I have long been inspired by French New Wave films. They portray an aesthetic to which I feel very connected. When I met Capucine Fachot we decided that we needed to make something together, and discovered that we shared the same taste in film... so this project was born.
Photo by Jill Devries
This Winter I took a few months to road-trip around the South. The great bulk of this adventure was spend under the hospitable care of Mike and Megan Gilger in Raleigh, North Carolina. Even with busy days of collaborating and blogging, I found time to explore some of the forgotten and quiet corners of this creative and relatively sleepy city.
It is no secret to my friends that I have a profound affinity for Greek Revival Architecture... especially of the Southern/Jeffersonian variety. There is something grand and yet accessible about this iteration of the genre. (later versions can be busy and contrived). So after years of admiring it from the exterior, I ventured into the North Carolina State Capitol building. IT BLEW MY MIND. The gorgeous subtlety of the colors, the perfect proportions... and the fact that it is almost always open, and frequently empty... it quickly became my quiet haven of peace.
Definitely visit if you have the opportunity. I have included way too many images in this post... not because my outfit is so amazing... but rather because Rachel Berbec captured some amazing images of the space (in which I happen to be). I hope you will forgive my vanity and enjoy a little peek into one of America's great architectural treasures.
Jonathan Randall Grant // Culture Keeper
Dr. West photographed by Daylan Stubblefield at this year's Justice Conference
... This is the fourth installment of a collaboration with a few French brands. Obviously we were causing mischief in the streets of Paris. Jill Devries was the lady behind the camera, while Jenn Elliott Blake and I were modeling. The garments came from the fantastic people at Springsioux, along with patterned shirts from Nash Prints It and boots from Dr Martens.
If you missed the other shoots you can find them here: 1 / 2 / 3
Jonathan Randall Grant // Culture Keeper
A few months ago, the good folks over at CUSS asked me to design a few simple tee shirts for them. They also let me gather a group of friends in Raleigh to shoot the first few designs. The images here were shot by Rachel Berbec, a fresh face on the Southern photo-front. My friends Linda Swan, Zach Wiley, and Drew Conyers modeled.
The new CUSS site launches today so you can head over there and pick up the shirts in this campaign... but stay tuned as I will be adding more tees / totes / goods throughout the Spring.
Guest-designing has exposed me to new forms of patience through creative collaboration, as I learn the design process, and wait on others to contribute their part to accomplish our vision. I am truly grateful for the opportunity. Though the designs for CUSS are nothing extreme or fancy, I'm stoked to see you all rock em' soon.
Jonathan Randall Grant // Culture Keeper
Photo of Jonathan Randall Grant by Michael Robert Newsted / Lake Michigan 2014
So here is the situation...
I have for some time been a nomad, spending few months in Paris, a few months in the states, a month in some random land... on repeat. I enjoy traveling because it challenges me, my ideas, my beliefs, and it keeps me humble and trusting. It also allows me to spend time with dear friends, and connect with new ones. I have experienced hospitality that has revolutionized my life, and met kindhearted people in the process. I have no complaints in this.
I am also reminded on a dally basis, that I am living the dream... errrr... at least... someone else's dream. My life almost serves as a demonstration of how to live creatively and adventurously... though I often don't feel like I manage either. MY dream, of course, would be to live in a huge castle filled with artists... but I suppose that I am living a toned-down version of this.
My nomadic lifestyle has distinct advantages... it enables me to keep a fresh batch of energy and inspiration at my fingertips. When I visit friends, I often find them discouraged and uninspired by the daily grind of life. (I have no idea what the daily grind of life is) By being mobile, I hope that I am able to keep my friends energized and creative. That I think is the bright spot of what I do and create.
But I also have this craving for a home... for a community... for a long-term, stable relationship that my current lifestyle has not been been able to facilitate. That is where I am torn... and perhaps this will take years to balance... the desire for stability... and the connection to so many dear people and places around the world. I am currently hanging out with a few of my dearest in Raleigh, and this balance has been placed ever before my vision. I claim to want a home, and yet, part of me is terrified to be tied down... to lose the part of my story that sounds interesting at parties... and part of me is exhausted by the constant travel and re-building.
I am looking for balance, and deciding on a home, and learning to be content in all things.
Perhaps this is the answer... not to want something else... but to love, to be content in, the path on which I am currently traveling.
Jonathan Randall Grant // Culture Keeper
On a summer’s evening, there is no place I would rather be than downtown South Bend. The cobblestone streets are quiet, and the gently warmed air creates the perfect environment for city exploration.
A few months ago, I met up with my friends Mara and Luke… along with our photographer friend Mae Stier. Together we explored the trails and bike paths along the river and raceways.
We all met up at The Purple Porch Co-op. It was the perfect spot to start our evening together, as it is becoming one of the hippest spots in South Bend. We drank coffee and juice with some of Mara’s friends who perform in a band called The Bergamot. They live in Brooklyn now, but get back to SB as much as possible. By the time we left the co-op, the city was already glowing with the setting sun.
The St. Joseph River, which winds its way through the county, cuts directly through the heart of South Bend. Along its banks are a network of trails and boardwalks that can be accessed at nearly every intersection where the road or sidewalk meets the river.
