The Art Of - Fall Issue 2016 by Isabella Garrucho Fine Art

CONTENTS

table of contents 3

Isabella Garrucho A biography of Isabella Garrucho of Isabella Garrucho Fine Art.

Michelle Sakhai

Interior Design

Carmiña Roth on her approach to the designer-client relationship. Geoffrey Walsky shares expertise on the style of Mid-century modern.

“I believe everything is energy.” A story of healing and a transformative art experience.

Kristin Chenoweth A Broadway actress, singer and old soul. Kristin Chenoweth on her new album “The Art of Elegance”, released September rd 23 . Cover Photo Credit: Gian Di Stefano

Manzur Kargar

Culture

Exploring hubs of art and cultural. An interview with Laura Schroeder from Cultural Pursuit.

D av i d Ya r ro w

A Berlin-based artist’s path from Greek antiquity to a modern, glossy image.

Presented by Aston Art Associates, a wildlife photographer and Nikon ambassador captures unreal close-ups.

Fo o d

Living

What wine will you pair with your Thanksgiving dinner? Horseneck Wine and Liquors lends some suggestions.

Hästens on the art of a perfect night’s sleep. LEICHT on finding your fit in a kitchen drawer.

CONTENTS

A l b e r t L l o b e t Po r t e l Bringing the people to the piece. A Barcelona-based artist is full of culture and creativity.

Re a l E s t at e

Chilton & Chadwick at your service. How else can your agent help you?

Fitness

Your soul needs strengthening too. An interview with fitness trend, SoulCycle.

our vision

There is an art to every facet of our everyday lives. From the perfect cup of coffee to the design of your home, there is a creation process in everything we do. The Art Of hopes to connect readers with local businesses, highlighting their expertise in their individual field. Their educational contributions will hopefully enrich your life a bit. The magazine will also feature our artists, sharing their visions and stories that add meaning and integrity to their work. Thank you for being a part of our vision.

Alex E. Trimper

Editor-in-Chief Managing Director of Isabella Garrucho Fine Art

Isabella Garrucho:

President and Founder of Isabella Garrucho Fine Art By GG Isabella Garrucho has been a valuable member of the art industry for more than 30 years. Born in Cadiz, Spain, she studied art history at the Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro and was the founder and president of the successful international art consulting company “Isabella Garrucho Fine Art”, (formerly Art Services International) Isabella has been connecting her clients to the pulse of the art market since 1988. She is best known for her artistic sensibility and her close attention to detail in making selections for client’s collections. From Modern Masters, contemporary art, to emerging artists, Isabella invests an equal amount of time and caliber of interest in her assessment and approach, consistently demonstrating her ability to predict future art trends and therefore maximizing her client’s returns on their investments. Isabella a great believer of art as a means of cultural exchange, and has worked closely with, and received public recognition from Asian ministries of culture for her work on numerous art exchange programs. Isabella Garrucho Fine Art was founded in 2006, in Westport, CT.

In December of 2015, the gallery

proudly expanded as one of the largest showrooms of contemporary art in Greenwich CT. to its new location at 40 West Putnam Ave.

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The Art Of (TAO): How do you see that the art world has changed?

Isabella Garrucho (IG): The primary change that I see in the art world today is in the way that art is perceived by collectors; it’s seen more as a commodity, like the stock market, and less as an extraordinary human creation. My first experiences collecting art were always based on impulse, I remember looking at a beautiful Motherwell print from the Spanish Elegy series; I was completely inspired and blown away by its simplicity and beauty, I never thought of it as an investment. Today, much of the art that is purchased is based on the investment value of the work rather than its artistic integrity and beauty . Collectors have turned themselves into investors. They have a great deal of appreciation for the master works, but the bottom line lies in the financial returns.

TAO: What is particularly inspiring to you about an artist or their work?

IG: Inspiration comes when I look at a piece of art for the first time and it makes me do a double take, it takes my breath away. 20 years can go by and the artwork still have the same impact as the first time I looked at it. It’s all about the emotions we feel at that first glance.

TAO: How have you combined art and business?

IG: When you go into a corporation, and there is a whole building to assemble an art collection, it becomes a business. Over the span of my career I have assembled hundreds of collections for my corporate clients. Always taking into consideration that employees largely spend more time at work and their offices than they do at home, my first instinct has always been to consider the impact that the selection of art would have on their daily lives. The budgets given for the project, were not always sufficient to provide them with masterpieces, none the less I always ensured that the work placed would retain its value in time.

TAO: How can the everyday person find art for their everyday lives?

IG: First time collectors can find art by knowing what makes them happy. The same principal applies ; A piece of art that takes their breath away, or simply makes them feel something by looking at it, choosing art based on what they like,, regardless of the cost, this is the formula for providing a lifetime of enjoyment as well as a good return on their investment.

TAO: Tell me about your travels.

IG: I’ve traveled all over the world since I was a child, really. What stood out the most and actually astonished me was the realization of how similar we all are, and it was through art that I understood this. Art is in a different dimension. I think our minds just somehow connect unconsciously through it. Regardless of origins or techniques, what artists were saying has a binding thread of universality to it. The first time I went to Taiwan, I was amazed to see the similarities their contemporary art had with our Native American Art, and in all my travels, I found those types of similarities repeated all over and over.

TAO: What would you consider to be the art hub of the world?

IG: For many years the hub of the art world was Paris, but after the end of World War II, it became New York City, still mostly concentrated there today. In general, the United States as a whole anchors a strong place in the art world. In the last 75 years, we have experienced more contemporary art movements coming out of the United States than other place in the world. and American artists also making more noise at auctions. Artists such as Cindy Sherman , Jeff Koon’s, Christopher Wool, Jasper Johns, Ed Ruscha and Richard Prince are a few examples of living American artist that are setting records at auction.

