WARM CALIFORNIA

Yesterday afternoon, in the middle of a very unexpected rainstorm, I stumbled into Andrew Kreps Gallery and Billy Al Bengston’s Warm California.  The hanging and standing scrolls that California-based Bengston created in the 1970s fill the gallery, recalling the effects of light on the surface of water.  To me, walking through the gallery felt something like being surrounded by the fronds of a weeping willow – the hanging scrolls swayed every so slightly and turned with the movement of forms through the space.  It was a serene environment, which Bengston likened to a kelp forest, and was a welcome respite from the downpour outdoors.

The exhibition is on view until June 18^th.

Blouse: Tucker

Pants: Diane von Furstenberg

Blazer: Diane von Furstenberg

Shoes: Escada

Photos by Kathy Paciello

ARTSY ONSITE

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending my first Artsy OnSite, at Ameringer | McEnery | Yohe.  Artist Patrick Wilson, whose exhibition opens at the gallery this evening, was on hand to discuss his suite of paintings on view.  While sipping sparkling wine, a small group of us heard from the artist on topics such as his inspiration, creative process, and execution.  He also briefly discussed his use of color, which particularly piqued my interest.

Thanks to Artsy for the invitation, to Patrick for the insight, and to Mark Rosen (@markatthemuseum) for the photos!

Jacket, pants, and blouse: Diane von Furstenberg

Shoes: United Nude

FAUVIST FRIDAY

Feeling Fauve on this Fall Friday.

I came across this painting by Mark di Suvero earlier this week as a part of his exhibition at Paula Cooper Gallery.  I'm familiar with his sculptural installations, but had never seen the Fauvist, colorful work that simultaneously draws a parallel and contrast with the rest of his hard-edged metal works.

Sweater: Thrifted

Blouse: Joe Fresh

Pants: Diane von Furstenberg

Shoes: Manolo Blahnik

Caffeine: Nespresso

Photos by me.

GRAPE ESCAPE

Last weekend, I trekked to Long Island for my first long-awaited experience of the wine country just outside New York City.  The lushness of the grounds and juiciness of the ripe grapes inspired this outfit, along with the highly saturated work of Marylyn Dintenfass.

"Dintenfass uses luscious colors, repetitive forms, and a gestural intensity that combines Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art." --Meredith Mendelsohn

Dintenfass (b. 1943) is known for her oil paintings and prints featuring sensual, gestural abstractions in "ripe, radiant, saturated hues".  Originally from Brooklyn, Dintenfass made the trek to Long Island just like I did, and I can't help but wonder whether the colors and forms of the wine country inspired her work.

Jacket: Diane von Furstenberg

Dress: Suno

Sunglasses: Suno

Boots: Frye

Dintenfass images from rauschenberggallery.com, artinfo.com, driscollbabcock.com, artslant.com, mutantspace.com.  Photos of me by Meri Feir.

JOURNEY OF A DRESS

I've long considered Diane von Furstenberg a role model, and an exhibition currently on view in Los Angeles establishes her as even more: a national treasure.  Including an extensive collection of artwork featuring her designs and Diane herself, Journey of a Dress also showcases the history of her timeless wrap dresses, which debuted in 1974 and completely changed the womenswear industry with the mantra "Feel like a woman, wear a dress!"  Diane is not only a fashion mainstay, but is also dedicated to several philanthropic causes and a fixture in the New York social scene.  Ms. Furstenberg continues to inspire me with both a desire to succeed and to give back, and with a lust for more of her flattering, feminine designs.

See another DVF wrap dress, featured lovingly on my blog last year.

The Journey of a Dress exhibition closes today, but you can find more information about it here.

Dress: Diane von Furstenberg Andy Warhol collection

Shoes: Belle by Sigerson Morrison Abra

Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs

Photos by Jayne Clark.

NOW WEARING: Bubbles.

