Ryden+Barbie and the Pink Pop Pop-Up

The Ryden Barbies are up on eBay, and they’re fetching a pretty penny. At the Pink Pop pop-up gallery on Melrose, you’ll encounter a surreal exhibit of dolls, pins, paintings, and products. The dolls sold out, but word is there’ll be more coming in. The walls are pink, and black, and yellow. There are shadow boxes, and video monitors. An obelisk of eyes. A giant Barbie statue valued at a cool million. James, the action figure designer. Sophia, with the umbrella, illustrator of the children’s book, The Unique Beak, written by her mama, Estani Frizzell. Francisco and Jose, in their tuxes with the pink shirts and bow ties, along with the third member of their trio, whose name I unfortunately didn’t get. Danielle with the lemons on her dress. The security guy. The woman with the long, wild hair. Another woman, who I didn’t ask to pose, walked into the frame exactly where she ought to be.

We all danced together in the Pink Pop pop up. And then I saw my show stoppers. A blonde woman in big, black rimmed, cat eye glasses with orange lenses, wearing a cap. Her man, five o’clock shadowed, also in a cap. I approached her and asked if we could do some photos. She told me she’s Jennie Vee, and that her man is her husband, Slim Jim Phantom of the Stray Cats. Let’s rock this town, rock it inside out. I start with Jennie, right where we were standing. She gives me some awesome looks, then she introduces me to Slim Jim. We take to the stage, then I bring the two of them together for a finale. I ask Jennie how long they’ve been married. Three years. Still in love, these two. Didn’t even have to prompt them for the lovey dovey stuff.

And then we strut out of there, Penny and me, and I’m back in 1980, “howling to the moonlight on a hot summer night.” Ryden+Barbie, a phenomenal idea. A place to show up with a camera and set off some fireworks. This stage in life, where all the world’s a stage, took a lifetime to get to, and now it’s here. Stand like this, and I’ll move around you, this way that way, up and down, around, back and forth, together, apart. This is your stage, too, so cast a vote with your smile, or look off into the distance, stretch out your hand, tilt your head, most important, breathe, breathe like you mean it, toss your hair back, stomp your feet. We might never meet again, but how can we forget this Pink Pop pop up, when you took to the stage with a used to be stranger who asked if you’d like to be friends?