art — Painfully Hip

Category Archives: art

check me out: Schizo night on J St.

May 7, 2008 – 10:15 pm

Here it is, hands down our most colorful post to date…

I got to do another fashion show for a neon-themed party at Momo Lounge on Thursday night. The clothes were provided by a rad vintage shop called Bows & Arrows (L &17th) and included the most kitsch late 80’s / early 90’s flourescent confections I’d ever laid eyes on. The outfits were styled by the Trisha Rhomberg- designer of local reconstructed vintage line, the amazing Pretty Trashy (15% discount with code PAINFULLYHIP). Our hair and makeup was donated by GS Hair and was inspired by early 90’s rave. We looked a bit crazygonuts and the blacklights made us all glowy.

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final walk

Afterwards, the ferocious HOTTUB brought things to a nice rolling boil:
hottub

chain gang

photo credits: Nick Avey

However, I missed them this time because I had tickets to see one of my favorite folk rock bands, Vetiver, right downstairs from the party- where things were rather sedate but also equally mesmerizing albeit in a much more subtle, close your eyes and soak up the ridiculous acoustics kinda way. So even though there were all of 40 people in attendance, the stunning melodies were not wasted on us. Wow, what a show…

harlows

Which made for an incredibly schizophrenic night all in all, but at least I got to show Andy Cabic (um, starstruck! that VOICE) what a crazy person looks like!

… And then proceed to go back upstairs to dance my face off… or try to anyway; I think turpentine finally did the trick with all that makeup.

Attention! Attention! Sacramentonians:

Andy Cunningham has a gallery opening this Second Saturday at the Inferno Gallery at 1109 22nd Street. Much of his work reminds us of a gigantic, colorful, and chaotic system, perhaps the one we might happen to live in. And as we drunkenly dance the night away, and marvel at the jumble of our own universes, we are constantly enthralled by his work. Do yourself a favor and check it out this Second Saturday.

*We have reason to believe that this blog is represented by the teal rectangular prism left-center*

By amber | Also posted in check me out, everyday is halloween, fashion, painfully scene | Comments (10)

keep it green, Local Scene

April 11, 2008 – 1:16 pm

Hey Sacramentans,
Make sure you get outside (say what y’all want about Sacramento, but nothin’ beats our spring weather) tomorrow night for the Green Second Saturday Art Walk in stunning midtown (I’m not sure what they mean by “green,” I have a sneaking suspicion its just an excuse to party on Earth Day, what with the obviously unrecyclable glossy postcards that seem to be advertising it everywhere).

Considering all the pent-up winter blues everyone seems to be just starting to shake, I’m pretty sure its going to go completely unhinged! Besides an endless amount of parties being thrown, there’ll be “green-themed” local artist exhibits all over town and a “green” fashion show at Bows & Arrows including reinvented, screenprinted vintage couture by Trisha of Pretty Trashy, who sells her creations all over the planet and just launched her wicked online boutique!

If you find yourself there, scope me out walking in the show! I love to meet you guys…

UPDATE:
I don’t yet have a head to toe shot (GORGEOUS VINTAGE BOOTS), but here’s the one photo captured of me walking in the show (credit)…

…AND my eyes are closed. Awesome.

By amber | Also posted in diy, fashion, painfully indie, painfully personal | Comments (1)

Let me tell you ’bout the birds and the bees.

December 20, 2007 – 12:20 pm

I suppose this new-ish fashion obsession began quite some time ago. When I was formulating this current blog in my mind, I remembered an old blog entry: Tuesday May 30, 2006. And one [reason] why I am glad I came back. “Anglo Mania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion.” At the MET. Yesterday. The Stephen Jones Raven Headdress was debilitating.

I had just returned from studying in Italy and was none too happy about it. After traveling to New York to visit some friends, my spirits had been lifted. Perhaps it is within this euphoric fashion rush that my current fascination first took unconcious root. I am sure that many of you have seen the stunning images from the Alexander McQueen s/s 08 collection. Here are just a few that best display the fashion topic at hand:

Feathers in general are HUGE this spring, but Philip Treacy and Alexander McQueen created the most elaborate themed accessories, bar none. From steel headdresses with giant dragonflies to swarms of butterflies to feathered faces to flock-like dresses, they did it all. And if there is one thing I adore most, it’s fashion at it’s most artistically forward. Nevertheless, aesthetics must still have function in fashion for the average wearer. And just as quickly as I was pondering about the flora and fauna’s wearablility, one of the most trend-setting Swedish bloggers on the Internet re-interpreted these Isabella Blow-worthy pieces into something much more delicate and everyday. Amanda of The Moderniteter:

Now, since I cannot read Swedish, I cannot be completely sure of what material these particular butterflies are made. I do know that while thrifting the other day I stumbled across a bag of old florist butterflies. Which are made out of feathers! (And I paid only a quarter a piece!) Once home, I wired them to a small barrette with rose buds (also purchased at a thrift store) and voila! - killed two birds with one stone. Metaphorically speaking, of course.

By sarah | Also posted in beauty, fashion, shopping, trend alert | Comments (2)

Parfait, my new favorite ‘zine

December 19, 2007 – 6:32 pm

Emily K. Larned of Red Charming recently sent me a copy of her awesome ‘zine, Parfait, “…in which your discerning editor turns her sartorial eye to antiquated books seeking fashion inspiration for all.”
Pretty much like Painfully Hip’s thrift stars, but with vintage photographs …and good writing.

Obviously right up my alley- I absolutely loved it. It came beautifully hand-bound and packaged and was entertaining as f#$%. Here’s an excerpt (and a regretfully bad scan):

ALL WHITE ALL THE TIME
It is 1965 and dude is on a skateboard vying for our attention, but who are we really looking at? That’s right, dude all the way back all in white. We’re looking at you. We like your look. Note how he does not ruin his all-white awesomeness by not wearing white shoes. He’s on it. None of his friends are as stylin’ but he doesn’t care. He doesn’t judge.

I’d recommend sending a copy to your fashion-obsessed penpals in lieu of a lameass christmas card. seriously, they’re only $6!

She also sent a beautiful hardcover book she wrote packed with titillating photography called Thrift Store, The Past & Future Secret Lives of Things, another perfect gift for the insatiable thrifters in your life.

By amber | Also posted in fashion, folk style, i totally recommend, men's fashion | Comments (1)

Painfully Beautiful: the Artwork of Raquel Aparicio

December 16, 2007 – 8:52 pm

oh delight. a friend pointed me toward these illustrations by Raquel Aparicio of Ávila, Spain. I know that this breed of “creepy pretty” art is sorta huge these days, but this girl does it right with a lovely sense of vague foreboding.

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By amber | Comments (6)

For your Viewing Pleasure: Haunting Art-Style from Marci Washington

November 25, 2007 – 8:21 am

I LOVE these images from Oakland artist Marci Washington (from Fecal Face). The tapestries are hand painted and the dresses are lovely. Forgive me, Marci, but when I first saw these I got that same innocent chill that I felt as an 8 year old watching Scooby Doo. It’s that creepiness and minimalism. But there is no parallel in their faces. I LOVE how she does the teeth and eyes. I want to hire her to design my wallpaper and chandeliers and then create a white gauzy dress for me to float around my house in.