TAO: What is your hope for the future of Isabella Garrucho Fine Art?

IG: First I have to reflect on the amazing and wonderful experience that art as a business has provided me with. I am so grateful for it. I love the art world; everything about it; my artists, the excitement at the auctions , the great feeling each time a client purchase a piece, being a part of bringing happiness into people’s daily lives, so much really. I am also very grateful and proud that my son Alex made the decision to join the family business, bringing with him a bright new world of information, technology and 21st century changes that are taking place in the art world. My hope is for us to continue to be a source of guidance as well as a catalyst for first time and seasoned collectors, to institutions and corporations, as well as for the artists that we represent, collaborating in the evolution and freedom of their entire process. Bringing great art and great people together, it’s what we do best.

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MICHELLE SAKHAI Painting in the Present By Michelle Sakhai

Michelle Sakhai is on a journey of healing and transformation. Her soulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s evolution is reflected in her artistic evolution. Her abstract paintings feature specks of gold and silver leaf and a calming sense of artistic flow. Michelle believes that art is a force of healing. Photo Credit: Alan Barnett

ART Sakhai reflected on the foundation of her work, where it all began. Michelle started as a plein air painter, setting up an easel in front of a landscape and painting it just as she saw it; a form of art much different from the nonobjective pieces she creates today. “I really wanted to get an art education abroad; especially with plein air painting, the light and landscape are crucial. It was amazing to me, to discover that when I went to France and painted there, and then looked at the paintings of Monet and Pissarro, I could see that the light was truly that way.” She studied art in Italy, south of France, Normandy, and Barcelona. Her world travels started at age two, with family trips to Japan in the summer. Sakhai’s mother is Japanese, and her father is Persian. Growing up, Michelle and her brother would

Elevate, Oil and Metals on Canvas, 12”X12”

visit their grandparent’s hometown in Japan. Kashiwazaki is a tiny beach village with vast mountains along the Black Sea. The family would spend their summers sailing, going to Japanese school and soaking up the Japanese culture. “I have beautiful memories of Japan...The local town bell rings each day and everyone goes home to have supper. It is a charming village where everybody knows everybody.” Sakhai is quick to say that her mixed heritage and her world travels have expanded her creative vision, as well as awakened her soul. “It was important for our parents to show me and my brother the world and expose us to other cultures. I am grateful for those unique opportunities.” Michelle has visited twenty-eight countries. A sampling of her world travels includes Israel, Peru, Australia, Thailand, Canada and Denmark. Her most current adventure was July of this year sailing along the Mediterranean Sea. Michelle’s rich background continues to feed her soul and nurture her as an artist: “I never thought I would be an abstract artist. Once I started learning about spirituality and healing, my art dramatically shifted and I began being guided from within. The muse became internal and I started working from the inside-out.” She works with oil paints and adds silver, copper, and gold leafing in a majority of her paintings. The paintings range in size from one to ten feet. Photo Credit: Alan Barnett

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Sakhai’s consistency with her chosen materials and her brush strokes define her style and make her art recognizable. Viewing her work promotes peace and self-reflection. Her style is solid, yet always evolving. “I am evolving and so my art evolves as well. My art reflects and communicates my soul’s evolution.” Michelle doesn’t plan each painting. She focuses on where she is emotionally and spiritually in the moment and allows her

Photo Credit: Alan Barnett

inner life guide her work. “Emotional Transformation and spiritual expansion are the gifts the artist stands to receive from the process of painting. When I begin a painting, I just let whatever is coming through me guide me to the next mark. It’s very fluid. One stroke leads to the next, and then I decide what colors to use, what to layer. The whole thing just flows.” “I become the observer of myself. I’ve discovered while painting, that I am more consciously connected to my emotions. I paint with intent and watch the flow of emotions within me and coming through me and on to the canvas. I believe that art is a way of channeling peace and healing.” “I believe and trust in the energy of the creative spirit as a healing force on the earth. My mission is to convey the message of healing through my art, my speaking engagements, and the teaching of Transformative Art.” “When teaching I may begin by sharing bits of my life; something personal. My hope is to guide others to open up within themselves, if they are ready. I keep in mind that spiritual work is individual. One has to choose to heal and awaken. Yet there is nothing to fear. It’s very liberating when you start practicing new concepts because you start owning everything in your life and consciously living in your authentic power.” Sakhai is a certified Reiki Master. She is also a certified Primordial Sound Meditation Instructor through the Chopra Center. “I believe everything is energy.” Sakhai has created her own signature by unifying her art and her spiritual path. Others have been touched by what she has learned and shared. “Once I started to go deeper into spirituality and healing, that is when my art transformed. It was a transformation of me and in turn, my art. It happened simultaneously. I’m touched and feel grateful when people say that they feel peaceful when looking at my paintings. Art is a way of channeling peace... Art awakens my soul and allows my soul to speak.” n

“I believe everything is energy.”

October 18th - Closing Show VIP Only. Please contact us at info@igifa.com for details.

the art of elegance

Kristin Chenoweth

By Marisa Casciano

A Broadway star, television actress and experienced singer standing at 4 feet and 11 inches tall, Kristin Chenoweth is capturing her voice with the classics in her new album â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Art Of Eleganceâ&#x20AC;?, released September 23rd. The album is a 13-song set, produced by Steve Tyrell, a well-known producer and vocalist. The cover filled by purple and pink florals and a soft image of Kristin feels timeless like the featured hits by Gershwin and Chaplin. The Art Of got the chance to talk a bit with Chenoweth about how a little girl from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma discovered elegance and the experience of creating an album at this point in her career.

