for the love of Jean Paul Gaultier

To be perfectly honest, it wasn't until I visited The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts this summer to view The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk exhibit that I truly appreciated and understood the mastery that is JP Gaultier. It was always the Galliano and McQueen shows that stole my easily distracted attention, gripping onto it until anti-Semitism, depression and/or addiction leading to suicide, got in the way of eternal genius (RIP McQueen).


Having seen the Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty exhibit at the MET in NYC post viewing The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier at the MMFA in Montreal - I would say they were comparable in excellence. Both provided imaginative interactivity for the viewer to engage and become a part of the fashion/art (interchangeable) collection. Not only as a viewer was I able to experience and praise the dedication of craftmanship and pure genius behind each collection, but also identity with be enthralled by the passionate emotion behind the complexity of obstacles and struggle of beauty that goes hand-in-hand with being a prodigy (more so directed to the Savage Beauty exhibit, obviously... which I saw more recently = more fresh in my mind).


Please excuse the camera-phone images that don't nearly justify the beauty on the other side of the lens, but regardless, the exhibit was a sensation.

The mannequins had projected images of realistic human facial features and expressions, as they blinked, winked, starred, laughed and spoke, lip-syncing to voice recorders playing in the background - which I'd estimate for every ten clips of French, maybe one of English would play - my one and only grievance.

The infamous cone bra created for Madonna's 1990 Blonde Ambition Tour.

The following themes were the focus of the exhibition:

The Boudoir.

Skin deep.

Punk CanCan. 

Urban Jungle.

Metropolis.

“I think the way people dress today is a form of artistic expression. Saint Laurent, for instance, has made great art. Art lies in the way the whole outfit is put together. Take Jean Paul Gaultier. What he does is really art,” said Andy Warhol (Mondo Uomo, 1984).

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Hey look, it's us (with Peroni) on She does the City. 

"Apparently the best place to meet a good looking woman with impeccable taste this week was at the Joe Fresh show. Here are a half-dozen that had us turning our heads in Heritage Court."

LG Fashion Weak, Spring 2011

As tradition holds, my most fashionable friend and I ventured to the Heritage Centre, Exhibition Place to catch Toronto's trendiest @ LG Fashion Week, Spring 2011 Collections last night. This year's cliched theme: The Style of Power - A clever switch from last season's The Power of Style... are we already running out of creative fuel in our 12th year?

Unlike last year we arrived fashionably early and caught Rachel Mara's Spring line, "Stolen." The Winnipeg native delivered a collection of flouncy silk and stripes. Wearable and boring. However, I was kept on my toes with the tunes, impressed with the choices: Hot Topic Le Tigre, Gold Guns Girls Metric and Mass Romantic The New Pornographers.

My whole love for fashion sparked with the sheer theatricality of John Galliano and his bizarro themes oozing outlandish creativity. I adore the shock factor, the artistic boundaries forever extended beyond anything you could have ever imagined and nothing more beautiful and more impossible to perceive or deem realistic, and yet it's a real life dream come true - impossible turns itself inside out and into the form of a Christian Dior runway show. Mara's collection was lovely sure, but it's no reason to fall in love at a fashion show, not for me at least. 

The main event of the evening was Mr. Joe Fresh, however, we opted to get caricatures sketched and our makeup did at the L'Oreal hair and makeup station, instead. Oh and a photograph with Ken.

After the show we made our way over to Parts & Labour for DIScONNECT: A MEDIUM EXPERIMENT.


It went something like this:


PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT IS INVITE ONLY HOT ON THE HEELS OF CURRENT TREND, FASHION VIDEOS ARE NOW MORE FLUID THAN EVER. PHOTOGRAPHERS REALIZE THEIR ROLE AS 'DIRECTOR' BUT INSTEAD OF A SCRIPT FOR ACTORS, IT IS A WHOLISTIC SCRIPT FOR GREATER ELEMENTS TO COME TOGETHER AND INTERPRET DESIGNS AND LINES IN UNIQUE WAYS THAT MAKE YOU, THE VIEWER, WANT TO EXPERIENCE LIFE ON A HIGHER PLANE. THIS IS OUR 'DISCONNECT'--OUR INABILITY TO ACHIEVE SOMETHING OUTSIDE OF WHAT IT PRESENTED. CLOTHING, TEXTURE, DESIGN, LINES, LACK THEREOF--WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN? DOES IT MEAN ANYTHING AT ALL? FASHION, SO LONG CONSIDERED FRIVOLOUS, EXCESSIVE, MEANINGLESS...SO WE CHALLENGE OUR PHOTOGRAPHERS, THE EYES OF TORONTO FASHION, TO STEP OUTSIDE OF THEIR MEDIUM OF RECOGNITION AND INTO FILM AND CREATE MOVING IMAGES THAT CONVEY THE THEME OF 'DISCONNECT' WHILE INFUSING THE FASHION ELEMENTS THAT DRIVE THE INDUSTRY. AND WE INVITE YOU, THE VIEWER, TO STEP OUTSIDE OF THE FAMILIAR AND EXPERIENCE 5 SHORT FASHION FILMS, INTERPRETING THIS THEME BY: MIGUEL JACOBMAXIME BOCKENRENATA KAVEH MOO KING & CARLY BANGS WITH PERFORMACE BY TRUST @ PARTS & LABOUR || 1566 QUEEN STREET W || TORONTO ON || WED OCTOBER 20 2010 ||  S | TART: 10:00 PM SC | REENING: 10:30 PM TRUST | PER | FORMS: 11:00 PM EN | D: 12:00 AM  IN | FO P&L


Since I ranted on my lust for Mr. Galliano - here's a glimpse of the first runway show I fell in love with via this masterful genius.

