Post-NYFW show, Luar’s loyal and excited fans lined up down the block, in the rain (most even without umbrellas!), while waiting patiently to enter the afterparty, and celebrate the brand of the hour-Luar.
Kourtney Kardashian sure did bring her rock n’ roll flare, both clothing and music-wise, for her Boohoo, New York Fashion Week Show!
This is the first time that the notorious Fotografiska New York is showcasing a single-solo artist’s works throughout the whole museum!
On view from September 10, 2022, through February 19, 2023, the exhibition brings together more than 80 of the artist’s creations for stage, spectacles, and street theater, alongside a variety of environments, ephemera, material samples, photography, and video.
The West Chelsea Contemporary gallery in New York City is hosting the first-ever solo exhibition for the artist Blek Le Rat.
West Chelsea Contemporary is the right place for an artist like Blek Le Rat to show for his first solo exhibition in New York because it was in 1971 that the artist (now 40 years into a career) found his seed of inspiration in NYC. “There was an incredible profusion, in the subway, on the walls surrounding basketball courts, graffiti drawn in marker, nestling signatures surmounted by a crown, spray-painted lettering, filled with swirls and colors, everywhere I looked. I was so intrigued by these illuminations I remember asking the inevitable question: “What does all this mean? Why are these people doing this?”
The graffiti I saw in New York remained firmly planted in my memory, though acting out my own graffiti took ten years to hatch.
Studying fine arts and architecture during the 1970s at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, Blek Le Rat always had an academic mind for art. Well-versed in etching, lithography, and screen printing, Blek Le Rat had the skill for mastering art. But thrilled by the risk, unpredictability and beauty of street art, he was drawn to the craft. Armed with a study of architecture at the Architectural Teaching Unit #6, he was well-suited to create work around the urban environment. Together, he began applying the principles of fine art to the street in Paris, becoming the pioneer in the place where even the most progressive thinkers dismissed graffiti as a nuisance.
Years later, some of Blek Le Rat’s questions of meaning have been answered, recognizing the symbolic power of graffiti: “I’m here, get used to it.” Over time, Blek Le Rat took advantage of stencils to make his process more efficient but no less individual or beautifully executed. The result has been hundreds of works, all over the world, often composed of human-scale dancers, musicians, common people, and of course, the rat itself, an ever-changing, reoccurring character in Blek Le Rat’s cast of stencils.
Cited as an inspiration for Banksy (who has been welcomed into the world of fine art), it’s an opportunity for Blek Le Rat to reconstitute his street art in the context of a canvas, serving as yet another turn inward and reconsideration of his classical training. The new prints on view continue reveling in the historical references Blak Le Rat has treasured in his work, featuring figures such as Beethoven, Sibyl, Eros, and a tribute to fellow artist Richard Hambleton, as well as new subjects of interest, often superimposed on rustic backgrounds, just as they might be found in the wilds of the urban space.
West Chelsea Contemporary opened in October 2020 under the direction of Lisa Russell, a tastemaker with a unique appreciation for mediums. Showcasing everything from mid-career and emerging artists to legends like KAWS, Yayoi Kusama, Keith Haring, Mr. Brainwash, Takashi Murakami and more, West Chelsea Contemporary was the logical choice to steward such a show in New York.
Blek Le Rat is on view from August 20-September 25, 2022 at West Chelsea Contemporary, located at 231 10th Ave., NY 10011. Free. Learn more at https://wcc.art/
Last night on a perfect summer night in a very downtown New York City, ST~GERMAIN Elderflower Liqueur in collaboration with multi-hyphenate artist Jameel Mohammed of KHIRY and Paper Designer Zoe Bradley launched the 2nd Annual Fleuriste ST~GERMAIN — a veritable paper “fleuriste” or flower shop en français in response to the global flower shortage.
The multi-sensory paper flower shop sought to reimagine the joie de vivre of fresh florals by bringing their eternal joy to life with paper mediums, and spark collaboration and creativity through inspired conversations, exclusive jazz performances, one-of-a-kind bouquets, and whimsical cocktails.
