In the month of February, 2012 Panman Productions operated as a temporary production company on display at the RSPop[+] Popup Shop at the base of the Roger Smith Hotel. Essentially the objective was to build out the concept of the space and test out different ideas that will become part of the larger marketing and branding program offered to different types of businesses.
The video is part of Panman Mixtape Series… It is the 83rd mash-up made in the last three years. If you are interested in learning more, my recommendation is to start with the first. Panman Mixtape no 1 – http://bit.ly/wp6UWS
The future of the street level activity on Lexington and 47th will continue to evolve. Different types of brands are invited to participate from technology to fashion brands, social conscious companies and brands that strive to be innovative. We have built our business to help launch your brand to the next level.
Jo Nelson, A Vermont Studio Center Artist
August 2011
Can a rope pull a raft with cargo from one side of the river to the other? On an early morning in late August, Jo Nelson and I tested the idea with a platform raft and a couple of apples. Jo, a Sunny Side Queens based artist, has an eye for the creative ingenuity when looking at the problem. Her goal was to have a raft be pulled by the current across the Gihon river and back. We successfully documented and achieved one diagonal pass. I imagine in a tactful river cross as such in a boat or raft, would need two rigs set up to achieve the back and fourth objective.
It was a pleasure working with Jo and meeting such wonderful artists at the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson Vermont.
In an effort to stimulate a collector’s mentality, we at the Roger Smith have initiated, under the motivation and guidance of James Knowles, an art collectors program.
Over coffee at Lily’s, with myself, Danika Druttman and James Knowles, we tossed around the idea of building a young collectors art program. To be honest the idea might have been in circulation for sometime (you never know where the origin of these things comes from). Whether we came up with it or it had been a rolling stone, nothing is new, just rearranged…
Anyway, out of his wallet he pulls two crisp $100 bills and presents them to the both of us.
The objective is to build a body of work with the intent of capturing and stimulating a collector’s imagination. For a long time our efforts have been focused on the subject and perspective of the artist and their motivations. This new initiative takes into account the mind and eye of the collector, the stories and perspectives of the people who purchase works of art.
Sent into the summer months with an idea, we now revisit the concept with newly acquired works of art. After spending a couple weeks at the Vermont Studio Center, I returned to New York with two works from a fellow artist in residence, Ester Hasskamp.
As I canvassed her studio during the open studio visit, my eye was drawn to a small black piece of paper with a threaded outline of a blue moon and its rays. Without receiving a formal title from the artist, I call it “Blue Moon & Ray”.
The second work that caught my attention was a gravestone rubbing with the name Alice. This stimulated a funny memory that involves my sister Phoebe. Phoebe and I went to support the new Bier Garden that had just opened in our neighborhood. There was a live band that was playing one of those songs similar to “Sweet Caroline” where a full crowded bar participate in the chorus… This song, which neither of us had ever heard, has burned itself into my memory as a bar room classic and will always stimulate the question, “Who the fuck is Alice?”
“Who the fuck is Alice?”
As we begin to build our collectors’ portfolios we have a confidence that our decisions have the potential to appreciate in value with each contribution. The stories that motivate the purchase and relationships that we build with the artist become long-lasting.
This is just the beginning.
As we grow this collection, we embrace artists and collectors alike to participate. As the collector has his/her own identity and personality, so will the collection. I have created my own personal blog that will follow my contributions to the overall collection and will also be providing updates to Roger Smith Life as the project grows.
Not to make it too much of a competition, but I am interested to see what Danika brings to the table.
Cheerio.
Be well,
John Knowles
a.k.a Panman
Follow @pancity on twitter.
Other related links
My100artcollection.tumblr.com
Panmanmixtapes.tumblr.com
A conversation that I had with Nick Hifrin about the letter “i” has inspired me on a tangent. Nick, a New York artist who has been collaborating with our own Marlo Brown, was explaining to me about his creative organizational tactics with the letter “I” to represent a symbol of a connector. He has been extracting “i”s from newspapers and using them to represent a point of connection as he builds larger systems for his music and art performances. He understands the principals of connections by building systems.
I love the logic and representation of the letter “i” as it stands out in the Roger Smith Hotel letters. As i look to connect systems and simulate the Roger Smith Hotel as a connectors network, “i” really like the metaphor.
Lets start building some connections.
If you fancy yourself a connector post a response letting me know how you connect your networks to the world.
Making further “Connections”, I am hosting an Art competition here @RShotel. I am awarding $100 to the most artistic “i” connector image that is submitted to me here on this blog. Anyone who submits will receive a $100 Rogersreward, and be part of the connector “i” series at the Roger Smith Hotel.
Simply take a picture of your “i” and send it to me in a tweet with the hashtag #makingconnections with @pancity & @rshotel. Also be sure to post a link here on the blog to be included.
Let the world know you are a connector.
Thanks for reading! Please comment, share and engage.
We haven’t done a Follow Friday in a while and I feel it is time to re-introduce the notion to our audience.
My top 3 people to follow from SXSW are as follows.
1. “Dog Bless You!”, Charlie Annenberg
Our first five minutes in the convention center in Austin, John Birdsong and I collided into Charlie Annenberg, who was immediately on point with a plan of action to help in the Japan Earthquake relief.
