Author: polychromist

As a museum that has typically specialized in the dead artist, its always pretty exciting when we feature a living artist’s work. We have done this periodically over the years, but have been doing much more of it recently. This particular exhibition we opened this past week, Tim Shaw: Beyond Reason, has been on our tongues for quite some time. The installations and its subject matter in Tim Shaw’s first museum exhibition is nothing short of spectacular. The six psychologically charged environments included in the show address humanitarian issues designed to unsettle and provoke thought.  Much edgier than most of the work I have ever seen at the museum, nerves and excitement were high at the opening celebration as we awaited reactions from our donors and special guests. Not surprisingly to me, overwhelming praise was received for both the charged topics in the show and the feelings it left them with.

With themes such as abuses of power, the threat of terrorism to the use of money to silence free speech, throwing a themed celebration for this exhibition was no small task. Rather than recreating any of the topics in event form, I instead focused on environmental change so that when you entered your mood was slightly altered before seeing the exhibition works. The amazing art, the dark decor and some pretty delicious and beautiful drinks and bites made for quite the enjoyable evening.

When selection a look for this event, I only knew I wanted something unique made from non traditional materials. I’ve recently become obsessed with a brand I connected with on Instagram called Jatual Paris. Their unique fabric usage really got me hooked and their vinyl capsule collection for Fall/Winter 2018/19 is really special. This is the first of many looks I will be featuring in my shoots by this brand. Below are the highlight shots from a couple my favorite ares of the exhibition  and the event featuring my pretty spectacular purple vinyl dress by Jatual.

All photos by Bronson Pate of Bauman Photographers

 

MIDDLE WORLD, 1989-ONGOING
The Middle World is a large and highly complex sculptural installation created over twenty years. It consists of seventy separate small bronze and terracotta figures, arranged upon a 3m tall vessel that is part altar, part pinball machine. The sculpture is cast in steel reinforced cement.

 

MOTHER, THE AIR IS BLUE, THE AIR IS DANGEROUS, 2016
The installation recounts an early life experience of sitting in a restaurant in Belfast when a firebomb explodes on the floor below creating pandemonium. Chairs, tables, old clothes and shoes are scattered across the floor of a fabricated space. Slow moving shadows of people running are cast upon walls, dinner trays revolve through the air filled with haze, and the intense sound of many sirens radiate out from the corners of the room.

 

SOUL SNATCHER POSSESSION, 2011-2012
Influenced by a violent disturbance that took place on a street one night, Soul Snatcher Possession sets the scene of a ritual gangland killing or punishment beating. No weapon is visible, the perpetrators smile and gestures betray the moment just before some dreadful act is committed where fear fills the imagination. The installation is a metaphor for the violent extraction of soul, the manipulation of mind and the taking of life by the powerful, in order to perpetuate the myth that those with the power want to portray. It relates to the street, the corridors of governance and commerce.

THE PARTY

THE DRESS

 

I have always loved fall fashion and this year there are some particularly fun trends I’m just wild about. My favorite trend du jour has to be neon. Touches of neon were on the runways for some of the biggest brands, but in my opinion, now one is doing it better than Prada right now. When I saw their Fall ’18 Neon Dream campaign, my mind was blown. Immediately I knew I wanted to do a shoot  inspired by this.

When thinking about a place that would reference the neon drama of Prada’s masterpiece, Belmont Park and its Lazerblast arcade immediately came to mind. For my two looks, I did a shop the closet session to pull a couple key pieces sourced on eBay that fit the bill and added a few new pops of neon in-stores now that brought the look together; the crown jewel being the most amazing boots I have ever worn. I hope you enjoy the results. I had a lazer-blast pulling this together.

All photos by Bronson Pate of Bauman Photographers

Featured Fashion:

 

1. Archive Christopher Kane Bandage Dress sourced on eBay
2. Archive Alexander Wang technical mesh pencil skirt sourced on eBay
3. GMJ for Volcom T-Shirt
4. Quay Australia Hindsight Sunglasses in Violet (color is sold out but there are other colors online)
5. Prada Laced Leather Booties in Orange and Black
6. Melody Ehsani Shooting Star Earrings
7. Ink + Alloy Red Lucite Square Hoop Earrings

 

“The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction.” ― Rachel Carson

In my life I am constantly seeking out art and beauty in a longing to absorb them into my mind and spirit and reinterpret that energy into my own artistic projections into the world. I have a need to find and feel immersive experiences that reignite my childlike senses of wonder that is so easy to lose in the day to day grind of life. This is my own recipe for keeping me on the path of positivity and constant creation. After seeing last year’s first Wonderspaces installation here in San Diego I was filled with this type of inspiration and I instantly wanted more. I was so jazzed to hear a few months back that Wonderspaces would return with their second show entitled With Creative License in June. I was pleased to be invited to the preview night of this gorgeous installation. As good as last year’s show was, this was definitely next level.  Each of the show’s 15 installations was transformative in its own way and I loved each one, but I wanted to call out and do a quick review of a few of my favorites with some photo we took.

