Palm Springs is getting ready once again to celebrate all things Modernism.
Modernism Week’s signature February Event is an annual celebration of midcentury modern design, architecture, art, fashion and culture. Modernism Week features more than 350 events including the Palm Springs Modernism Show, Signature Home Tours, films, lectures, Premier Double Decker Architectural Bus Tours, nightly parties and live music, walking and bike tours, tours of Sunnylands, fashion, classic cars, modern garden tours, a vintage travel trailer exhibition, and more.
The mission is to celebrate and foster appreciation of midcentury architecture and design, as well as contemporary thinking in these fields, by encouraging education, preservation and sustainable modern living as represented in the greater Palm Springs area.
Feb 16, 2023 to Feb 26, 2023
Here’s one I’m looking forward to and it’s free:
This will be the ultimate street party celebration. Dance in the street to These Boots Were Made For Walkin’ honoring Nancy Sinatra.
For general information and tickets (many sell out fast) please visit:
Joy always comes together when mixing Art along with good company, food and wine.
Last night we celebrated the unveiling of a body of artwork that was sentenced to life in a storage unit. It’s now on parole as part of Art Palm Springs.
Art by Maria Eugenia Casuso. The one bottom left sold within minutes.Maria Eugenia Casuso
The late Spanish-Brazilian artist Maria Eugenia Casuso gathered her remarkable body of work and put it into storage in 1987.
Luckily for us, her nephew Alfredo Casuso, (he curated this event) unveiled it on Wednesday at Grand Central restaurant in Palm Springs. This along with wine bar, generous food sampling from their latest tasting menu and other thought-provoking works by local artists Georgeanne Papac and Gary Paterson.
A good time was had by all who attended this extraordinary opening.
The STORY…
Taken from Palm Springs Life Magazine:
Karyn Mannix, of karyn mannix contemporary, has been intrigued with Maria Eugenia Casuso’s artwork since she first heard Casuso’s story from David Perry when they were both working art fairs. “For years I’ve been trying to get a peek at it,” she exclaims. “I had seen images, but when I saw it, it was even better than it was in photographs. I always wanted to show it, especially in Palm Springs.”
Karyn Mannix classifies Casuso’s work as postmodernism, and “…that art movement between abstract expressionism, and not that it goes into pop art,
with David Perry (David Perry & Associates, Inc.) Photo: Ramona Huth
but it’s geometric abstract.”
Casuso also became a superstar in the interior design world, and was hired at the best design firm in Caracas. She spent 10 years traveling, designing, and living her life out loud.
We’re so spoiled and jaded. When one goes to Las Vegas to take in a show we expect nothing but the best. It’s getting harder and harder to please everyone. We want glitz, special effects, magic, mystery, music and story. Which brings me to “Awakening”– the new show at the Wynn. It’s more than all of that combined.
courtesy of Wynn Hotel
Now THIS is a show! “Awakening” is a ground breaking state-of-the-art production in a 360-degree theatre where every seat has surround sound. This is the most technologically advanced production and stage in the world with a captivating story about finding the magic in a world where light & darkness co-exist. Speaking of magic, the theatre is filled with a wealth of underwater creatures, an exquisite Nymph, a world of hedonism, a realm of fire and flying shadows in this powerful artistic expression of looking for hope, harmony and love. A dynamic balance hard to obtain.
There’s never been anything quite like this before. It’s not another Cirque spectacle. “Awakening” has replaced “Le Rêve” and is only about two months old, having only opened in November/2022.
Not only do we have Sir Anthony Hopkins narrating the storyline, it is produced and directed by three award winning masters.
Baz Halpin is the mastermind behind iconic cultural moments ranging from Super Bowl halftime shows (the only main reason I watch Superbowl) to producing, directing and designing concerts for the world’s biggest performers (too numerous to mention here).
Bernie Yuman is a legend in the production of entertainment. He was the driving force responsible for Siegfried & Roy’s record-breaking 25-year Las Vegas engagement among the hit Broadway musical On Your Feet. He also managed Muhammad Ali exclusively.
Michael Curry is known for his brilliant work on Broadway’s The Lion King (I saw it on Broadway and loved it) and countless other global productions. He’s a sought after creator for Disney, Universal and the International Olympic Committee.
