Sparked » Inspiration

Bergdorf’s 2011 Carnival of Animals at Play!

Geoffry — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 16:39:50 +0000

Bergdorf Goodman The Carnival of the Animals 2011 holiday window display, photo: Geoffry Gertz/Sparked.biz

The animal kingdom has come out to play in their celebratory finery. Bergdorf Goodman’s visual team headed by David Hoey, imagined the fantastical cacophony from childhood memorabilia that bursts with regalia from the retailer’s 5th Avenue windows.

Attracting late night holiday admirers with shopping bags in hand or partiers on route, these nostalgic scenes captured the emotion and artistry for this holiday season.

Bergdorf Goodman The Carnival of the Animals 2011 holiday window display, photo: Geoffry Gertz/Sparked.biz

Goodbye Autumn

Geoffry — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:51:49 +0000

Prospect Park, November 27, 2011, Photo: Geoffry Gertz/Sparked.biz

Before we say goodbye to fall, I wanted to share the autumnal colors that seemed even more vivid from the unseasonal warmer temperatures in NYC. As New Yorkers and Brooklynites took to their public parks, this photo essay captures how even urbanites commune with nature.

Prospect Park, November 27, 2011, Photo: Geoffry Gertz/Sparked.biz

High Line Park, November 26, 2011, Photo: Geoffry Gertz/Sparked.biz

2011 NYC Marathon High Five!

Geoffry — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 23:42:47 +0000

2011 NYC Marathon along the Brooklyn route on 4th Ave in Park Slope. Photo: Geoffry Gertz/Sparked.biz

Brooklynites were ready early Sunday morning cheering on the ING NYC Marathon runners along the 4th Avenue route in Park Slope. Giving ‘high fives’ with inspirational affirmations the neighborhood crowd shared the love with the local and international athletes just beginning the course.

Staten Island began the 26 mile marathon with the runners flowing into Brooklyn over the Verazzano-Narrows Bridge. Brooklyn, clocking the most miles of the course, then continued into Queens and finishing in Manhattan, Bronx and circling back into Central Park.

The Brooklyn stretch resembled one big block party. The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn provided the jazzy entertainment in front of Root Hill Cafe with more bands performing further down the avenue. The city’s annual endurance test starting with the wheelchair racers following with the waves of runners from professional to enthusiasts made for an energetic and musical marathon Sunday.

2011 NYC Marathon along the Brooklyn route on 4th Ave in Park Slope. Photo: Geoffry Gertz/Sparked.biz

The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn perform at 2011 NYC Marathon along the Brooklyn route on 4th Ave in Park Slope. Photo: Geoffry Gertz/Sparked.biz

2011 NYC Marathon along the Brooklyn route on 4th Ave in Park Slope. Photo: Geoffry Gertz/Sparked.biz

Think Different! Thank you Steve Jobs

Geoffry — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:32:14 +0000

Apple founder Steve Jobs, February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011

With the self empowerment movement of the 70s, creating the tech democratisation of the 80s and re-building Apple into the world’s dominant technology company, Steve Jobs pioneering spirit has transcended our culture. Thank you Steve Jobs!

SHOWstudio’s Les Smokings Fashion As Art

Geoffry — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:46:00 +0000

SHOWstudio's Smoke & Mirrors in Fashion, Fine Art and Film collaborates with fashion designers to re-interpret Le Smoking, the evening tuxedo.

Fashion used as a metaphor by fine artists or literally such as
Joseph Beuys’ Felt Suit gives another canvas for expression. The digital magazine SHOWstudio recently invited fashion designers to re-visit the French classic, Le Smoking, in a series of ‘fashion installations and residencies’ documenting the concept to completion.

The result, at least the reveal from Mulger’s Creative Director Nicola Formichetti and Menswear head Romain Kremer captured the smoke-like atmospheric qualities and virility of the most revered design.

Sue Tilly On Lucian Freud

Geoffry — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 15:16:46 +0000

Lucian Freud's Benefits Supervisor Sleeping.

Artist muse, Sue Tilly posing for Lucian Freud's Benefits Supervisor Sleeping.

Listening to Lucian Freud‘s muse Sue Tilly’s BBC interview sharing her perspective on posing for the British figurative painter was equally as engaging as his paintings. The artist who died last Wednesday at 88, revitalized the classic figure nude study for 50 years, evolving the form into a contemporary luscious expression.

The charm of Tilly’s view is especially poignant for artists working with models. As the work begins to transcend the moment, the subject finds their own comfort, especially for a long pose. I grabbed a still from the video to post of Tilly in the moment and you can definitely understand Freud’s attraction to her persona and those curves!

Composed by Janice McDonald

Geoffry — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 21:46:30 +0000

'Verdant' contemporary paper collage on wood panel, 10 x 10 x 1 by Janice McDonald from the spring 2011 exhibition 'Composed' at Spark Gallery Denver, Colorado.

Collage, a favorite art form of mine, invites creative play forming an assemblage from everyday objects. Maybe growing up in a family of collagists watching my mother and sister craft their own papered compositions heightened my sensitivity.

Today, I was introduced to Janice McDonald, a graphic designer who has focused her talent towards collage. McDonald’s vibrant experiments of overlooked fragments re-mixes the recycled imagery into very striking deconstructions.

