Save The Date: The 29th Annual Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival presented by the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce, September 5-15, 2013.

Western Design Conference Announces September Jackson Hole Events: Four days of furniture, fashion, jewelry, accessories and fun

New Jackson Hole Showcase of Homes Added to Fall Arts Festival Lineup

Event offers rare opportunity to tour the valley’s exquisite homes

Acclaimed cowboy artist Jason Rich has been chosen as featured artist for the 2013 Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival

The Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival is widely recognized as one of the premier cultural events in the Rocky Mountain West, with thousands of art enthusiasts drawn each year to experience the diverse artwork and breathtaking natural surroundings that make Jackson Hole a leading cultural center. The 2013 Festival will take place September 5-15. Experience the world-class installments of contemporary, culinary, landscape, Native American, wildlife, and Western, arts. Visitors will appreciate the works of nationally and internationally acclaimed artists along with an exceptional array of art, music, cuisine, and wine. More than fifty events round out our eleven-day festival. Click here to view the complete 2013 Fall Arts Festival Program online! Find the insert in the August 2013 edition of Mountain Living.

The 10-day Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival, from September 5 – 15, 2013, offers visitors more than 50 family-friendly events, many of them free. With a backdrop of the Teton Mountains in their autumn beauty, the festival revels in art and artists from around the world, with a chance to purchase original pieces from cowboy to contemporary. The 2013 roundup of artsy fun includes the Palates & Palettes gallery walk on September 6; tours of historic Jackson Hole ranches September 7; and the crowd-pleasing Taste of the Tetons where participants stroll historic downtown Jackson’s sidewalks sampling gourmet cuisines from area chefs on September 8.

As the 10-day event continues, featured artist for the 2013 Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival Jason Rich will do a meet-and-greet and sign the 2013 Fall Arts Festival poster featuring his original oil painting on September 11. The National Museum of Wildlife Art presents its 26th annual Western Visions® Wild West Artist Party and Miniatures and More Show & Sale on September 12 and 13, and artists create original works in a flash at the popular QuickDraw Art Sale and Auction in Jackson’s Town Square on September 14. Museum-quality contemporary Western style will be on display at the Western Design Conference, the unique exhibition of one-of-a-kind Western decorative arts and fashion sponsored by Teton Home and Living magazine, which runs from September 5 – 8 and includes an exhibit and sale, fashion show, lectures and more.

Each year the Jackson, Wyoming, arts event selects a featured artist, whose work graces the annual festival poster – which then becomes a collectible in its own right. This year’s choice, Jason Rich credits his Western roots as the inspiration behind his work, which draws on his experiences from riding beside cowboys in a corral to packing through the

Jason Rich

mountains to create paintings, that reflect the authenticity of the cowboy way.

“We are very excited to have Jason’s work on the 2013 official Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival poster,” says Murphy. “His love of Western life is demonstrated through his work.” Rich’s original large-scale oil painting “River Overlook – Gros Ventre River Ranch” has been on display at the Wort Hotel since Memorial Day weekend and will be until Saturday, September 14. Posters will be on sale at the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce and Rich will do a poster signing event at Legacy Gallery on Wednesday, September 11.

Jason Rich grew up riding, training and drawing horses on a small farm in southern Idaho. He spent many childhood summers on cattle drives with his uncle and couldn’t imagine a better place to be than on the back of a horse. He currently lives on a small horse ranch with his family in Utah’s Cache Valley.

“Every painting starts with the horse for me – the way the light catches its gesture and movement,” says Rich.

Rich’s work has been featured in magazines including “Art of the West,” “Cowboys and Indians,” “Southwest Art,” “Western Art Collector,” and on the cover of “Western Horseman“. In October 2011, he was accepted into the prestigious Cowboy Artists of America (CAA).

His interest in art was fostered at a young age as well. His mother says, “He’s been drawing horses since he could pick up a pencil.” He studied art at Utah State University under Glen Edwards, a talented artist and instructor who encouraged traditional and representation art in a department that mostly emphasized contemporary and abstract applications. Upon completing his education, Jason dedicated himself to pursuing art full time. “My wife and I lived in a basement. Our first baby slept in a closet. But we knew art was what we wanted to do.”

2013 Fall Arts Festival poster image – ‘River Overlook – Gros Ventre River Ranch’ 48×50 oil by Jason Rich

In 2007 Rich was chosen as the featured cowboy artist and gave demonstrations, interviews, and workshops at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum for their National Day of the American Cowboy event celebrating the 100th birthday of John Wayne. At the Autry National Center’s 2008 Masters of the American West Fine Art Exhibition and Sale he was the recipient of the first annual Spirit of the West Award. Other honors include being selected the National Cattleman’s Beef Association poster artist in 2002 and receiving the Best New Auction Artist Award at the C. M. Russell Auction in 1998. The Arts for the Parks competition awarded Rich the Grand Prize in 1997 and the Founders Favorite Award in 1999. Rich has also been invited to participate in the Prix de West Invitational Art Exhibition the past nine years.

Jason Rich currently lives in northern Utah with his wife, Kari, three children and three horses. “I live in the foothills now. I love that I can hop on my horse and be in the mountains in a matter of minutes.”  The Legacy Gallery in Jackson, WY and Scottsdale, AZ represents Jason’s artwork.

The First Annual Jackson Hole Showcase of Homes

The Jackson Hole Showcase of Homes will provide a one-of-a-kind opportunity for visitors to tour a selection of area homes during the September 2013 Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival. The new-for-2013 event, offered on Friday, September 13 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Saturday, September 14 from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., will include homes designed, built and decorated by premier architects, builders and designers, announced Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce Director of Special Events Maureen Murphy, who adds that the event will benefit community nonprofits.

“It’s no secret that Jackson Hole boasts some of the country’s most spectacular homes,” says Murphy. “This year during the Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival, visitors can see for themselves the reality of this well-deserved reputation. We’re so grateful for the designers and homeowners who have agreed to participate so we can share the art of home design as a new addition to our many arts offerings.”

Spectators will be able to view a selection of Jackson Hole homes designed in styles ranging from Western to contemporary. The two-day event is a self-guided tour allowing for personal contact with the designers, architects, builders and landscapers who are behind these unique projects.

Part of the First Annual Jackson Hole Showcase of Homes, this Custom log home by architects Ellis Nunn & Associates uses Old World construction methods (© Tuck Fauntleroy

Tickets for the Jackson Hole Showcase of Homes are $75 each and are available online at www.jacksonholeshowcase.com and event guides can be picked up at select retailers listed on the website. Only 250 tickets will be sold with all proceeds donated to local charities supported by the participating homeowners.  The event is hosted by Homestead magazine.

British Installation Artist Bruce Munro to Exhibit Light-Based Works At Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Columbus, Ohio

Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens to host,Bruce Munro: Light at Franklin Park Conservatory, by internationally renowned artist Bruce Munro, scheduled to open September 25.

 Exhibit of large-scale light installations is the British artist’s third exhibition in the United States.

Acclaimed British artist Bruce Munro will debut an exhibition of light-based installations and gallery works at Columbus, Ohio’s Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens on September 25, 2013. The exhibition, Bruce Munro: Light at Franklin Park Conservatory, will introduce work never before seen in the U.S.

British Artist Bruce Munro to Exhibit Light-Based Works At Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

This solo exhibition will be Munro’s third in the U.S. The first in 2012 at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pa. drew critical acclaim and hundreds of thousands of visitors. Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art in Nashville opened the second U.S. exhibition in May, 2013.

Munro’s Light will transform the Conservatory’s 83,000 square feet of indoor environments and three outdoor courtyards, creating a captivating nighttime experience. Ten large-scale site-specific installations will be displayed, four of them new works created uniquely for the Conservatory. Field of Light, perhaps one of Munro’s most iconic artworks, consists of nearly 3,000 lighted glass spheres springing from a courtyard garden. In the Bonsai Courtyard, Water-Towers, monumental structures made of plastic water bottles, glow and change color to synchronized music.

“Bruce Munro’s Light is another exciting chapter in the Conservatory’s decade-long program of providing visually inspiring, world-class art that complements our unique spaces and plant collections,” said Bruce A. Harkey, Executive Director of Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. “We are privileged to be able to introduce these immersive artworks to Columbus, Central Ohio and the region. We are confident that Light will provide our visitors with a pleasurable, beautiful, engaging, and memorable experience.”

The exhibition will immerse visitors in a grand experience with nearly 60 miles of optical fiber used to illuminate the exhibition. In addition, more than 5,700 plastic bottles, nearly 3,000 glass spheres, and 48 light projectors are included in Light. More than 4,000 man hours went into creating Light in the U.K., and an additional 1,400 hours went into installing

Bruce Munro in front of one of his works at Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania.

the exhibition at the Conservatory.

