Farewell to Alex Colville

I had never heard of the Canadian artist, Alex Colville until I went to the National Gallery of Canada a few days ago. There I was struck by his 1965 painting, To Prince Edward Island. 

Alex Colville, To Prince Edward Island 1965

I immediately wanted to know who had painted it and when. I loved the stylized way in which it was realized and the way that the viewer is drawn into becoming part of the scene. I couldn’t believe that I had never heard of Colville before. Upon doing a little research, I was surprised to learn that he had died only a few weeks before on July 16, 2013.

Alex Colville On a River 1996

Colville was born in 1920 in Toronto Canada. At the age of nine he moved with his family to Nova Scotia, Canada where he would live for the rest of his life. Colville graduated with a degree in fine art in 1942 from Mount Allison University. In 1944 Colville was deployed to Europe as a war artist for the Canadian Infantry. In 1946 Colville returned to his alma mater where he would teach until 1963 when he felt secure enough to earn a living solely from painting. 

Alex Colville Child & Dog 1952

Colville's paintings have a sort of a Hopper-esque quality to them. He painted every-day scenes of people but there is a loneliness to them - a sense of isolation. 

Alex Colville Woman on a Ramp 2007

Mostly Colville's paintings are set in the maritime background of Nova Scotia. At first glance they seem realistic but on closer inspection the forms are very simplified.

Alex Colville

Colville's paintings can be found in many collections throughout the world including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, The Georges Pompidou Center in Paris, The Musee National D'Art Moderne in Paris, the National Gallery in Berlin, and the Museum der Moderner Kunst in Vienna.

Alex Colville, Family & Rainstorm 1955

I love the painting above titled Family & Rainstorm. It seems appropriate as summer starts to draw to a close. Farewell to Summer and farewell to Alex Colville.

Farewell to Esther Williams

Esther Williams, the legendary synchronized swimmer died in her sleep at age 91 on June 6.

She was best know for her stylized "aqua-musicals" in the 1940s and 1950s - a style that was invented just for Williams.

By age 16 Williams had already won three major swimming championships. She planned to swim in the 1940 Olympics but they were cancelled due to the outbreak of World War II.

Williams was discovered by an MGM scout in 1941 and went on to sign a contract with the studio and to make 30 films with them - most of which featured extensive synchronized swim scenes.

Williams was perhaps best know for her 1952 film, "Million Dollar Mermaid". Million Dollar Mermaid became her nickname and was was the title of her 1999 autobiography.

When Williams first started making "aqua-musicals" the MGM studio costume department had very little experience making bathing suits. Stretchy lycra fabrics had not been invented yet and oftentimes wool was used in making the suits. They were so heavy that once Williams put on one of the studio designed suits and quickly sank to the bottom of the pool. Williams began to collaborate in designing the bathing suits with the MGM costume department. In 1948 Cole of California asked if Williams would endorse one of their new bathing suits that was made out if a revolutionary fabric called lastex. This new fabric made it so that zippers were no longer needed, it had a better fit, and was easier to navigate in water. Williams had to fight with MGM but was eventually allowed to endorse Cole's suit. At the time celebrity endorsements were unheard of and she became one of the first celebrities to endorse a brand.

Vintage at the 2013 CFDA Awards

The 2013 CFDA awards were last night and as usual I am always looking for the vintage dresses. This year I was not disappointed. 

Tory Burch 

I loved Tory Burch's vintage Chanel dress! The large leaf print was amazing and the purple colors of the dress looked beautiful on her.

Elizabeth and Mary-Kate Olsen

Mary-Kate Olsen also wore vintage. It was at the other end of the spectrum from Tory's dress but no less amazing. Her dress was a vintage black, pleated Issey Miyake dress from the 1980s.

Ladybug Vintage at space519!

Great news! It just got easier to find Ladybug Vintage. Ladybug Vintage jewelry is now available at space519 - located at 900 N. Michigan Avenue on the 5th floor.

space519 is a unique boutique selling an assortment of hard to find women’s and men’s apparel and accessories, apothecary, books, music, furniture and home items.

Happy Mother's Day!

Me and my mother 1973. Paris, France.

Styling the Neesh T/F 2013 Look Book

Gray's Lane Spring issue

I am so excited for the new Spring issue of Gray's Lane Magazine featuring the photography of Rachel McGinn. The beautiful photographs are like a breath of  fresh air and there is a feature on one of my favorite textile designers, John Robshaw. Check it out here: http://grayslane.com/2013/03/26/spring-is-here/.

Gray's Lane Magazine cover photographed by Rachel McGinn.

 

John Robshaw textiles photographed by Rachel McGinn.

 

Ladybug Vintage advertisement from Spring issue of Gray's Lane Magazine photographed by Rachel McGinn.