From the Imagination of Danny Simmons and Various NYC Artists: Collage of Imagination

Explore several distinct art styles that push the boundaries of art usually found on the walls of mainstream galleries. Through a highly spiritual process of interconnectivity, each artist delves deep within their subconscious to develop unique forms of art making. Danny Simmons takes us on a tour of Brooklyn where we see what sparks imagination in his own art, as well as the work of Mike Rader, Sherry Bittle, Kate Fauvell, Risha Rox, Meres One, and Edgartista Gonzalez, one of the National Winners of the 2012 Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series.

This video is one of five short films created as part of the 2012 BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® Artisan Series competition for emerging artists in partnership with the RUSH Arts Philanthropic Foundation. Watch the full-length documentary about the competition and winners on February 25, at 10p/9c on Ovation.

**Correction** 
The film's composer is Maritri Garrett.

FALL 2013 FASHION SHOW TICKETS!

FALL 2013 NEW YORK FASHION WEEK APPROACHES...

SOPHIE BLAKALL

WHO RECOGNIZES THIS WORK FROM NYC SUBWAY TRAINS?

Blackall

i watched this Etsy interview with illustrator Sophie Blackall over a cup of coffee this morning and it left me feeling so incredibly happy and warm. she has such a wonderfully inviting and serene way of talking about her work…

“i like drawing animals, but i’m ashamed to say i almost always want to put clothes on them”

you’ve probably heard about her project Missed Connections where she illustrates stories from the missed connections section of Craigslist (which is now available as a book). if you haven’t definitely have a browse through her blog, and also check out her new project Drawn from my Father’s Adventures.

http://vimeo.com/36116772

THIS SUNDAY....FEELING CHILI

An Entire City Block Full of Chili!

Getting pretty cold out there. Probably a good idea to eat some chili. Even better idea: eat your way through 500 feet of uninhibited, unlimited chili offerings at the annual Chelsea Market Chili Fest. There will be celebrity judges. There will be exclusive cerveza pairings. There will be... mucho heartburn. 



Each ticket to NYChiliFest gives you access to a 500-foot concourse of chili, served by dozens of NYC’s best restaurants and cutting edge chefs, all competing for the Golden Chili Mug 2013 title. Samuel Adams is matching 4 of their favorite chili-eating beers and will be pouring from several locations in the concourse. There are fewer tickets this year, which means better access to chili and more room to digest, so be sure to grab a ticket while they're still available.

Jan 27, NY Chili Fest at Chelsea Market, 75 9th Ave (between 15th and 16th), 212-242-2630

7pm-9:30pm



http://www.nychilifest.com/

MATCHING SHOES

I suppose i have been kind of shoe obsessed around here lately – and this is of course because i am truly shoe obsessed in real life at the moment. at the moment? all. the.time. it’s quite difficult finding really well made (affordable) shoes, so that’s why a lot of my internet daydreaming is shoe related.

This editorial was shot by nina leen in 1946 for life magazine. as you can see the theme is matching shoes… and i mean literally matching to your outfit – not just matching your shoes to your handbag (which i find pretty ridiculous and outdated, let them clash i say). it’s a really fun and fashion-forward editorial considering this was the mid-fourties, and i wouldn’t mind snapping up the plaid booties … but i’d keep the hat at home.

SMOOTH SAILIN’

Tequila in a Smoothie. About Time.....

Smoothies. They’re awesome. All fruity and blended and refreshing and stuff. At Cocktail Bodega, customers can pick cocktails with such add-ons as lemongrass, raw protein and acai berries. 

Now, Cocktail Bodega’s got a new smoothie with graham crackers, cinnamon, marshmallows, bananas and coffee-tequila liqueur. Meaning you now have an option that’s both dessert and a cocktail before work. Because if it’s a smoothie, it’s gotta be healthy. 

THE CROWD As diverse as any subway rabble. On a recent Saturday night, there was an assortment of people in their late 20s and early 30s. A young woman sported a bachelorette tiara. Nearby, two young women took Instagram photos of themselves, as they sipped straws from the same chalice of an “antioxidant” vodka smoothie. They had all the charm of Betty and Veronica.

THE PLAYLIST Upstairs, the D.J. played Jay-Z and Top 40 hits like “The Show Goes On (Clean Version),” by Lupe Fiasco. Downstairs, the music is louder and more thumpy, including a twice-a-month party called “Let’s Play House.”

GETTING IN If the IHOP at Union Square can have a bouncer, why not here? Still, it’s nothing like the restrictive velvet rope at the Box, down the block. And it’s mildly comical given that the bright lights and huge windows remove all mystique of what’s inside.

DRINKS All juices and smoothies are $13. Popular smoothies include the Jameson Brown Banana (whiskey, banana, brown sugar, lemon juice, orange juice and vitamin C). There is also a menu of fusion sandwiches like the kimchi Reuben and the Cuban sandwich quesadilla. 

Cocktail Bodega, 205 Chrystie Street (Stanton Street), (212) 673-2400; cocktailbodega.com. Open Sunday to Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Thursday to Saturday until 4 a.m.

FASHION VS. NATURE

SOMETIMES THE SEASONS INSPIRES MORE THAN WE THINK...HERE'S MY OUTFIT TODAY AND WHERE MY MIND MUST HAVE DRAWN IMAGES FROM WHEN GETTING DRESSED ON THIS COLD DAY...

ANNDRA NEEN

What started out as a unique jewelry line, founded in 2009 by Phoebe and Annette Stephens, has now evolved to include a collection of metal handbags. Not only were the sisters influenced by their own professional backgrounds in the arts, their grandparents provided much inspiration to the Anndra Neen aesthetic and approach. Their grandmother was the artist and jewelry maker Annette Nancarrow and their grandfather was the avant-garde composer Conlon Nancarrow; the two lived in Mexico City in the 1930s and ’40s and were friends with the likes of Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo and Anaïs Nin. Each of these incredibly unique clutches are hand crafted by blacksmiths and artisans in the sisters’ native Mexico.

Street Style: Camo + Bleached Out Denim

Wearing camouflage can be pretty tricky (and sometimes even impossible!). Stylish and always casual-cool Mohcine of Morocco shows us how to sport the print the right way without looking like you’re ready to get your Rambo on. He pairs a pair of bleached out jeans with a thoroughly buttoned shirt in an overall dark and subtle camo print. I really dig how the two textures give off a cool and modern vibe! Too much going on for your taste? Throwing on a cool hooded leather jacket will not only tone things down and anchor things but will add an extra bit of edge! I’ve broken the look down for you for some style direction, check it out!

1. YMC P2A16 Placket camel cam shirt ($227) — buy it at Coggles.
2. Mr. Zero distressed bleached jeans ($82) — buy it at Yes Style.
3. Marc by Marc Jacobs washed leather bomber jacket ($890) — buy it at Mr. Porter.
4. Peter 2 black leather military boots ($170) — buy it at Topman.
5. Retro Super Future two-tone wayfarer sunglasses ($218) — buy it at ASOS.

Ulyana Sergeenko: IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW

I did not know it was possible to love a designer as much as I love Ulyana Sergeenko. After her debut collection, which had my jaw to the floor, she has produced another extraordinary collection for spring. Not only is she an incredibly talented designer, Ulyana is also a photographer, fashion editor, and street style darling – she wears many hats, literally and figuratively! Her retro and feminine style is perfect for the vintage enthusiast in all of us. I think I want to start a Ulyana fan club. Who’s with me?