The past several Novembers I’ve been working extra hard to not work hard at all. I had a situation a few years ago where I was running myself ragged and it did NOT turn out well for me. Since then, I’ve decided to take a month off from all things that were totally unnecessary to focus on rest, relaxation and rejuvenation.
Read MoreI have been so busy these past few Oscar seasons that I haven’t been able to get to the FIDM Costume exhibit until the bitter end. But if you’re like me and time got away from you this spring, don’t fret because I got in under the wire and snagged photos from all of the amazing artists who worked on costuming films last year.
Read MoreWhen I heard that Bisa Butler’s work would be featured in a quilt exhibit at Skirball, I was super excited because I’ve always wanted to see her work up close. And when I got there I was able to see the work of so many other talented artists who span time and background, which was a super bonus.
Read MoreI’ve been wanting to visit the Academy Museum since it opened. Then this summer, when I was a part of Academy Gold Rising, I was given complimentary tickets to Community Day. But my anxiety got the best of me and I didn’t make it. Finally, I made plans to go (by myself) once the Regeneration exhibit opened and boy was that a great idea. I had such an amazing time taking in all of the beautiful history, black excellence and hitting up the museum shop, which is one of my favorite places to spend my money.
Read MoreI am so grateful to have been able to catch the latest Art of Costume Design exhibit at FIDM Museum. I almost missed the last one and I would have kicked myself if I did that again. I only wish that I could have seen even more costumes from this year’s nominated television shows.
Read MoreLACMA is one of my favorite museums to visit. Every season there are several exhibits that I just must visit. This season, I eagerly awaited the arrival of the McQueen exhibit.
Read MoreThe Autry Museum of the American West has an exhibit called Dress Codes currently on display. I took a trip to the Museum JUST for this exhibit, which explore dress and identity through classic western wear like plaid shirts and blue jeans.
Read MoreI’d planned to visit the FIDM museum for their annual Art of Motion Picture Costume Design exhibit before the Oscars. But life got in the way and I didn’t make it until the closing day, June 4th.
Being the last day, it was pretty packed. But I was still able to navigate my way through and get some decent pics. Peep them below.
Read MoreOne day, early on this semester, one of my instructors, Eddie Bledsoe, introduced the class to his dear friend Maxwell Barr. Maxwell Barr is an artist and instructor specializing in couture construction, fashion and costume history, graphic design, and a bevy of other amazing things. The reason why Maxwell was at LACC that day was because he’d been working very closely with one of our extremely talented staff members, Christopher Brown to recreate a print from a garment worn in a Manet painting. Once the print was finished, Christopher used our sublimation printer and giant iron press to transfer the print to fabric. Finally, the panels of fabric were given to Maxwell, who constructed the garment . Through a series of talks at The Getty called, “Artist at Work: Fashion and Impressionism,” Maxwell takes the audience through his process, while also educating on 19th century fashion and costume by having a live model get dressed in classic wear on stage.
Read MoreMy path first crossed with Helix’s several years ago when I was working in media. I’d been a part of several mentor-mentee programs while trying to navigate the corporate arena. Many of them were disastrous. But when I received Helixx as a mentor, I knew things would be different…because she was different.
Read MoreOne of the great things about having a big sister who was a teenager in the early 90s was the sick ass hand me downs. My sister has had a job since she was a toddler, and she saved up her coins to look as fresh as possible. I recall one of her most prized possessions was this long-sleeve, color block Cross Colours polo shirt. I wished for her to will it to me upon her untimely demise. But she refused, for she would be buried in said shirt.
Read MoreWhen I was a kid, I loved visiting the Museum of Natural History in New York City, mostly because of the dinosaurs. I was also pseudo obsessed with dioramas. I have no idea why...I was a weird kid. Anyway, whenever I hear ‘natural history museum’ I automatically think of a stuffed wooly mammoth. But upon one of my culture geek research missions, I came across the butterfly pavilion at NHMLA and kinda lost my mind. You mean to tell me that you can go to the natural history museum and see things other that dinosaur bones? Get! Out!
Read MoreWhen I first moved to Los Angeles, I looked up interesting things to see and do FOR FREE. In my search I came across a lot of street art all over LA County. One concentrated area of a particular kind of street art (painted staircases) is Silver Lake.
Read MorePrior to recently, I’d only previously heard the word “Skirball” associated with the fires that pop up every summer. But whist perusing new programs and exhibitions at local museums, I came across several at Skirball that I just had to see.
Read MoreIt’s interesting how much revolution inspires art and how much art influences revolution. This was especially apparent during the civil rights movement when artists, either working independently or as part of a coalition, used their art to create a commentary on the troubled times.
Read MoreIf you’re a black person of a certain age you can sing every word to the Good Times theme song. Besides introducing us to the irony of those desperate ass lyrics, Good Times also introduced us to the art of Ernie Barnes. Most of the paintings by the character J.J. Evans were works of Barnes.
Read MoreEvery year when the Met Gala happens, I’m glued to my Insta-feed. And this year was no exception. I was especially in love with the Camp theme. How lucky was I to actually be in New York City, during Pride month, while this exhibit is on display?
Read MoreWhen we first moved to Los Angeles, I made a long list of places to visit and things to see. It was my way of trying to get to know my new surroundings. Making a list of the interesting and often weird and wacky places around L.A. inspired me to do the same any time we went on vacation.
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