First off, the sets and costumes are nothing short of spectacular in a mystical setting. The opening line of the program synopsis states: “In a time before time, the Great Phoenix gave our world its first two beings. One was called Light and the other Darkness. Light and Darkness lived in perfect harmony, which resulted in a world full of Magic.”
“Over time, light became possessive of Magic and ignored Darkness, which made her grow cruel. In anger, Darkness struck Light and he shattered. Crystal shards of Light now resides in three different realms: the Light of Water, the Light of Earth, and the Light of Air.”
courtesy of the Wynn
There is a lot going on here to follow however, the sets depicting Water, Earth, Air are nothing short of mind-blowing entertainment.
We follow our beautiful heroine IO and her two friends Bandit and Boo as they attempt to steal Darkness’ most prized possession: Magic.
Magic leads IO and her friends on a journey to the three realms of Light – Water, Earth and Air. They want to collect the crystals of light and place them in their settings where they belong to become whole again. Once whole, Light and Darkness may reunite.
She and Magic are confronted with an epic choice: secure your own personal happiness or risk everything for something far more powerful.
The message is a semiological feast to do with lack of fear and the power of learning to accept what life has to offer and making the most of it. Learning to live with the light and the dark. Without the darkness in our lives, we cannot fully appreciate the light.
Sir Anthony Hopkins as narrator – “The light of the sun on its own would not give rise to life. A seed in the dark earth on its own would not give rise to life. Together they create the magic that makes life possible.”
FYI – I’ve woken up at the Wynn before and it’s pretty darn nice.
See below for tickets (you can watch the trailer however it’s much more powerful by far in person):
It’s Monday. A new start to the week. And the second week of a brand new Year. A time when people wake up to possibility of new beginnings. A time for reflection and cleaning up our act, even if just a little bit.
We like to keep things fresh. From fresh vegetables to a new relationship, everything that’s fresh is uplifting. It’s just making sure the vegetables don’t go bad before eating them, and that the relationship continues to evolve instead of dissolve. A little effort goes a long way in trying to maintain a balance.
Personally I think that the main reason so many resolutions fail is that people set unreasonable standards for January 1st. Why not just pick a date and do something to improve your life, be it in business or relationships or both?
I’m certainly no expert (my plan to work out more starting in January never succeeds and I’m still not fluent in Spanish) but contemplating a little positive change can be a definite mood enhancer.
My little step forward is having joined a women’s empowerment workshop in order to set a new intention to this new year and prepare for something fresh. We’ll see what comes of it. More later…
“A fresh start. A new chapter in life waiting to be written. New questions to be asked, embraced, and loved. Answers to be discovered and then lived in this transformative year of delight and self-discovery.” — Sarah Ban Breathnach
How about you? Any intentions of making an intention?
Pretty boxes all in a row. Temecula, Ca. Photo: d. king
Can’t say I normally pay any attention to those large dreary looking electrical, transformer or utility boxes that line street corners in every city. Just part of the landscape.
But have you been noticing them lately?
Energy infrastructure is only growing and electric boxes are becoming more needed than ever. Many of these structures have been around for decades, converting power for growing communities.
Thankfully, a new form of public art has been popping up all over the country. Colourful displays by local artists have turned these plain electrical boxes into opportunities for beautifying them in public spaces and showcasing local talent.
A little Goh spotted in Temecula.
Palm Springs Public Arts is looking for love in all the right places with traffic boxes designed to link Public Art from the north end to the south end of Palm Springs.
As you can see here, they’ve done an impressive job of making them over.
JoAna Adams – Tamarisk RdKevin Smith – Tachevah
Emeline Tate – Sunrise x E Palm CanyonRachel Jacobs – Camino Parocela
Kat Gaddis – Amado Rd
My friend Ramona painted this one at Tahquitz + Caballeros
Zach Flemming – San RafaelJoAna Adams – Tramway x Indian Canyon
I design things to help people to hopefully express their personality – Dame Vivienne Westwood, who built an International brand with an eccentric edge.
April 8, 1941 –December 29, 2022
Vivienne Westwood attends the Vivienne Westwood show as part of Paris Fashion Week (Photo by Pierre Suu/Getty Images)
VIVIENNE WESTWOOD, SCARLET JERSEY & TULLE TUTU DRESS Kate Moss | Mario Testino, Vogue 2009
Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak. Someone else said this but I’m not sure who it was. In simpler terms Fashion is what you buy and Style is what you do with it. For example:
Here are some of my favourite fun and fashionable Westwood looks – compliments of “The Guardian” with link to original article below. Glancing back at some of the most memorable looks from the iconic British fashion designer and rebel.
