Harry’s Interactive “Password” Mirror by Stefan Von Fouts
Upon entering Harry’s at Hofheimer, you’ll be asked for a password to enter the speakeasy-inspired restaurant. Read more about the artist and instructions on obtaining your key.
THE ARTIST
The artist behind the interactive “password mirror” at the entrance to Harry’s is Stefan Von Fouts, a renowned and well respected artist native to Richmond, Virginia who graduated from VCU with a sculpture degree in 1996.
He began creating atmospheric architecture in his college years which quickly moved into designing actual night clubs and restaurants. It was during these early years that he met real estate developer and restaurantuer Carter Snipes and they began a friendship. In 2001, Stefan started his own design firm, 01eden Designs, to commemorate the idea of a future paradise and the turn of the century. From there, his company designed and fabricated many lavish environments for restaurants and clubs around the Richmond region. As time moved on, he decided to take his talents to Washington, DC where he designed and fabricated multiple famous nightclubs, restaurants and art installations. In 2004, he decided to take his company down to Miami where the industry would warmly embrace him and he could continue to stretch his wings. His designs began gracing South Beach, the Design District and Wynwood Miami. From there, his design career extended all the way to New York and beyond. Von Fouts’ work residence in Miami lasted over 20 years where he created countless magnificent night clubs, restaurants, retail spaces, exhilarating installation art pieces, and joined the cast of HGTV’s popular show “Color Splash” (Miami Season 10). It wasn’t until the year 2020 when COVID-19 kicked in, that he decided it was time to move back to his hometown Richmond, Virginia, where he could be close to his family and old friends.
THE STORY + JOURNEY BEHIND THE ART
In early 2023, Snipes reached out to Von Vouts to reunite and get together to talk about a new project at the Hofheimer Building. Snipes and his partner, Natalie McNamara, had just returned from an inspirational business trip to Miami where they gathered ideas for the new Harry’s at Hofheimer restaurant concept they were getting ready to open. One idea specifically stemmed from a boutique hotel in South Beach in which they stumbled upon an interactive mirror installation with various words scrolling across it. They shared a video of this art piece with Von Fouts asking if he could create a “password generator” using similar technology.
Von Fouts explains, “I remember when Carter reached out to me, it was very exciting at the time because it had been so long to hear from him and things had been slow in my industry since COVID-19. I remember how thrilled they were about this mirror installation and from that moment on the mission was set in motion.”
McNamara had one special request - to make the mirror’s glass gold if possible, to match the aesthetics of the Harry’s overall decor, so Von Fouts’ journey began right away to resource all the materials and the right tech collaborators. Von Fouts explains, “I like to use my company 01eden as a collective resource of artists when it comes to certain things that are outside of my personal comfort zone. So I immediately hired, James Lemann, who I like to call my “interactive genius”, to take on this part of the project.” That way he could focus on the industrial design aspects of the installation, he explains.
One of Von Fouts’ biggest challenges was finding mirror treatments that worked as a two-way mirror to create the magic “behind the curtain”. He mentions, “I’ve always loved working with interactive pieces. It’s always been a big theme of my work. Especially, when it comes to mirrors, it’s one of my favorite specialties, so this project really spoke to me.”
After Von Fouts narrowed down the proper 2-way film, he sourced the right screen interface, and figured out how the componentry was going to be housed inside from behind the main display. Finally, the piece came alive. From sourcing the glass to applying the film, nothing came easy. There were a lot of learning curves along the way, but through trial and error all of Von Fouts efforts paid off and worked out.
Von Fouts says, “It’s like any challenge I’ve had in the past, they’re all special in their own way, but this one really meant a lot to me because it was my first piece as a homecoming art installation to Richmond, Virginia. Every step of the way this installation presented so many new and exciting ideas for what potentials it could have in the future, which I look forward to exploring as time goes on. For starters the word play was definitely a fun forum to work with because I could keep going forever with different themes. The first words I focused on were Carter’s list, but I find it very special that it can always be expanded on. I also really love the conceptual perspective and power this piece has for all who play with it. It keeps you guessing and it literally speaks back to its audience. It has been described as a magic 8 ball or a fun fortune teller. How many art pieces do that? In the end I had to keep my focus on making sure it worked properly, so once I was finally able to coordinate with my IT guy about finding out just the right way to tweak the words on the screen, this piece was ready for hanging.”
The installation is an iconic piece of art in Von Fouts’ vast portfolio of work and makes a fantastic conversation piece for Harry’s at Hofheimer.
For more information about Atmospheric Architect Stefan Von Fouts, including his designs and artwork, please visit www.01eden.com or his Instagram @stefanvonfouts
PASSWORD MIRROR INSTRUCTIONS
When you arrive at Harry’s at Hofheimer, take a one second video of yourself or with your friends, then look at the end of the video you’ve taken to see what word is displayed at the end of the loop - this is your password. Simply share your password with the Harry’s at Hofheimer host for entry. Post to social media if you so desire. Enjoy!