Spring is upon us (or at least as of March 20th it is). And luckily for us there are so many arts and fashion related events going on around New York City and beyond that leaving the house isn’t a chore any more. There are also several good auctions this month so be sure to check them out.
See
“Vivienne Westwood, 1980-1989” on view March 8 through April 2 at Museum at FIT. The exhibition examines Vivienne Westwood’s transition from street stylist—and Punk innovator—to high fashion design
“Color Moves: Art and Fashion by Sonia Delaunay” on view March 18-June 5 at the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum. Known primarily as an abstract painter and colorist, Sonia Delaunay applied her talents and theories to all areas of visual expression, including graphics, interiors, theater and film, fashion and textiles. A trademark of Delaunay's work is the sense of movement and rhythm created by the simultaneous contrasts of certain colors. This exhibition will focus on fashion designs from her own Atelier Simultané in Paris during the 1920s, as well as textiles designed for the Metz & Co. department store in Amsterdam in the 1930s. On view will be examples of designs, textiles, garments and photographs.
“Théâter de la Mode” on view March 12 – July 31 at the Pheonix Museum, Ellman Fashion Design Gallery.
This exhibition will include three of the original scenes from the historic 1945 “Théâter de la Mode” exhibition, which traveled the world promoting Paris as the center of fashion, and which are now in the collection of the Maryhill Museum.
Hear
“Behind the Scenes of ‘Dressed’ with Nary Manivong, David Swajeski, and Ally Hilfiger” Tuesday, March 1, 6-8 pm, Katie Murphy Amphitheatre, F.I.T. Join director David Swajeski for an inside look at Dressed, his film about Laotian-American fashion designer Nary Manivong’s journey from homelessness on the streets of Ohio to the runway at New York Fashion Week. Self-taught, Manivong was named one of 12 designers to watch by Women’s Wear Daily. Following a screening of selected footage from the film, Swajeski and Manivong will be joined by Manivong’s design partner, Ally Hilfiger, to talk about NAHM, their new brand.
“Humberto Leon and Carol Lim in Conversation with Valerie Steele” Tuesday, March 22, 6-8 pm
Katie Murphy Amphitheatre, F.I.T. Humberto Leon is the creative director and Carol Lim is the CEO of Opening Ceremony, an international retail environment comprised of shops, showrooms, and a private label collection. They will join Valerie Steele, director and chief curator, MFIT, for a conversation about their careers in fashion, their multifaceted approach to merchandising, and their company’s remarkable success.
“Minimalism and Fashion” A discussion with Elyssa Dimant and Francisco Costa. Tuesday, March 15, 6-8 pm, Katie Murphy Amphitheatre, F.I.T. Join fashion historian Elyssa Dimant and Francisco Costa, women’s creative director of the Calvin Klein Collection, for a discussion of Dimant’s new Minimalism and Fashion, the first book to examine the minimalist movement in fashion in relation to parallel currents in art, architecture, and design. A book signing will follow.
“Tory Burch in Conversation with Pamela Golbin.” Part of FIAF's Art de Vivre series Fashion Talks 2011. Wednesday, March 16, 7pm, Florence Gould Hall, 55 East 59th Street , New York. In just seven years, Tory Burch has built a highly coveted brand of chic American sportswear inspired by her vision and life as a designer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and mother. Burch will talk about the significance of personal style and about expanding her thriving business into a global fashion brand. Moderated by Pamela Golbin, Chief Curator, Musée de la Mode et du Textile, Louvre Palace.
“Backstage Dior” with Roxanne Lowit and Simon Doonan, Wednesday, March 23, 6-8 pm, Katie Murphy Amphitheatre, F.I.T. Join photographer Roxanne Lowit and Simon Doonan, creative director at Barneys, for a lively discussion of Lowit’s latest book, Backstage Dior. This new collection of photographs opens a door on life behind the scenes at the John Galliano fashion shows, which Lowit has been chronicling for more than a decade. A book signing will follow.
“A Dangerous Woman: Adah Isaacs Menken” by Barbara Foster and Michael Foster, Tuesday, March 29, 6-8 pm, Katie Murphy Amphitheatre, F.I.T. Barbara and Michael Foster will present A Dangerous Woman: The Life, Loves, and Scandals of Adah Isaacs Menken, 1835-1868, America’s Original Superstar, their biography of daredevil performer, poet, and rebel Adah Menken, also known as “The Naked Lady.” Briefly the highest paid, most famous actress of her time, Menken most likely would be a tabloid celebrity today. A book signing will follow.
“Fashion Illustration” A conversation between Anna Kiper and Laird Borrelli. Thursday, March 31, 6-8 pm, Katie Murphy Amphitheater, F.I.T. Anna Kiper, FIT faculty member, and Laird Borrelli, Style.com senior features editor, will discuss fashion illustration as they present their latest books. Kiper’s Fashion Illustration: Inspiration and Technique views fashion drawing from the designer’s perspective. Borrelli’s Fashion Illustration by Fashion Designers is a vast collection of original sketches by 50 celebrated designers, including Christian Lacroix and Karl Lagerfeld. A book signing will follow.
