rens private account :3

And when I was hanged between earth and heaven they lifted up their heads to see me. And they were exalted, for their heads had never before been lifted.

Personal piece :) The compression may be hiding this, but written on the underside of the antelope's skin is "un jour je serai de retour près de toi" ('one day I will return to your side'), which is something I have been turning over in my brain a lot as of late.

There won't be a post this week (sorry, am finishing up a commission atm, should be done soon though), but I did make this Chinese history timeline in advance:

I realized that some dynasty names could be mixed up due to their pinyin being very similar (ex: Qin and Qing dynasty) and some time periods might be confusing because too many things were happening at once, so I thought it would be nice to give a timeline, and everyone could refer to it if needed.

Exuberant, colorful, and kitschy casino & hotel interiors from the book, 'Casino Design: Resorts, Hotels, and Themed Entertainment Spaces' (1999)

Monte Carlo Hotel & Casino - Design by Dougall Design Associates, Inc.

The Desert Inn Resort & Casino - Design by The Paul Steelman Companies and Hirsch Bedner Associates

Showboat Mardi Gras Casino - Design by The Hillier Group

Hyatt Regency Aruba - Design by TVSA and Hirsch Bedner Associates

5 & 8. Grand Casino Riviera - Design by The Paul Steelman Companies

6 & 13. Casino de Deauville - Design by Hirsch Bedner Associates

7. Mohegan Sun Casino - Design by The Rockwell Group

9 & 14. Argosy Casino Terminal and Gaming Boat - Design by Anderson/Miller Ltd. and WRS Architects Inc.

10. Casino Locarno - Design by The Paul Steelman Companies

11. Port Argosy Pavilion and Gaming Boat - Design by American Consulting Engineers, Ratio Architects, and Designplan Inc.

Zorine's (nightclub) - Chicago, IL (1976)

Designed by Richard Himmel

"Although we never entered a speakeasy during Prohibition Days, it must have been something like the experience we had on our first visit to Zorine's shortly after it had opened last January.

Only the address indicated we were at the right place.

Otherwise, we faced a nondescript glass door in the window wall at one end of a new brick building. Inside, there was nothing but a counter where a host opened another door concealed in the brick wall behind him and ushered us into a darkly lit, circular vestibule. Here, we waited while someone was dispatched to find the project's interior designer and co-owner, Richard Himmel, ASID.

Wearing a light colored suit and shirt open at the throat--de rigueur for the surroundings--Richard Himmel emerged from the crowded lounge and led us on a tour of the club. First, we went to one of the two balconies where small tables accommodate groups of two. From here we could look down onto the main dining area and the glass dance floor in which lights flashed in synchronization to the booming disco music.

Next, we went into the buffet area with its copious spread of hot and cold food, and then into the lounge and bar where we were shown the clear plastic piano and rhinestone lady mirrors.

After Himmel had introduced us to the project director, Gregory Stratman, he looked around at the full tables and smiled. "You can't do this kind of a job without some laughing at yourself," he began. Calling it a "very cerebral job," but one that required a "certain amount of glibness," he explained that it was designed to appeal to the young person who "ten years ago was told to cut his hair but who is now a success." In answer to our "nuts-and-bolts" questions, he explained that the place seats 230 and is open from 5 PM to 4 AM. He owns it in partnership with Arnold Morton who owns Arnie's, the well known restaurant next door in the same building. Zorine is Mrs. Morton.

Its style? "I meant it to be a departure from the natural look," Himmel explained. "It is not strictly Art Deco or Art Moderne but a combination of both, a reinterpretation of the roots of modernity and the machine age in a contemporary version of a 20's or 30's nightclub."

Lighting, he informed us, was of prime importance. "The intent was to imbue the entire space with a peach-like glow that makes everyone look beautiful. We attained this effect by working the dimmers and changing the bulbs."

As goodbyes were said, our host looked around again and beaming a broad smile asked, "It doesn't look cerebral, does it?"

Women Black Hanfu Look

A woman wears black Hanfu and holds a sword in hand