Art Around the USA: Week of April 30

Yesterday we looked at a random mix of mph artists around the country and what they are up to. Today I thought we could catch a glimpse at the exciting shows that are happening around the USA… and I don’t want you to forget that myplasticheart’s next show is going to be a doozy! Intrinsic Value featuring the work of Donald “Scribe” Ross. Keep your eyes on this blog for more information and an exclusive interview with the man himself.

Mike Perry, the creative talent behind some of my favorite books, like Hand Job: A Catalog of Type and Pulled: A Catalog of Screen Printing, opened a show in Cincinnati, Ohio last night with Naomi Reis. If you are in Cincinnati or passing through sometime before July 20, I highly recommend you check it out! And if you are not familiar with Naomi Reis’s work, she creates really meticulous paintings with hand-cut drawings on mylar and pieces them back together. A lot of her work is architectural based, and I am interested to see what she has created for this show.

I am a big fan of Dabs and Myla’s work. After reading an interview with them where they described themselves as working so efficiently together and complementing each other’s skills so well that they had formed a super human, I was hooked. If you have ever had the chance to see them paint live, you’ll have had the opportunity to see this couple work better together than any live painters I have seen, fluidly switching off on different parts of the mural. They have a show opening tomorrow at Known Gallery in LA. Be there or feel bad about not being there on Sunday morning.

If you are in NYC for Cinco de Mayo, then head over to Williamsburg for a party with Jon Burgerman and Jim Avignon as they perform in their band Anxieteam! It might not be a gallery show, per say, but these two visual artists always incorporate and play with art in their music. The party goes on from 3-9pm at Moves Brooklyn (419 Graham Ave) and the band goes on at 5pm!

And looking to the future…

The Distillery, an artists’ living and working space in Boston, will be holding an opening reception for Friends with Benefits on May 10th. The show features a lot of my favorite Massachusetts-based artists, including Pat Falco, whose witty illustrations I can’t resist, having once purchased a painting he created that reads, “I TOOK YOU HERE, YOU SAID SOMETHING, AND THEN I TOUCHED YOUR BUTT”. The exhibition also features prolific toy designer MCA and artists from the Project Super Friends crew collaborating on pieces with their favorite artists.

Happy art-finding and Cinco de Mayo!

Cop This Look: Rihanna – 2012 Grammy’s

Last night’s GRAMMY performance by our gal RiRi was a good show. Goldie Hawn meets Tina Turner meets vintage Madonna meets Rihanna. You loved it, so we recreated it.

Rerock viciously:

The Bonnie Top by Motel

The Pretender Shorts by Mink Pink

The Peek-a-Bow Solid 70 Denier Tight by Betsey Johnson

The Double Chain Spike Necklace  by Luv AJ

The Super Top Sneaker in All Black by iiJin

…now go find love in a hopeless place!

Photo of the Week: 2.13.2012

Eyes: the window to Prabal’s soul? New York Fashion Week is in full effect and this weekend I was mesmerized by the powerful sapphire blue makeup in Prabal Gurung‘s FW 2012 collection. The above shot of Candice Swanepoel, taken by Nina Westervelt (MCV Photo, via Refinery29), captures a behind-the-scenes moment that was likely more erratic than it appears. Candice is the face of his Spring 2012 campaign, and this striking beauty look reinforces the link between the transformative model and the popular designer.

Contest: The Peep Show is Back!

Remember the Peep Show? You, our lovely reader, dig through the site I-Spy style for a chance to cop free gear? We took a holiday break but now (yes, about a month late) the blog is ringing in 2012 with a new flirty item up for grabs. Let us refresh you on the gameplan…

1. Take a look at the product close-up above.

2. Move on over to the Karmaloop site and start searching for the item. Hint: It will only be on our women’s side!

3. Once you think you’ve found the item pictured, send us an email at blogsubmission@karmaloop.com! Use the subject “Peep Show” and in the body of the email be sure to include the name of the item.

One (1) lucky winner will be chosen at random from all those who have guessed correctly, and will win the product pictured.  We’ll announce the winner next Wednesday, February 15, along with the correct answer.  Good luck!

Cop This Look: Zoë Kravitz

cop this look zoe kravitz leather dress

Zoë Kravitz, daughter of bohemian beauty Lisa Bonet and rock star Lenny Kravitz, is naturally quite the trendsetter. Her innately cool sense of style is definitely an inspiration for me. Recently she was spotted at an event looking super chic in an Alexander Wang mini leather shift dress and sleek pointy pumps. This outfit is so effortless but edgy and glamorous at the same time which makes it totally memorable. No wonder why she has hot boyfriend Penn Badgely by her side and tons of acting and modeling projects coming up! As soon as this leather-look dress by Evil Twin hit the site it reminded me of her flawless ensemble.  Learn how to get her look:

  1. The Brown Sugar PU Leather Dress by Evil Twin
  2. The Eye Doll Shoe in Black by *Sole Boutique
  3. The Uma Clutch in Black Leather by Mata Hari

karmaloop evil twin dress platform heel mata hari envelope clutch

Design Radar: Test Tube Chandelier

Each week from here on out I’ll be taking a look an example of superior industrial design. You may be thinking, what exactly is “industrial” design? Basically any good looking product has some industrial design behind it (iPhone, cool speakers, furniture, housewares) so really, the successful results are all around us. First up we have a totally customizable test tube chandelier…

Trendland, my favorite hub for all things strikingly attractive, pointed out this cleverly functional and decorative chandelier from a Polish designer, Pani Jurek. Assembled with test tubes, the owner can personalize (and change up on their whim) the multitude of open vessels. A variation with colored water is shown, as well as a floral arrangement. We think it would look crazy cool with some confetti or little collectable trinkets. How would you make this unique chandelier your own? Let us know in the comments!

