LA MAISON PICASSIETTE

Just outside the city of Chartres, France, lies a masterpiece: La Maison Picassiette.  A home and garden covered entirely with ceramic patterns, it is a colorful compilation of mosaic created by the late Raymond Isidore.  A graveyard attendant and cleaner by day, and artistic genius by night, Isidore collected over 15 tons of broken pottery to adorn his modest home, inside and outside.  He even covered the furniture with mosaics!  Begun in 1039, he obsessively continued the project for almost 30 years. In 1954, Isidore was honored when the great artist Pablo Picasso visited his home to see the remarkable work and glean inspiration.  Isidore passed away in 1964, and his home is now a landmark and museum maintained by the city of Chartres.  I just love this story of an ordinary man whose creativity and dedication earned him recognition by one of the world's greatest artists and a museum of his own!  I painted this skirt inspired by Isidore's magnificent home.   Click here to learn more!

$NINETY-FOUR

Armory Week in NYC started with the ADAA's The Art Show, the first in a series of art fairs and events that lasted for about a week, and ended yesterday.  I saw an incredible amount of art in the span of a few days, and shared my favorites through Instagram Stories.  The most memorable piece for me, though, is pictured here: Sarah Cain's $ninety-four. 

When the Art Dealers Association of America asked me to make a dress inspired by one of the works in their benefit auction for the Henry Street Settlement, this piece caught my eye.  I made a dress for Sarah Cain's exhibition at Galerie Lelong last fall, an immersive experience that included a large-scale floor painting.  I was surprised to find that $ninety-four is the size of a dollar bill!  There is an abundance of energy in the six-inch painting, and it made me think about the impact that even a small act of kindness can carry.  

The Henry Street Settlement opens doors of opportunity for New Yorkers through social service, art, and healthcare programs, and you can make a difference by getting involved.

Photo by Hilary Pollack.

INFINITE KUSAMA

I've exulted about Yayoi Kusama many times over the years (here, here, and here), most recently when I created a dress inspired by her Pumpkin at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.  Pumpkin was a precursor to her exhibition, Infinity Mirrors, which opened today at the museum in Washington, DC.  I had the pleasure of touring the exhibition along with the press, and got to spend time in each of her otherworldly infinity rooms with my old friend Rosh, who had agreed to take photos.  For the occasion, I made another outfit: this spotted jumpsuit inspired by Infinity Mirror Room - Phalli's Field (1965-66).  To my astonishment, another museum-goer, Deane Madsen, also dressed in red polka dots!  Matching other art lovers is becoming more and more common (as evidenced in my last post, from LACMA).  I love that more people are using clothing as a way to express their love for art!

Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors is open at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden through May 14, 2017.

Photos by Roshan Patel and Deane Madsen.

LA GERBE

"Another word for creativity is courage." -Henri Matisse

My love of Henri Matisse has been a constant throughout most of my life, and my own work has been inspired by his many times.  However, it wasn’t until last year that I gained the courage to create a garment inspired by one of my favorite Matisse works: La Gerbe.  It was surprisingly intimidating to embark on a project inspired by an artist and a work that I so greatly revered.  I spent months visualizing how I would portray my own interpretation of La Gerbe, and the entire process, from conception through creation, lasted about six months. 

Over the weekend, the two finally came together at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.  I planned to meet an old art school friend, Rose Lawrence, at the museum, and I waited for her outside in the LA sunshine, wearing my masterpiece jacket.  When I saw her approaching from a distance, I couldn’t believe my eyes – she was wearing a hand-painted dress she had made, inspired by La Gerbe! I was overwhelmed and incredulous.  After hugging and laughing and hugging again, we went inside to meet our match, arm in arm.  I can hardly describe how much joy it brought me to bask in the presence of La Gerbe along with another kindred spirit.  It was like three generations coming together – La Gerbe, my jacket inspired by the piece, and Rose’s dress inspired by my jacket inspired by La Gerbe.  It was fun to see the museumgoers’ reactions to our outfits in front of the grand artwork, and to answer questions about how we made our respective garments.

In my study of Matisse, I’ve found that I relate to many of his artistic sensibilities, have experienced some of the same struggles, and am working toward many of the same goals.  I uncovered a similar affinity when reconnecting with Rose, an entrepreneur and creative genius in her own way. Not only did I learn that she valued and connected with my artistic passion, but that we also experienced many of the same challenges and triumphs in our respective endeavors.  Matisse said that, “Another word for creativity is courage”, and this truth has revealed itself more and more to me. As I continue to pursue my artistic endeavors and understand and appreciate more deeply the passions of my friends, I've learned that it takes not only courage, but endurance and determination to follow your passion, and I believe Matisse would be glad that we did.

Photos by myself, Rose Lawrence, and Myra Hassaram.

You can find Rose's fabulous company Red Bread here.