Toronto Beaches, May 2-4 2010

Toronto Beaches, May 2-4 2010

Emily Palonen originals, enjoy.

I'll do graffiti if you sing to me in French

BANKSY IN TORONTO


British graffiti artist Banksy made a stop over in Toronto this week leaving behind remnants of his legacy - a wise promotional ploy, setting the city of Toronto abuzz coinciding with the release of his new film, Exit Through the Gift Shop.

Photos by Gary Smithson via. Show and Tell Gallery 




If I'm not too exhausted after the days work, it is my plan to see this film tonight.

Pervasive Influence | Contact 2010, Photography Reframed

'Pervasive Influence' is the theme for the 14th annual CONTACT festival, which includes 200 shows on view for the month of May in Toronto.

Douglas Coupland, Prows, 2010, Courtesy of the artist and Clark & Faria, Toronto via scotiabankcontactphoto.com

The theme was inspired by Canadian theorist Marshall McLuhan - commemorating the 30th anniversary of his death. 


McLuhan's "intellectually revered media analyses" and insights into his description of the photograph as "the brothel without walls" and "dreams money can buy" became the starting point to further address the online sex trade and the commercialization of the human body. 


More info and a listing of exhibition places is HERE - which I will be referencing, as I would love to check out AT LEAST one or two over the next month. Anyone want to join?


HERE is the top 10 to see according to Canadianart.com.

In the daylight anywhere feels like home

It was awhile back that I flaunted my new love for Matt & Kim after seeing them perform @ Reverb, and Daylight is resurfacing yet again. This time for the use of a stop motion short video my very best friend SMT has created, with the help of Isabel, Caitlin and I, for her final project for Ideas & Images in her second year @ George Brown for graphic design. There are 685 images in this mother. She's immensely talented and we are planning to collaborate on many projects in the years to come. I'm so proud of your talent and accomplishments SMT! 

http://sarahtalunay.com/daylight.mov

Watch, enjoy and bookmark her site for future reference. She's going to explode... not literally.

My house, in the middle of my street

Tis the season of rejuvenation and optimism - SPRING HAS SPRUNG!!! It could not have come at a better time.

Last week, we pulled out of #209 and took a walk around. Birdsong is my therapy and sun rays, my natural narcotic. Do I sound like a peppy school girl with a major crush? Good - It's how I feel.

Despite our single pet mouse, Mickey, who since being spotted a couple weeks ago, has presumably left the premises (I think my shriek of absolute terror, scared it away? I hope!) I'm in love with Toronto life. 

ICE CREAM TRUCK! Sure sign of spring. 

This weekend, I FINALLY had the chance to reunite with 2/3 of my high school bests after months(?) of planning - so worth it. Despite the rain and wind leading us to believe we were amidst a light hurricane, we strolled the streets of Kensington. Being a stranger to the city, it was Katie's first time in the market and it was endearing to witness her excitement for the details which have become standard in our eyes. For example: the view of the CN Tower from Kensington - She didn't realize how close we were to the landmark, staying @ Kristen's luxurious Harbourfront condo. If only it wasn't raining and I could have captured the look on my D3000. Priceless. 

In other news, a suggestion to make Toronto, a province of its very own made headlines today. I raised an eyebrow at the absurdity of the suggestion, but continued reading to learn the city's population at 2.5 million, is larger than six provinces - Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and P.E.I., according to the Toronto Sun. That stat is wack.

From the perspectives of each side, it does make sense that separate laws should govern areas that are completely opposite on nearly every level. The debate was sparked by a coyote problem in rural Ontario, reports the National Post. 

"...the sheer size of the city - and its voting power - means Queen's Park is more likely to cater to Toronto's every whim."

Is there not another way to resolve this issue, rather than making Toronto, Canada's 11th province? I doubt it would ever happen, not to mention all the problems this would consequently prompt. 

And I end with a photograph of my patent enthusiasm for my two favourite loves, 1) Spring 2) Toronto. 

YIPPEEEE! *This was my highly successful attempt at ruining a perfectly ordinary Toronto skyline image from Riverdale Park. #WIN

If cupid's got a gun, then he's shootin'

Happy Valentine's Day lovers. 


(Actually, happy family day! A day that I did not only, not see my family, I had to work - since apparently other people chose to spend their family day shopping at the Eaton Centre with their children... fun times). 


Trust me when I tell you - I'm not the mushy kind. However this Valentine's, I was feeling the love and wore red tights. So festive, right.  


I was treated to a lovely meal @ Gio Rana's Really, Really Nice Restaurant, on Queen East. You may have passed by it without knowing exactly what it is, but surely you've noticed it. Without signs indicating the title of this elegant Italian eatery, it is a giant sculpted nose that marks the location, instead. Pure class. 

Gio Rana's Really Really Nice Restaurant - 1220 Queen St. E. 

When HE lived down at Queen E. and Jones a couple summers ago, we would drive by often and when we finally discovered what this sizable schnoz disclosed, we vowed to one day visit. Finally, the day arrived yesterday with surprise reservations for 6:30p.m. 


We ordered:

 Fritto misto - fried calamari and shrimp, appetizer to share. 

Ossobuco- finished w/ cremini mushrooms and asiago with a side of asparagus w/ gorgonzola for him. 

Seared salmon w/ tomatoes and lemon/thyme salsa with a side of bean and potato salad for moi! 

Everything was incredibly delicious, seriously timely, not overly-priced and the atmosphere was mellow. The wall art was intriguing, and the staff was super nice and laid-back, and I can easily say, Gio Rana's definitely lived up to it's really, really nice proclamation.