Wiltshire-based Bruce Munro is an installation artist working with light in all of its forms. His work has been exhibited at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, the 13th century gothic Salisbury Cathedral, and in an annual exhibition residency at Waddesdon Manor, of the de Rothschild family estate. The Holburne Museum in Bath, Kensington Palace in London and the Guggenheim Museum in New York City have also exhibited his work. Munro is best known for immersive large-scale mixed-media installations based on his interest in the medium of light. Recording ideas and images in sketchbooks has been his practice for over 30 years; by this means he has captured his responses to stimuli such as music, literature, science and the world around him for reference, reflection and subject matter. This tendency has been combined with a liking for components and an inventive urge for reuse, coupled with career training in manufacture of light. As a result, Munro produces both monumental temporary experiential artworks as well as intimate story-pieces.

“Every garden has a unique feature,” Munro said. “This exhibition is more about a voyage around the garden rather than a series of stops and starts. It’s important that people take away the whole memory of their visit…the sum of the whole being greater than the individual parts.”

Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens will offer this special evening experience from 5 until 11 pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and select Saturdays. Tickets are available for purchase online. Conservatory members will receive half-off admission for this special engagement. The Conservatory will maintain its regular daytime hours and seasonal exhibitions during the run of Light, which ends on February 8, 2014.

Franklin Park Conservatory – John F. Wolfe Palm House

The Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens offers botanical collections, art and nature-based exhibitions, plant shows, and educational programs for all ages. Situated in an 88-acre urban park, the Conservatory features the historic 1895 John F. Wolfe Palm House and 83,000 square feet of glasshouses, classrooms, and meeting and event spaces. The Conservatory owns a signature collection of glass artwork by Dale Chihuly. Light Raiment II, a permanent installation by internationally recognized light artist James Turrell, illuminates the John F. Wolfe Palm House every evening from dusk until dawn.

Beaches, Seafood and Rock ‘n’ Roll Legends

Foreigner, Loverboy to Headline Panama City Beach Seafood and Music Festival 2013

The Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association and the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau are excited to announce the 2013 Panama City Beach Seafood and Music Festival (http://www.pcbseafoodfestival.com), which will take place October 17-20. Celebrating seafood, fishing, music, art and culture in Panama City Beach, this exceptionally fun-filled, four-day event features mouthwatering seafood, some of the world’s most beautiful beaches and nonstop music from some of the industry’s top performers and rising stars. Featured artists for the 2013 edition include Abigail Rose, Andy Velo Band, Ed Roland and the Sweet Tea Project, Collective Soul, Loverboy, Better Than Ezra and the multi-platinum band Foreigner.

2013 Panama City Beach Seafood & Music Festival. (PRNewsFoto/Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce)

“With unprecedented support from local fishing and seafood industries, local restaurants, local and state sponsors, local and regional business partners, local and state government, civic organizations, local schools and numerous volunteers, the 2013 Panama City Beach Seafood and Music Festival is community at its best,” said Derrick Bennett, chairman of the Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce.

The new Aaron Bessant Park Amphitheater will play host this year, providing an exciting concert atmosphere and plenty of room to set up a lawn chair or get up and dance. The Big Tent will give VIP ticket holders unparalleled access and seating for all concerts, and lodging packages are in the works from some of Panama City Beach’s best hotels and resorts. Tent Village will also be on-site as your go-to stop for delicious seafood from the area’s best chefs, as well as great shopping from retail shops and arts and crafts vendors.

Tickets for this rockin’ event are on sale now, so check out the website at www.pcbseafoodfestival.com for details or information on how to become a vendor or sponsor.

Come to Panama City Beach, Florida, and discover the home of award-winning beaches, world-class accommodations and an authentic atmosphere that lives and breathes vacation any time of the year. With spectacular events, predictably sunny weather and sun-soaked excitement for all ages, the Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce always has the welcome mat extended! With 27 miles of shoreline bordering the emerald-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrews Bay, Panama City Beach provides a genuine vacation experience in a relaxed, inclusive setting, enticing visitors to come back time and time again. The mission for the Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce is to support, encourage and expand business development and tourism while enhancing the quality of life in the community. Visit www.PCBeach.org or call (850) 235.1159 for more information.

Florida’s hospitality industry represents a $71.8 billion industry, which comprises 23% of Florida’s economy and $4.3 billion in sales tax revenue. The industry is Florida’s largest employer, with more than 1,000,000 employees. The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association is among the most influential trade associations in Florida and was established in 1946 to represent the restaurant industry. Since that time, the scope of FRLA’s representation has expanded to include the entire hospitality industry including lodging establishments, restaurants and thousands of suppliers to the industry. The association counts among its members some of the largest businesses in each of these categories. The mission of FRLA is to Protect, Educate, and Promote Florida’s hospitality industry. The power and influence of FRLA is indisputable with a legislative track record to back it up. Led by CEO Carol Dover and an active Board of Directors, FLRA has been effective in influencing legislation that has saved the industry $1.2 billion in taxes and fees over the past 10 years. To learn more about FRLA or to find out how you can get involved, call 888-372-9119 or visit www.FRLA.org.

Water Music Festival 2013 Celebrates Legendary American Composers, Oct. 11 & 12, on Washington State’s Long Beach Peninsula

The Water Music Festival brings top talent and music to the watery setting of the Long Beach Peninsula each October. This year, the Festival makes a marked departure from chamber music to feature celebrated American composers such as Cole Porter, Duke Ellington and Leonard Bernstein.

Founded in 1984, Water Music Festival is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing fine and affordable musical entertainment to the Long Beach Peninsula. From its inception, beach, marshlands, riverbanks and wetlands have set the tone for the Water Music Festival. Now in its 29th season, Water Music recognizes emerging talent with its Young Artist program and also presents these annual events: Music in the Gardens (July), Jazz & Oysters (August) and Tuba Christmas (December).

With its mix of sensational restaurants, local seafood, ocean-view lodging, colorful festivals, unique museums and

The TangleTown Trio will perform a selection of Broadway show tunes during the Water Music Festival

attractions, landmark lighthouses, fine art galleries, meandering trails, birding spots, state and national parks, and, above all, its spacious, white-sand beach, the Long Beach Peninsula continues to be one of the Northwest’s most enjoyable and refreshing coastal destinations. Located approximately two hours from Portland (Oregon) and three from Seattle (Washington), the Long Beach Peninsula is bordered by the Columbia River, Willapa Bay and the Pacific Ocean.

The 2013 Water Music Festival is tuning in to familiar music this year with the theme “Celebrating American Composers”. Featuring compositions by George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, Duke Ellington and more, Water Music Festival will present three inspired musical events at three unique, enchanting and intimate venues on Friday, Oct. 11 and Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013, on Washington State’s scenic Long Beach Peninsula.

“Intrigued by the superb artistry and much-loved repertoire of early to mid-20th century American composers, we decided to expand Water Music beyond chamber music to include classic Broadway show tunes and jazz orchestra arrangements by American greats,” said Diane Marshall, event coordinator. “Water Music Festival continues to bring world-class talent to the Long Beach Peninsula in order to share great music with our community and visitors.”

On Friday, Oct. 11, at 7PM, Ilwaco’s historic Inn at Harbour Village will be the venue for the North Coast Chorale, performing numbers by Duke Ellington and Leonard Bernstein, and the jazz ensemble – the Greta Matassa Quartet – who will pay tribute to Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, as well as the music of beloved American songbook jazz composers. The evening will start with a half-hour social including no-host bar and complimentary fruit and cheese buffet. The venue is ADA accessible. Tickets are $25 each.

On Saturday, Oct. 12, at noon, at the landmark Oysterville Church (on the National Registry of Historic Places), Social Insecurity – a national award-winning barbershop quartet – will offer an all-American, a cappella concert. Tickets are $20 each.

A peaceful air of history surrounds the Oysterville Church in what was the early county seat of Pacific County. bill wagner photo. 8-02

Also on Saturday, at 6PM, the spectacular, private Leadbetter Farms Lighthouse estate will be the setting for Water Music Festival’s finale concert. The evening will start with wine and beer offerings at a no-host bar and a complimentary selection of tasty hors d’oeuvres. Later, the lively and talented TangleTown Trio (piano, violin and voice) will entertain with a selection of Broadway show tunes by the likes of Cole Porter, George and Ira Gershwin and various other American composers. Tickets are $30 each. Tickets for all events can be purchased online at http://watermusicfestival.com/tickets/.

For more information, call 360.665.4466 or email info@watermusicfestival.com. For event and destination information, please call the Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau at 360.642.2400 or access http://www.funbeach.com.

Caption: The TangleTown Trio will perform a selection of Broadway show tunes during the Water Music Festival, Oct. 11 and 12, on the Long Beach Peninsula.

 

Museum of the City of New York Extends Popular Micro-Unit Exhibition, “Making Room: New Models for Housing New Yorkers”

Launches Contest to Win $1,000 Transformable Furniture Piece

“Making Room has proven to be one of the most popular exhibitions we’ve launched in recent years,” – Susan Henshaw Jones, Ronay Menschel Director of the Museum of the City of New York.

