GRAFFITI in MIAMI – Retna and The Wynwood Walls

We are in Miami and had a great day.  After a really nice tour of a collector’s home (including De Kooning, Rothko, Lichtenstein, Miro, Twombly, Stella, Guston and others) we went over to the Louis Vuitton store in Wynwood – Miami’s Design District.

They have recently commissioned Los Angeles-based graffiti artist RETNA to paint a mural on the outside of the building as well as design scarves.  RETNA was there to talk with us about the project, his process and his path from doing illegal graffiti to being commissioned by stores like Louis Vuitton.

RETNA

RETNA with a scarf that he designed

RETNA’s project at Louis Vuitton, Miami

Then we drove over to see The Wynwood Walls.  This was a project that was started in 2009 by a developer named Tony Goldman (who recently passed away in September).  He had the vision to turn the warehouse walls into public art during a time when the neighborhood was not the hip, bustling place it is today.  Over the course of a couple of years, he brought street artists in from all over the world to paint murals.

Os Gemeos wall – Brazilian brothers

It is interesting for us (Dallas people) to see a place like the Design District of Miami.  The neighborhood is full of interesting retail, restaurants, people and art.  This is what the Dallas Design District will be one day!!  We just have to believe in it and think outside the box.

Kenny Scharf

Shepard Fairey

RETNA

I’ll post more about Miami along the way.  Love you.  Bye bye. xoxo

**If you know any of the artists in the images where I did not include captions, let me know and I will add them.  Thanks!!

COOL SHOPPING at Dallas Contemporary

As you know, I work for Dallas Contemporary – the contemporary art museum in Dallas.  We are putting together a pretty effing cool shop for the holidays.  It will be open for 3 days ONLY – December 7th, 8th and 9th from 11:00am – 3:00pm each day.

There will be art, limited edition prints, art books, furniture and some design & fashion objects.  **Word has it that there are even a few Shepard Fairey prints.**

If you have seen what we do (amazing exhibitions, stimulating chit chats with artists, street art camps for teens, artist-focused performances), then you know that we can’t do it without the support of the community and people like you.  So mark your calendar…..come shop…..and support a very cool place in Dallas.

Love you.  Bye bye.  xoxoxo

Carolina Herrera + Dallas Contemporary = LOVE

Today I attended a fashion show/luncheon at the Carolina Herrera store in Highland Park Village.  One of our awesome board members, Maxine Trowbridge, was co-hosting the event along with Catherine Carpenter Cox and Dallas Contemporary was the benefitting charity.

Upon arrival, wine and water were served while a stunning group of women (and a few men) from Dallas mingled and perused the racks.  Then we all sat at a long table inside the store and waited to see the Spring 2013 collection.

Caroline Herrera luncheon

The looks I like the best were those that seemed to reference painting.  Constructed with layers of sheer fabrics and color blocks, the dresses were stunning.  I found this image online that showed a grouping of the pieces that I liked.

Spring 2013 Collection

 

Carolina Herrera luncheon Dallas from Erin Cluley on Vimeo.

After the show, we ate a delicious meal and I sat next to and got to chat with some really amazing Dallas women (and one from Tyler!).

Dallas loves fashion.  Fashion loves art.  Art loves fashion back.  We are all one big happy family.

Thanks to all involved that helped make this come together….the Carolina Herrera, Town & Country and DC teams.

Love you.  Bye bye.  xoxoxo

¡Zuzu en España! z01

Pardon my absence…I’m back from Spain!  It was a fantastic trip from start to finish.  This is part one of the adventure…

I arrived in Madrid on a Wednesday morning.  My dear, sweet Alexa was waiting at the airport for me.  I can’t tell you how great it was to spend time with her.  Love, love, love.

Me and Alexa...hot, hot!

First stop: Alexa’s apartment.  She rents a room in a cute, cozy apartment from a lovely Spanish girl named Teresa.  It’s a great neighborhood and I was happy to see her digs.  Alexa put the coffee on, I hopped in the shower and we hit the streets (staying awake was key so I could sleep through the night that night).  We took the bus down toward the city center.  Alexa had a lunch spot in mind where we ate from the menu del dia.  If you don’t know, this is a great way to eat la comida (the Spanish main meal of the day).  For around 10 euros you get a salad, main course, dessert and wine.  It’s a steal.

