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Back when Astria recommended the scrubby gloves to me she was solely an independent curator (she curated tape for my project joanie4jackie.com) but now her work straddles creative and scholarly work. Her cross-disciplinary projects often draw from publicly available tools and databases, chronicling subcultures and perspectives that have been left out but in a very pop way. Look for her show Asian Futures Without Asians, it’s a knock out.
Related Recs
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My friend Carly Mark is a genius artist, making work about the female gaze, body horror and conspicuous consumption. But now you can conspicuously consume Puppets and Puppets, the high meets low endless design experiment she’s running like it’s Gucci in the Tom Ford era only EVERYONE is invited. Gender, size- she’s blowing up all the binaries of fashion. It ain’t cheap, but the prices reflect couture level production, fascinating fabrics and playfully sinister details (a demure Mary Jane with a wooden wedge of cheese for a heel, a chic little purse with a resin black and white cookie slapped on its front in place of logo hardware.) This is high fashion for the kid who liked to layer macaroni necklaces, for the former Emily The Strange who now works in branding, for any person who wants to add “art witch” to their resume. Carly has made me a few dresses and whenever I wear them, I feel like I can change the world with the power embedded in the layered skirts. It’s also so genderfluid that my husband can (and does) steal.
Jan 3, 2023
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In a search for table cloths/runners and what not I came across these beautiful textiles by Œuvres Sensibles. Andy Weir’s book Project Hail Maryfeel free to check me out guesting in my wife’s pod talkin bout some books
Feb 1, 2022
I loved the exhibition which presented Madame Grès and Azzedine Alaïa's pieces in conversation. This bit of the exhibition text struck a note:
"When you find something that is personal and unique," said Madame Gres, "you must make the fullest possible use of it, pursuing its realisation wichout stopping until the end." Alaia echoed her words years later: "When an idea comes into your mind, you must capture it with a lasso and circle around it relentlessly."
I liked how they saw couture as sculpture and I wondered if I should experiment with the sewing machine next. Something I am already considering. The place itself was small but lovely, with one of the most beautifu, cosy and quiet terrasses I have seen in a while, and well populated only by fashionable folks. Something similar to something I should open in Karachi, with artist studios upstairs perhaps. Grès' photographs of her dresses worn also touched me. I wonder how much of capturing imagination is image creation, and if this is a sign I should start experimenting with film now that I have an array of lenses from M. Chacha.
Grès' story was also remarkable to me because of her true love for creation and art, and how she just opened a storefront and did not follow fashion week calenders. I wonder if I should too, just buy a storefront here and start my own thing, like Nazish and I were discussing on Saturday evening.
Mar 11, 2024
Top Recs from @miranda
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I’ve been using scrubby gloves on every inch of my body for last 25 years, ever since independent curator Astria Supark said “they’re really good for getting into all the nooks and crannies.” For only a few bucks you can be completely smooth and polished at all times. Before taking them off I like to say, “Hey everybody, it’s me, Mickey Mouse!” in a special mouse voice, which some people thought was funny the first few times. (Because Mickey Mouse also wears gloves.)
Apr 30, 2024
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The orange blossoms made me think of this one. Marissa is an independent perfumier and kind of an underground cult sensation. My child and I visited her studio a couple years ago and she sent us off with a bunch of samples and I gave one to the nanny and the next day I realized the nanny smelled INCREDIBLE and I slightly regretted giving that one away (Flaming Creature) but then my child walked by, also smelling incredible, and this was great news because children don’t really wear perfume so I stole their one (Ching Shih) and used every last drop. Perfume is hard to smell on yourself.
Apr 30, 2024
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For the last 20 years I completely ignored the orange tree in the backyard of my studio because my backyard was the front yard of the guy who rented the back house. But now I’m that guy, so the orange tree is all mine. It’s almost completely replaced the internet for me. You’ve got the bright orange dots, like out of a painting of California, and the drama of the squirrels running away with the oranges. Then there’s the hummingbirds, who I have trouble playing it cool around, I just stare and stare. And now: orange blossoms! That smell like sexy beautiful perfume! I keep cutting off sprigs and sending them off with guests.
Apr 30, 2024