Rick Singer’s Roof of Plenty

Rick Singer and his building aren’t going anywhere. You might say their roots are firmly planted like many of the perennials on the rooftop behind Rick’s downtown Spokane studio. From passion flowers to peppers, Rick has transformed the roof of the historical 1906 Durkin-Ulrich Building on west Main—which he owns with brother Gary and is home to Rick’s photography studio of 28 years—into a creative display of color, texture, and interest, similar to one of his photo exhibits. Also home to Dutch’s Inc., a music shop that Rick’s maternal grandfather, Melvin Duitch, opened in 1915 when he bought the building, the structure has significant architectural and historical value. Originally a single-room occupancy hotel, popular in the early 1900s, the structure is one of the few remaining in the city. It was also home to Durkin’s Bar, owned by one of Spokane’s most famous and loved saloon keepers, Jimmy Durkin, before he transformed it into Ulrich’s Cafe & Card Room, during Prohibition years. Owning a part of historic Spokane is important to Rick, and is something he wishes more people would place value on. “I’m surrounded by parking lots that used to be these great old buildings,” said Rick. “This is one of the few buildings of historical value left standing [in Spokane]. But luckily I’m surrounded by three other greats—the American Legion building, the O.N.B. building, and the Levy building.” When Rick returned home after graduating from Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, Calif., in 1979, he also returned to the family business where he spent his youth and the place which fostered his love for music. Now a third-generation family business, Dutch’s is owned and operated by Gary, with Rick Singer Photography inhabiting the upper two floors since 1981. In 1989 he began the rooftop garden. When a friend encouraged him to beautify the drab space with a planter or two of flowers, it sparked Rick’s memory of being fascinated with sunflowers he had grown when he was just five years old. Planting a handful of seeds a neighbor gave him, he was amazed to see “these big, tall flowers come from such tiny seeds.” Now sunflowers are among the many varieties of flora that make Rick’s rooftop garden so picture-perfect. “I usually get at least one call a year from an employee in the O.N.B. building thanking me for the view,” said Rick. In 1999, he built a greenhouse to help him sustain his perennials and grow offshoots from some of his favorite plants, like the passion flower. Having “grown almost every crop,” Rick has found his favorites and what works best in the conditions on his roof. In addition to his sunflowers, passion flowers and habanero and sweet peppers (a passion of his), he also grows tomatillos and eggplants; cukes and tomatoes; a variety of herbs like basil, amaranth and sweet vanilla grass; a lemon and a lime tree; and petunias, popular as vibrant backdrops for his photo shoots. A few of his secrets include using large containers as “the more soil, the merrier,” choosing plastic containers as opposed to ceramic, wood or stone, to maintain as much moisture as is needed for the heat a rooftop garden endures; and to mix coconut husk chips in with the soil for moisture retention and good aeration. He says a common misconception about his garden is that it is a “green roof” garden in that it could help to improve the building’s insulation and energy efficiency. However, Rick clarifies that it’s technically a “hobby garden” grown only for aesthetic, recreational and harvest capabilities. Since the planters on a rooftop garden are placed randomly, they don’t have the potential to provide any environmental or economical benefit really other than to establish a relationship between human and nature that can be lost in urban environments. After 20 years, it seems he knows what he’s talking about. During the height of the season, Rick ends up taking his produce home by the garbage bagfuls, often sharing with friends and sometimes lucky clients, and stocking his freezer for the months ahead that are less plentiful. He’s also known to share his garden for a good cause. In keeping with family tradition, Dutch’s Inc., and Rick have both been longtime supporters of the Second Harvest Food Bank. This year Rick donated an evening gathering on his roof, which was auctioned off at the non-profit’s fundraiser, “Take a Bite Out of Hunger.” The lucky recipients sampled local fine food and wine, as well as a taste of old Spokane amidst an ambiance of rustic elegance — the verdant green foliage a striking contrast against the weathered wood and rusted corrugated tin roof of the out building, and the aged brick of the century-old chimney. This history of the building is also echoed on the inside of the third floor, which Rick has left mainly untouched but uses for the majority of his signature portraits —wallpaper still peels from the walls, the plaster is bared and the floorboards are well-worn. On the second floor which Rick renovated for his office, display space and photo shoots as well, he also hosts a concert or two every so often, sometimes featuring one of his two bands — Sidetrack, a country-rock act, or Chutzpah, known for Jewish soul music. Visitors can see the old peeking through the new in the beautiful dark wood floors below and the railings of the old loft above, framing a skylight, one of many brilliant original portals of natural light that the photographer in Rick appreciates immensely. “A good photographer photographs light,” says Rick. “This building has great natural light.” Showcasing his love of photography and music, Rick’s next photo exhibit will be of Spokane Musicians at the Chase Gallery in City Hall Sept. 8-Oct. 30, with the opening on Friday, Oct. 2, in conjunction with the Fall Visual Arts Tour. Rick has photographed old and new musicians, of all genres, against the exact same backdrop in his 3rd floor studio for more than 1 1/2 years, aiming to capture what makes them unique as individuals and as artists. Were he to include a self-portrait, what you might see is his loyalty to his heritage, his dedication to family, and a passion for the arts that has shaped him into who he is today. And possibly, you just might find a piece of sweet vanilla grass between his teeth.