Opening Ceremony x Reyna Spoona

Hurry up SUMMER!!!


22 Featuring Reyn Spooner from Opening Ceremony on Vimeo.

The Art of Kara Walker

Still from video installation "…calling to me from the angry surface of some grey and threatening sea, I was transported", Kara Walker

Kara Walker is a prolific, contemporary, American artist who creates work "depicting  historical narratives haunted by sexuality, violence, and subjugation  but made using the genteel 18th-century art of cut-paper silhouettes.  Set in the American South before the Civil War, Walker’s compositions  play off stereotypes to portray, often grotesquely, life on the  plantation, where masters and mistresses and slave men, women, and  children enact a subverted version of the past in an attempt to  reconfigure their status and representation"

Does it remind you of Gone with the wind? Not only do I find that period of time fascinating but I find myself enchanted by the work of Kara Walker because of the seemingly innocent and playful nature of the images that draw you in. On closer inspection you realise the sinister and haunting undertones of the work. Some of Walker's work remind's me of early Disney cartoons (Darkytown Rebellion and Mistress demanded swift and dramatic empathetic reaction which we obliged her) so easy to look at and they feel fun. How wrong we are.
 

Excavated from the Black Heart of a Negress, 2002, Kara Walker

 "Over the years the Kara Walker has used drawing, painting, colored-light  projections, writing, shadow puppetry, and, most recently, film  animation to narrate her tales of romance, sadism, oppression, and  liberation.  Walker’s scenarios thwart conventional readings of a  cohesive national history and expose the collective, and ongoing,  psychological injury caused by the tragic legacy of slavery. Her work  leads viewers through an aesthetic experience that evokes a critical  understanding of the past and proposes an examination of contemporary  racial and gender stereotypes" 

Darkytown Rebellion, 2001, Kara Walker

Detail from My Complement, My Enemy, My Oppressor, My Love Video Still, 2004, Kara Walker

The Battle of Atlanta, 1995, Kara Walker

Untitled, 1995Kara Walker

Untitled ("Hunting Scenes"), 2001, Kara Walker

Mistress demanded swift and dramatic empathetic reaction which we obliged her, 2000, Kara Walker

 If you are interested in the art of Kara Walker, check out this clip on the artist and more of her work - amazingly inspiring!

 

 

Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty

Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty

May 4, 2011–July 31, 2011
The Costume Institute, Metropolitan Museum of Art

 

"The exhibition, organized by The Costume Institute, will celebrate the late Alexander McQueen's extraordinary contributions to fashion. From his postgraduate collection of 1992 to his final runway presentation which took place after his death in February 2010, Mr. McQueen challenged and expanded the understanding of fashion beyond utility to a conceptual expression of culture, politics, and identity. His iconic designs constitute the work of an artist whose medium of expression was fashion. Approximately one hundred examples will be on view, including signature designs such as the bumster trouser, the kimono jacket, and the Origami frock coat, as well as pieces reflecting the exaggerated silhouettes of the 1860s, 1880s, 1890s, and 1950s that he crafted into contemporary silhouettes transmitting romantic narratives. Technical ingenuity imbued his designs with an innovative sensibility that kept him at fashion's vanguard."

Source The Metropolitan Museum of Art 

Image Source

 

Ksubi Kolors Film Premiere

Coloured jeans anyone? Iconic Australian fashion label Ksubi have launched thier new line of coloured jeans. Ksubi originally launched their coloured jeans line back in 2002 but have chosen these hot new colours for this season. Check out the exclusive Ksubi Kolors film by Daniel Askill and thanks to Dazed Digital where you can check out their interview with Ksubi co founder Paul Wilson.

