Shanghai-based jewelry brand BLACKHEAD and the streetwear label MISHKA
launched a co-branded Jewelry collection this holiday to celebrate their shared value. The collection is a perfect balance of MISHKA’s well-known “Keep Watch” graffiti elements and BLACKHEAD’s dark, rebellious genes.
The collaborative line-up encompasses various earrings, necklaces, rings, bracelets, and even tag chains. All metal materials are made of 100% recyclable eco-friendly 316L stainless steel.
F I N E A R T Work by Heath Kane and Walter John Rodriguez
About “Power Play”
The inaugural exhibition of the new 4 Flavors Art Consultancy. Trailing the political turmoil of the 2020 United States presidential election, this collection focuses on the political and philosophical musings of two international artists, UK-based Australian artist Heath Kane, and Cuban-American Walter John Rodriguez.
4 Flavors
Each artist creates portraiture using iconic political figures, for Rodriguez, fathers of the American revolution in wild, expressionist brush strokes. For Kane, updated versions of Queen Elizabeth veiled as Batman or romantic-era portraits adorned by Blue Demon Lucha libre masks.
When viewed in concert with one another, Kane and Rodriguez create a cross-continental critique on the global rise of right-wing isolationist governments, wealth inequity, social narcissism. A host of other societal ills, all presented through the allure of a subtle, recognizable smile, dripped in bright colors and glitter.
Because Kane and Rodriguez address these underlying issues through characters associated with cultural ideals, rather than repeating the pervasive Trumpian or Boris Johnsonian caricature, their work goes beyond contemporary discourse and into the realm of the philosophical, re-examining the original intent of the political structures for which these figures are known.
A UK based artist, born in Australia, Heath has always been fascinated by the mix of creativity and art. Now turning his attention back to art, his collections of work draw inspiration from his commercial art backgroundand origins of pop-art – a blend of design and art. His approach follows the practice of poster making and design, with a focus on creating simple, iconic, and memorable pieces. Within the artwork, he tries to distillsubtle but often subversive themes.
Heath Kane
Work included in this exhibition pull from two series. His large-scale “Portrait of Heroes” paintings are inspired by master Romantic-era portraits that reveal how classical art was often a means for wealthy individuals to portray their ultra-ego. It playfully suggests that the classical portrait artist was the photoshop and Instagram filter of their time, leading the artist to question: “Today we all have the ability to take selfies and live our lives through social media. But how much of what we share is real and how much are we all trying to heroize ourlives?”
The original hand-detailed screen prints from his “Rich Enough to Be Batman” collection “raise questions about wealth and social justice, through the idea that with enough money anyone can be a superhero.”
Walter John Rodriguez
Born in Havana in 1981, Walter John Rodriguez holds a studio in New York City. His love for drawing and painting developed at an early age in Cuba where he made every effort to learn artistic skills despite having limited resources. After immigrating to the U.S. his continued interest in art motivated him to seek formal art training graduating in 2002 with a B.F.A. degree from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.
Walter John Rodriguez
Rodriguez’s “Power Isn’t Love” series dives into the raw nerves of political discussion in the United States today, re-inventing well-known portraits of the American founding fathers through an updated, contemporary lens. Through these portraits, the artist incorporates accents of reassurance in the binding nature of our constitutional roots for a better society, while questioning faith in the inherent permanence these principles hold in today’s political climate.
In that sense, Rodriguez’s work is provoking a movement to understand all sides of the political spectrum. With close observance, viewers may feel empowered that a democracy like America’shas lasted over 200 years, but also encounter anxiety about the future.
The artist was most recently chosen for collaborations with “Inter Miami CF”; Miami’s professional soccer team owned by David Beckham and by the “Arsht Performing Arts Center” for “Hamilton” the play. He has participated in various art fairs across the United States such as “Art New York”, “Superfine” in L.A., and “Red Dot” in Miami and also completed the Eileen S. Kaminsky Family Foundation (ESKFF) residency program at Mana Contemporary in Jersey City.
His work has been included in multiple private collections and group exhibits in Florida, California, New York, and New Jersey. He is co-founder and director of Rexer Gallery in Hoboken, NJ.
As four women with incredibly different backgrounds and areas of expertise in the art world, together they form a comprehensive services network researching collections, curating exhibitions, handling framing and restoration, launching up and coming artists into major private and public collections, and training emerging art lovers how to acquire the perfect piece and install it beautifully on their walls.
Their dedicated exhibition space at 204 Bellevue Avenue in Montclair boasts museum-quality lighting, installation, and an outdoor courtyard, aiming to raise the bar for commercial art exhibition venues in New Jersey.