“It’s been an honor to collaborate with Jameel on Fleuriste ST~GERMAIN,” said Zoe Bradley of Zoe Bradley Design. “Working alongside an artistic peer allowed me to endlessly leverage my imagination and create emotive installations that reintroduced the elation of fresh flowers. I hope guests delight in the pleasure and fantasy of our creations.”
The paper flower shop-cum-craft cocktail bar pop-up in the heart of SoHo buzzed, as an illustrious mix of cultural tastemakers, celebrities, musicians and industry innovators mingled and toasted with artfully crafted St~Germain cocktails inspired by Jameel and Zoe —the ‘Songbird’, ‘Fleur Savage’ and ‘Above the Clouds’.
The intimate soiree previewed the second iteration of the limited-run Fleuriste St~Germain pop-up space, which will be open to New Yorkers from Friday, August 12 (2-8 pm) through Saturday, August 13 (12-8 pm), where they can enjoy exclusive performances by Jameel, spirited dialogues, and paper flower workshops by Zoe along with specialty craft cocktails.
We spotted Actress AnnaSophia Robb, who is set to tie the knot next month, arrived wearing in a stunning yellow Carolina Herrera dress and Mark Cross bag. She chatted with Jameel Mohammed on how her very first cocktail was one whipped up by her mom using a bottle of her favorite elderflower liqueur, St~Germain. Southern Charm star, Venita Aspen, made a surprise appearance, sipping on a ‘Fleur Savage’ St-Germain cocktail as she told fellow guests about her recent move from Charleston to New York just in time for the summer.
Multi-hyphenate artist and Fleuriste St-Germain Creator Jameel Mohammed of KHIRY entranced the crowd with his singing, performing two Ella Fitzgerald songs; ‘Blue Skies’ and ‘I Didn’t Know What Time it Was’.
The evening wrapped with AnnaSophia in the back of house snacking on the leftover hors d’oeuvres, including the miniature tempura rutabagas, and joking that this might be better than the post-event sushi date she had planned with Carrie Diaries alum Stefania LaVie Owen.
Situated between the more suburban hamlet of Bridgehampton and the rugged, cliffy town of Montauk is East Hampton, last in the strand of Hamptons towns. Remarkably, as those places have changed, East Hampton has stood as a rock of resistance, committed to its farm-and-stock legacy- some aspect of high Bohemia in an otherwise summer colony scene.
Vast stands of trees, carpets of moss, tables of ferns, and busts of stray sand contain years of ecological history. The climate offers a calm humidity and the sun is intercepted by ocean mist, providing a glassy warm light making everything in view practically glow. Even to this day, some roads remain unpaved and unkempt in the most organic manner.
All of this in mind and it becomes clear why, in 1975 Jack Lenor Larsen, chose East Hampton to create a microcosm of what he treasured as a world-renowned textile designer. You can watch the PBS “Craft in America: Visionaries” series on Jack Lenor Larsen here. At the 16-acre LongHouse Reserve, there is a deep dive into an organic soul, with every inch of its territory not only preserved, but reconsidered and critically respected. LongHouse Reserve is a remarkable integration of nature, art, and design. Unpredictable, extensive, unlimited in inspiration, its gardens present entire landscapes as an art form.
EAST HAMPTON, NY – JULY 23: Atmosphere at LongHouse Reserve 2022 Summer Benefit at LongHouse Reserve on July 23, 2022 in East Hampton, NY. (Photo by Patrick McMullan/PMC)
While awe-inspiring scenes of stillness can define the experience of Longhouse Reserve, the Reserve tends to be bustling with activity on any given day. Under the leadership of interim director Carrie Rebora Barrat, a former deputy director at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and former president and CEO of the New York Botanical Garden, Longhouse Reserve has become a dynamic place to be, with all sorts of events take place all through the year.
Sound and Silence led by Adrianna Barone at LongHouse Reserve
To this end, Longhouse Reserve has become a meeting place for creative people who appreciate the environment and arts. The events schedule this summer is extremely robust, including a well-received conversation series which has included the likes of Lee Skolnick, Bjorn Amelan (whose work is now on view at LongHouse Reserve), and Michele Oka Doner, whose Florida-based childhood was the fuel for a lifelong study and appreciation of the natural world. The talks, situated under a shade tree and near a pond, offer an inspiring sense of clarity and ritual to attendees.
