PICASSO SCULPTURE

On Sunday, I ventured uptown through the Guatemalan Independence Day parade to see the blockbuster Picasso Sculpture exhibition at MoMA.  What awaited me was an expansive, varied journey through the artist's career and his work in three dimensions.  There were a few things that struck me:
1.  Many of the sculptures were smaller than I would have guessed.
2.  Much of the three dimensional work was very different formally than his paintings (albeit with similar subject matter).  However, I would have liked to see some paintings from concurrent time periods alongside the sculpture to provide a comparison.
3.  Picasso was a master of all media; though he was never formally trained as a sculptor, his work in difficult materials such as bronze was remarkable.

The exhibition is on view through February 7th.

Trench: Burberry (also worn here)

Jeans: Levi's

Boots: Rachel Comey

Photo of me by Meri Feir; all other photos by me.

WARM UP 2014

Even though the weather is already cooling down, you still have a few more chances to Warm Up at MoMA PS1.  The gravel courtyard of the Museum of Modern Art's contemporary outpost in Long Island City swarms with trendy folks on Saturday afternoons, grooving to one of many DJ sets and posing for photos.  You'll also get to explore The Living's installation in the courtyard, the winner of this year's Young Architects Program.  The installation is called Hy-Fi and is made of 100% organic materials, all self-contained and produced.  You can read more about it here or just head over to PS1 on Saturday.

Check out my outfit from last year's Warm Up here.

Tunic: Mara Hoffman
Chambray pants: J. Crew
Shoes: Belle by Sigerson Morrison
Sunglasses: Duane Reade

My dear friend Katie, founder of the dating website Clycked, kindly shot these photos & facilitated mingling.  Thanks to Hannah Kauffman for providing gratis tickets!

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.

Mike Kelley at MoMA PS1

The full-museum retrospective on the late Mike Kelley at MoMA PS1 opened a few weeks ago.  I attended the opening in my self-made Kelley-inspired pom pom jacket, but it's taken me a few weeks to develop my feelings about the show and begin to understand the overwhelming experience.


First of all, it is not an exhibition that can be confronted in one visit.  There is just too much -- so many extremely different, opposing mediums and ideas -- that it requires more than one sojourn in order to begin to even scratch the surface of the meaning and intent of Kelley's oeuvre.


Kelley created work that spanned a 30-year career in almost every medium imaginable: assemblage, film, works on paper, painting, sculpture, digital, installation, and on and on.  Much of this work deals with themes of isolation, repressed memory, sexuality, self-exploration.  My personal favorite work is Deodorized Central Mass with Satellites (1991), which I planned ahead to emulate with my pom pom jacket.

However, one of the most poignant pieces in the exhibition is Lumpenprole and Ageistprop (above).  A vast knit blanket stretched across the floor, concealing unidentified lumps beneath it, this work is the perfect example of Kelley's interest in repressed memory, and the way he consistently returned to previously explored themes throughout his widespread career.  While I was viewing the work, another museum attendee held his iPhone poised at the ready in order to catch the movement of the mysterious shapes (spoiler alert: they don't move).  This anecdote is a perfect example of my experience of the show: the feeling that there is something lurking around the corner that could change or develop at any moment, without notice.

Jacket: DIY

Dress: H&M

Shoes: United Nude

Clutch: Betsey Johnson

Photos by Kathy Paciello; Lumpenprole image from hamptonartshub.com.

ART TO WEAR: Boccioni.

Unique Forms of Continuity in Space by artfullyawear featuring zip dresses

Rag & Bone zip dress, $365 / Rebecca Taylor / Black handbag

My friend Drew of The Museum of Peripheral Art sent me a picture of a similar pair of Jimmy Choo wedges, pointing out their affinity to this Umberto Boccioni (1882-1916) sculpture, Unique Forms of Continuity in Space. Inspired by his insight, I created a very wearable outfit using the Italian Futurist's sculpture as a starting point.

RAIN ROOM

Have you ever wanted to control the rain?  Random International's installation/environment at the Museum of Modern Art gives its audience a sense of what it would be like to have that power.

Part of the the MoMA PS1 Expo 1: New York exhibition, Rain Room utilizes digital technology to keep guests dry within a constant downpour.

Lit only by one spotlight, attendees are admitted into a controlled rainstorm, which clears a path as they navigate through the space.

It is a sensory experience, heightened by the sound of the deluge, which calls to mind issues of our control of the environment through scientific means.

Rain Room is open through July 28.  Photos by Meri Feir and myself.

100 ARRANGEMENTS

It's been a few years since I started noticing shiny, playful Confetti System installations here and there, but their current display at MoMA PS1 is the largest I've seen to date.

