❀ Desert Blooms
My Grandfather's only sister was my Aunt Midge, who grew up during the depression in California. She married a geologist who worked for Borax, which requried them to live in Boron, California, aka: middle of no where. My Aunt was a very creative woman but surrounded by men (she had three sons), rocks and little else she had few outlets. However she was resourceful and I think probably used mail order to bring the world to her.
We would go for visits when I was a kid and it was always scary and exciting. They had literally carved out a piece of civilization. The street they lived on was actually their name, cause they were the only residents. They had a pool, a funny little house and then out beyond the pool was a big crooked building that served as my Uncle's laboratory. He also had an office that had drawer after drawer filled with rocks. I liked to pick one at random to see what I would find.
My Aunt would make stacks of pancakes dripping with syrup and chat for hours with my Mother, I am sure she was starved for female companionship. The nights were beyond dark, no street lights or even other house lights anywhere. My younger brother and I would lay in bed screaming and laughing as we imagined zombie's faces popping up in the windows. It was a wonderful time.
When I was in college, I visited my older brother who was newly married and saw these mermaid cups in his china cabinet. Where did he find them, I wanted to know. They were made by Aunt Midge he explained. "I think you should give them to me" I demanded, as only a little sister could. He agreed as long as I promised to keep them always, which goes without saying. I think it was some kind of DIY kit she bought. There is also a lighter which is dated a year prior.
Three of six, two in each color.
Much later, I suggested their home as a location for a shoot I was doing for Cole Jr. Swimwear with a hot L.A. agency. I also was shooting a video project to go with the print campaign. Somehow, I was able to convince the art directors it would work, even though I had not been there in maybe 10 years or more. It was on this trip that I really got a better idea of who my Aunt was. I realized that all the cool stuff I was admiring in her house, from pillows to art work, she had made. At this time she must have been in her 70's, she had lived in the Boron house almost her entire life. She sat out on the porch with my small crew after the first day of shooting and sipped wine coolers and laughed like a teenager. What really startled me, was hearing my laugh come out of her, as distinctive as anything about me.
Still one of my favorite projects, it was shot on super 8, with music by Chris Isaak, the model is Neith Hunter, who went on to do some film work and the hair & make up was done by Beth Katz. The young man, is actually Izzy's Dad, back then a full time student and part time model, now a Doctor and Polymer Physicist and husband to one of my best friends.
photos, video & content © Lara Rossignol
Thursday, July 2, 2009 at 12:07AM
Reader Comments (10)
Howdy
Wow What an inspiration .
Your Aunt is truly remarkable ,
she accomplished a lot with her life.
We always hear bloom where your planted and she did that literally .
Thank you for starting my day off on such a bright and happy note :)
Have a wonderful day
Happy Trails
Terry
An amazing story, and a true creative spirit. Her talents have definitely passed on to you, and it's funny when you can see yourself in that light, of seeing yourself in a loved one. Amazing video too (:
What a lovely remembrance of your aunt, and I have to say that those mermaid cups are to die for!
Yikes, Boron is very inhospitable. And HOT. But what a lovely story and remembrance...and lurv those mermaid cutie cups!
Funny, this is what resonated with me 'My younger brother and I would lay in bed screaming and laughing as we imagined zombies faces popping up in the windows. It was a wonderful time. ' I have memories like that with my brothers. Makes me sad to think that today kids have their ears plugged with ipods etc. and moments like that are harder to come by. Doing nothing and passing the time with silliness.
Your aunt was extraordinary. Must have been hard and lonely at times but she seems to have blossomed anyway!
Your video is great!!! You should do more video/film stuff! You have a fantastic sense of movement which is just as important as composition and style.
You, your art, and this wonderful story are simply amazing.
Oh I loved reading this. Great spunk for demanding what you wanted :-)
hey lara,
i did not know that about the mermaid items.... don't you have a decorative mermaid piece that you hung on the wall .. imagine, all those years i knew you and never knew the story of your aunt making mermaids... i can't believe that's steven!! so cute!!
ps.. started updating lili's blog again.. : )
-b
ps. that book shanghai girls to the right of this box... the girl on it looks soooooo much like my grandma when she was young (and she was a shanghai girl :D
b
I understand the excitement of finding a handmade treasure from a beloved relative; I recently found lots of fun pottery made by my great grandmother in the 30s and 40s. Also, what a neat story about your Aunt - she seems like a very cool lady.