Tattoo Art

Such a controversial topic. The answer will vary depending on who you speak to, but can tattoos really be called "art"?

Tattoos are so common and everyone these days seems to have one.  There are so many tv shows about ink that every college kid feels compelled to get one on a drunken night feeling it's some sort of badge of honor. And everyone thinks their tattoos are works of art.

But are they? Butterflies, dragons, mother's faces, flowers, angel wings, Chinese words, script words and anything Japanese.  Standard and pedestrian images.  I feel very few (very few) people can pull it off and truly look cool.  Unless you are Kid Rock, a bad-ass Harley dude or a big Tahitian guy...it's pretty much all the same to me.

Everyone has their own choice and I don't mind that people have tattoos. I don't want my skin used as a canvas.  My taste change too much and I can't commit.   But the question simply is ... can tattoos really be considered "art"?

What is your opinion?

Reserva de la Familia Boxes

Are you a tequila drinker?  Or an art aficionado?  

In 1995, the infamous, world leading producer of tequila Jose Cuervo hired Mexican print maker and artist Joel Rendon to design a special box for their 200 year anniversary celebration. Each box contained a special edition "Reserva de la Familia" tequila and was numbered and sealed with wax. The boxes were so popular that Jose Cuervo continued the tradition of commissioning a new artist each year to design a unique box for this special 30-year-aged tequila.

During my years of living in Mexico I have become fascinated with the artist selected each year and I always look forward to the gorgeous design released each December. One of my favorite Mexican artists Pedro Friedeberg, has designed a few boxes as has Emiliano Gironella Parra.  

My husband started collecting them and his boxes take center stage in our library and are displayed prominently. The beauty of the boxes, the vivid colors and exotic themes make them so uniquely Mexican in flavor, but of course, they are empty since all traces of the golden drops have long been enjoyed.

Congratulations to Jose Cuervo for promoting art in such a luxurious way. A fabulous combination or art and marketing!

http://emilianogironella.com

http://www.pedrofriedeberg.com

Gun Art

Guns are on the news.  Guns are being talked about. But take a step back and look at them not as weapons but as art.

Lots of artist including Andy Warhol have used guns for inspiration.  And some say, it's not the gun, it's the person using the gun. And what about the gun designers?  Do they get any credit for the design and style of their machines? 

It's all up for debate.  So break out a bottle and ask your friends what they think about guns.  You will be surprised at the variation of opinions.

Kelley James

Music is inspiring and good for the heart.  It's a generational art that unites people. Everyone likes sound and connects emotionally over music.

This weekend I attended a fantastic beach concert with a young up and coming artist named Kelley James.  He was so amazing and his music was so fun that he got people from all ages to get up sing along and even dance.   He did several free form on the spot songs that we to die for hilarious and he owned the entire crowd. His sound is very Jack Johnson cool.  But his lirycs are a bit more relaxed.

So if you are looking for a fab new summer sound, he is my pick.  And Kelley - thanks for the fun time!

Enjoy!

www.kelleyjames.com

 

Recycled Gun Art

The future of guns in America is up for debate and we all have opinions on what should or should not be done for gun control.

Throughout the world, post war third world countries have started programs to recycle old weapons into art and furniture.  There are so many guns out there and getting them out of the hands of children and rebels is important.

After more than 30 years of civil war, the Cambodian government began systematically destroying 125,000 weapons that were spread across the country. An arms specialist acknowledged the potential of the material, and created the Peace Art Project Cambodia in 2003, which turns art into sculptural furniture.  On one of my trips to Cambodia, I saw "Elements", the art exhibit in which these old guns were used to create sculpture and art.  You don't realize how heavy a gun is until you try and move or pick up one of these pieces.

What's is your stand on guns?

Dennis Wentworth Porter

Fab artist Dennis Wentworth Porter is on my mind today.

I have known Dennis for over 12 years and I have commissioned and used his artwork in many of my client's homes.  The bright colors, the soft brushstrokes, the lively subject matters make his paintings truly beautiful. They add a serene feeling to any room. He combines traditional scenes with contemporary colors to create lush artwork that speaks to most people. 

Dennis has been painting for over 35 years and he currently lives half of the year in Cabo,Mexico and half of the year in Oregon. 

http://www.denniswentworthporter.net

Desmond Mason

The guy is cool!

