Super Brain

As an avid promoter of my favorite television network, PBS, I'd like to share a program I recently watched called Super Brain which is based off of Tanzi and Chopra's newly released and NYT best-selling book also titled, you guessed it, Super Brain! Tanzi and Chopra are both Neuroscientists at Mass General and professors at Harvard Medical School. As the world's foremost experts on the causes of Alzheimer's disease they have developed a model that uses the brain to maximize overall well-being or as they put it, teach people to "use/control your brain instead of letting it use/control you." They have done this by focusing on three areas of the brain:

     1. The Reptilian brain- controls our (animal) instincts

     2. The Limbic brain- controls our emotions

     3. The Neocortex- controls our intellect

Their theory is that if we can learn to become more aware of when one area of the brain is reigning over the others, we can teach our brain to behave differently and in a sense rewire ourselves. The book is based off of the premise that when one area of the brain is dominant, a person lacks the potential of attaining the highest possible quality of life. Examples they use are overly aggressive behavior in business as a symptom of the reptilian brain, a stereotypical drama queen as a result of the limbic brain and a snotty intellectual as a by-product of the neocortex. Each of these examples lacks a fundamental component to overall happiness and actually affects our health and longevity. As someone who has admittedly been guilty of and/or witnessed all of these examples on different occasions in my life and can vouch for the negative consequences, I found this theory to be particularly compelling as there is always room for self-improvement. The book lays out a number of exercises to achieving this ideal harmony known as the super brain. Let's just say it has topped my winter book list of most interesting must-reads. And leave it to the art world to shed light on all of this mumbo jumbo in a much more graceful and thought-provoking manner, at least that is how I have interpreted photographer David Maisel's project depicted below titled History Shadow.

Wedding Burnout

I'd like to shed light on a condition I am experiencing that I would like to call wedding burnout. Let me rewind a bit here...about six weeks ago I got engaged. The one thing that no magazine, married friend or fellow bride-to-be tells you is how soon the burnout begins. My fiance and I looked at one venue in person until we put down a deposit, we heard one band live before we booked them, basically, we have tried to avoid the paradox of choice. But our decisiveness has not shielded us from some major annoyances, such as an unexpected medical conference in town our wedding weekend that has made what should be the simple task of booking room blocks seemingly impossible. Our engagement party date, time, location and hosts have changed so many times I actually can't currently remember what was finally decided on and whether that something is going to be on January 20th or February 2nd, but hey I know it is only November 15th! I have also learned to avoid visiting bridal boutiques during trunk shows because of the added pressure involved in declining a dress face-to-face with its creator. So now here I am, with more knowledge I would ever like to know about hotels located near the magnificent mile, restaurants with a private dining area that seats fifty and the difference between chantilly and duchesse lace (which ps I don't really care about as witnessed by my decision to order a dress online). Now onto something I do care about, our inspiration images!

Ballerina Project

One of my friends / soulmate / former lady of leisure, Kaitlin, who I met on a wild weekend in the Hamptons and instantly became close with just moved to Aspen, CO to work at the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. Kaitlin also began her career in what they call, High Finance, and is now also back to pursuing her passion. I am so excited for her as she leaves the Big City Life for this new adventure, and in honor of her first day on the job, here are some striking photos from the inspiring world of ballet provided by the one and only Ballerina Project!

My Kind of Town

Yesterday, I resigned my lease, making this officially the longest time I will have ever spent in one place. I moved back to Chicago a year ago because after 3 years in New York, I realized that while Paris may be the City of Lights, Chicago is the next best thing for us Americanos.

Nature Walk

The most important part of decorating a space is to make sure that it feels like what it is supposed to be. This has been a challenge for me in the process of redecorating my lakehouse, which is very much meant to be a cabin. My personal aesthetic is much more eclectic than it is rustic, so I decided to spend some time this weekend in Mother Nature to get inspired before I embark on the journey of a full-blown home makeover.