The Museum of the City of New York is extending its popular exhibition, Making Room: New Models for Housing New Yorkers – complete with a fully built “micro-unit” – to September 15th due to popular demand. Organized in conjunction with Citizens Housing & Planning Council (CHPC), Making Room was due to close its doors Labor Day weekend. But in August, the exhibition continued to draw throngs of visitors from the region, country and around the globe.

“Making Room has proven to be one of the most popular exhibitions we’ve launched in recent years. People are attracted to our fully furnished apartment with transformable furniture, offering insights into how design will re-shape the future of the city’s housing stock,” said Susan Henshaw Jones, Ronay Menschel Director of the Museum of the City of New York.

The exhibition examines how New York City’s changing social, economic, and cultural lives, especially the rise of single adults, are re-shaping urban households, and presents an array of innovative architectural solutions that could better accommodate the city’s emerging housing needs. Making Room features proposals to provide new housing options for a 21st century population (including shared housing for single adults and modified homes for extended families), a look at real-life examples pioneered in other cities around the world, and innovative designs submitted to New York City’s adAPT competition, which enticed developer/architect teams to design buildings of micro-units for small households, meaning one- to two-people.

Making Room originated with the launch of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s PlaNYC report that projected an increase of one million residents by 2030. CHPC began to examine how our current population is being accommodated and revealed that New York’s residential stock and related codes no longer match the needs of its changing population. Today, almost half of the New York City population is single, a shift that is radically reshaping housing needs.

Already a third of all households are a single person living alone and the rest of the single population are staying with family for longer or sharing with unrelated adults in a variety of informal, and often illegal and unsafe, arrangements. The reality is that only 18 percent of the city’s housing is occupied by a nuclear family, defined as two parents and children under 25. Meanwhile, small apartments (less than 400 square feet) are prohibited in many areas of the city, and it remains illegal for more than three unrelated adults living together. As a result, single-parent families, immigrants, the elderly and recent graduates, among other groups, struggle to adapt themselves to housing designed for a previous generation.

The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco Presents the Art of Bulgari: La Dolce Vita–1990, at the de Young Museum

“I always visit Bulgari because it is the most important museum of contemporary art.”
– Andy Warhol

The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco is pleased to announce The Art of Bulgari: La Dolce Vita & Beyond 1950–1990, an exhibition of approximately 150 pieces created by the renowned Italian jeweler over four decades. This exclusive exhibition will highlight jewelry that defined a pivotal period in Italian design, and will include many pieces from the personal collection of Elizabeth Taylor. The Art of Bulgari: La Dolce Vita & Beyond, 1950–1990 will be on display at the de Young Museum (de Young Museum, Golden Gate Park, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco, CA 94118 deyoungmuseum.org, 415-750-3600) from September 21, 2013 through February 17, 2014.

The Art of Bulgari: La Dolce Vita & Beyond, 1950–1990 continues the Fine Arts Museums’ strong track record of exhibitions highlighting the work of decisive figures and movements in the world of fashion and design including: Cartier in America, Balenciaga and Spain, Yves Saint Laurent and The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk, among others. Works in the exhibition also include those from the 1970s and 80s, a particularly innovative period for the jeweler and one influenced by Pop Art and other contemporary trends.

 

Bulgari. Necklace, 1961 – Platinum with emeralds and diamonds. Courtesy of de Young Museum

 

Bulgari “bib” necklace in gold with cabochon emeralds, amethysts, turquoise and diamonds, ca 1965. (PRNewsFoto/Bulgari)

 

Bulgari. Sautoir, 1969 – Platinum with sapphires and diamonds. Courtesy of de Young Museum

 

Bulgari’s successful cultivation of prominent patrons and movie stars like Sophia Loren, Ingrid Bergman, and perhaps most notably, Elizabeth Taylor, has long been a key aspect of the jeweler’s reputation. To help explore the cultural context in which these objects were made, the exhibition will include innovative uses of sketches, photographs, and other archival materials that help to reveal a fascinating intersection of celebrity, design, and fine craftsmanship.

Today part of the Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessey LVMH Group, Bulgari was founded in Rome in 1884 as a jewelry shop and progressively imposed itself with its magnificent jewelry creations, emblems of Italian excellence. Bulgari notably began to create its own trademark in jewelry in the 1960s by embracing boldly-colored combinations of gemstones, use of heavy gold, and forms derived from Greco-Roman classicism, the Italian Renaissance, and the 19th-century Roman school of goldsmiths. The company helped to develop a look that would come to be known as the “Italian school” of jewelry design. Pieces in the exhibition display the jeweler’s eclectic creativity and invention during this period.

Bulgari. ‘Melone’ evening bag, ca. 1972 – Gold and burnished steel with diamonds. Courtesy of de Young Museum

Bulgari. ‘Parentesi’ parure, ca. 1982 – Gold with diamonds. Courtesy of de Young Museum

International success made the Company evolve into its current dimension as a global and diversified player in the luxury market, with a store network in the most exclusive shopping areas worldwide and a portfolio of products and services ranging from jewels and watches to accessories, perfumes and hotels.

“The hard-edged designs of the 1970s included a whole range based on the Stars-and-Stripes motif, while in the 1980s the Parentesi collection had a smoother, modular, almost architectural presence; both show how the jeweler could lead in new directions with a strong sense of design,” said Martin Chapman, curator in charge of European Decorative Arts and Sculpture at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.

New York Architecture and Design Festival, Archtober, Hits Stride in its Third Year with Expanded Offerings

Archtober grows and shines an even brighter spotlight on New York City, as the third annual edition of the city’s official architecture & design festival offers new programs, shows, events. 31 days of citywide Archtober design festival: 150 programs in 50-plus venues.

Archtober (ärk’t!b!r) ( http://www.Archtober.org) the official New York City’s Architecture and Design Month – is a collaborative grassroots initiative between the city’s leading cultural institutions and professional organizations that raises public awareness of architecture and design in everyday life. The American Institute of Architects New York Chapter and the Center for Architecture have announced new and expanded programs for the third annual edition of Archtober. Record attendance and involvement are projected for the growing festival, with more than 150 curated programs. Daily tours, lectures, films, and exhibitions will celebrate the lasting civic and international impact of the richness of the city’s built environment. The full calendar of offerings is available at http://www.archtober.org/calendar.

Taking place during October, the annual month-long festival of architecture includes films, lectures, family activities, programs, exhibitions and more. “The many participating organizations aim to raise awareness of the important role of design in our city and globally,” says Jill N. Lerner, FAIA, 2013 president of AIA New York and principal of architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates. “Building on the first two years, Archtober 2013 will shine a spotlight on what makes New York great: its unparalleled architecture, outstanding design professionals, and global influence.”

With 31 days of events, tours and exhibits in more than 50 venues, Archtober includes programs at the Center for Architecture, including a new exhibition opening October 1 on American architects behind the biggest building projects in Asia, called Practical Utopias. Other city institutions hosting major Archtober programs include the Guggenheim Museum, the Museum of Arts and Design, and the Brooklyn Navy Yard Center at BLDG 92, a fledgling cultural venue.

Archtober 2013 Highlights include:

October 1: The exhibition Practical Utopias opens at the Center for Architecture, on global urbanism and recent design in five Asian cities (curator: Jonathan D. Solomon).

October 3: Dekton by Cosentino presents new concepts by seven emerging New York firms with the opening of Surface Innovation: Redefining Boundaries of Interior and Exterior Spaces.

October 7: The future of urban housing is subject of discussion at the Center for Architecture as part of its 10th anniversary and World Architecture Day.

October 16: The Architecture and Design Film Festival opens, at Tribeca Cinemas.

Kith Manhattan Launches Limited Edition Modern Vice X Cloth Surgeon Phython Chukka Boot

Modern Vice x Cloth Surgeon Python Chukka, Available Kith Manhattan

Modern Vice and Cloth Surgeon have teamed up to create this python skin chukka boots for Fall/Winter 2013 (http://shop.kithnyc.com/products/copy-of-modern-vice-x-cloth-surgeon-python-chukka-white), featuring an all python upper in a clean black on a classic chukka silhouette. Luxury designer footwear brand Modern Vice makes its mark at Kith stores with a specialty python Chukka, re-done by bespoke product maker Cloth Surgeon. These Kith exclusive Modern Vice chukkas feature an all python upper with a Vibram outsole with Goodyear welting beneath for durability and lasting use. Soft leather lining is added to the shoe for comfort and comes finished off with matching colored waxed laces. Limited pairs are now available exclusively at Kith Manhattan and www.KithNYC.com for $798 USD.

