Battle of the Bags - Yule Blog

If I remember right the Anya Hindmarch "I'M NOT A PLASTIC BAG" tote and the "Feed Bag" tote came out around the same time. For some reason the aforementioned ended up causing people to trample one another in China just to get one and we all have heard the urban legends from store clears having to follow customers requests to put their Anya bag in a plastic bag so it wouldn't get dirty. They still command a hefty sum on eBay, if you can tell the authentic from the plethora of fakes. The Feed Bag which has a duel purpose of also not being a plastic bag and at the same time feeding a child for 1 school year through the UN World Food Programme didn't seem to garner such an extreme commercial response. Perhaps as a result of few if any sightings on celebrity arms (Anya's on the other hand was seen on many). It did however sell out on Amazon.com , the only place to purchase one at the moment.

Months later the bag has been restocked finally and I think it makes more sense to buy it for $60.00 and know you're actually helping someone in need while getting the eco friendly benefit than buy an over inflated cliché. Who wouldn't like something like the Feed Bag as a gift? The bag is actually rather unique, rustic looking and sturdy. It has such a way of contrasting with all those luxe fabrics of winter as well. To get one or two type in "Feed Bag" at Amazon.com or google it.

Let's Get This Party Started - The Yule Blog
Topic: Book Buzz

Yes folks it's that time of year once again. The ever fun non-stop party starting Thanksgiving and rolling right along through New Years (as the good old USPS seems to think it’s just fine to keep delivering packages and cards during this time). So in celebration of this wonderful time of year we have the cheeky little concept of the "Yule Blog" to add a bit of spirited fun to http://www.anakee.com/ .

Coming up you're going to find a number of postings on great gift ideas, entertaining, book reviews and powder (as in snow) requests. Then it's off to, "that's all folks" land until next year.

First I'd like to serve up some reviews and ideas on a popular topic this time of year... perfume. Not only do they make lovely gifts (if chosen with the utmost of care) but they also can create valuable new sensations. Some scientists have suggested scents, both good and bad, can create new pathways in the brain causing people to potentially become more alert and even smarter with aided memory ability. The key is to try and smell something new everyday.

Other studies have suggested smelling fresh flowers helps lower blood pressure and creates a sense of calm. Essential oils can also do the trick especially when fresh flowers might not be easy to come by.

So what about those bottled up scents? We all know how pricey they can be so how about making one or two yourself? Is that even possible without some crazy science lab like setup? Of course it is. The main problem can be obtaining the alcohol needed which, going through the USPS, can be potentially explosive. Many places now require you to have some sort of permit. Due to this there has been a rise in polymer based carriers such as those commonly used in those "dry oil" skin care products. The Dimethylamine related sorts which I tend to try and stay away from. If it isn’t good on hair why should it be on skin? I much rather use pure and natural carrier oils. So how about a nice solid perfume instead? Yes, that's the ticket. These hard perfumes in pretty cases are making a real return to the market and for good reason. Who really wants to chance their cell phone to the possibility of a leaking purse atomizer? Not good. So this makes a book I reviewed a good while ago even more pertinent today... one of my all time favorite books, it's title just happens to be a play on one of my favorite novels: "Scents & Sensibilities: Creating Solid Perfumes for Well - Being" by Mandy Aftel / Gibbs Smith. 

Walking around a used books store, I couldn't help but notice all of the gift books for sale. The tiny books with colorful covers that always seem to be pristine. It made me wonder how many of these books are ever really read or appreciated? I've come across a book that might finally break the mold. The title, "Scents & Sensibilities: Creating Solid Perfumes for Well Being" by Mandy Aftel (Gibbs Smith Publisher: $12.95), really says it all.

Like many other gift books it is small (about 5 x 6), has a thick hardcover and is filled with glossy pages. It also has lavish full color photographs that actually add to the book instead of distract or provide useless filler. The cover is bright with stylistic flowers and there are hints of metallic gold. For its size it feels heavy and just a bit decadent. All good things!

Where many gift books fall short is in the "meat" department. Meat meaning good content. Often times the content, especially if Aromatherapy related, is stale, dry and nothing special in gift books. When you go to actually read one it becomes apparent why no one keeps them. In this book however Mandy Aftel has taken the time to write a book really worth giving.

Anyone who is interested in perfume blending or Aromatherapy will treasure and greatly enjoy using this little tome. Mandy starts out by giving a nice, illustrated history of solid perfume making and use. She then goes on to run through a list of ingredients (including essential oils) and materials needed to make your own. While brief, you will get the idea and the illustrations convey Ms. Aftel's precision in blending perfumes, one drop at a time. Top, middle and base note structures are mentioned along with a list of aromatics, some of which include Frankincense, Lavender, Nutmeg and Oakmoss. The photos also give great inspiration. In one, old watch cases are shown to hold your latest aromatic creation.

There are only but a few recipes included in the book but they are fantastic when made. It is refreshing how , "Scents & Sensibilities" encourages the reader to create their own scents and trust me once you create one. You'll find yourself wishing to create many more. This may very well be one gift book you should also give yourself.