The best way for me to deal with a gray day has always been to pull out my brightest brights.  When I came across this umbrella on Fab.com, I knew it would be the perfect way to offset the blahs of a rainy day.  I paired it with this bubble print wrap dress to evoke the work of Karen Tompkins.

I discovered these gouache paintings on Artsy, and was immediately intrigued by the way color and light is reflected within the works.

According to the artist, bubbles are a way for her to express energy and the ephemeral experience of nature.

Capturing in paintings the quixotic bubble forms that usually escape the eye of the viewer in the fraction of second that they exist, is a magical experience...Not unlike the way Da Vinci is said to have exalted in seeking out “the invisible key of Nature” through his art. Nature, in this case, hands us one of it’s most beautiful keys...the most energy-efficient configuration in nature is a bubble. In this way, the Circle Series brings to light a mysterious world of creation and transformation.  --Karen Tompkins 

Wrap Dress: Diane von Furstenberg

Heels: United Nude

Handbag: Michael Kors East to West Tote in Mandarin

Umbrella: via Fab.com

[Tompkins images from artsy.net; photos by Brett McKenzie.]

BROOKLYN BRIDGE

How many dawns, chill from his rippling rest 

The seagull's wings shall dip and pivot him, 

Shedding white rings of tumult, building high 

Over the chained bay waters Liberty-- 

Then, with inviolate curve, forsake our eyes 

As apparitional as sails that cross 

Some page of figures to be filed away; 

--Till elevators drop us from our day . . . 

I think of cinemas, panoramic sleights 

With multitudes bent toward some flashing scene 

Never disclosed, but hastened to again, 

Foretold to other eyes on the same screen; 

And Thee, across the harbor, silver-paced 

As though the sun took step of thee, yet left 

Some motion ever unspent in thy stride,-- 

Implicitly thy freedom staying thee! 

--from To Brooklyn Bridge, by Hart Crane

Ever since I moved to Brooklyn last year, I've been fascinated by the history and symbolism of the Brooklyn Bridge, represented in these vintage photos.  It's so poignant to see images of landmarks that have changed little surrounded by things, such as fashion of the passersby and the skyline, that have changed drastically over the years.

For this summer's Jazz Age Lawn Party, I was inspired by the vintage photographs of the Brooklyn Bridge, and had my friend shoot my 1920s-inspired outfit on the Promenade.

Beaded dress: Diane von Furstenberg

Duotone Mary Janes: Tommy Hilfiger

Metal mesh handbag: vintage, via Buffalo Exchange in Chelsea

Hat: Scala Collezioni (buy here)
Photos by Meri Feir

Will you be attending the Jazz Age Lawn Party on August 17 or 18?  I would love to see you there in all your 1920s finery!

MAGRITTE: Cloudy with a Chance of Symbolism.

It's been a few years since my last outfit post inspired by Magritte, but there is so much within the artist's oeuvre, visually and symbolically, that I often return to it for inspiration.

René François Ghislain Magritte (1898-1967) was born in Brussels and eventually traveled to Paris, where he became affiliated with the Surrealists such as André Breton.

In addition to his surrealist works, Magritte produced painted forgeries of Picassos, Braques, and Chiricos, and ultimately forged money as well.  I find this extremely intriguing, given the play between reality and alternate reality in his works, such as those depicted here.

Many people are familiar with at least a few of Magritte's works, particularly for their imagery within popular culture.  His recurring surrealist themes, evidenced symbolically, have become synonymous with the artist himself.

In Magritte's opinion, painting was "the art of putting colors side by side in such a way that their real aspect is effaced, so that familiar objects—the sky, people, trees, mountains, furniture, the stars, solid structures, graffiti—become united in a single poetically disciplined image. The poetry of this image dispenses with any symbolic significance, old or new."

Dress: Diane von Furstenberg (same print, different dress available in a limited quantity here)

Heels: C'N'C Costume National Patent Leather Pumps (available here, over 50% off!)

Photos by Kathy Paciello at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.