In the 1980s, there was a famous 'singles bar' in Venice Beach, California, called Merlin McFly's. The owner commissioned Bonny Doon Studios in Santa Cruz to create stained glass windows....
In the 1980s, there was a famous "singles bar" in Venice Beach, California, called Merlin McFly's. The owner commissioned Bonny Doon Studios in Santa Cruz to create stained glass windows. According to the Los Angeles Times, McFly's became not just "a magnet for Westside singles, but soon also began drawing stained glass enthusiasts from throughout the country." Merlin McFly's closed its doors in 1992.
The stained glass window is a striking artwork, intricately designed and richly colored, honoring Alexander, The Man Who Knows. The window is circular, evoking the traditional shape of a mandala, which signifies the universe or completeness, a theme often resonant in mystical or occult symbolism.
The image is a visually striking stained glass artwork reminiscent of the Art Nouveau style, with Harry Blackstone at its center. Blackstone, a famous magician, is shown in a theatrical pose that exudes drama and intensity, his arms outstretched with an air of command as if masterfully orchestrating the supernatural elements around him.
His attire is meticulously detailed, contributing to the dramatic flair of the image: he wears a classic magician's tuxedo with a crisp white shirt and a bow tie accentuated by a cummerbund. The rich purple of his suit jacket contrasts with the ornate, golden-yellow embellishments that frame the figure, symbolizing opulence and the magical.
Hovering above Blackstone is the apparition of a woman's spirit, evoked through the swirling, fluid lines that give her form a ghostly and ephemeral quality. This spectral figure seems to be responding to Blackstone's call, emerging from the ether to display his magical prowess.
The use of vibrant and contrasting colors in the stained glass—deep purples, warm yellows, and luminous whites—creates a luminescent effect, as if the scene is illuminated from within. The woman's spirit is rendered in a lighter, more translucent palette, underscoring her otherworldly nature in contrast to the solid, earthly presence of the magician.
The name "BLACKSTONE" is crafted into the glass at the bottom of the piece in bold, stylized lettering, surrounded by decorative motifs resembling Gothic cathedrals' intricate details. This reinforces the grandiose and almost divine aspect of Blackstone's performance, placing him in the realm of the extraordinary.
Overall, the image captures the quintessential essence of a magic performance—mystery, elegance, and the thin veil between the ordinary world and the extraordinary one that magicians like Blackstone invite their audience to peer through. It is not just a portrait but a narrative captured in glass, a moment of enchantment frozen in time.