More Lykke Li

Check out the new clip from Lykke Li called Sadness is a Blessing from her Wounded Rhymes album. This clip is directed by Tarik Saleh starring Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgard (Melancholia, Thor, Pirates of the Caribbean) and of course the lovely Lykke Li. Her extraordinary dress is by designer Anna-Sara Davikan love love love lykke li xxx

Kitty, Daisy & Lewis - I'm So Sorry

Kitty, Daisy & Lewis are my favourite, favourite, favourite band!! Got that - favourite!! I have seen them a couple of times including Gaz's Rockin Blues 30th Anniversary gig last year at St Moritz in Soho and also at Southbound Festival and think they're great. Here is their fantastic new song - I'm So Sorry

And one of their old songs, still a favourite of mine - Going Up The Country

Cecil Beaton

I jotted this quote down as soon as I read it a couple of months ago and I find myself constantly reading back over it. Words of wisdom.

"Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary" Cecil Beaton.

(Source)

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Gloria Swanson

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Marlene Dietrich

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Man Ray

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Chateau De Groussay

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Gwili Andre

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Dr. Martens

I had a dream the other night that I was wearing Dr. Martens laced up tight, now I can't get them out of my head. I am NOT a marketer's wet dream!!! But...I do love these clips, think it's a sign...I need to get these!!

 

The Raveonettes cover The Stone Roses "I Wanna Be Adored" for

 

Behind the scenes Dr. Martens S11 Photoshoot xxx

Currently inspired by...John Cassavetes

Gena Rowlands

John Cassavetes

Rosemary's Baby

 

 

Melancholia

Lars Von Trier's new film Melancholia looks interesting. I'm not sure what to make of it from the preview, looks like it's got a great cast and being a huge fan of Kirsten Dunst I will have to see it soon and report back!

Ball-Nogues Studio

I was shown this website a couple of weeks ago to present to my class of final year textile students to show them examples of artists working with space and architecture and the idea of habitable / inhabitable space and the work blew my mind. 

Ball Nogues Studio is run by Benjamin Ball and Gaston Nogues. The guys set up the studio to "explore the nexus of art, architecture, and industrial design". Their work has been exhibited at many major institutions around the world and I would like to share some of my favorite images of their artwork.

The amount of planning, consideration, funding as well as the pure creative talent that it put into each projects is overwhelming and inspiring.

Ball-Nogues Studio, Hong Kong Biennale, 2009

Ball-Nogues Studio, Hong Kong Biennale, 2009

Ball-Nogues Studio, Hong Kong Biennale, 2009,

"This hanging architecturally scaled structure is comprised of 10,000 items of clothing manufactured by American Apparel – operator of the largest garment factory in the United States. Each garment serves the dual role of building component and individual article of clothing. Over the course of the Biennale, the installation will be dismantled and the T-shirts, muscles shirts, spaghetti tank tops, baby dresses, bikinis and g-strings comprising it will be dispersed to visitors. At a time when most US garment production has moved offshore, Built to Wear invites viewers to contemplate the relocation of manufacturing from the developed world to emerging economic powers like China while reconsidering notions of material lifecycle in architecturally scaled structures. By using a coveted consumer good – the garment - as its basic building block the project expands and critiques notions of “green’ architecture while activating public space through consumption."

Ball-Nogues, Feathered Edge,Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, CA, 2009

Ball-Nogues, Feathered Edge,Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, CA, 2009

Ball-Nogues, Feathered Edge,Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, CA, 2009

Ball-Nogues, Feathered Edge,Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, CA, 2009, "Feathered Edge is comprised of 3604 individual lengths of twine, totaling 21 miles, that have been dyed, cut, and then suspended from mesh scrims installed on the walls and ceiling of the gallery. With the aid of the “Insta-llator 1 with the Variable-Information Atomizing Module,” a machine designed and manufactured by Ball-Nogues Studio especially for this installation, the strings were precisely saturated with solvent-based inks, created by a chemist for the project, using four digitally controlled airbrushes and then cut to varying lengths. Using specialized parametric software developed with a software programmer, we generated a map that was printed onto the scrim to establish the proper locations and lengths of the twine in the space. Each piece was attached to the mesh scrim, and then knotted by hand in a technique similar to that used to make latch-hook rugs." 

