Image: Disney / Daryl Mitchell
While working on a project in South Florida, my wife and I decided to take our three year old to Disney World. It was always a place of inspiration... a world of reality and fantasy all at once.
On my first visit as a child, my camera was filled with photos and close ups of the architecture- windows, doors, rooflines... not one classic Disney character.
Where else could I get a crash course in the styles of victorian, colonial, arabesque, spanish, neo-gothic and futuristic all in one afternoon? It was a feast for the eyes for a young creative person. The details were inspiring...
This time I was taken most by the "It's a Small World" attraction. Originally built by Disney for the 1964-65 World's Fair in New York, it was designed by Mary Blair and later re-interpreted throughout the world-wide parks. It was always "too cute" for me- a boat ride of giggling kids and grinning grandparents. But, this time I was doing the smiling... impressed by the reference to graphic and mid-century design motifs I continue to love in art, fashion and interior design.