Photo Credit: Gian Di Stefano

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The Art Of (TAO): Tell me a little about the path to creating “The Art of Elegance”. Kristin Chenoweth (KC): I wanted a record of music that harkened back to a more innocent time, where Rodgers and Hart hung out writing about love or lost love. A true melody sticks with you, therefore making it a classic. It stands the test of time. In my opinion, all the songs on my album stand the test of time. Some aren’t done as often as others, like “Skylark” or “I Get Along Without You Very Well”. I want, and hope, to introduce these songs to my younger fans, and inspire them to find out about the composers, or why a song was written; maybe inspire them to sing!

TAO: How did you come up with the title? KC: I was sitting at lunch with my executive producer and manager and we kept going back to the word elegant. I said, “But there is an art to that… it doesn’t just happen. Or maybe it does. Some people are just born elegant. Some people sing that way.” Thus the idea was born.

TAO: What influenced you to create this album? How would you describe this point in your career?

Chenoweth

dazzles

KC: I have always been an old soul and I’ve in silver at the 2015 been singing these songs at the same time Tony Awards. Madonna hit (whom I also love)! Singers like Judy Garland and Liza and Barbra and Julie… those were huge influences on me, musically. The songs were intentionally put in lower keys because there is a sound that is a little deeper coming from me now. I guess because I’ve lived some. I have always enjoyed soprano. Now though, I’m finding a lower sound and I’m welcoming it. I’m singing songs I understand; being heartbroken, or doing the heartbreaking. It’s never easy.

TAO: Has singing always been an important art form in your life and career? KC: Singing is like air. I must do it to live. I’ve so many times wondered what I would do if I couldn’t sing. I thank the good Lord for letting me continue this journey as a singer. See, I’m still a student. I’m still learning. I’m forever learning about the voice and music. I still have my voice teacher and I go through ups and downs and I’m never happy but I’m always happy. Make sense?

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Kristin in the middle of a musical number as Glinda in Wicked.

TAO: You have played many diverse characters between starring in “Pushing Daisies”, completing voiceovers for movies like “Rio 2”, guest appearing in “Glee”, and of course Broadway roles for Wicked and many other shows. What have been your most meaningful roles?

KC: For sure on television, it was Olive on Pushing Daisies. She was a lovable dork. An every-woman. As far as stage it’s a three-way tie; Lily in On the Twentieth Century. She was a full-time diva with great songs, and the physical comedy was a treasure for me…my dream role. Of course, Cunegonde in Candide is up there. I love Leonard Bernstein and that role requires vocal gymnastics with a sense of innocence, then of course, evolution. In The Apple Tree, the leading lady plays four roles. This was the most intense; it was a challenge to do eight times a week. It was written by the great Bock and Harnick. I knew they were proud of me. Chenoweth is also very well known for her role as Glinda in Wicked. Tunes like “Popular” and “For Good” have become performance must-haves. She talked to the Miami Herald early this month about a series of concerts she will be performing on Broadway this fall: “ ‘I’ve discovered if I don’t sing ‘Popular’ I could be shot, especially in the South,’ she joked. ‘So I’m pretty sure that will show up.’”

TAO: Which character identity that you have portrayed impacted you the most personally? KC: It’s impossible to say. There is a little bit of me in all that I play, and a lot that’s not like me at all that I’m required to play. I tend to play characters that look refined. I’m a comedienne and I love to

Surrounded by football players on “Glee”, Kristin played the recurring role of April Rhodes.

Dressed as Maleficent.

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Kristin as Olive Snook in the television series “Pushing Daisies”.

Glinda the Good Witch is one of Kristin’s most popular roles. Her voice stunned in numbers like “Popular” and “For Good”.

Chenoweth did a voiceover for Gabi in “Rio 2”.

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TAO: How do you typically approach a character? KC: All us actors do a complete “where are they from, what would they eat, how would they dance…” and I do a lot of character study too. If I playing a five-year-old, I go to Central Park and watch kids interact. I have a tendency to live in the roles I play.

TAO: How do you hold your identity as an actress and take on the identity of these characters as well? KC: The key is to get quiet time so you can rejuvenate once you’re done with a character; or learn how to pace yourself if it’s a role you play over time on television. My biggest Achilles heel is finding time for me. Just to do whatever… be bored. I’m continually working on that.

TAO: Define elegance. KC: My mom, a good melody and lyric, a good dress, faith, lipstick, apologizing when needed, and forgiveness are required. These are the qualities I love and the life I try to live. Therefore, elegant.

TAO: What do you believe is the art of elegance? KC: I believe it is showing whatever your version of elegance is in a classy way. Mine is music, particularly music on this latest album. To be allowed to sing words by Hoagie Carmichael and Johnny Mercer and understand and mean them… that is my version.

A sense of elegance.

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“My mom, a good melody and lyric, a good dress, faith, lipstick, apologizing when needed, and forgiveness are required.”

TAO: Why do you value elegance? KC: I think that in today’s times, young people look for the shock value, or the “fifteen minutes of fame”, or not having to work to have fame. But rather, they look to be famous for absolutely nothing. It is actually valued to be famous for nothing. I value those who work for their life and want to evolve, learn, and grow. I see value in education to make us the best possible people we can be.

TAO: How have you experienced elegance?

KC: I have admired performers like Julie Andrews who was given a God-given talent and used it well. Carol Burnett, who was always funny and never mean at the expense of anyone else. That, to me, is true elegance.