While Mara and I had spent quite a few years riding around South Bend, it was a new experience for Mae and Luke. We had fun showing the visitors our favorite views. When I wander around South Bend with friends, I can’t help sharing the stories of each particular place and the people who built the city. Mae is visiting from Grand Rapids, so Mara explained to her the city’s new developments, and the exciting, upcoming projects.
We rode our bikes up and down the river, chatting as we went, and basking in the night air. Together, we stopped on an island to rest as many friends and neighbors rode by on their bikes, or walked past us with their dogs. For all the peace of that evening, the river-front was alive with people: talking softly, laughing loudly, watching the light play on the river.
This is South Bend on a summer’s evening.
Jonathan Randall Grant // Culture Keeper
A few years ago I was wandering around Paris on a rather dreary French day with a few of my dearest friends. Despite the weather we were in good spirits... exploring flea markets, munching on tacos, having our photos taken by French bloggers... and generally knocking about. It was a lovely time that I will always treasure. I stumbled across these video clips yesterday... so VIOLA! I had to compile them into something cute. Enjoy!
This video features Mike Gilger, Megan Gilger and Michael Newsted.
Jonathan Randall Grant // Culture Keeper
+ First of all... it is now possible to follow Culture Keeper on your Blog Lovin' Feed. If you don't have a blog reader yet... head on over to sign up. This site makes it handy to follow many blogs in one place... like reading the morning news. Check it out.
+ There is a Norwegian reality series that places fashion bloggers in Cambodian sweatshops to see how they cope. The series is a stunning expose of exploitation and inequality. Read more HERE. This is huge and essential.
+ I am ABSOLUTELY OBSESSED with this runway show from Burberry Prorsum. It has me stunned and mesmerized. If you only watch a section, (or if this is the first runway show you have ever seen, skip to (12:40)). There is something almost sacred (almost) about the way they set this up. Pure Magic:
+ My friend Wes Swan has me hooked on the amazing sounds of Angel Olsen. Particularly her album BURN YOUR FIRE FOR NO WITNESS. Listen here on Spotify. I am especially fond of her track High and Wild. Her sound can be a bit Jenny Lewis and a bit Velvet Underground. (that is a good thing). Check it out:
+ IN THE NEWS - Archbishop Oscar Romero, who was was assassinated in 1980, for his activism and work with the poor, has officially been recognized as a martyr. This may not seem like anything fancy, but it is actually a huge step for Human Rights in the Catholic Church. Read (or listen) to more HERE.
+ A few recent treasures from Pinterest (pictured here):
// The mesopotamian bull is from: Ancient Rome Refocused // The Valentino dress is from Style.com // The portrait of Tilda Swinton is from: W Magazine // The interior photo of Peter Gabrielse's home, Le Chateau, is from: KOTOMI // The photo of Wojtek Czerski is by Michael Lepps // The beautiful brass bowls are from Her New Tribe // The fringed dress from Sean Kelly's runway show is from Zsa Zsa Bellagio's //
Jonathan Randall Grant // Culture Keeper
The starting point was a similar aesthetic. Moki and I enjoyed the same films, and generally agreed aesthetically. So we started brainstorming. IN Magazine (Dubai) approached Moki about a shoot... and this developed. For the shoot we were offered a few hours in a vacant (and rather grand) apartment overlooking the Arc de Triumph. Finding the right models took a while longer. We sourced clothing from Poulain and Proust and gowns from Eric Tibusch.
The day was sunny, the mood was light-hearted (but a little stressed for time). Our great fortune was also to have Merry Moore on set with us... it was her first shoot, and she was an absolutely stellar assistant. Everyone was fun and kind-hearted... and I especially enjoyed working with Wallace and Mickael who were on hair and makeup. Once we got shooting the joy of working together and the beautiful light streaming across the parquet kept us inspired.
Photography - Mokhtar Beyrouth
Artistic Direction - Jonathan Randall Grant
Hair - Michael Delmas
Makeup - Wallace Woo
Models - Nicky Barutzki, Clement Chauvin, Dimitri Decaux
Styling Assistant - Merry Moore
You might have noticed in previous posts... but Olivia Deters and I did not dress (extremely) crazy for Paris Fashion Week this year. We kept our outfits simple and discrete. Of course this was tempered with a black clutch, turban, and fur collar (for me) and bright red lips, turban, and bone jewelry (for Olivia). Our idea of dressing for fashion week is mostly centered around comfort, with a nod towards conformity. Paris is a stylistically conservative city- even during fashion week... the idea is to dress well, and let the runways do the talking. I suppose it is different if you aim to be photographed in the Tuilleries... but we were there for the experience. This post has our looks from the last day of Fashion Week... but you can scroll back through the blog for others.
Jonathan Randall Grant // Culture Keeper
There was so much blah on the runway this year... here are a few looks that didn't bore me...
in fact, I would actually wear these.
((Main photo from Yahoo, other photos from Style.com ))
Did you have any looks you liked? Any designers who knocked it out of the park?
Jonathan Randall Grant // Culture Keeper