Tiffany & Company Gehry Jewellery Launch, Beverly Hills, 2006

Tiffany & Company Gehry Jewellery Launch, Beverly Hills, 2006

 Ball-Nogues Studio, Tiffany & Company Gehry Jewellery Launch, 2006, "Ball-Nogues devised walls, furniture, and bars for the event. One wall structure, half a block long to form an elegant backdrop, curved like the human body and was constructed from 4000 layers of corrugated cardboard sandwiched together. "Peep show" type display windows, inspired by Marcel Duchamp's Étant Donnés, punctuated the wall, framing tightly cropped compositions of live, naked models wearing the Gehry designed jewelry. In addition to creating walls, twenty-four voluptuous ottomans, no two alike, invited the 600 guests to explore playful new ways of sitting."

Ball-Nogues Studio, Liquid Sky, PS1 Contemporary Arts Centre, Queens, NY, 2007

Ball-Nogues Studio, Liquid Sky, PS1 Contemporary Arts Centre, Queens, NY, 2007

Ball-Nogues Studio, Liquid Sky, PS1 Contemporary Arts Centre, Queens, NY, 2007

Ball-Nogues Studio, Liquid Sky, PS1 Contemporary Arts Centre, Queens, NY, 2007, "Ball-Nogues's exuberant project, Liquid Sky, combines the zest of a joyful event space with rigorous research into new materials and digital fabrication," states Barry Bergdoll, Philip Johnson Chief Curator of Architecture and Design at The Museum of Modern Art. Low-tech assembly is joined with experiment in the latest cutting and fabrication techniques gleaned from the sailing industry."

Singapore Sling anyone?

May I introduce to you the Singapore Sling (this is at the top of my wish list).

Singapore Sling - She’s a woman of exotic beauty that men clamor to be near US $250

62' Meteor - Black Patent - In honor of a classic car with great lines US $350

Poison Ivy - In honor of Poison Ivy, of The Cramps. We salute your style, music & attitude! Grrrrr! US$410

Hot Rod Motor Tote  - For the gal on the go who likes to be prepared for where ever her car takes her, a tote that suits as a secret overnight bag. US$410

To tempt yourself and see more of these lustworthy bags go to Revamp Productions

L'Amour Fou

I saw this great documentary called L'Amour Fou last week as part of the Alliance Francaise French Film Festival.

It is a quirky film about Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge's life together, the fashion empire they built, the houses they bought and the beautiful artworks they acquired throughout their lifetime together. Featuring paintings by Picasso, ancient Egyptian statues, eighteenth-century bronze Chinese zodiac sculptures and Henri Matisse’s famous painting ‘Cuckoos’ on a blue and pink carpet, their collection was, as Cocteau put it, their self-portrait.

Say no more, I would recommend seeing it! For further information on the Francaise French Film Festival go here

 

Peoples Revolution

I have just finished Season One of Kell on Earth - WOW! Kelly Cutrone is my hero, I want to be her! No wait,  I want to move to New York and work for Peoples Revolution. Yes.

No, really, what she has achieved and how she runs her business is motivating for me, working in the fashion industry. I love that she has 0 glamor, she glosses nothing. She is a single mother running a rather successful PR company in New York. Kell On Earth is her reality TV series about how she runs her business, a behind the scenes look at how fashion shows are produced and how fashion gets into mags.

I can't wait to read her book entitled "If you have to cry, go outside and other things your mother never told you".

Check out this little interview with Kelly about her book.
 

Silent My Song

I can't stop listening to Lykke Li. I am in love with her whole album. My favourite song is easily Silent My Song. It's haunting horn sounds remind me of War of The Worlds...beautifully cool. However no film clip for this song so check out Get Some - the clip is AMAZING...and the song is great too!

Spencer

First thing's first. This is Spencer.
Spencer as a puppy - just a couple of weeks old and Spencer now.
So beautiful and the second love of my life.

Very clever and we have just discovered he like carrots! Who would have thought a dog that likes to eat carrots?!