Heath Kane, Rich Enough to be Batman, 2020. 5 Color Screenprint on Somerset Satin 300gsm Paper, Neon Red and Diamond Dust glitter, edition of 10. 30 x 45”
Heath Kane, Come Speak To Me When It’s Over, 2019. Oil, acrylic on canvas, 49.6 x 62.2”
Walter John Rodriguez, Party Colors, 2020. Mixed media on canvas, 39.75 x 44”
Listing Information for the Exhibition
Gallery Director: Kathryn Waggener McGuire Artists: Heath Kane and Walter John Rodriguez Exhibition Dates: November 6–December 31, 2020 Gallery: Clerestory at MAXX, 204 Bellevue Avenue, Montclair, NJ 07043, www.clerestoryfineart.com
Gallery Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 am–6 pm; by appointment
The charismatic duo behind Vancouver-based brand, Marrimor Objects, just released a playful new line of ultra-chic designs for the home. Toof and Toss are Tanja Hinder and Lauren Bugliarisi’s form-weds-function collection of irreverent designs they describe as ‘nice things for nonconformists.’
Toss.
Toof is an ingenious table plus pouf paired into one artful looking design. Inspired by the pull top of a vintage coke can, the rounded side table component embraces an ottoman—which can be pulled out at will for additional seating. With a palette of 10 vibrant colorways to choose from and textured textiles ranging from alpaca, wool, linen, to mohair, velvet, and boucle—the choices offer no end of entertainment. The metal base comes in a variety of complementing powder-coated colors.
Toof’s fun-loving, stylish cousin Toss consists of a collection of scene-stealing pillows that offer some serious eye-candy. With five fearless combinations such as cayenne velvet and white faux fur and teal boucle with salt and pepper wool, it’s hard to narrow down a favorite. Toss and Toof are as charming as Hinder and Bugliarisi—offering a flirty mix of task and drama we’d love to incorporate into our own home.
New York Fashion Week brings the love of runway shows, backstage with the designers, celebrity hairstylists, makeup teams and NYC’s media at its best with compelling photography!
Dennis Basso NYFE 2020 by Alice Teeple
We had the opportunity to go backstage with Denniss Basso and his righthand celebrity hairstylist Julien Farel.
Check out our Q&A with Julien Farel and stunning photos by our very own Alice Teeple.
Dennis Basso NYFW 2020 by Alice Teeple
DTM: This is not new to you working NYFW, what was so special about last night?
JF: Working with Dennis Basso for 3 seasons and sharing the vision for hair instead of being dictated to is always a major plus. His collection reflects the happiness of the Bardot twist flair.
DTM: How does one plan hairstyles before NYFW, and what is the process?
JF: We have a collection look 1st. Dennis Basso releases the collection teaser and then comes the model looks, finally the celebrity looks etc…we then have a rehearsal with Dennis Basso. Next, the Dennis Basso team shares a video with the Julien Farel team making a video with a step by step process. Each of Julien Farel’s tech-stylists will have a try-on. It’s a process, but necessary to minimize mistakes at showtime.
DTM: How much do you collaborate with the designer and how far in advance do you work before the actual show?
JF: Dennis Basso along with his design team and I work hand-in-hand to create the show’s look-book as well, as perfecting the overall show’s look and timing so everything is scheduled down to the minute.
Dennis Basso & Lisa Rinna NYFW 2020 by Alice Teeple
DTM: What was your favorite hairstyle this year and why?
JF: The Bardot twist because I am French! We used a wet look using R&CO products to style.
DTM:You and your wife Suelyn have known Dennis for many years, tell us something that our readers will find interesting about working with Dennis?
JF: He has a big heart, he’s funny, precise, he cares, and he shares our vision of perfection and always wants to be on the top at all times. He’s always striving to. He’s an entertainer and artist. He’s amazing to work with as he completely leaves creative freedom of the hair to us and trusts me 200%.
Dennis Basso NYFW 2020 by Alice Teeple
DTM: Julien, you are so talented, as are the people who work for you, at the Julien Farel Restore Salon and Spa, the decor is lovely, and your salon is always buzzing with the who’s who of New York and beyond, is there anything that you would like to share with our readers?
JF: Only 4 words, Love, Give, Respect and Gratitude. As this country gave me everything, my work, my wife, children, and my life – I am forever grateful. I came to the US in 1992 speaking no English, knowing no one and with no money. I slept on the floor of a French photographer’s apartment in Brooklyn for months and months. I trusted America and I knew if I worked hard – this country would do the rest. New York is the best city in the world, and the best country and I will forever feel indebted.
Julien Farel by Downtown Magazine
JF: My next mission is to help rejuvenate and restore hair. Julien Farel “restore” our non-foaming shampoo keeps your hair healthy for the rest of your life.
ZAFUL holds its first sustainable fashion panel of “Greener Fashion” in New York, USA, on November 8, 2019. This panel invited experts, practitioners and university representatives from the associated fields: Sustainability, Fashion, and Technology, to discuss the strategies of leading the fashion industry to become more sustainable in the future and the challenges in the field of innovation.
