Austin Scarlet discussed the interdependent relationship of fashion and fine art from a historical perspective. This relationship can be traced back to the court of King Philip IV, where artist Diego Velazquez decorated the interiors of the palace as well as the clothing of the royal family and the ladies in waiting. During the 17th and 18th centuries, art reflected the riches of the patron’s lifestyle in the same vein that the fashions they wore would; for example, the wardrobe of Louis XIV was open to visitations from the public so they could admire it.

When milliner and dressmaker Rose Bertin emerged in the court of Marie Antoinette, she became the first celebrated French fashion designer, and is widely credited with having brought haute couture to the forefront of popular culture. The industrial revolution made clothing more accessible to the middle class. Simpler lines and unrestricted clothing appeared in artist circles. Wonderful collaborations emerged between fashion designers and the world of theater and ballet. A prime example would be Picasso designing for the Ballet Russes.

The golden age of couture arrived in the 50s and the 60s – with America’s first master couturier, Charles James, working from his Chelsea Hotel studio. Artists such as Andy Warhol, who used a graphic art approach, brought forth the Pop Art movement. Warhol made paper dresses that his artwork printed on them and sold to those brave enough to wear them.

Today, fashion has fully attained its status as an art form. Fine art uses fashion as a vehicle to reach a larger audience – one can note the collaborations between artists Murakami and Richard Prince with fashion powerhouse Louis Vuitton, and fashion is recognized as art in museums – an example being the Alexander McQueen exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Patrick McMullan has documented the NYC nightlife for decades and in the process has observed the trends of the ever-evolving wearable art. McMullan spoke about his love of photographing people in ‘look at me’ clothes. Fashion adds status, color, flair, and style to each of us – art on the body becoming interactive and inviting conversation. McMullan noted that art, fashion, and technology are on the verge of the ultimate collaboration, with photography itself serving as both functional and fine art.

Bill Indursky, as part of VandM, has developed one of the only trend forecasts connecting design trends and antiques. He noted that today things do not stay original anymore. The ‘upcycling’ trend – in which designers recut, repurpose and redesign clothing – reimagines a vintage item, giving it a second life beyond its original function.

Indursky spoke of the impact of the Internet on fashion and art. The Internet has made a designer’s collection readily available to copycats. Once a new collection is shown publicly, it becomes globally mass-produced within days. The idea of a ‘master of the craft’ gets lost in the process. However, the Internet also helps designers and artists easily access knowledge and information on techniques and trends from all parts of the world.

Trends in the current and next year are medieval fantasy – think of TV shows such as “Game of Thrones”, Barbie glam – feminine forms, bejeweled, kitsch with a tough edge, technochanic – structural forms, technology in organic form, and the greatest hits of all of Europe – sort of a best times in fashion through an English lens, stripped down, darker interiors, clothing is more medieval.

The panelists all agreed that we have a lot to look forward to, as the thriving trend of fine art and fashion collaboration is helping create a new and exciting hybrid art form.

The Fusion of Fine Art and Fashion was the third in an exciting new educational series of panels entitled Art as Entrepreneurship. Each panel hosts a mix of creators, investors, historians, and innovators in a monthly art discussion.

For more information regarding future panels you can go to:
www.aiproductions.org
http://twitter.com/ActiveIdea
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Active-Ideas-Productions/286741754688305
http://www.nycga.net/

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Who are you and what do you do? Hi I’m Wven and I am a creative. For the past 15 years I have lived & loved in New York. All the while documenting my life’s little adventures through my writing and photography and combining it all in a book. The last 2 years I have been on a sabbatical traveling around shooting as much as I can. And focusing my concentration on the various projects that surround my book. Outside of the book I am preparing for my very first show. I am having the time of my life right now doing exactly what I love. I feel positive and excited to share this with the world.

Who would you like to meet living or dead? I’d love to meet and hang out with Jack Kerouac. There is something about the beatnik lifestyle that I find really romantic. The jazz, the style, the idea of getting by and still being happy, creating, writing, drinking, drugging & whoring. Traveling across country & out of the country experiencing life with no regrets. Small adventures in the discovery of self. Growing richer inside then pouring it all out in written words. Painting beautiful and amazing stories for the minds picture show of the reader. I love the power of the word. I have always been inspired by the writers of that time. Especially Jack.

What do you like the most about yourself? It’s hard to say what I like about myself out loud, but If I had to say, I like is my style. And not necessarily in a fashion sense. Although I do like to think I dress myself well. I mean more of my way of being. I’m very laid back, relaxed, cool and down to earth. And being from Costa Rica the whole Pura Vida lifestyle keeps me healthy inside. Pure life, everything is cool. I love to laugh and be happy and positive. It’s the one thing that I like most about myself that gets me through whatever life throws at me.