After lunch, Alexa headed to class and I decided to walk around and pop into some shops.  I walked along the park near the Museo del Prado and then up onto Calle de Serrano which is sort of like Fifth Avenue in New York.  An hour or so later, I get a text from Alexa that her class is cancelled so she met up with me.  From there we decided to have a drink.  We went to a couple of classicly Spanish bars – “old man bars” as Alexa fondly calls them.  A drink, tapas, another drink, tapas….etc.  By this time it’s getting close to 9:00 and with very little sleep on the flight over, I was wiped.  So we called it a day.

The next morning we made our first stop ARCOmadrid – the contemporary art fair that I recently blogged about.  We met my boss Peter Doroshenko there.  He was in Madrid that week because he organized a panel with collectors who have created private museums to house their collections.  We walked around the fair.  As usual at fairs, there is always too much to see but we made the rounds, saw some great art, saw some not-so-great art and ate some over priced sushi.  The nature of the biz…

However, one of the most interesting things we ran into was ROYALTY.  Upon arrival, Peter told us very nonchalantly that the prince and princess were in da house.  Alexa freaked.  I wasn’t really sure what to be looking for but we made our way around the maze of galleries and then found it – the crowd of people gawking like we were about to do.  We took some terrible photos with our iPhones and checked “Spanish Royalty” off our list of things to see.

Prince and Princess of Asturias at ARCOmadrid

From there Alexa headed to class and Peter and I decided to hit the Museo de Reine Sofia and a gallery which was showing Doug Aitken’s film “Black Mirror”.  Both were great.  I took a break to rest up for the evening out.

Hernan, Alexa’s super sweet and handsome beau, met us at the apartment before heading out.  First stop was Cafe Melos in the Lavapies neighborhood, a diner-like place with bad lighting and bad service (a common trait of Spanish restaurants) – but packed with people and really great food.  We ordered wine, pimientos (a fave of Alexa’s), empanadas and a zapatilla (which translates as “slipper” – not sure why except that maybe it is because it is as big as a shoe).

Hernan and Alexa

empanadas y pimientos at Melos

zapatilla at Melos

From there, we headed over to a bar called Delic – cozy, warm and had good mojitos.  Lorena, a Spanish friend of Alexa’s, met us out.  After a drink at Delic, Lorena wanted to take us to the Bar Cock.  It’s not what it sounds like.  This was a cool spot – had a nice ambience and an interesting crowd of people.  It felt like the days of the Owl Bar in Baltimore (kind of funny…cocks and owls). We had a drink there but were needing to call it a night soon since Alexa and I were getting on a morning train to Barcelona.  But with the Spanish, it’s not that easy.  I will give it to Lorena – she tried her hardest to make us a stay.  But alas…we had to go.  We needed to sleep and Barcelona was waiting for us.

Alexa, Lorena and Me

Barcelona bound!  Friday morning we got on the Ave train to Barcelona.  Was it expensive?  Yes.  Was it super comfortable and worth it?  Yes.  Upon arrival, we went straight to our hotel – Grenados 83.  It was a cute, modern boutique hotel in a great location.  Nice customer service, a metro stop close by and a sweet coffee shop run by a French lady across the street – I totally recommend it.  That day we walked around.  Alexa led me around several different neighborhoods.  We stopped at a little café for la comida.  Consumed:  chicken soup with cabbage and garbanzo beans, paella and flan.  We then walked around and did some shopping…Zara and Hakei among others.

me and Paella

breakin' the sweet sugar crust...

After shopping and then a break at the hotel, we decided to do a bit of a bar crawl in the Raval neighborhood.  Our good friend (from Baltimore) Andy Stella who is living in Barcelona with his lovely wife Laura, made a super fab google map of bars that they like in this neighborhood.

Andy Stella's stella map

The first stop we had a glass of wine and admired the two very hot bartenders.  One noticed that we were looking at the other.  We couldn’t help but live up to what they probably already thought – that we were silly, shallow American girls.  Yes!  Then we left needing a little food in our bellies.  As we walked down the street Alexa spotted a falafel joint.  Perhaps it was because we were really hungry, but I do believe this was the best falafel I have ever had.  We gobbled it up and made a couple more stops.  Along the way, we kept spotting cats, pirates, cows (a lot of cows for some reason) and superheroes.  A and I were speculating on why in the world all these characters were roaming the streets.  As we I asked our concierge.  He said, “Carnival.” With a tone that said, “Are you kidding me?  Carnival, you idiot.”  I said, “Oh, right.  Thanks.”

