Polka Daughter : Yayoi Kusama

She was more famous that Andy Warhol.


She made a heap of art in astronomical scales, rooms full covered ceiling to floor. She made PENIS chairs. Then she quit art and only did happenings (i guess it's performance art these days). Then she went nuts. In a nutshell, that's it her life. (which i should not dare to be so scant or dismissive of a more complicated life)



The thing is that Kusama is still creating art every day and she's in her 70's, almost 80's! There's nothing I love more than a woman with longevity and passion that spans decades. Guess the story is not old....but she's basically a forgotten pop artist in America although she's one of the most prolific. (hello!? white dudes always get written about in books and get documented in history, others???...notsomuch)



I learned about her after going to MOMA awhile back and seeing her art book on the shelf, Love Forever. Although I still haven't seen any of her work in person. I've become a life long lover of Kusama.
The fellas at Purple Magazine took two seconds from smokin' sherm and OD-ing on tits (i have more to say about this...) to come up for air on Yayoi Kusama. She got some exposure from photographer Chikashi Suzuki. Showing her in her studio in Comme des Garcons..in POLKA DOTS of course, just lovely.
Hope Kusama is making a come back...thinking she's about to come back into view. Saw t-shirts emblazoned with her image at Cynthia Rowley store in NY last week, too. Hope she gets some long due props.

Icon: Yoko Ono

I had the fortune of attending Yoko Ono's Dress Rehearsal performance at BAM Monday night. I swear, it's going to take me a year to process the whole show beginning to end. From the video montage retrospective of her life/work (I cried the whole time). If ever you wondered why this woman does what she does...it's so clear. In the face of EVERYTHING the bastard world has to throw at her she's the ultimate optimist. I couldn't respect any one more. She devastates my heart with her tenacity and positive outlook. You could try to burn her at the stake and she'd offer you a hug. It's the complete re-version/visioning of DISARMAMENT.

Here's the rough outline of the show.
It both lightens and sinks my heart to see "WAR IS OVER...if you want it" lit on top of taxi cabs in New York in 2010.

Nothing's changed but the art still remains.

So there's this dress at the t-shirt booth, that's a mystery to me. Who designed it? What does it mean, man!!?


There's a reason this woman must open her mouth. for the pretty to come out.

There were lots of special guests. (including a sneaky Mark Ronson, I'm pretty sure, Scissor Sisters and Chimera) I know I should have loved Kim, Thurston and Yoko doing "Mulberry" best. But truths be told I loved Justin Bond's "What a Bastard the World Is" so so sososo much. So appropriate, campy, heart wrenching and awesome.





AND they played "Death of Samantha" live for the first time ever???!!

humor break: Bottoms are really at the bottom of everything. "Bottoms" on the bathroom stall....love you yoko.

And I know over time, and by complete cultural saturation of Lennon/Ono's "Give Peace a Chance" renders it totally cheezeballs. But I really don't care. I still think it's powerful to sing together and stand up--so there. (and singing together with this group was really fun and earnest).


Listen to this woman: "Stay healthy this year, and don't get too angry." .......okay, i'll try.

Friday Funday

To commence every Friday, I break from homework...and set out into the city. Today at school I made this:

This is schoooooooooooooooooooooolllllllllllllllllll, one of the buildings I have construction classes in. These giant stuffed mushroom ottomans is where a lady like me noshes on her packed lunch.
Never noticed this awning until I stepped up to take the picture. Design students look so HAPPY under it.

5th Ave and 13th St. where all the schooling happens.
My favorite home cooked borscht. Ukrainian joint, Stage...(scratch out stomp marquee from you periphery, Stage left is where it's at boy)

$6.40 for a cup of borscht, kasha, buttered in house baked challah and a cup of tea. Perfect winter meal.


while waiting for my man, I wandered to a store, huh, heh? Offering free champies and art Ms. Rowley...yes please.
Cynthia Rowley/Gagosian Gallery collab, books editions posters prints design. i think they got their fingers in all the appropriate pies.
My favorit Yayoi Kusama t-shirt for $65. If nothing else but to testify her art and remember how awesome she is. Lookin' good Yayoi!
Damien Hurst! damn you! schmooshing the butterflies. I like.

you can't see anything here but this is essentially a cotton dress with a digital print of CR tassel extravaganza happening in her fall 2010 collection.


loving tassels! I'm thinking layers of tassels in leath-ah would be gorgeous.

School Girl: a vision quest

Watch the learning curve unfold my friends.
Finding my path:

This is what it looks like when your mind is blown by draping class by Luz Pascal.


Sewing on Sunday


Serger gets the best of me....

Chippin' out at Mood, boooyahhh!

Arctic Explorer Channel

Channeling some early 20th century Arctic explorers, fur collars, hoods, cowels, and big ass hat and 3 layers of wool leg warmers.



These dudes are 8 thousand times more badass than I will ever be weathering NY in the winter.

Blizzard Music

Last week I found an unopened Saints box set in the free pile in my apartment, also coined "Fortress of Caucasia". Dang, I've spent this blizzardy NY day listening to it and unpacking boxes. CURSES TO STUFF.

Loving the new Sade!


The only boss I listen to:


My anthem

Future Traveller: Art School

WOOOOWEEEEE!!!! I got accepted to Parsons!


uuuuhhh, yeah. woah. Spring 2010, February 1st. That's soon. No words can capture the excitement/fear/exasperation. I can't believe the overwhelming mix of emotions. Some days everything seems to fall into place cosmically. Other days it seems like the worst idea I've ever had. My friend Natasha says my doubts prove I'm sane. I hope so. I'm fulfilling a childhood dream to go to a fancy art school, in New York. (all cynical art school analysis aside) And I finally did it! I waited, worked, plotted and schemed to make this happen. It's been 9 long, treacherous and beautiful years here in Portland. I'm ready to loosen the ties and hunker down for some hard work. Now on with the task of uprooting one life and planting another. I'll be keeping up on posts, leaving a digital trail. This is gonna be a wild ride, Mr. Toad.

Above is a collage I made depicted the ideal woman I would design for. The interspace, transcendental time and world traveler. Trippy!