Archive for category Visual/ Performance Art

Project Runway S13.Ep7 RECAP

Posted by Amy Steele in TV, Visual/ Performance Art on September 14, 2014

Challenge: SAMSUNG avant-garde challenge inspired by the curved television

For a Project Runway first there was a rainway—rain on the Runway—and the designers used waterproof materials.

KIni working away

Kini notes that after three times being in the top “It’s time to win.”

Tim discuss Sandhya’s design

Tim is dubious [a favorite Tim Gunn word] about Sandhya’s multi-color striped jumpsuit. “You need some counterpoint to this very colorful jumpsuit,” Tim tells her.

Fade breaks down. Having a very difficult time getting motivated for the challenge. Foreboding here when he tells his partner he’d be home “soon.”

judges including guest judge Caitlin Fitzgerald

SAFE

Amanda

design by Amanda

Alexander

design by Alexander

Charketa

design by Charketa

gorgeous and talented Caitlin Fitzgerald [Masters of Sex]

HIGH SCORES

Kini

design by Kini

“I like the dominatrix-esque look.” –Caitlin Fitzgerald
“I thought this was sublime. I was very dramatic.” –Nina Garcia
“You did a wonderful job. You’re so talented. You have great technique.” –Zac Posen

Sandhya

design by Sandhya

“Your look made me feel very happy. It has your handwriting on it.” –Heidi Klum
“You have such a strong signature, it comes through.” –Zac Posen
“I like this however it’s at the surface of looking circusy and child-like.” –Nina Garcia
“The dangly bits I could do without.” –Caitlin Fitzgerald

Sean

design by Sean

“I love how this dress came alive in the rain. It’s a special moment you created.” –Heidi Klum
“When it’s effective like this it’s exceptional.” –Zac Posen
“This took my breath away on so many levels.” –Nina Garcia

LOW SCORES

Korina

design by Korina

“I was not very impressed with this look.” –Heidi Klum
“Looks like something I’d make for a Halloween costume.” –guest judge and Masters of Sex star Caitlin Fitzgerald
“It looks lackluster.” –Zac Posen

Fade

design by Fade

“Putting a play button on your dress doesn’t make it look modern or techie, it just makes it look gimmicky.” –Nina Garcia
“I like the graphic nature and the elements you had working with it.” –Caitlin Fitgerald

Emily

design by Emily

“I felt like a cliché of a fashion show. The shapes aren’t strong enough. It feels flimsy.” –Zac Posen
“It wasn’t cohesive.” –Caitlin Fitzgerald
“It’s so cliché that it’s too predictable.” –Nina Garcia

After the judges’ critiques the designers compare notes backstage and note that Alexander McQueen got referenced a lot. Sandhya says that she never gets compared to any designers. Amanda interviewed: “I don’t know what why you’d say that it feels so insensitive.”

SEAN and KINI are dual WINNERS.
FADE is OUT.

Caitlin Fitzgerald, designer Alexander, designer Amanda, designer Kini, designer Sandhya, designer Sean, Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, Project Runway avant-garde challenge, Project Runway S13, Project Runway S13.Ep7, Tim Gunn, Zac Powen

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Project Runway S13.Ep7 [quick and late] RECAP

Posted by Amy Steele in TV, Visual/ Performance Art on September 12, 2014

CHALLENGE: create standout evening wear look suitable for a gala or an extra special evening event based around jewelry

designer Emily works on her garment

there wasn’t anything really exciting going on in this challenge except that Samantha and Sean both chose the same color fabric. I’m going to just post the
TOP and BOTTOM.

