A Peek At Weird Beauty: Fashion Photography Now

This exhibition, organized by Carol Squiers and Vince Aletti, presents the most innovative fashion photography of the last few years, from photographers who draw on a range of influences, including art, sexuality, narrative, digital media, and youth culture. It also considers the impact of graphic design on the way that fashion photography is presented. Along with original photographic prints, the exhibition features hundreds of tear sheets and magazine covers from both mainstream and independent publications.

Rocking The Runway. Literally. Chanel's Acoustic Guitar And Quilted Case.

Lagerfeld laughingly has said: “Coco Chanel had an affair with Stravinsky, mine was with a guitar."



The 2009 Spring Summer Guitar By Chanel: Debuted at the Paris Spring 2009 Fashion Week, the guitar is a black acoustic instrument, with Chanel discretely spelled out across the top of the neck and the classic double CCs can be seen in the guitar's resonant cavity.



The strap is striped in brown, white and black with intertwining C’s embossed in leather where the strap attaches. The most elegant piece of all is the guitar’s case, in Chanel’s signature quilted pattern and in stylish white.






Price? $4,030.00 USD
For stockists call 020 7493 5040

Justice Bodan: Leather Goods That Are Great.

It's rare that I see something in person (as opposed to online) where I simply must stop and find more information about it. The Justice Bodan Steelshell Messenger Bag was one such item. I saw the bag upon the shoulder of a co-worker and was mesmerized by the craftsmanship, style and details. When he set the bag down, I sneakily inspected it to find the words Justice Bodan embossed in the leather. (I have since confessed to the owner, Joe Shands, that I was peeking into his bag. Yes, he forgave me).



This led me to the stunning work of Los Angeles sculptor/designer David Grieco, the man behind the Justice Bodan label and his belts, bags, small leather goods, and jewelry.


above: elipse and fleur-de-lys bronze sculptures by David Grieco

An artist who has been sculpting for over 15 years, he created the fictional name and character, Justice Bodan, as a front for his jewelry and leather goods.


Above: The Steelshell in black or brown leather with cast bronze buckle (also shown as a belt)

His belt buckles are amazing. Artful, textural, and organic. Handmade and hand cast in bronze, they are heavy and substantial, not to mention beautiful. Many are available in white bronze or sterling silver as well. Here are just a few from his large collection.








He has a small selection of handbags and wallets for women, too.




And makes sterling silver bracelets, rings, pendants, cuff links money clips and more with the same organic shapes that appear on his other pieces:




Small leather portfolios and photo albums are amongst his gift offerings:



THE JUSTICE BODAN COLLECTION (as taken from his site):



The Justice Bodan Collection was created by Los Angeles-based artist David Grieco. David has been a fine-art sculptor for over 15 years with bronze being his chosen medium. His mastery of the craft guarantees that each design will be artfully unique.


Above: the sculptor at work

The collection initially launched with a line of belts and has recently expanded to include bags, jewelry and gift items.



Justice Bodan is a fictional character who travels the world, journaling his experiences. He travels from country to country, continent to continent, searching for nothing. He is only seeking to have experiences that will enable him to feel more connected to everyone and everything. Each destination helps him relate a little more closely to himself and to the human experience.



above: david working with molten bronze in his studio

Each buckle in the Justice Bodan Collection has a name with a message that correlates to the moment and destination that inspired its creation…allowing each meaningful thought and experience to blossom into a beautiful three-dimensional object. To protect the integrity and authenticity of the collection, David uses the lost-wax process, pulling each piece from a mold and then pouring it into bronze. In addition, each buckle is an original that is numbered and embossed by David personally.

All of the leather is imported from a tannery in Italy and is of the highest quality. David individually inspects each hide to insure it compliments the accompanying metal. Every piece of jewelry in the collection is made of sterling silver.

Each design in the Justice Bodan Collection is wearable art. Wear them with pride, and live life with love.

Shop for the above items here.

JUSTICE BODAN
1130 South Flower Street, #401
Los Angeles, CA 90015

email: info@justicebodan.com

For wholesale inquiries:
NEXUS Showroom
39 West 56th Street Third Floor
New York, NY 10019
tel. 212.265.0856
fax. 212 265 0898
email: info@nexusshowroom.com

Like David Hockney? Then Meet Michael Pfleghaar.

Above: Pfleghaar's Red and Green

above: Pfleghaar's Royal Melbourne facade

Now, it's true, Michael Pfleghaar's work is similar to that of David Hockney in both style and color as well as subject matter. But, given that the majority of art-lovers out there cannot afford an original Hockney, Pfleghaar's original works are a great alternative.

Of course his work is not an actual substitute for a Hockney; his craft is not as mature, his style not as diverse, his technique for more naive, but Michael is a lot younger than David and far more accessible to the masses. His work is very appealing, growing in popularity and critical acclaim. Throughout the post, I've included several of Hockney's pieces with that of Pfleghaar's, so be sure to read the captions.

And for those who can't afford his original art, he sells his prints at Imagekind and in his Etsy store you can buy greeting cards that feature his work like the one shown below.


Above: Michael sells greeting cards with his images, like the one above, at his etsy store.

An illustrator, painter and ceramicist, Michael has several different series of works. All of them have amazing energy, use of color and whether exteriors or interiors, a modernist sensibility.

One of his series consists of several famous icons of modern architecture like the Pierre Keonig Stahl residence and the Philip Johnson Glass home.

The Pierre Koenig-Stahl residence:

The Philip Johnson Glass home:


Michae's series of Palm Springs modern homes include renderings of the Albert Frey home, Wexler homes and the famous Neutra Kauffman home amongst others.

A study of the Albert Frey Palm Springs home:

Edris House study:

the Kaufmann Residence in Palm Springs by Richard Neutra:

The Wentworth home in Palm Springs:

Wexler home in Palm Springs:

Wexler Steel House3:


And below are some direct comparisons to Hockney's work:

Hockney's "A Bigger Splash":

Pfleghaar's View Of Cielo Drive:

Hockney's Cactus Garden:


His interiors, also like Hockney's, are in skewed perspective and often feature classically modern design elements like eames chairs and bullet planters:

Pfleghaar's Potted Jade in modern planter:

Hockney's Potted Jade, 1988:

Pfleghaar's Animated Eames Chairs:

Pfleghaar's Modern Mantel still life:

Hockney's Mt. Fuji and Orchid:

Michael Pfleghaar's Sunlight and orchid:


Speaking of plants, this post would not be complete without sharing his adorable ceramic "little buds" with you as well:




And both Hockney and Pfleghaar share a love of dogs.


above: Hockney's Dog painting 17

Above: Michael Pfleghaar's Dog On Sheep's Clothes

above: Pfleghaar's Madison In The Studio

represented by:
Dezart One Gallery in Palm Springs
the Nines Gallery in Michigan

About the artist:


Since his childhood, Michael Pfleghaar has had a deeply personal & inspired relationship with the arts.

Born in 1965 in Toledo, Ohio, Pfleghaar found himself participating in his first art class as a child in the Toledo Artist’s Club. His love of art eventually led him to Kendall College of Art and Design and Grand Valley State University where he received his BFA in painting.

In the summer of 1988, Pfleghaar attended the Ecole des Beaux Arts, Aix en Provence, France where he focused his studies on the French landscape. Soon after, Michael Pfleghaar apprenticed with the internationally recognized Michigan artist Stephen Duren.

His Studio
His etsy store
His own site