This year is looking a lot like the 1980s (Day-Glo fashion, anyone?), and art exhibitions around the globe are following suit. A show of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s work just closed at Manhattan’s Gagosian Gallery, a collection of Warhols will be on display at the Scottish Parliament in October and “The Political Line”—one of the most extensive retrospectives of Keith Haring to date—opens on April 19 at the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris.
Haring, who studied at New York’s School of Visual Arts and skyrocketed to celebrity in the 1980s, cemented his legacy as a pop-art icon before dying of AIDS-related complications at age 31. His work runs the gamut of street art—from text-based collages to subterranean chalk drawings to his iconic block figures emblazoning everything from coffee mugs to Nicholas Kirkwood heels—and has been exhibited alongside heavyweights like Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg, Jenny Holzer and Daniel Buren, as well as Basquiat and Warhol.
But “The Political Line,” which highlights the diversity of Haring’s iconography over the course of his career, goes beyond what we think we know about the artist and his beliefs. “This show will focus on how important he is in the world of art, as well as his sociopolitical investment in society as an artist,” says curator Odile Burluraux. Featuring more than 250 works—including a selection of large-scale paintings on view at Paris’s Le Centquatre—the exhibit touches on topics such as capitalism, racism and AIDS. “His works are not only masterworks,” Burluraux says, “they really carry a message that still resonates today.” Exhibition sponsored by Citizens of Humanity; Through August 18; 11 Av. du Président Wilson; 33-1/5367-4000; mam.paris.fr/en.
Many of us consider skidding across a frozen pond on a cold winter’s day one of the greatest joys of childhood, and Audi has now recreated a similar thrill for adults. Its Ice Experience takes place on a wintertime course—usually a frozen lake in Sweden or Finland—against the backdrop of some of the most awe-inspiring settings on earth.
Audi hired a team of experts to teach intrepid drivers the ins and outs of handling an S5 Sportback, testing their abilities to navigate a slalom course or perfect handling skills while negotiating the frozen tundra. Uwe Fricker, a top driving instructor, says the experience isn’t just for thrill-seekers—there is a practical side, too. “Participants are learning how to maneuver their vehicles to avoid dangerous situations,” he says. “While driving against a stunning European landscape, they are also learning how to perfectly control a drift. Winter conditions are generally dangerous because people tend to lose control of their vehicles. When people participate in this program, we show them how to maintain control in even the most extreme conditions.” Fur coat not included. From $4,000; audiusa.com.
Rimowa first introduced its aluminum luggage in 1937 to address a travel problem experienced by Europeans who had begun to holiday in the Caribbean and Africa. The leather trunks used at the time could not withstand the humid climates, resulting in travelers arriving with (in essence) sweaty luggage. In 1950, the luggage purveyor took a cue from the material used on JU-52 aircrafts—lightweight yet resilient duralumin alloy—and introduced its now-trademarked cases.
Continuing the legacy, the new Classic Flight line features cases (from $595) with solid handcrafted leather handles, decorative inner linings and nostalgic packing straps inspired by the dawn of adventurous travel. To celebrate the advent of the collection, Rimowa sent out a vintage JU-52 with its original BMW engine. The plane took off in Cologne, Germany, for a whirlwind tour, stopping in Denver, Toronto and Los Angeles, where celebrities like Australian actor Chris Hemsworth and Emmy-winner Aaron Paul came out to see the aptly named “Flying Suitcase” in all its glory. Available at Rimowa stores worldwide; rimowa.de.
Fall 2012 is turning out to be a banner season for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). As part of its 2012 Art + Film Gala (October 27), the museum is honoring American artist Ed Ruscha and the late film director Stanley Kubrick.
