Posts from — January 2014

Today I had one of those coffee meetings that left me feeling very Warhol. The artist and purist in me always struggles with the idea of mixing art with corporations. Even in the museum field, it was all a buzz if an arts institution joined forces with a company to support an art exhibit or program. The integrity and motives of the institution were questioned and many times scrutinized. It’s a conversation I’ve heard a million times and it has certainly played tug of war in my head every time I take a sponsored campaign and write #ad on an instagram photo. But the truth is, I need to make a living. I need to work steadily. And being creative is what I do best. I love creating and executing visually beautiful and interesting concepts with and for brands. In fact, before I went into the fine arts field, I studied commercial advertising. I wanted to work in branding, mainly print. Funny enough, my career has gone full circle. So I decided to quiet that voice and replace it with this one: Being good in business is the most fascinating kind of art. Making money is art and working is art and good business is the best art – Andy Warhol.

(Campbell’s Soup Can, Warhol LACMA)

Chinese New Year is upon us and as you can tell – I. Am. Inspired. I feel so fortunate to have grown up in the cultural wonderland that is NYC. So much of my upbringing was influenced by the diversity that surrounded me. It’s always interesting when people ask me “what are you?” because I almost feel like a hybrid of different cultures. For example, my neighborhood landscape included many family-owned businesses who were from all over the world.These experiences simply became a part of who I am and from it I fell in love with the artistic expressions of countries like India, Japan and China. After college, I got a job as an educator for the Bronx Museum (Latino, African American and Asian contemporary art) and I really got a chance to delve into the beauty and history of Asian culture, particularly Chinese culture and their theatrical productions. I was very familiar with their beautifully embellished images of Chinese women and men draped in intricate garments with breathtaking makeup to match. However, I didn’t know that it came from The Chinese Opera and was also used to celebrate Chinese New Year.

We are now entering the year of the horse and I wanted to have a bit of makeup fun with the colors red and gold, which symbolize luck and wealth. My first image is a classic red lip look but inspired by The Chinese Opera with a more dramatic eye. The nails are a take on the flowers typically used in Chinese New Year – Plum Blossom and Azaleas. In the second picture, I combined pink, red and gold to create a wearable everyday Spring look. My last picture is definitely not what I would consider an everyday look for me, but it was a lot of fun to recreate. If you’d like to shop these looks, I have all the details on Babble … or you can just use this as inspiration to create your own makeup looks inspired by Chinese New Year. It’s a lot fun to play around. My boyfriend and I stayed up late shooting pictures and trying out different ideas. Hence the more the conceptual take on makeup than I usually do.

May this year bring you lots of happiness!

We all have our guilty pleasures, and I must admit that anything cat related is mine. Yes, I totally love cat videos and memes. It’s the only thing I find acceptable when it comes to wasting time online. We have two cats, and they’re like family. Of course it was fitting that we attend a show in honor of cats, right? As soon as my son walked into the gallery, he wandered around searching for the best cat painting of them all. I think he found it …

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I own a few peplum tops, and have a love/hate relationship with them. I really have to be in a frilly sort of mood to wear one unless they have a more structured or flowy look, if that makes sense. The top I’m wearing wouldn’t technically be considered a peplum but I’m favoring this silhouette a lot more. It’s way more flattering if you have curves. I really like the asymmetrical cut too. It’s a jersey knit, so it’s super comfortable and can be dressed up or down.

(Heather Pleated Asymmetrical top, Asos pencil skirt, Chinese Laundry heels, Ann Taylor bag)

This corner at LACMA made me stop in my tracks. I don’t know what it is about Brancusi’s Bird in Flight but it’s as though the sculpture commands you to gaze in wonderment. Although the artist is recognized for being a pioneer in abstract art, I see a representational form. I see movement. Maybe it’s because I know the name of the piece? Had I not known, would I see this 73-inch-tall polished bronze sculpture as a bird soaring into the sky? I guess the next question is – Does it even matter? This sculpture is always a soothing and gentle reminder that challenges can be handled with grace. It embodies hope and triumph. The pedestal is also reminder that in order to overcome obstacles you must have a foundation (whatever that means to you – family, education, spirituality). In a span of about five minutes this all came to mind with one simple glance. That’s the beauty of abstraction, your mind fills in the rest.

(Bird In Flight, LACMA)

I’m certainly no stranger to taking risks for the betterment of my life – Pursuing an education I was told was not possible for me, applying for positions at art institutions that seemed out of reach, distancing myself from life situations that do not honor who I am and walking into the unknown – this quote by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. resonated with me the most. It was with faith (in myself) that I walked up that staircase, step by step, and found myself, my core, my happiness.

It was not too long ago that my son and I traveled to Washington D.C., where we got the opportunity to see the Martin Luther King Day Jr. Memorial. One of the most breathtaking experiences I’ve had to date, especially when my then 12 year old son read Dr. King’s words out loud as we sat and reflected on all those who have sacrificed so that we can have the freedom to take risks and share what we’ve learned with others.

Last Spring, black and white was all the rage. However, the thing about trends is that it’s all about reinventing and modernizing an already classic look. Well, for the most part. I can think of a few trends that don’t resonate with anything classic (acid wash jeans). But black and white will always remain a classic no matter how you dice it up. In fact, it’s one of my favorite “non-color” color combos! As I’m sure you noticed.

I’m wearing Zara’s monochromatic striped sheer top from last Spring similar here. Here are a few