Saturday morning we headed to the northern part of the city to go to the Museum of National Art of Catalunya (MNAC) and the Mies van der Rohe pavilion.  Both great stops.  MNAC had a solid collection of Romantic, Gothic and Modern art.  Going over to the Mies pavilion was an unexpected treat.  I didn’t know he had a building in Barcelona.  Apparently it was built in 1929 for the International Exposition in Barcelona.  It was then taken away and after about 50 years was rebuilt.  Oh, Mies!  How I love you…it actually makes me miss the Highfield House in Baltimore.

Me and Alexa at MNAC, Barcelona

Mies van der Rohe Pavilion, Barcelona

Mies van der Rohe pavilion...with the Barcelona chairs

After a lot of art looking, we needed a bite to eat.  La Boqueria for fresh juice, cod fritters and a selection of empanadas.  It’s impossible to take a bad photo in this place.  Beautiful colors everywhere…and it was buzzing with people.

La Boqueria

Me and Jamon

From there we went to see the water and to have a refreshing glass of cava.  Aaah…

Alexa by the sea

After a full day, we had plans to meet up with some Catalan friends for drinks and dinner in a cool neighborhood called Gracia.  After a quick nap, we were refreshed and back out the door.  We were meeting Marta and Jordi — friends of Alexa’s which she met in Baltimore while they were living there for a few months.  These two were sweet as pie…we had a great night together.  First they took us to Elephanta, a bar which specializes in gin and tonics (this seems to be a Barcelona trend).  We had a couple of drinks and snacks and then were off to the next place for a typical Catalan meal.

Alexa and the Catalans - Jordi and Marta

gin and tonics, chips and guac at Elephanta

Marta, Me and Alexa

Marta and Jordi ordered the spread — meat and cheese platters with ham and chorizo, grilled artichokes, cod salad with fresh tomato and onion, roasted eggplant and red peppers and bread toasted with tomato.  We shared a bottle of wine, enjoyed great food and great conversation (topics including but not limited to the WIRE — always a plus).

typical Catalan meal at La Llesca in Gracia

Sunday morning Alexa and I went different places.  She wanted to head back to the MNAC to see a bit more and I wanted to go see Gaudi’s Casa Batllo.  I got there right as they opened so I didn’t have to wait in line.  Perfecto.  I have always seen images of Gaudi, but what a difference it was to see it in person.  He must have been a whack job.  I can’t even imagine.  And on the tour I learned that he was there every day while it was being built because the builders only had a drawing and a model to work from.  What a nightmare!!  Even though he was probably very eccentric (nuts) he was certainly a genius.  Alexa recommended I go here and it was definitely a highlight.

Gaudi's Casa Batlló, Barcelona

Me at Casa Battló

Afterward, I made another Gaudi stop — Sagrada Familia.  Stunning.  But lines were too long so I didn’t go in.

Gaudi's Sagrada Familia

Alexa and I then met back up to meet with our Charm City friends Laura and Andy Stella!!!  So GREAT to see them.  We all greeted each other with big American hugs!!  Andy is there working on a Master’s degree.  We met them at their super cute apartment and did a quick catch up.  Us girls went out for a quick bite and then made plans to meet up for dinner and drinks.  We met up for dinner that night at a place in their hood.  Then walked to a place called Madame Jasmine.  It was strange (in a good way)…dark with a sort of warm red glow, good cocktails, great music and bartenders whose sexuality was uncertain.

The Charm City Gang (nerd) - Laura, Andy, Alexa and Me

Alexa and Miss Laura

Me and Andy

Marta met us out too!

For our final day in Barcelona, Alexa took me on a bit of a walking tour.  We checked a few more bits of fabulous architecture, did some good people watching and then it was time to head back to the train.

Then we were off to Madrid for the rest of the week.  Zuzu in España z02 to follow…

Check out ALL the photos up to this point on my facebook page…love you.

Bluebottom Guest z01 — Detroit – what’s really there.

Every 1st of the month, I am going to have a Bluebottom Guest entry.  I’m asking people that are close to me who might be traveling, doing something  interesting, or just want to write about…anything.

First up – my good friend James Gilbert (who you have seen in a previous entry).  He made a recent trip to Detroit….read about his perspective of The Motor City.

xoxo

ZB

James Gilbert

Recently I spent a cold and wintery week in Detroit directing a fashion video for Koch. We chose Detroit not only for it’s perceived rawness, the city’s current statistics are that the population has shrunk to half it’s former size and is 30% abandoned, but also it’s history. We wanted to tell this story – a decentralized city in disastrous decline but with a rich cultural history of a once prosperous city vying for a comeback. Our locations ranged from immense but derelict Central Michigan train station, colorful graffitied alleyways to the historical Guardian Building – a beautiful art deco building currently used as residence on the upper floors and shops on the ground level. The building once was a premier facility where one in four Detroit residents did their banking.