Modern Vice x Cloth Surgeon Python Chukka, Available Kith Manhattan

Modern Vice x Cloth Surgeon Python Chukka, Available Kith Manhattan

Modern Vice x Cloth Surgeon Python Chukka, Available Kith Manhattan

Modern Vice x Cloth Surgeon Python Chukka, Available Kith Manhattan

First Annual Michigan Burlesque Festival Debuts in Detroit Sept. 21

Burlesque performers from around the world are slated to perform at inaugural festival. Advanced tickets available via Brown Paper Tickets.

“Some people think that burlesque is just one kind of entertainment, but this festival will help audiences to discover dozens of different genres of this art form”

Acclaimed performers from around the world will come together on September 21, 2013 for the first annual Michigan Burlesque Festival. A wide variety of burlesque entertainment will grace the stage at Detroit’s Hastings Street Ballroom/Tangent Gallery (715 E. Milwaukee St. Detroit, MI 48202) including: acrobatics, trapeze, silks, chains, hula hooping, traditional striptease, vocal numbers, veil fan dancing, bawdy comedy and more.

“Some people think that burlesque is just one kind of entertainment, but this festival will help audiences to discover a dozen different genres of this art form,” said Valencia Starling, co-owner of Fancy Pants Arts and Entertainment, and producer of the festival. “This will be a fantastic event to sample burlesque in all of its’ forms and examine what suits your personal taste.”

Headliners for the evening include The Weird Sisters Circus aerial troupe (http://xosarah.com/weirdsisters), Cleveland’s burlesque queen Bella Sin (http://bellasin.weebly.com), and Detroit’s very own Lushes LaMoan. Host for the evening will be the delectable and vibrant Foxy Tann and DJ Shane Bang will be providing audible pleasures. In addition to the star-studded line-up, the Tangent Gallery will be booming throughout the night, lined with artists and merchants displaying and selling their crafts, apparel, sweet treats and more.

The First Annual Michigan Burlesque Festival is produced by Fancy Pants Arts & Entertainment (http://fancypantsa2.com) of Ann Arbor. Sponsors for the event are Vault of Midnight, Underground Sounds, The GetUp, Montabahn Pasties, Treat Dreams, Rock the Booth, Fantasy Attic Costumes, www.FancyFeather.com, Noir Leather, Nice Shirt and Peteet’s Famous Cheesecakes.

Advanced tickets ($15 advanced/day of show or $20 for VIP) are available via Brown Paper Tickets at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/440311. http://www.facebook.com/MichiganBurlesqueFestival

New Exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art Explores Three Centuries of The Worldwide Textile Trade

September 16, 2013–January 5, 2014

Exhibition Location: The Tisch Galleries, second floor

Interwoven Globe: The Worldwide Textile Trade, 1500-1800 is the first major exhibition to explore the international transmittal of design from the 16th to the early 19th century through the medium of textiles and highlight an important design story that has never before been told from a truly global perspective.

While previous studies have focused on this story from the viewpoint of trade, Interwoven Globe is the first exhibition to explore it as a history of design—and to approach it from a perspective that emphasizes the beauty and sophistication of these often overlooked objects. It will explore the interrelationship of textiles, commerce, and taste from the Age of Discovery to the 19th century.

From India and its renowned, ancient mastery of painted and dyed cotton to the sumptuous silks of China and Japan, Turkey and Iran, the paths of influence are traced westward to Europe and the Americas. Beginning in the 16th century, the golden age of European maritime navigation in search of spice routes to the east brought about the flowering of an abundant textile trade, causing a breathtaking variety of textiles in a multiplicity of designs and techniques to travel across the globe.  Textiles, which often acted as direct currency for spices and other goods, made their way from India and Asia to Europe, between India and Asia and Southeast Asia, from Europe to the east, and eventually to the west to North and South America. Trade textiles blended the traditional designs, skills, and tastes of all of the cultures that produced them, resulting in objects that are both intrinsically beautiful and historically fascinating. Shaped by an emerging worldwide visual culture, the resulting fashion for the “exotic” in textiles, as well as in other goods and art forms, gave rise to what can be recognized as the first truly global style.

Many of the textiles that will be on display in Interwoven Globe have rarely or never been on public view, usually due to their cross-cultural nature, which make them a challenge to fit comfortably in the permanent galleries of a single curatorial department. The exhibition will provide a unique opportunity to examine the beauty and sophistication of these objects from around the world and engage visitors who are interested in a wide range of topics, such as fashion, textile production, technology, history, and design.

The exhibition will be divided into nine galleries, some organized by geography and others by theme. It will begin with the Portuguese maritime expansion and the new textile trade they developed with China and India. Portuguese merchants recognized the superior skills of the Chinese and Indian textile workers and introduced them to European imagery so that they could create products that could be sold to a European market.

Courtyard by Marriott Manhattan Times Square West Hotel Offers Discounted Rates for Labor Day Weekend

Visit New York City this Labor Day weekend and book at the Courtyard by Marriott Manhattan Times Square West hotel to save on Manhattan accommodations.

With the end of the summer approaching, the Courtyard by Marriott Times Square West hotel is offering special rates for Labor Day weekend. Stay overnight on Sunday, September 1 and Monday, September 2 and pay only $199 for a king-sized bed guestroom per night. This rate includes continental breakfast for two per day.

The Courtyard by Marriott Manhattan Times Square West hotel is New York’s newest hotel. Built from the ground up

Courtyard by Marriott Manhattan Times Square West Hotel

specifically for the New York Times Square hotel market, the hotel offers 244 modern, sophisticated hotel rooms with a variety of accommodations and amenities. Located right in the heart of the Fashion District, the hotel is a short walk to some of New York’s most iconic landmarks including Times Square, the New York theater and museum districts, Fifth Avenue, Macy’s Herald Square, the Empire State Building, Penn Station, Port Authority and Javitz Center. Local subway stops are only three blocks away, providing easy access to popular destinations throughout the city. The comfortable hotel rooms embody Marriott’s reputation for quality as well as the allure and excitement of New York City. Hotel amenities include free high-speed Internet, flat-screen HD televisions with HBO, concierge services, group meeting spaces and a 24-hour fitness center.

To make a reservation, visit Marriott.com and click on the “Stay for Breakfast” rate; daily rate does not include tax. Book today and enjoy what the city and this hotel have to offer.

The Courtyard Times Square West hotel is managed by 365 Hospitality Management.

Flor de Caña, The rum of Nicaragua celebrates recognized global growth record with a new design

Flor de Caña ( www.flordecana.com), the renowned Slow-Aged Rum ™ of Nicaragua , today launched a striking new look. The sleek new design of the bottle label was created in response to the growing global popularity of ultra-premium rum and premium Flor de Caña rums that have been hand-crafted distilled from sugar cane grown in the country by the same family in Nicaragua since 1890. The most popular and well known Central American rum has seen double-digit growth per year in the last decade and is now available in 40 countries. The brand is planning to sell more than one million cases in 2013.

Flor de Cana’s striking new look celebrates the slow-aged rum’s global growth. (PRNewsFoto/Flor de Cana)

“The new and elegant image of Flor de Caña highlights the heritage, age and traditional crafts of rum,” said Paul Caffrey , director of Global Brand Development Flor de Caña. “It shows the brand as unique, modern and high-level, exactly what we need to appeal to our growing customer base worldwide.”

The new labels of Flor de Caña include the logo of the brand, the aging of the drink and the prestigious awards he holds. Improved the quality of the glass and bottles feature an envelope embossed cane. The origin of the brand is present in the overlapping of the logo on a volcano to remind us that Flor de Caña rum is Nicaragua , “the land of lakes and volcanoes“.

The new design retains the familiar shape of the bottle for good quality rum Flor de Caña 4, 5 and 7 years of aging in the collection Slow-Aged ™ ideal for “mixed”, but gives greater height and rounded sides for greater enjoyment to the touch. In the case of Flor de Caña rums awarded supreme quality with 12 and 18 years of aging and manufacturing exclusively local angling in Centennial Collection series, remained impeccable rectangular shape of the bottle, but were added height, an image more masculine and thicker glass.

“We designed the new image of Flor de Caña to increase brand value and appeal to a wider international audience,” said Caffrey. “As new clients to test the rum, gladly discover that fans of Flor de Caña have known for over a hundred years thanks to its handmade process distinguished by the mark Slow-Aged ™, the Nicaraguan rum Family property is one of the world’s finest“

Figleaves.com Launches New Online Fitting Room

Drop the Tape Measure: Lingerie Retailer Helps Women Find Perfectly Fitting Bras

 Figleaves.com, the leading online retailer of more than 200 brands of lingerie, sleepwear, swimwear and activewear, has launched a new online “Fitting Room” with the mission of helping women everywhere find a perfectly fitting bra. During extensive fit research, Figleaves.com learned that the most common problems were women wearing too large of a band and too small of a cup, thus not supporting and lifting the bust properly. The company found that, on average, women

Figleaves.com launches new online fitting room to help women find their perfect bra size. (PRNewsFoto/Figleaves.com)

using the new Figleaves.com bra calculator went down one back size and up three cup sizes.  Whereas many women believe they are a 36C, Figleaves.com reports their bestselling sizes to be a 32F and a 34E.

