Thomas Mann :: August 8, 2009

While visiting New Orleans last spring, we stayed at the Rose Tattoo, a very old bar on the river that is owned by my friend Thomas Mann. He is in the process of converting it into a really cool home. I confess to practically extorting him into returning to Santa Cruz for another trunk show at my store. Luckily, he agreed to visit while he was west and before exhibiting at the Fort Mason Craft Fair in San Francisco.

Trunk shows are an old term used to describe the way fashion designers and jewelers would introduce their latest creations by bringing a trunk load to their best stores. It is usually a one-day event, then off to the next store. My own version is a little more complicated since Annieglass is not as portable as clothing and jewelry. I will be blogging from the road, as I do my own version of trunk shows the last weeks of September and October as well as November.

The turnout was fantastic for both Tom’s event at the Annieglass store and his talk at MAH, the Santa Cruz County Museum of Art and History next door. He also spoke at the Monterey Bay Metal Arts Guild. Thanks to Dawn Nakanichi, head of the Cabrillo College Metal Arts Department, all the events were very well supported by Tom’s many fans and fellow artists. I was really impressed by his dedicated following.

The one of a kind work that Tom brought with him was really inspired. The weariness in his face belied the sparkle in his eye when he showed me rings, broaches, earrings, necklaces and bracelets that were so new and original they often defied those categories. He said he pulled a few all nighters getting enough work made and it was not hard imagining working on these pieces unaware of time passing.

It felt like a candy store as we unwrapped one great looking piece after the other. I had a wonderful time modeling most of it. The Annieglass store has never been as crowded as it was the day of his event. We were all delighted and relieved to see the recession had not ruined the party.

After a quick bite at Oswald’s, we whisked him off to the Cabrillo Music Festival, directed by Marin Alsop. (I had to remove the twinkly earrings I was wearing of his so as not to interfere with the music.) Tom was blown away by that evening’s performance, particularly the percussion solos by Galen Lemmon and Steve Hearn. Galen has been our houseguest for several years during the festival and it was such a treat to view it through his experience. The constant rehearsals, the intense pressure and the difficulty of learning new music so quickly really gave us a referential perspective to the whole thing. www.cabmufest.org

Tom loves to cook so we had quite the dinner party the next day. He slaved away for hours making the loveliest beet salad and three sauces for chicken—Mango Cantaloupe, Green Pepper and Curry. No one could decide which was best; they were all delicious. We toasted (many times) to art, health and friendship.