Central Michigan train station

Guardian Building

The Meis Van Der Rohe, Lafayette Park – the first urban renewal-project in the United States and listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Mies Van Der Rohe, Lafayette Park

 

The residential neighborhood that epitomized Detroit then and now was Indian Hills – a part of town where the large, well maintained homes could easily be placed in Dallas’ exclusive Highland Park. Yet, only two streets away those same homes were in complete disrepair with sagging roofs and collapsed front porches – some still being occupied regardless of their safety.

At dinner one night our crew on the shoot discussed the future of Detroit  – can it recover, can this happen in other US, or international, cities that invest too heavily in one industry? Several of us on the crew had just listened to a recent radio episode of This American Life about the Mike Daisey, a self-described “worshipper in the cult of Mac.” He saw some photos from a new iPhone, taken by workers at the factory where it was made. Mike wondered: Who makes all my crap? He traveled to China to find out. A worthy listen.

It was part of our crew’s heated discussion on product production cost, corporation, consumer cost, identity of labor force, labor rights, the affect on local community – at this point, Detroit. I know, way too much for this post but wanted to provide some context of the discussion.

There was one large painted signed that we saw daily – Outsource to Detroit. It was obvious by this sign that the residents want a comeback and are aware of the global economy.

Outsource to Detroit

A perfect summary to my experience in Detroit were the two stops I made in the half a day off before catching my flight back to Los Angeles: The Detroit Institute of the Arts and The Heidelberg project – The DIA showed evidence of a once culturally wealthy city with an amazing collection. The large room full of Diego Rivera frescos depicting Detroit’s industrial history were simply amazing and a poignant reminder of it’s productivity and global influence.  The second, The Heidelberg Project is exactly what every city should have is an artist like Tyree Guyton who has, for the past 25 years, transformed two city blocks where his lives. If you have time – visit the website and watch the 14 minute video. It provides a nice insight to the project and the benefit to the community – though, from an artist’s perspective also a disappointing reality of the state of arts funding and the sacrifices of artists within their communities.

Diego Rivera fresco

The Heidelberg Project

The Heidelberg Project

As our crew hoped that Detroit would eventually recover we were optimistic that the arts could serve as a catalyst for it’s next generation. As has happened in many cities – creative people needing low cost studios move into depressed areas bringing with them restaurants and small businesses – revitalizing communities with their work and ideas.

The Detroit residents we spoke with seemed ripe for more, what every community needs, the risk of adventurous people and innovative thinking.

Happy New Year…LOVE.

Got this today from an artist that I worked with last year…Elisabeth Clark.  She did a fantastic installation at Dallas Contemporary where she threaded sparklers together from end to end and hung them horizontally in the space.  Once lit, the sparkle slowly burned and moved along for about 2 hours.  Take a look at her website for other projects she has done.

Happy New Year from Hermes to Elisabeth to me to you.  LOVE.

Here goes…

Well, with much encouragement from a friend over the course of last year, I decided to start a blog.  I plan for this to be a way of documenting my adventures and my obsessions.  Here is a little bit about what that might entail…

My job is in the art world.  I work with an amazing group of people at Dallas Contemporary – a contemporary art museum.  The biggest (and best) part of my job is meeting and working with artists.  I work closely with the artists to make their exhibitions come together.  It can be wonderfully insane at times but incredibly rewarding….and I would say – NEVER dull.  I have also been very fortunate to travel for my job.  My plan is to share about these little jaunts to art fairs, museums, private collections…and one of the things the art world loves – parties.

My newest obsession is tattoo culture – specifically what is going on in Texas.  “Bold, straight-forward and on the weird side.” That is quoted from a tattoo artist in Austin I have worked with over the course of the year, Jason Brooks.  More on that later…

I am often around interesting fashion and design (also because of my job).  I am no expert on either topic but I know what I like (and don’t like) and always wish that I had documented along the way.  This is the perfect place to get started.

Other things that I love and plan on sharing about:  my beautiful (and brilliant) nieces, food (food!), interesting cocktails, and fun things that I find (or my friends find) to do in the fine city of Dallas.  Oh, and things that have a touch of weird, erotic or pervy.

So here we go…cheers to this blog beginning in 2012.  Even if the only one who ends up reading this is my friend who encouraged me to start it.  Thank you to Little V’s mommy….shout out! xx