Tag Archives: architecture

Modern Art Monday Presents: Frank Stella, Hiraqla Variation III

Hiraqla Variation III
Photo By Gail

Stella’s title, Hiraqla Variation III (1969) refers to Hiraqla, an archeological site in present-day Iraq that contains a half-built circular structure probably constructed around 800 CE. Thus, the circular canvas, brilliant coloring and geometric patterning reference complex domes and intricate tile work of Islamic architecture.

Photographed at the Huntington Library in San Marino, California, while on loan from the Norton Simon Museum.

Frank Gehry’s IAC Building

IAC Building
All Photos By Gail

The IAC Building, which is the headquarters for InterAcive Corp, sits on the Hudson River-facing lot on Eleventh Avenue between 18th and 19th Streets. I sometimes pass it when I am gallery hopping and when it is lit up at night it is quite breathtaking to behold.

IAC Building Screens
Continue reading Frank Gehry’s IAC Building

Pink Thing of The Day: Pink Shoe House

Pink Shoe House
Image Source

I’m not sure if an Old Woman with Too Many Kids lives here, but I would Live in this cool Pink Shoe-Shaped House. Heck, it’s bigger than most NYC apartments!

Brooklyn Museum Presents Killer Heels: The Art of the High-Heeled Shoe

Killer Heels Catalog Display
All Photos By Gail

If you are what some people refer to as a “Shoe Freak,” or even a fan of Art, Design and Fashion, you will want to hoof it over to the Brooklyn Museum to see Killer Heels, a fantastic exhibit of High Heeled Shoes that opened just yesterday. Geoffrey and I were lucky enough to attend the opening reception and party this past Saturday and we had all kinds of crazy fun.

Party Table Decor
Let’s Party

Let’s relive the good times now, by enjoying some of my photos from the party and the exhibit.

Tattoo Station

To get people in the mood for shoes, Party-goers were able to get a temporary tattoos with one of two designs based on the shoes pictured below (which, obviously are part of the exhibit):

Flaming Shoes

I got this one of a pair of Wedge Heels decorated with Flames! Fast!

Red Fetish Boots

Or you could choose a design based on these “Kinky Boots” fetish style Red Thigh High Boots!

W Mag With Rihanna on the Cover

They were also giving out the latest issue of W Magazine with Rihanna on the cover. She does nothing for me but people seem to like her for whatever mysterious reason.

Piper-Heidsieck Brut Champagne

Piper-Heidsieck was a sponsor for the party and their delicious Champagne flowed freely.

Bar

In addition to an open bar and passed hot Hors d’oeuvre, there were also some sweet treats.

Vanilla Cake Ball

Such as these Vanilla Cake Balls and also Milk Chocolate Miniature Gold Pumps.

Milk Chocolate Gold Pump

Mmm…Little Chocolate Shoes.

Ferrragamo Platform Cake

Speaking of Sweet Treats, check out this rad cake made in the likeness of Salvatore Ferragamo’s very famous multi-colored suede platform sandal created for Judy Garland back in 1938! As far as I know, nobody even got to eat this cake, and that’s just a shame.

Killer Heels Signage

OK, let’s leave the party behind and go look at some Killer Heels. Here we go!

Ornate Gold Shoes

Killer Heels explores fashion’s most provocative accessory. From the high platform chopines of sixteenth-century Italy to the glamorous stilettos on today’s runways and red carpets, the exhibition looks at the high-heeled shoe’s rich and varied history and its enduring place in our popular imagination.

Candlestick Heel Boots
Candlestick Heel Boots

Gold Winged Slipper

Red Shoes

As fashion statement, fetish object, instrument of power, and outlet of artistic expression for both the designer and the wearer, throughout the ages the high-heeled shoe has gone through many shifts in style and symbolism.

Betty Grable Display View

Deadly sharp stilettos, architecturally inspired wedges and platforms, and a number of artfully crafted shoes that defy categorization are featured among the more than 160 historical and contemporary heels on loan from designers, from the renowned Brooklyn Museum costume collection housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and from the Bata Shoe Museum.

Spike Ankle Boot
Close Up of Black Spiked Stiletto Boot from Above Display

Designers and design houses represented in Killer Heels include Manolo Blahnik, Chanel, Salvatore Ferragamo, Zaha Hadid X United Nude, Iris van Herpen X United Nude, Christian Louboutin, Alexander McQueen, André Perugia, Prada, Elsa Schiaparelli, Noritaka Tatehana, Vivienne Westwood and Pietro Yantorny.

Ferragamo Judy Garland Platform
Here’s That Ferragamo Platform Sandal Again. It is so Legendary.

Platform Boot With Spur
Platform Boot With Spur

Presented alongside the objects in the exhibition are six specially commissioned short films inspired by high heels. The filmmakers are Ghada Amer and Reza Farkhondeh, Zach Gold, Steven Klein, Nick Knight, Marilyn Minter, and Rashaad Newsome.

Silver Guggenheim Shoes

“Everyone loves to wear shoes inspired by the Guggenheim Museum!” I heard someone say about this pair of silver space age shoes. Coincidentally, there was a lady at the event wearing these exact shoes!

Two Green Shoes

Shoe Hat
Shoe Hat

Horse Hoof Boots
Horse Hoof Boots

Red Wedgewood Pumps
Red Wedgewood Pumps

Foot Shoes
Almost Like Going Barefoot?

Chanel Light Bulb Heels
Chanel Light Bulb Heels

Space Age Boots

If Ace Frehley had been a woman, surely he would have worn these boots as part of his Space Ace costume in Kiss.

Amber Toed Pump

There is just so much great art tied into the design of all of these shoes, it was easy to feel a bit overwhelmed by the flood of genius and beauty.

What a great show! I recommend you go see it as soon as possible!

Killer Heels: The Art of the High-Heeled Shoe will be on Exhibit Through February 15, 2015 in the Robert E. Blum Gallery (1st Floor) at the Brooklyn Museum, Located at 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York 11238-6052. Take the 2 or 3 Trains Right to the Eastern Parkway Stop.

Rob Fischer’s Good Weather (Glass House) at Derek Eller Gallery

Rob Fisher Good Weather Glass House
All Photos By Gail

OK, here’s something you don’t see every day in an art gallery: a Glass House. Fans of architecture, minimalism and Mondrian are going to be interested in viewing Rob Fisher’s Good Weather (Glass House), which fills an entire room at Derek Eller Gallery on West 27th Street. Continue reading Rob Fischer’s Good Weather (Glass House) at Derek Eller Gallery