Summer Dress and the work of Xi Zhang 

I don't know for how much longer we will get to enjoy summer, so here's a special post to celebrate summer dresses. This one is comfortable and the animal print gives it a little edge, which I like. Love wearing hats. 

Spending a delightful weekend morning at an arts festival. 

Sunglasses-Dolce & Gabanna, dress-Moda International, handbag-Fendi, sandals-Nicole, straw hat 

And now how about some art...

Xi Zhang

Wood, 2007, acrylic on canvas

Xi Zhang explores issues of identity in expressionistic paintings that are unsettling and mysterious. Fragmented faces with enigmatic stares are combined with blankets of decorative detailing made out of Chinese characters, reflecting the artist's cultural heritage. 

Forest, 2007, acrylic on canvas

Xi Zhang moved to the United States at age nineteen from China and attended the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design and the University of Colorado at Boulder. He has received many well deserved accolades including being voted one of  "12 Best Colorado Artists Under 35" by the Denver Post and most recently the artist was selected by the committee for Platform 5280, Denver's Biennial of the Americas, to be the official Denver participant and representative URRA, an Argentine artist residency program.

The Silence of Nosy, 2007, acrylic on canvas

 

He represents the "collective experience" as a homogenous zombie-like multitude that appears to be in a trance. Are there political connotations? What are they looking at? Are they suffering? The artist states, "Every person I paint is the same person, the one true person. By covering the faces of all the figures, clothing them similarly and masking out their hair, I hope to isolate human energy and reveal the essence of collected experience."

“AS01E03”, 2012, acrylic on golden leaf

While not as dramatic,  I am particularly fond of a series of small paintings inspired by 14th-century Chinese works. Old and new, East and West, come together in cleverly represented vignettes. Zhang pushes this juxtaposition of imagery and ideas further by adding racial elements, such as the dark-skinned woman posing coquettishly for the phone camera. 

“AS01E04”, 2012, acrylic on wood-panel

“AS01E02”, 2012, acrylic on linen

Xi Zhang comments on contemporary society's addiction to technology in works such as the artist's homage to Chinese erotic paintings with pixelated areas covering the nude bodies, as well as his scrolls of Angry Birds and "graffiti calligraphy". "I'm always trying to find an original and different voice," he said. "Because right now I'm in the United States and I'm looking back at this (Chinese) art, I feel it is so refreshing, maybe because of the distance."

“Angry Birds II & Califfiti II”, 2012, acrylic on traditional Chinese scroll

Xi Zhang is undoubtedly one of the most promising Chinese artists I have seen in the last ten years. With the continuing boom of Chinese contemporary art his timing could not be better. Denverite friends, Xi Zhang's work can currently be seen at Plus Gallery, so make sure you stop by.

Until next time fashionistas and art lovers! 

For more on Xi Zhang: 

http://xizhang.org/home.html

Visit Plus Gallery at 2501 Larimer Street in Denver:

http://www.plusgallery.com/

Polka Dot Summer & the women of Garry Winongrand

Greetings, everyone!! It has been a while, I know, yet I have good reasons - job demands, graduations, summer schedules, life, and other things. I will be better, I promise. 

To celebrate summer, a playful green vintage polka-dot blouse with skinny jeans and T-strap shoes. Accessorized with a beaded belt, classic pearls and my Dolce & Gabanna sunglasses and I am ready for a relaxed casual Friday at the office.  

THE WOMEN OF GARRY WINONGRAND

And now for my art nugget of the post...On a Sunday afternoon, I went to the Denver Art Museum to see an exhibition of photographs by Garry Winogrand, selected from a famous series of  portraits of women originally published in 1975. Using a 35mm Leica camera, Winogrand captured not just a group of self-assured and stylish women, but through his works we are transported into a long gone era.

Laughing Woman with Ice Cream Cone 

At first, the images do not appear especially striking I have to admit, yet as I studied the women's carefree expressions...

Woman Riding Bicycle

...a subtle flirtation with the photographer, 

Woman with String

...or a self-confident woman with a unique sense of style, I could not help but start imagining stories, their stories.

Woman with Teardrop Earring

The easy glamour of the time

Histrionics on Bench

    No stilettos!!? Everyone sits relaxed in summer dresses and flat shoes. Style and comfort.

