TBT: Garçon à la pipe

I was searching through the Artfully Awear archives, and I found this gem from 2011.  Picasso's Rose Period has always been my favorite (particularly the harlequins), so one afternoon I made a flower crown, borrowed a wooden pipe from my dad, and posed as one of the most expensive paintings ever sold at auction.  See my original post here. #tbt

PAWEL ALTHAMER: The Neighbors

Lured by a tweet from the New Museum, promising me that I could paint on their walls, I donned my work-in-progress doodle dress and descended upon the Fourth Floor gallery for Pawel Althamer's Draftsmen's Congress.  Initially a blank, white space, the room invites museum-goers to make their mark with provided supplies including paint, pastels, paper, and pencils.  It was almost more fun to walk around the room (and explore the teepee!) inspecting others' graffiti, but, of course, we had to make our own masterpiece as well.  I always consider it a good day when a museum guard signs my dress.

With a focus on collaboration and social & political networks, Polish artist Althamer's work allows him to occupy various roles: teacher, organizer, activist.  As a part of the exhibition (which also includes the haunting Venetians), Althamer arranged for a street band to play within the museum, and has also coordinated a coat drive through the Bowery Mission.  I highly recommend bringing everyone you know to this show, which encompasses beauty, interaction, politics, and social commentary in an engaging and edifying experience.

Dress: DIY (signed by some of my favorite graffiti writers and friends)  See the last time I wore it, at 5 Pointz.

Tights: Uniqlo

Blouse & Boots: Joe Fresh

Scarf: Vintage / handmade

Pawel Althamer: The Neighbors is on view at the New Museum on the Bowery in NYC through 4/13.

Photos of me by Maureen Nacy; other photos by me.

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER

"I think the way people dress today is a form of artistic expression… Art lies in the way the whole outfit is put together.  Take Jean Paul Gaultier.  What he does is really art." --Andy Warhol, 1984

Today is your last chance to see The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk at the Brooklyn Museum.  It was one of the best fashion exhibitions I have ever seen, from the interactive mannequins to the gorgeous array of avant garde and ready-to-wear designs spanning Gaultier's illustrious career.  Did you have a chance to see the exhibition?  What did you think?

Dress: Jean Paul Gaultier

Boots: Dr. Martens

Necklace: Vintage

See my other Gaultier posts here and here.

Photo of me by Kathy Paciello; other photos by me.

OH LA LA

Olek, Oh La La, 2013

Happy Valentine's Day from Artfully Awear!  

Wouldn't you love to receive a hand-crocheted Valentine like this crocheted Olek piece?  I hope your day is filled with love.

Olek image via Artsy.net.

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.

ARTFULLY AWEAR X WAVERLY WORKSHOP

I'm extremely excited to share photos from the first ever Artfully Awear workshop!  A Saturday class through the Waverly program, this particular session was geared toward girls ages 9 - 11, and was hosted by the boutique Torly Kid.  We had a fantastic afternoon learning about inspiration and making our own masterpieces!  If you're interested in attending or hosting an Artfully Awear workshop, email artfullyawear@gmail.com.

Thank you to our wonderfully creative inaugural group of budding artists & designers, to Molly Wills, director of Waverly, and to Torly Kid for providing a space!

We started off by talking about inspiration and our favorite colors.  Each girl got to choose an accessory in her favorite hue and don it in a creative way throughout the class.

To get warmed up, the girls were given blank fashion design templates and asked to draw an outfit inspired by a work of art that we discussed. 

Their creations were completely fabulous, and clearly captured the artistic inspiration!

Waverly program founder Molly Wills models my pom pom jacket, used as inspiration for the big project.

After discussing the artwork that inspired my pom pom jacket, the girls got to work, adorning a purse, a hat, a dress, and sunglasses with colorful pom poms in striking patterns.

After the collection was complete, they posed for photos with their masterpieces!

The pom pom jacket finds another enthusiastic wearer.

They were so proud of their creations, and we had so much fun with this photo shoot! 

All in all,  I was so impressed by the girls' willingness to listen and learn, and they taught me so much more about inspiration and helped me to see things in new ways.  I look forward to the next Artfully Awear workshop!

Photos by Kathy Paciello and myself.