Thursday, April 29, 2010

Fire Farm Takes the Stage (Again)




The Elkader Opera House, built in 1903, is one of several Elkader sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and home to the local Opera House Players. After years of a variety of different uses, the Opera House underwent extensive renovation in 2003 to restore it to its 1903 glory. Much of the restoration work was completed through volunteer efforts and donations; one of Fire Farm's contributions was re-painting the decorative stanchions for 450 seats with new powder-coat paint finish. Today the Opera House remains an active community venue, regularly hosting plays, musicals, concerts, recitals and lectures.


When we at Fire Farm started brainstorming ways to showcase the new Constellation pendants, the Opera House space came up as a, well, no-brainer. Not only do we have a special local connection to the Opera House, but back in 1990, Fire Farm itself emerged from founders Ben and Adam's previous work in theater and theatrical lighting. What better debut for our stars than back on the beloved stage?

Last week the Fire Farm team worked on flying the four fixtures above the stage, in preparation for our photoshoot this week (which will yield more goodies than just still images: we have plans for fun video clips, too, just you wait!). Get a more complete behind-the-scenes look of the photoshoot in the Facebook gallery here.

Visit Constellation Project 2913 page here for more information.

---
What do you think? Have a comment? Click "Leave a comment" below.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

How to Decorate Like it's 1956, part 9

[This is a recurring post dedicated to highlighting snippets of "Chapter 7: Lighting" from Fire Farm's copy of the Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Book, published in 1956. To see all posts from this series, click here.]

Celebrate spring by drawing the shades and parking yourself in front of your flatscreen! Well, perhaps that's not the best way to usher in the beautiful weather. The next time you do find yourself in front of the tube, however, take note of your home entertainment system's lighting conditions. Because, you know, eyes are helpful when looking at things, so the less you tax them, the better.





Balance lighting for television

"Television comfort requires balanced, all-around lighting as shown here. There is light coming from the tube almost ten times as bright as the reflected light on a movie screen, so your eyes need compensating light from other sources--but without a glare.

Good additions to the light from the screen are cove lighting or torcheres reflecting against a light-colored ceiling, or a lamp with a translucent shade. The latter is better for your eyes if it is not placed directly on the set."

[Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Book. Des Moines, IA: Meredith Publishing Company, 1956. Print.]

---
What do you think? Have a comment?
Click "Leave a comment" below.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Busted! April First Jellyfish Report Turns Out To Be Not Completely True

Let's get real folks, nobody really believed that these marvelous fixtures were actually jellyfish residing in Elkader (but if you did, that's OK too). However, they were in fact inspired by those beautiful creatures, Chrysaora Colorata. Not exactly a "smack" or "bloom," but an amazingly complex and gorgeous multiple-fixture Fire Farm Lighting project.

Above, the "jellyfish" in question. Upon further investigation, they turned out not to be actual members of any genus or species, but are still pretty cool anyway. Photographs by Jim Walch.

They have left our warehouse, not via our scenic Turkey River, but by motor and then marine freight to their final destination in the Bahamas where they will grace a 50-foot tall atrium.

Pictured: Jerel "Jack" Palas, Acrylic and Refraction Specialist.

These five fixtures are unbelievably light in weight, but pack a very substantial visual impact! All fabricated from an array of proprietary materials and processes, right here in Elkader, Iowa.

These pieces, as with most Fire Farm creations, can be modified to accommodate your wildest vision or dream.

Jim Walch of Fire Farm

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Breaking News: New Species of Jellyfish Discovered in Small-Town Iowa

APRIL 1, 2010. Elkader, Iowa
A smack* of giant jellyfish appeared in Fire Farm's warehouse early Tuesday afternoon, much to the surprise of local residents. Says one witness, "I've never seen a real jellyfish before. They seem to like it here."

The Iowan jellyfish in their "new favorite hang-out" spot.

Local jellyfish experts believe the glowing jellies were migrating up the Mississippi River before taking a scenic detour onto the Turkey River, which flows straight through Elkader. Although the exact species is unknown, they bear a striking resemblance to another aquatic Fire Farm creature, affectionately named Project 2748.

Elkader residents have begun calling the jellyfish "Project 3060," thanks to their close resemblance to the previously discovered Project 2748 (above right). "We think they might be first or second cousins," says someone who knows a bunch about genetics.

It is unclear exactly how long they will stay, but the rural community has welcomed the visitors with its usual warm hospitality. "We have a lot to offer tourists, so I'm not surprised they decided to stick around," says one Elkader resident. "We're really hoping they'll spread the word to all of their friends."

*Yes, that's what a group of jellyfish is called. Also: bloom or swarm.