femalepersuasion.net

Malak captures energy and stolen moments

2009-12-22T15:40:00.000-08:00

Malak is a polaroid and toy camera photographer from Belgium....Her website http://www.hokaku.com is filled with beautiful and quiet photographs that reflect Hokaku, which according to her site means “Capture” in Japanese. "Capture of the time that passes, of stolen moments…" Lovely.

New mix from dj QZen

2009-12-21T14:40:00.000-08:00

I grew up in San Francisco with Susan Langan now aka DJ Qzen, who to me used to be the adorable little sister of classmates...now a sophisticated and accomplished DJ. She was asked to prepare a mix for an electronic music and culture site in Buenos Aires called Del Jardín Latino, and it's up for download here, so I thought I'd pass it on. While you're at it, listen to her other project 40 Thieves here.

Karin Apollonia Müller

2009-11-28T00:12:00.000-08:00

Karin Apollonia Müller is one of my favourite photographers. She takes soft photographs of Los Angeles that are at once beautiful and uneasy, quiet, lonely and on the brink of disaster, showing a version of the city that is entirely different from the Los Angeles of the popular imagination. When her work was shown at The Photographer's Gallery in London they wrote:

[Müller] grew up on a Rhine river barge. Her father, the captain, built her a swing and she remembers swinging high above the boat, flying and floating above the landscape. This experience of being in a place out of place, is echoed in her work. She says, 'I give testimony to my own perspective of a world which produces a state of constant exile, where we are banished from such comforting notions as "centre" or "home". I am an emigrant, not in the sense of a foreign worker, expelled citizen or refugee, but through my understanding of myself as a homeless being, floating and reflecting.

How immigrant artists, particularly photographers, see their environments is something that I am very drawn to and I think this is a deeply compelling aspect to how Müller's work functions. At the same time, the socio-political, ecological and aesthetic content of her photographs look to me like the visual manifestation of Mike Davis's writings on Los Angeles as an apocalyptic space.

See more of Karin Apollonia Müller's work on her website.

Jenny Holzer at Fondation Beyeler

2009-11-14T11:03:00.000-08:00

VernissageTV has two videos of the projections that are part of Jenny Holzer's current exhibit at Fondation Beyeler in Riehen/Basel, Switzerland. The exhibit includes projections on significant sites in both Basel and Zurich.

Jennzy Holzer at Fondation Beyeler

Jenny Holzer: Light Projections in Basel / Fondation Beyeler

Holzer's Twitter feed is the one of the best things about Twitter.

Feminality Art Show

2009-11-19T13:00:00.000-08:00

Please come out this Saturday night to support my good friend Amy Botello as well as other upcoming female artists in the Feminality Show at Hive Gallery from 1pm-10pm. There are some really amazing female artists involved here and you can check out some samples of their work here: http://feminalityartshow.com/

Invisible City

2009-11-11T18:47:00.000-08:00

Invisible City Issue 06 is now online, featuring artwork and writing by:

Jeff Luker, Matthew Woodward, Dave Proctor, Heidi Kenyon, Susanne Willuhn, Peter Tonkin, Helena Kvarnström, Lee Salmone, Joshua McCrimmon, Ryan Parker, Holly Wilson and Christian Fuller.

Invisible City is edited and published by Marlaina Read, an Australian photographer who makes beautiful, dizzying pictures that explore "ideas of pause and delay in relation to how people view both still and moving images."

Unfortunate Day for Women's Rights...

2009-11-08T09:32:00.000-08:00

If the Stupak Amendment--supported by the religious right AND left and the bishop's group-- is ultimately in the final draft of the healthcare bill, it is a major setback for women's rights. It's getting so tiresome to listening to these Democrats talk the talk about protecting women's reproductive rights, and then using them time and again as a throwaway barter chip in the eleventh hour. Can you imagine if men's health issues were on the table-- let's just say no erectile dysfunction or prostate cancer coverage...it's infuriating that our rights just keep getting chipped away. And this is not about the upper/middle class who can afford it. It's about the female poor and lower classes who NEED reproductive choices, and will be unable to afford them. It's about chipping and chipping away at our rights until illegal and unsafe abortions become common again.

Because of the limits placed on the exchanges, most of the participants will have some form of premium credit or affordable subsidy. That means most will be ineligible for abortion coverage. The idea that people are going to go out and purchase separate "abortion plans" is both cruel and laughable. If this amendment passes, it will mean that virtually all women with insurance through the exchange who find themselves in the unwanted and unexpected position of needing to terminate a pregnancy will not have coverage for the procedure. Abortion coverage will not be outlawed in this country. It will simply be tiered, reserved for those rich enough to afford insurance themselves or lucky enough to receive from their employers. (Ezra Klein, Washington Post)

Seeing the Democrats celebrating this "historic victory" at the cost of women's freedoms when it comes to their own bodies is tremendously sad, and I can't help but think when people brush it off..."well I'd rather have that than nothing..." that it's a slippery slope once all that we've fought for thus far starts crumbling away at the expense of political gambling.