Autumn/winter 2001-02, Paris Westwood’s clothes featured rips and safety pins but were steeped in history. Photograph: Victor Virgile/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images
The reason why I am proud of my part in the punk movement is that I think it really did implant a message that was already there. The hippies told it to me, but punk made it something cool for people to stand up for, which is that we do not believe government, that we are against government – Vivienne Westwood
London 1985 A model wearing Vivienne Westwood clothes outside the World’s End boutique in Chelsea. Photograph: Universal ImagesGroup/Getty Images
Autumn/winter 1992-93, Paris. In 1993 Vivienne produced her own tartan and invented her own clan, MacAndreas, for the Anglomania collection. The Lochcarron of Scotland officially recognised the clan, a process that normally takes 200 years. Photograph: WWD/Penske Media/Getty Images
Taken from “The Guardian” – No fashion designer ever had a Paris show like the one staged by Vivienne Westwood in 1991. Although she was by then 50 and had been making clothes for sale for 20 years – and the British Fashion Council had named her designer of the year – she stitched much of that collection on her own sewing machine in her shabby south London flat, hand-finishing it in the van that transported her, and the models, to France, where the couturier Azzedine Alaïa had invited her to guest-show. Despite those limitations, the collection was a major success.
Autumn/winter 1991-92 Dubbed ‘Always on Camera’, this collection was inspired by 1930s Hollywood. Photograph: John van Hasselt/Corbis/Getty Images
Spring/summer 1995, Paris Supermodel Linda Evangelista in a dazzling gown on the runway. Photograph: Images Press/Getty Images
Buy less. Choose well. Make it last. Quality, not quantity. Everybody’s buying far too many clothes – Vivienne Westwood
Autumn/winter 1995-96, Paris. Linda Evangelista on the runway in Paris, France. Photograph: PL Gould/Images Press/Getty Images
Autumn Winter 2000/01 Jerry Hall in a ready-to-wear gown. Photograph: Pierre Vauthey/Sygma/Getty Images
Autumn/winter 1992-93, Paris. Her own designed tartan for the Anglomania collection. Photograph: WWD/Penske Media/Getty Images
Autumn/winter 1994-95 – Paris. Carla Bruni in the famous fuzzy coat and matching underwear from the On Liberty collection. In 2007 Westwood was one of the first designers to ban the use of real fur in her collections. Photograph: Michel Dufour/WireImage.
Autumn/winter 2013-14 A model walks the runway during the Vivienne Westwood ready-to-wear show. Photograph: Stéphane Cardinale/Corbis/Getty Images
Autumn/winter 1995-96, Paris When asked about her most memorable Westwood show by Another Mag, Kate Moss said: “The one where I had a rabbit and I think I was naked … I don’t think they’d put any top on me. I don’t know, I was wearing Crotch Minis [dropped crotch trousers] and I think some crazy hairdo by Sam McKnight – a mohawk but it was all curly …” Photograph: Daniel Simon/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images
2012, New York City.
Rihanna performs in a Vivienne Westwood gown at the Victoria’s Secret fashion show in New York City. Photograph: Kevin Mazur/WireImageTaken from:
Meditating is something I’ve been wanting to do more of. We found a good spot on top of a monastery Christmas Day with a view. The monastery wasn’t open because all the Monks got covid, but we enjoyed the grounds and the peace and quiet. Also the dragonflies.
Here’s how I spent the remainder of 2022
This was in Oceanside, CA. We were on our bikes and came across the house used for filming in the original “Top Gun.” This is an exact replica of the Kawasaki motorbike that Tom Cruise rode in the movie. We felt the need to get on it.
An excellent tortilla soup and fancy french toast in Carlsbad, Ca.
First day was foggy but there’s a dreamy quality in that.
Layla met up with some tigers on a mural in Carlsbad.
Planning to get my feet wet with a few other exciting ventures this year. One step at at time.
“You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream.” – C. S. Lewis
Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION. 
You must be logged in to post a comment.