Submergence by Squid Soup

Text from Wonder Spaces Site: “Submergence is a large, immersive, walkthrough experience. It uses up to 8,064 individual points of suspended light to create feelings of presence and movement within physical space. The installation transforms space into a hybrid environment where virtual and physical worlds coincide. As you enter the piece, you are walking into a space occupied by both real and virtual components, and you can affect both” 

I would have a hard time believing anyone who would say this wasn’t their instant favorite. Maybe I just have a personal affinity for feeling like I’ve been taken into a completely new dimension. Moving about this sea of light and color I was immediately filled with awe and delight. I’ve never been in a space that felt so technological and yet so organically alive at the same time. I loved that you could really be part of it, touch it and come face to face with the piece. Its not something you are always allowed to do when experiencing art and it made me feel differently about it. This was the only installation that I had a hard time completely taking in the first time and went back to experience a second time.

HOSHI by Nonotak Studio

This is the only repeating artist from last year’s show and the 2017 pace was one of my favorites so I was really excited to see this installation. There were many pieces that used light as medium, but there is more aggressive  about this one.As you enter the long hallway of pulsating light bars, sound and mirrors…it felt a lot like being in the highly curated mood of the final scene of a psychological thriller.  There isn’t much info about this piece on the Wonderspaces site or the artist’s site. Maybe it is supposed to speak for itself…which it certainly does.

Black Balloons by Tadao Cern

Text from Wonder Spaces Site: “For an extensive amount of time, I had an idea to connect two balloons. I found a free minute between the other currently run projects, bought two balloons, and got overwhelmed by the result. It was so unpretentious and so magical at the same time! That opposition created by two very simple and playful objects once again brought a unique childlike sense of discovery.”

This piece caught my attention the most when I saw the marketing promo imagery for Wonderspaces. Something about balloons has a very deep emotional connection in my psyche…perhaps something from childhood. In the color black and in a strict geometric pattern they take on a new meaning and a strange feeling very different from the colorful free flowing nature of balloons. There is palpable tension between the two planes. Physically connected by their strings but in two different realities.

 Into the Breath by Stefano Ogliari Badessi

Text from Wonder Spaces Site: “Made of plastic bags, Into the Breath is a Dragon Balloon. Stefano Ogliari Badessi is a nomadic installation artist. He has adapted his creations to be mobile and transportable, giving him the freedom to pack up and take his art to any remote corner of the globe. Each of his installations is first imagined as a fantasy to touch some alternate sphere of reality and then realized using unique sensory combinations and performance collaborations.”

 This was a space that was the most calming of all the installations. Although very large, the space has a very unique lightness about it.  It’s one the only times I’ve been excited to remove my shoes in a public place.  Stepping inside was like going into a dream. Contemplative, warm, meditative and soft.  It was like existing inside of the lungs of a very large mystical creature. Being outside of it was almost as amazing. Hard to believe this heavenly golden atmosphere is created by recycled plastic bags.

In a world where pop-up museums an experiences are now commonplace, Wonderspaces is still special. It feels more pure and doesn’t rely on theme or kitsch. I really want to go back and immerse myself again. I hope you will try and go see this show as it will reignite your sense of wonder.

~SG

What can I really say about Bloom Bash? This is the event that consumes my mind all year long. If I was personified as a party…I think this would be me. With my years of experience, I  have the skill as a planner to create a pretty good party with almost any theme, however Bloom Bash is where I get to live out my every event fantasy. Nothing is considered too gaudy, too flashy, or too over the top and I can surround myself with overwhelming, large scale, immersive art installations. That is my party heaven!

The event is known for its multi-color and multi-sensory experiences with the showcasing of up and coming artists at its center. Ramping up for this year, I had my work cut out for me as last year’s all encompassing rainbow centerpiece installation by HOTTEA was such a huge hit and with the addition of an installation but the Journey Project, it was also the first year I showcased two artists instead of just one. This is a party-going crowd that is always hungry for more. More Art! More to do! More to See!