Yes the Aftel of Aftelier so instead of the above you can always spring over to her place and pick up one of those dainty bottles of amber luxury and swoon. But what if you can't spring for Afterlier, i Profumi, kai, you know the good stuff I just can't seem to get enough of. Well the so called good stuff doesn’t always have to be so called high end. There are actually some real gems out there with cult followings and cheap price tags. Most, on closer inspection are made in France and some by very old houses. They, the French, just seem to know how to make it best with quality ingredients and time tested distillation / blending practices. Drum roll please:

• Crazylibellule & The Poppies - Les Divines Alcove Collection (my favorite being "Amoureuse" which blends rose and pepper). These cute little solid perfumes come in delicate paper lip balm like tubes. Perfect as a pick-me-up and at $18.00 a real steal. Snatch them up on Amazon.

 

• Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy Line in "Sensuality" Black Currant & Vanilla. B&BW claims they use real essential oils in this line and I have to admit they smell different compared to their other house products--they actually smell real and decadent. This one in particular is gorgeous and has a real cult following I hear. And with good reason as it contains some real aphrodisiacal scents hidden beneath the layers. For some reason they never made a perfume spray out of this one (curse you B&BW!) but they did create a very suitable cream. Slather it on and be merry (or married, watch out with this one! It has attractive as well as addictive side effects).

 

• L'Aromarine Paris, Vanille is divine or try the Florale scent, both unassumingly pleasing and again with a secret cult following, yes for good reason. You can find it for around $18.00 on Amazon.

Amazon.com actually has a number of obscure products and it can be worth the gamble to find something almost, "all yours" if it turns out to be delicious. You never know unless you try.

Next up we'll have some tasty reviews (Aftel makes a return visit) that combine scent with incredible flavor for a new take on the holiday spread and entertaining that gives a real push to the envelope.

Book review published at Suite101.com 2005.

This was just sent to me... thank you and everyone enjoy!

http://www.realtano.it/home.htm

Be Sure To Catch
Topic: Art and Culture Review

In the NYC Area

Be sure to see The Ice Theatre of New York who's season is starting soon. Catch them at the Chelsea Piers NYC starting this October 29th 2007 (Gala) and the show dates of November 1st, 2nd & 3rd. For other dates and locations, be sure to visit http://www.icetheatre.org. They are amazing and not to be missed for the world! This year, along with David Liu (who is so nice to talk with) and Douglas Webster, you'll be able to see -for the first time- works by Twyla Tharp including "After All".

 Gauguin / Savage Light by George Fischoff at the Roy Arias Theatres, 300 West 43rd Street, 5th Floor, NYC until November 18th 2007 (so hurry). This way off broadway musical by George Fischoff features amazing singing and a unique take on the master painters life. Now this is a short musical after all so one shouldn't expect a detailed biography of Gauguin's life and with a small cast, you'll be seeing the same people over and over in various roles but the subject combined with Mr. Fischoff playing the piano makes this quite out of the norm and a must see. http://royariasstudios.com/contact.html .

www.anakee.com Channeling Lewis & Clark, Event Updates
Greetings everyone! The weather is absolutely delicious outside and I, like the rest of the NY Observer dubbed Mole People, will be making the best of it. Due to this I’m going to be feverously posting my huge backlog of updates in quick succession along with my “Summer Reads Book Reviews” and “Chocolate Show NYC” experience before going on a bit of a blog hiatus.

(Channeling Lewis & Clark this May 2007 - MAM Canoe Shot)First up I would like to thank both Alyssa C. (at Sikkema Jenkins & Co. NYC) and Lorena C. (at SPACE NYC) for buying my art for their respective charities. Both are very meaningful and important organizations and it was wonderful to be involved with their fund raisers. VisualAIDS reported raising $62,000.00 and Artists SPACE, $20,000.00!

(Postcards from the Edge - Sikkema Jenkins & Co.)

Next I have a whole plethora of individuals I would like to say thanks to and acknowledge (in no particular order): Mark Sonnenfeld from Marymark Press, C.Z. Lovecraft, Dr. Mamoru Uemura, Bob at the Modesto Art Museum (the artist stamp is fab!), Gilbert Fanjat, Keith Taylor, Ricardo Gonzalez, Melissa E. and Erika D. of Milan, Ryosuke Cohen, Andrea Skyberg, Dan Murphy of The Juniper zine (the latest issue is now out and you can get it by sending a few first class stamps to Dan at P.O. Box 3154, Moscow ID 83843 USA- like Readymade magazine only 10 times better and indi), Keith Roberson, Alyssa Ringler, Anke Becker, Valeria Pouza/Zunzun & Sophie Blachet and the numerous artists, curators and patrons who have contacted and worked with me these past few months of 2007. Special thanks to the patrons of my miniature folk art series which ended up totaling some 200 pieces now in private collections around the US, Europe & Asia. A particular initiative which far exceeded my expectations. I also wanted to share that the amazing Germany based artist Elena Ilina let me know of her latest show entitled, “Lessons For Other Times” at Atelier "Soldina" Soldinerstr. 92 Berlin-Wedding S-Bahn Wollankstrasse, Bus 27, 255 bis Soldinerstrasse - 2 Haltestellen oder 7 min zu Fuß U-Bahn Pankstrasse, Bus 27, 255 bis Soldinerstrasse - 2 Haltestellen oder 10 min zu Fuß Vernissage am Fr dem 25.5.07 um 20 h Offen auch am So 27.5.07 von 14-18 h und sonst nach Vereinbarung unter 0178 63 69 697. If you’re in the area please be sure to take a look. Stay tuned for even more reviews, art retrospects and show snapshots from this and last years past events!

