Last night’s GenArt Fresh Faces show brought emerging Chicago designs right to our eyes. Hosted (barely) by Fall Out Boy musician, Pete Wentz, the show began, as photographers argued for position, with the Sophia Reyes collection. A flowing mix of periwinkle blue short-dresses, wide legged-trousers, and ruffles--yawn. The music played on as Frei Designs took the stage, an orange-obsessed line, complete with a finale piece that could only be referred to as ‘The Penis Dress.’ (Even the straight guys in front of me agreed on the name.) Following Frei was my personal favorite—Shorty. Justin Min and his team gave onlookers a taste of sheer fabrics, delicately printed with flowers in sunny greens and purples. The collection caramelized into warm browns and creams as the show went on, ending in what Justin described as “a traditional Korean ‘Hanbok’--with a modern twist.” While the finale didn’t leave me breathless, kudos go to Shorty for giving us a bit more of a show. What?!—he opened his set blasting M.I.A.—call me bias. Tied for first with Shorty was a mix of seemingly resort-inspired menswear from Philip Sparks. His designs were well-tailored, showing off grey-on-tan styles, with perfect pops of golden yellow, complete with dangerously short-shorts. Again--male models in uncomfortably high running shorts—bias. (Try to get a straight guy to wear those!) The finale was Sparks’ full grey, muted plaid, three-piece-suit that I wanted to strip from the model and wear immediately. Floating down after Sparks were designs by Elise Bergman. She showed a beautiful collection of cream and brown looks, complete with pops of sherbet and turquoise for the warm spring season. The evening ended with an 80’s twist as Eskell designs ascended the runway. The grungy-pretty collection offered a definite point of view, but not a view I’d like to point at. Her finale dress, however, was gorgeous—a stunningly simple, long-printed dress with a pop of gold on a thin belt at the waist. When all was shown and strutted, the resulting collections were a fabric-frenzy of emerging Chicago designers. While GenArt shows of the past have produced fame for an array of Chicago talent, I’d be insane to believe that Zac Posen has anything to sweat about. -ryan beshel
One of the artists who always makes my pulse rate go up and never ceases to amaze me is Mr. Johnson, a young Chicago native who lives in NYC and has a studio in Brooklyn.
His two new shows reveal a different side of his art that I have never seen before, more charged and more personal.
The "new escapist promised land garden and recreation center" show a softer side of Mr. Johnson, more spiritual and more cryptic.
Calling on black power but in a non-serious way , jokingly laughing at Utopia and it's promises of some far away garden (eden), and how it always kind of fails.
Also aware of the dangers of a promised dream ( i have a dream), someplace better than this place.
Sun Ra, outer worldly as is space is the place, arriving here on earth not from earth but some other place -- the spiritual aspect of his work.
AKIRA RUNWAY REVIEW 9.28.08 Liquid gold-metallic tights, models clutching studded shields, and tight jeans. Akira pulled off another fundraising runway show at Galleria Marchetti benefiting Imerman Angels. The 5th Annual Garden of Eden show was equipped with a sexy Paradeisos theme. The waiting crowd, a mix of Chicagoans spanning from the socially elite, to trend-obsessed fashion students--wide-eyed and ready to see what Akira had in store for the season. The show began at 7, with a sharply lit runway, and the sounds of a strummed harp orchestrating the opening looks. The Ford models delivered a fun show styled in some of Akira’s hottest finds from around the world. The trends of the season were splashed across the runway with plenty of surprises tossed into the mix. The show offered contradicting looks, relying on clashing fabrics, colors and styling to drive home this not-so-hidden underlying theme. Beginning with the first high-heeled step we saw this suggestion in a long, flowing bohemian look arriving at the end of the runway next to a short, mod silver-foiled cap sleeve dress. Leather made a twisted appearance in gladiator style warrior-wear, followed by a studded kilt worn over a skinny black suit. Color was sparse in the men’s looks, but the pea coat triumphed—repeated in all but a handful of the men’s looks. Red-bled in pops of color for the men while mustard yellow and plum purple painted the women’s looks. The resulting show, a contradicting peek at Akira’s racks, a bit disconnected in intention, yet an ample delivery of selection. Though the Paradeisos Gladiator theme was represented on the runway, the space was left screaming to be apart of it all. The Galleria, while a stunning venue, wasn’t exactly turned into my kind of paradise. Maybe I simply prefer more foliage in my Garden of Eden? All in all, when the music calmed, and the last look descended the runway, Akira had proven again, that their brand is more than a garment—it’s a Chicago lifestyle.