TAO: Tell me about Oklahoma and growing up there. What’s it like? Paint a picture. KC: Oklahoma is flat and has red dirt. There is a church or a Sonic on every corner. There are very few foreign cars on the streets, and most streets are named after someone who started the town. What is best about Oklahoma, are the people. I’m obviously a proud Oklahoman. We are, however, getting more Starbucks, which I like—haha!

TAO: How did growing up in Oklahoma influence the roles you play and this album? KC: I never saw myself doing anything other than music and theater. It simply never occurred to me to do anything else. I guess that’s when you know you’re supposed to do it. When you can’t see yourself doing anything else. I take on every role very seriously. I try to remember there are no rules and to just have fun. Again, what drives me is being true to a character and to be in the moment. That’s the most fun about being an actor. You take on different people who aren’t you. Sometimes it even helps open yourself up to new ways of thinking, or look at things a completely different way, or understand or try to understand why someone would do a particular thing.

TAO: How do you see an art in your everyday life? KC: I must be honest here. I didn’t get the gene of decorating or wanting to make a great meal. I know I have a kitchen but thank God I have a phone to order in food. As long as I have a piano and a good mattress and a bathtub, I’m happy. I’d rather walk down the streets of New York City and be inspired. Or go to see a play, or opera. I love to people-watch too. I love walking in churches I’ve never been to pray. I like doing random unplanned things, because a lot of my life feels planned or scheduled. So when I can, I walk. It’s the same thing in every town I’m in. It’s fun and you never know what you’ll discover or learn. n

The little girl from Ohio has grown up.

the ARTof

...

Mid-century Modern: Why itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s So En Vogue With Iconic Modern Home By Geoffrey Walsky

INTERIOR DESIGN Mid-century modern is a term that describes the significant modern design movement of the middle 20th century (mostly 1950s and 1960s). The term made famous in the United States as a reflection to International and Bauhaus movements has become more widely known for the modern furnishings, and architecture with simple forms, clean lines, and a more utilitarian use of space and materials. While the recent speculations in the design business are that Traditional is coming back and Mid-century is on its way out, some factors need to be taken into consideration before tossing the teak and rosewood for mahogany and English pine.

1. Accessing Information I know when I was a child being dragged by the arm into antique shop after antique shop by my French mother, the price was set by shop owners. Many were 2nd or 3rd generation family businesses, run in small local shops. While there was certainly room for haggling, if your local “antique man” told you the French armoire you needed to hide the hideous television in your living room was up to $30,000, that was the price and therefore the value of such an item. Nowadays, aside from the fact that no one needs armoires to hide flat screen TVs, buyers can pull out smart phones and compare values from a myriad of online retail and second hand outlets. Some of these outlets are FirstDibs, Chairish, Highboy, Etsy, Ebay and Craiglist.

2. Determining Value The armoire example is a perfect illustration of another great factor—determining the value. Aside from armoires used to hide bulky TV or linens, bureaus were used to store clothing, buffets used for china and silverware. Modern design has outfitted new homes with built-in everything. Storage pieces are less needed. Even kitchen cabinets are appearing from behind hidden walls as if from nowhere. People also want modern convenience; they don’t use fine china because it can’t go in the dishwasher. They won’t use silverware because they don’t want to polish it. People want to live simpler, more comfortable lifestyles that modern design brings them.

INTERIOR DESIGN

3. Knowing the Community The selling community has also drastically changed. Antique dealers are no longer just multi-generational families importing items from overseas, but rather are frequently young treasure hunters, rehabbers, and hipsters with the style and means to go from estate sale to estate sale, and flea market to flea market in search of the hottest forms, as well as the tech knowhow to bring their products to the online market place. So when I am asked why I deal almost exclusively in Midcentury modern pieces, I use the analogy that I trade furniture the same way one would trade a stock. Mid Century pieces were mostly designed by iconic names, and sold through well-known companies. Take for example one of the most popular and well know mid-century pieces of all time: the Eames Lounge. The Eames Lounge made famous by iconic designers Charles and Ray Eames is notorious for pioneering its use of bent wood as an outer shell, and pairing it with the comfort of plush leather and stuffing. Pair that with the ability to rock back and swivel. What more can you ask for? I know exactly what an Eames lounge will sell for in just about any environment, whether it be auction, retail, new online, wholesale, or from an estate sale. Some people may charge a premium because of their store or business name, but generally they are within a few dollars of each other. So when I find one for less, I know there is a buying opportunity. The same is true for countless designer pieces. They have a maker and designer and their values can be associated with both. I am comfortable saying modern is going to continue to drive the vintage market. I cannot promise it will continue to be mid-century. We have seen popularity in 1970s designs. Piggybacking the clean lines and simple forms of the prior two decades; the 1970s added a little more â&#x20AC;&#x153;glamâ&#x20AC;? with shiny finishes, polished surfaces, high gloss, and a bit more shag. Hopefully we are not moving in succession, because I do not know why anyone would want to revisit the styles of the 1980s. Full of asymmetric angles, materials made in test tubes as opposed to found in nature, and colors so bright you have to wear sunglasses to look at them, leave the nylon jump suite in the closet. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll take my Eames Lounge any day. n

the ARTof

INTERIOR DESIGN

... Design: Two Approaches to Working with a New Client

By CarmiÃ±a Roth

Photo Credit: Tria Giovan

INTERIOR DESIGN I know from personal experience that finding and working with an interior designer can seem mysterious and intimidating. During my previous career in finance, I was too busy working and travelling to create the kind of home I envisioned. I also failed in finding a designer I could trust with a major asset, who possessed expertise based on both education and experience, and who could mix my existing possessions with new ones in a way that reflected my own design sensibilities. I also wanted the designer to stretch me to consider concepts I might not have thought of on my own, all while taking into account my architectural and financial constraints. I was frustrated by consultations with designers who wanted me to store all of my existing possessions if they weren’t consistent with their “trademark look” and vowed to take a different approach when I launched my own firm a decade later. I’ve now come to realize that these challenges were the key to developing my own aesthetic style, which I dub “the mix.”

