Category — Artheart

GREETINGS EVERYBUDDY. This is just a simple outfit post from last weekend when I met up with Aurora at the Fairfax flea! I wore my favorite oldie but goodie “by the pool dress” with a bolero jacket that belonged to my mom in the 70′s and my lemon Pollys. I need more things in this mint green color…it’s my FAVE. Belt is from I Heart Ronson and Cloven Hoof beetle wing earrings.

Aurora is wearing a thrifted Kimchi and Blue dress, boots from Buffalo Exchange and leftover flowers from her wedding in her hair!

WHO WANTS TO JOIN OUR 2 PERSON MARIAH CAREY SUPERFAN CLUB?

I saw this jacket from a distance and had to lurk it closer to puke. I can’t deal with anything made out of someone’s old jeans, YOU GUYS. I hate when people make tote bags and shit out of someone’s dirty old denim! WHYYYYY. NASTY. ::puh puh puh:: (that’s me spitting out of disgust)

My jaw dropped when I found out Aurora also painted this picture of YOURS TRULY! LIPS HAT AND EVERYTHING!! Thank you m’lady! Check out her blog and her work here. I love all the ladies she does!

P.S. SIDEBAR in case any of you missed Gala’s series on Body Pressure in Blogging, she asked bloggers and readers to contribute their thoughts and my two pesos can be read here! If you want to discuss more of that subject with me, feel free to in the comments! Perhaps I will write more about it later?

If you are in LA this weekend, you should check out the opening for the brand new PoptART Gallery by Lenora Claire and Phyliss Navidad. Their first exhibition is photographer Austin Young’s “Your Face Here,” where the audience participates by filling the walls with portraits Austin will be taking of them during the opening and throughout the show’s run. There will also be a performance by Killsonic, a 50 piece musical marching band and Purple Circle and Urban Decay will be doing mini-makeovers for the “models.” Such a cool concept!

With all the memories I have of Lenora’s past projects such as Golden Girls Gone Wild and Bettie Page: Heaven Bound, I’m extremely excited to see what my favorite redhead will be doing with PoptART in the months to come!

YOUR FACE HERE
by Austin Young
January 29th – March 5th, 2011
opening reception: January 29th, 7-10p
closing reception: March 5th
Pop tART Gallery
3023 W. 6th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90020

It is my pleasure to give a SHOUTOUT to the two ladies who actually made crafts of ME for the Simple Times contest. A special thanks must be given to Ms. Dee and Melina Bee for paying attention to my assholia ego’s call for a personalized Agent Lover craft proj. GRAZI FOR HUMORING YOURS TRULY OVA HERE

Ms. Dee made me into a cute lil’ illustrated puppet and Melina sculpted me as a sock puppet!!! Both ladies also included CORN!

Sadly, my jerk Russian hat didn’t choose either of them as winners for the contest, but their hard work shan’t be going unnoticed ’round these parts! As honorable mentions for their ABOVE AND BEYOND work, I will be sending them each a special Agent Lover starter pack. Thanks again m’ladies!

P.S. Next time I hope somebody out there makes me into a MARIONETTE! Or maybe a hand-puppet from the Land of Make Believe in Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. HENRIETTA PUSSYCAT! I want that to be my new Fake Bar Name for 2011.

My best bew Emi opened up the CUTEST STORE IN THE WORLD!! It’s called Pygmy Hippo!

Pygmy Hippo is a gift shop that specializes in handmade goods, jewelry, accessories, candles, letter press cards, books, toys and novelties (both new and vintage.) So if you are still looking for a last minute prezzie or unique stocking stuffers, stop by! It’s on 306 North Stanley Ave in LA, off of Beverly Blvd, near The Grove. Store hours and other info can be found here!

And in case you didn’t know, pygmy hippos are a real animal! Let’s watch this ‘lil one named MONIFA take a bath. AWW!

