POLLOCK KRASNER HOUSE

After an enjoyable afternoon impersonating Pollock on the roof of my building, I was ready to make the trek to East Hampton to the Pollock Krasner House & Study Center. 

I’d been wanting to visit the historic place for at least ten years (probably as long as I’d known that it exists and is open to the public), so it was quite a treat to pile into a car with three of my friends and hit the road on a lovely autumn morning.  After about a 2.5 hour drive from Brooklyn, we pulled up to a wooden-shingled farmhouse in an absolutely beautiful setting with a view of the river and marshes.

After a warm reception from our very knowledgeable and hilarious tour guide, Myrna, we were welcomed into the barn, which had served as Jackson Pollock’s studio, and then Lee Krasner’s after his death.  After removing our shoes and donning foam slippers, we entered the space, which was filled with light, photographs, and ephemera from both of the artists’ careers.  It was truly overwhelming to walk through the space where Pollock had created such masterpieces as Autumn Rhythm.  The most poignant part of the experience was looking down on the paint drips and splatters, records of Pollock’s action painting practice and still completely intact.  You could even see outlines of specific paintings if you looked closely. 

After spending a long time in the studio, we took a tour of the house, which included the couple’s collection of books, records, and even their monogrammed suitcases.  As a fan of AbstractExpressionism, it was so interesting to see the chattels of two of the movement’s greatest members, and further understand and appreciate their relationship, both personally and creatively.

The Pollock Krasner House is closed during the winter, but reopens in the spring by appointment.

Dress: DIY (read here about how I did it)

Leather jacket: DKNY (also worn here, in my Pollock post from New Year's 2011!)

Scarf: Vintage

Tights: Hue

Boots: Zero + Maria Cornejo 'Aura' Bootie

Sunglasses: Alexander McQueen 'Blue Marble'

Photos of me by Micah Bozeman and Emily Hoerdemann and other photos by me.

THE UNKNOWN PAINTING

I scooped this sweater at one of my favorite vintage outposts in the Village, instantly recognizing the image from Art History.  However, try as a might, I cannot identify this painting!  I've scoured the internet and sourcebooks and cannot uncover the title or artist of this work.

HELP!  Do you know this painting?

See the last time I work this skirt, on a Brooklyn rooftop.

Sweater: Vintage

Skirt: Vintage

Socks: HUE

Boots: DKNY

Sunglasses: Marc Jacobs

Photos by Kathy Paciello.

ART OF FASHION 2013: Past Behavior.

"There is no such thing as design, just re-design."

Left: Bronzino, Portrait of Eleanor of Toledo and Her Son, ca. 1545; Right: Frank Sorbier Collection, Fall 2013 Couture

This statement is true across media of art and design -- as it is said, there is nothing new under the sun.  Artists and designers alike look to the past for inspiration and ways to re-make, re-model, re-imagine styles and ideals that came before.  Art of Fashion, an award-winning not-for-profit organization, is committed to fostering the careers of emerging Canadian apparel and accessory designers by creating platforms for exposure.  Each year, Art of Fashion hosts a call for entries for emerging designers to create looks based on a chosen theme.  This year, the theme for the Project Runway-like competition is Past Behavior.

Left: Michiel Jansz. van Mierevelt, Portrait of a Woman, 1628; Right: Georges Hobeika Collection, Fall 2013 Couture

Designers entering the competition are encouraged to "take from the past and apply to the present", resulting in modern takes on traditional designs.  Fashion, like art, is cyclical, and the canon of Art History provides a wealth of inspiration for today's established fashion designers.  As with the inspirational images in this post, it is obvious that the theme Past Behavior is relevant within the latest collections of some of the most distinguished fashion designers.

Left: Torii Kiyonaga, Geisha of the Tachibana Street, 1742; Right: Didit Hediprasetyo Collection, Spring 2013 Couture

Art of Fashion's Past Behavior call for entries closes on August 9th, and the ten most promising entrants will showcase their collections in Toronto on September 27th.  I can't wait to see how these emerging designers will utilize the theme, and look forward to seeing work that reinvents the past in ways that are uniquely Canadian.

You can follow Art of Fashion on Facebook and Twitter, and stay tuned for my recap of the winning designs!

[Artwork images via metmuseum.org, worldofshakespeare.com, and www.elizabethan-portraits.com; Runway images from nymag.com.]