I stumbled upon Wallace Church through pure happenstance. As I was walking past a brownstone, I caught a glimpse of a simple window display that drew me to a halt. Although at first glance the building looked like someone's home, I tried the door. It was open, so in I went and discovered that in addition to being a private residence, the building houses Wallace Church, a brand identity and package design firm opened in 1975. After speaking with the assistant up front, I met Stan Church, the firm's founder and director. I mentioned the window display and Stan explained that finding interesting pieces of art and displaying them in his window is a hobby he started several years ago. He told me that he always gets a kick out of people stopping and wondering what is going on inside. I was so intrigued by Stan and his long history on 48th Street that we planned a filmed interview alongside his good friend, and resident of the building, Charlie Rothschild. The two men were a study of contrasts. Stan – well manicured with a ponytail and dressed in all black – graduated from the Parsons School of Design, where Milton Glaser was his professor and mentor. Stan began his career at the advertising company BBDO. After three years he was ready to open his own boutique firm where he could create campaigns and brand designs. His clients have included Heinz, Nestle, Revlon, and Lean Cuisine winning him multiple awards for his work in advertising.