A message from Charlie Annenberg, founder of explore.org and Dog Bless You:
“The mission of explore.org is to champion the self less acts of others, to create a portal into the soul of humanity and to inspire life long learning. The most important thing for me is to create a portal into the soul. What is the easiest way to do this? Through dogs – they see our soul like no other. That is why as we build dog bless you, I believe that its mission should be to “champion the selfless acts of animals.”
Please feel free to share your stories about how your dog uplifts the human spirit.
2. David Meerman Scott connected us to an network of interesting minds and influences. Of these we engaged with Renee Alexander of Unisef, Tim Washer of Cisco, John Jantsch of Ducktape Marketing and Aliza Sherman from the Social Media capital of the world, Toke Alaska to name a few. Both Tim and David were “In search of the outrageous” in Austin TX.
3. Paula Moore and Massive CIA
The transitional days between the Interactive and the Music is when all the magic happens at SXSW. As people were leaving after a week of the Interactive and Film portion, the music festival was just getting underway. Arriving into the city there is an energy of excitement. Being the last day in Austin, I left John and Adam to get some emails done at the Driskle hotel. I went strait to the second floor back patio where a couple of hip entertainment executives we setting up meetings and interviews. I politely asked if I could share the space and soon sat down next to them and began to tell them about the interactions between Roger Smith and Ben Franklin. #Rogersrewards.
Paula Moore turned to me and asked if I wanted to go out with her and her business partner Ralf Cavallaro… What else could I say. Not knowing at the time that I was hanging out with one of the Top Talent Scouts in the music industry, Paula introduced me to an amazing network. The connections made that night, have helped drive and inspire a new wave of professional and personal relationships. Founder of Massive Creative Intelligence Agency, Paula is a trip. Powerful and important, as she is a professional connector.
Through Paula I me Rev. David Ciancio of Yeah! Management who runs the the Social Media Rewards programs for Thrilllist. Rev’s energy and drive is going to bring wild excitement to the Pop up Marketing madness that is going around. I look forward to working with him in the future.
The common thread that connects Charlie, David and Paula is the fact that they are natural connectors. Great people of course with amazing sense of people in the room. Always interesting to follow.
Till next week.
If you like my list please RT #FF Dog Bless You and Charlie Annenberg, @DMScott, @Paula_Moore, @MassiveCIA SXSW 2011 @RShotel Follow Friday Pick!
Please leave a comment and connect with us to be part of our @RShotel culture.
This blog post is about James Burbank Knowles. I start with the give and take of brotherly advice!
James while caught in the middle, is the center of attention.
It is good to know that Brooks, Jack and Jimbo are the role models for the next generation. The saga will continue. The new ones coming are in good hands.
And with that, I give my life to the spiritual guidance of another Jimbo. My respect for the name continues to grow in my heart. I look to Jimbo for guidance, and what do I find?
Ben Franklin and a whole lot of Wooly Buggers. I see a happy man! I believe there is hope and success in his visions! I gladly introduce myself as “The Son of Ben Franklin.”
With spiritual guidance, golf lessons in life, respect for your bother and the responsibility of the next generation, I would say that James Knowles has been the biggest influencer in my life! I am proud to share a same last name!
I celebrate his life in the present, past and future. With Love and Respect, I dedicate this blog post to my Grandfather who passed earlier this week. He was a sweet, and peaceful man who loved his wife and family. May he rest in peace.
Hotels in New York City have long offered after-parties during fashion week. But this season, the trend extends beyond inviting well-paid international DJs to spin for the fashion set when the shows are over. Hotels are increasingly taking their marketing a step further by pairing up with designers and fashion purveyors to host their own shows and events.
Beauty stat a beauty web site, and the Roger Smith Hotel, held four daily contests this month that offered a stay in a suite for the first four days of Fashion Week. BeautyStat.com visitors entered the contest by leaving a comment about why they should win. The suites housing the four winners will be furnished with a survival kit filled with beauty and spa products, produced with fashionistas in mind.
Already we have received two comments on the New York Times Article showing customer appreciation for their stay at the Roger Smith Hotel. It is been great brand exposure for Repêchage, great circulation of beauty stat and great exposure for the Roger Smith Hotel.
It has been a pleasure.
John Knowles
Director of Innovation
Feel free to reach out if you have any question about what we are doing with our branded suites @RShotel. @pancity is my handle!
In this beautifully styled black and white short, a man is conflicted with an existential yearning. What is it that we are doing here? Is this life just a transition, or is it all we’ll ever know?
Directed by Jacob Mendel
Roger Smith Shorts Film Festival Workshop 2009
Cast: Kevin O’Heron, Danny Boushebel, Halleluyah Walcott, David Green, Jake Newell, Crew: Director: Jacob Mendel – Writers: Ajani Jackson, Jacob Mendel, Edmund Zagorin – Cinematography and Editing: Jacob Mendel – Executive Producers: John Knowles and Brendan Crane – Music: Gray Devio and Joshua Black – Gaffers: Cait Davic and Hemant T. – PA: Alma Osorio
About the Roger Smith Shots
With support from Ghetto Film School, Brooklyn Brewery and the Roger Smith Hotels patronage to the arts, the Roger Smith Shorts 09 (Festival Workshop) was conceived. The concept was envisioned as a collaboration of creativity and ingenuity among visual storytellers and those who form the structure behind it.
