A nice arrangement of kitsch decorating a table outside! Dig the acrylic grapes and little statue.
And the winner is…….Allee Willis for “Beverly Hills Cop”.
Portrait of the Queen of Kitsch, Allee Willis.
Allee’s portrait, a bar guide (the red piece) and a gigantic bowl of peanut M & M’s, and S&P shakers.
Posing with art by “Bubbles the Artist”. Note her work in the background as well!
A little paradise. I walked into this room and it’s the first place in “Willis Wonderland” where I got the chills! What an amazing room!
I had a fit when I saw these. I want one of these in the worst way and have NEVER seen light up foot stools before. Absolutely stunning.
“Boogie Wonderland”, “Live My Life”, & “September”.
Allee Willis
I’m standing in the middle of the room most featured in this post as we speak trying to type into my Ipad and throw my jacket on at the same time so I can race out of the house to a lunch I’m already late for.
Your tour guide narration speaks for itself. The only things that I will throw in are:
The ‘junk drawer portrait’ of me is by Jason Mecier.
Bubbles the artists’ masterful work that you are leaning next to is titled ‚ÄúToo Much Wah Wah” and the plates on the wall are from a dinner set that Bubbles & I made called ‚ÄúDinner For Eight‚Äú, which includes dinner plates, soup bowls and glasses featuring different authentic styles of 1970’s male Afro hairstyles.
The painting in the last shot is entitled “Tip Sheet” and those song titles that you list are scribbled on the sheet music on the piano. “Live My Life”, was a song of mine that Boy George had out at the time. ‚ÄúSeptember‚Äù you all know. And the title on the 3rd piece of sheet music is actually ‚ÄúBoogie Now” because I ran out of room to write ‚ÄúWonderland‚Äù.
Michael Ely
Oh my god, the tour just gets better and better! Just looking at these photos, I feel like Michael in Wonderland.
The artwork, the room of swivel chairs and plastic-covered pink sofas, and those light-up foot stools, especially those light-up foot stools, all of it takes my breath away. I’m nearly shaking with excitement.
Oh Allee, not only do you have an amazing collection of kitsch, but you know how to put it all together.
Great photos, Denny! I want to see more!
Michael Ely
p.s. My dear grandmother was one of those ladies who made those glass grape arragements back in the late 60’s. She made them for everyone in the family as well as friends and neighbors, even made them so I could give them as presents to some of my favorite school teachers. Sadly, I don’t have one of her arragements for myself, but whenever I see them, I think – “My grandmother might have made that.”
Allee Willis
Ohhh, maybe I have some of them!
Allee Willis
My place has been in magazines and books for years, Including the bible of Atomic Age architecture and artifacts, Mid Century Modern. The difference between a good collection and a great collection is how you display and live with everything. People who just pile in things and jam them into shelves or have a tasteful little furniture setting by famous designers and then everything else around it is wrong bore me to pieces.
denny
So glad you are pleased with the post! I sure as hell hope that you did not venture out without the “Mac Morange”. I still can’t believe when I was there I had to remind you to put it on. I have noticed that “Mac Morange” alleviates stress. I loved it when I looked at you and said “Allee, the lipstick”. I’m digressing here….
The portrait by Jason is amazing and I could spend an hour staring at everything it’s made of….
“Too Much Wah Wah” is one of my favorites as you know that I worship the afro.
I love how you nixed a word from “Boogie Wonderland” to make it “Boogie Now”. Priceless.
Lisa Rios
This is the first time I’m able to really see the Jason Mecier portrait. Holy crap!! That’s the best thing ever! It is truly amazing. That could bring a tear to one’s eye.
I love the name of Bubble’s work. My husband often teases me about the fact that I always love Too Much Wah-Wah in my favorite funk songs. I wonder if she was listening to The O’Jays when she painted that??
Allee Willis
Bubbles, my alter-ego, most certainly would’ve been listening to Earth Wind & Fire before the OJays! Do you know my musical history? https://www.alleewillis.com/discography/index.htm in
Lisa Rios
I sure do know it! The O’Jays used too much wah-wah, though I love it.
Earth Wind & Fire did everything just right!!
Allee Willis
I’m with you that nobody can ever use too much wah wah! The O‚ÄôJays used it well.
MyFunCloset
Everything is jaw dropping fabulous. Denny, great job documenting Willis Wonderland’s personal Better Home and Garden edition.
denny
Thanks Fun Closet! I had a ball photographing everything. I just didn’t realize that Dr. Phil was on in the background. Yikes.
denny
I’m embarrassed, what’s a wah-wah? It’s an instrument right?
Lisa Rios
It’s a large effects pedal guitarists use. Hendrix used it a lot and most funk records use it.
Here’s a pleasant white fella to show you what it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYvYJXdCJi8
Allee Willis
It’s an effect you put on an instrument, primarily guitar.
denny
Thanks Lisa, thanks Allee. I’m embarrassed and sort of had an idea but just wasn’t sure. Shame on me, although I don’t play any instrument, I have a deep passion for music and not knowing what a “wah-wah” is shameful on my part! wah wah wah!