Figleaves.com is the ultimate online destination for lingerie, swimwear, sleepwear and menswear. In an unparalleled size range from AA-K cups, figleaves.com offers everyday luxury for everybody. Brands include Chantelle, Curvy Kate, Elle Macpherson Intimates, Freya, Lejaby, Miraclesuit, Stella McCartney, Vix Swimwear, and Yummie Tummie, as well as exclusive private label collections such as Just Peachy, Midnight Grace and FGL.

“A properly fitting bra can be life-changing,” said Irene Dmyterko, Technical Manager at Figleaves.com. “It slims the silhouette, improves posture, and – most importantly – can give women increased confidence.”

The “Fitting Room,” which debuted on August 21 as a special section on the www.Figleaves.com website, aims to help women find a bra that is such a perfect fit – and so comfortable – that they forget they are even wearing one. The virtual room includes a special, interactive bra calculator to give insight into the areas that can be improved with fit, along with helpful hints and tips on what to look for when shopping for bras.

Highlights of the Figleaves.com “Fitting Room” include:

—  Bra size calculator – an interactive guide to see if a woman should go up or down in bra sizing

—  Two videos – one illustrating how to properly put on a bra and the other showing what the “perfect” bra fit looks like

—  A list of common bra fit problems

—  A look into the history of bra fitting

—  “The Bra Deconstructed” – a guide to the various parts and components of a bra

—  Bra care guides – instructions on how to properly wash and care for bras

“Often women underestimate their cup size and overestimate their band size simply because they’ve been improperly fit in the past and because a bra in 34 or 36C is more readily available at a brick-and-mortar retailer where stock is limited,” said Dmyterko.  “But, Figleaves.com is solving that problem – not only by revamping the way that bra fit is done – but also by offering the largest selection of designers and the most extensive range of lingerie sizes with bands going from 28-56 and cups ranging from AA-K.”

Babolat unveils World’s first Computer-Connected Racquet, Babolat Play Pure Drive

“The course of tennis history will change with connected racquets, and that starts with Babolat Play. I believe that in the near future, all tennis racquets will be connected” – Eric Babolat

An international leader in tennis innovation, Babolat announces the commercial launch of Babolat Play, unveiling the world’s first connected racquet: the Babolat Play Pure Drive. The launch of the Babolat Play Pure Drive is planned for December 2013 in the US, with global distribution to follow in 2014.

Created in 1875, in Lyon, France, Babolat (http://www.babolat.com) is the longest-running international company specialized in tennis. Today, Babolat is number 1 in tennis racquet sales in the US. Family-run for five generations, Babolat is an innovative brand in the tennis sector providing complete equipment for tennis players: racquets, strings, shoes, balls, bags, apparel and accessories. Babolat equips numerous tennis players including Rafael Nadal (SPA), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA), Li Na (CHN), Sam Stosur (AUS), Agnieska Radwanska (POL), Kim Clijsters (BEL) and Andy Roddick (USA).

Babolat unveils yet another breakthrough innovation to the game of tennis: the new Babolat Play Pure Drive. Babolat Play, the world’s first connected tennis racquet, allows every player to live a unique experience based on progression, fun and sharing. Sensors integrated into the handle of the Babolat Play racquet allow players to have access to exciting data about their game including shot power and ball impact location, adding concrete information to the sensations they already receive. The commercial launch of the Babolat Play Pure Drive is planned for December 2013 in the US. http://www.babolat.com / http://www.Facebook.com/Babolat. (PRNewsFoto/Babolat)

After 10 years of research, extensive testing and input from the tennis community, The Babolat Play connected racquet allows every player to live a unique experience based on progression, fun and sharing. Gathering data to quantify your game and skills is a new concept in the game of tennis. Just as sports like running and biking have changed with quantified-self technologies, Babolat Play is designed to alter the game of tennis for future generations. Furthermore, Babolat Play keeps the excitement and adrenaline of the game going once the player has left the court by enabling tennis players of all levels to share their information and become united through a common language.

The Gift That Keeps On Saving Lives: The T3 Tactical Auto Rescue Tool

Perfect For All Outdoor and Survival Needs

There are gifts you want, and there are gifts you need, but there aren’t many that can literally save a life, especially your life. The T3 Tactical Auto Rescue Tool is one that can. Designed by a paramedic, the T3 is 6.4 ounces of matte black get-down-to-business. Created by a New York City paramedic, the T3 is built for the working first responder, with all of its tools made to be deployed one-handed. The T3’s blades are made from 440C stainless steel, which is known for its excellent wear and its ability to keep a sharp edge.

T3 Tactical Auto Rescue Tool. (PRNewsFoto/StatGear Tools)

“I was at the scene of an accident where the first responders had to return to their vehicle for tools to break a window and get victims out of a car,” says Avi Goldstein, president of StatGear. “In situations where seconds count, I realized how important it would be to have a purpose-designed, all-in-one rescue tool you could always have on your person.” Goldstein set out to design that tool, and the result is the T3.”

A FASHION TOUCHDOWN AT NEW YORK FASHION WEEK

JUNK FOOD CLOTHING CO. TEAMS UP WITH ACTRESS/DESIGNER KRISTIN CAVALLARI AND NFL WOMEN’S APPAREL TO PRESENT “NFL ELEMENTS”

The Junk Food Vintage NFL Fashion Show Curated by Kristin Cavallari will Present On September 10, 2013

Fashion and football will join forces during New York Fashion Week as Junk Food Clothing Co. teams up with Kristin Cavallari and NFL Women’s Apparel to present “NFL Elements” on September 10th at STYLE360.  The capsule collection is inspired by the fashionista’s effortlessly chic personal style and will pay homage to Junk Food’s heritage as the Original Vintage T-shirt Company, featuring a contemporary mash-up of spirited nostalgia and modern edge down the runway. Novelty details from the collection include athletic stripes and logos, statement shoulder pads with a mid-90’s edge, vibrant team color blocking, photo real sublimated art inspired by team locations, oversized boyfriend jerseys with a feminine twist, and much more.

“We are incredibly excited to work with both Kristin Cavallari and NFL Women’s Apparel to interpret one of America’s most popular sports brands creatively on the runway of New York Fashion Week,” says Andrei Najjar, Vice President of Marketing, Junk Food Clothing Co.  “We are known for fun experiential fashion shows that bring our licensed properties to life and Kristin did an amazing job of taking elements from the game experience – starting with the uniform itself – and transforming these into feminine contemporary styles.  The result is a unique juxtaposition of color and texture that is both fun and incredibly stylish.”

The artistic direction of the “NFL Elements” show highlights a contrast between the tough side of the sport and edgy, contemporary, feminine silhouettes, as elements from the game will be infused into runway looks. Starting with NFL uniforms as the base, the runway will be transformed into a football stadium bringing the game to life with four quarters representing the two conferences and eight divisions while re-interpreting t-shirt culture as a social statement that is high fashion in its own right.

“I am thrilled and honored to be a part of this runway show in connection with Junk Food and NFL Women’s Apparel,” says Kristin Cavallari. “I’ve been a fan of Junk Food for years and follow the NFL very closely these days. I am excited to work with such prominent brands that I’m personally a fan of and can’t wait for everyone to see my first designed collection. “

Immediately following the show, a capsule collection inspired by looks on the runway will be available exclusively at Bloomingdales for a limited time.

Grenson Launches Fall-Winter 2013 Shoes Collection

The new Grenson Men’s Fall/Winter 2013 Shoe Collection has been launched on the brand’s website and it’s a major expansion on the DNA of the brand. For the Fall/Winter 2013, Grenson shoes features new colors like navy blue, bottle green grain leather and fluor, all of which are quirky but wearable and also totally versatile.

All Grenson shoes are “Goodyear Welted”, a process invented in the 1800’s in England that is a time consuming way of making shoes, but this means that the product lasts longer than any other type of shoes. It also means that the shoe can be re-soled many times over making them a wonderful investment.

Isabel Marant brings her French Touch to H&M This Fall

H&M is proud to announce its autumn collaboration with Parisian designer Isabel Marant. With her effortless style, mixing urban attitude, boho elegance and rock ‘n’ roll spirit, Isabel Marant has created a widely influential and successful take on Paris chic. For H&M, Isabel Marant will create a wardrobe of must-have pieces inspired by her signature style. Available from November 14, 2013, in around 250 stores worldwide and online, the collection features clothing and accessories for women and teenagers. Isabel will also, for the first time, create a collection for men.

Isabel Marant for H&M

Isabel Marant for H&M

“We are excited to have Isabel Marant as a guest designer at H&M”

“I am flattered by this collaboration: H&M works with the best designers and this invitation is an exciting honour. I aim at creating something real, that women want to wear in their everyday lives, with a certain carelessness, which I think is very Parisian: you dress up, but do not pay too much attention and still look sexy. The collection is infused with this kind of easiness and attitude. Everything can be mixed following one’s own instincts: my take on fashion is all about personality” says Isabel Marant.

