OK, OK...I know he is no longer president...but this is just such a classic photo of our former prez, and exactly how I felt when I first began the process of creating a presentation for this week's upcoming St Petersburg Times Home Show. While flattered to have been asked again, I was at a loss for content, however I have sorted it all out and the content will be revealed through the blog over the next several months or so. Anyway, I am apologizing for having been completely absent from the blog world but between the aforementioned presentation and a last minute request to take two (plus) rooms in the Florida Orchestra's showhouse (nevermind my regular projects!), I have been swamped in research and "development". I happen to love the research process and always have soundtracks to keep me going. Here are a few choice selections from today's playlist...Enjoy;)
A fabulous remix of Grand National's "Talk Amongst Yourselves" by renowned British, now NYC East Villager, DJ Sasha. A longtime friend who also married the most lovely little dish from Tampa, Ms Zoie;) Hmmmm...they are both design buffs, perhaps you may see more of them in the future here on our lil blog...
Santigold-Shove It
Retro acknowledgment, inspired by the previous choon...Althea and Donna-Upton Top Rankin'
Something a little mellow and sexy to close the post out...XOXO
Daft Punk-Something About Us (Love Theme)
Ok, one more sexy little tune which most of you have heard in adverts however the original is simply breath taking....no pun intended;)
Hope you enjoyed the joints as much as myself....till next week. Au revoire...for now. Please do not forget to visit our shop, DOXA Home, as we are donating 10% of our profits to Doctors Without Borders in Haiti. Till next time;)
This post is a tribute to a few Haitian artists whose work I love and appreciate. In response to this week's tragedy in Haiti, DOXA Home and Doxa Design Group, Inc will be donating 10% of our sales to Doctor's Without Borders, a non political or religious group which does amazing work and has been in Haiti for many years. Thank you for taking the time to stop by, I hope you enjoy the following pieces:
Quick note, I find opening the videos to full screen far more engaging, just a thought;)
Jean Michel Basquiat
Basquiat’s art career is known for his three broad, though overlapping styles. In the earliest period, from 1980 to late 1982, Basquiat used painterly gestures on canvas, often depicting skeletal figures and mask-like faces that expressed his obsession with mortality. Other frequently depicted imagery such as automobiles, buildings, police, children’s sidewalk games, and graffiti came from his experience painting on the city streets.
A middle period from late 1982 to 1985 featured multipanel paintings and individual canvases with exposed stretcher bars, the surface dense with writing, collage and seemingly unrelated imagery. These works reveal a strong interest in Basquiat’s black identity and his identification with historical and contemporary black figures and events. On one occasion Basquiat painted his girlfriend’s dress, with his words, a “Little Shit Brown”.
The final period, from about 1986 to Basquiat’s death in 1988, displays a new type of figurative depiction, in a new style with different symbols and content from new sources. This period seems to have also had a profound impact on the styles of artists who admired Basquiat’s work.
In 1982, Basquiat became friends with pop artist Andy Warhol and the two made a number of collaborative works. They also painted together, influencing each others’ work. Some speculated that Andy Warhol was merely using Basquiat for some of his techniques and insight. Their relationship continued until Warhol’s death in 1987. Warhol’s death was very distressing for Basquiat, and it is speculated by Phoebe Hoban, in Basquiat, her 1998 biography on the artist, that Warhol’s death was a turning point for Basquiat, and that afterwards his drug addiction and depression began to spiral.
Wikipedia
Slide show of Basquiat's work as well as images of himself and his friends, set to the sadly appropriate song by the Velvet Underground, Heroin.
Jean Michel lived in the East Village, my former hood, along side other 80's icons such as Andy Warhol, Debbie Harry and Madonna. What I would do to go back in time! The Factory...sigh. Anyway, Basquiat appears in Blondie's classic video for Rapture, he's the DJ.
If you have yet to see Basquiat...download it now. I remember seeing it at the Tampa Theater, which I must cover in another post. Anyway, a great film (although the visuals and soundtrack are much stronger than the actual screenplay) which features EVERYONE... Dennis Hopper, David Bowie, Benicio Del Torro, Christopher Walken, Gary Oldham, Willem Defoe, Claire Forlani, Courtney Love, Parker Posey AND the film was done by art world big wig as well as designer of Ian Schrager'sGramercy Park Hotel, Julian Schnabel ( Hello, can we say that is a giant Studio 54 connection going on there...Schrager, Schnabel, Basquiat, Bowie, Hopper!)! If you are already fascinated with the NY art scene in the late 70's/early 80's then you will LOVE this film, actually you will have probably already seen it...