A must-read article by Taylor Marsh on the Huffington post is here: In Pelosi's House, 64 Democrats Sell Women Out.

For action you can take now, please see Planned Parenthood or NARAL.

Yes I have a crush on Charlotte Gainsbourg....

2009-10-28T14:05:00.000-07:00

I have had one on her since Ma Femme est une Actrice and I won't hold it against her that she's starring and winning accolades in the ultra-misogynistic AntiChrist...but I mostly love her for her voice. 5:55 as an album was so inspirational to me, and now her upcoming album is being produced by Beck, so I can't wait. You can get a free download of the first single off of it on her site here.

One for the Cougars...

2009-10-16T12:34:00.000-07:00

In the New York Times today: Rethinking the Older Woman, Younger Man Relationship:

The loosening of relationship conventions, which is not limited to age but also includes race, religion and economic status, appears to be particularly evident among female baby boomers, sociologists say, who are faced with the tightest “marriage squeeze” — the smallest pool of compatible men as conventionally defined, those two to three years older, of similar background and higher levels of education and income. The reason is that as women have delayed marriage, men still have a tendency to date and marry younger women.

I'm glad the notion of this becoming less of a stigma, more of a conventional turn is taking hold. I mean, what's the big deal? Great article, read more here.

MadM X

2009-09-18T15:12:00.000-07:00

OOOM Trailer from MAdM OOOM on Vimeo.

I'm not even sure what I'm looking at here but I like it, harkens back to the last time I ever really loved a 1 hour format drama on TV: Twin Peaks. Melissa Auf der Maur is inspiring and seems to have a lot of unique ideas. The kind of girl you want to be friends with.

Like Brigitte Bardot!

2009-09-08T12:38:00.000-07:00

Ok I just tweeted this, but the images are too iconic to pass up...Some of the most famous paparazzi photos of BB are up for sale. Wouldn't you just love to have one! From the James Hyman Gallery's (London) website:

Coinciding with the 75th Birthday of Brigitte Bardot on 28th September 2009, James Hyman Gallery presents an exhibition of 75 vintage photographs by some of the most famous paparazzi photographers...Presented at the same time as London Fashion Week (18-22 September) Brigitte Bardot and the Original Paparazzi focuses on one of the greatest fashion icons of the twentieth century.

Juliette Lewis talks Derby & Rock...

2009-09-01T14:28:00.000-07:00

Really not that long ago babies...keep up the work.

2009-08-26T14:58:00.000-07:00

WOMEN’S EQUALITY DAY- 79 Years of Women Voting!
In 1971, the U.S. Congress designated August 26 at “Women’s Equality Day” to commemorate the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution granting women the right to vote. Today we not only celebrate one of the first victories leading to women gaining equal standing in society, we remember the continuing struggle towards full equality...you've come a long way baby!

Tipper Gore Photography.

2009-08-25T10:59:00.000-07:00

Here's what I learned this morning on twitter: I did not know that Tipper Gore was an amazing and accomplished photographer. Her work is quiet and powerful, I really love her portraits, and if you're privileged enough to be able to stand in the thick of it all, I suppose you're privy to some pretty incredible shots...Take a look. Tippergore.com

NY Times Women's Issue...

2009-08-23T14:30:00.000-07:00

Some amazing pieces in the NY Times today about why women's causes are finally getting attention, and why they work. Cheers, Hillary Clinton!

Chloe Sevigny sees red for Opening Ceremony.

2009-08-19T17:53:00.000-07:00

Chloe Sevigny has a new line of clothing for Opening Ceremony and rather than the usual fashion lookbook, in true Chloe style she has created a book called RED (what else) featuring all red-headed models. Additionally the book is graced with the work of several artists including Marlene McCarty (left.) This reminded me of how much I love McCarty's work and have since a friend's Venice show featuring her ballpoint girly drawings many years ago. Read more here.

Brett is a Girl.

2009-08-13T17:05:00.000-07:00

I stumbled across artist and illustrator Brett Manning's work today while looking for images of my heroine Margot Tennenbaum, and I just love her style! She describes her work as often being "overtly feminine" I thought it was appropriate to feature her here. You can purchase a lot of her work, she has multiple shops open here. I think I might have to get Margot for myself...

