Spectacular Vernacular

remaginary - \rē-ˈma-jə-ˌner-ē\ adj.
derived either from reality or from fantasy - the actuality of which is both unclear and unknown; ambivalent & confusing.

Sweet Talk

"She refused to believe that things could be the same in different places; and since what had gone before was so bad, what was to come must certainly be better." --Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary.

Though it may seem escapist of her, Madame's motto actually holds truth: our setting, just as that in a novel, affects everything about our plot. perhaps i notice this more because i'm experiencing it now, having just relocated from the UES to Chelsea. already i feel more like myself, surrounded by the artistic culture i identify with; that aside, i'm uncertain why i have this conviction that life in my new locale will be > life in the old.

Maybe the goal is control: by playing "author" we can write a new story by solely redecorating, without having to change ourselves. but are we merely changing our image, the idea, of who we are? Madame Bovary imagines herself dancing whimsically at Parisian masquerade balls, all the while resenting her life in the suburbs; a homemaker is not who she is, but rather what her environment has forced her to become. to change she must run for freedom.

So with this ideal in mind, I've painted myself a setting of glamour, sparkles, and love, hoping this new palace amongst my fellow creatives will accelerate my success. Could Chelsea be my Paris? i suppose it is now that the true test begins.

Madison Avenue

The main thing I miss about living on the UES is my walk home (from work) down Madison Ave. the shops are brilliant & i loved experiencing the closest thing to CLASSIC nyc - something posh & refined - the city Anne Wells fled to in Valley of the Dolls. At 50th street I would always pass by Eden Fine Art Gallery (http://www.eden-gallery.com/). Naturally, as an artist attracted to beautiful works (and look for future places to show of course!), I couldn't help but stop in.

It was there I discovered artist Natan Elkanovich - the painter of the first two originals I plan to own. Upon conducting some research, i also discovered that Elkanovich and I are akin- the artist studied fashion design and worked as a costume designer before moving to painting. His scenes highlighting the glamour of celebrity, a series he titles "my icons," illustrate the beauty of the fusion of the art & fashion worlds. we share some of the same icons, as well: mozart, madonna, sophia loren, marilyn monroe, andy warhol, etc. But what differentiates these works from other celeb paraphernalia in the market is the textural style in which Elkanovich works; he uses a unique technique, creating depth/space & light with conglomerations of raised dots & star-like shapes. The beauty is not based on the subject- but more so how he has chosen to portray his well-known figures.

Unfortunately, the two pieces i SO desire seem to no longer be available. thus, if you are reading this post, Natan, please note that my walls will be forever lonely sans the beautiful Marilyn & James Dean works above.

My Latest Muse

i must have been too busy emulating Cindy Crawford as a child (i heart cindy) to notice another 90's super who has become my new muse - Eva Herzigova. she exudes glamour in a classic hollywood manner (like Liz Taylor - another favorite) & her combination of girlish femininity, dangerous sensuality, and poised sophistication makes her the perfect woman to represent my line -- or at least wear it. perhaps she'll be available for work in 2010??

For the Love of Mr. Wright

While perusing the Guggenheim's list of upcoming/present exhibitions, i came upon this little gem:

An entire exhibit dedicated to the man responsible for my love of architecture - as i had the fortune of viewing his Taliesin West (shown above!) on an elementary school field trip - Mr. Frank Lloyd Wright. Is his work not divine? http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/exhibitions/on-view-now/frank-lloyd-wright

VIVA HAUTE COUTURE!

i, alike Amy Fine Collins in this month's Vanity Fair, have faith in the future of couture:

http://www.vanityfair.com/style/features/2009/09/couture200909

I would love to join the ranks:

"Just two Americans have ever been classified as haute couturiers—Mainbocher (retired 1971) and Ralph Rucci, who was accepted as a guest member in 2002. (After five years and 10 collections, a guest may advance to full membership.) "

which means I will at some point be living in Paris :)

"an haute couturier is a designer who presides over the creation of hand-finished made-to-order clothing, in a “laboratory” that employs at least 20 workers in Paris"

furbelow

Nina Ricci, Fall 2009 RTW

my trustee lexicon builder, http://www.dictionary.com/, has recognized my dedication (perhaps?) and has selected a fashion-related word-of-the-day in my honor:

furbelow
\FUR-buh-low\ , noun:
1. A pleated or gathered flounce on a woman's garment; a ruffle.
2. Something showy or superfluous; a bit of showy ornamentation.

filing cabinet

upon moving (and being forced to sort through the myriad of things I've collected over the years), I discovered that all of my thoughts -- the "research" i do: the articles i've clipped - the literature I've underlined - the images archived - the quotes i've memorized - the sketches i've realized - the melodies on repeat - (basically all inspirations compiled) -- though out in the open, have not been fully utilized. thus, in an attempt to organize my musings in a visual manner, i've decided to create this blog - tracking my works (designs, paintings, drawings, etc.) & reflections from the flash moment of conception through the final stages of development. consider this filing cabinet of boundless notions an introduction to the beauty of structured chaos -- a glimpse into my mind.