“We are excited to have Isabel Marant as a guest designer at H&M. The way she mixes different elements in her collections, creating a style that is effortless and urban, makes her very contemporary. She has a fantastic eye for ethnic detail and the rare ability to create something that people really want to wear. We are sure the H&M customers will be enthusiastic about this collection” says Margareta van den Bosch, Creative Advisor at H&M.

Born and raised in Paris, Isabel Marant started customizing her own clothes while still at high school. A graduate of the famed Studio Berçot, Marant worked her way up the fashion system starting with a jewellery line, then adding knitwear, finally launching her eponymous collection in 1994. Today she runs an internationally successful fashion powerhouse with a string of boutiques worldwide.

World’s Only Benjamin Franklin Museum Opens In Philadelphia: Museum Honors Life & Legacy Of Famed Founding Father

When the new Benjamin Franklin Museum opened in Philadelphia on Saturday, August 24, visitors were able to delve into all aspects of Franklin’s life, from his role as statesman and diplomat to his life as a private citizen, inventor, philosopher and more. Built next to the site where Franklin actually lived in the mid 1700s, the underground museum was originally built for the 1976 Bicentennial celebration. The Benjamin Franklin Museum in Independence National Historical Park is re-opening to the public after a two year renovation project. Visitors are invited to Museum Preview Days, August 24 through September 19. The Grand Opening for the museum will be September 20, following a reception on September 19 organized by the Friends of Independence National Historical Park.

The life of Benjamin Franklin holds court once again in Franklin Court, where the underground museum reopened on August 24, 2013 after a two-year renovation. The revamped museum features artifacts and interactive exhibitions that chronicle the inventor’s life as a citizen and statesman. The above-ground “ghost house” and courtyard remain intact: The life of Benjamin Franklin holds court once again in Franklin Court, where the underground museum reopens on August 24, 2013 after a two-year renovation. The revamped museum features artifacts and interactive exhibitions that chronicle the inventor’s life as a citizen and statesman. The above-ground “ghost house” and courtyard remain intact.

Dedicated to the life, times and legacy of Benjamin Franklin, the revitalized museum features personal artifacts, computer animations and interactive displays exploring Franklin’s life and character. Visitors of all ages will be able to immerse themselves in the 18th century life of the passionate, industrious and rebellious Benjamin Franklin.

“We intentionally created this museum to generate discussion, to make visitors think about how Franklin embodied the best of the spirit of the 18th century and how his character and ideas are still relevant today,” said Cynthia MacLeod, superintendent of Independence National Historical Park. “This is a museum that people will want to come back to again and again, a new gem under the much-treasured and award-winning Franklin Court designed for 1976 by Venturi, Rauch, and Scott Brown.”

The life of Benjamin Franklin holds court once again in Franklin Court, where the underground museum reopens on August 24, 2013 after a two-year renovation. The revamped museum features artifacts and interactive exhibitions that chronicle the inventor’s life as a citizen and statesman. The above-ground “ghost house” and courtyard remain intact.

“This dynamic new exhibit space casts Benjamin Franklin’s contributions in a whole new light, not only providing visitors and residents a greater understanding of who Franklin was, but also inspiring future generations to imagine a little of Ben’s passion and inventiveness in themselves,” said Michael Dahl, senior vice president at The Pew Charitable Trusts.

“The museum tells Ben Franklin’s story in a delightful, compelling way,” said Meryl Levitz, President & CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation. “It will leave visitors with a deeper connection to the man whose ideas they’ll see reflected throughout the city.”

Throughout Philadelphia, visitors can follow Benjamin Franklin’s legacy at the places he worked (Independence Hall), the institutions he founded (American Philosophical Society), the attractions named after him (The Franklin Institute) and in the public art he inspired (Bolt of Lightning…A Memorial to Benjamin Franklin).

This project was made possible through a public-private partnership of the National Park Service with The Pew Charitable Trusts, H.F. Gerry Lenfest, the William Penn Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the City of Philadelphia, the Independence Visitor Center Corporation, and Eastern National.

The Art Institute of New York City to Light up the Runway at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

Student and Alumni Designers Present Spring 2014 Capsule Collections

Amid storied fashion houses, famed couturiers and industry elite, The Art Institute of New York City’s next crop of young designers will bring their fashions to the fashion industry’s largest stage – Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Taking their skills from the classroom to the runway, six students and four recent graduates will present their Spring/Summer 2014 Capsule Collections on Thursday, September 5, at 6 pm at The Stage at New York’s Lincoln Center.

The Art Institute of New York City is part of The Art Institutes educational system (www.artinstitutes.edu), which comprises of more than 50 schools located throughout North America. The Art Institutes schools provide an important source of education for design, media arts, fashion and culinary professionals. Several institutions of The Art Institutes system are campuses of South University or Argosy University. The Art Institute of New York City is located at 11 Beach Street, New York, NY 10013.

This incredible opportunity will give these ten talented students and alumni of The Art Institute of New York City the chance to present their looks to an international audience and get a glimpse at what it takes to market themselves and their designs to the press, potential clients and buyers. Their collections will include both women’s and men’s sportswear and eveningwear, showing the culmination of techniques learned in the classroom and brought to life by the range, vision and creativity of the young designers.

“At The Art Institute of New York City, our fashion program emphasizes innovation and creativity in fashion design while providing students the technical knowledge needed to enter the fashion industry,” said Amanda Lovell, Academic Department Chair of Fashion at The Art Institute of New York City. “We balance developing their creative vision, building technical skills such as patternmaking and draping, and business skills like marketing, client relations and business practices.”

“It is so gratifying to watch our students come into their own as designers and artists,” continued Lovell. “The knowledge and confidence that our students will gain from showing their collections at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week will be invaluable as they transition from novices to professionals in the fashion industry.”

For more information about the students and graduates showing at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, follow #AiNYC, #MBFW, #NYFW and visit http://aifashionweek.com/mbfw2013/index.htm. An interactive story about the designers and the show appears on The Art Institutes website.

For more information on The Art Institutes system of schools, visit www.artinstitutes.edu, and on The Art Institute of New York City: www.artinstitutes.edu/new-york-city, call 800.654.2433 or email ainycadm@aii.edu.

Peace, Love & Decorating launches Yin & Yang Bedding Collection for Girls from Rogue Designs

Peace, Love Decorating, a leading home decor and bedding retailer, continues to expand its sales of the designer girl’s Yin & Yang Bedding Collection from Rogue Designs available in both pink and black and turquoise and black. The Rogue Designs Yang designer girls bedding collection is a best seller among Peace, Love & Decorating’s luxury bedding offerings. The Yin & Yang designer ensemble of girl’s bed linens is made in the United States with the utmost attention to every design detail.

Peace, Love & Decorating launches Yin & Yang Bedding Collection for Girls from Rogue Designs

Carol Rudolph, owner of Rogue Designs, had a unique and luxurious vision in mind when she created the glamorous Yin & Yang Bedding Collection for girls: Bedding with both fun and playful details that are still glamorous and sophisticated making this statement luxury bedding collection perfect for a girl or teen bedroom.
Inspired by the elegant black and white symbol of the yin and yang philosophy, this bedding exudes the balance and tranquility of color, texture and style the philosophy signifies. The Yin and Yang Bedding Collection mixes pretty ruffles, polka dots, colored accents, damask and paisley patterns with velour fabrics, tufted buttons, pom pom trim, and flower accents. These details make the designer.

Flower Power and Camouflage Rules the Givenchy Men’s Spring/Summer 2014 pre-collection

Givenchy Pre-Spring 2014 Footwear Collection

The Givenchy Men’s Spring/Summer 2014 pre-collection is infused with a “Latin influence for all men who are not afraid of mixing prints” seemingly at odds with each other or layering contrasting pieces that are at war with each other. Entitled “Favelas 74,” the collection sums up Riccardo Tisci’s obsession with streetwear and urban culture and includes vivid combinations of flower prints, camouflage print and checks offering a new take on how to mix the masculine and the feminine. This motif is carried over into the corresponding foortwear and debut bag collections consisting of travel bags, small bags and zipped clutches are made of black matte calf, camouflage, flower or flame printed nappa or braided multicolored leather.

Givenchy Pre-Spring 2014 Footwear Collection

Givenchy Pre-Spring 2014 Footwear Collection

Givenchy Pre-Spring 2014 Footwear Collection

Brazil ArtFair Accepting Sponsors for Miami Art Week, December 3rd – 8th

Brazil ArtFair accepting sponsors for Miami Art Week 2013.

