FASHION AS ART The Cleveland Museum of Art's new exhibition explores the intersection of fashion, art and identity.

GLAMOUR GRIT &

45

SUMMER SCENTS

46

FOR THE LOVE OF CROCHET

47

IMAGE COURTESY OF APERTURE, NEW YORK EX H I B I T ION

FASHION AS ART

VINTAGE DECOR

FASHION ABOUNDS IN CLEVELAND, if you know where to look. You can discover it in various crevices — from inside a designer boutique in Chagrin Falls to amongst the racks of a vintage store in Lakewood. One place it’s about to start emerging even more is at The Cleveland Museum of Art. Darnell-Jamal Lisby, the museum’s new assistant curator, is going to be leading the charge. His role, above all, is to show how fashion can be appreciated and dissected as art. “I think that most people kind of separate the two as individual mediums,” says Lisby. “But I think that a lot of aspects of fashion are considered artistic and art.” The New Black Vanguard: Photography Between Art and Fashion, which opens on May 8 and runs through Sept. 11, is just the first of many fashion exhibitions to open a whole new world of art.

Fashion and art intersect at many different junctions, including these colorful hair barrettes.

Just like a painting, fashion can communicate a larger message. For The New Black Vanguard exhibit at The Cleveland Museum of Art, it’s about relaying the Black experience. The exhibit, which was originally curated by Antwaun Sargent, features notable photographers and artists, such as Tyler Mitchell and Awol Erizku, who have had their work featured in Vogue, The New York Times and beyond.

And it’s not just about the fashion, but also how these photographers fought to have their art seen.

“These young Black artists,” says Lisby, “have been able to navigate and get around all of these large hurdles in order for their work to be shown across the world and admired and appreciated and celebrated by everyone, not just within the Black community.”

In addition, the exhibit showcases a series of stylists and their contribution to fashion photography, proving that a beautiful fashion shoot comes together through a series of artistic eyes and creative decisions and that, often, the way pieces of clothing are arranged speaks to themes of identity and race.

“We’re challenging the idea that blackness is homogenous,” says Lisby. “That’s a common trope, this idea that blackness is monolithic, and Black people are monolithic. We all come from very different experiences, different lifestyles, like any other culture and community.”

A piece of clothing may send one message to one culture, but it can send a completely different narrative to another. Arielle Bobb-Willis will be showcasing a styled outfit, for example, that celebrates joy and playfulness, while the works of Daniel Obasi will be communicating the experience of being queer in Nigeria.

“It’s about the arrangement of style,” says Lisby, “and how it’s reflecting their experience, the stylist’s experience, as well as the photographer and sometimes the model as well.”

BOUTIQUES

SCENTS FOR THE SUN

When the weather heats up, it’s time to lighten up. Humid air increases the moisture in your skin, which magnifies fragrances, explains Ann Bouterse, owner of Indigo Perfumery in Lakewood. Instead, choose a lighter scent that awakens the senses without overpowering them. – AUDRI WILDE

Sweet Fruits From sitting poolside with a mango margarita to picking up peaches at a farmers market, fresh fruits are a summertime staple. Sunset Hour by Goldfield & Banks ($185) opens with sweet blasts of pear, mandarin and tart desert peach tamed with ginger and pink pepper. Cyan Nori by Abel ($150) boasts a sea spray scent, hints of tangerine and white peach. Fresh Florals Transport yourself to the tulip fields with Fox in the Flowerbed by Imaginary Authors ($95), a dreamy combination of jasmine and tulip with whispers of wildflower honey and a sprinkle of frankincense. “I think it’s not so florally that a guy couldn’t wear it,” says Bouterse, noting the depth that the frankincense adds to the scent. Tranquil Musks Musky scents calm the senses, offering rest after a long summer’s day. Studied by Liis Fragrance ($165) uses ambrette seed and pear to create a subtle yet intoxicating scent. Telegrama, also by Imaginary Authors, ($95) leans into the clean feel of musk, while adding a touch of lavender for that fresh-laundryon-the-clothesline smell.

Exceptional Dentistry for Exceptional People

Awarded Top Dentist

Year After Year Since 2007!

440.933.2549

33399 Walker Rd., Suite D Avon Lake, OH www.avonlakedental.com

At John Pyke Dentistry,

You and Your Family Can Expect:The Best Dental Care on Cleveland’s West Side An Experienced Team Dedicated to Your Oral Health and Overall Comfort A State-of-the-Art Dental Office A Full Array of Dental Services to Help You Maintain Healthy Teeth and a Healthy Body