Our Principal Stylist Laura recently collaborated with LA based artist Gary Baseman! Here’s her experience working with him on a photographic services in Wellington…
I had the privilege of collaborating with Gary Baseman on his latest installment of his “WildGirls” photographic series in Wellington.
I was so excited to have to opportunity to be involved as I really love art – especially the lowbrow art movement and have a lot of pieces in my home. To be involved in a photgraphic shoot that was for an artist rather than a shoot within my industry really appealed. I was really interested in watching and experiencing a different creative process.
On Friday we met to talk about possible locations, and props that we could use on the shoot to create a story within the images. He travels with his WildGirl dresses – so finding props etc was very important – as he didn’t want to take photos of just the girls in the dress – as that is same -same to him. It was vital we came up with props to tell a story and to create something unique.
Saturday afternoon, we met and I took Gary to view possible locations I had suggested to see wether or not he thought they would be suitable. I had chosen to take Gary to Bolton St Cemetery – which he loved. On the way out of the cemetery we stopped past the “Trippy Tree”. Most Wellington teenagers past and present will have visited this infamous tree I’m sure at one point in their lives.
We climbed to the top and took a few photographs with Toby and decided that the tree also was a place to take some photos.
Sunday morning we met at the salon – we had 4 models, including myself. I had no intention on being in the shoot – but Gary said he wanted me to be a WildGirl too. It was a typical Wellington day – overcast and drizzling. I didn’t have much time to get the girls ready – so I kept their hair simple, mine on the other hand was backcombed and Wild as per Gary’s request.
We got dressed into our WildGirl outfits. 2 Green WildGirls, 1 in pink and I was in red. We drove with our team up to our first stop which was the “Trippy Tree”.
We spent about an hour at the tree – various combinations of WildGirls acting out different scenarios – on, in and around the tree. I found it incredibly amazing and inspiring watching Gary’s artistic process and how he would put a shot together. Little things like tree branches and WildGirl’s eyes peering out amongst branches were things he would do to create magic and mystery in his work.
We had collected a variety of props – a few elaborate head pieces from friends of Gary’s cousin who was also involved in the shoot. One in particular was covered in old dried leaves and branches – which really suited the setting we were in. I had brought with me a tea-set, some taxidermy animals, picnic rug and a few old cameras a chain and some beautiful decorative Indian padlocks. He wanted to incorporate an element of NZ into the shoot – so I thought perhaps a Pavlova and some kiwifruit.
The next part of the days shoot was in the cemetery – we had scouted a beautiful spot the day before and set the WildGirls up on the rug and having a picnic – this was when Dorian and Fiver entered the shoot – The taxidermy duckling and bunny and I enter again armed with my Pavlova. We spent a good few hours here and introduced the “Priest” with the headpiece.
Being in this particular area of the cemetery was incredible – you could feel the magic in the air and a complete feeling of serenity. It was completely and utterly beautiful. In the hours we were there not a single person walked through.
At about 4.30pm we wrapped things up and came back to the salon to get out of our “WildGirl” outfits and clean ourselves up – a bit of pav and cream needed to be washed out of one of the girls hair. We then went for a bite to eat with Gary and Toby. Gary drew a portrait of each one of us as a thankyou. By this stage I was exhausted and extremely overwhelmed by what had just taken place during the day – He drew the most incredibly special portrait of me – with huge sentimental meaning.
Great work Laura! The team here at Black Pearl & Co are so proud!