(Books) and innovative craft...two of my favorite things. I have an abundance of postcards, pamphlets, cassettes, old books, match boxes etc...that I have collected through the years. Perhaps making books à la Marcel Duchamp is the therapy I need to fix my artistic hoarding tendency. My nomadic acquisitions deserve a creative existence!
WHERE: Museum of Contemporary Craft, Portland, Oregon EXHIBIT:Object Focus: The Book: November 18, 2010 – February 26, 2011
Curated by: Geraldine Ondrizek, Reed College and Namita Gupta Wiggers, Museum of Contemporary Craft; in collaboration with Barbara Tetenbaum, Oregon College of Art and Craft.
I like to call them the "RODARTE sisters" aka Kate & Laura Mulleavy and they are the brilliance behind the Black Swan costumes. I have conflicting feelings about the movie, but I am glad it has been getting abounding publicity. Perhaps this movie will inspire the masses to actually attend a BALLETthis year (perhaps where popcorn and giant soda cups aren't part of the experience...My dream is to see a NEW YORK CITY Ballet performance one day...enjoy the video below.
I don't know how many of you have seen the new satirical wonder,PORTLANDIAcreated and written by Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein; but if you are attached to Portland, Oregon in any way, this series will make you pee your pants. Mark and I lived in Portland for almost 2 years but due to the horrid economy we decided to head north (well NE to Montréal, Canada) to c o l d e r p a s t u r e s. We actually find ourselves reminiscing about Portland quite frequently and are strongly considering moving back one day. Portland takes their food, their coffee, their literary spots, their eclectic neighborhoods, their GREEN spirit and their savory beer very seriously.
WE MISS: Powell's Books. Stumptown Coffee. The fashion boutiques RADISH UNDERGROUND & Idom Designs. Hopworks Brewery. The Living Room Theaters. Albina Press coffee shop. Pix Pâtisserie. Ampersand Vintage bookstore. The Museum of Contemporary Craft. Alberta Street...SE Portland...Laurelhurst Park...
Here are a few pics we took during our brief stay...Kettleman Bagels, Stumptown Coffee:SE Division St. neon sign, Sapphire Hoteleggs benedict, Deschutes Brewerysampler paddle, The WHOlE Bowl, Pok Pok's calamari, NW 23rd Avenue's architecture (great pedestrian shopping), Ace Hotel Portland sign, MAGPIE: fashion vintage shop(window display), Federico Aubele at Doug Fir Lounge...
First impressions are everything and this intro of Portlandia is hysterically well executed. From L.A. to Portland, Oregon...ha ha...so many have made that move! Fast Fact: The harmonious & dandy men in black are the Portland Gay Men's Chorus...read more about them HERE.
I saw Woody Allen's 1979 Manhattan for the first time last weekend (I know, first time?). . . beyond ridiculous, but soooo great. Rent it, own it, watch it. If you live in Montreal, I am sure Boite Noire has it...love this movie shop.
a few Isaac Davis lines: . . . Chapter One. He adored New York City. He idolized it all out of proportion. Eh uh, no, make that he, he romanticized it all out of proportion. Better. To him, no matter what the season was, this was still a town that existed in black and white and pulsated to the great tunes of George Gershwin. Uh, no, let me start this over . . .I feel like we're in a Noel Coward play. Someone should be making martinis. . . . Boy, this is really a great city, I don't care what anybody s-s - it's really a knock-out, you know?
Where: Nordiska Museet,Stockholm, Sweden. ON display until May 1, 2011. Work by: Björn of Kleen, Christian Quaglia, Goran Sundberg, Lalle Johnson, Olof Enckell and Frederik Andersen & Rickard Lindqvist. . . vote for your favorite here.
some image details from form us with love, photography by Jonas Lindström. others from the Nordiska Museet's website.
The displays are hysterical...Nordic humor mixed with fashion... It would be fascinating to have designers from all over the world create a "dandy" outfit...L.A. dandy, San Francisco dandy, Mexico City dandy... wow...big smile on my face!! . . . is your man dandy?
Oscar Wilde (A19th century literary dandy, author of "A Picture of Dorian Gray") wrote, One should either be a work of Art, or wear a work of Art... I think I agree...don't you?
I saw TRUE GRIT this week. I am usually not attracted to gory films, but I make the exception when it comes to the Coen Brothers. Theirbrutal eye is very sophisticated. I was not impressed with Jeff Bridges or Matt Damon, but the new star in town from California, Hailee Steinfeld...now she is really the fierce talent behind this western.
The film reminded me of the brilliant designer I read about last year, a 2009 graduate from the London College of Fashion, Bahar Alipour. These images are right on, right? (Styling by Nobuko Tannawa Photography by Billy Ballard) Read more about her HERE. I wonder what she is up to lately?
British talent is just amazing these days...Colin Firth, Carey Mulligan, Sarah Burton...and well always, Vivienne Westwood. Have you read about the 2011 BRIT trophy re-design? I wonder if it will be manufactured with recycled materials.I want one, life sized would be great.
By now most of you have probably seen the video directed by Tyler Manson for Intel of the man behind The Sartorialist, Scott Schumann. It is beautifully shot. There are many "Sartorialist" copy cats out there but lets face it, Schumann does it best.
The exhibit, ONE : Outfits from a New Era (O.N.E. | Objets Non Enfouis) is now part of the Biosphère's permanent collection. I shot a few details of my favorite pieces: (from the top): 1. Caustic Swimsuit by Jennifer Bergeron (a.k.a. LeCha); 2 | 3. Dress the Part by Isabelle Bérubé; 4. Haute couture 2.0 by Cul-de-sac's Mélissa Turgeon; 5. Bullet Dress by Geneviève Dumas and Geneviève Flageol; (NOTE: I dedicate this one to Sarah Palin)6. Hairdress by By Roxane Cheibes and Amélie Bruneau Longpré. If you live in Montréal and you have not been to the Bio lately, this exhibit is a good reason to visit the Buckminster jewel. I love this piece of architecture but for some reason, locals don't seem to share my passion. Every time I visit, there are only a handful of people in attendance. If I had philanthropic means I would do wonders with this icon.
It can be very challenging finding that one special piece, one-of-a-kind magical object...playful jewel...you know, that one conversation piece that will inspire you daily and make you feel less adult... Ok, so I am rambling. I was watching Man Shops Globe the other day and I foundAnna-Wili Highfield's work absolutely moving. Her tools are basically archival cotton paper, cotton thread, ink and water colors. Simple yet whimsical, don't you think? I am sure Anthropologie will be selling these for mucho dinero. A few of may favorites...