Naturally I had to find some artist work with big presence but not too much like last years’.  I had been seeing these amazing lantern like installations Serge & Yelena of HYBYCOZO all over Instagram and they instantly made me fall in love. The different laser cut patterns of their different sizes of HYBY’s, as they call them, cast their various patterns all around them making the space and people immediately around them as much a part of the art as the work itself.

Our second artist was a close friend of the HYBYCOZO crew and their work ties in perfectly together. We brought out the installation entitled Enunciation by Taylor Dean Harrison and it perfectly balances the other works. Where HYBYCOZO radiates out, Enunciation draws you in. I was a super fan of how it felt to be inside this color changing space.

The art is always my favorite part of this event, but the party itself is just rip roaring fun. The JetBlue sponsored nightclub was a blast and we danced forever.

And as always there were an extravagant array of treats from our local restaurant and dessertier partners from all over the city.

I always say this…but I REALLY cannot wait for next year’s Bash.

~SG

all Photos by Bauman Photographers

Another Art Alive has come and gone and I’m always amazed at how totally satisfied and energized I feel after an extremely successful year of this event, while also being completely physically and emotional depleted. It’s a yearlong effort for me that takes many weeks to mentally recover from. This year was no different. I’m over the moon about how divine everything turned out and the buzz that is still in the air. Our Premiere Dinner that kicks off the event for our donors is the ultimate test of these contrary feelings. This event is the one that raises the most money over the weekend and has the most pressure. It must be very high touch, surprising, art-centered and utterly glamorous. No small feat for an event with a nonprofit budget and attendees that go to exquisite parties all over the world. Somehow I seem to pull this off year after year. It’s a bit terrifying every year to hear “how on earth will you ever top last year” and “there’s no way it could possibly get better.” Flattering I suppose…yet all the while a big scary challenge to have this monumental task placed in my hands. I choose to take this challenge head on year after year knowing it’s always a big risk with big reward for the whole museum if done right.I like to say that stepping into the dinner space each year is like getting a glimpse inside my mind. I dare say it’s true. Not many people dream of glittering champagne bubble ceilings and vintage gold forks…but I do.

This year we opened an exhibition of Nancy Lorenz’ artwork called Moon Gold alongside the Art Alive exhibition. It’s a glittering gilded fantasy of an exhibition and it inspired this year’s Rotunda Installation and the dinner was set in the adjoining gallery. As guests entered the cocktail hour, they were greeted by the amazingly overwhelming “Infinite Garden” Installation by the amazing floral artists Natasha and Daniel at Waterlily Pond. It was a 40’ rotating gold double helix with cascading flowers in warm tones. It perfectly captured the mood of Nancy Lorenz work blended with the festive fun of Art Alive. It was pure perfection. I of course dressed to match in a matte gold sequin gown by Dress the Population.

After much time admiring this installation and getting our full of Veuve and spun gold cocktails, it was time for dinner. We opened the doors and the guests got their first view of the Moon Gold exhibition. Liquid gold canvases in many hues, mother of pearl inlay and elaborate painted screens set the scene for the rest of the evening.

As the guests drew near the dinner room, hints of movement could be scene. Vario Productions constructed me a full floor to ceiling projection room with scrolling  images of Nancy’s work and alternating video imagery set to elicit the feeling of being inside of her paintings. PEP creative executed my design for the ceiling treatment meant to make you feel like you were inside a glittering bubbling champagne glass. The custom swooped tables alternated poured Gold and Silver contrasting details including the gorgeous gilded centerpieces from Green Fresh Florals. The ethereal sounds of the shadowlands band and the tantalizing fare from Cost helped round out the senses to make it a truly immersive dining experience.

As the final course was served, the mood was light and festive. I was nearing time to leave this heavenly space and adjourn to return to the rotunda for more music, mingling and sweet treats. Everyone was a bubbly as the champagne and it was so nice to hear how everyone had been inspired by the nights revelries.

I was told once again “best dinner yet” and “how will you possibly top this next year?” All I can say is that I’m up for the challenge and to stay tuned for another peek inside my brain. I wish I could say I actually had time to take a load off after this magical night, but Art Alive had just begun. Bloom Bash was looming and I cant wait to share the details of that night next week.

~SG