> http://www.anakee.com/

Sponsored Link: Visit Gather.com for art and culture forums, blogs and more!

www.anakee.com Remembering Jasmine Lee & Isabella Blow
Boy does Peled's 2005 documentary China Blue take major shine off the fashion for the masses apple ( I.e the Top Shop Kate Moss', Target Patrick Robinsons', Gap doo.ri's, etc., of the world). Do people really think about who's making these clothes anymore? Are people like Jasmine Lee really making a better life for themselves and their family? Are they happy? They sure didn't look it in the film.

Watching Jasmine Lee is hard. I really wonder where she is now and how she is fairing? One almost wants to write her a letter like she suggested. If you check out the PBS Independent Lens website you can get the scoop on the documentary and how to get a copy on DVD. Even though it isn’t long and rather simple it was extremely moving and as the website says, after watching it I don’t think people can look at clothes the same way again. Time and again pieces pop up about sweat shops but they always seem to quickly die down and fade from memory, when is this going to stop? When will quality trump quantity? I find this all rather interesting considering how "green" people and the media have become this year.

Anyway, I'm thinking of turning the banner quote in the film into a T-shirt:

"If you don't work hard today: You'll be looking hard for a new job tomorrow"

...how motivational

As a side note, R.I.P Isabella Blow. You and your quirky sense of self will be truly missed. See the New York Observer piece, "Simon Doonan: I Missed The Boat on Fashion's Dizziest, Saddest Dame" here (yes, for some reason I adore Simon and his column). While you're there you can also look up their past article on Patrick Robinson (soon to be a Gap man?) doing Target and the current capsule trend.

The Pond in Spring 2007

"Contemporary art is also the victim of its own ancestral success as modern art. Simply put, contemporary art isn't underground and radical anymore, like its early-modernist great-grandparents were. It survived an abusive childhood, grew up, got rich and became the putatively transgressive arm of the entertainment and fashion industries... These days, ambitious young artists tend to follow academic theoreticians rather than lead them, and consequently, they make art that deliberately and often ironically looks more like just another kernel of corn in the succotash of "visual culture". --Peter Plagens NY in Art in America Feb. 07

(We of course know where the underground art is and it's where it should be--just under the noses of mainsteam critics; in places where they won't go and in forms they don't recognize.

Amen brother to the gist of what is being said here by the highly astute Mr. Plagens. I’ve gone to countless shows thinking I’d review / feature them here only to come back both empty handed and uninspired.)

Spring Skin Cancer Alert
Greetings everyone!

I have so much to tell you all that this post could go on for feet but I'll save the art updates and many snap shots for another entry. I promise it will be soon.

What I quickly wanted to remind everyone is this is the time of year when many people end up being diagnosed with skin cancer. This is especially true for those living in a cool climate where winter means heavily covered skin for months. Please take this time to give your skin a good one over and look for any new or changed spots. For more information on this check out skincancer.org.

This is also the perfect time of year to shop for new sunblocking products which really is a must in this day in age. Fitness magazine (May issue, now on newsstands) had a really well done article on how to protect yourself from the sun. This included how much sunblock to use each day and what to look for in a product. Some of the info., I didn't even know so this is a must read. Another good read is this article, "Don't Trust Sunscreen" to fully protect you. Also Sephora.com is selling a Sun Safty Kit with 100% of the proceeds going to the Skin Cancer Foundation (great place!). It contains travel sizes of Sephora's best selling sun protection & skin products.

I'm very pleased at how the media has changed and now promotes a healthier view of the damaging rays of the sun. Instead of writing how to fry yourself into the perfect tan before summer they now write at length on how to protect yourself from melanoma. This is something else that will be finding its way into my art this year.

Look for more art and news updates soon.

-www.anakee.com

Save These Dates: MA & KY USA
Topic: Openings & Event Dates
See MAM's latest art on display at:

March 3rd through April 6th 2007, Reception March 23rd, Higgins Art Gallery, West Barnstable, MA, "Women: The Image".

&

April 6th 2007, The Expression Gallery, center of Market & Shelby Streets, Louisville, Kentucky, "Coffee"

Save These Dates: Berlin Germany & FL USA
See some of MAM's latest art at:

blutenweiss - Raum fur Kunst, Prenzlauer Allee 224
104050 Berlin Germany,

Anonymous Drawings 5
Saturday, March 17th, 2007
19 pm
Additional opening time
Sunday, March 18th, 2007
1 - 8 pm

&

March 2nd through the 30th, 2007, "Bike-Power Exhibition" at the 621 Gallery, Tallahassee, Florida USA, Opens "First Friday", March 2nd (Gala Opening Night).