Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Mccloskey
Hi Richard, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
For purposes of your publication, the part of my life, my accomplishments, indeed, what I have achieved, some success at, and what I wish to emphasize, is my photographic series, and book, on cruising Van Nuys Boulevard. Images made during the summer of 1972. The book is titled: ‘Van Nuys Blvd 1972.’
I was born in Hollywood a year after WWII ended. My mother was a hair dresser at The house of Westmor on Sunset Boulevard. her clients were celebrities and famous people, and the wives of celebrities and famous people. We lived in a small home in Hollywood.
My family moved to The Valley in 1957. Our home was one block west of Van Nuys Boulevard, and just south of Magnolia Boulevard. Our back fence was only 150 feet from van Nuys Boulevard, about as close to that street as anyone could live, and the location was only about two blocks south of Bob’s Big Boy restaurant—which was the central hub of the car cruising culture then burgeoning along Van Nuys Boulevard. I grew up with that culture.
After college and studying photography, I returned to Van Nuys Boulevard during the summer of 1972 to document the cruising scene with my 35mm camera. I spent every Wednesday night, which was ‘cruise night,’ on the boulevard for about ten weeks over that summer. Most of my efforts was spent photographing the people on the streets rather than just the cars. What is surprising to me now, as then, was that no one had seriously attempted to document the vibrant cruising scene. My project was the main game, and I did it with gusto and ability. The pictures speak for themselves. You can vie many of my images at rickmackvannuys.com
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’m not currently running a business in Los Angeles. I now live in Lakewood, Washington. I am 78 years old. It’s all history now—but excellent history. Hey, my life has largely been that of an artist no matter where I lived. Never easy. Always a struggle. We are going to have to discuss just how to present my story and/or my images from 1972. I think I should send you some of the press releases over the years for my photographic series and book, then you can decide if or how to present my story. I’ve had a serious amount of ‘good press’ over the past five yeas or more for my book and photographs. It’s great content for any publication, but my work may be slightly outside your standard story and publication format? Please check out my Van Nuys website; rickmackvannuys.com Please think carefully if my work is something that you wish to present. If the fit isn’t right, I will have no regrets. We have sold out all three printing editions of my Van Nuys Blvd 1972 book, and currently, we do not have plans for a fourth printing edition, but one never knows about these things. there is still a demand.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
On being an artist and a craftsman. I have lived on long life, and always worked in some form of art and/or craft. Besides being a damned good street photographer, which has always been my main photographic interest, I did newspaper, wedding and commercial photography work on Maui in the 1970s and 1980s—even taught photography at Maui Community College for a stint. As a change of pace, I also ran a business of doing etched glass (and signage) on Maui for about 15 years. Most of that was what I call ‘decor work,’ meant to add schmaltz to expensive homes and fancy restaurants, but some of it was also beautiful artwork too. I learned that aspect of my work from my aunts, who did decor artwork, glass and mirrors in Los Angeles under the title of ‘Kingsley House,’ but it was my aunt Louise who was the fine artist—runs in the family. I did a boatload of this work—even adding specialized woodwork to the mix—on Maui, some of it still exists in those fancy homes. Okay, here’s another aspect of my working life: Since 1961, I have worked on ‘woodie’ wagons, starting in the alley beside my family home iin Sherman Oaks. My day job is building new wood sets for 1949 through 1951 Ford and Mercury station wagons—and I maintain a commercial shop to do this work here in Washington State. My woodie work is legendary. Check it out at: rickmack.com
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love LA. I love the Southern California light. I hate the impossibly high cost of living, and the constantly sclerotic traffic. But I’m an expatriate now.
Contact Info:
- Website: rickmackvannuys.com [email protected]
- Instagram: mccloskey_rick
- Facebook: Rick McCloskey rickmackvannuys
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/yyl-smxvVgg?si=VWFml_ef4hVSk953
