At a Loss for Words

I'm at a total loss for words.

Avante-Garde Fashion

The reason I went to the Phoenix Art Museum last Saturday was to visit the member preview of a new show called Emphatics: Avant-Garde Fasion.  I had received an invitation in the mail and I thought it looked like something I might enjoy.

Until I got there, I didn't know the story behind the exhibit.  in 2015 the museum acquired a collection of fashions and fashion related materials that had been collected by James and Karin Legato who owned and operated an exclusive boutique in Pittsburgh called Emphatics.  The collection included not only the wonderful couture clothing but, also invitations to runway shows, videos and accessories.  This is the first time the collection has been exhibited together.

The clothes were by a variety of famous designers like Christian Lacroix above.  I love that polka-dot suit with little striped kick-pleat in the back.  Other designers represented were Alexander McQueen, Issey Miyaki, Thierry Muglar, John Galliano, Jean Paul Gaultier and many more.

The show was an opportunity to see some amazing fashions and to hear the story of the Legato couple's expeditions to Paris and Italy to discover new and upcoming designers of clothes, shoes and accessories.  The whole show was another visual feast.

Kehinde Wiley: A New Republic

The second exhibit I visited at the Phoenix Art Museum last Saturday was one called Kehinde Wiley: A New Republic.  It was a vast exhibit of some 60 large scale portraits and sculptures from the past 14 years of his career.

The paintings were mostly very large and brilliant with bright, colorful backgrounds framing the people who were posed in a highly stylized manner.

There was even a selection of stained glass windows with brilliant jewel-like colors.

Here is a quote from his description of his religious subjects:
"...the Christian Church was the second power that determined the course of history in Europe.  Images of biblical figures had a commanding presence in churches and palaces - often these were the only human likenesses that ordinary people, farmers and laborers would see in their lifetimes.  Fashioned in the image of the white ruling class, these images of biblical protagonists had no relation to historical or geographic accuracy.  As such, these images helped to amplify and legitimize the existing European authorities and hierarchies."

Wiley has taken these traditionally "white" representations and painted them with people of color in contemporary dress.
It was very impactful.

His works both impressed me and made me think which is what art is supposed to do.  I was completely absorbed in the subjects and the stories.  In addition to the art works, there was a room showing several videos where Wiley talks about his work and takes us to the places around the world he has visited and recruited models for his portraits.  It was fascinating and inspiring.  

Half the Air....

I went to the Phoenix Art Museum on Saturday because there was a member's opening for an exhibit all about Avant-Garde fashion.  However, there were two other exhibits on that I hadn't seen yet and one of them that just opened this weekend I had heard talked about on a couple of radio programs.  The piece is called simply Work No. 2497 or Half the air in a given space by conceptual artist Martin Creed.

The piece consists of a room completely filled with balloons, floor to ceiling, wall to wall.  The guest makes their way through the room from one door to the next by moving among the balloons.

What a fantastic experience it was!  When I first went into the room, I was the only one in it but about halfway through, some other people came in and I could hear them talking and laughing but I couldn't see them at all.  I snapped several photos while inside but as you can see, the closeness of the balloons gives just shades of white.  The photo above is looking down as I cleared a space down to the floor and my feet.

When I finally made it to the other door, I waited outside the room to see the other people in there emerge.

It was such a unique experience.  I want to go back and do it again before it leaves in January.

The other two shows I visited were equally stimulating.  I had such a great day at the museum.  More tomorrow.

That Stormy Sky is Now Blue

I went back to the Desert Botanical Garden on Saturday and when I saw the sun shining on the Chihuly sculptures, I decided to snap another photo.  As you can clearly see, that storm from last Thursday is all gone and we are back to clear blue skies.

I went back to the garden to see if I could snap a few dog photos since is was "Dog Day" at the garden but, I was too late.  Most of the dogs had gone home before I got there.  There were a few stragglers left so I did get these two shots.

It looked to me like those that were still there were having a good time!

I was late getting to the garden because I spent the morning at the Phoenix Art Museum.  More about that next week.

I have a new post on Sharon's Sojourns today.  It's a short post about an observation in Paris.

Stormy Skies

I took a late afternoon walk at the Desert Botanical Garden on Thursday just as a storm was rolling into the valley.  All those clouds made for some pretty dramatic skies while I was there.

There weren't many people there so it was an easy walk.  I finally got to photograph the new reflecting pool area without any people around.  It usually draws quite a crowd.

By the time I left, it was raining and there was quite a bit of lightening and thunder too.  It made for a "windows-open" kind of cool night.

Halloween Mixed With Sports

I was at another Phoenix Sun's game last Sunday, the day before Halloween and I spotted Mr. Orange dressed for the occasion once again.  Usually he's all in orange but it looks like he's got a new outfit covered in orange pumpkins befitting of the end of October holiday.

And look, I'm not the only one who takes her camera to the games!

Face Painting

This young man had just had his face painted at the Dia de los Muertos celebration at the Desert Botanical Garden last Saturday.  I asked if I could take his picture and he gave me a big smile.

This is one of the make-up artists working her magic on another young man.  I should have stayed around to see how this one turned out.

This pretty lady came to the garden with her face already painted and dressed perfectly for the event.