“You were all really really good today.” –Heidi Klum

HIGH SCORES

Amanda

design by Amanda

“I think she looks great. I think you step outside the box.” –Heidi Klum

“I’m happy to see that you challenge us. I really like it.” –Nina Garcia

“The ladies thought it was amazing. I thought it would get you on the worst dressed list.” –Zac Posen

Korina

design by Korina

“I really love this look. It made me dream of being somewhere else.” –Nina Garcia

“Adored it. Your best work so far.” –Zac Posen

Sean

design by Sean

“She looks stunning. I like this choice of color. She looks very elegant.” –Nina Garcia

“I like the design of the dress. It fits like a glove.” –Heidi Klum

cutie-pie designer Zac Posen

LOW SCORES

Samantha

design by Samantha

“This is drab. there’s not much to this to talk about.” –Zac Posen

“This is a design competition and there’s not very much design going on here.” –Heidi Klum

“This is like the white t-shirt of long dresses.” –Nina Garcia

Alexander

design by Alexander

“She looks like Princess Grace got stuck in the spin cycle of the washing machine.” –Nina Garcia

“You can almost not see her figure anymore.” –Zac Posen

Kini

design by Kini

“I love the shear over the structure. The skirt could’ve been a little shorter.” –Heidi Klum

“The boob darts are rather unfortunate.” –Zac Posen

KORINA is the WINNER.

SAMANTHA is OUT.

designer Alexander, designer Amanda, designer Kini, designer Sean, Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, Project Runway S13, Project Runway S13 recap, Zac Posen

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Project Runway S13.Ep6 RECAP

Posted by Amy Steele in TV, Visual/ Performance Art on September 2, 2014

Tim Gunn and Dita Von Teese present the challenge

Challenge: create alternative wedding and reception dress looks

Amanda working on her design.

The designers must work in teams of two. The teams: Emily and Fade; Kini and Sean; Charketa and Sandhya; Alexander and Stephanie and Korina and Amanda. Even though they seemed to like each other early on and are roommates, Korina and Amanda now possess a tense relationship. Korina and Charketa don’t like that Amanda got brought back to compete this season and both told her so. Charketa even said that Amanda’s “taking away spots from other designers” with her wins. Ouch. Amanda, who I really like—great style and attitude—breaks down briefly and heads to the designer’s lounge. She runs in to Fade who offers her support.

Sean shops Mood.

Emily and Fade go for a Goth-style wedding. I actually like it but not sure if the two pieces work well together. Emily: “I feel my design in relation to the others a lot darker.”

Kini and Sean decide to design for a gay couple. Kini creates a gorgeous black dress with tuxedo-ish top and flouncy bottom. If he’s chosen a dark purple or burgundy it would’ve been much better. Sean, who designs menswear, made some lovely high-waisted tuxedo pants but that’s all he had time to complete. So of course Kini designed the top (which the judges ended up loving). It’s a flowy white blouse with a low cut V-neck front.

Charketa and Sandhya work okay together but chose bright bright yellow. Oh no! Everyone knows that’s an unforgiving and difficult color to work with on any skin tone. They don’t fare well. Alexander and Stephanie also choose an unfortunate fabric. Well, it’s a pretty lacy burgundy but what they do with it is awful. Amanda decides not to make waves working with Korina and they design black and white pieces. Amanda does a pretty A-line black and white dress. Korina does a pants suit with pants that are way too tight.

The judging

Amanda and Korina are safe.

design by Amanda

design by Korina

HIGH SCORES

Sean and Kini

design by kini

design by Sean

“You did and incredible job. This is the best of the best on the runway.” –Zac Posen

“It is a very good play on masculine and feminine.” –Nina Garcia

“The clothes look impeccable.” –Heidi Klum

Emily and Fade

design by Emily

design by Fade

“I don’t think Elvira would even wear this.” –Zac Posen

“It is Goth and out there but I like both fabrics and how you mixed it.” –Heidi Klum

“The sleeves are overpowering her. It’s either the sleeve or the hood. “—Nina Garcia

LOW SCORES

Charketa and Sandhya

design by Sandhya

design by Charketa

“This is a shocker. To me it is an epic fail.” –Heidi Klum

“It’s a like a toilet paper accident.” –Zac Posen

“I don’t mind the yellow color but I think both dresses are messed up.” –guest judge, fashion blogger Chiara Ferragni

Alexander and Stephanie

design by Alexander

design by Stephanie

“It’s overwhelming. It feels very old vs. old-fashioned.” –Nina Garcia

“The jarring part to me is you tried to create an organic texture but then there’s a seam. It feels like a chain mall.” –Zac Posen

“I would never think of white and burgundy going together.” –guest judge Dita Von Teese

SEAN is the WINNER.

