Happy Halloween!

 

Explorations in color and fiber abound in the art of Sheila Hicks, the contemporary American artist whose work is chronicled in the retrospective volume, "Sheila Hicks: 50 Years."

Les Escargots 2003-4

Linen Lean-to 1067-68

The Principal Wife 1968

Study for Convergence, Hermes 1996

Olympic Bravery 1979

Maquette for Ford Foundation commissions 1967-67

This weekend at my mother's house, I came across this book of Tantric symbols by Madhu Khanna and was immediately drawn to the colors and compositions of the ancient iconography. I particularly love how the hand drawn notes and symbols integrate into the larger forms.

Outtakes from Dharamsala

  

One of the great pleasures of my job as a textile designer is getting to visit the places where our designs are manufactured. Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to visit a French passementerie mill. It was amazing to see and hear the click/clack of these old wooden looms, which were once mainly used by farmers during the winter. 

View from the window at the mill's main office

I discovered Israeli jewelry designer, Ayala Bar, at a boutique in Como, Italy a few years ago and have slowly amassed a mini collection of her intricate pieces. As a textile person, I'm drawn to her use of patterned fabric, which is layered under transparent, faceted beads. I also love how the whimsical shapes and colors balance the ornate details.

I found my way into artist Louise Bourgeois's work through (not surprisingly) her explorations with fabric, the "chromatic abstractions" she created in the last decade of her life. 

An amazing source of inspiration for color and composition

Outtakes from Brussels

The Grand Place on a rainy night

The view from my room at the Hotel Metropole (The Coca Cola sign makes me cringe)

My first night, I asked the concierge for suggestions of where to eat, and ended up at a restaurant whose clientele was clearly comprised of other hotel guests who'd asked the same question. I hunkered down over a giant pot of mussels and listened to the American couple beside me bicker over their frites. The second night, I popped into a wine shop for a recommendation, figuring that anyone who knows wine probably knows food. 

This led me to Selecto, a "bistronomique" on the Rue de Flandre. The food was excellent, and the decor was modern and playful. Moral of the story: always ask a local.

Mend & Hone

Last week, I headed downtown to Tribeca to Poets House, an impressive glass-walled space overlooking the Hudson River, to hear my talented (and extraordinarily pregnant) friend, Elizabeth Howort, read her poems from Mend & Hone, a new collection from Toadlily Press. Each of the four poets took the audience on a journey both deeply personal and universal.

This slim volume reminds me of how quietly powerful poetry can be.

Modern day apsara

I picked up this issue of Hi! Blitz in Delhi in 2010, and I've held onto it over the years for photographer Suresh Natarajan's gorgeous images of Indian actress, model, and former Miss Universe, Lara Dutta.

The idea of using body paint could be tacky, but I think the styling here is very tasteful.  

Outtakes from Agra