By now I hope we have all come to terms with the reality that this blog is basically a front for a personal catalogue of every movie that has been important to me at some point in my life, like a very intimate Netflix queue. When I write these screencap-based posts for you, I almost feel like we are at our very own slumber party. And when I get up to put in a new VHS, you put my bra in the freezer and stick a whoopee cushion underneath my booty. YOU JERKS. Anyway, we are going to leave the 80′s film obsesh for a bit and delve deep into a time when the art of thrifting was in its prime…when our cups runneth over with Orbitz and most importantly…when I had a spikey butch hairdo. Yes that’s right my friends, we are now exploring the cinema that influenced my teenage years aka the mid-to-late ’90′s era.

Nowhere was the final installment from director Gregg Araki’s “Teenage Apocalypse Trilogy.” It followed The Doom Generation which I wrote about here, and before that, The Living End. Nowadays you might know him from Mysterious Skin (which I can only watch ONCE in my life) and Smiley Face...which I haven’t seen but have been advised not to. Most people either loved or hated Gregg Araki movies. I obviously loved them back then. They were weird as fuck and filled with graphic sex and violence, but there was even more for me to love! Everything from the wardrobe, the actors he chose, the colorful sets and demented sight gags were all things that spoke to teen Marie!

Nowhere took us through a day in the life of a group of hopeless L.A. teenagers who care for nothing much more than sex, drugs and partying. At the center of this is a boy named Dark (James Duval aka the bunny from Donnie Darko) who wants monogamy from his polyamorous girlfriend (played by Rachel True from The Craft – yes that one is coming too) yet is exploring his own infatuation for a boy named Montgomery (who has one blue eye and one brown eye which I remember thinking was SO HOT BACK THEN and still do)

Araki always made sure to have the bedrooms in his movies make a statement. Outfits matching wallpaper always brings a smile to my face.

Friends climbing in through windows was soooo 90′s!!! I think the last time I saw that was with Joey Potter in Dawson’s Creek. MISS EWE

The cameos in this movie are THE BEST. We have Rose McGowan (who was also in The Doom Generation), Traci Lords, and none other than Shannen Doherty as three Valley Girls who get zapped by an alien! HOW PERFECT IS THIS TRIFECTA.

Debi Mazar and Jeremy “The Right Kind of Love” Jordan have a very erotic yet disturbing scene. Can I confess to you something my brothers and sisters? In high school, I borrowed a Jeremy Jordan cd from one of my friend’s and listened to it for one month straight. EVERY DAY!! The month before was The Chronic by Dr. Dre AND the month after was Mariah Carey’s Daydream. WTF? Honestly this is no different than today. My obsessive music listening has been going on for too many years. I was really embarrassed about that though.

Christina Applegate is SO AWKWARD in this! I love it.

I was so in love with Ryan Phillippe during this time.

Even Mrs. Garrett shows up!

Also loved this random scene with Devon Odessa (the bff who Angela ditched for Rayanne in My So-Called Life) and Staci Keanan (from My Two Dads and Step By Step.)

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Sometimes I wonder how much of the aesthetic of Nowhere rubbed off on me. Sadly, the movie is not available on DVD in the U.S. so we can’t even Netflix it! HOWEVER…I did watch all of it on youtube! Enjoy…or hate it. Let me know!

The fabulously gorgeous GiGi Deluxe is a woman of many talents, with her creative leanings running the gamut from painting to millinery work and now to tattooing. On top of all that, she is a supermom to the cutest pair of twins ever. Since GiGi is also one of my most favorite ladies to talk to, I had to get the lowdown and find out what makes her the badass woman she is!

+ You paint, draw, model, design and make clothes and hats, are a craft goddess, a dj, and now a tattoo artist! Is there anything else you would like to learn how to do?

I’m training with another tattoo artist and a plastic surgeon to learn how to do permanent cosmetics, and later this year, I’m attending courses to learn about laser tattoo removal. I feel this will make me a more rounded and educated tattoo artist, and I will be able to offer any service a client may need. Be it to remove a tattoo that someone is no longer happy with, or to lighten and prep a tattoo for a cover up. I also want to work with alopecia and mastectomy patients that want to utilize cosmetic tattooing.