Desmond Mason played basketball for Oklahoma State University before spending 10 years in the NBA playing for Seattle, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Oklahoma City and Sacramento.  But that part of his life is not what I am interested in. I am more interested in his second career. Now that Desmond has retired, he has once again started painting - very successfully.

I first met Desmond a few years ago when he did a charity event and auctioned off some of his work. I instantly became a fan and have been following his work. Now I am happy to be working with him on a commission piece for an interior design client.  His work is modern, abstract, colorful and vivid. And he uses lots of texture and thickness in his paints to make the canvas look touchable.

Can't wait to see his work in my project! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGJXv39Fkc8

Fernando Botero

Love or hate his art, you will have an opinion on Fernando Botero's work.

Born in Medellin, Colombia, the world famous painter & sculptor has made a name for himself throughout the world painting and sculpting "fat" creatures. He was inspired by Pre-Columbian and Spanish Colonial art and the political murals of Mexican artist Diego Rivera. Also influential were the works of Francisco de Goya and Diego Velázquez.

In 1973, Botero moved to Paris, where he began creating sculptures. His bronze works extended the familiar themes of his painting of  his bloated subjects. By the 1990's, his large scale outdoor exhibitions of  bronze figures were staged around the world to great success. I was able to see one of the shows in Beverly Hills several years ago and it was amazing!

Botero's work has sold in Sotheby's, and around the world and he considered one of the most important Latin American artist of our time.  In 2005, he unveiled his "Abu Ghraib" series, based on reports of American military forces abusing prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison during the Iraq War. He continues to paint and live in France and Italy with his second wife.

http://fernandobotero.com

Mogashan Road

I'm in Shanghai, China today and each time I visit this growing city, I stop and vist the art galleries on Moshagan Road.

I remember the first time I visited this art district 9 years ago. It was just starting and very few artist studios and galleries were there. But with each visit I see growth and today it's a real artist collective work area for buyers as well as artist. There is everything from traditional art, to modern art and sculpture.  Some studios are wonderful and inspiring and others are experimental. It has a bit of a raw feeling since these are loft style warehouse spaces in an old industrial area.  But it has a beat and has a vibe and it's a great way to spend an afternoon.

The Shanghai art community still has a long way to go before it can be at the same standard of most international cities.  But with Mogashan Road,  local art has a home.  Shanghai potentially has a world-class arts scene in the making and I can't wait to come back and see it again next year.

The Shopping Bag

So much drama can be seen in the simplicity of a shopping bag.

A  shopping bag helps create the excitement and brand recognition of a product. We all instantly recognize the orange "Hermes", ruby red and gold "Cartier", black "Barneys" or striped "Henry Bendel" bags.  They are iconic.  And so famous is the robin's egg blue "Tiffany" bag that the color has been dubbed Tiffany blue. 

A luxury paper bag is so important because it leaves the store, goes home with the buyer and makes it's way on to the steets and is viewed by others. It is the ultimate advertising and it is a step that luxury retailers can not afford to miss.  Much time effort and money is put into the creation of these brands and "the shopping bag"  is the final touch. Teams of genius graphic designers work on these small pieces of marketing art to get your attention and peak your interest.

What's your favorite luxury shopping bag design?

 

Peter Lane

I'm currently obsessed with the work of contemporary NY ceramic artist Peter Lane.

Peter is a creative and ingenious artist who bakes large scale ceramic murals and sculptures that are so unique and so fantastic.  His work is textural and three dimensional and the metallic finishes he applies to the ceramics are unforgettable and inviting to the touch.  So much is mass produced today that when you see and touch a unique creation it is meaningful.

While in NY last week, I took time out from a snow storm, and popped in to Peter's studio to say hello.  His space was part mechanics garage and part ceramic studio.  Tools and motorcycles lined the front section as you walked passed them into a huge loft space willed with unique samples and test pieces.  He has a wall with a completed mural and he had several new works baking in his kiln. My favorite piece that day was his huge 6 foot ceramic Dior "J'adore" perfume bottle.   

