Last week was the closing of the bizarre collaboration of post-conceptual artists at the Stamp Art Gallery, which was replaced by works by MFA graduate students here at the University of Maryland. Again, it is an exhibition of pieces of different mediums: photography, installations and video monitors are all included.


The most centrally located piece within the gallery is my favorite--a work of plywood two-by-fours stacked upon bare wood saw horses. The bright hue of this stack comes from an ordinary household object: a ball-point pen. Artist Alexander Peace makes a bold statement about the strength of color and his use of a single shade is extreme. I'm most attracted to the natural shading and concentrations of color that are due to the warp and grain of the wood.


I can only imagine how much time this installation took to create, and I am in awe of the artists' ability to think creatively, meshing together fine arts with office supplies.



MIDPOINT runs from April 14th through May 13th and is located at the Stamp Student Union Gallery, at the University of Maryland.

3 hours and counting until the royal wedding and everyone here at the White House (our less than-Presidential suite off-campus) is ready to see the gown of the century. That may  be an exaggeration, but by the looks of the massive crowds lined up by Westminster Abbey, we aren't alone. Over the past weeks, Kate's style has been compared to the iconographic fashion of Princess Diana, a natural comparison between to women of grace and classic composure. In my internet browsing I came across this article with both women's most similar fashions. Clearly Kate has replicated some key details of Diana's style, but a classic piece is a classic piece is a classic piece, and this elements all seem like wardrobe stables to me.
Regardless, these serve as great examples for styling and show the perfect balance of refinery and risk-taking.

bisous,

Another Thursday discovery was made off of Connecticut Avenue, at BGR: the Burger Joint.
In the mood for decadent, over-the-top burgers to bring us back to life, we ended up at this fucky, music-themed restaurant and made the best discovery of the week: a futuristic soda machine with every flavor imaginable. 







The touchscreen was a surprise to me, and I ogled over the amount of choices, until I realized this was only the first of many screen selections.










My beloved Diet Coke was hiding a few more tricks up its' robotic-sleeves. I was boring and stuck with plain, but did sip on some Peach-flavored goodness. I wasn't brave enough to commit to 32 ounces of it though.








I was so intrigued by this contraption and a bit of internet research informed me that it was actually a 2009-dated invention, the Coca-Cola "Freestyle" with over 100 flavor choices.


Check out the Coca-Cola Freestyle machine at http://www.coca-colafreestyle.com/
Cure your hangover with a customized burger order at BGR burger, 1514 Connecticut Avenue, NW.

These stunners come from the Fall 2010 Balenciaga collection and captured my attention immediately. The color-blocking and three dimensionality of the stacked heel are particularly interesting. Plus, the unexpected peek of added yellow socks are fun. Overall the aesthetics of the pair are reminiscent of artistic movement of cubism, not only due to the sheer physical elements.



I could not help of be reminded by the work of Pablo Picasso, in particular his work entitled, Guitars, dated from 1913.

I love the bright teal background which always reminds me of a close friend who always chooses teal, when given the option. The deep brown color of the curved pattern mirrors the dark leather of the shoe.

While both are out of my price-range, these distinct pieces show the relationship between fashion and art, not always acknowledged.

This morning while waiting in a nearly door-busting line for coffee I spotted an Hermes Birkin bag. Less than bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, I did a double take a realized that it was not the beloved "It-bag" but rather, a printed tote inspired by the fashionable purse.


It's not leather--it's a printed canvas tote. The "Together" tote by Thursday Friday is all over teh fashion, written up by loving fans in the New York Times, Glamour Magazine, even Elle and Daily Mail are singing its' praises.

Considering the fact that I will never, ever be able to afford the real thing, I figure these roomy totes are a great alternative, and I'll feel way less bad when a pen explodes in the bottom.


The creative geniuses at Hermes aren't so thrilled, and have sued for copyright infringement. Protecting intellectual property can be difficult in fashion and design, so it will be interesting to see how the case is resolved. Ethical or not, I can't help but entertain the idea of buying one. After seeing one in person I have definite bag-envy. If only I could choose one color!

bisous,

The Textile Museum's Opening Reception of the exhibition, Green: the Color and the Cause, the past Friday was a success. Over three hundred members were in attendance of the opening, celebrating the colorful and environmental focus of the TM's latest project. The lovely weather allowed guests to also enjoy the beautiful garden and amazing view of the city. I highly encourage everyone in the D.C. Metropolitan area to view the exhibit, which opened Saturday, April 16th and will run until September 11th.




As always, the ubiquitous reading-child photograph.

This past weekend I went to the National Cherry Blossom festival in D.C. with some friends. In the true spirit of procrastination I waited until the last day to metro in to see the blossoms, but luckily the universe rewarded me: the Kite Festival had been rescheduled to Sunday, a fun surprise.

The weather was beautiful--a nice change from week of dreary rain--tons of people showed up to enjoy the festivities. Tons of colorful kites and kids were out an about, along with the cutest dogs in all of D.C.