CHARKETA is eliminated.

designer Amanda, designer Fade, designer Sandhya, designer Sean, Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, Project Runway, Project Runway S13 recap, Zac Posen

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Project Runway S13:Ep5 RECAP

Posted by Amy Steele in TV, Visual/ Performance Art on August 23, 2014

Challenge: Design a red carpet gown for Heidi Klum to wear to the Creative Emmys Red Carpet

Tim and Heidi come in to meet with the designers. Heidi’s wearing Zac Posen.

Heidi and Tim come in to consult with the designers. Heidi gives honest feedback and doesn’t like many of the designs. She then returns to tell that designers who are struggling can return to Mood with $100 to get more fabric. If people weren’t returning they could give their money to other designers. Sandhya went around and asked designers for their money. She ended up with $400 to spend and purchased an expensive fabric.

design by Sandhya

The chance to return to Mood made some designers annoyed. Emily thought that it gave many designers an unfair advantage and a chance at a do-over that they should be able to pick proper fabrics the first time out. I agree. Emily designed a really skimpy dress that showed way too much skin. Yes Heidi likes to show skin but I don’t think she’d dress like that for an Emmys event.

design by Emily

Korina had designed a green dress that Heidi said reminded her of something German hunters would wear. Then Karina went and bought another green fabric just in more of a jewel tone (per Tim’s comment). Mitchell freaked out. “I don’t think it’s magical. I don’t think it’s gorgeous.” He’s designing a red gown. Most of the designers that went back to Mood ending up struggling instead of just “making it work.”

“Some of you did really well but a lot of you missed the mark.”—Heidi Klum

HIGH SCORES

Kini

design by Kini

“You did a fantastic job. You gave it some drama too.” –Heidi Klum

“It’s hard to make dresses with an open back that still give it the curve in the waist.” –Lindsey Vonn

“You had my highest score today. It’s impeccable. Your lines are in the right places. You were very smart with your fabrication.” –Zac Posen

Amanda

design by Amanda

“It’s different. I think it’s beautiful”. – Heidi Klum

“It felt like a beaded curtain. But it fit nicely.” – Zac Posen

“It is refreshing to see you do something that is not so predictable and cliché.” –Nina Garcia

Sean

design by Sean

“It’s different. it’s beautiful. I love what you did with the bottom.” –Lindsey Vonn

“I love what you did with the ombre. It makes it more modern.” –Zac Posen

guest judge Lindsey Vonn

LOW SCORES

Kristine

design by Kristine

“It’s like a boob canyon.” – Zac Posen

“I like the paneling. It looks modern. Had you done this properly it would have looked well. But it was badly executed.” – Heidi Klum

Mitchell

design by Mitchell

“I think a lot of things went wrong. It is way too short.” –Heidi Klum

“I think you just tried a little too hard.” –Lindsey Vonn

“Great evening clothing takes a lot of time and a lot of skill. I feel like you were out of your element here and it shows.” – Zac Posen

Korina

design by Korina

“Why the cliché ideas. Why not make this into a jumpsuit. Instead we make this train. It’s so old lady.” –Nina Garcia

“The back is a disaster. I didn’t know what was intentional and what was not.” –Zac Posen

the judges including Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn

SEAN is the WINNER.

MITCHELL and KRISTINE are OUT.