ZAFUL had nearly 6 years’ history in the fashion industry, with more than 20 million customers, and 60% of its customers were millennials. ZAFUL had always been focusing on how to make fashion and sustainable coexistence and to increase the connections with millennials, all the panelists were from various fields of sustainability, fashion, technology, etc.; Gathering them together, ZAFUL believed this panel would bring more constructive and innovative opinions on making the fashion industry sustainable.
How to Make Fashion More Sustainable In An Innovative Way? Stephanie Benedetto-Founder of Queen of Raw, Bridgett Artiese- Founder of Born Again Vintage, Fashionista, Actress, Women Entrepreneur Paige Desorbo, Madison Phillips from ADAY joined ZAFUL in the panel shared the experiences and insights in their daily life to bring a new way of thinking for audiences，as well as the chairman of NYU’s only fashion society FBA – Autumn Samuels, who participated in and her opinions could definitely bring a significant impact on the young community.
Stephanie said, as the fashion brand with great influences, even 1% move to greener fashion will generate a great impact on the environment. They are looking forward to working with ZAFUL in the sustainable industry for a better future.
Aside from the fashion panel, there’s a charity sale organized by ZAFUL and The Fashion Foundation, a nonprofit foundation helping underprivileged students in New York City through the sale of samples from fashion houses and designers. ZAFUL donated around 1,300 pieces and more than $2000 generated during the first few hours of charity sale, and everything will go to the students in need.
Nowadays, the sustainability of fashion was gradually becoming people’s daily topic and an essential part of all the manufacturers, fashion brands, the consumer and people worked in this supply chain all over the world. Therefore, ZAFUL urged the public to notice the importance of sustainability and encouraged everyone to develop a “Green Habit.” Let’s create Greener Fashion and Greener Future.
Everyone in the panel raising their hands to support the sustainable fashion industry (Zaful 2019 Fashion Panel)
Jennifer Kirchgessner, Product Director of luxury carpet company Scott Group Studio, sat down with us prior to the launch of Escala—a striking six-piece collection inspired by the colors and forms in nature. Each design is hand-tufted by artisans in the company’s Grand Rapids, Michigan factory.
Agata.
Downtown: What inspired your new six-piece collection, Escala?
Jennifer Kirchgessner:
The Escala
collection was inspired by looking at macro and micro views of nature. Designs
like Agata, Arveda and Akachi are inspired from patterns created looking at the
landscape from an aerial viewpoint. We’ve complemented those fluid patterns
with geometric patterns like Claes and Mako. Even the structured patterns in
the collection have a softness and asymmetry to them that make them more
interesting.
DT: What made you decide to only introduce six patterns in this particular collection?
JK: We typically release six patterns in a collection. When developing a collection, we like to think about how the designs would live together in an interior. What pattern would work as a focal point in a living space, dining room, or stair runner, and how would these patterns and colors complement one another installed in adjacent spaces.
Akachi.
DT: How does the color palette emulate nature?
JK: I am always amazed by the vibrancy and variety of color in nature. Especially here in the Midwest when we emerge from winter into spring. What I love about the color palette in the Escala collection are the warm hues of burnt sienna, and goldenrod, along with earthy greens. The palette provides the vibrancy of using color, but because the colors are drawn from nature, they behave as neutrals in an interior environment. They also pair beautifully with more traditional neutrals such as shades of grey and taupe used in a lot of interiors.
Claes.
Downtown: What
are the rugs made of and where are they made?
JK: The rugs are made here at our headquarters and manufacturing facility in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We are celebrating our 50-year anniversary this year and are very proud to be producing a product of this type and quality here in Michigan. The designs are a combination of fiber types, but primarily New Zealand wool, worsted Merino wool, and Mulberry silk. We are adamant about using the highest quality natural materials in our products.
Downtown: What customization options will be available?
JK: Everything we produce is 100% custom. Our collections often serve as inspiration and a starting point for a designer. They may love a pattern that we have developed and want to use it as shown for their project. They can change any element of the design from scale, color, and construction or start something completely from scratch. We have a team of 14 designers who work hand-in-hand with the salesperson and customer to provide a unique design solution customized specifically for the interior.
Arveda.
DT: What is your favorite pattern and why?
JK:
Agata is one of my favorite patterns from the collection. I love the
combination of pile heights, materials, and colors. There is a pop of turquoise
green in the raised loop of the pattern that forms a lovely detail.
DT: When will the collection be available and where can our readers find the rugs?
JK: The collection can be purchased through our
showrooms, including one in NYC at the D&D
Building. Our customer service reps are also happy to help place orders as
well and can be contacted via our website.
JK: One of the most exciting projects on the horizon is a collection we are working on with a designer from New York that will be launched at the end of the year. It’s been a really fun collaboration and it took us in a design direction that exceeded our expectations. The results have been outstanding. Stay tuned!
