Jennifer Causey - Brooklyn Makers: Food, Design, Craft, and Other Scenes from the Tactile Life

Brooklyn Makers

BROOKLYN MAKERS

Food, Design, Craft, and Other Scenes from the Tactile Life

Jennifer Causey

Foreword by Eric Demby

Princeton Architectural Press, New York

Contents

Eric Demby

Jennifer Causey

Ceramicist

Builders

Tea Blenders

Jeweler

Metalsmith

Florist

Designer

Perfumer

Pizza Maker

Jeweler

Bag Designers

Chocolate Makers

Mixologists

Designer

Coffee Roasters

Metalsmiths

Distillers

Fragrance Designers

Printmaker

Food Stylists

Pie Makers

Designer

Jeweler

Bakers

Designers

Florist

Ceramicist

Candy Makers

Treat Maker

Bakers

FOREWORD

Eric Demby

Brooklyn is not a place that lost touch with the art of makingjust ask Martin Greenfield the tailor, Domenico DeMarco (of Di Fara Pizza) the pizzaiolo, Louise Bourgeois the sculptor, or even Spike Lee the filmmaker. What sets us apart today is that we all create together with a collective pride in pushing forward the idea of Brooklyn blazed by the great makers before us. Whether intentionally or not, emerging as the citys finest perfumer (MCMC Fragrances), chocolatier (Mast Brothers Chocolate), soapmaker (Saipua), or printer (Lena Corwin) these days sends a signal to the world that the Brooklyn of On the Waterfront and the Dodgers has been permanently relegated to the realm of nostalgia, replaced by a modern metropolis in which every type of art, craft, food (and beer and booze), and home or workspace is being made literally in our own backyard. And in the greatest coup of all, we work with the confidence that being the best in Brooklyn no longer means runner-up; it means being the best in New York City, and often all of America.

Brooklyn Makers appears at a moment that would have made a good cocktail-party punch line a decade ago: the second-fiddle borough is jumping the shark. From MTV sitcoms to Absolut special editions, Brooklyn is everywhere. But this book reminds us that what matters most here at home is not coolness but inspiration, expertise, and dedication. Being allowed to peer through Jennifers perfectly framed window into the studios of Odette New York and hOmE provides a combination of intimacy and simplicity that romanticizes the creative process while bringing it down to a universal, human scale. Kings County Distillerys whiskey bottles appear effortlessly sophisticated in their finished form; but seeing the mash stirred in an everyday steel soup pot cues thoughts of regular folks in Kentucky barnsand more importantly, it makes you believe, Hey, I could do this too.

That infectiousness is a big part of Brooklyns appeal. I used to think that people flocked to the Brooklyn Flea and its sister Smorgasburg food fair to buy locally and be part of an old-time town square. But more recently, Ive watched as the markets evolve into a community of makers, and a resource for bakers, jewelers, furniture fabricators, and all manner of age-old craftspeople who crave a place to learn more about their new passions, with hopes of one day making a living from them. Like the rolling bar cart for sale at the Flea thats fashioned from former rail wheels, upstate barn wood, and cast-off metal piping, they delve into tradition as a starting point, then enter the modern panoply of materials and production techniques to form something entirely new.

Those vendors, like the makers in this book (many of them current or former vendors), are who todays young creators aspire to be. And in Brooklynmaybe because of our history, maybe because of our abundant artisanal foodthese new heroes are hardly in short supply. Maybe its like they used to (and still) say about the Gowanus Canal: Must be somethin in the water.

PREFACE

Jennifer Causey

The question I am asked most often is Why did you start this project? Ill admit, at first I was prompted by curiosity (who wouldnt want a behindthe-scenes look at the processes and studios of local makers?). Later the project grew into a bit of an obsession; each studio visit was better than the last and I was constantly driven by the discovery of new makers.

At various times in my life, I wanted to be an archeologist, doctor, advertising executive, and make-up artist, among other professions, before I finally found the right fit as a photographer. With my camera, I understand the world visually. If I want to learn about something, I have to see how its done. During the process of this project, I found myself wanting to be a ceramicist, florist, baker, metalsmith, and tie-dyer. The work allowed me to become a small part of each trade and offered a way for me to gain a bit of knowledge from an inside perspective.

Before starting the project, I discussed it with a few friends who were very encouraging. With their shared enthusiasm, I decided to jump right in. I first made a list of potential makers to photograph. Many from this initial list were food vendors that I liked from the Brooklyn Flea (Liddabit Sweets, Robicellis, and more). I discovered some through word of mouth and still more through other makers. While eating at Paulie Gees, I inquired about the interior design, which was by the Haslegrave brothers of hOmE. After meeting and photographing the Haslegraves, they suggested I contact their friends Agatha Kulaga and Erin Patinkin of Ovenly. Additionally, the Greenpoint studio complex Dobbin Mews is a collaborative home to several makers featured here, including studiomates Nicolette Camille and Fay Andrada and Odette New York, Wiksten, and MCMC Fragrances. The shared space and spirit of the place was truly inspiring. The list continues to grow; there are so many interesting makers living and working around me.

The first maker I photographed was Sarah Ryhanen from Saipua. I had known of Sarah for many years; I used to live near her original shop in Red Hook (a few blocks from her current location). For me, her store always provided a perfect respite from the city, a magical world filled with her fragrant soaps and a relaxing atmosphere. When I contacted her about the project, I received an almost immediate response. She was as excited as I was and welcomed me into her studio on a busy production day. Saipua was the ideal first shoot. The space was beautiful and bustling with activity. I got a sense of all the hands that work together in the studio, including Sarahs staff and interns. Nicolette Owen (of Nicolette Camille) was also there helping out and animatedly discussing an upcoming trip to Iceland with Sarah. It was amazing to see the beauty created right before my eyesartful arrangements brought to life from bunches of flowers. One of the best parts was seeking out the hidden treasures and trinkets in the studio. I can recall a jar of everyday rubber bands, sitting next to two tiny vases on a shelf, that took on the qualities of a piece of art. Sarah encouraged me to go upstairs for another perspective. Now, whenever possible, I try to get a photo from above the actionit has become one of my favorite shots. After the success of the shoot, I knew this project was special, and that there were so many more makers to meet.

Another memorable shoot from early in the project was my visit to Mast Brothers Chocolate. I spent the morning in their space and was able to follow the entire chocolate-making process, from bean to bar. It was inspiring to see people who genuinely cared about the products they were making. Both brothers talked passionately about sourcing their beans, as well as trying to achieve a family-type work environment. They pride themselves on sitting down to share a staff lunch together every day, as a family, at a large table in the front of their store. On the day I was visiting, they invited me to join; the meal was cooked in-house in the same oven used to roast their cacao beans.