Sunday Six 5/21/23
Christian Dior in Mumbai: The Pre-Fall 2023 Dior show paid homage to India and its craftsmanship, deeply rooted in textiles and set against the backdrop of the Gateway of India in Mumbai. The presentation was on the harbor, accompanied by a powerful and riveting performance by tabla master Anuradha Pal. The show exuded a strong femininity that was full of print, embroidery, rich color, and embellishment - all of which India continues to master. My absolute favorite look was the madras worn with pearls. I’ve watched the show in its entirety numerous times, and it makes me nostalgic for early Mumbai sunrises over the Arabian Sea.
Blair Saxon-Hill at Shrine LA: My good friend and artist Blair Saxon-Hill is having a solo show at Shrine in Los Angeles, opening May 23rd. I connected with Blair years ago in her hometown of Portland, OR, when she was co-owner of one of my haunts, Monograph Bookwerks & Objects. It has been a total thrill to see her art evolve throughout the years. She loves textiles as much as I do and she has a real magical way of marrying colors. Spirits, Queens, Dogs and Flowers is a love letter to LA in the form of painting.
Sister Parish on Business of Home: It’s been a little over a year since Kneeland Co. became the LA showroom for Sister Parish, the iconic east coast brand with a focus on wallpaper and fabric. Founded by Sister Parish in 1933, the business is female-owned and is family-run by the wonderful mother-daughter duo, Susan Crater and Eliza Crater Harris (granddaughter and great-granddaughter of Sister). I adore them both, and I really enjoyed their recent podcast on Business of Home where they discussed everything from championing craftspeople, how Sister was ahead of her time with her designs, the process of relaunching the business, and their faith over fear ethos.
Loewe Chairs: Loewe introduced a collection of chairs at Salone del Mobile and these two are a triumph. I have a ridiculous obsession with chairs, and even more so when they’re wrapped in raffia and metallic fibers.
Philosophical Research Society: The PRS is a Los Angeles goldmine, founded in 1934 by scholar Manly P. Hall “for the truth seekers of all time.” It’s a very cool nonprofit organization that serves as a repository for multicultural wisdom sources and as a center for learning about art, science, and craft with performances and lectures by luminaries in each field. The library is an architectural gem and holds a collection of 30,000 manuscripts, rare books, art, and esoterica. I’ve seen a few performances in the library and it is completely transportive, being surrounded by so much knowledge while listening to the sound of instruments. This year’s schedule of events is something special. An evening of French songs, a screening of Space is the Place, a discussion about the roots of traditional Korean music, and talks on creative and spiritual philosophies are just a few of the events that have gotten me excited.
Kneeland Co. Playlist: Finally. The first Kneeland Co. playlist is here. Appropriately titled May Gray, it's a tribute to those gloomy skies we’ve been having all month in Los Angeles. It’s an hour and 14 minutes of moody gorgeousness.
