Internationally renowned designer jeffstaple, of Reed Space NYC and Staple Design will curate a selection of cutting edge, titles for the bookstore. These titles represent the pulse of global contemporary visual and design culture. All will be available for sale at accessible price points between $15 and $40.
Contrast had the chance to talk to Wei Fang of InterIsland Terminal about the mission of the pop up shop, the status of independent bookstores in Hawaii and the impact they have in the community. Visit their site for more information.
Contrast Magazine: What is the main goal of The Reed Space HNL pop-up store?
Wei Fang: Our vision for the Reed Space HNL project is to bring a kick of inspiration to the creative community here, and a bit of visual and intellectual delight to the visitor population. In short, Reverse the Brain Drain and attract a more thoughtful kind of tourist. Create INDUSTRY and JOBS!
CM: With only 6 independent book stores in the state, what’s the importance of them to the local creative community?
WF: I don’t know if that’s more or less than we thought… Either way, it’s a precarious number in the face of nurturing a dynamic creative community that truly sees Hawaii as a nurturing place for all facets of their work or vision.
In spirit, Interisland Terminal’s Reed Space HNL project is similar to the original ethos of Amazon.com - to create a unique way to satisfy unique tastes and needs. As beautiful and as tight-knit a place as Hawaii is, there is surprisingly lack of support for the creative capital that struggles to flourish here. There is little funding, few outlets for convening in formal and informal ways, fresh inputs are a challenge to find/suply/import, little variety in what is presented and exhibited, and no central location/facility for the arts. And let’s face it, people don’t take us seriously - maybe because we don’t have that many bookstores. There sure are a lot of Blazin’ Steaks stores though.
Books and publications are key to trading ideas amongst a creative community that is inherently visual and sensoral. The internet, blogs like this one, and social media can only do a part of the work of stoking our creative capital. Strong institutions are part of it, and libraries and bookshops do much of the rest. Books and publications in their physical form allow us to tick them up and experience an idea as a complete presentation.
CM: What do you think of the iPad and kindle’s effect on the future of book stores?
WF: So, you say 6 independent bookstores left in the MId-Pacific… How about these stats from Ken Auletta’s recent New Yorker article, “Publish or Perish”
- US book sales only grew 1.6% between 2003 and 2008
- 6 publishers produce 60% of all books sold in the US.
- An estimated 3 million Kindles in use.
- On average, Kindle users buy 3.1 times as man books as they did 12 months ago.
- Between 5 and 7 million iPads sold this year.
- The Kindle and iBooks have instant access to hundreds of millions of credit cards of registered customers.
- 1 little pop-up bookstore in Honolulu (we do accept credit cards by the way!)
If we’re talking about a numbers game, bookstores’ future will have to look drastically different from their past, if at all. That’s an exciting moment to us, and a apropos time to inject some creativity and innovation in the playing field. Game on!
CM: You’re bringing out designer and Reed Space NYC founder Jeff Staple to help curate the pop-up store. He’ll also be doing a lecture, what will it be about?
WF: How to parlay courage and passion, into a career/lifestyle and eponymous brand that capitalizes on one’s sense for good design and international contemporary culture. Jeff is inspiring. Though we’re calling it a lecture, it will be short on the lecture and long on the dialogue… perhaps it should be billed as a conversation. In either case, it will be a great burst of energy for us all.
CM: Where will the pop-up shop be located and when will it be open?
Location
Waikiki Parc Hotel
2233 Helumoa Road Honolulu
Opening Preview
July 28, 2010
7:00 – 9:00pm
Regular opening hours:
July 29 – August 8, 2010
10:30am – 7:30pm
Come browse, have a drink with us at the Nobu lounge, buy something if it inspires you!
FREE validated parking for Reed Space HNL visitors and program attendees
