Top 7 of 2007

As a recap of my year and to highlight some fabulous exhibits and places I visited, (but ::gasp:: did not blog about) I am highlighting MY top seven of 2007.

[1] Ruben and Isabel Toledo, Parsons School, 03/06/07
Number one was hands down the amazing talk given by Ruben and Isabel Toledo, which I blogged about here, I didn’t type out all the inspiring quotes and knowledge Ruben gave us the first time, so here it is! I am finally taking the time to get it out of my sketchbook and put it here (it’s great advice to start off the new year.)

“hold your ground-stand by your ugly piece, as it may be your best piece-BE BRAVE-stick by your ugly duckling”

“always have to love what you do. you have to be turned on by it”

Ruben Toledo on having a style:
“This whole thing is nonsense-it is you, it is coming out of you! Or add one thing to make it cohesive-it is you-it is coming out of you. DON’T RETHINK THINGS. No lying when you are an artist. Be in touch with your senses."

“Mistakes are great. They are so much better than what you could plan for yourself.”

”Achieve success later on! Not a bad thing to struggle early on, it builds your character.”

"Stay in your own bubble as long as you can. Come out with your own ingredients. NYC is a stew."

Ruben Toledo on Illustration (More specifically someone asked him about Nordstroms as a client & how much freedom he has with the assignment):
"Special point of view. Your special view. They don’t want to change what you do. They want your DNA, your personal style. Hiring you because they like you."

[2] Body/Language: Fashion Meets Graphic Design, AIGA, 03/24/07
9am-9pm! 12 hours of intense inspiration. And Debbie kept coming out in different outfits! It was like the Academy Awards, well not quite, but to a designer it was SO MUCH MORE. The audience was packed with students and designers, many who had traveled far & wide to attend the days events. My favorites were Debbie Millman & Isaac Mizrahi just chatting - and Andy Spade talking about the Kate Spade/Jack Spade brand. He showed us an amazing video that was the mission statement>brand>lifestyle of Kate Spade. Loved, loved it! And on our way out there was Kate. Kudos to her for coming out and supporting her man. I can't wait for next years speakers.Debbie Millman and Isaac MizrahiDebbie MillmanAndy Spade

[3] The Eye of an Artist: The Work of Devorah Sperber at the Brooklyn Museum. Still in awe at how Devorah creates these masterpieces, with spools of thread. My photos speak louder than words in this case. The site actually has a great behind the scenes look at how the artwork was set up!!!! It's a must see.
[4] The Getty A great way to spend a lovely day with friends. The openness of this museum is wonderful. How very California! We took the garden tour from a knowledgable guide and enjoyed just 'being' in the Getty space. I felt cultural just sipping my tea in the outside restaurant.

[5] Chicago! well more specifically Millennium Park. I finally made my way to this phenomenal city-and spent endless hours photographing the park & all its sculptural wonder.

[6] Pricked: Extreme Embroidery I blogged about it here.

[7] Saul Steinberg: Illuminations at the Morgan Library I learned so much about Saul that I never knew. The library itself is a beautiful structure to hold art exhibits and it's free on Friday nights. They have some more great shows coming up.

Pricked: Extreme Embroidery

I recently visited the Museum of Arts & Design to view the latest Embroidery exhibit. It's across the street from the MOMA. I finally mustered up the patience to maneuver myself into midtown, elbow my way through the holiday tourists, all to view some EXTREME EMBROIDERY. Seriously, I get excited about the randomest things! It was definitely worth ever minute. I scrutinized ever stitch and walked away very inspired to start stitching again in 2008. My Experimental Textiles Professor in College would be very proud! I searched the web to find some of the artist's work which was displayed.

Maria E. Piñeres My Favorite!
Mark Newport
Stephen Beal
Sonya Clark
Mattia Bonetti
Elaine Reichek
Michael Brennand
Ghada Amer
Tamar Stone
Dafna Kaffeman
Carol Shinn
Sabrina Gschwandtner
Andrea Dezso
Maira Kalman
Emily Hermant
Tilleke Schwartz
Annet Couwenberg
Paul Villinski
Laura Owens
Orly Cogan
Mark NewportMaria E. Piñeres

Scoping out the Bag Scene

So last weekend I was reading about bags in the NY Times and how department stores have taken into account the advertising they add during the holiday season. Trust me they do! I was the first to notice Lord & Taylor's beautiful watercolored green swoosh-tree months ago (Christmas now comes in October) and for a minute I definitely coveted one. It wasn't until after reading this article and seeing the Barneys' Holiday Bag on the subway yesterday that I decided how much I am influenced by 'pretty' bags. I need one. I need the two-toned green, beautifully illustrated Barneys bag. And so I sat, watching the lady with the pretty bag, deciding what I was going to buy at the store so I can get the bag!{picture from NY Times}{picture from Barneys}

Governors Island & West 8

Governors Island will have a new look soon enough. West 8 has been chosen to help design the urban oasis on Governors Island. This summer I waited in line for an hour to head to the Island. It was a great (free) day trip. The Island has beautiful designed mansions and castles! It's very deserted and that is what really makes the place so unique. It was Andrew Moore's Photography that first gave me the desire to head over to the Island. However, you are only allowed on the historic part not the part where these bowling alley/and Burger King images were taken. An old Super 8 motel is right on the border between the Historic/Commercial so we were able too peer into empty hotel rooms. Definitely a highlight of the day. Our tour guide gave us the history of the Island. So interesting!{Andrew Moore Photography}{Andrew Moore Photography}

A New Year, A New Color.