What is your most treasured possession? I guess if this was the same question as If there was a fire, what would be the one thing I would grab. It’s a bit of a combination of the same thing. A binder of all the film negatives I have ever shot and a back up hard drive of my entire life’s work. The negatives is something that I really cherish. Those photographs are pure, beautiful and untouched. I love that about film. And I always will.

What makes your work unique and memorable? I think the thing that makes my work as a photographer unique is because it’s very real, personal & I do very little to no retouching. I don’t set up lights, have makeup artists, hair people, or wardrobe. It’s me and whomever I’m shooting. No real models. When I started shooting I shot people I had intimate relationships with, close friends, lovers, & girlfriends. And in a lot of ways I still do that. These are all real women that in one way or another have been in my life. Shooting strangers is a bit weird. I don’t like shoving a camera in a persons face. I like to hang out and make pretend I’m not really there. I love everything about women. So I can easily get lost in the little intricacies in the simplicity of a woman making herself sexy. Some of my favorite photos are the ones where for that split second the girl forgot I was even there.

What is your favorite quote? Jack Kerouac’s… “ The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes “Awww!”

http://myfriendsmysins.com/

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We are going through some exciting changes here at KARIN + RAOUL by widening our scope on a global scale and we would love to hear from our viewers. What are your top 5 art websites, galleries or communities around the world?

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FEMALE EROTIC PHOTOGRAPHY by  REKA NYARI. 

KARIN + RAOUL magazine showcased Reka’s photography in the PulchriTUDE issue a few months back.  Since then Reka has been busy putting together her first photo coffee table book titled ‘FEMALE EROTIC PHOTOGRAPHY’ by Reka Nyari.  This might be this summer’s sexiest photo coffee table book.  But don’t take my word for it, buy the book here and see for yourself. Enjoy!

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David Lynch, American director, screenwriter, producer and artist emerged in the late 1970s as a new creative force within the film world. Nominated for three Oscars (Elephant Man 1980, Blue Velvet 1986 and Mulholland Drive 2001) and winner several times at the Cannes and Venice Film Festivals, Lynch has consistently created new departures in film making. FETISH sees Lynch in the guise of photographer, directing the models and composing visually arresting and extreme images.

Parisian born Louboutin has been designing shoes since the late 1970s and his highly sought after designs have led to an impressive clientele list from Angelina Jolie to Princess Caroline of Monaco. Louboutin was asked to make a collection… ‘David Lynch asked me to design shoes for his exhibit at the Cartier Foundation. David Lynch is one of the greatest living film-makers. Since his films are extremely coded, I wanted fetishist shoes, since that fantasy also obeys codes. A lot of people only see the shoe as a walking accessory. If ever a wardrobe had a fetish object, it is the woman’s shoe, even without heels. It has the allure of a sacred totem._’Christian Louboutin

Christian Louboutin and David Lynch,  a combination of excellence! I absolutely love the fetish shoes!!!

David Lynch’s work is currently being exhibited in a gallery based in Hong Kong called “The Cat Street Gallery.”

To see more of David’s work click on: CATSTREET

xoxo Karin

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Photography by Joseph Balestra  feat. fashionista + designer Vaunt

Vaunt’s work is feminine, fetishistic, & occasionally funny. She creates ready-to-wear rubber and unusual headgear- more art than anything, they are installations for the body. Most of her work is inspired by tactile senses and sexual themes, and her designs are made in a free-form, organic work process.

Vaunt’s RUBBER designs

Vaunt’s HEADGEAR design

To see more of Vaunt’s designs click here

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This is the last week the exhibit will be up, don’t miss it!

{Pulchri’TUDE}
A PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION

Featuring
Cyntha K. Cortes, Sante D’Orazio, Aeric Meredith-Goujon, Hassan Kinley, Chip Willis, George Pitts, Andrew Matusik, Ronin/SS

with installation done by Efriom Snyder

The Dash Gallery
172 Duane Street
Tribeca NYC

Monday – Friday
1:00pm – 6:00pm

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Ira Bordo is based in Moscow, Russia. I discovered her work several years ago when at the time I asked her to be part of our gallery series and  since, I remained a big fan!

Ira takes us beyond the normal photography …

Her work is mesmerizing, hypnotic and mysterious.

Sensational. So abstract.

Very cinematic.

This series is stunning… I love!!!!

The styling is sensational. Très magnifique!!!

I always look forward to seeing more of Ira’s work. Wonderful job Ira!!!!

To see more of Ira’s work, click on: BORDO

xoxo Karin

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Photography team Ned and Aya Rosen featuring Adrianna video shot by Aeric Meredith-Goujon

Ned and Aya Rosen give Karin + Raoul access to their photo shoot with Adrianna. It’s a rare opportunity to get an intimate look at what goes on on the set, and they share some insights into their philosophy and what making a great image means for them.

This vdeo is the first of many photographer interviews conducted by the smart and lovely Model + Interviewer, Adrianna .

Enjoy.

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