Brazil ArtFair is accepting sponsors for its Miami Art Week debut during December 3rd through December 8th. Founded by Michel Serebrinsky and Ester Krivkin, two Brazilian entrepreneurs with extensive experience in public events and major brand marketing, Brazil ArtFair is a signature cultural event and Latin America’s global introduction of contemporary design and art and the first fair devoted to Brazilian art galleries during Miami Art Week. Considered one of the most anticipated new attractions of Miami Art Week, Brazil ArtFair will highlight a selection of 40 Brazilian galleries, and the works of hundreds of artists in a 38,000-square-foot expo center. With an estimated audience of 40,000 passionate about art, luxury, travel, business and fashion, the fair is a great way to reach affluent collectors, art enthusiasts and decision makers.

In a recent interview with Miami New Times, Serebrinsky says, “Brazil ArtFair is not just an art fair, it’s a private initiative for the promotion and international of the Brazilian art market.” With the increasing demand for Latin American art, the Brazil ArtFair serves as a platform for both emerging and established artists to showcase their work.”

He continued, “It’s a matter of observing the process that the Brazilian market is going through…the Brazilian market grew twenty-three percent in 2012 with a cumulative growth of forty-four percent over the last two years. We have Brazilian contemporary artworks selling for $2 to $3 million,”

Brazil ArtFair is designed as a gateway to the biggest consumer art market in the world and a place to showcase, appreciate and encourage Brazilian galleries, generating business and rapport. It provides opportunity for art galleries and design studios to highlight contemporary and cutting edge art over a 5-day period. With scrupulous content selection and the aid of a consulting committee, the fair will present 40 Brazilian galleries to one of the most prominent circuits of art collectors and art dealers in the world.

Located in Miami’s Midtown Arts District, Brazil ArtFair will take place alongside some of the world’s largest art fairs including Art Basel Miami Beach, PULSE, Art Miami and Nada ArtFair.

Miami Art Week boasts over 100,000 visitors each year providing massive exposure for art galleries, exhibits and brands. Over a five-day period sponsors will have access to a high-end demographic of consumers who are appreciative of luxury lifestyles, products, brands and services. Sponsors will be invited to take advantage of custom brand activation and display options designed to address specific needs.

Brazil Artfair will make its debut with a VIP preview Tuesday, December 3, before hosting its official opening during Miami Art Week, Wednesday, December 4 through Sunday, December 8 in the Midtown Miami Arts District at NE 36th Street, Miami, FL. For more information on sponsorship opportunities please contact A&M Entertainment at (310) 295-4150 or send email to info@amentertainment.com.

 

Ovation Partners With James Franco on Original Arts Television Series Premiering This Fall: James Franco Presents

Series Extends  Access to Franco’s Own Works and Artistic Discoveries, Introduces Exclusive Artist Interviews and Involves Arts Community

Upping its commitment to connect the world to all forms of art and artistic expression, Ovation, America’s only arts network, today announced a ground-breaking partnership with renowned actor, filmmaker, author and artist James Franco to launch James Franco Presents. Hosted and executive produced by Franco, the original series premieres this fall, only on Ovation.

Ovation and James Franco announce “James Franco Presents” — coming to Ovation this fall. (PRNewsFoto/Ovation)

James Franco is an Academy Award-nominated and Independent Spirit Award-winning actor, filmmaker, teacher, artist and author. James was awarded a Golden Globe Award for playing the title character in the TV biographical film James Dean (2001). He portrayed Harry Osborn in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy. His notable films are Pineapple Express, Milk, 127 Hours, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and 2013 releases Oz the Great and Powerful, Spring Breakers and This Is the End. James has produced and directed several renowned short films and documentaries, including Saturday Night, The Clerk’s Tale, The Feast of Stephen, Three’s Company The Drama, INT. Leather Bar, and Unfinished. His artistic work (in the field of mixed media) has been displayed in galleries across the world.

James Franco Presents will give viewers an extraordinary opportunity to travel across the world with him as he concocts his laboratory of creative projects. Mr. Franco’s love of literature, film, fine arts and more has finally manifested itself in an accessible format that uncovers the artistic works, issues and topics vital to the arts communities, while also inviting an active dialogue with viewers.

Thousands of hours from Mr. Franco’s personal video library will be showcased on James Franco Presents, including video diaries, documentary footage from his most ambitious art films and interactions with his heroes from every artistic genre.  With an intellectual curiosity as vast as his network of iconic artist friends, the series will expose renowned and respected icons to an entirely new generation.

“James Franco is the ultimate artist, so partnering with James is a dream come true for Ovation,” said Robert Weiss, Ovation’s Chief Creative Officer. “And, since Ovation’s mantra is ‘art is everywhere,’ James is the perfect person through whom to introduce viewers to a modern, more inclusive definition of art.”

Delivering an unprecedented look at the fascinating projects and real-life adventures of Mr. Franco, James Franco Presents will document his provocative explorations of the world of art. From his gallery exhibits to his students’ films, the innovative series will also provide an exclusive opportunity to hear Mr. Franco’s point of view on his most-personal passion projects, most of which have not been seen by the public.

“This is a show where content dictates form and form dictates content. It is an art show that is an art piece, meaning the show has synched with the rhythms of my life and work,” said Franco. “I am thrilled to work with Ovation, a network that has devoted itself to the arts. It is a truly unique situation and will yield unique results.

James Franco Presents will be art that colors way outside the lines, and the excitement premieres this Fall, only on Ovation. For more information, please visit www.ovationtv.com

Ovation programming is a one-of-a-kind mix of original and selectively curated series, films, documentaries and specials, reaches a national audience of nearly 50 million homes and is available on national cable systems, as well as nationally on DIRECTV, Dish, Verizon FiOS and AT&T U-Verse. Ovation is also available on Video On Demand (in both standard and high definition). Ovation’s diversified viewer experiences extend across its linear network, the popular www.ovationtv.com, and active social presence on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and more. See the Ovation Facebook page for the latest information and conversations happening across the Ovation brand and the arts: www.facebook.com/OvationTV.

Fashion Eyewear Introduces Exclusive Bvlgari Gold 18kt Luxury Frames

The online luxury eyewear retailer now offers the limited edition gold and diamond encrusted Bvlgari Le Gemme glasses and sunglasses as part of its high-end collection.

Fashion Eyewear has added the exclusive, jewellery inspired frames from the Bvlgari le Gemme collection to its luxury eyewear selection, the purchase from Fashion Eyewear a timeless investment. The limited edition Bvlgari Gold 18kt glasses and sunglasses are part of the eyewear range by Bvlgari, one of the world’s most desirable designer jewellery brand. Fashion Eyewear is planning to further expand its collection of luxury frames and spectacles in a response to growing demand from customers for unique and limited edition eyewear pieces.

Bvlgari Le Gemme Collection

The collection of selected designer eyewear pieces is focusing on frames featuring precious metals, gems and rare, high quality materials like natural horn or bamboo – be it sunglasses, glasses, reading glasses or with varifocal lenses. The company believes that online shopping can be an exclusive and intimate experience when the highest quality products are matched with an exceptional customer service. And with this expansion, Fashion Eyewear wants to bring the digital boutique-like shopping experience even to customers who don’t need to watch their expenses – but don’t like unnecessarily boosted price tags.

Bulgari Le Gemme (Zephyr Optical Glasant Frame in Silver Titanium with 18kt Yellow Gold Plaque

The sunglasses and optical frames of the Bvlgari ladies’ line  debut a symbol of a new minimalism with precious metals and genuine diamonds transformed into accessories. Made in Italy and inspired by the B.zero1 Bvlgari diamond collection, the crystal square sunglasses and cat-eye glasses are for feminine women who prefer style to trends and are looking for eyewear that’s best described as jewellery for the face. Le Gemme also features a collection for men – elegant and simple, with masculine optical shapes and 18kt gold frames or embellishments: the perfect finishing touch to a smart, powerful look.

STYLE360 Announces Its New York Fashion Week Line-Up for the Spring/Summer 2014 Collections

Fashion Shows announced for September 10 – 12, 2013 at STYLE360 Fashion Pavilion

A-List Communications has announced the STYLE360 New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2014 schedule, which includes an all-star lineup of high profile shows and celebrity hosted nighttime events from September 10 – 12, 2013. Over the years, the fashion week program has been home to over a hundred fashion shows and events, welcoming designers like Abbey Dawn by Avril Lavigne, Dash by Kardashians, Costello Tagliapietra, Zaldie, Daisy Fuentes, Patricia Fields, Pete Wentz’s Clandestine Industries, Rodarte, Junk Food Art House’s Le Smurfette, as well as philanthropic events such as the Susan G. Komen Pink Dress Collection.

This season, STYLE360 will again position itself as a leading fashion stage of New York Fashion Week by hosting a selection of high-profile fashion shows and see-and-be-seen after parties. All fashion shows are presented each season at the STYLE360 Fashion Pavilion South Hall in Chelsea and official after parties held at off-site partner locations including Haven Rooftop at the Sanctuary Hotel and the newly opened Design District venue, Suite 36.