“Ed Ruscha: Standard”—a new exhibition showcasing 300 works from the museum’s collection—debuts on September 22 (it continues through January 21). Ruscha, a seminal influence in graphic design, film and architecture, utilized all three disciplines in his depictions of urban history. “Ed Ruscha is a major figure linking the art world and the film industry,” says LACMA curator Britt Salvesen. “Not only does he depict the iconic Hollywood sign in his art, he has made films himself and acknowledges the impact of certain film genres—such as noir—on his sensibility. Ruscha sums it up best with a phrase he has used in several works of art: ‘Hollywood is a verb.’ ”
Kubrick gets his time in the L.A. sun on November 1, when the first retrospective of his work in the context of an art museum will go on view at LACMA. As for the gala itself, expect organizers to pull out all the stops. Leonardo DiCaprio and Eva Chow will cochair the event for the second year running, and a sea of celebrities (including musical guest Florence and the Machine) and L.A. art folk will be out and about in their black-tie best. Gala tickets, from $5,000; tables, from $50,000; call 323-857-6160 or email Nicole Greene at ngreene@lacma.org; 5909 Wilshire Blvd.; 323-857-6151; lacma.org.
A Klimt Exhibit at the J. Paul Getty Museum in L.A.
Most artists hope for one great exhibition a year. But most artists are not Gustav Klimt, perhaps best known for his painting The Kiss. To commemorate the 150th anniversary of his birth, there are ten shows in Vienna alone, another at New York’s Neue Galerie and a special exhibit of his drawings at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, which opened July 3. “Gustav Klimt: The Magic of Line,” on display through September 23, showcases more than 100 drawings by the Austrian artist dating from the 1880s to the early 20th century. “In looking at four decades of drawings by Klimt,” says James Cuno, president and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust and acting director of the Getty Museum, “this exhibition reveals how he tackled line, space and the human figure, developing into one of the most distinctive, seminal figures in Modernism.”
This retrospective is the first fully dedicated to Klimt’s drawings, and the works come mostly from the Albertina Museum in Vienna, which houses one of the most comprehensive collections of his sketches. The artist reportedly drew live models virtually everyday, and approximately 4,000 of his drawings still exist. 1200 Getty Center Dr., 310-440-7300; getty.edu.
Back in 2007, Kallie Dovel, the founder of jewelry line 31 Bits, traveled as a student to northern Uganda, where she met an inspiring group of local women who were using their creative skills to make magnificent handmade beads made of nothing but 100 percent recyclable paper. Unfortunately, they lacked any sort of plan to market and sell their dynamic pieces of jewelry. So Dovel brought a box of their pieces back with her to the United States and spent the next year coming up with the concept that would become 31 Bits. Now, the artisans are empowered to rise above poverty and provide for their families, receiving invaluable financial training and health-care education. Since Dovel’s initial visit, 31 Bits has brought more than 100 Ugandan women into the fold.
The process behind making the jewelry is simple: strips of recycled paper—which comes from a variety of different sources, including old magazines and text books—are rolled into different shapes and designs and dipped into non-toxic varnish. Hollywood has taken notice (celebrities like Jessica Alba, Kathy Griffin and Giuliana Rancic are fans), and Kathy Lee Gifford has already worn her favorite designs numerous times on the Today show. Like all jewelry collections, everything is seasonal—expect to see the fall 2012 line launch in September and the newest wedding collection debut in October. 31bits.com
Remember the food court at the mall? The 21st century’s hipper, trendier, and infinitely more delicious version has arrived – UMAMIcatessen. Located in Los Angeles’ ever-evolving downtown, the newly opened UMAMIcatessen is a 6600 square foot complex comprised of five different concept restaurants. Umami Burger, the latest offshoot of the Umami Burger empire, whips up everything from a wild shrimp patty infused with Japanese spices, (aka, the Shrimp Burger with Yuzu-Kosho) to the Earth Burger, made of edamame and mushrooms, topped with truffled ricotta cheese and white soy aioli. The Cure offers the delights of a traditional kosher deli, and Spring for Coffee and & a Donut satisfy with fried-to-order donuts and organic soft-serve. But the real star is PIGG, which experiments with porcine preparations from all over the world—including edgy creations like "Brainaise," a sauce similar to mayonnaise but made with pig brains. Order “Around the World in 8 Hams,” which features the chef’s choices from a two-story glass tower displaying a nonstop rotating selection of pork for your viewing —and dining— pleasure.
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