The only way to find him or see his work is via the NY, LA and Paris art galleries that represent him. Peter has a philosophy of no social media that  keeps him focused with his eye on the ceramic ball. 

www.graygallery.com

 

Zillij - Moroccan Tile Art

Moroccan tile is amazing!

Islam is central in the lives of Moroccans and it forbids art depicting human images. So they developed the tile art of Zillij, which is one of the highest art forms in Morocco. It consist of cutting clay tiles into geometric pieces - each piece has a name - and assembling them into complex geometric patterns that have been learned through apprenticeships for centuries. The Zillij mosaics have been of great interest to mathematicians because of their geometric complexity

These astonishing patterns of tile are used on all forms of architecture from exterior wall, interior walls, water fountains, floors and pools. They bring light and color and a very unique feel. It is a central part of the Moroccan culture and its religious identity.

But you don't have to travel to Fez or Marrakesh to buy these beautiful tiles.  Here at home you can purchase them through design showrooms who custom color and help create the same perfection for your home.

http://walkerzanger.com/

Custom Painted Wallpapers

Custom hand painted wallpapers have always been a staple of elegant, traditional design.  

There is no better way to achieve the old Palm Beach or Manhattan 5th Ave. feel than by custom coloring a painted scenic mural on wall paper. It is both beautiful and sophisticated. Florals, birds, palm trees, Asian temples, Chinoiserie and beach scenes are all traditional themes used in the intricate traditional wall papers that create the exotic backdrop to fabulous dining rooms, master bedrooms and powder baths.

But creating these beautiful, bespoke works of art requires time and money. You can choose from a paper, silk or other fabric background. Metallic finishes  or lacquered finishes and antique techniques are all options to enhance your design.  Either way, you'll end up with an elegant, polished product.

http://graciestudio.com/pages/wallpaper/chinese-scenics.html

http://www.starkwallcovering.com/scenicMural/?wallcovering

The Art of Cloisonne

The art of Cloisonné was very popular (and expensive) a couple of decades ago, but it is currently out of vogue in today's interiors.

Cloisonné is the Asian art of decorating metal with vitreous enamel.  The ancient art used cut gemstones.  The artist first makes the design and outlines it in gold or silver wire strips to create compartments.  Then the compartments are filled with colored enamels and kiln fired. Today's inexpensive pieces are made out of copper instead of gold and are not as detailed as past pieces.

If you like Cloisonné, only use one or two pieces in a room sparingly.  Too much of it will date a room and make it feel old.  Put the pieces higher up in a bookcase or built in rather than at eye level rather than at eye level, center stage of your coffee table. Cloisonné is hard to place in today's homes, but if you have a vase, you can freshen it up by french mounting it and converting it to a lamp. 

The antique and really good stuff can be purchased at absolute steals in auctions and estate sales these days.  So hold on to your grandma's old pieces. Give it another decade and they will be right back in.  

Jamali

A few years ago I bought 2 lovely pieces of art for my home from Orlando resident artist Jamali. 

Jamali has created a large body of work in his 25 years. He paints in traditional oil on canvas but is best known for his textural technique of using pigments on cork.  He feels his art is mystical in nature and that he is inspired by God. He is considered a contemporary shaman artist and call his work Mystical Abstract Expressionism The artist was raised in the foothills of the Himalayas near the Khyber Pass. The son of prominent physicians, Jamali was sent to a British military academy, before moving to the US. 

Today his art is sold at JAM "Jamali Art Museum" in Orlando.

http://jamaliartmuseum.com

Super Sand Sculptures

When I was little I use to love to sit on the beach and make sand castles.  I spent hours in the sun and built little moats and bridges with my buckets and shovels.

Today I worry about wrinkles and I stay out of the sun.  But I still love the creative energy it takes to be a sand architect and to be able to have the patience to sculpt on the beach.  It's such a temporary art that will wash away or blow away or be destroyed by a manic kid.  Yet people still make them in an effort to express themselvs.  All that is requiered is patience and creativity.

The next time you go to beach dont forget to pack your buckets and shovels.

Diego Rivera

Diego Maria de la Concepcion Juan Nepomuceno Estanislao de la Rivera Barrientos Acosta y Rodrigues   a.k.a. Diego Rivera, is one of my favorite Mexican artist.