Woman with Arms Crossed

Women Carrying Bags

Monochromatic ensemble of shorts, long sleeve shirt and necklace. Absolutely casual with elegant simplicity.



Surely, we can't help but to be intrigued by the subtlety with which Winogrand captured these images, the great contrasts he finds of light and dark, the highlited characters and angles of their body movements, the busy streets and quiet moments. 


If you are in Denver, pay the museum a visit to view Garry Winongrand: Women Are Beautiful, open through September 30, 2012. For more information, visit http://www.denverartmuseum.org/exhibitions/garry-winogrand-women-are-beautiful

Until next time fashionistas and art lovers! 


All images courtesy of the Denver Art Museum.

Yves Saint Laurent only in Denver

Last year, after being sworn to secrecy, I heard from a trusted source that a retrospective of master designer Yves Saint Laurent (1936-2008) was coming to Denver. My first reaction was desbelief, which quickly turned into excitement. The Denver Art Museum is the only venue in the United States to show Yves Saint Laurent: The Retrospective featuring 200 haute couture pieces chronicling 40 years of fashion design genious. 

The Denver Art Museum is one of only a few art museums presenting exhibitions such as this one, and by doing so acknowledging that fashion is a true artform. Balenciaga and McQueen were featured last year in art museums and the response was phenomenal. This retrospective is an unprecedented affair that undoubtedly will bring great attention to our city.

The time has come...last Wednesday night  in a swanky ticket-release soiree at Residence XXV of the Ritz-Carlton Denver, fashionistas and art lovers celebrated the upcoming show. Delicious hors'doeuvres, wine, champagne and signature cocktails were enjoyed by a stylish crowd. 

Denver Art Museum's Director Christoph Heinrich is the man responsible for bringing YSL to Denver. Since appointed director in late 2009, Heinrich has brought a unique and fresh approach to the museum's programming and curatorial projects. 

Michelle Heacock-Webster and Nicole Hansen represented Neiman Marcus.

With renowned fashion illustrator Jim Howard and fabulous Ashley Pritchard, Denver Art Museum's Communications Associate. Jim got my vote for most dapper gentleman of the evening. I am wearing a dress by Puertorican modiste Nidia Joy.

"Our beautiful Hamilton Building is a perfect spot to display gowns and dresses that are themselves works of art.", said Heinrich to guests. I couldn't agree more.

Chatting about Colorado's upscale MAX stores with Jayne Buck, VP of Tourism, VISIT Denver-Convention & Visitors Bureau, Mr. Max Martinez himself, and graphic designer and dear friend Kristi King, whom I consider one of the most stylish women in the city. I've been a fan of Max for years. In business since the 1980s, Max has been called a "charitable force" in Denver. Got to love a man with style and a big heart. 


Kristi with public relations gals from Karsh\Hagan agency Linds Johnson and Anne-Marie Salcito.

Elegant simplicity was the evening choice for Allyson Fredeen, Senior Marketing & Public Relations Coordinator for Ritz-Carlton Denver and Dana Lauren Berry, Director of Public Relations for Four Seasons Resort Vail. 

PEEK INTO

YVES SAINT LAURENT: THE RETROSPECTIVE

In addition to 200 haute couture outfits, the exhibition will include photographs, drawings and films to trace Saint Laurent's career from his first days at Dior in 1958 to his final runway collection in 2002.

I am especially looking forward to...





Yves Saint Laurent, Tuxedo with pants, haute couture collection, Fall-Winter 1966. Black barathea and satin silk, white organdy blouse. © Foundation Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent, Paris / Photo A. Guirkinger.



...a wall of more than 30 tuxedos. Saint Laurent is credited for the women's tuxedo, or Le Smoking (the French term for tuxedo), the trenchcoat, safari jacket, trouser suit and the iconic dress inspired by the color grid paintings by Dutch artist Piet Mondrian (1872-1944).

Yves Saint Laurent, Short cocktail dress, tribute to Piet Mondrian, haute couture collection, Fall-Winter 1965. Ecru wool jersey, encrusted with black, red, yellow and blue. © Fondation Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent, Paris / Photo A. Guirkinger

Piet Mondrian, Composition II in Red, Blue and Yellow, 1930

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mondrian_Composition_II_in_Red,_Blue,_and_Yellow.jpg

...Saint Laurent's homage to French artist Henri Matisse (1869-1954)

Yves Saint Laurent, Long evening dress, inspired by Henri Matisse, haute couture collection, Fall-Winter 1980. Black velvet and moiré faille, multicolored satin appliqué leaves. © Fondation Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent, Paris / Photo A. Guirkinger.

