short story ‘ Memoir 1 ‘ 1975
After graduating from The High School of Art & Design , NYC / 68 / …. another story unto itself that I’ll post at a later date / I attended SVA / The School of Visual Arts … and yes an additional chapter for ‘ Stories ‘ As I’d begun life in the city meeting pioneering creative souls , instructors/ at SVA artists, writers, photographers, musicians, some living in fabulously improvised self constructed loft spaces / creatives in downtown Soho, and Tribeca, serious ‘dots’ began to connect as I’d begun my life in the city , Im a native Brooklynite, note: Brooklyn thinking in the late 50’s to mid 60’s was still quite gang orientated , creative types .. like me.. weren’t easily acceptable, viewed as weirdo, had I been of lesser stature I’d have been in more street brawls .
In 1973 I was able to secure a lease for a raw loft space on the corner of Hudson & Spring , 1st 6 months rent free…. for my labor to clear out , sand & finish floors, fix & paint walls & ceiling , 2nd story / top floor 50’ x 50’ / 14’ ceiling / a raw uninhabited factory space that stamped brass military -like buttons, scattered in the corners .
In 74’ among the creative souls I’d met in SOHO, was a talented photographer utilizing a ‘ Widelux” / a mechanical 180 degree sweeping lens camera / to record candid portraits of subway riders / he had his own darkroom, for processing & printing . He was a semi-retired successful model still working at Wilhelmina Models, We became good friends, he advised me to sign up at Wilhelmina Men, testing board, his thinking was I certainly looked ‘ All American ‘ red blooded, freckle faced, or Welshman , and the right height ! He did a spectacular job of photographing and directing me, and also gave me access to his extraordinary wardrobe to create my modeling portfolio .
1975 on the Wilhelmina Men ‘ test board ‘ looking fairly grim in a classic trench coat, wondering where this act will end up ! All in all I was having a great time in the city , mid 70’s , didn’t truly fit into the world of ‘ fashionista’ but managed another crazy venue becoming a ‘ scenic painter ‘ though I am not a technically trained scenic artist, I’ve had the great pleasure of hiring a few and adored they’re learned techniques, on ‘Thursday’s ‘ in the 80’s & 90’s we interviewed professional scenic painters , who previously came knocking, looking for work, some of they’re extraordinary talents were,,,, ‘ not giving up under very long , stressful work sessions retained marvelous sense of humor , of course varying to individuals, they brought the best pastries in the morning for painting sessions, they all had particular specializations in painting applications, and scenic painters typically paint they’re canvas or muslin attached to the floor , with marvelous adaptions of guide tools and long handled brushes ……most of my work was painted, tacked to the wall , vertically , though certain painting techniques are better off stapled to the floor, implementing gravity to an advantage !
artist, charles broderson’s first loft in NYC 1973 , corner Spring & Hudson St , self renovation story
charles broderson , creator @ BRODERSON BACKDROPS