18 Photo Credit: Tria Giovan

INTERIOR DESIGN

Photo Credit: Tria Giovan

New clients generally fall into two categories: clients relocating or downsizing with collections of furniture, art or possessions that need to be edited, curated and repurposed to suit a new home and those designing a home from scratch. A thoughtful, suitable mix of styles can yield equally rewarding results in both cases. As a new design firm, we were privileged to work on a magnificent project: a client seeking to turn a formal, historically significant house into a family friendly weekend retreat. As a starting point, we filtered through their stored inventory of furniture and art. By studying their previous purchases, threads became clear: their love of 1940’s French furniture, iconic modern and midcentury design, and an art collection that spanned from the Impressionists to the present. We then sought to integrate the home and the family’s past with their present needs by focusing on creating the ideal backdrop for existing possessions. For example, the library was inspired by the owner’s collection of Robert Polidori photographs and a pair of cobalt blue sconces bought during a trip to Paris. We refinished the knotty pine woodwork with a dark walnut stain and upholstered the walls and a new sofa in blue silk velvet. Our guiding principle for the opposite side of the house, where their children spend most of their time, was to keep it modern and fun. Arne Jacobsen’s iconic Egg Chair flanks the family room fireplace, and a sectional sofa covered in white indoor/outdoor fabric provides a neutral setting for colorful art and accessories. Through a chain of referrals originating with this project, we were hired by a Tribeca couple with three young children to design a newly built home in Amagansett. Unlike the first project, we were starting with a clean slate, a firm budget and the goal of moving in for summer, only a few months away.

INTERIOR DESIGN We took our cues from the home’s architecture, which incorporates both traditional and contemporary elements, and the owners’ stated preference for neutral colors and natural materials. We mixed modern pieces, many from readily available sources such as Design Within Reach, with custom and organic pieces to create a living room that is suitable for entertaining on any scale. A large canvas by artist Peter Tunney completes the room. The adjacent open kitchen and dining area is anchored by an iconic marble Saarinen oval dining table and childfriendly Panton dining chairs. A David Weeks three-tiered chandelier is suspended from the high ceilings shared with the living room. We continue to work on this project after delivering it in time for the summer season, and are helping our clients blend in their own art and accessories. In the next issue, we will address “The Art of the Mix”.... n

Photo Credit: Tria Giovan

Carmiña Roth Interiors, LLC Carmiña Roth (203) 987-5961 info@carminarothinteriors.com www.carminarothinteriors.com

Manzur Kargar

From Greek Antiquity to Glossy By Marisa Casciano

Photo Credit: Henrik Drescher

ART I remember walking the streets of Berlin last October. It was a little too cold for comfort, but we still spent hours passing by tourist stops like the Brandenburg Gate and the TV Tower. We strolled along the East Side Gallery, a collage of graffiti I was expecting to be more tall and less long. It was colorful and powerful nonetheless. We only were in Berlin for three days. One afternoon we stopped at a coffee shop. I was beyond grateful for an apple cinnamon muffin and a large mug of herbal tea. In that moment, I fell in love with Berlin. The city’s unique combination of modern and historic was inspiring to me. How could a place with such stories from World War II and the Holocaust transition into modern day neutral fashion, exciting nightlife and media hubs? It was artistic, unexpected, and it somehow made sense. I found this unexpected transition again when talking with Berlin-based artist, Manzur Kargar. Kargar’s recent pieces remind me of magazine advertisements. However, his art was originally inspired by the styles and stories of Greek antiquity. “I like the story of this guy, who was a sculptor, who built a sculpture and he fell in love with the sculpture,” said Manzur. “Or the guy who fell in love with his own reflection. The stories are always about beauty.” Manzur was born in Afghanistan. His mother was German, and his father was Afghan. While studying art, Manzur had trouble finding his identity as an artist. He did not feel like he completely belonged to the German or Afghan traditions and found comfort in Greek antiquity and its influence on a lot of European art. “They [The Greeks] explain the first time they had an idea of beauty. They invented a formula for the human body which should be beautiful.” Most art students can attest to the formulas that come into drawing a human figure. The head fits in the body seven times; in a normal stance, one leg is strong and the other is soft. The form is often referred to with the Italian word “contrapposto”. It is the closest art comes to math and science. Today, we still study these formulas in hope of obtaining the perfect figure, or the ideal form of beauty.

Pills 3, Oil on Canvas, 43.3”X43.3”

Pills 4, Oil on Canvas, 43.3”X43.3”

Pills 5, Oil on Canvas, 43.3”X43.3”

“That was for me a revelation. Oh wow, these guys basically invented the idea of beauty, which still exists. No country before did that,” Manzur said. “They actually found the principle of beauty.” Manzur continued to deal with the idea of beauty in the figurative world of art and found that artists used it for different intentions. The Renaissance painter used beauty to convince the people to believe in religion. The modern world uses beauty as a marketing technique, an element of art and seduction in media and advertising.