Henri Matisse, Snow Flowers, 1951

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1999.363.46

...exotic and ornate works inspired by Chinese, Russian and Indian cultures

Yves Saint Laurent, Long evening ensemble, haute couture collection, Fall-Winter 1976. Emerald and sable velvet bolero; peacock blue-and-gold chiffon; Prussian blue Ottoman skirt. © Fondation Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent, Paris / Photo A. Guirkinger.

...and the gown I wish I could wear to the biggest party in town this March.  Any dressmakers out there brave enough to make it for me?

Yves Saint Laurent, Long evening dress, Rive Gauche collection, Fall-Winter 1991. Draped gold lamé. © Fondation Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent, Paris / Photo A. Guirkinger.

Yves Saint Laurent: The Retrospective is not to be missed. It will be on view March 25 through July 8, 2012. Presented by the Denver Art Museum and Fondation Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent. 

Here's Denver Post's columnist Joanne Davidson and her coverage of the evening. I am honored to be included.

Read more: Davidson: Yves Saint Laurent retrospective stirs up advance excitement - The Denver Post  http://www.denverpost.com/entertainment/ci_19778499

Until next time art lovers and fashionistas!

Winter sparkle and fab jewelry by Wendy Gell

Happy Holidays everyone! First and foremost my apologies for being away for so long. I have a new job that required that I hit the ground running and yep, I have been sprinting. I love it though! I have however, missed my blog, so I'll try to make it up to you with some merry winter sparkle and fabulous hand candy.

 

Who says you can't wear sequins to work? It's all about balance...like the mullet, serious in front, party in the back. Pick one clothing item with sparkle and the rest keep simple. 

I am wearing this fun Twelve by Twelve sweater with a vintage black leather skirt (I consider it a basic neutral work piece), my favorite Priorities black blazer, ME TOO booties and a belt. At the office Christmas party, I just took the blazer off, touched-up my lipstick and voila! party time.

The shoes, which I have been wearing like crazy this winter are super comfortable booties that are classy with an edge (found them at Nordstrom Rack) and the leather and suede purse is Paloma Picasso and I've had it for about 15 years.

Now, the ring, isn't it fahhhbulous? I found it in a small bead shop in the charming town of Ashland, Oregon. Which takes me to the work by talented artist Wendy Gell.

FAB JEWELRY BY WENDY GELL

Wendy Gell is best-known for her lavish costume jewelry, particularly her "wristy" (a heavily ornamented cuff bracelet) and extravagant rings. Celebrities, movie stars and supermodels like Madonna, Jerry Hall, Isabella Rosselini, Brooke Shields, and many others have been fans of Gell's pieces. Gell and her jewelry have been featured on the Oprah Show, as well as numerous magazine covers, including Vogue and Vanity Fair.




 Gorgeous woman Isabella Rosselini wears one of Gell's striking cuffs.





In the 1970's-1980's Wendy was president and designer of Wendy Gell Jewelry, Inc,. an international fashion and costume jewelry business based in New York City and Key West. She now lives in Oregon and her intricate and whimsical pieces have become collectibles available at Wendy's website wendygell.com and galleries across the country.




 


Wood Wing Wristy, Balinesian wood carved wing

 Gell creates whimsical, rich and extravagant wearable sculptures using brightly colored Swarovski Austrian crystals, rhinestones, small antique objects and toys, jewels, fabric, religious artifacts and more. 



The Lady of the Lake cuff traveled around the world for four years as part of a museum exhibit titled Jewels of Fantasy, sponsored by Swarovsky.

Twin Cherubs Wristy

The Mushroom and Dancing Zebra Cuff has my mushroom ring!



Little Mermaid Ariel Cuff



Gell created Disney characters, Wizard of Oz jewelry, and masks from The Phantom of the Opera. Her jewelry can  be found in the private collections of Elton John (designed sunglasses for him), Hillary Clinton, and the late Elizabeth Taylor, Andy Warhol and Princess Diana.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas with lots of sparkles and merry wishes. Until next time art lovers and fashionistas!

All Wendy Gell images from

 

http://wendygell.com/