Hudson River School Revisited

Hudson River Octopoda                    Oil on Paper

A Wing and Prayer Wallet         Upcycled Leather

As I completed the painting Hudson River Octopoda featuring the Thomas Cole House in Catskill and Olana across the Hudson River in Hudson, NY, I realized the importance of the conversation between two artists.  It was the collaboration between Thomas Cole and Frederic Edwin Church that encouraged both men to pursue ideas about man's relationship to nature, thus establishing the Hudson River School of Art.  With this context in mind that I changed the name of this blog to Omgeving, a Dutch word for surroundings-- for when you surround yourself in an environment of creative people, an engaging conversation about art, architecture, and the environment is bound to emerge.

I've had such a 30+ year conversation with dear friend and fellow artist Adriane Errera, whose one-of-a-kind handbags have inspired me greatly. As a lifelong vegetarian, Errera faced an ethical quandary over using leather materials, so when making her handmade accessories, she decided to upcycle second-hand leather garments found at thrift stores, which not only keeps garments out of landfills, but curtails the use of new animal products.  The designs themselves incorporate nature-based motifs with tattoo-inspired illustration. I've long admired her sense of color and craft as she refashioned garments into artistic statements.

So perhaps this blog can serve as a conversation-starter for your own creative growth, either alone, or with friends!

Vote for an Eco-Friendly Fashion Trend

I have long been a fan of fashion. And long before my growing interest in cutting my carbon footprint, I have been known to troll the shelves of second hand stores, so it was with great interest that I checked out Forevermore's mission to make the fashion industry more eco-friendly. Eliza Starbuck, the designer of the dress in The Uniform Project, is on to another project, one which attempts to 'green' the fashion industry. From made-to-order clothes, more efficient use of fabrics, and less polluting manufacturing, Starbuck's message is one that could help the fashion industry move to a more sustainable future.

A Cloche Encounter

Couldn't help myself with that pun---
But good news for those who have been waiting for the perfect hat this winter. Adriane, who made my fab hat, has offered to make more. Let me know if you are interested. And thank you to Louise Millmann for turning me into a 1920's flapper in this pic.

The Uniform Project: Totally Unique

I first heard about the Uniform Project from a colleague who described a unique way some friends of hers in Brooklyn were raising money for schools in India. Sheena Matheiken and Eliza Starbuck collaborated on making a little black dress so universally designed that could be accessorized on a daily basis to achieve different looks. In a quest to combat the disposable nature of most fashion, Matheiken spent a year modeling her daily modifications of the dress on her blog, a dress which is now available on Bright Young Things. The Uniform Project not only raised $100,000, thousands of readers followed the story on a daily basis. Both Olivia's Save the Gulf project and Matheiken's Uniform Project will be presented at TEDxSJU in Philadelphia this December in a conference discussing the different uses of social networking.

Fashion and Feathers

I am so sorry to hear that feathered hats, feathered jackets, even feathered shoes, which use exotic feathers are being seen as fashionable this fall season. I confess a love of fashion, but it is terribly disconcerting to see history repeat itself. Far too many birds were brought to extinction, or near extinction, due to the feathers used in ladies' hats in the 19th and 20th century. The New York Times Fall Fashion section (page 164) and Vogue's weighty fall issue treated the issue of plumage so lightly that I had to double check what I was reading. This move to use exotic feathers is definitely not fashion-forward and compells me to write letters to the editors of the publications which suggested otherwise.

Ports 1961: Art Auction

It was a terrific turnout last night for an excellent cause at fashion boutique Ports 1961's art auction. Raising money for Gulf recovery efforts, the crowd was decidedly fashionable and friendly, making easy conversation as people (and jellyfish) mingled about the terrace overlooking the Meatpacking District while casting silent bids on the gallery full of paintings. Both Olivia and I had artwork in the show, with her brown pelican starting a fierce bidding war. Eddie Parsons, Retail Public Relations director, seen here with Ports president Jacqui Wenzel, was inspired to organize the auction after a recent trip to visit family in Pensacola, Florida, where he found the once-familiar white sand beaches altered by the spill. The evening proved to be a great success in raising $3,000 as well as raising awareness.