Wyclef Jean and the amazing Mary J Blige;)
Pras and fellow Haitian artist, Wyclf Jean with the incomparable Lauren Hill in the legendary, multi-Grammy winning Fugees, this video was actually filmed in Haiti...although it looks just like the country parts of Jamaica to me...which is my favorite place in the great JA;) More about that later.
"Fu-Gee-La" is the first single from the Fugees' second album, The Score. The song, which was produced by Salaam Remi, contains a sample of "If Loving You Is Wrong, I Don't Want To Be Right" by Ramsey Lewis, and its chorus is based on "Ooh La La La" by Teena Marie. Several remixes of the song (the "Refugee Camp Remix" and the "Sly & Robbie Remix") also appear on The Score. It is the highest-selling single from the Fugees, and has been certified gold by RIAA.
I hope you enjoyed my little review, let's keep Haiti in our thoughts and prayers, this is not going to be a quick fix.
A very special thank you to both Gwen of Ragland Social Hill and Deb of Dumbwit Teller (two great blogs...all the more flattering!). They have both generously posted stories featuring Doxa this week. Please take a moment to visit their blogs, if you have not already, you will not be disappointed!
I know from your most recent post that you are having "a bit" of cold weather these days so I though I would send you a little sunshine;)
Of Montreal - Oslo In The Summertime
On another note....don't forget that today is the last day of our sitewide sale at DOXA Home, 25% off all purchases over $500, including over 120 new introductions and all sale items...up to over 60% off on some pieces! Simply enter the code NEWYEAR09 at checkout for discounts to be applied.
OK, so I read that you are leaving for DC later this week and were looking for what to see and do while there, so here are a few recommendations, hope you find something you like! These are in no particular order and are sorted by the section of town;)
DOWNTOWN
The Donovan House by the Thompson Group...they do an amazing job with their properties!
Marvin, Belgian influenced soul food, inspired by Marvin Gaye's exile. Owned by none other than Thievery Corporation...sigh.
The Black Cat, see who's playing in the Washington Post' Going out Gurus, and grab a show at this venue which is part owned by Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters and Nirvana, aka...good taste in music;)
Proof Wine Bar, huge selection of wines at every budget, a fun place to try very expensive wines by the glass;)
Rasika, A fresh take on Indian, I'd sit in the booth, the surroundings are sexier
Newseum...which you will fully appreciate as a blogger
Grab a bite at Source, Wolfgang Puck's new space in the Newseum
DUPONT CIRCLE
The Phillips Collection, the country's oldest modern art collection housed in a wonderful old mansion
Stop for a drink at The 18th Street Lounge, again owned by the fabulous Thievery Corporation, have your concierge sort it out ahead as it can be tricky to locate and sometimes to get in as there is no signage.
SOUTHWEST
Cityzen at The Mandarin Oriental, James Beard title holder, Chef Eric Ziebold trained 8 years under Thomas Keller of French Laundry and opened New York's Per Se and was himself proclaimed one of Americas Best Chefs in 2008 by Food and Wine magazine and Cityzen as One of the World's Hottest Restaurants!
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS
Commonwealth, I have a feeling the vintage vibe will appeal to you Kate;) Grab a proper Sunday Supper at this Gastropub which focuses on local ingredients.
GEORGETOWN
Grab a Lox and Bagel for breakfast at local jaunt Booeymonger
For a complete splurge, treat yourself to dinner at Citronell, Georgetown is lovely at night
And of course, while on the subject of Georgetown, I must make note of DOXA Home's Georgetown collection, classic and clean. Thanks for indulging in a small bit of self promotion;)
OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA
Take the Tram to Old Town Alexandria one night
Have a classic cocktail with a twist, made from some very interesting ingredients at PX
Thai Old Town, cheap and good, classic Thai fare. You will need an inexpensive meal to recover from Citronell, lol.
FOGGY BOTTOM
Take the Metro to Foggy Bottom and see a performance at...
One of my all time favorite records, places me right in Ibiza every time I hear it. Ahhh, drinking freshly squeezed sangria while lounging poolside at our charming, old stone villa under a canopy of jasmine and bougainvillea. Does it get much better?! I am in MUCH need of a trip like that right about now;)
While looking for the song above, I found my friend Matty's remix....so here it is. Hope you enjoy as much as myself;)
One of DOXA's lovely clients, Lisa Brock, has taken these photos during her recent trip to Egypt. We had several of the images blown up, framed and mounted to the front of a pair of raffia lined built in bookcases...I'll grab an amateur photo or two next time I am out there;) Anyway, as I was organizing my computer I came back across these images and thought they were way too special not to share...with her gracious permission of course.
I hope you enjoy, thank you Lisa!
And for those in the know, here's a little diddy for ya...lol;) Come on, I grew up in South Florida during the 80's, electro is in my DNA.