Corinne Day: Kate Moss photos to save her life...

2009-08-12T11:40:00.000-07:00

Corinne Day is an iconic British photographer whose work has chronicled everything from fashion to the biographical – almost voyeuristic – chronicles of her subject's and friends' lives, often starkly portraying realistic worlds of darkness and drugs. But now, in her forties, she is faced with the seriousness of a brain tumor and will be selling previously unpublished photos of her friend Kate Moss to pay for the expensive treatment....For more information, and to purchase or view one of the prints, go here.

Photograph by Corinne Day.

Karin Bos New Catalogue.

2009-08-04T15:23:00.000-07:00

Karin Bos paints beautiful paintings in Amsterdam. She was featured in the original Female Persuasion group exhibit at Cherry de Los Reyes back in 2004 (has it really been that long ago??) and remains one of our favorites. She recently contacted me to tell us that she now has a full-color 40 page catalogue of her work available off her site. I've got a copy and it's absolutely lovely. To order one for yourself go here. Or send an email to karinbos@xs4all.nl

Karin Bos, A Trip to the Countryside, Paintings and work on paper
The 40 pages full-color catalogue shows an overview of recent paintings and work on paper by the Dutch visual artist Karin Bos. Beautifully designed by Iris Holtkamp (designer arts magazine HTV de IJsberg). The catalogue contains an essay by Rob Perrée (editor arts magazine Kunstbeeld) in English as well in Dutch, titled The Weapon of Suggestion. The smashing cover is a detail from the intriguing painting Boyscouts.

Hmmmm...Lady Gaga strong or confused?

2009-08-05T11:53:00.000-07:00

Everything was good until she got to the "I'm not a feminist" statement which leads me to believe that there are still so many people out there who don't understand the fundamental principles of feminism....? Like perhaps the one that implies she wouldn't be sitting there without feminism?

Recent girlcrush Becca.

2009-08-04T15:57:00.001-07:00

Fleurings, how cool is that?

2009-08-04T16:40:00.000-07:00

Samantha Lockwood has designed the coolest line of jewelry...earrings and pendants that act as miniature fairy-like vases to hold your favorite flower of the moment. I love this!

Portraiture.

2009-07-31T11:22:00.000-07:00

Portraiture is my thing. It's just the one form of art that speaks to me emotionally more than anything else.

The NPG London has an interesting Gay Icons exhibit currently going on and will also be celebrating icon Twiggy's 60th birthday with an exhibit of photographs. Super cool. Plus check out the prize winners of the BP Portrait Award 2009 as well as enter next year if you're over 18 if you think you have the chops.

The National Portrait Gallery Washington has a fantastic online exhibit of Time Magazine cover art. It's interesting to peruse through the art and ponder the timeliness of current event art, for example this piece by Frank Gallo depicting then sex symbol Raquel Welch, which supposedly was deemed tasteless and generated many written complaints.

Mercedes Helnwein: East of Eden

2009-07-29T17:44:00.000-07:00

"With her new exhibition, Mercedes Helnwein lets loose again the strange and addictive world that inhabits her drawing table..." Thus begins the press release written by actor and art collector Jason Lee. To read the full press release go here. I've posted about Mercedes many times in the past, she is a known favorite of mine for her Alice in Wonderland-like cinematic drawings. Now you will have a chance to see her work at her upcoming show, titled East of Eden at the Merry Karnowsky Gallery on LaBrea Ave, opening reception Saturday Novemver 21, 8-11pm. While you are waiting watch this lovely movie chronicling the birth of one of her pieces.

Fashion fix today...

2009-07-17T10:30:00.000-07:00

First looks at "September Issue," the documentary about Vogue editor Anna Wintour. I worked in the editorial business for a couple of years, and I remember just how grueling the deadlines were. A production every month! And the magazine had to get out! So I'm eager to see how she is presented here. I have felt for years now that Vogue has gotten rather stale as a result of one singlemost powerful tyrant ruling the industry, so I want to see how this documentary is going to pan out. Plus I believe it touches on the debate over photo retouching...which obviously brings up the bigger question of how these little decisions have a greater impact on women and society when it comes to consumerism and body consciousness.

Another fashionista I always had a girlcrush on was Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. Today is the TEN year anniversary of the plane crash if you can believe it. I have often frequented the internet to find a compilation of photographs of her style with little luck. Huff. Post today has a nice sampling. The thing I love the most about her is that she never tried too hard, even with all the attention focused on her. She always wore the clothes and not the other way around. And I still just love her nose, and wish Hollywood was more reflective of that kind of a quirky glamourous look.