When describing his work, Recker explains, “I point out that I do work with the design and retail sector of our economy to figure out the psychosocial, emotional, cultural needs that are coming and how we can satisfy those consumer needs for color. What stories will people need to be hearing? What stories will they want to be hearing? What will they find satisfying, nourishing, supportive, energizing, aggressive, noticeable, glamourous, and really trying to do that 2-3 years out in advance to give people time and make a really successful season for themselves and for their customers.”
Deep Color is filled with Recker’s plethora of knowledge regarding the history and evolution of each color, going back to the prehistoric era, through recorded history, up to modern times. Recker also includes the religious and cultural history of those colors and how particular colors are associated with linguistics. “In order to be very coherent, and very correct, and as accurate as I can possibly be, it has to continue, that research, to make sure that I’m telling the story that needs to be told, that should be told, that are accurate…on the way I find new stories and new wrinkles and new things to dig into.”
That’s really important to me, that we nourish people with originality, creativity, and this kind of emotional vibration that we need… we shop and consume to be satisfied, make ourselves feel a certain way, and I want color to be a part of that equation.
The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.
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Hi. My name is Zulfi (Zull-Fee) Ali and I live near Portland, Oregon.
Is there a way to get this message to Keith Recker, who was on your podcast. I am a collector, curator and researcher of Kashmir/Cashmere shawls from the 18th and 19th century – art forms that are part of my own heritage, as a native-born (US living) Kashmiri. I’ve been working on recreating the shawls from the 1800s and have got most of it down, except for the dyes. That’s a subject that I have a shared passion with Keith. My non-commercial website is called The Cashmere Chronicles and it showcases my extensive collection from mid 1700s to early 20th century shawls and other art forms of Kashmir.
Interesting connection with Keith’s past – He was an executive at Gumps and at one point, my family used to export Papier Mache from Kashmir, to Gumps. And on the bottom of each item, I and others from my family, would write in gold ink “Hand made in Kashmir for Gumps”. I still have, what was called a ‘stamp box’ with this writing on it.
PS: If Keith is a celebrity and calls himself an ‘expert’, then you may not want to reach out to him. My journey to revive the lost art (and associated culture) of my ancestors and as such it is a spiritual journey. And on that sacred journey, I can only relate to people that are humble, despite their so-called status. That’s the essence of true Eastern art.