Mae West: Room Change

MAE WEST inspired Dali.  And his surreal room-size sculpture of Mae's face tempted West Coast artist Joan Vaupen to take another approach.  Her version of Mae West was on view from 22 May — 16 June 2012.  The gallery announcement explained this piece: "Joan Vaupen translates Salvador Dalí’s Face of Mae West As a Room, which was built by Dali, into her own interpretation as a mixed media collage. Her transposition of the past breathes new life into previous Surrealist works, evoking a sense of renewal and regeneration."  Irresistible, eh?

• • This recent group show took place at TAG Gallery in Santa Monica, California.

• • Now based in Los Angeles, Joan Vaupen grew up drawing and experimenting with art materials in Seattle, Washington. 

• • Wiard Boppo Ihnen [5 August 1897 — 20 January 2003] • •

• • "Go West Young Man" [1936] starred Mae West and the Art Direction credit went to Wiard Ihnen.

• • Born on the East Coast (either in Jersey City or New York City, depending on the source), Wiard Boppo Ihnen came into this world on 5 August 1897. His father was an architect and he trained for his father's profession at Columbia University. Nicknamed Bill, the college student was undecided and left for Paris to devote himself to painting.

• • Eventually, Ihnen was hired by Paramount and a number of major studios, working with some of the world's greatest filmmakers.

• • In 1940, 43-year-old Bill Ihnen wed the notable costume designer Edith Head. He won two Oscars during the 1940s for Art Direction and retired from the screen trade in 1960, after working on 49 productions. Still married to Edith Head at the time of his death, he died in Los Angeles in the month of June — — on Friday, 22 June 1979.  He was 81.

• • On Saturday, 22 June 1935 in Picturegoer • •

• • The British film magazine Picturegoer, issue dated for 22 June 1935, offered an article "Previews of the Latest Films" and the first one was "Goin’ to Town" starring Mae West.

• • On Tuesday, 22 June 1937 • •

• • Asked how she used her influence to give Joe Louis the biggest break he ever had, Mae West explained the situation to Jet Magazine's editor.

• • Joe Louis was scheduled to fight Slapsie Maxie Rosenbloom, a native of New York City's Harlem who was born on 6 September 1903. In 1932, Slapsie Maxie had earned the title of "Light Heavyweight Champ of the World."

• • Mae West grew concerned after Julian Black, Joe's manager, revealed that he had agreed to the match only one one condition — — that Rosenbloom "would agree not to do any slapping" [and make Louis look bad, thereby damaging his box-office appeal].

• • Smelling trouble, Mae West phoned her former lover, Owney Madden, who was in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Madden said, "I don't think Joe Louis should fight Maxie. Tell Joe's manager to get in touch with me. I'll give Joe a chance to go a few rounds with the champ — — Jimmy Braddock."

• • The match was set for Tuesday, 22 June 1937 — — and Joe Louis would become the new champ.

• • On Tuesday, 22 June 1982 in Los Angeles • •

• • Mae West's name was in the news again on Tuesday, 22 June 1982 when her former partner Paul Novak sued to have her Will overturned.  The case was listed as Charles Krauser v. Estate of Mae West, Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles on 22 June 1982.

• • On Tuesday, 22 June 2010 • •

• • It was on Tuesday, 22 June 2010 when it was announced "Espace Dali Lends Mae West Sofa to the Pompidou Centre in Paris."

• • In Her Own Words • •

• • Mae West said: "Sex is emotion in motion."

• • Quote, Unquote • •

• • An article about an actress mentioned Mae West.

• • Karina Longworth wrote: The Finland-born, Oregon-bred actress Maila Nurmi's resume reads like the stuff of Hollywood legend. A New York showgirl, she was "discovered" in a Mae West revue (sic) and put under contract by Howard Hawks, not long after the director turned a fitting model named Betty Perske into Lauren Bacall.  ...

• • Source: Article: "Vampira and Me: L.A. Film Festival Premieres R. H. Greene's New Documentary" written by Karina Longworth for L.A. Weekly; posted on Thursday, 14 June 2012

• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2339th blog post. Unlike many blogs, which draw upon reprinted content from a newspaper or a magazine and/ or summaries, links, or photos, the mainstay of this blog is its fresh material focused on the life and career of Mae West, herself an American original.

 

• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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