John Galliano is Back!

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John Galliano is back! He joins Maison Martin Margiela as their Creative Director with his "debut" collection next January during Paris Couture Week.

I remember Galliano from his early days, when he was working hard to find his footing. One of my favorite memories, that made me fall in love with him, was watching backstage footage during rehearsals and a bleached-blonde Galliano was directing a young Kate Moss to think Irving Penn while running (not walking) down the runway... "run Kate, run"... he yelled. I've been a fan ever since. So you can imagine my shock and devastation when he went on his drunken anti-Semitic rant at a Paris cafe. He got fired from Christian Dior, rightfully so. 

A sober and remorseful John Galliano has been given a second chance and it will be interesting to see the direction he takes Margiela given that his aesthetic differs from theirs. No doubt that all eyes will be on Paris Couture Week.

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DIOR J'Adore

I can't get enough of this commercial for Dior.

Yes it's about two years old, I know, but who cares. The TV ad for Dior J'Adore stars the flawless Charlize Theron hurrying to her runway debut. As she makes her way backstage, she encounters, through the power of digitized magic, Hollywood's

most

glamorous

icons

... 

Kiss

kiss

to 

Grace Kelly

,

Marlene Dietrich

and

Marilyn Monroe.  Charlize slips into a stunning beaded Dior and enters the runway.

And

it wasn't just any runway, the video was filmed at the breathtaking Hall of Mirrors at

Versailles

-

how very French!

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My Penland

I grew up on sandy beaches, warm air and palm trees. In 1987 I saw my first mountain and little did I know it was the beginning of a life-long love affair with the Penland School of Crafts nestled amidst the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in Western North Carolina. After a two week session in clay, I was ready to trade in the tropics for mountain living. So I did.


By March of 1989 I had moved to Penland, NC where I would live and work for the school in exchange for tuition, housing and meals. I was a Penland Core Fellowship Student- a two year, life building journey. This was a period of growth and self-discovery that set the groundwork for my future as an artist.

Growing up in a predominately latino Miami, so many things were new to me at Penland. I saw my first snowfall, learned to make baskets and weave on a loom, I made hand-made artist books, I fell in love with photography (thanks Bob May, r.i.p.) collected brilliant luna moths, tried tofu for the first time, encountered folks from all walks of life and even met my first vegans. All impressionable firsts for a young and naive 22 year old.

Two decades later I found myself back at Penland School. This time as an instructor.

I noticed that some things had changed at Penland. There are lighted paths to walk safely from studio to studio at night and the main campus is now wireless. All good stuff.

I discovered, much to my heart's content, that the most important and meaningful things hadn't changed.

That the very essence that is Penland was still there and beating strong. Penland is very special on an emotional, intellectual and spiritual plane. People come to learn, grow, be inspired and connect with their artistic self and with others. Familial bonds are established quickly. Penland is a magical place.

In my studio, I set to inspire and motivate my students, who ranged in ages 20-60+, to create a garment that represented their personal style and aesthetics. Some designed runway looks, while others took a more conceptual or experimental approach.  

Our second day at Penland took us on a fun fabric run to Asheville - about an hour away- and thrift shopping in neighboring Spruce Pine. After breakfast every morning, we would meet in the studio and work up to lunch, then back to the studio, dinner, studio, view instructor slides and then back to the studio... We worked and played 'til 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6am many nights. We studied the genius of Alexander McQueen, John Galliano and Viktor & Rolf. We jammed to Lady Gaga. We were inspired. I would be with my students until 2am or so and then I'd walk around campus visiting (socializing with) the folks in the metals, iron and puppetry. 

I encourage you to take a class at Penland School. Workshops are open to all skill levels, unless specified. There may be space in some of this summer's sessions. There are also longer concentrations in the Fall and Spring. OR come by for a day visit. Tour the Penland Gallery and campus, stay for lunch. Call to schedule a visit: 828.765.2359 Gallery: 828-765-6211

This is my Penland Experience.

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