Build This Look: A Groovy Getup From Bebe Zeva

Bebe Zeva is quickly becoming an internet legend (she already has her own Wiki page at just 18 years young!) and subsequently has gained a major online following, leading to high profile features including a New York Times article last July. Though critics abound, we love the way she represents an eccentric attitude and sense of style — her story is not unlike Karmaloop‘s in that both FATED TO BE HATED and our shopping destination were spawned from the need to express our personalities differently than the cookie-cutter, mall-store mold. We linked up with Bebe to create a guest styled Build This Look: a 70′s inspired flower child look that has us pining for the grooviest decade…

BZ: I’ve been lusting after a 1970′s comeback since I noticed designers like Marc Jacobs and Chloé integrating a distinctly bohemian energy into their 2010 collections. Fuzzy coats, floppy hats, round sunglasses, and chunky heels have topped my list of must-haves for months now, and finally they’re mine courtesy of Karmaloop!  Finally I feel like I can make it with the rock n’ roll A-listers of 1972! Too bad I’m 40 years late… Though I love experimenting with themes of all eras, the psychedelic 70′s are especially dear to me. The style is best described as glamour and bohemia falling in love on a whim, having a love child, leaving it for all of Woodstock to raise, and never seeing each other again. It’s reckless, rebellious, ridiculous, perfect. There’s nothing understated about it. And how could there be? Life is too short and too beautiful to settle for being a wallflower. I guess now that I’ve got everybody’s attention, it’s time to start my own backstage posse. Penny Lane, eat your heart out!

The Floppy Sunhat – Nixon

As an admitted hat hoarder, I believe there’s no better accessory than a wide-brim hat to top off a look. This one is a perfect fit for my more free spirited ensembles. It’s just floppy enough to hide behind when I’m feeling mysterious.

The Willow Sunglasses – House of Harlow 1960

No 70′s get-up would be complete without a pair of mustard yellow circle sunnies. These frames by House of Harlow make me feel like a bonafide rockstar groupie.

The Cropped Fur Jacket – Free People

Without a doubt, shag swag is the hottest trend of 2012. I feel like I’m wearing a pink poodle around my shoulders when I leave the house in this cropped jacket by Free People, and of course I mean that in the best way possible. Poodles are sophisticated, quite like my sweater when paired with stilletos and an LBD. Just because it’s hippie chic doesn’t mean it can’t be paired with a modern wardrobe!

The Bianca Edie Leotard – Wildfox

There are two phrases I’m shamelessly obsessed with saying: “flower power” and “passion for fashion.” Okay, maybe I’m a LITTLE ashamed by how cliche and cheesy they are. But seriously, throw those two together and BOOM! You get this cartoonish bodysuit by Wildfox. It also comes in orange, but I chose charcoal because it’s both dark and delicate.

The Burnout Velvet Flare Pants – Free People

Almost Famous called, they want their pants back. What would a 70′s inspired outfit be without bell bottoms? The velvet details give these bad boys some MAJOR flare. Get it? Major “flair?” My apologies – I can’t go five seconds without making a terrible pun. It’s a problem.

The Simone Shoe – Zigi Shoes

It wouldn’t be a disco without dancing, and it wouldn’t be dancing with sky-high kicks for doin’ the Hustle. Cue the 6-inch Zigi platforms. They’re SO large and in charge that they might actually steal all the sparkle from the disco ball. And your dad’s vintage polyester leisure suit. Can you say GROOVY? Yes, yes you can.

All photos by Arslane Merabet.


Build This Look: Mixing Work with Play

Most office environments can be a bit blah when it comes to showcasing personal style. But not ours! Yes, our office is probably better than yours ;) We have young ladies running around that bring something fresh to the office everyday and I LOVE it. Our business casual is probably on a different scale then most. So I thought I should show you how we do it.

One thing I am a big fan of is mixing patterns. I think it brings out what is really going on in my head. I will definitely be that old crazy lady where nothing on matches…and look forward to it! But until then here is the clever way of pairing prints without catching too many crazy looks.

Her breakdown:

Stylist: Jasmine Imani

Model: Lealyn

Photographer: Mari Nishimura

 

Eliza Dushku in Sam Edelman and Wildfox

Eliza Dushku recently looked stunning in her sleek, modern getup rooted in classic black and cream, retro T-strap shoes, and perfect red lip and nails. Looking to borrow her style? You’re in luck! She is sporting the uber sexy Scarlett Shoe in Egyptian Gold and Black by Sam Edelman and the Foxy Two Finger Ring by Wildfox. This is a great look to wear out because it is not over the top but it also doesn’t sacrifice fashionable details. Let us know, do you dig this look as much as us?

[Image via People]