The OSI Interview: Lisa Brasier

For more than a decade, Lisa Brasier worked as a creative director for various ad agencies in Southern California. In 2006, she and her husband made an unconventional move to a 40-acre property in the wilds of upstate New York, where she dedicates herself to photography and other obscure art projects. She also continues to work as a creative consultant for ad agencies on both the East and West Coasts. punch concepts is the company she has set up for her creative services. I've known Lisa for eight years and am still tossing around the idea of starting a fan club for her. The woman is a rock star. She's hysterically funny, in an abstract, arch sort of way (which is often reflected in her ads and photos). She is charming and kind, but simultaneously a no-bullshit straight-shooter. She does an impeccable Kate Winslet impersonation. And she loves Edward Gorey and Clint Eastwood. I mean, come on. I'm thrilled to be able to include her in this here interview series.

1. In the context of your work, which bits of minutiae matter most?
That my feet aren’t cold and I have plenty of gin on hand.


2. Which bits matter least?
Uninformed opinions.


3. In the context of your life, what types of minutiae once seemed important, but have since fallen by the wayside? Why?
Fame and fortune. In the current economic blight, I’m relieved if I can pay the electric bill.


4. What types of minutiae, if any, have you had to train yourself to pay closer attention to?
Waiting for others to complete a sentence before I begin speaking.
It’s practically impossible to do.


5. Just for kicks -- what are your favorite bits of minutiae (personal, from a book, a piece of music, moment in a movie, etc.)?
I like pondering my dreams. Especially the one I had last night
about the clove of garlic and the giraffe.


Currently, Lisa is paying homage to the stark winters of upstate New York (because, you know, when you are from SoCal, the land of perpetual summer, actual cold is downright exotic) with a series of large-format black and white photographs, "winter," which she plans to exhibit in the near future. Here are a few of the pieces.