Included in the post are examples of McDonald’s work from a recent show, ‘Composed’ exhibited at Spark Gallery in Denver, Colorado. Make sure to visit the artist’s site and Facebook page.

'Composed' by Janice McDonald from the spring 2011 exhibition at Spark Gallery Denver, Colorado.

'Brilliant' contemporary paper collage on wood panel, 10 x 10 x 1 by Janice McDonald from the spring 2011 exhibition 'Composed' at Spark Gallery Denver, Colorado.

'Mischief' contemporary paper collage on wood panel, 10 x 10 x 1 by Janice McDonald from the spring 2011 exhibition 'Composed' at Spark Gallery Denver, Colorado.

TRANSCENDING FORM ENCHANTS AT THEATRE 80

Christopher Musci — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 12:07:06 +0000

John Byrne’s Transcending Form produced by David LaChapelle, Cast Photo by David LaChapelle

Those who love the fusion of dance, song, and art will be thoroughly enchanted by Transcending Form a new dance work by choreographer John Byrne featuring the artwork of edgy photographer David LaChapelle.

John Byrne’s Transcending Form produced by David LaChapelle, Cast Photo by David LaChapelle

Transcending Form’s eight dancers gracefully navigate the emotional journey of its story of life, afterlife, and the transcending soul to the eclectic, yet superbly appropriate, mix of music from Schubert to Shirley Brown, Michael Jackson, and, yes, even Elvis. Sprinkled throughout the theatrical journey are soulful live vocal performances by Gina Figueroa and the James Solomon Choir. The dance fable, which blends old form with new, is both energized and sensual. Its cast is as diverse as its East Village audience at Theatre 80 lending to its sincerity and appeal.

John Byrne’s Transcending Form produced by David LaChapelle, Cast Photo by David LaChapelle

David LaChapelle’s fairytale-like masks, toy birds, and life-scale photography of the transcended human soul complete the experience of Transcending Form. The theatrical dance work, some 20 years in the making, is also produced by David LaChapelle in collaboration with Fred Torres and is the artist’s gift to New York. It’s fitting that the dance fable makes its debut at Theatre 80, the home of his first studio in the 80’s. 100% of proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to Education in Dance and The Related Arts.

Tickets to Transcending Form are available for $15 online at www.theatre80.net or at the box office for suggested donation (Performance contains Nudity). The 70-minute dance fable, which opened this summer on June 2nd, will continue its run at the historic Theatre 80 located at 80 St. Marks Place every Wednesday evening at 8 PM until its closing performance on August 24th.

Theatre 80 Cafe, an original 20s speakeasy at St Marks Place. Photo: Geoffry Gertz/Sparked.biz

Geoff and I arrived early and enjoyed a drink at the newly and lovingly restored Theatre 80 Café and were fortunate to meet its proprietor Lorcan Otway and learn more about the one upon a time speakeasy’s place in Jazz Age history. Attending Transcending Form at Theatre 80 is a perfect evening out for anyone who would like to experience a little East Village history, art, and magic!

Josh Faught Artistic Knits

Geoffry — Wed, 25 May 2011 18:58:48 +0000

Rites of Passage, 2011, 64 x 42 inches by Josh Faught, indigo, lipstick, hand-bleached crocheted hemp, tablet-woven-wool, hand-woven cotton, sequins, Valentine's Day card from Mom on linen.

Knitwear for fashion designers is often considered an artistic process to create one-of-a-kind textures, colors, patterns and forms in clothing collections. Beginning with yarns and needles, a myriad of swatches become creative play.

A series of new work currently on view at the Lisa Cooley gallery has taken the humble knitdown sample laced with biographical nostalgia by fiber artist Josh Faught and transforms the association into richly layered assemblage.

The captions, listing the materials is as fun to read as viewing Faught’s pieces. Interestingly, the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York known for its excellent knitwear resources is among his schools of education along with Oberlin College and the Art Institute of Chicago.

Rules to Party Play (#6), 2010, 22.5 x 49 inches by Josh Faught, hand-bleached crocheted and woven hemp, gay pins, sequins, nail polish, scrapbooking letters and gold bow on linen.

Blessings and Miracles, 2011, 77 x 72 inches by Josh Faught, indigo, silk handkerchief, pins, hand-woven and crocheted wool and hemp, hand-made felt, nail polish, letter organizer made by prisoner, jewelry, spray paint, guide to dungeon emergencies, and gifts on linen.

Yohji Yamamoto’s Forms

Geoffry — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 20:04:30 +0000

Yohji Yamamoto on view at London's Victoria and Albert Museum, which is hosting a retrospective of the fashion innovator's work curated by Ligaya Salazar, running through July 10.

Since the debut of Japanese designers exhibiting in Paris 30 years ago, they have challenged the West’s view of balance and symmetry. The current retrospective of Yohji Yamamoto at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum curated by Ligaya Salazar displays that new sense of classicism through the 21st century lens. Salazar states, “fabric is everything,” allowing visitors to touch and react from the designer’s tactile message.

“
With my eyes turned to the past, I walk backwards into the future.

Yohji Yamamoto

The beauty of Yamamoto’s work comes through his gestural approach to draping echoing or enveloping the body that gave birth to the current vocabulary of design.

Yohji Yamamoto on view at London's Victoria and Albert Museum