Dark Angels Note 149

Dearest Friends

Welcome back to our weekly Friday Note.

 

Observing

This week marks the birthday of Mary Wells Lawrence.

Celebrated for being the first woman in history to found, own and run a major advertising agency,  Mary Wells Lawrence headed up Wells, Rich, Greene from 1966 until she sold it in 1990.

The agency ran famous campaigns for the likes of Ford and Alka-Seltzer, as well as brilliant branding for Braniff Airways with ‘The End of the Plain Plane’ and the ‘I ❤️ New York’ tourism campaign.

“The best advertising should make you nervous about what you’re not buying.” – Mary Wells Lawrence

Wells Lawrence started her ad career in-house in the creative department of a department store. She went on to be named Advertising Woman of the Year in 1971, was the first female CEO of a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange and was inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame in 1999.

 

Watching

“Mary was one of the smartest marketing people you’d ever want to meet.”

Listen to Bob Kuperman as he talks about Mary’s talent for marketing and brands and her ability to understand and read people.

 

Writing

In the above clip, Kuperman recounts a story about a briefing with Mary where she assigned kitchen appliances with a personality.

Choose an inanimate object from your own home. It could be anything from a trusty fridge to a favourite armchair. What human characteristics or behaviours do you attribute to them that can bring it to life?

 

Sharing

Keep sending us your poems, writings, links and writerly whatnots that you’d like to share with the wider Dark Angels family.

 

—

Diary

 

Weekly Tuesday Gatherings

Next week’s Gathering is moving to Wednesday evening instead. Same time. Back to the normal Tuesday slot the week after.

Join us for a reflective hour of reading, writing and communing led by Neil Baker. Everyone is welcome; in fact, invite a friend along. We meet at 7pm UK time. To join us, click here on the night. There’s no need to register in advance and we’ll be using the same link every week from now on.

 

Words Are Seeds, 19-23 June 2023

Five days of writing, rituals and nature connection at Bore Place over the summer solstice. We’re expecting a lively, stimulating and playful experience, with plenty of time for individual pondering, wondering and wandering – and writing.

Find out more here.

 

Hearts, Inspired, 16-21 June 2023

Join us for a 5-day writing retreat on Whidbey Island, in the US Pacific Northwest. We’ll explore writing, creativity and inspiration through guided writing, personal projects and time in nature.

Sold out – join the waiting list.

 

Be well, keep reading, keep writing and know that we’re always here.

From everyone at Dark Angels