Heidi shared this on her Instagram about five days ago (without a spoiler alert!) said how proud she was of S13 designer Sean:

designer Amanda, designer Kini, designer Korina, designer Mitchell, designer Sandhya, designer Sean, Heidi Klum, Lindsey Vonn, Nina Garcia, Project Runway S13 ep5 recap, Project Runway S13 recap, PRS13, Tim Gunn, Zac Posen

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Project Runway S13:Ep3 RECAP

Posted by Amy Steele in TV, Visual/ Performance Art on August 10, 2014

tim gunn and anne fulenwider

As the designers walk out to the runway to hear about the latest challenge, there are Marie Claire covers all over the walls. Amanda gushes: “Marie Claire covers with the original supermodels. This is so up my alley. [Project Runway cliché.] I am thrilled.”

Executive-in-Chief of Marie Claire, Anne Fulenwider is a guest judge along with Undone host Amanda deCadenet. It’s Marie Claire’s 20th anniversary. The magazine hit shelves in 1994. Heidi had just arrived in New York as a 21-year-old model. Tim already had been teaching at Parsons for 12 years. Nina worked as a production assistant in the garment district. And cutie-pie Zac was 14 years old and “probably wearing vests over t-shirts.”

The challenge: design for Marie Claire 2034. Or “what the future of fashion looks like through your design aesthetic,” says Tim.

Nothing terribly exciting going on except that per usual no one liked Sandhya’s design or could even figure out what she was doing. I’ve yet to have issue with Sandhya and her work. Alexander said what everyone thought: “I’m confused by Sandhya.” Sandhya is this season’s Patricia [S11]. When Alexander’s model came in for the fitting, the bust didn’t fit properly. Doesn’t he have her measurements?

Tim to Christine: “Tomorrow on the runway exude unconditional confidence.” This sounds like a fantastic inspirational mantra.

TOP THREE:

Emily

design by Emily

“I like your mixture of textures.” –Heidi Klum

“When this came out, I said I need one of those.” — Amanda deCadenet

“It felt today and it felt tomorrow.” –Zac Posen

Kristine

design by Kristine

“I love this outfit. I love the functionality.” –Nina Garcia

“This is my favorite look. I think it’s super sexy.” –Heidi Klum

Sandhya–WINNER

design by Sandhya

“It’s beautiful. It’s refreshing. I like mix between fantasy and reality. I think you did a phenomenal job.” –Nina Garcia

“It’s weird in a good way.” –Zac Posen

BOTTOM THREE:

Sean

design by Sean

“That slit is beyond high and very bizarre.” –Heidi Klum

“I like the hat. I thought it was like Mary Poppins went shopping at Prada.” –Zac Posen

Alexander

design by Alexander

“It looks like an old blanket. It’s like a potato sack.” –Heidi Klum

“It’s very plain. It looks like the Flintstones.” –Anne Fulenwider

Angela– OUT

design by Angela

“I felt it was stewardess from future and I’d be afraid to get on her plane.” –Zac Posen

“I think it’s too short.” –Anne Fulenwider

“The cut is a little sloppy.” –Nina Garcia

designer Emily, designer Kristine, designer Sandhya, designer Sean, Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, Project Runway, Project Runway S13, Project Runway S13 recap, Tim Gunn, Zac Posen

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Project Runway S13:Ep2 RECAP

Posted by Amy Steele in TV, Visual/ Performance Art on August 3, 2014

On season 13, Heidi Klum and her gang of producers clearly want to shake things up as much as possible while staying true to what fans like about Project Runway. In the second episode, designers worked in teams of three for an unconventional challenge. Materials from cinema/movie theatre. I thought it way too soon for both a group challenge and an unconventional challenge but perhaps this is part of the twists in store for season 13. it’s best I think for designers to get to know each other better before working in groups. It’s also more interesting to see designers work before the usually avant-garde unconventional challenge. Most designers fared fairly well.

