Luster » photo

::: Liz Taylor in Iran :::

Luster — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 00:09:40 +0000

This exhibition has since ended, but I thought I would share these lovely and unusual photographs of Elizabeth Taylor that were recently hanging at LACMA.

In 1976, Elizabeth Taylor and a recent art school graduate named Firooz Zahedi traveled to Iran together. At the age of 9, Zahedi left his native Iran for London, and was returning for the first time with Taylor. They visited many of the famed tourist sites such as ancient Persepolis, Shiraz, and Isfahan, and Zahedi was re-introduced to his country. After buying harlequin fabrics and a tribal outfit at a bazaar, Elizabeth emerged from her hotel dressing room and the first impromptu photo session began.

Zahedi would go on to photograph Taylor many other times in her life during his career as a celebrity photographer, but as he says “…none are as personal, candid, or creative as these unique images.” Firooz Zahedi speaks about their trip in LACMA’s video interview here.

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Happy Mother’s Day

Luster — Sat, 07 May 2011 18:27:00 +0000

I love these photos by Mark Shaw on 1st Dibs of Jackie Kennedy, her husband, and childen taken at Hyannis in the 50′s.

Wishing all mothers and mothers-to-be a Happy Mother’s Day weekend! And….a special Happy Mother’s Day wish to my grandmother and mother, two amazing ladies that I fiercely admire and love dearly. xo

The Makers Project ::: by Jennifer Causey

Luster — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 08:08:45 +0000

One of the most exciting things about living here in Brooklyn is being surrounded by fiercely creative artists and designers. The last few years has seen a surge of Brooklyn-made products & services accelerating this borough as an epicenter of design, style and locally made goods. So much so that it could be called the Brooklyn Boom. Photographer Jennifer Causey, has started the The Makers Project inspired by artisans who “embrace a more tactile way of living.” Here are three of my personal favorite Makers that she has captured in the series so far.

Morris Kitchen makes the best Ginger Syrup I have ever found. It’s perfect for home made ginger ales and cocktails, or you can use it as a marinade, or in baking. I always keep a bottle in my fridge. It also makes a great gift, that’s why it was featured in my Holiday Foodie Gift guide.

Lena Corwin is a well-known textile designer and illustrator {I always love her city maps for Elle Decor}, and author of Printing by Hand. I’ve been following her work since I read about her wedding several years ago. She holds classes in her Fort Greene brownstone, curates the Lines & Shapes book series, and posts observations on her blog.

Saipua has made quite a name for themselves as the purveyors of stunning and original floral design. They also make beautifully packaged Olive oil based soap. Last year Sarah and Nicolette of Nicolette Camille Floral Design started the Little Flower school and I have really been wanting to take a class.

All photographs by Jennifer Causey. Found via Destined to Design

Saturday Songs ::: A Beautiful Place to Get Lost

Luster — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 06:00:08 +0000

It’s Saturday friends which means it’s time to put the work week behind us, and get lost. Here’s a soundtrack from some of my recently played tracks to help you along >>>>> Download it here

1. Midnight Lover {Ultracity Vocal Dub} | Kisses

2. Not in Love {featuring Robert Smith} | Crystal Castles

4. Blue Blood | Foals

5. Domestic Scene | Radio Dept

6. Dreaming | Seapony

7. Friends | Luke Top

8. Gemini | Wild Nothing

9. Fools Rush In | She & Him

10. Rolling in the Deep | Adele

11. Similar Sense | Mitten

12. The Devil’s Tears | Angus & Julia Stone

13. The Ghost Who Walks | Karen Elson

14. Miss You {Bob Clearmountain Remix} | The Rolling Stones

15. Waiting | Cat Empire

16. Wide Eyes | Local Natives

17. Blood | Middle East

18. Shadows | Warpaint

19. Still Sound | Toro Y Moi

20. Yellow Brick Road | Angus & Julia Stone

Image Source: Untitled (Let’s Get Lost) by Shaun Sundholm

Wanderlust ::: Amalfi Coast

Luster — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 09:41:51 +0000

I have been to Italy only once, and that was in 1999, so I am desperate to get back and see the South, including the famed Amalfi coast. I imagine it might be like scenes from The Talented Mr. Ripley with sun-filled days by the sea and warm evenings dining al fresco (and without the sinister plot, of course!). It would be amazing to see the coastline by sailboat, explore the Amalfi Drive in a convertible, and walk the surrounding towns.

Amalfi travel poster | Capri by Assouline | The Talented Mr. Ripley | the Coast with sailboat by Antonio Mercurio

Staying at Capo La Gala on the Sorrento Coast would be my hotel pick. Perched on the hilltops above the Bay of Naples, this would be the perfect spot for sunbathing and staring out toward the sea with a Limoncello in hand.

For more travel daydreaming and Wanderlust destinations, be sure to check out Vancouver Island, Reykjavik, and Zanzibar.