I think at this point I want to perfect my skills. It’s all about learning new things, raising the bar and being my absolute best at all the things I enjoy doing.

+ Where did you grow up? Did it have a huge effect on the creative force you are now?

I Was born in Puerto Rico, and moved to Chicago when I was four. We lived in Bridgeport , an all Irish neighbourhood on the southside of Chicago. So from the beginning, I felt like an outsider. I was always in my own world. This also explains my love for (almost) everything Whitetrash.

+ You have a strong love for horror and the grotesque, where did that originate from?

My mom and fun gay uncle used to take me to all the horror and Bruce Lee movies when I was a kid. Sunday’s were a $1 for a triple feature afternoon at the Rat-mova Theatre! (that was not a typo- but it was really called the Ramova)
It was cheaper to drag me along with them, then to pay for a babysitter. Early exposure to the genre had a huge influence on my artwork and my humor.

+ Who are some artists and designers you admire?

I love and adore the late great Alexander McQueen, vintage Vivienne Westwood, Gareth Pugh and John Galliano. As far artists go, my peers and friends are constantly inspiring me. I’m extremely lucky to have such talented and creative people in my life.

+ If you could describe your style as the love child of any two people or things, who or what would they be?

Frida Kahlo would be my mom- and I couldn’t figure out who would be my Dad- so I asked my friend Szandora ( LaVey ) and she said Mick Jagger, because he was sexy as fuck and that I had to get my lips from somewhere! ha ha – I love that girl!

+ What are your wardrobe staples?

Shoes, shoes and more shoes. Tight black sweaters, snug black t-shirts, black platform heels and pencil skirts-these are must haves for me. Usually a corset, but at the moment I’m on the prowl for a few new ones..

+ Is there anything you collect?

I love re-ment Miniatures, and I used to collect ball-joint dolls, Blythe dolls, and Gene dolls but I don’t buy much anymore. I don’t feel the need to collect stuff the way that I used too, the happier I become that less I need.

+ Is there a particular decade in history you feel an affinity for? Why?

The 80′s. I was super lucky to have experienced that era first hand.

+ Name your five current obsessions (music, books, film, food, anything!)

• My twin 10 yr olds
• Art, art and more art
• Tattooing
• Being goal-oriented
• Law and Order (all of them)

+ What’s next on the menu for GiGi Deluxe?

Who knows, but that’s what makes life exciting isn’t it?

You can also follow GiGi on Twitter, Tumblr, and Facebook!

It’s been awhile since I began my series of interviews with the gentlemen of FLNGS, but the wait is now over… Here is my Q&A with photographer Tony Stamolis! Tony just released his second book, T&T&A, which is a collection of, as you might guess, a whole lotta T&A…but with the additional sexiness of TACOS! Obviously I love that concept. Mexican food is so gratuitous! He’s taken the term ‘food porn’ to a whole ‘notha level!
Read More (NSFW!)

This is just a quick little Dress Obsessed post for today, with an impromptu photoshoot! You know how we dew…

I got this dress in Tokyo at a store called Drug Honey in Harajuku. Added a belt and of course some Betsey Johnson Pollys. A simple yet satisfying outfit… on a simple yet satisfying girl…what?

Checked out the only reason to buy the new Purple Magazine with Lohan on the cover: the Aurel Schmidt book that came with it which is titled Pussy…pretty amazing!

Photo by James Prinze

This weekend I went to the opening of Nick Cave’s (not that juan) “Meet Me at The Center of the Earth” exhibit at UCLA’s Fowler Museum. The show featured “Soundsuits,” which are sculptures made up of layers and layers of different materials such as sequins, yarn, beads, buttons, porcelain, vintage clown toys and even neon-colored weaves! My friend Phillip described them perfectly as “Club Kid ritual outfits.” The raver kid deep inside of me wanted to give one of these things a BIG OL’ HUG. Some of these grandiose pieces are made to be worn and performed in, creating another element to the work with sounds and movement, referencing the artist’s days as an Alvin Ailey-trained dancer. Interestingly enough, the first Soundsuit, constructed out of twigs was made in 1992 as a response to the Rodney King riots. I wasn’t able to take any pictures at opening night myself but here are several of them to get an idea of how incredible his work is.

