Grand Rapids Art Prize 2014

I had the opportunity and pleasure to visit some of the installations of the 2014 Grand Rapids Art Prize recently, and the things I saw amazed and inspired.

The sites I was able to visit during my short day trip were 

the UICA (Urban Institute for Contemporary Art), 

Kendall College of Art and Design, 

the GRAM (Grand Rapids Art Museum)

 and SiTE:LAB at the Morton-- a gorgeous yet vacant hotel built in 1923, which has been leant to the SiTE:LAB organization to display various artists' works.

Disclaimer: The photos below were indeed taken with my phone camera, so please forgive their less-than professional quality.

{ above: the awe-inspiring 'Intersections', a 6.5' square cube of laser cut wood, with shadows cast 32-35 feet. By artist Anila Quayyum Agha . }

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Below: The Morton Hotel, still glorious in its state of discomposure and decay.  It's rare that a building of this calibre in a condition of half-demolition is open to the public, let alone a scene for viewing sculpture, so mad props to SiTE:LAB for the opportunity.

{ above: The ballroom turned into a psychedelic disco light show. }

{ above: the basement of the hotel, underneath the street, including original bank vault, and more recently a DJ station, behind which is a mini skate park. }

{ above: the basement of the Morton leads into an adjacent building. Upon entering one finds oneself in a room filled with giant biblical sculptures that, I was informed, came from a derelict amusement park. }

{ above: sculptures on the 3rd floor, much of which revolved around piles of rock salt. }

{ above: the exterior of The Morton Hotel. }

{ above: a small portion of a large "wall of bees", an enclosed case filled with panels of wood sporting pencil sketches, upon which thousands of bees were creating their hives. }

 It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood, and I'm glad I took advantage of it.

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Turquoise Time

Turquoise is not only one of my favorite colors and semi-precious stones:
 because I was born in December, it's also my birthstone!

Let me share with you now some vibrant turquoisey finds from Etsy.

{ 1. Turquoise Chain Link Necklace by 16 BrandywineDrive; 2. Handcrafted Teal Wood Sunglasses by Tmbr.; 3. Landscapes Collection Desert Clouds Scarf by DesertsandLakes; 4. 50s Turquoise Sequin Blouse by SnootieSeconds; 5. Turqoise Shoes by ImeldaShoes  }

{ 1. Hexagon Stud Earrings by VividByEsther; 2. Arrow Turquoise Ring by Honeyandgoldies; 3. Upper Arm Cuff by LuxDivine; 4. MAIA Necklace by Keijewlery; 5. Leather Feather Earrings by LoveAtFirstBlush; 6. Crystal Stone & Turquoise Necklace by MichalGolanJewelry; 7. Turquoise Howlite Ring by NaturalGlam; 8. 24K Gold trimmed Turquoise by TrulyBlessedJewels; 9. Dagger Necklace by SparkleFarm   }

{ 1. Blue Pencil Case by Hennyseashell; 2. Wall Clock by DesignAtelierArticle; 3. Linen Flax Tablecloth by kukshome; 4. Custom Order Nightstand by ThePapayaTree; 5. Turquoise Rug by Bazaarbayar;  6. Vintage Spindle-Back Chair by ModAlley; 7.  Ikat Pillow by PopOColor; 8. Enamel Bowl by MonkiVintage; 9. Babushka Curtains by Miaandstitch  }

{ 1.  Travel Portrait by LolasRoom; 2. Abstract Painting by LolaDonoghue; 3. Bird in Hand by ClareElsaesser; 4. Bear Illustration by xmisslivx; 5. Spain Photography by coloron  }

Dolce & Gabbana Fall 2013

I'm f-f-f-fawning over Dolce & Gabbana's Fall 2013 line.  Inspired by Venetian and Byzantine cathedral mosaics and displaying images of Kings and religious icons, this collection conjures up an age dripping with gilded romance and devotion of epic proportions.  It's all about details, details, details.
 And what lovely details they are.

{ above: this top may be my favorite piece in the collection. }

{ who says craftsmanship is dead??  just LOOK at these shoes! }

{ gilded, opulent embellishments. }

{ wood and textile inlays lend a natural element. }

{ exquisite design. }

{ the collection is RTW or Ready To Wear, meaning there are a lot of functional daywear pieces, heavily influenced by European royalty. }

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via Vogue