on their individual creativity, understand how they work, and how they like to be responded to. Whether, it's the assistants, or the PR team, or the media, or the publications, or the chefs themselves, or their management team, I think it's really fun to get to know all the people that make it run because it's never just one person.

Another thing I love about food photography versus fine art photography is seeing work produced and in print or online. I love seeing it come to life with all the other elements whether it's the the text, the typogragphy, or the story. It's really fun to see the whole thing come together because I'm just a piece of it.  

MMH: Toughest part of the job?
CM: Confidence. There's so much technically to photography. I'm always striving to learn and there's always going to be someone who's better. When you're putting your work out there for criticism or likes and dislikes. You have people who like your work and people who don't like it.You have to be confident in what you are producing. But, you can't be all things to all people. That's one reason I finally picked a niche, that's why I did food photography

Also, comparison. There's always going to be someone who's better. But, comparison is a thief of joy. And, I love what I do. I love the clients I get to work with. I love the relationships I get to build and those are going to be unique to me. I think confidence and comparison are always challenges as an artist. But, it's worth it in the end. I love getting to do what I do, I wouldn't want to be in a office all day or under a big corporation. But, you do have to have a strong inner-voice. 

MMH: Do you have a "most memorable" shoot? If so, why?
CM: There are a lot of different ones for different reasons. But, right after I decided to focus food photography a magazine out of New York hired me to shoot the Food and Wine Festival in Austin. I remember being there for 4 days, shooting food for 10 hours a day, meeting some of the best chefs in Austin - really from all over - and it was such a cool feeling. I remember being exhausted but thinking, "Oh my gosh, I can't believe I get paid for this." It was such a sweet memory of realizing this is what I want to do and I'm actually here. 

But, honestly, in every shoot, I love hearing the chefs' stories. And, even on the littlest shoots, I look around and think, "Wow, I get to do this for a living."

{all images courtesy of Claire McCormack Photography}

MMH: Claire, thanks so much for taking time to share your passion, insight, and art on the mr.&mrs.h guide! We are so inspired by your work and the way you live life. 

{To see more of Claire's delicious photography, head over to her website & her blog. Also, if you're heading to the Lone Star state any time soon, don't miss Claire's favorite spots to eat+drink in Dallas, Austin, and Fredericksburg, Texas.}

-mr.&mrs.h

the maps of ed fairburn

Ink on a 1977 road map of Germany

Because of our love of travel, Mr. H and I have a few maps that gracing our office walls. And, I now have a new set of maps I'd like to add to the collection... the maps of Ed Fairbun. 

Ed Fairburn's maps combine the geography of the world with the geography of the human face. His work is incredibly thoughtful and beautiful. Although, we normally don't highlight art on the blog, Fairburn's work seemed an appropriate fit for the mr.&mrs.h guide due to it's connection with travel and exploration. Take a moment out of your work day and enjoy...

-mrs.h

Ink on a vintage street map of Cambridge

Pencil on a geological map of Colorado

Ink on an original street map of Paris

Blue Moon, pencil on a lunar map 

{All images via}

musée de l'orangerie | paris

{via}

Paris is known for so many wonderful things... love, lights, food, annnnd museums. Most people will tell you that you can't miss the Louvre when going to Paris. And, I can't disagree - the Louvre's collection is unparalleled. However, Mr. H and I didn't go to the Louvre this time. We skipped the Mona Lisa and opted for the Orangerie instead - and I'm so glad we did

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The Orangerie is home to Monet's Water Lilies as well as works by Cézanne, Picasso, Matisse, and Renoir, among others. The building itself is beautiful - it was built to shelter the orange trees of the Tuileries Palace. 

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It's a beautiful walk from the Louvre through the Tuileries Gardens to the Orangerie. And, thankfully the lines aren't the ridiculously long lines you have to sit through at the Louvre. We only waited 10 to 15 minutes here. Plus, the museum is small, which allows you to take all the art in versus feeling overwhelmed and dazed by the time you leave.

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The Water Lilies are breathtaking. Unlike the Mona Lisa, whose small scale tends to leave most first-time viewers underwhelmed, the Water Lilies are massive. You are completely encompassed by them when you walk into the long, oval room. 

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One of my favorite things about the Water Lilies is that Monet painted them with the intention of creating a space where Parisians could escape a the exhausting pace of the city and find the calm and peace that he found at Giverny (his garden). 

{via}

I was amazed that Monet realized the need for such spaces almost 100 years ago. Now, our insanely busy culture needs places like the Orangerie more than ever. It's incredible to walk into the room and feel the speed and tension of the city melt off of you as an atmosphere of peace takes over. Because of that aspect of the Orangerie, it is my favorite museum in Paris.

-mrs.h