Photo by James Prinze

Photo by James Prinze

Still, these photos don’t do the pieces justice. This is definitely something you have to see in person. Luckily the exhibit runs until May so there is plenty of time! Here are a couple of videos that show the artist at work and describing how the Soundsuits came to be.

Photo by Jon Dragonette

If you grew up in the 80′s, chances are you watched Jim Henson’s musical puppet show, Fraggle Rock. Dr. Romanelli did a collaboration with Fraggle Rock which includes sweaters and t-shirts as well as a cute interactive website where you can hear the Fraggle Rock theme song remixed by peeps such as Mike Posner and DJ Skeet Skeet. A couple of weeks ago I went to the DRx X Fraggle Rock launch party at Kitson to support my friend Nathan Cabrera who is the talented designer behind DRx. I was even able to get an exclusive interview with a FRAGGLE.

photo by Jon Dragonette

photo by Jon Dragonette

Adorable little Doozers inhabited the windows of Kitson …

Uh oh….

Special guest of the evening, Red, came all the way from Fraggle Rock to celebrate the launch with us and she was kind enough to answer some of my VERY difficult questions…

+ Hi! I’m Marie nice to meet you!

Hi Marie!!

+ So what do you like to wear every day? Is it the same thing?

I pretty much like to wear a red shirt most of the time.

+ If you could wear anything else what would it be?

I think some of these shirts here look pretty fun. I would love to wear one of these. Do they make them in my size?

+ Haha yes! I think they make them in your size for sure! Is your favorite color Red?

Ummmm.. YES!

+ Hahaha good answer!

Yes I gotta admit, it’s red you know.

+ Do you have a favorite fashion designer?

Ooh gosh…Well…there was a designer in Fraggle Rock but you probably haven’t heard of her so I need to learn more about the silly creature designers.

+ Sounds good…mystery is good.

::Red laughs (at me)::

+ Do you have any favorite places you like to go on vacation??

Ooooh well I like to go to the Crystal Cavern and uh, let’s see well I always like to hang around the Fraggle Pond but I still need to explore more of outer space to find out what you silly creatures like to do around here.

+ What do you like to do over at your favorite spots?

I like to swim and run around fast and I like to jump off cliffs into the water aaand I like to play rock hockey and play tug a tails!!

+ Do you like to dance?

YES!! You silly creatures have some wonderful music at this party I cant stop my feet moving.

(Red starts to dance)

+ What other things do you like to do besides dance?

Ummmm More dancing!! Watch my feet, here they go! Wooo hooo hoo hooo! Dance Dance Dance!

+ Hahahah!! I’ll dance with you! Thanks for interviewing with me!

Thanks for coming by! I’m glad you had a fun time at our party! Woo hoo!!

++++++++

What the HALE kind of life do we live?!? Thank gawt ‘lil Rojo Fraggle was camery shy. I couldn’t stop laughing! Just imagine THIS going right in front of you! How am I aka “Gigglez” supposed to keep a straight face when that’s going on!?

Here’s my outfit!

+Forever 21 leopard coat and beret, Target gloves, pink lace tights, boots from hoochie store, black skirt and top.+

Sidebar, I just found out that thee Kellie Martin of Life Goes On but more importantly Death of a Cheerleader was there too! I could have asked her for tips on recreating my favorite Lifetime Movie cover. Let’s just see it again for old times’ sake/good luck. YES! #1!

After encountering strange humans and scary monsters at Kitson, some of the Doozers said bon voyage to LA to work in the windows of the Colette boutique in Paris where Cassette Playa X Fraggle Rock clothing and merchandise will be launching tomorrow! Ooh la la!

Check it out: http://www.drdoozer.com/