Dancing in the Rain

The rainy weather inspires a gloomy, creative rhythm in all of us. Here is some soul for the stormy days ahead.

Arty Party

One of the main reasons I started this blog was to expose my friends who aren't avid art enthusiasts to the art world and to learn more about their developing tastes, so it was really great to see them this weekend a little out of their element but still pleasantly enjoying and interacting with the works of emerging artists at the I CAN DO THAT SHOW at Variable Space in Bucktown. The premise of the show was to add to and change the work on display. Naturally, I took it upon myself to canvas as many works as possible. Here are some of the take aways from the show...

The bf's work on opening night

The bf's work on closing night

The group in the process of creation

Lina Maple at I CAN DO THAT

One of my favorite works from the show not created by the man in the purple spandex suit

Party Prepping

I'm so excited to have some of my favorite people over tonight to celebrate my birthday and my boy-friend's first group show in Chicago! Here are some of the things that have inspired the soiree.

The Art World Aficionado

Art Collecting today, according to Charles Saatchi, "is the sport of the Eurotrashy, Hedge-fundy, Hamptonites; of trendy oligarchs and oiligarchs" - in other words, to collect on a serious level these days has become out of reach for the 99%. But thanks to Art Remba, a high-end art rental agency founded by my friend and former Sotheby's classmate Nahema Mehta, this is no longer the case. Just yesterday. Art Remba was featured in the New York Times, and I couldn't think of a better time to sit down with Nahema and talk about her business, her aspirations and the future of Art Remba.

Nahema Mehta

How long have you been interested in art and what spurred your interest? 
Can I say since birth?! I grew up in Antwerp, which has a wonderful art scene, and my family has collected everything from masterworks to emerging talent ever since I can remember. I was also fortunate enough to migrate to Columbia University for college, which gave me all the resources necessary (free museum passes galore!) to navigate the New York art scene - I was very much like a kid in a candy store. In terms of spurring and maturing my interest, all credit goes to my mom: she always taught me to look, look, look, and to use art criticism as a bolster to enhance my own perspective instead of a crutch on which to blindly rely. She has a particular affinity for modern and contemporary Indian art, which is why I debuted Art Remba with a selection of South Asian works. I've recently also added contemporary photography by European and Chinese artists to the program about which I'm thrilled. But I digress...

Please give us an abstract of how Art Remba works. 
It's quite simple really. You choose from our curated selection of artworks and get the luxury of subscribing to them for an accessible monthly fee (think $50/month for a $5,000 piece.) 50% of paid subscription dues are always discounted from the purchase price should you fall in love with a work and wish to acquire it. Our artwork ranges in value from a few thousand to upwards of $60k, so there's really something for everyone whether you are looking to slowly invest-to-own a work, live with a "dream" work, or try a work out before making a large investment. All works are hand delivered and professionally framed and installed. We also provide an extensive artist dossier with each work to create an experience that is both aesthetically and intellectually pleasing.

Art Remba Launch Party

What inspired you to create Art Remba? 
For the uninitiated, collecting fine art - specifically the kind featured at galleries, auction houses, and prominent art fairs - can be intimidating to say the least. I knew many young professionals who wanted to start collecting, but who were unsure of what they really liked and weary of making a large upfront investment. I designed Art Remba to alleviate their concerns and create a more intuitive way of exploring, experiencing, and acquiring fine art.

Art Remba Launch Party

Who is the ideal Art Remba subscriber? 
Someone culturally inclined who loves the act of discovery and savors special experiences.

Do you consider yourself to be a burgeoning art collector? And if so, do you own any pieces from Art Remba's collection? 
Like many of our Members, I consider myself an aspiring collector. And yes, I have my eye on the amazing fashion-inspired yet politically-charged photographs by Quentin Shih that will be available through Remba this summer!

works by Quentin Shih from The Stranger series

What do you see in store for Art Remba in the foreseeable future? 
Our focus now is onboarding more galleries and artists. Any suggestions on who you'd like to see on Remba!? In the near future I'd love to feature some guest curators - I love watching people create context and new meaning for art based on their particular point of view and interpretation of a collection of works.