Diego started painting on the walls of his home when he was three.  Instead of punishing him, his parents installed chalk boards in his room and one of the worlds greatest muralist was born.  Diego painted on canvas and most of his work hangs on the walls of famous museums today.  But his best work are the large scale murals he painted in Detroit, San Francisco, New York and through out  Mexico City.

But no matter his legendary talent, Diego Rivera is mostly remembered for his tumultuos love affair with his 3rd younger wife Frida Kahlo.  They painted, socialized, drank, traveled the world and were married for 10 years before separating due to infidelity. Frida has forgiven many of Diego's indiscressions but his affair with her sister caused them to divorce.  They reconciled, remarried and lived together until her death.  

His work always amazes me. Their love affair fascinates me.

Dale Chihuly Glass

Dale Chihuli is unquestionably the most famous glass blower and glass artist in the United States.

Born in Tacoma, Washington, he studied at the University of Wisconsin and the Rhode Island School of Design and he taught glass art for over a decade before branching out on his own.  He went to work at the Venini glass factory in Venice where he observed their approach to blowing glass, which influenced the way he works today.

In 1976 Chihuly was in England and was  involved in a head-on car accident which left him blind in his left eye.  In 1979 he had a surfing accident that dislocated his left shoulder making him not able to hold a glass blowing pipe.  That is when started designing and hired others to do the physical aspect of the work. "Once I stepped back," said Chuhuly, "I liked the view."  He describes his role now as "more choreographer than dancer, more supervisor than participant, more director than actor."

In 2004, the wildly successful entrepreneur Chihuly estimated sales of his artwork to be $29 million USD.  Today his work can be seen in museums throught the world and installations at hotels such as the Bellagio in Las Vegas.

http://www.chihuly.com

The Shanghai Artist Warehouse District

You can't go to Shanghai and not stop by the new artist warehouse district.  

Ten years ago Moganshan Road was essentially dead, with nothing but a bunch of old 1930's abandoned old factory warehouses.  Then in 2000 legendary Chinese artist Xue Song moved his studio to this area because of the cheap rent and soon other artists and small art galleries followed. Today it's the hottest art gallery area in China and where large scale art and sculture is constantly displayed and exhibited.

I've been through the area several times and it's ever-changing and growing.  My favorite gallery, where I have actually purchased art, is The Art Scene Warehouse.  Don't go there expecting fancy Western style galleries. This is still a very raw area and part of the allure is the edgy creative tangle of spaces.  

Moganshan Road is fun.  I recommend it if you are in Shanghai.

Australian artist Walderman Kolbusz

I met the gorgeous and talented internationally acclaimed, Australian artist Wald Kolbusz a few years ago at the Hong Kong Peninsula Hotel.  We enjoyed several bottles of champagne, millions of laughs and one very late night of chatter.

Wald lives in Pearth, Australia with his partner of over 10 years and beautiful dog.  He paints large scale, brilliant, eye popping abstract art with layers of color that seem to overlap on to each other. I love his color combinations and his current hues and study on color. It's no wonder he has been showered with accolades and awards and continually exhibits throught the world.

Without trying, some people just "are" cool.  Wald and his artwork - just are.

http://www.kolbusz.com.au

BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY

There is  something  so special about black and white photography.  I like using groups and collections of black and whites on long hallway walls.

It's simplicity leaves more to the imagination, and makes the photographs a bit more edgy and artistic, giving you  the opportunity to insert your own imaginary colors and textures. We mistify the old classic black & white shots of silver screen actors and find them intriguing and romantic. 

Ansel Adams, Gregory Colbert, Annie Lebowitz and Robert Maplethorp are just a few of the incredible artist who have created images that have caught my attention and captivated me.

Who is your favorite photog?

 

MODERN BY DESIGN at the High Museum of Art

Now through August 21st the High Museum of Art in Atlanta will exhibit "Modern by Design" an exhibit in collaborated with New York's Modern Museum of Art, displaying highlights from three of their landmark exhibitions.   

The historical shows that previewed at MOMA at different times between 1934 and 1972, include "Machine Art", "Good Design" and "Italy, The New Domestic Landscape" and feature almost 150 pieces from 120 of the most influential artists of their time.  The works shown are all items from the home, ranging from everyday objects like screws, coffee makers and clothes hampers to furniture, textiles and lighting.  There are cool furniture pieces like the Tube Chair by Joe Colombo and innovative lamps by Greta von Nessen.  