MR. MONDRIAN

It is not important to make many pictures but that I have one picture right.  --Piet Mondrian

Please meet Jason Anfinsen, or Mr. Mondrian (from now on!).  I can't think of a better caption for this photo, captured at Tate Modern, than Mondrian's own words.  I'm not sure how many takes he needed to get this shot, but it is certainly working!

Thanks for Jason Anfinsen for sharing this wonderful photo.

DAMIEN HIRST | OLAF BREUNING

On a recent weekend, I pulled out my Olaf Breuning x Damien Hirst dress for a Panda Bear concert at MoMA PS1.  Combining Hirst's LSD painting with Olaf Breuning's photo of a nude (entitled Damien), the dress combines the work of two artists and was executed by designer Cynthia Rowley.  I love it when art and fashion collide.

Dress: Damien Hirst x Olaf Breuning by Cynthia Rowley for Colette 

Coat: Tracy Reese (same style in a different print here)

Tights: Joe Fresh

Boots: United Nude (similar here)

Breuning image from jeremyriad.com; photos by Kathy Paciello.

ART TO WEAR: Lichtenstein Brushstroke.

Roy Lichtenstein, Brushstroke, 1965
Screenprint on paper

Pop Art looks out into the world.  It doesn't look like a painting of something, it looks like the thing itself.  --Roy Lichtenstein

Feeling gestural?  I found the perfect frock to show your love of Pop's nod to Abstract Expressionism, Roy Lichtenstein's Brushstroke at the Tate. Pair with boots and a tear in the corner of your eye, and you, too, will look like the thing itself.

Paint Strokes Black Dress, $72 at Pixie Market

ART TO WEAR: From the Runway

JC de Castelbajac

Aquilano Rimondi

Antonio Marras 

Beth Postle Alcantara 

Andrew Gn

A friend sent me this editorial from the Financial Times (of all places!) and it immediately sent me into an weeklong swoon.  These beautiful art-inspired ensembles are from various designers, and I love the way that each one used works of art (by Gauguin, Picasso and others) to inform both the shape and embellishments of the garments.  The price points prohibited me from snapping up every ensemble, but my Art to Wear inspiration is overflowing. Which look is your favorite?

Styling by Damian Fox, Photographs by Dima Hohlov

ART TO WEAR: Mondrian Loafers

Piet Mondrian, Composition of Red, Blue, Yellow, and White: Nom II, 1939

A proponent of the De Stijl movement in the early 20th century, Piet Mondrian loved simplification, both in his painting composition and in his life.  Perpendicular lines were his vice, and rumor has it that his easel was rendered unusable since it was positioned at a 90 degree angle from the floor.

I could use some simplification in my life.

See my previous Mondrian post here.

Loafers: City Snappers

Silk pants: vintage Diane von Furstenberg

Mondrian image from moca.org; shoe photo by me.

  

THRIFTED: Cafe Terrace At Night.

This vintage dress is possibly one of my most exciting thrift finds to date.  I remember plucking it off of the rack at a local thrift store and squealing with delight, as I imagined promptly leaving the store and heading directly for the Netherlands, where Vincent Van Gogh's Cafe Terrace at Night (1888) lives in the Kröller-Müller Museum.  Alas, I still have not seen this fantastic painting in person (which, coincidentally is not signed by the artist), but I spent an afternoon with the Van Gogh pair at MoMA, reveling in the swirls and undulations of the paintings and my outfit.

Dress: Thrifted

Tights: Joe Fresh

Boots: Delman

Bracelet: Vintage Givenchy (via Goodwill)

Photos by Kathy Paciello; Cafe Terrace image via prweb.com.

ART TO WEAR: Primavera.

I live for garments like this Valentino Haute Couture Spring / Summer 2014 gown, which feels right at home with Sandro Botticelli's 'Primavera'. What do you think of this luxurious example of Art to Wear? Image via Artsy.net.

ART TO WEAR: Rhombus.

Shannon Finley, Rhombus (White Light), 2013

I finally captured the Miista Siri pumps, which have been on my wish list for quite a while.  They are, essentially, a classic black pump, but with an unexpected twist -- a clear lucite geometric heel.  I couldn't help but note the affinity the shoes held with this acrylic work by Shannon Finley, a Canadian artist based in Berlin.  Finley is represented by the Jessica Silverman Gallery in San Francisco.

Finley image via Artsy, my shoes photographed by Lauren Ricciardi.

ART TO WEAR: Palette.

Whet your palette on this kitschy clutch by accessories phenom Sophia Webster.

  I could post an entire Art to Wear series on her over-the-top shoes and bags for those who prefer to wear their creativity on their sleeve (or arms or feet, as it were).  I can't decide if I love it or hate it.  What do you think?

Sophia Webster Art Party Palette Clutch, $595 at Saks.

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.]