Amanda working during episode 2

Amanda, Korina and Kristine instantly bonded over sci-fi films and wanted to do a post-modern collection that also would have 60s elements. They designed their own textiles and used black and white and bright green. Very cool. I liked it immediately. Other designers, from their chit-chat, clearly didn’t.

Caroline thinks and sulks on S13Ep2

The most drama was between Sandhya, Hernan and Caroline. No one respects Sandhya’s abilities or her win last week. They didn’t get along at all until finally the women, in rather typical Indian fashion, gave in to Hernan and followed his lead. Per any winning collection, he decided on the theme Golden Hollywood (because of the gold film. literally) while finishing up the collection. The other team that had issues was Fade, Sean and Angela. Fade and Sean had a fantastic idea for villains. Angela doesn’t like villains. So she wouldn’t go with this and her look wasn’t cohesive. and we know COHESION is what a collection is all about. Fade and Sean’s looks were excellent and I just knew that Angela would drag her team down.

winning team: Amanda, Korina and Kristine. AMANDA WON.

design by Amanda

design by Korina

design by Kristine

losing team: Hernan, Sandhya and Caroline. CAROLINE OUT.

design by Hernan

design by sandhya

design by caroline

cool designs–

Fade:

design by Fade

Sean:
–this is all straws!

design by Sean

Samantha:
–made out of CDs and film

design by Samantha

Project Runway S13, Project Runway unconventional challenge

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LOVERS: music review

Posted by Amy Steele in Music, Visual/ Performance Art, Women/ feminism on September 5, 2013

photo by Megan Holmes

This is my favorite album of the year so far. Intriguing lyrics, intricate harmonies, unusual yet mesmerizing vocals and three strong women composing songs with electronic edginess. What could be better than that? The songs remain somewhat upbeat even if the subject matter isn’t always. The unusual, crisp compositions highlight Lovers many years’ experience as songwriters and producers. Very extraordinary musical talents combined into one band: a brilliant concept. Very danceable. Sometimes moody. Sometimes contemplative. Always self-assured and delightful.

I envy this band, adore this band and want to be an honorary member even though I don’t play any instruments or sing. They’re so cool. They’re happy in the way that you want to dance around expressing your love for your surroundings and all the people in our pathways. Portland, Ore. undoubtedly a hotspot for musical experimentation and expression. These three women sing about sexuality, female friendships and evolution in the face of the ever-changing world.

In 2002, producer/ percussionist Emily Kingan, then on tour with classic Portland feminist hardcore band The Haggard, invited lyricist Carolyn Berk to join the bill. Ferris was their roadie. Years later the trio met up in South America where Berk was traveling and
producer/performance artist Kerby Ferris was living at the time, performing in various electronic projects in Sao Paulo.

Berk said: “There’s something very cosmically powerful about choosing love over and over and over again, recommitting to people, cooperating on creative endeavors. We wanted to make an album that reflected our commitments to supporting each other’s creative processes. There is something so pure and magical about true friendship love, and we wanted to put that into this album.”

A Friend in the World
Badman Recording Co.
Release date: Sept. 24

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Website

purchase new album at Amazon: Friend in the World

Tour DATES:

Sat Sep 21–Mississippi Studios in Portland OR, Record Release show w/ Night Cadet
Sun Sep 22–Chop Suey in Seattle WA w/ Night Cadet, S, and 18 Individual Eyes
Fri Oct 18–Pittsburgh, PA @ BrilloBox (Operation Sappho)
Sat Oct 19–Buffalo, NY @ Ambush! (Duke’s Bohemian Groove Bar)
Sun Oct 20– Providence, RI @ Machine with Magnets
Mon Oct 21–Boston @ the Middle East
Tue Oct 22– Burlington VT @ Necters
Wed Oct 23–Philadelphia PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
Fri Oct 25–Durham NC @ Pinhook
Sat Oct 26–Baltimore, MD @ TBA
Sun Oct 27– Brooklyn NY @ Glasslands