Just this weekend, LongHouse Reserve supporters celebrated with ONWARD, LongHouse Reserve’s annual summer benefit which managed to raise over half a million dollars for the garden. The likes of actor Nathan Lane, sculptor Alice Aycock, fashion executive Fern Mallis came together to support the East Hampton institution with dancing, food, and an opportunity to experience the LongHouse Reserve after hours.
EAST HAMPTON, NY – JULY 23: David “Mr. Starcity” White and Duo Lin attend LongHouse Reserve 2022 Summer Benefit at LongHouse Reserve on July 23, 2022 in East Hampton, NY. (Photo by James Bayrami/PMC) *** Local Caption *** David “Mr. Starcity” White;Duo Lin
The summer benefit is LongHouse Reserve’s largest event of the year, with all proceeds going towards the mission of teaching living with art in all its forms; including diverse educational outreach, community programming, and maintenance of the grounds.
“Botanical gardens across the country have invested huge resources over the past 10 years only into bringing art to their properties because they recognize that the combination of arts and nature draws more people.”
– Carrie Rebora Barrat
Global travels and art defined Larsen’s legendary practice (with works now in the collections of MoMA and the Louvre, among so many others) and they are fully reflected in the territory of Longhouse Reserve. Today, it includes the house, a tranquil and human-oriented interpretation of an A-frame design, and the extensive grounds filled with roughly 60 contemporary sculptures, a combination of pieces on loan and permanent works, including Buckminster Fuller’s “Fly’s Eye Dome” and Yoko Ono’s giant, monochromatic chess game, “Play It by Trust.” The Pavilion is set at the end of Peters Pond, which accepts the sun with joy and lily pads stage against grand Dale Chihuly works.
LongHouse Reserve
The grounds are intentionally divided by privet hedges, offering “rooms” to explore, with some areas featuring human-made art (particularly immersive is the Sol LeWitt sculpture) while others indulge in the beauty of the environment (The Dunes and Grass Garden, for example). Wherever you walk, elements of surprise and amusement are baked into the experience. Less anticipated is the sense of oneness and control in the environment, delightfully rare by today’s standard. And that’s just in the daytime. LongHouse Reserve can be illuminated to provide an entirely new experience by night.
LongHouse Reserve is located at 133 Hands Creek Road, East Hampton NY 11937. Learn more and reserve tickets here.
HBO Max’s ‘Rap Sh!t,’ which premieres tonight, is a lot of things: It’s incredibly funny, it’s rousing, it’s gorgeous. But it’s also one of the most visually innovative shows on television.
Director Sade Clacken Joseph, who is a dear friend, creates a visual language here that’s all about immediacy. We see shots from the perspective of a phone, entire scenes feature IG Live overlays and some transitions are so deft you’ll miss them if you blink.
This approach makes for a show that feels like you’re living inside it. You’re the 21st century fly on the wall, not only a viewer but a participant in the fascinating thrall of these characters’ lives.
HBO’s premiere event at The Hammer museum proved that the abundant charm and camaraderie present in the show is no farce; I couldn’t tell you how many times I turned to see the cast bursting out in laughter, having heart to hearts, or posing for photos radiating star power.
We took in the first two episodes and I was so upset by the end. They were both so enthralling I needed more. Play the next one, damn.
Our leads Shawna (Aida Osman) and Mia (Kamillion) are an odd couple who somewhat reluctantly join forces to take on the world, musically speaking.
Their chemistry is effortless, even when their characters are at odds. I also already know this show is gonna spawn real-life bangers; strap in for their first collab, because it will never leave your brain. Sorry!
The premiere wound down and nobody wanted to leave; the dj was cuttin up, the drinks were flowing and the joy was palpable. Turns out friendship is the hottest bar of all.
Hosted at Malibu Farm at Pier 17, NYC – this party was a *sunrise* soirée to remember.