Walking through "Modern by Design" will give you a chance to see the evolution of home design.  So if you are in Atlanta, go!  

http://www.high.org/Art/Exhibitions/Modern-By-Design.aspx

 

I love Design Students!

I love design students!  They remind me of the enthusiasm and excitement I shared about art when I was 20 years old living in Boston.

This year, design students from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn,  spent their winter semester collaborating with Ralph Pucci International. Their task was to use only plain white paper to dress the new Pucci Spring 2011 mannequin.  The super intricate and beautiful results could barely be recognized as paper.  It just looked like the mannequins were wearing edgy all white couture pieces. 

At the end they were judged by designers Anna Sui and Vincent Wolf and winners were selected to have their design displayed at a Macy's window display.  

I kind of miss those design school projects that kept me up until 3am! 

 

 

Korean Vogue

I don't often look at  Korean Vogue.  But I saw these lovely soft images by photographer Kim Kyung Soo and fell in love.  I could design a beautiful room around each one of them.  The  cream washed backgrounds and the almost Easter color fabrics make me feel like I could reach out and touch the dresses.  There is an almost traditional feel to the modern styling.

Sometimes photography does become art!   Love these.

http://kimkyungsoo.com

LANA GOMEZ

I love contemporary art and I am a big fan of mixed media artist Lana Gomez.

Lana is a free spirited and  spontaneous artist.  She is best known for her abstract, colorful and large- scale works that  radiate life.  A South Florida native,  she now lives in Los Angeles and has a super cool studio in the  Brewery Artist Colony, and work is available at the Roseark Gallery in West Hollywood.  If you have not heard of her yet, you can see more of her work on her web site.

Nothing brings more life to a room than a great piece of art.

http://lanagomez.com/

 

 

Gregory Colbert images

We see photographs on a daily basis, but few images create the visual mood and serenity that Canadian photographer Gregory Colbert has created.  

Gregory’s images are some of the most beautiful I have ever seen and stopped me in my tracks the first time I saw them. They enveloped me into a mood of serenity that no other photograph has ever done.  But his photos are just the tip of the iceberg.  To truly appreciate the magnitude of his work you must see it in exhibition and understand the scale and the size and the accompanying videos of each piece.   I was fortunate enough to be in Mexico City when his exhibition "Ashes & Snow” was showing and I had a crazy idea ( I have lots of those )  ...  I'm going to hire him!

Why?  Well a few years ago I was in Nepal and bought a newborn baby elephant who I named “Sandra Kali” ( princess Sandra).  I now have the dream of hiring and working with Gregory Colbert to have photos of my elephant and myself in the Chitwan National Park of Nepal.   Although Mr. Colbert's assistant  keeps telling me he is traveling and he has not yet returned my calls, I hope one day my dream will come true. So if you happen to know him, let him know I'm looking for him!

http://www.ashesandsnow.com

Julian Schnabel

Compared to analytical minds, creative minds tend to expand and move around into different arenas.   And Julian Schnabel is no different.    He was first recognized in the 60's for his "plate paintings", large-scale paintings set on broken ceramic plates.  He has done several transformations within the art world  and now included film directing to his repertoire.

Julian has achieved considerable success, but there has been huge controversy regarding both the quality of his art and his aggressive self-promotion.   He has a reputation for making strong comments about his importance to the art world.  He once very publicly said  -"I'm the closest thing to Picasso that you'll see in this fucking life".   He lives in Manhattan and has been known to go out at night wearing pajamas and sunglasses.  He tries so hard to be noticed and to be different that he creates big reactions.  People love him or hate him. His most recent public display was a huge argument he had with his girlfriend at a tv studio about her hair. Apparently the 'do' was a little too curly and  Schnabel aggressively shouted at her “You look like Farrah Fawcett".    And of course I simply ask ... wasn't Farrah one of the most beautiful women ever to live?  What does he have against traditional beauty?

But pushing publicity aside, the true question remains - do you like his art?  Do you like his films? Is all the hype true or created?  

http://thepacegallery.com