All posts filed under: Art

Je m’appelle Denis Gagnon, A Documentary

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It’s Denis Gagnon news day at I want – I got. He has a documentary called Je m’appelle Denis Gagnon. It should be very interesting. Denis Gagnon, fashion designer, is putting the final touch on his latest collection. Confined in his basement, turned atelier, he instinctively assembles materials (glitters, Jersey, leather and silk). Denis returns to his home town of Alma (Lake Saint-Jean) where he meets up with family and old friends. During this visit home he shares his concerns, inspirations and perceptions as a creator. The “enfant terrible” of Canadian fashion is the subject of this new cinematic picture. Rather than solely focusing on the clothing, “My name is Denis Gagnon” is an intimate portrait of a complex character. Denis Gagnon presents himself as the artist behind enormous dark glasses. There is a trailer out too image: imdb.com

Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty at The Met, May 4 – July 31, 2011

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I have to get my ass to New York City to see the Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibit running from May 4—July 31, 2011 at The Met. The exhibition, organized by The Costume Institute, will celebrate the late Alexander McQueen’s extraordinary contributions to fashion. From his Central Saint Martins postgraduate collection of 1992 to his final runway presentation, which took place after his death in February 2010, Mr. McQueen challenged and expanded the understanding of fashion beyond utility to a conceptual expression of culture, politics, and identity. His iconic designs constitute the work of an artist whose medium of expression was fashion. The exhibition will feature approximately one hundred ensembles and seventy accessories from Mr. McQueen’s prolific nineteen-year career. Drawn primarily from the Alexander McQueen Archive in London, with some pieces from the Givenchy Archive in Paris as well as private collections, signature designs including the “bumster” trouser, the kimono jacket, and the three-point “origami” frock coat will be on view. McQueen’s fashions often referenced the exaggerated silhouettes of the 1860s, 1880s, 1890s, and 1950s, …

The Roaring Twenties: Heels, Hemlines and High Spirits at The Bata Shoe Museum

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I attended the opening party for the new exhibit at the Bata Shoe Museum: The Roaring Twenties: Heels, Hemlines and High Spirits. Born in the age of post-war exuberance, nurtured by the dynamism of the machine and seduced by the lure of the exotic, the Roaring 20s infused modern society and fashion with an energetic modernity. As hemlines rose, shoes became increasingly important for stylish women and many of the decade’s exceptional shoes illustrate the electrifying synergy between fashion and design. The Roaring Twenties: Heels, Hemlines and High Spirits focuses on the wardrobe and widening horizons of the “New Woman” and looks at how the myriad influences of the period such as cinema, jazz clubs, and world travel influenced the shape of fashionable footwear.(source) The Roaring Twenties: Heel, Hemlines and High Spirits exhibit is on now at The Bata Shoe Museum. It also has a series of lectures and events that you can view in PDF format for details. See all the photos I took at the The Roaring Twenties: Heels, Hemlines and High Spirits …

I want – I got does Toronto Design Week: SUNG Outdoor Preview 2011

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I attended some exhibits during Toronto Design Week from January 24-30, 2011. Toronto Design Week culminates with the Interior Design Show but many local designers showcase their exhibits at this time. It’s taken me some time to get my photos all together and organized. There is a lot of sorting, tagging, cataloging and purging of photos going on. It’s often a nightmare task I hate performing. It feels hella good when it’s done though. SUNG Outdoor held a special media preview for bloggers during Toronto Design Week. Bloggers got a chance to see the currently SUNG Outdoor collection and the special IDS11 Blackwatch collection. The limited edition SUNG Outdoor Blackwatch collection is different due to the colour scheme of black, blue and green. It was only available for purchase at IDS11 this year. Designer Alfred Sung and Saul Mimran, President of the Mimran Group were on hand to talk. See all my photos from the SUNG Outdoor preview.