On our way across the National Mall to see the multitude of kites by the Washington Monument we saw a giant tent swathed in pink banners and giant cherry blossom ornaments. Naturally we had to stop, and realizing it was the Performance Stage at the Sylvan Theater, we stuck around to check out a step show. As an uncoordinated dancer, I've always been intrigued and entertained by step shows and this performance was amazing. The team, Step Afrika! was great: energetic, talented, and so friendly. Audience participation was heavily encouraged but I decided against it--for the sake of everyone around me.

Step Afrika! is the official cultural ambassador of Washington, DC, and deservedly so. Their show lasted almost an hour, and was so much fun.


Step Afrika! is group of dancers who tour and teach classes. Read more about them at www.stepafrika.org/home.htm

As you may know, I spend my Thursdays working in Dupont Circle and took advantage of the lovely weather today. Thanks to a last-minute deadline, my boss sent me as her "representative" on an impromptu trip to the Embassy of Chile to view their new exhibition, The Art of Stitching the Ordinary. Despite the small size of the gallery, the works on display were absolutely gorgeous. The exhibition focused on the needlepoint and weaving of Chilean craftswomen from the remote village of Ninhue. Bright colors, strong textures and classic motifs were all blended into engaging and enjoyable textiles, reminiscent of the South American crafts which often pair landscapes with scenes of agriculture, animals and simple architecture. I was particularly attracted to the geometric patterns, some of which reminded me of Missoni prints.

While most of the works were mounted embroideries on canvas, the artists also displayed some crocheted and knitted animals. The nativity-esque scene at left was absolutely amazing--great detail, bright colors show off the creativity and humor of the women. The addition of the peacock and rooster pearched high on the manger add a flare of culture to the scene. Hidden in the corner is a scene of a horse giving birth--a subtle detail that no one noticed until our guide pointed out the second heading that emerged from its' mother. Pregnant yarn animals are bizarre to begin with, but this touch was beyond that!



Following the show, a friend and I switched continents, and ate lunch at a small crêperie: Crepes-a-Go-Go. Walking into the basement-level restaurant brought back memories of a favorite stand in Paris in Saint Germain des Prés, yet this time we had chairs and tables to sit at instead, instead of a curb. That was the only difference: the crepe itself was delicious and had the same blend of savory/sweet taste that I loved so much while abroad. The icing on the cake was their offering of gelato, turning today's adventure into a trifecta of international flavor.

The Art of Stitching is on display at the Embassy of Chile, 1732 Massachusettes Ave NW, Washington, D.C.
Crepes-A-Go-Go is located down the boulevard, at  2122 P Street NW, Washington, D.C. 

For the past few months, I have been working in the Development Department of the Textile Museum, located in Washington, D.C. Among other things, I am responsible for organizing  the after-hours events and receptions for our exhibitions, most recently I was put in charge of contacting local vendors and environmentally friendly corporations in search of specialized products that might echo our latest exhibition, Green: the Color and the Cause. During my search to find "green" products, I stumbled across some pretty sweet, Mother Earth-loving products.


Leafware, a company that produces dinnerware from fallen leaves, prides themselves on creating products that can be completely composted and return to the ground. No glues, no dyes, no nothing--just good old heat pressing and sterilization. When you're done, just drop them on the ground and let nature take its' course. Their natural production results, "range from whites and pearls to light beiges, browns with natural grains and silver strains running through them." I can't decide what I love more, the fact that this company takes the new trend of being "green" as literally as possible, or that they make novelty shaped plates: hearts included.




Closer to home, I came across the deliciousness of SweetGreen, a chain of salad-bar/yogurt shop combos that have spread throughout the DC/Metro area. (They've even cashed in on the food truck trend.) I've passed the Dupont Circle location countless times as, in a hazy early morning daze, I exit onto 19th street instead of the correct choice of Q Street. I decided to finally check it out this past Thursday, and I was happy to learn that the Stonyfield frozen yogurt was as delicious as it looked. The fact that I was able to bypass the uber-long salad line so my sugar rush was made better by their toppings offerings: among them, dark chocolate and coconut. Naturally, when the cashier asked if I would be interested in a frequent member card, I could barely contain my excitement. I grabbed a window seat and documented all the healthy-awesome goodness.


It was the perfect addition to a sunny day in Dupont Circle, the beginning of my much-needed weekend and a delicious healthy treat.




Green: the Color and the Cause, opens at the Textile Museum on April 16th. Located at 2320 S Street NW, the Textile Museum is a hop, skip and jump away from the Dupont Circle metro. The opening reception will be the Friday prior, April 15th from 7-9pm where vistors are encouraged to tour the newly installed exhibition, and meet with the international artists who multi medium pieces reflect the influence of the color on their understanding of green art production. My favorite piece is a fiber art piece representing the New Jersey watershed.