Confetti System is made up of Nicholas Andersen and Julie Ho, and the duo's work encompasses art, design, and styling.  The result is beautiful work that can be seen as backdrops, installations, or as stand-alone works of art.

100 Arrangements, on view at PS1, is a conglomeration of many Confetti System elements, which can be altered by height so that the installation takes on many different forms.

Jacket: Yves Saint Laurent

Necklace: Citrine by the Stones (similar here)

Skirt: thrifted, vintage

Sweater: thrifted, vintage

Tights: Topshop

Boots: Miista Val Tex

Scarf: H&M

Clutch: Jasper & Jeera via Anthropologie

100 Arrangements can be seen at PS1 through March 31.

[Photos by @kay_elle_pea]

THE SCREAM

The Scream, by the Norwegian Edvard Munch (1863-1944), is arguably one of the most recognizable images from art history, and the 1895 pastel is on view at the Museum of Modern Art.

 Since the pastel debuted at MOMA, it has become even more of a popular icon, with a steady stream of social media hype as well as a lengthy line to enter the gallery where it hangs.

The dark subject matter, symbolism, and macabre nature of the figures in his work have become ubiquitous with German Expressionism, a movement for which Munch was a forerunner.  The Scream is one of the greatest examples of this style.

In 2012, the 1895 pastel sold at auction for over $119 million, the most expensive work of art ever sold at auction.

At the Museum, it's nearly impossible to catch a glimpse of The Scream through iPhone-wielding arms.  How poignantly our smart phone culture has changed the museum experience, particularly when a cultural icon is in the room.

Blouse: Diane von Furstenberg (similar)

Skirt: Vintage, thrifted

Tights: H&M (similar)

Shoes: Hussein Chalayan

Necklace: Vintage, belonged to my mother

Photos by @kay_elle_pea in the Sculpture Garden of the Museum of Modern Art.

Munch images from moma.org

VOTE

I'm in the Top 10 of Time Out New York's Most Stylish Reader contest!

I could be featured in an upcoming issue, so stop by and give me a vote if you feel so inclined.

MIDDAY

Me, midday, 2012

Anthony Caro, Midday, 1964

People have asked me to describe what my sculpture is about and I keep on saying its like music. What I think I mean by that is that Im trying to take out the whole business of it being pieces of steel that are used in engineering, pieces of steel that are used in architecture. I just happen to use those materials instead of using notes.

--Anthony Caro 

I'm wearing a Cynthia Steffe dress, Lovely People sandals, and a vintage belt.

[Photo of me by MF, Caro photo from thenewsgallery.com.]

CREATIVELY GIFTED

In the spirit of the shopping season, I've put together a collection of (mostly affordable) gift ideas for the artfully minded individual.  I would love to give or receive everything on this page!  

Not pictured is my absolute favorite gift: a museum membership.  Not only does it generally provide the recipient with free admission, discounts, and access to special events, it also supports the institution and its ability to bring art to others.

Happy shopping!

Knitta Artist Series Hand-wrapped Sunglasses, $130

Staedtler Triplus Fineliner, $21

ABEX Crayon Set, $16

Art Memo Game, $19

Watercolor Tyvek Mighty Wallet, $15

New Media Art, $10

Bond No.9 Parfum, $195

Basquiat (Basic Art), $10 

Hokusai Great Wave Scarf, $60

Moleskine Passions Style Journal, $19.95

Lukas Designer's Gouache Set, $14.40

Nick Cave Punching Bag, $70

Unicorn Tapestry Tie, $50

STILL LIFE

I've never characterized my style as "edgy". However, once in a while, I feel the need to channel bad girl Sandy from the end of Grease. It's pretty empowering to wear heels that cut and shiny pants after a week or so of bright vintage frocks and boyfriend jeans. [Click images to enlarge.]

I found this blouse at the Zachary's Smile attic sale, and immediately noticed the print's resemblance to Abstract Expressionist Clyfford Still's paintings.

With the Abstract Expressionist New York exhibition on view at the MoMA, many new discussions have opened up about the movement.

I thought this article about Clyfford Still's conflicting relationship with the MoMA was particularly entertaining.

These paintings have always been a bit eerie to me, like the paint is slowly creeping around the canvas, and could change at a moment's notice.

I think this blouse definitely captures the creepy feeling, too!

This blouse complements the slick pants pretty well, but I think I'm going to try them with a white eyelet tunic next time for even more contrast.

The metal heels on these shoes are intense--at 6 inches, they are pretty dangerous. No ankles were harmed in the making of these photos.

I'm wearing a vintage blouse, H&M leather pants, and Ruthie Davis platforms.

[Clyfford Still images from abstract-art.com, thearthistoryblog.com, artnet.com, and thearthistoryblog.com, respectively.]