I want – I got does Toronto Design Week: MADE at HOME 2011

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I attended some exhibits during Toronto Design Week from January 24-30, 2011. Toronto Design Week culminates with the Interior Design Show but many local designers showcase their exhibits at this time. It’s taken me some time to get my photos all together and organized. There is a lot of sorting, tagging, cataloging and purging of photos going on. It’s often a nightmare task I hate performing. It feels hella good when it’s done though. MADE at Home is the new Radiant Dark in a way. Julie Nicholson and Shaun Moore have moved on from that project to new pastures with the MADE at Home show. I loved the presentation of this show because it felt so familiar. Turns out, I’ve attended creative exhibitions at this apartment on Dundas West before. This was the former apartment of Siya Chen, who is an artist and held installations in her home. There is an accelerating culture of craftsmanship and creative labour which lives here. Julie Nicholson and Shaun Moore of MADE will introduce 28 new Canadian designs highlighting …

I want – I got does Toronto Design Week: Capacity 2011

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I attended some exhibits during Toronto Design Week from January 24-30, 2011. Toronto Design Week culminates with the Interior Design Show but many local designers showcase their exhibits at this time. It’s taken me some time to get my photos all together and organized. There is a lot of sorting, tagging, cataloging and purging of photos going on. It’s often a nightmare task I hate performing. It feels hella good when it’s done though. Capacity is a group design show that had it’s debut during Toronto Design Week. What is your capacity to understand? To withstand? To produce? To learn? To love? Is your cup half full or is it half empty? How much of who you are is what you collect? Is infinity possible? Ten of Toronto’s top industrial, graphic, textile and product designers– Maiwenn Castellan, Joy Charbonneau, Michelle Ivankovic, Arounna Khounnoraj, Erin McCutcheon, Katherine Morley, Nathalie Nahas, Ayla Newhouse, Ange-line Tetrault, and Kirsten White– grapple with the concept of ‘CAPACITY’ and how it applies to who we are and what we do.(s0urce) There …

I want – I got does Toronto Design Week: Come Up To My Room 2011

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I attended some exhibits during Toronto Design Week from January 24-30, 2011. Toronto Design Week culminates with the Interior Design Show but many local designers showcase their exhibits at this time. It’s taken me some time to get my photos all together and organized. There is a lot of sorting, tagging, cataloging and purging of photos going on. It’s often a nightmare task I hate performing. It feels hella good when it’s done though. Come Up To My Room is an event I thoroughly enjoyed covering when I wrote for BlogTO. The 2011 edition would be my first CUTMR event since 2009.  This also the first CUTMR post for I want – I got.  The photos look so amazing because my friend Paul Bailk was around to snap away. Come Up To My Room (CUTMR) is the Gladstone Hotel’s annual alternative design event. This year’s show, curated by Jeremy Vandermeij and Deborah Wang, invites artists and designers to show us what goes on inside their heads. Coming together in dialogue and collaboration, participants are limited …

Tagging the Mini Countryman at the Canadian International Autoshow

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MINI decided to have another event this year at the 2011 Canadian International Autoshow. Last year, MINI debuted the Beachcomber concept car with pin up models. This year, they took it to the streets and brought together some well recognized street artists to collaborate on an interactive project involving a matte black MINI Countryman. The all new, ALL-4 MINI COUNTRYMAN gets ‘INKED’ at the 2011 Canadian International Autoshow in Toronto. An unaware crowd of Autoshow patrons witness a team of street artists as they “tag” the matte all black MINI Countryman. Shock hits the audience as they see “vandalism” transform into a show stopping Creative Use of Space. One by one, street artists Elicser, Uber 5000 and Herbs take over the Countryman with strokes of white and silver creating a magnificent cityscape, live in front of hundreds of show goers.(youtube description) Luckily I had Paul Baik with me taking photos and I had my trusty N8 taking video. We both captured a lot of media. Here is a video that gives you the whole entire …

Eighth Generation x Chinese New Year

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Louie Gong, the shoe artist I featured a few weeks back is celebrating the Year of the Rabbit. You will remember that Louie`s background is Nooksack, Squamish, Chinese and White. Although my family always lived on a reservation, Chinese New Year was one of our favorite holidays because it involved things that were implicitly “Chindian” – fireworks and food. – Louie Gong Learn more about Louie Gong and his shoes at the Eighth Generation website. image: courtesy of Louie Gong

Louie Gong, Shoe Artist

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I discovered this fascinating video of an artist, Louie Gong, whose medium is sneakers, typically Vans and Chuck Taylors. Louie’s work is very beautiful. I don’t think I’d even want to wear them outside, just put them in a glass box for display purposes. His aesthetic has resonated with people because he’s currently not taking any more orders right now. Business must be booming and I can imagine each pair of shoes takes a lot of time. images: Custom Coast Salish/ Northwest Coast style shoes by Louie Gong Facebook