Ports 1961: Art Auction

While in the city on Thursday, we stopped by Ports 1961, a boutique in the Meatpacking District to drop of artwork for an upcoming art auction to help fund Gulf recovery efforts for which Olivia and I have donated paintings (see image above). The building, a charming three-story structure, has three distinct spaces: boutique, design studio, and event space. The event space includes a fantastic terrace with a bird's eye view of the cobblestone street below. It's the perfect setting for this particular fashion house. The restrained palette of the collection is given a sculptural edge through a variety of textures, mixing fabric and even wood to make clothing that is both refined and unique. For the event, I'll be wearing a fab Ports olive green silk wrap dress, so I've commissioned handbag designer Adriane Errera to make a clutch for the event. She's just started a new line of bags using recycled leather and has a great peacock design that would tie into the bird motif of the event.

Tim Hartley: Master Class

before

during

after

Louise Brooks

Some artists work in clay, others in paint; Tim Hartley works in hair. After working as the international creative director of Vidal Sassoon for 35 years, Hartley has joined forces with Davines, an Italian hair care company whose products are organic and sustainable. In their collaboration, Hartley’s concept was to take the archetypal bob and transform it through the use of color and texture. Held at James Bentley Salon on 57th Street, Hartley taught a master class for a select group of metropolitan-area hairdressers where he demonstrated his unique cutting techniques and style philosophy. While turning color and style on its ear with each hair model, Hartley riffed about his influences, design choices, and margaritas on the beach. Referencing icons like Louise Brooks, Brigitte Bardot, Mrs. Robinson, and Auntie Mame, hair was transformed from accessory to stand out.
Vidal Sassoon-trained salon owner Kane of Salon Eden in Bay Shore, NY, brought me along as his hair model. I gave him free reign over what happened next. Working with Hartley, he took my pageboy and, two hours later, turned it into a masterful, red- hot bob, a la Louise Brooks.
After the hair session, attendees and their salons met up at Davines’ conceptual dinner—where the organic ingredients of their products were incorporated into a five-course tasting menu. From the pickled ginger wrapped shrimp to the polenta with gorgonzola and spinach, the food, served by members of the Davines team, was a complex series of textures and flavors, not unlike the creations that took place earlier at the salon.
Overall the day’s events were a celebration of hair, design, and style.

Charles Krypell Jewelry

Can you say pink diamonds? It isn't every day (at least for me) that one gets to try on rings worth, oh, about $100,000 a pop. But that was just how I spent the afternoon yesterday when I visited Charles Krypell Jewelry to see intern Evan Krypell. While some high school seniors are planning their next party, others are getting a head start on life experience. Evan is one of the latter. While interning with his father, founder and jewelry designer Charles Krypell, Evan has been able to see all sides of this industry from design inspiration to molds, to visiting a factory in China, all the way to marketing and sales. The cuff seen here was inspired by some mouldings Charles Krypell saw and thought would make interesting and intricate shapes in silver. With black diamonds in a pave setting, the piece is definitely luxe.

On Being Chic

The ever-dapper six year old Jackson asked James in all seriousness, "Daddy, do you want to help me pick out my clothes? You might learn how to be a better dresser."

Perhaps they should both tune into Copenhagen Cycle Chic, where images of impossibly fashionable euro cyclists are caught in the act of eco-friendly transportation. Not unlike Bill Cunningham's images for the Style section of the New York Times, these candid shots of stylish urbanites are more interesting trendspotting than the pages of Vogue. They inspired me want to break out some smart cycle-worthy togs and go for a spin in the snow.

But when I told James about this cool blog, he said, "Copenhagen Psycho Sheep?" Leave it to James to come up with an even more intriguing concept for a blog.

Architecture Humor

Found this funny image on Resetta, an Italian design blog: LeCorbusier, Philip Johnson, I.M. Pei all sporting the same frames. And yet, architects aren't the only ones with funky glasses. Check out my personal fashion hero, Iris Apfel. Last year the Nassau County Museum in Roslyn hosted a show of her personal wardrobe. Most striking was her unabashed use of accessories to transform an outfit from ordinary to imaginative. Seen here in one of her more sedate outfits, Apfel traveled the world and integrated breastplates, bangles, cocktail rings, belts and boots from around the globe, sometimes wearing them all in the same outfit.
As an accessory, glasses have become iconic-- John Lennon's wire rims, Sarah Palin's frames, Woody Allen's horn rims. I fall in love with frames all the time, but as luck would have it, my vision has actually improved over time so I no longer need glasses for now. I'll just have to think of another way to become a fashion icon I suppose.