ART “I had to find a way to the modern times. How can I transform these ideas into a modern painting? Or how can I transform my paintings into today’s world? How can I use these ideas of beauty?” Manzur asked himself, going through a sort of crisis at the end of 1999 that he could no longer paint antiquity. “How can I become a contemporary painter?” Bullets 2, Oil on Canvas, 59”X40”

Manzur found his inspiration once again in the figure. He started with just the human face, becoming more and more interested in its shape and beauty. He enjoyed that the personality behind the face wasn’t important. Often when you paint a face, people were always asking who it is. Like a red carpet event, the talk is often, “Who is she? Who is she wearing?” Going forward, he wanted to avoid these questions as he made a transition into a more modern image. He began with creating these digital collages. Nowadays, we have a world of images at our fingertips thanks to Google and advertising campaigns. We are almost bombarded with them between our iPhones, billboards and the television. Manzur began to collect these images. A purse. A pair of shoes. Models. He spends days saving them into different folders on his computer and working with them in Photoshop for his next piece. “Oh this painting could use a flower! So I open the flower folder,” Manzur guides me. “I start with some image and put them together, cut them out, or get closer or bigger or smaller.” These images are very apparent when you take in his most recent work. His huge series of close-up faces have geometric layers of butterflies and bold orange lines. They create this physical space between the viewer and the image of the face. The images somehow become an emotional and mental layer as well, as you realize it is a person you can never really reach. “There’s always a layer between you and the image.” Manzur describes them as unreachable. Like the beauty ideal created by the Greeks, we can never fully grasp what we see. He uses these layers of color and images as a way to play around in his pieces. Ending with one glossy image, which could be quickly mistaken for one of those magazine ads or a photograph if you didn’t do a double take.

ART But Manzur describes this glossiness as the true art of modern day advertising. Think of a magazine ad. It appears picture perfect on the seemingly plasticcoated paper. You are not encouraged to think much, just to be inspired enough to remember it amongst the parade of other images you come across. There is no depth or hidden meaning, just a fine layer of glossy. “It has nothing to do with Butterflies, Oil on Canvas, 59”X40” reality.” Manzur said. “Some people that deal with the human try to be natural. What I’m looking for is just the surface.” Where Manzur finds comfort in this overload of images and glossy advertisements, we have started to feel like we’re drowning. Our world is fast-paced. Technology is constantly growing and putting new ideas and images in our heads that can be hard to keep up with. We take little time to appreciate the art of an advertisement or element of pop culture. In the midst of all the consumption, we forget to absorb a piece of pop culture or find an element of inspiration before we swipe on. “There’s so much to see and so much to look at, but people can’t receive things because there’s a tsunami of images coming into your life everyday.” I liked picturing this tsunami of images. An Instagram feed or flow of Facebook notifications surrounding me, tweets ringing in my ear. It seemed pretty accurate. But how could one brave the storm so they could enjoy it? How could one find the art in it? What is the art of managing it? Manzur argued it is a matter of awareness. “It’s a matter of are you able to really look at an image. Can you really absorb something, or are you just clicking or swiping on your iPhone.” He talked of a time when he would take photographs on a digital camera of advertisements on TV. It allowed him to capture a single moment and appreciate it. “If you paint it, which takes two to three weeks, you take the time off the thing. If you paint a piece of a chocolate bar flying through the air, you put it in a different dimension.” Stop and smell the roses, right? It is the idea of slowing down time for yourself to understand the images and become a little involved in them. You don’t have to paint them or be an internationally known artist to appreciate a form of art like that. “Coming back to my beginnings, looking for where I belong, I found this in pop culture. It’s a common sense kind of thing. And everybody understands the images.” n

Manzur will have his exhibition at Isabella Garrucho Fine Art November 16 (by invitation only). Please contact us at info@igifa.com for details.

the ARTof

FOOD

... Pairing Food and Wine By Theresa Rodgers Wine and art have so much in common. With art, each individual has their own taste in sculptures or paintings. With wine we all have our own tastes but need to use our senses of our eyes, nose and palate for a full passionate wine experience. Our first sense being used is our sight. Now we look at the color of a wine, especially white wine and we make a decision if it looks like a wine that we might like to drink The second sense is our nose. Once you put the glass of wine up to your nose you will most likely then be able to choose whether you enjoy the bouquet or you would rather not want to drink it. If the nose says no most likely it will not be allowed into your mouth. Our third sense takes place within our mouth. Each area of your mouth will be picking up different flavors: sweet, salty, tannic, fruity or dry. Once you swallow the wine this is the ultimate key as to whether you will continue to drink it or move onto other wines. Coming into the fall we will all be starting to plan our Thanksgiving holiday dinner with family. Normally you would ask what wine goes with turkey. Actually, if you come right down to it, the poor turkey gets lost amongst the stuffing, potatoes, creamed onions, gravy and other wonderful accompaniments.

Photo Credit: Theresa Rodgers

FOOD When I am pairing a red wine to go with the above feast I will normally choose a full-bodied California Syrah. There are many wonderful French wines from the Rhone region that grow exceptional Syrah, but actually this is the one American holiday where many people like to stick to wines from our country. The Syrah grape does not have as many harsh skin tannins as would be in a Cabernet Sauvignon grape. Therefore this full-bodied red wine with many layers or richness can cut through all of the flavors on your Thanksgiving Day plate. The Syrah grape is used for blending into the Cabernet Sauvignon to give it a bit more spice and roundness of flavors that are most appealing. Most Syrah grapes that are produced from young vines will be all stainless steel tank fermented and Photo Credit: Theresa Rodgers then put in used oak barrel for holding until ready to be blended or bottled on it's own. Since the Syrah can certainly stand on it's own and pairs so well with food it has it certainly had its own intensity. Syrahs come in many different price points, so there will be many in your price range. Zinfandel has always been an extremely popular great variety that serves up well with the Thanksgiving day food and wine pairing. Once everyone has completed his or her meal and we have that moist delicious turkey leftover we now move to the beautiful Pinot Noir grape. The turkey sandwich with lettuce, tomato and your choice of mayonnaise screams for the Pinot noir. The Pinot Noir great variety shines with the sandwich and it is grown in many parts of California and is also very successfully in Oregon. Pinot Noir is a grape variety that has bright cherry and raspberry notes in the bouquets and on the palate. Most Pinot Noirs have a very smooth finish. If you are a lover of wines from the Burgundy region of France; by law all the towns grow Pinot Noir (ie: Gevrey Chambertin, Vosne Romanee, Chambolle Musigny). These wines will have a totally different flavor profile than the California or Oregon. Most of the French Pinot Noirs are terrain driven from thousands of years of the minerals in the different soils throughout the 25 mile region. Again there are many wonderful producers of Pinot Noir in all price points. n Theresa Rogers has been in the wine import, distribution and retail since 1978. She has been well published over the years. She constantly travels the wine regions to talk with all the small producers Photo Credit: Theresa Rodgers and finding new products. Horseneck Wines and Liquors has been in Horseneck Wine & Liquors the Greenwich community since 1934 at the same location. (203) 869-8944 Horseneck Wines and Liquors will give first time patrons a www.horseneckwineandliquors.com 10% off any purchase of wines (liquor not included), 25 East Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830 (203) 869-8944 Use the promo code: SASHA