By the way, it was a somewhat hot day for this event.  We had an unusually hot October.  In fact, last Thursday we set a record of the hottest day ever recorded for October when it reached 100 degrees (38c).

The Vendors

Every year at the Dia de los Muertos celebration at the Desert Botanical Garden, a number of vendors set up in one of the exhibition spaces and sell all kinds of Latin influenced items.  This pretty lady in the South American costume was selling her gorgeous bead work.  She has some beautiful things on display.

I thought I'd show you a few other things I saw at this little marketplace.

This one made me think that ET might not have made it home after all.

This one is a not so subtle reminder that sun bathing is not really very good for you.

I loved this one!  It made me laugh!

I rarely buy anything at this event but I fell in love with this very tiny Oaxacan wood carving so, he came home with me.  He's going to hang out on one of the shelves of my bookcase.

Theme Day: Out of Focus

I knew this photo would come in handy one day!  I certainly thought about deleting it many times but something made me hang on to it.  I just like the colors and all those people arm in arm.  I took this a few years ago when I was dining on a patio at a restaurant in Scottsdale.  This family group lined up outside the restaurant so someone could take their picture.  I thought it looked great even from the back so I grabbed my camera and took a shot.  Unfortunately, my camera focused on a skinny little plant in the foreground instead of the group.  You know, if I had tried to get it to focus on that plant I never would have been able to.  When I downloaded the photo, I nearly deleted it but there was just something about it that I liked so I kept it.  Maybe I knew that one day the City Daily Photo Bloggers theme would be "Out of Focus".

To see what other out of focus photos were posted by City Daily Photo Bloggers, click here.

Happy Halloween!

These two rather skinny fellows were decorating the catering booth at the Desert Botanical Garden on Saturday as part of the Dia de los Muertos celebration.  I thought they would be perfect for a Halloween post.  The "popping eyeball" is a nice touch!

I noticed that they weren't scaring anyone.  The line for the green chili burritos was getting longer as I stood there.  Have fun celebrating the holiday or if you already celebrated over the weekend, I hope you had a great time.  I'm doing my celebrating quietly, just dinner with friends.  No costumes needed.

Celebration at the Garden

The Dia de los Muertos celebraron is going on at the Desert Botanical Garden this weekend so I made a visit there on Saturday to check it out.  

This Handsome couple were at the entrance greeting guests as they arrived.  I asked if they would mind a photo and they graciously posed for me and a couple more people who followed me in.

This is a photo of the community altar for the celebration.  It is a custom to build an altar to honor the loved ones who have passed and to place offerings on the altar for the deceased.  This one had lots of flowers, candles and paper flowers, traditional offerings.  Tomorrow I'll show you some of the interesting things I saw at the event.

I have a new post on Sharon's Sojourns today.  I'm visiting the home of a Victorian artist who painted a painting that almost everyone will recognize.

New Law School

I was in downtown Phoenix yesterday to take a look at an art exhibit in which I have several photos on display.  It is a show sponsored by Arizona State University and the art works are on display in one of their buildings.  While I was walking to the correct building I discovered a whole new building that I hadn't seen before.  The downtown campus is growing so fast that I can't keep up with it anymore.  This is the Law School for the downtown campus.  I like the look of it.

Basketball Season has Started!

Basketball season has started and my friend Janet treated me to the first home game Wednesday night.  I took this shot of one of our new rookie players, Dragan Bender who is from Croatia.  He looks like he might be a pretty good player from what I saw!

Mr. Orange who goes to all the games dressed in orange and covered in orange make-up has grown a beard over the summer.

And one last shot of one of the acrobatic guys who put on a show during the breaks in the game.  He was flying high for this shot.

A Happy Lion

I found this happy lion guarding the entrance to a home decor store in Scottsdale last weekend.  I thought he looked like he had a sort of Mona Lisa smile going on.  He looks like he might welcome a pat on the head.

His partner on the the other side of the door was a little less eager to show his cheerful side.  His stare might cause a bit more of a concern.  I think a pat on the head for this one might not be wise.

Ghosts & Ghouls on the Balcony

It looks like one of my neighbors has gotten into the Halloween spirit.  They have a balcony full of ghoulish characters.

This one waves his lantern at night.

There is a whole family of scary creatures to greet guests.  

Late Afternoon in the Park

The Phoenix Mountain Preserve is a park in north Phoenix with some rugged mountains and lots of trails to hike.

I took a drive through the park late one afternoon because I liked the way the sun was lighting up the rocks and cactus.

I even spotted a few hikers up there on those steep trails!

Al Fresco Dining

One of the many restaurants at Biltmore Fashion Park called Seasons 52 has added some al fresco dining space on the mall side of the shopping center.  When I passed by it was around 2:00 in the afternoon so no diners were using it but I sure do like the look of it.  I might have to ask for one of the outside seats the next time I dine there.

Clouded Justice

Sometimes justice doesn't seem as clear as you would like it to be!

It's just me taking one of my artsy shots in downtown Phoenix. I captured those clouds over the edge of the Superior Court building.  

I have a new post on Sharon's Sojourns today.  Are you a fan of Agatha Christie's Poirot?  Check it out.