Night at the MoMa
The Problem Perspective by Martin Kippenberger
Projects 89 by Klara Liden

By Melissa Bent

(MoMa’s Klara Liden show)

Tuesday night’s brisk winds didn’t stop me and many others from an evening in mid-town. The event was two fold at the MoMA, Martin Kippenberger’s “The Problem Perspective” and Projects 89 by Klara Liden.

I began the evening at one of my favorite midtown haunts, The King Cole Bar in the St. Regis. I was greeted by collection of people pre Klara celebration. Emily Sundblad and John Kelsey, Klara’s dealers from Reena Spaulings Fine Art, NY, had organized the gathering for a quick drink and ample wasabi peas, mini pretzels and those impeccable nuts.

The motley collection including Carissa and Klara and Malin gathered steam for the quick walk to the museum and managed to disperse into the rather youthful moma crowd upon arrival.

(MoMa Lobby)

The coat lines were long and the wilted potato chips shrieked recession but my partner for the evening, Annabel Mehran, and I made our way through the throngs of listless art participants, running into a jet lagged Terence Koh who had just returned from Holland and was not wearing any white (perhaps dry cleaning is just too out of budget these days).

(Garrick and Terence Koh)

His boyfriend Garrick and him had already seen the show so we shuffled past and through and up and over and into Klara’s project space. Liden had created a giant white cube in the white cube and collected a variety of boxes and building materials that perched on top.

(Klara Opening)

Almost giving the effect of being in a giant manhattan mini storage loft area. A huge white cake with trash frosting.

(Klara Liden Installation)

The space was open and squished at the same time with the areas around the cube being thin and an enormous window at the south end of the room opening up the space enough for perspective. Klara had taken out the wall that usually covers the windows along the building giving the space a soaring height. The taxis from the street below were close enough to read the meters and an archaic black box for Klara’s newest video piece was sitting squatly to the side where people gathered to get a better look on the installation and chat. Emily’s band had made the music accompanying the video which showed Klara from dark till dawn skipping stones and heaving wood and other items into the East River under the slowing emerging Brooklyn Bridge.

The Kippenberger was massive and wild and overwhelming with posters, hotel stationary sketches, sculpture, paintings, installations. You name it and he did it and did it well. So well. A wonderful and exciting show that needs more than one visit to take in.

(Annabelle Mehran and Melissa Bent)

As we made our way down the elevators and into the lobby snatching the fresh yellow flower arrangements before they were chucked there was an improvised coat pile that people kept diving into.

(MoMa opening’s Coat Pile of Bodies)

It gave the momentary feeling of being at a rave. But we were not on drugs or drunk or had glow sticks. Everyone was wearing funny clothing though. Anyway we went to the fascinating Bombay Palace, or rather K-Lounge around the corner from the museum, which was very convenient for an after show drink and chat. One of my favorite former classmates from my alma mater Sarah Lawrence came too, JD (nee Jocelyn Samson). She was in pitch perfect mood per usual.

(JD, Malin, Klara)

(Rachel K at the Opening Dinner)

It was getting late and I was hungry. I headed to Harlem where I was directed to the nastiest hole-in-the-wall Chinese spot with the tastiest and freshest Peking Ravioli. Another hidden Harlem gem.

All of the photo documentation from this evening was taken by Rachel Chandler who was sending the photos to Klara’s sister Hanna who was stuck on an island in Sweden.

Thank you Rachel!!!

–Melissa

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Libertine
Fashion Week, NYC
February 20, 2009

A Photo Essay by Kevin Tachman for Starworks

(Libertine’s Cindy Greene with friend Waris)

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(Lou Sprawled on the LA Starworks Office Floor)

Last year I had blogged about Wolfie in the NY Starworks office. Wolfie belongs to our I.T. guy in New York and I’m always trying to snatch him for myself. Anyway, when I landed at our LA office this week, the first thing I saw on the floor was Lou, who belongs to our Starworker Michelle Scott. I’m surrounded by Brussel Griffons!

I just wanted to introduce Lou as a new West Coast mascot… (in addition to Finca, of course)
J

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(Stuart Weitzman and Milla Jovovich)

Before we exit our Oscar week coverage, I must mention another cool afternoon that the Starworks team put together to prepare for the red carpet weekend of parties. Stuart Weitzman previewed his latest “Red Carpet” collection of shoes to young starlets. The girls that came to say hi to Stuart included Milla Jovovich, Melissa Sagemiller, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Lily Collins and Perrey Reeves in his designs. The team of Warren-Tricomi also joined in the afternoon of outfitting, chocolate pumps, and good conversations at the London West Hollywood Hotel.

(Entourage’s Emmanuelle Chriqui)

(Melissa Sagemiller)

(Lily Collins)

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This morning I just had another “Eff Yeah” moment as I turned my computer on. If you haven’t been seeing Obama’s weekly addresses, you’ll be happy to know the new one is up. Last night, Obama addressed a joint session of Congress for the first time.. and recorded a YouTube video afterwards to explain his intentions. In other words, he went “Direct-To-Public”.. or DTB.

Our President called for a new era of “responsibility and cooperation”. Instead of playing the short game, Obama is playing the long game, with bigger achievements in mind — vital investments in health care, energy, and education.

Don’t take my word for it — check out Obama’s Weekly Address above. NO shady filters, opinions, and no snarky remarks from broadcast anchormen. Instead, our President talks DIRECTLY to the American People (and the world) — 1X a week.

Speaking of DTB — it seems to be a current trend with celebrities as well. Of course there is the usual celebrity who hides out, holes up, and shuns any form of exposure to outside community. But then there’s that type of celeb who wants to engage the system. To be invited into the “social network” party train that the worldwide web offers.

Any why not? Instead of dealing with “handlers” and “publicists” who can fabricate an unintended message, why not go “public-direct” with your message… and eliminate any agenda’s that Fox News or Access Hollywood.. even TMZ might have…

(Ashton Records His Inner World and Shares With Us)

Case in Point: Ashton Kutcher who uses Twitter to share his thoughts. When George W. Bush was exiting office, It was Ashton who wrote on Twitter that it was uncool to boo Mr. Bush — a very mature adult response from someone who comes off as sometimes a younger spirit. He felt it was very “disrespectful” and we should always honor anybody who served for us. Regardless if you agree with that or not, Ashton told us that directly. No Publicists. No statements thru print press. Just one-on-one. That is indeed a refreshing and honorable thing!

After that, Ashton posted a personal video on a website called Qik from his mobile phone on Feb 9th. The footage? A dogs-eye view of Ashton entering airport with this wife. On the phone camera, he caught some of the usual abusive behavior from paparazzi who (for no reason) called Demi a “stupid little bitch”. I mean, really? How retarded are the camera mobs? Ok. Thanks for sharing that with us, Ashton. It’s pretty eye-opening living in that shark pit.

More people going “Direct-To-Public” — QTip on Twitter. Joaquin Phoenix on Facebook. Rahm Emanuel on Facebook….

Also, when I say DTB, I don’t mean addressing rival celebs with little silly beef statements that fuel drama. True DTB (at least in my eyes) is when you have something important, and not trivial, to say to the public. It’s all about positive direct communication.

I hope we see more of this behavior in the coming year…
J

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