Best of 2011 - Interiors

Kishani Perera is my favorite emerging designer of 2011. She has the perfect mixture of eclectic and glam in her aesthetic....a future Kelly Wearstler!

New Year's Eve Looks for Any Occasion

Every girl scours to find the perfect New Year's Eve ensemble. Here are three looks that kill for any occasion. What are you wearing?

A Black Tie Affair

A Cocktail Congregation

A Casual Get Together

Best of 2011 - Art

Anna Ostoya is my favorite emerging artist of the year, mostly because her technique reminds me a lot of Robert Rauschenberg who is one of my all-time favs! Ostoya is a Polish immigrant turned New York transplant and is only 28!

Best of 2011 - Fashion

Mary Katrantzou is hands down my favorite emerging designer of 2011. I don't know what I like more, the bright, bold patterns in her clothing or the artistic images she creates using them. Move over Missoni!

Lina Maple at SARCA

Lina Maple at SARCA: Be Jeweled

One of the most celebrated auctions of 2011 didn't focus on art at all. Christie's sale of Elizabeth Taylor's legendary jewels far exceeded the auction house's high estimates bringing in nearly $116 million on its first night. Here at SARCA, Rebekah Price's jewelry lets us mimic some of the highlights from the screen star icon's collection. So for New Year's Eve, be like Elizabeth Taylor, be jeweled!

Getting Festive!

A perfect way to ring in the holiday season is by getting festive with food and decor. I'll be sharing some of my favorite holiday treats this week. Tonight I decided to play Martha Stewart and make some Christmas Nut Ball cookies to bring into work tomorrow. These were introduced to me by my grandma who used to bake them each year at Christmas. Happy Holidays!

Lina Maple at SARCA

Lina Maple at SARCA: All About the Animals


Maurizio Cattelan is an Italian artist living in New York who is most well known for his works of taxidermy which question mortality and act as a symbol of apparent life on actual death. His current retrospective at the Guggenheim museum which is on display through January 22nd has garnered worldwide critical acclaim. His thematic use of horses and ostriches can't help but remind us of some of our favorite pony hair and ostrich shoes and bags here at SARCA. What girl doesn't want fab fur and leather goodies for the holidays?!

Tammy's Treats Recipe Revealed!

Ingredients:

1 Stick of Butter

2 Bags of Marshmallows

1 Box of Rice Crispies Cereal

Directions:

In a large saucepan on low heat melt the butter and then add marshmallows. Once the marshmallows are melted half way (not completely!), add in the rice crispies ceral. Remove from heat and stir using a spatula. Place in a 9 x 13 inch pan. For a holiday rendition, add 2 bags of green and red m & ms on top. Cool for 20 minutes and cut. Tada!

Lina Maple at SARCA

Lina Maple at SARCA: Trash Turned Treasure


El Anatsui's richly colored, luxuriant tapestries bind together carefully manipulated bottle caps using copper wire. Anatsui is a Ghanian based contemporary artist whose work reflects complex modern challenges – overconsumption and consumerism, recycling, Africa’s post-colonial struggle, and the relationship of African cultures and traditions to the Western world. His work has been attributed as an inspiration to major fashion houses like Gucci and Missoni. El Anatsui's practice of meticulously binding together found objects in many ways reflects Gabriella Cortese's technique of stitching handmade embroidery at Antik Batik. Just as there are thousands of ways of bending, twisting and assembling discarded bottle caps, there are also thousands of ways of embroidering sequins.

Lina Maple at SARCA

Lina Maple at SARCA: High Fashion Photography - Just Ads or Art?

The fine line that exists between High Fashion Photography and Fine Art continues to become even more and more blurry. Historically, Fine Art Photographers have been criticized for their forays into the world of fashion, but in recent years, some of the world's leading blue chip galleries have begun to display Fashion Photography in their gallery exhibitions, legitimizing the notion of Fashion Photography as Fine Art.

Clockwise from Upper Left: Quentin Shih at the Scope Satellite Fair in Miami Beach, Philip Lorca DiCorcia at the David Zwirner Gallery, David LaChapelle at the Paul Kasmin Gallery, Inez Van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin at the Andrea Rosen Gallery, Roe Ethridge at the Gagosian Gallery

Lina Maple at SARCA

Lina Maple at SARCA: Call it Classic

While plotting out my detailed day-by-day Basel calendar to make sure I hit all of the important booths and emerging fairs, I noticed a trend in my current taste for contemporary art - the modern day take on Old Masters. Some of my favorite contemporary artists that best exhibit this trend in their work are Amanda Clyne, Hooper Turner and Julie Heffernan. Exquisite craftsmanship and a traditional aesthetic in a painting will never go out of style, making this genre of art much more than a trend. And what better pairing for these paintings to make the picture perfect classic aesthetic than Allison Paris?!

Clockwise from upper left: New work by Amanda Clyne, Hooper Turner, Julie Heffernan and new styles by Allison Paris

Sex and the Cities - Carrie

This week, I will present you with four friends who are living modern day lives of Sex and the City characters through landing their dream jobs and looking fashionable every step of the way!

Meet Cecelia, who like Carrie, is taking the publishing world by storm with her very own eclectic style.

What is a typical day in the life working at a magazine?

Reporting is all about coverage. You have to make sure you have access to what's new and exciting as well as what will make a prominent headline. But I think the best reporting is when the spin is anchored in inspiration. You should have a unique voice and be adding to the overall conversation. So to find the balance is best and that comes back to access. A large portion of your time is spent at gallery openings, art fairs, museum previews seeing everything and speaking to everyone. As Jeffrey Deitch said in greeting me at the ABMB preview "I just love that I see you at every place that matters." The rest of the days are spent on the phone following up on interviews and fact checking. Then editing the piece for deadline!

What are your favorite things to do for a night on the town in Los Angeles?

Il Curo is my favorite new restaurant in West Hollywood! I love to start with an amazing dinner on their patio in front of the big fireplace and then head up the hill to Chateau Marmont for a nightcap.

How do you think your profession has influenced your personal style?

I would say the time I spend in NY has impacted my style's functionality. I wear lots of boots and flats and I'm living in more urban brands like Alexander Wang and Helmut Lang. But Margiela is my go to for fancy art events!

In what ways do you identify with or not identify with Carrie?

Well, the obvious answer is the hair! But I would also claim we have similar senses of strong will and confidence but balance those with more playful at times even quirky personalities. We are both very eclectic!

What inspires you from a career standpoint?

My dream is to host monthly or weekly parlors at my residence. A space designated for culturally centered, intimate exchange of ideas. The gatherings would range from film screenings and art shows to dinner parties and chamber series. I'm also a curator so it is important for me to foster an open dialogue with all my creatively inclined friends. And what better way than to invite them into my domestic space, salon style? Think Gertrude Stein!