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the ARTof

...

Pursuing Art and Culture Featuring Cultural Pursuit By Marisa Casciano

Experiencing art and culture is a very passionate moment. Some stand in front of works of Michelangelo and bask in his artistic abilities. Others feel exceptionally inspired by the flavors in a certain pasta dish, or glass of fine wine. There is just something about those moments that seem to enrich our lives.

Glasswork by David Licata

Laura Schroeder, the woman behind the business Cultural Pursuit, helps others enrich their lives. She formed the Westchester-Fairfield Arts Group in 2011, exploring hubs of cultural and art in their area together. Last summer she formed Cultural Pursuit.

The Art Of (TAO): What was the inspiration behind Cultural Pursuit? Laura Schroeder (LS): My children were getting a little older and I finally had some free time to explore new ideas. I live in a fantastic area that is full of so many arts organizations, galleries, museums, and more that I hadn’t yet visited. I started looking for a community of like-minded individuals by searching online for a multi-faceted arts group to join, but I was not able to find one between Peekskill, New York and New Haven. In 2011, I formed the Westchester-Fairfield Arts Group. I ran that group for almost four years, on a volunteer basis, and met a lot of wonderful people — many looking to explore the cultural riches of our area, just like me. I particularly liked the idea of exploring with a smaller, member-supported group, so last summer I formed Cultural Pursuit, and this spring my new website was launched, culturalpursuit.com. I wanted to offer a curated selection of activities for these dedicated arts lovers, who genuinely enjoyed the learning, the shared group experience, and the camaraderie. With their companionship and commitment, I was able to continue our journey. As a group we share the mutual understanding of the importance of the arts in our lives.

TAO: Describe a typical outing with a group. LS: Museum tours and visits are our monthly centerpiece events. A typical outing would be 6 to 10 members starting with brunch at an upscale restaurant, followed by a guided museum tour (private whenever possible), then members pair up or explore the rest of the museum on their own. We also attend musical events together, usually classical or jazz, as well as independent films and film festivals, and theatrical performances. We also enjoy other activities like polo outings, downtown outdoor concerts, private wine tastings, and wine and food festivals. As you can see, many of our members have similar interests and we genuinely enjoy each other’s company.

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TAO: How has a community formed through Cultural Pursuit? Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s this community like? LS: This is a group of kindred spirits. All very bright, lively and personable. Most members are professionals or recently retired, well-traveled, and well-educated. Some are in creative fields, many are educators or in other demanding careers, but they find time in their weekends and evenings to get together for these select cultural events. I genuinely enjoy their company, and am grateful that they find time when they can to participate and add value to our group experiences.

TAO: How do you think art and culture affects our everyday lives? LS: It only takes a few hours to visit a museum, hear a concert, see a quality film, or get lost in a good theatre production. We can use it for enrichment, for escape, for education, or a way to bond or create a bright spot in our lives with our friends, family, or on our own. And these days, museums are hubs for community activity: not just places to visit to look at art, but now cultural institutions are diversifying. For example they bring music and fine cuisine into galleries for special events, or combine a variety of experiences that make for a memorable afternoon or evening.

TAO: What makes culture like a work of art?

LS: A culture is comprised of a collection of characteristics that throughout history has come to define a group of people over a period of time. From language to cuisine, to art and architecture, traditions and beliefs, they vary from country to state, to region. Similarly, a work of art, depending on the medium, can show a great variety and range of brush strokes or musical notes, all that can work together to create a quite a masterpiece.

Left: The New York Botanical Gardens Above: The Metropolitan Museum of Art Cloisters

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TAO: At what age is it important to get involved with and knowledgeable about culture? LS: At many museums there are special programs for toddlers or babies in strollers, with their parents or caregivers. As we know, the enhancement of auditory and visual senses can start very young. As many museum educators will tell you, it is tremendously rewarding to see a child make a connection, express curiosity, learn, and simply wonder. I would urge parents to research the exhibitions before you go, and try to find something that would be most interesting for your child as well. Many museums have online resources, or you can call and ask to speak to the visitorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s services or education The Morgan Library department about programming or recommendations. They understand that children are the future of the arts, and the impact that arts education can have at an early age. It certainly did for me.