Trend and Inspirations for Fall 2008: 1. Check, please!... Plaid makes a killing this season in both men and women’s looks. Flannel frocks and check-obsessed mini dresses hit the mark for women while buttoned-up styles offer lumberjack status to the smartly dressed man. 2. The Magic of Minimal… The simple seduction of minimal looks give the attention to the individual, proving this season that less is more. Structured shapes and sharp lines lend an edge to chic simplicity. 3. Grown-up Goth… To hit this hot trend pair black with black, then add some black. This look is sharp, smart, and impactful. The key here is fabrics. Style a black wool skirt with opaque black tights, following it all up with a tied pussy-bow blouse and soft leather boots. Ummmm—chic. 4. Shoe Worship… As always, this season shoes will make or break your look. The most important of all accessories—the shoe says it all with laced up booties treading the way for the sexy woman and patent kicks demanding attention for the men. 5. Full Coverage… Dress and skirts drop to a new length as fabrics extend below the knee, elongating the looks of the season. This lean look pairs well with accessories like thick leather belts and long necklaces, capped off with the surprise of that perfect boot underneath it all. 6. YOU… Nothing is more inspiring than the eclectic garb of an individual with stellar style. The best accessory is your personal take on current fashion, something you can’t buy—but you know it when you see it. Confidence is an accessory worn best with any outfit. Take your time to create a feeling. In my experiences, style isn’t about labels—it’s about creating a different character every time you leave the house. Push yourself to discover a look like you’ve never seen—and who knows? It may be floating down a Paris runway next season.
Colors and Accessories for Fall 2008: Colors this season take a warmer tone as gold, deep purple, mustard yellow, and rich brown leather mix together for fall. Pay attention to pops of red, especially in your best Goth look. Red provides surprise and vibrancy to a down-right dark outfit. On the other hand, clashing patterns offers a stand-out alternative, awakening the sexy nerd in any individual. Accessories rock the runways, and my world, with check bowties, thick-rimmed glasses, and bright scarves that add that a pop to your person. Women won’t go wrong dripping in gold, standing tall in sexy booties, carrying that ever-popular ‘it bag’ of her choice.
After the exhibition we went to the only 5 star African restaurant in Chicago. "Grace's African" on Broadway in Uptown. We finally met our match of food too foreign to possible eat. But the lime green walls, the folding card tables, the paper napkins and the hand soap on the tables all added to an unbelievable experience. We tried to eat the African exotic meat, which was some kind of unknown rich beef-fish-pig, with eggs and mashed fufu. We still don't know what fufu is.
I recently posted on Think Pink Radio about the two new exhibitions opened at Gallery 2 and project space for the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 847 West Jackson, 2nd Floor, the shows both run through February 15th. One “Limbo,” the other a group exhibition, explore two things:
1. The many new ways artists are making sculptures.
2. “Limbo” as a state of suspension.
One particularly striking work is self-portrait by artist Carrick Bell. Two larger than life videos of the artist in his underwear face off in a hallway. The work is really activated when you walk between the two screens, thereby becoming part of the artwork. Standing between two 9 foot video screens is a thrilling and somewhat uncomfortable experience, especially since the videos show the artist in his underwear looking at you. The artist shown on one screen is throwing eggs while on the other screen he is getting hit with eggs. As a viewer you are caught between them. I couldn’t help but flinching every time an egg is thrown. The egg strikes and breaks open–oozing and dripping against bare skin. A symbolically vivid image of sex, embarrassment and pain.
