urbanhippiedc

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

ArtWhino Event November 9

Please Join Us!

Rick Reese Solo Show and Art Whino's Collaboration Featuring 20 New Artists

Friday, November 9th, 2007, 6-11 pm

717 N. Saint Asaph St Alexandria, VA 22314

Rick Reese Solo Show
Southern California born but Northern California raised, artist Rick Reese has been painting and drawing for as long as he can remember. He got his start in the Comic Book and Toy industries where he continues as a freelancer to this day. Rick spends his days painting, surfing, or teaching at Cal State Long Beach where he indoctrinates his students and paints on things that don't belong to him.

Rick's Paintings are compilations of his experience. His work frequently juxtaposes found objects, fragments of signs and advertisements, and graphic images intertwining to create an active surface. Space is both flat and infinite. Layers and imagery are sanded or painted away leaving only their ghosts, like overhead whispers. The narratives in the work are often opened ended, allowing small glimpses into the artist's mind, while leaving room for the viewer to bring their own experiences to the pieces as well.

The graphic style of comic art, graffiti, surf and skate culture, advertisement lettering and illustration from the 50's and 60's, as well as the art of his contemporaries inspire Rick's own art. Combing these and many other influences, his work continues to evolve, be free and most of all fun. Rick loves what he does, and its apparent in his art.

Art Whino Permanent Gallery
The addition to 20 new artists to the Art Whino Permanent Gallery features the work of its artists' collaboration from around the world. The permanent installation takes places on November 9, 2007 from 6-11pm, and will include music by HoneyLab's DJ David Christ Superstar. The music will be broadcast live by Orcradio.com.

Art Whino's collaboration artists, Decoy, will showcase a live art installation during the show which one lucky person will get to take home!

Additionally, Art Whino has launched a partnership with a local DC non-profit. In this continuing effort to promote arts in our community, Art Whino is happy to announce that we are working with the DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative on this event. We will be donating proceeds of this and future events to further help with their mission. To read more about them go to http://www.dccollaborative.org For more information on the event please visit www.artwhino.com

Alan Defibaugh, Anna U Davis, Aunia Kahn, Brooke Grucella, Decoy, Emily Greene Liddle, Erase, Fanatic Ladies, Gregory Ferrand, Jason Daniels

Jason Snyder, Julie Steiner, Laurel Hausler, Candace Keegan, Lisa Selby, TMNK, Richard Alan Haugh, Richard Salcido, Rosemary Covey, Shawn Huddleston

Handbag Bubble?

I've been so concerned about the real estate bubble bursting that I almost didn't realize there was a handbag bubble afoot!! Really... I'm heavily invested in both markets, I should have been paying more attention.

Sunday, November 4, 2007

Moojoo Ken

My favorite spot in DC. When I walked into Moojoo Ken for the first time, I had a spiritual experience... when I laid eyes on the Massachussetts Avenue boots, I knew I had found something special. They are light blue canvas with a Pucci-esque print, pointy toe, stiletto heel, with a corset-like sheer ribbon lace-up at the top of the boot. At first, I thought, "The owners have really good taste." Then, I found out they DESIGNED THE BOOTS, RIGHT HERE IN LITTLE OLD WASHINGTON, DC! I was shocked and excited. And that was just the tip of the iceberg as far as the store is concerned. The whole place is beautiful, from the exposed brick wall, the branches crafted into clothes hangers, curly wooden sticks and rope holding shoes and handbags, and the selection of merchandise. I knew I wanted to work here. And so here I am.

Tom Binns Jewelery

Wow, just found this jeweler, and WOW! Skulls, rhinestones, safety pins made of gold, and grenades.

Tom Binns

Fashion Fights Poverty

I had the distinct pleasure of attending this event in Washington, DC on October 26, 2007. I never thought DC could be so fun! I've always thought of DC as a Fashion Hinterland, overrun by Ann Taylorites and Eddie Bauer heads, and headed downhill fast into a sea of black pinstripes.

I was wrong.

I was thrilled to find out about this fashion show in time to actually attend it. I seem to have a habit of finding out about fashion events AFTER THEY HAPPEN, sending me into a blind rage and Neiman Marcus to soothe my nerves.

It was a feast for the senses. The location, the Carnegie Library, easily could have been located in Italy or France, with its sweeping balustrades and lofty ceilings. I did not know DC had such a venue.

I knew DC had the second most gay men in the US, second only to San Francisco, and they were all there! They all came to this event. I'm pretty sure of it. And they are so darn pretty!!! God, I love gay men!!!

Jaci Wilson Reid took the stage in the most awe-inspiring Roberto Cavalli dress I have ever seen (BELOW). Occasionally, Mr. Cavalli overdoes it with leaopard prints and bling bling, but this dress was simply incredible. Made me weepy with nostalgia for Tuscany... I just drove by his villa not a month before the show, on my way back to Florence from my friends' villa in Chianti. (I wasn't invited into Cavalli's villa, but I did visit the Cavalli Cafe...)

I did find some pictures of a party at Lotus Lounge, and some from last year's FFP in Miami, but none from the show I attended:

FFP on Flickr

My favorite designers were, in this order, Elizabeth Muir, Ecliptica, and Orangia's frothy pieces. I was lucky to meet Elizabeth Muir in person and purchase one of her stunning pieces, straight from Afghanistan (yellow mirrored coat in picture).

I'm working on buying something from Ecliptica. They should be sending me their 2008 catalog in the near future. The sisters' design team is as gorgeous and chic as the designs. One of them had the most incredible brown drapey jumpsuit... backless, flowy and striking. I noticed it immediately. Those girls got game.