Pantone has announced No. 18-3943 (iris blue) as the 2008 color of the year. In the fashion world that is! I wonder what it is for my 2-Dimentional printing world? I liked how the article mentioned which brands are really not affected by color choices. Many have their own branding standards and cannot shy away from them and use new trendier colors. I hear what they mean--I am on a 'tight' branding standard myself during the day. Interesting article: read it here.

Virtual Holiday Window Tour

It all started when I got my domino magazine last month! They did an interview with Simon Doonan about the upcoming Barney's windows. Green is the new Black! So many have been blogging, writing and videoing about the Holiday Windows these days. I wanted to virtually try and view some in cities other than New York. Last year I was lucky enough to be in London during December to view the spectacular Fortnum & Mason's window display amongst others.

Here are my favorite Holiday Window links:
[1]Fred Flare's Window Shopping Diary (great slideshow)
[2]InStyle's Gallery
[3]Chicago's Marshall Field's Windows
[4]Habituallychic for Barneys
[5]More Bergdorf Goodman Views
[6]Habituallychic for Bergdorf Goodman
[7]NYC Holiday Windows Walking Tour
[8]Forbes article about Worldwide Windows

Another great feature for more browsing is to look around on flickr for some great window photography.

Let's not forget the design firm that helps create some of these displays.

New Year, New You, Times Square

How fabulous is this? I do enjoy my sleek new shredder, but what a great idea for all New Yorkers with a little bit of extra baggage. Baggage comes in all shapes and sizes, but the article fails to mention half started projects, magazines waiting to be gone through (to keep 'tear' sheets for design processes), and materials that are laying around for those 'just in case' moments. Those seem to be on the top of my list to get rid of before 2008. Making room for creativity is number 1. Most of this stuff just holds us back from our really big ideas. So here is to 2008 and the creative flow it holds for one and all.

NEW YORK (AP) In the spirit of starting anew, a business group and the city's sanitation department are inviting New Yorkers to shred their bad memories of 2007.

Everything from photos of ex-lovers to lousy report cards will be fair game when the Times Square Alliance and the New York Department of Sanitation set up shredders in the Times Square Visitors Center for an hour on Dec. 28.

Recycling bins will be available for items that can't be shredded, like embarrassing fashion mistakes, annoying CDs and irresistible and fattening chocolate chip cookies. The organizers say they'll also provide stationery for passers-by to jot down memories they wish would go away. A grand prize of $250 will be awarded to the person deemed to be most creative in letting go of old baggage. Better get there by noon: At 1 p.m., a sanitation truck will pick up the distasteful, the disturbing, the downright depressing and cart it all away.

Kiehl's Holiday Windows NYC

I was pleasantly surprised to see wonderful oversized watercolors at Kiehl's. What a nice display to showcase their products during the holiday season. I wonder if other U.S. cities have the New York original store in their banners (like these below) or a more local feel?

Bergdorf Goodman Holiday Windows 2007 Film

Bergdorf Goodman Holiday Windows 2007

Interviews and footage on the making of the Bergdorf Goodman Holiday windows. The windows were inspired by Tony Duquette. Bergdorf's have outdone themselves this year! All year round the windows continue to amaze me, but this season the visual crew is at its best. I haven't walked past the windows yet (I know, I am embarrassed to admit that)--as seeing all of them is an event in itself, but I am hoping to stroll by with my camera before the holidays.

Rugby Holiday Windows NYC

Last weekend I passed by the Ralph Lauren Rugby Store windows. I really liked the creative use of the ever so fabulous Lite Brite toy from my youth. Did you know they now come in flat screen versions? Feel free to pick up the same cube model Rugby used here & create your own visual display.
You almost have to look twice to notice the train set as the background for this display. The texture compliments the wintery Rugby clothing.

Vanessa's Illustrated Music Site

Vanessa Carlton's new cd booklet & website are fully illustrated. I love this hand drawn touch that she frequently uses on her releases. I've read that she does some of the hand drawn lettering herself and has an illustrator complete the overall look. Her new website has pictures that you roll-over to get to music, tour dates, and pictures. This works fine for artist types like me, but my sister is at a loss at how to navigate the site. It was interesting to hear her comments on the recent change.

Snow Globe Art

Walking in a Winter Wonderland! Walter Martin & Paloma Muñoz design art pieces in snowglobes. Each of the snow globes tells us a snowy tale that is later on photographed. Click here to learn more about their fairytale scenes. I am excited to see the exhibit will be in New York City in January. I am a huge fan of a snowdomes with a collection exceeding 500+ and I am looking forward to seeing how these artists portray miniature designed worlds in the confines of a dome.

Craft: Blog Mention

Thanks to the folks at Craft Magazine's blog for mentioning my Hanukkah Cards!

Miga • Quatchi • Sumi

I love the Olympics----and the Winter Vancouver 2010 Olympic mascots were just announced. Designed by the Vancouver-based company Meomi Design, Miga, Quatchi and Sumi were inspired by local Aboriginal mythological creatures and also strongly influenced by popular culture, modern animation styles, the Olympic and Paralympic Movements, the culture and wildlife of British Columbia and Canada, and the artists' own imagination. You can interact and meet the new characters here. I did a little research on the history of Olympic mascots. Interested? Click here.