“Lorenz Bäumer in Conversation with Pamela Golbin.” Part of FIAF's Art de Vivre series Fashion Talks 2011. Wednesday, March 30, 7pm, Florence Gould Hall, 55 East 59th Street , New York. Considered one of the most talented jewelry designers of his generation, Paris-based Lorenz Bäumer reveals the vision behind his exquisite fine jewelry designs for Louis Vuitton, his unique namesake collection, and what drives his creative force. Moderated by Pamela Golbin, Chief Curator, Musée de la Mode et du Textile, Louvre Palace
Bid
Phillips de Pury New York: “Vienna and the Wiener Werkstatte” A small yet delicious sale of some rare decorative objects, furniture and jewelry from the Wiener Werkstatte. Auction is on March 3rd, viewing going on now through March 2nd at the auction houses new Park Avenue space.
Sotheby’s New York: "What Modern Is: The Collection of Mark Macdonald” One of America's most influential dealers of 20th Century Design, Mark McDonald has played a key role in building the international market for mid-century furniture, ceramics and glass. After starting his career at Lillian Nassau, the New York gallery of Tiffany and Art Nouveau, Mr. McDonald was one of the co-founders of the legendary Fifty/50, the first gallery in New York to focus on modernism, and whose contents were sold at Sotheby's in 1993. Mr. McDonald then opened Gansevoort Gallery in New York's Meatpacking District, and over the past decade has owned Mark McDonald Ltd. in Hudson, NY. What Modern Is will offer iconic, museum-quality yet affordable masterworks of American, Scandinavian and Italian design, with many of the works carrying estimates in the range of $5,000-30,000. Sale : Thu, Mar 10, 2:00 PM, Lots 301 – 450, Viewing: Sat, Mar 5th- Wed, Mar 9th. *The auction house has posted a video to their site which details how the sale was organized by the specialists in the Design department. http://www.sothebys.com/mcdonald/index.html
Christie’s Paris: The Gourdon Collection, one of the finest private collections of early 20th century decorative art and design ever to be offered at auction, on 29, 30 and 31 March 2011, at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris. The collection is estimated to achieve between 40 and 60 million euros. Housed in the spectacular medieval Château de Gourdon near Grasse, towering majestically over the Gorges du Loup, this collection of masterpieces has focused principally on the classicism of Art Deco and on the emergence of Modernism in France – the latter movement symbolised by the outstanding representation of the Union des Artistes Modernes (UAM.). The collection provides a chronological narrative – starting with exemplary works form the age of Art Nouveau, moving on to demonstrate the great achievements of Art Deco in the 1920s and illustrating in depth the utopian Modernist aesthetic – a radical new approach to design for the machine age. Included in the sale Including important one-off pieces, important prototypes, special commissions for prestigious patrons, and historic furniture and objects created by some of the artists for their own use, the collection comprises around 500 exceptional works by Louis Majorelle, Maurice Bouval, Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann, Jean Dunand, Eileen Gray, Pierre Chareau, Pierre Legrain, Jacques Adnet, Charlotte Alix, Louis Sognot, Georges Djo-Bourgeois, Jean Burkhalter, Francis Jourdain, Jan and Joël Martel, Boris Jean Lacroix, Hélène Henry, Charlotte Perriand, René Herbst, Jacques le Chevallier, Robert Mallet Stevens, Eckart Muthesius, and Jean Perzel, among others. *Christie’s has added a video to their site which shows you the collection in its original setting at the Chateau. http://www.christies.com/features/auctions/0311/gourdon/
Shop
The Pier Antiques Show: Pier 94, 12th Ave. @ 55th St., NYC. March 12-13, 10-6. Lauded as the city’s NYC's LARGEST, with Over 500 Exhibits, and most comprehensive Art & Antiques Event! It is really a GIANT flea market but really fun to visit. Especially Fashion Alley with tons of vintage clothing dealers.
ANTIQUES & ART AT THE ARMORY, Thursday March 10–Sunday March 13, 2011, Park Avenue Armory, New York City. The show features over 40 dealers specializing in high quality art and antiques including: French, English, Italian, Swedish and Continental furniture from the 17th century through mid century modern ∙ fine silver including Early American, English, Tiffany and Jensen ∙ Russian antiquities and art ∙ Asian textiles and antiquities ∙ rugs and tapestries ∙ English and Chinese export porcelain ∙ pottery ∙ antique boxes ∙ objets de Vertu ∙ whimsical objet ∙ garden antiques ∙ antique wicker ∙ fine antique, estate and contemporary jewelry ∙ fine, modern, and contemporary art and prints ∙ sculpture ∙ antique enamels ∙ American Folk Art ∙ Antique Flags ∙ rare books ∙ canine and sporting art and much more.