How are your personal aesthetic preferences reflected in Art Remba's collection? 
I gravitate toward quality and character. All the artists Remba features have something to say and a distinct way of expressing it.

Material Master

I just finished watching the latest episode in Season 6 of Art 21, and it reminded me of how amazing David Altmejd's work truly is. I was first introduced to Altmejd while working at the Andrea Rosen Gallery in NYC, but watching him describe his work while in the process of creation is a sight for sore eyes. His work transcends sculpture into a realm of scientific architecture. He is indeed a master of material.

The Looks of The Walk

Today was the annual Spring Fashion Show in Millenium Park showcasing looks by SAIC BFA students. Cynthia Rowley, former SAIC alum, and her husband, gallerist Bill Powers, will accept the SAIC Legend of Fashion Award in this evening's The Walk benefit. Here are some of the looks from the show that caught my eye...

Suburbia Style

I spent Easter weekend with my boyfriend's family in the sleepy town of Sylvania, Ohio and being there, I couldn't help but be reminded of my favorite new obsession - Mad Men. I have caught up on Seasons 1-3 in just 3 short weeks. Yep, pretty much addicted! I love the clothes and the characters. While most people would say they are into Don Draper, I would call myself a Peter Campbell kind of girl. Banana Republic has some great looks for the real housewives of Ohio who want to channel Mad Men in their everyday lives!

Art School Art

I ventured over to the Sullivan Center yesterday afternoon to check out the 2012 BFA Thesis exhibition at the School of the Art Institute (SAIC). I didn't have high expectations as undergraduate students are so young and it is hard to develop creatively with so little life experience, but I was VERY pleasantly surprised. US News and World report just ranked SAIC as the 2nd best Art School in the nation, and it shows! Here are the works I most enjoyed. I can't wait for the MFA preview on April 28th!

Lina Maple at SARCA: Light Up the Night

An amazing chandelier can make or break a room. Some of the most gorgeous lighting sculptures on the market today can be found at Terzani. Be the centerpiece of the evening in this new chandelier silhouette dress by Allison Parris available at SARCA!

Perennial Patterns

Spring is blooming all over Chicago. While fresh cut flowers are always in season, floral patterned textiles are something that can be used indoors to give your home a fresh new look. Think perennial prints on throw pillows and framing floral fabrics to transform your living room into a seasonally chic sanctuary.

Lina Maple at SARCA: A Stiletto Story

I had the pleasure of hearing Marilyn Minter speak this week in the Modern Wing. I was first introduced to Minter at one of my favorite NYC galleries, Salon 94. Her work focuses mainly on stereotypes and pushing feminist boundaries and has appeared in numerous editorials and billboards. It was her ability to piggyback off of these commissioned jobs that allowed her to create art in the capacity it was meant to be created. Her mastery of light and intricate attention to detail is what makes her work truly special and is best seen in her shoe series where she depicts stiletto heeled 3am girls. In these works, she juxtaposes something luxurious with something grimy and something unattainable with something unavoidable. From the looks of it, the new shipment of Ruthie Davis shoes soon to be at SARCA would fit right in!

There's No Place Like...

PURE MICHIGAN.

I have been fortunate enough to travel a lot in my life. And despite visiting some very exotic and far away places, nothing compares to my all-time favorite place - New Buffalo, Michigan. I grew up spending summers at the lake, so maybe it is childhood nostalgia, maybe it is the rustic ambiance or maybe it is my complete and total love for Redamaks and Oinks, but nothing beats it in my mind. This past weekend, I decided to ring in Spring with a trip there - see why I love it so much!

A gorgeous spring sunset on the lake



Stable Scenery



I think burnt firewood actually makes for a beautiful pattern



DIY chain frames and vintage photos