Filmmaker ERIC BRICKER Presented "Julius Shulman Communication Award" at Woodbury University, October 11, 2009

Filmmaker ERIC BRICKER was presented with the Julius Shulman Communication Award at Woodbury University, Sunday, October 11, 2009.  The award was presented by LILY TOMLIN, who received the award in 2007.  Bricker devoted seven years of his life to making the film, "VISUAL ACOUSTICS:  The Modernism of Julius Shulman".  The film documents the great photographer and how his images portrayed and promoted the idealistic "California Lifestyle".  I was deeply honored to be one of the presenters at the ceremony, along with Michael Stern and Jonathan Weedman. 

The beloved photographer died in July 2009, just a few months short of his 99th birthday (10-10-1910).  Pictured are members of the cast and crew, including Shulman's daughter Judy McKee (on the left) and Julius Shulman standing with Eric Bricker on the far right.  The photo was taken earlier at the Landmark Theater at an early showing of the film.

Goodbye, Uncle Julius!

Learning of Julius Shulman's death last week came as a big shock: I knew his health had been declining in recent weeks; a denied request to visit alerted me to the situation. We had become friends over the past five years; after meeting him at the Eagle Rock Playground in April 2004, I found myself in his studio just a few days later.

Over the years, I returned to the studio many times, bringing along friends and admirers. Each visit offered fresh revelation and insight, a bit of wit and wisdom that would bring perspective, a "teaching moment" from a master teacher. Along the way, I met many of his friends and admirers, many would become my friends too, a bond forged by our mutual admiration; we were all part of his family. He taught me many life lessons, the greatest by example: treating everyone with dignity no matter their station in life. I will greatly miss him!

Julius Shulman: Still Going Strong at 98!

This past week (March 9-15, 2009), I had the joy of seeing Julius Shulman on two occasions; visiting him at his home in the Hollywood Hills, and on Sunday, March 15th attending an "Ides of March Scotch-Tasting Bacchanal" at the home of (L.A. Magazine Executive Editor) Mary Melton and her husband Ed Leibowitz in Eagle Rock.

Apparently Julius has been wanting to do this for years, according to our hosts. For the occasion, they brought in one of the city's top Scotch experts from the Seven Grand bar in downtown Los Angeles. Guests mingled around the pool, sampling Middle Eastern delicacies before adjourning to the family room for the Scotch-tasting. I had no idea there was such a variety of unique single malt Scotch whiskeys! Afterwards, we were invited to stay for dessert, a medley of three cakes, spelling out the words, "All Hail Julius".

Among the guests were many old friends we originally met through Julius, including Designer Ron Fields, Woodbury University's Rose Nielsen, L.A. Magazine's Chris Nichols and his lovely wife, Charlene, Chris Alexander from the Getty Research Institute, Linda Dishman, Executive Director of the Los Angeles Conservancy, Jim Heimann, Executive Editor of Taschen America (Julius' publisher) and his wife Rolleen, Neutra Scholar Barbara Lamprecht, our neighbor Guy Vidal (DesignVidal) and of course, Julius' daughter, Judy McKee. Los Angeles City Councilmember Tom LaBonge dropped in for a "Hail Julius" salute.

Besides our hosts, we were introduced to Michael Stern from Palm Springs (Michael hosted last year's Palm Springs Modernism event) and Craig Krull, owner of the gallery in Santa Monica that exhibits Julius' work.