“We’re thrilled to announce our Spring/Summer 2014 line up and unveil our newly created website, http://www.STYLE360NYFW.com, which will allow us enhanced means to showcase our focus on innovative industry fashion shows fused with high-energy entertainment, fashion-fan access and strategic integrations with our corporate sponsors. Our goal each and every season is to be a highlight of New York Fashion Week,” states Executive Producer, David Manning, President of A-List Communications.

This September will be no different as STYLE360 New York Fashion Week announces its runway fashion show schedule as follows:

Tuesday, September 10th
2:00 p.m.: Junk Food Vintage NFL Curated by Kristin Cavallari
7:00 p.m.: Shop.Angelaiam.com by Angela Simmons
8:30 p.m.: STYLE360 After-party celebrating Junk Food curated by Kristin Cavallari at Haven Rooftop at the Sanctuary Hotel

Wednesday, September 11th
11 am: Malan by Malan Breton sponsored by Fancy Feast® Gourmet Cat Food
3 pm: Meskita by Alessandra Meskita
7:30 pm: FrontRow by Shateria Moragne-El

Thursday, September 12th
2 pm: Tumbler and Tipsy by Michael Kuluva presented by AIDS Healthcare Foundation
6:30 pm: Just Dance with Boy Meets Girl®
8 pm: STYLE360’s Closing party celebrating Just Dance with Boy Meets Girl® at Suite 36

All fashion shows will be styled with Not Your Mother’s® hair care products by lead stylist Drew Noreen. James Vincent will be the key makeup artist with the official makeup partner, Shades by GAL. Official sponsors also include Ubisoft’s Just Dance 2014, Sabra Dipping Company, Sweet’N Low®, Fancy Feast® Gourmet Cat Food, GlyTerra-gl/SeroVital-hgh, NJOY Premium Electronic Cigarettes and Eight O’Clock Coffee, who will be celebrating its fresh new look by taking the runway with its Red Bag Collection in support of Dress for Success. Eight O’Clock Coffee will also be making a $25,000 donation to Dress for Success to support the nonprofits own efforts of “redressing” women with professional attire and providing them with career development tools to reenter the workforce. Photo and promotional support will be provided by newspaper partner, the New York Post. STYLE360’s official hotel partner, is the luxurious Sanctuary Hotel and the newly launched design district hot-spot and official nightclub sponsor, Suite 36. All fashion shows will be hosted at the STYLE360 Fashion Pavilion, located at 125 West 18th Street.

For more information on this season’s designers and to view runway trends, please visit http://www.STYLE360NYFW.com in addition to Twitter @NYFWSTYLE360 and Facebook @ STYLE360.

A-List Communications (www.a-listcommunications.com) is a full-service consulting, special events & communications agency with offices in Los Angeles, Dallas and New York City. With over 15 years of global agency experience, A-List Communications specializes in connecting corporate brands with results-driven communication strategies, and globally recognized celebrities that elevate their clients to the A-List. Core to A-List Communications success is delivering “Brand Integration” services across a portfolio of propriety branded entertainment programs including “Fashion Week STYLE360,” “Supper Series” and “The Arts & Cinema Centre.”

 

Upgrade Your Winter Wardrobe with The Chrome Barrage Cargo Rolltop Backpack

Twice a year, Chrome Industries introduce a new range of bags, footwear and apparel. From new utility, seasonal colors and limited-edition collaborations, they’ve continuously improving everything they make and the Chrome Barrage Cargo Rolltop Backpack (Dimensions: 1.5” wide, 20” high, 5.5” deep; Volume: 22-34 L; Weight: 3.3 lb) is my new wishlist, must-have (seriously!) carryall bag for the upcoming winter.

hrome Barrage Cargo Rolltop Backpack

The new Barrage Cargo Rolltop Backpack is the result of 18 years of messenger bag making experience. The new Barrage is made with Chrome’s proven WW2 Technology – it’s 100% Welded-Waterproof, built twice – the only way to make a waterproof bag that can withstand the abuse of the city. If you are looking for a new, muscular carry-all for the upcoming winter months, this is it.

hrome Barrage Cargo Rolltop Backpack

hrome Barrage Cargo Rolltop Backpack

For Chrome, the only one way to make a bag truly waterproof is by welding its seams. For the Barrage Rolltop, the company combined a Welded-Waterproof Floating Bucket with an abrasion resistant CORDURA® Brand Grade Outer Shell to make the toughest waterproof rolltop backpack possible. It features a low-profile design and side compression straps for load stabilization and increased visibility, an external cargo net to haul gear on the outside, and a Welded-Waterproof bucket liner that can keep personal items bone dry in any weather. The Barrage is adaptable to accommodate a wide range of cargo, be it in the city or out on the trail. The main compartment expands from 22L to 34L and features an expandable cargo net with compression straps for securing various cargo shapes and sizes.

Valentino Bags Launches in U.S. Market

A new generation of Valentino Bags is now available for a broader range of luxury shoppers who appreciate the finest quality and craftsmanship and a faster rotation of styles. Ranging from snappy clutches to roomy shoulder bags, the Valentino Bags are already in stores for Fall 2013. They are the first to be licensed in the United States by Mario Valentino SPA, which has been manufacturing fine leather purses and footwear in Italy since the 1950s. All of the bags are made in Italy of the finest leather skins, which are also used by the top luxury brands in the world today. Fabrications, from animal prints to crocodile, ostrich, and many other supple leather fabrications will be used throughout the collections. All of the bags are adorned by the recognizable Valentino logo and the Valentino signature line is in a puffed raised logo style.

“Valentino is one of the top brands in the world,” said Jeff Yarchever, CEO of Yarch Capital and Valentino Bags. “This is a brand new attainable luxury collection with a top designer name that people worldwide are familiar with.”

Yarchever’s partner in the brand is designer Serge Levy (who spends half his time in Milan, Italy, designing handbags and working in the top factories in Italy), a former merchandiser and designer of handbags at Gucci under Tom Ford. The Valentino family granted a license to Yarch Capital to design, manufacture, and distributes the Italian made leather handbags in the United States and Canada for the next five years.

Goodbye, Uggs, Hello, Slotz: Slovz Russian Handmade Felt Boots Makes a Run for Winter Shoe Supremacy

written by Phillip D. Johnson

Slovz Russian Handmade Felt Boots

While Uggs continues to be a popular choice for winter, the brand has lost some ground in recent years. However, there’s a new competitor in the marketplace and it may be the one to dethrone Uggs for good. Slovz Russian Handmade Felt Boots (http://www.slovz.com/), a young Dutch label that merges Russian and Western culture with one foot in tradition and the other in fashion–inspired by the traditional Valenki and adapted to Western trends and comfort–recently launched its Fall/Winter 2013 Boots Collection; and fashionistas far and wide are taking notice.

Slovz (Women’s) Russian Handmade Felt Boots

Slovz (Women’s) Russian Handmade Felt Boots

Slovz (Women’s) Russian Handmade Felt Boots

SLOVZ are handmade boots–made from 100% sheep wool–are the modern version of a traditional boot that has been battling the Siberian cold for over 300 years. The Russians regard this boot, the Valenki, as an important part of their national cultural heritage, which is handcrafted out of one piece and form to your feet for a perfect fit. Initially they were worn by farmers on the countryside but Siberian coachmen, known as Yamschiks, spearheaded their reach throughout Russia, popularizing them amongst all walks of life from well known politicians to legendary czars. Their seamless shape and unique material give these boots a rugged look that is sure to turn heads in the streets and will keep your feet warm even throughout the coldest of winters.

H&M Introduces the Fall 2013 David Beckham Bodywear Collection

Images provided by H&M Press Room

H&M Introduces the Fall 2013 David Beckham Bodywear Collection

H&M recently previewed the latest David Beckham Bodywear Collection and it’s quite obvious that the line has moved beyond underwear. It’s now more about comfort dressing, whether you’re at home or out with your best buds. The Fall-Winter 2013 collection includes raglan-sleeve jerseys and henleys in athletic greys, alongside grey vests and a three-pack of grey trunks. There are also casual pajamas, loungewear and nightwear and this autumn there are ribbed pajama bottoms, as well as drawstring jersey shorts and trousers. The campaign was photographed in a classic changing room.

H&M Introduces the Fall 2013 David Beckham Bodywear Collection

H&M Introduces the Fall 2013 David Beckham Bodywear Collection

H&M Introduces the Fall 2013 David Beckham Bodywear Collection

H&M Introduces the Fall 2013 David Beckham Bodywear Collection

Speaking of his latest collection, the recently retired Beckham said: “I love the heritage athletic style of the new pieces in my Bodywear collection at H&M. The vests, pajama pants and raglan sleeve tops are already like wardrobe favorites for me that I know I’ll wear all season long. It was great to shoot them in an old-fashioned East End changing room. It was like I had gone right back to my roots.’