Image Sources: town of Ravello via Kiwi Collection Hotel Caruso | Vintage Postage Stamps from iStockPhoto here and here | Capo La Gala via Mr. and Mrs. Smith Collection

::: Impossibly Cool icons ::: part two

Luster — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 06:00:12 +0000

One of my all-time favorites, and most popular features to date has been the roundup of Impossibly Cool icons after finding Sean Sullivan’s collection on The Impossible Cool. After all the lovely comments and interest, I have been collecting more of these beloved icons from around the web. Which ones are your favorites?

Marvin Gaye | Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor | Nick Drake | Natalie Wood

Greta Garbo | Vivien Leigh | Clark Gable | Catherine Deneuve

Francoise Hardy | Robert Redford & Paul Newman | Jack Nicholson | Tina Turner

Bogie and Bacall | Ginger Rogers | Katharine Hepburn | Erroll Flynn

Ursula Andress | Jackie Kennedy Onassis | Meryl Streep | Aretha Franklin

Billie Holiday | Myrna Loy | Miles Davis | Coco Chanel

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:::: Peter Beard ::::

Luster — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 05:08:24 +0000

I received this two volume coffee table book set of artist/photographer/illustrator Peter Beard’s work this past Christmas that has been incredibly inspiring and continues to captivate me. Spanning four decades, this tome chronicles his life and artwork in New York City, Montauk and Kenya through 784 pages of collages, photographs and interviews.

Born in 1938, Beard was raised in New York City, Long Island, and Alabama, and studied at Pomfret academy entering Yale University as a pre-med student. He quickly changed his major to art history, and after life-changing trips to Africa in 1955 and 1960, he returned after graduation and settled in Kenya on a property adjacent to Karen Blixen’s.

He began keeping diaries at a young age to chronicle trips, and throughout his lifetime, he has amassed these incredibly beautiful, fascinating accounts of life on two continents. I first found out about him this summer when I was reading I Married Adventure by Martin & Osa.

I don’t think I could ever tire looking through the pages and pages of handwritten diary entries, photo collages, hand drawn illustrations, clippings from the media, and photographs from Africa’s wild. Every time you look, you see something new.

Left to Right: A collage from 30 years in Montauk, NY. Beard working in his studio {for sale as of 2009}, on the lawn at Andy Warhol’s with Mick Jagger, Catherine Deneuve and Andy.

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Fore more, visit Peter Beard’s website. All images via Peter Beard 2008, Taschen

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::: Polaroids by Grant Hamilton :::

Luster — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 06:02:26 +0000

Loving the color and composition in these abstract polaroids by Grant Hamilton.

{Max’s Kansas City}

Luster — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 02:44:47 +0000

“Max’s Kansas City was the exact place where pop art and pop life came together in New York in the 60’s.” – Andy Warhol

Andrea Feldman in front of Max’s | photo by Anton Perich

I finally got a chance to check out the Max’s Kansas City show at Steven Kasher Gallery that coincides with the book release by Abrams: “Max’s Kansas City: Art, Glamour, Rock and Roll.” The show is a well rounded collection of photographs and original art curated by Steven Kasher.

Paul Morrissey, Andy Warhol, Janis Joplin, and Tim Buckley | photo by Elliott Landy

Opened by Mickey Ruskin in 1965 at 213 Park Avenue South, Max’s Kansas City was a restaurant/nightclub in its heydey of the 6o’s and 70′s. The front room was the bar/restaurant, upstairs you could catch live shows by Iggy Pop, Blondie and the Velvet Underground. The famous back room became a VIP hangout with Andy Warhol as king of the court and with no rules other than you had to be fabulous.

{Clockwise Left to Right}: Mick Jagger, Bruce Springsteen, model Bebe Buell (Liv Tyler’s mother) with an unidentified woman, and David Bowie

Debbie Harry | photo by Nicky L

{Top}: James Williamson, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed | photo by Danny Fields {Bottom}: Eric Emerson & Nico | photo by Anton Perich

One of the best features in the show is a jukebox at the front of the gallery with a selection of tunes that were playing in the original jukebox at Max’s.

Here is a playlist I put together from some of the songs playing when I visited.

“Max’s Kansas City” is on display until October 16th at Steven Kasher Gallery, 521 West 23rd Street, NYC. To read more about Max’s, check out this website which re-creates the experience of Max’s.

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::: Impossibly cool icons :::

Luster — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 00:18:34 +0000

James Dean

While recently searching for photographs of Audrey Hepburn, I came across these 2 blogs, The Impossible Cool and A Conversation on Cool by Sean Sullivan. They are a collection of photographs from around the web of some of the most beloved style icons of our time. Here are some of my favorites…which ones are yours?

Cary Grant | Sam Cooke | Paul Newman | Max Roach

Grace Coddington | Edie Sedgwick | Brigitte Bardot | Sophia Loren

Steve McQueen | Nat King Cole | Johnny Cash | Marlon Brando

Grace Kelly | Bogie & Bacall | Audrey Hepburn | Marilyn Monroe

Bob Dylan | Jimi Hendrix | Debbie Harry | John Lennon & Yoko Ono

Jane Birkin | Charlotte Gainsbourg | Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin

Jon Hamm as Don Draper