TAO: What outing really made an impression on you, or that you saw other particularly be impacted by? LS: Many have made impressions on me, and us. Here are a few examples: Listening to a classical piano concert, complete with symphony orchestra, during a heavy rainstorm under the tent at the Venetian Theater at Caramoor. Emanuel Ax was performing. It was a full house of very dedicated music lovers. The wonderful whimsical towering tree sculptures of Joseph Wheelwright at the Katonah Museum of Art that seemed so alive. It made their outdoor events that summer so much more memorable. And a favorite of many: The Frick Collection. Each time we go there, so many of us wander on our own admiring the beauty around us. I remember reading somewhere that it was notable that all paintings were peaceful â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and they are. Serene, warm, and vibrant, with a magnetic presence and surrounded by luxurious, elegant furnishings and stunning architecture. Truly a perfect place to get lost or maybe to find oneself. Sculpture at Storm King by Mark di Suvero

ART And you don’t have hop on a plane to Florence, Italy to experience some of this rich culture and art. LS: The great thing is - depending on where you live; you may not have to wander far to have that meaningful moment, great discovery, or awe-filled encounter. In many cases, it’s closer than you think: visit your local museum, concert hall, library, theatre or historic site and you will probably find something that amazes you or moves you. That’s the value of art. n

The Rockefeller Estate, Tarrytown, NY

Cultural Pursuit LLC

Laura Schroeder (914) 602-8682 info@culturalpursuit.com www.culturalpursuit.com

Photo Credit: David Yarrow

David Yarrow

Aston Art Associates Presents David Yarrow By Marisa Casciano

A Nikon ambassador with a sense of adventure, David Yarrow gets up close and personal with the world in his entrancing photography. He gives us eyes into remote cultures, or even a sense of wonder as we glance into the lives of polar bears and elephants with just a single black-and-white image. The relationship he creates between mankind and the natural world is mystifying.

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The Art Of (TAO): What is captivating about wildlife or cultured communities? Why did you choose these subjects? David Yarrow (DY): I think New York is the most fabulous place in the world. It is more fabulous than South Sudan. Watching the Giants play the Cowboys is more interesting than watching three monkeys climb a tree in Kenya or watching an Inuit go shopping in Greenland. It is not perhaps the subject that is so fascinating; it is the lack of coverage of the subject that is instructive and directing. This is where the delta of my art lays - the hunt for fresh detail. We are content spoilt and I could spend all summer taking pictures in New York and not get a big picture. It’s been too well covered. I was a sports photographer and know the best ones in the business - how can they get a unique shot? Damn hard. South Sudan brought me so much, largely because I was the first photographer up in the North for five years. Equally, our poor tenancy of this planet is a very live issue - poaching in Africa, reverse Arabilisation and global warming being the three most relevant. I too want to be relevant. I don’t think Gucci’s new handbag - no matter how gorgeous and “of the time” it may be, is or will be that relevant. I want to take important images that stand the test of time. My focus on the natural world suits the mood and suits my strengths - I don’t mind getting dirty and I have always loved a map - especially a global one.

Photo Credit: David Yarrow

ART I am also running a business and there are many great photographers who are poor businessmen. Some, bizarrely, actually take pride in it. So am I going to try and photograph the snow leopard in the Himalayas? No, I could spend six weeks up there and get nothing. Even if I did, snow leopards are so rare, that we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t relate to them. It is a bridge too far for an emotional connection. The giant Komodo lizards are prehistoric looking beasts, but even if I went to Komodo or Rinca in Indonesia and got the shot - a typical David Yarrow close up, who wants a giant lizard on their wall?

TAO: What sort of places do you travel to? DY: Anywhere that is too easy to get to is largely off limits as it will mean everyone can and will get there. But I do

Photo Credit: David Yarrow

balance inaccessibility and therefore the opportunity for fresh content with the need to be commercial. The cold has a visceral hold on me - places like Greenland, Iceland and Northern Canada and China have a strong draw. Africa is where I spend much of my time. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a vast continent - so making broad brushed comments is a little lazy and we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do lazy. However, the wildlife in Sub Saharan Africa remains sensational and meanwhile places like Ethiopia, Namibia and South Sudan host indigenous communities that are raw and timeless. East Africa is vast, but when I am photographing elephants, I am very specific in my working acreage. I work with the same guide in the same area twice a year. Familiarity and experience with a location are key.

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TAO: How much risk are you willing to take to obtain your shots? DY: This question could refer to a number of risks, but I assume it is referring to one of personal risk. I have two kids aged 16 and 13. They are my life and they need their Dad now and in the years’ ahead. I would be selfish and irresponsible to take big risks. I have had some moments with predators when my heart has raced at a slightly higher beat, but I have never felt in real danger. Humans are the most unpredictable mammals that I know - especially in Africa. Lions, tigers and bears are fairly easy to anticipate. I would not go to Mali now for instance, or Chad or Niger. It’s too risky.

TAO: What is “normal” for you? What grounds you? DY: It’s worth remembering that I only photograph for 70 days a year. Those days may be extreme and often far from normal, but that does leave over 286 days to be normal. I love taking my kids to football matches or the movies or simple holidays. My printers are in LA and I am there a great deal - my kids love California - it is a special place. I want my children to grow up knowing the world - not a world of Four Seasons Hotels, but the real world. Africa helps with this.

TAO: Does your work tell a story? DY: I hope so. I am a storyteller. No one is getting out of here alive - we must respect the planet we rent and animals and indigenous communities we share it with. This is a beautiful planet - let us respect it more.

TAO: What is the true art of photography?

Photo Credit: David Yarrow

DY: That’s a big essay title. In wildlife photography, I think there is too much literal work that merely documents. I have wanted to do more and bring in immersion, contextual narrative and a sense of soul. The best images can be looked at for a long time - like a Rembrandt - and I am very conscious of the bar being high to achieve this. I want my photography to be emotional and attain and retain the attention of others. I think the key is to engage your soul in every situation and try to see what is not hackneyed and what could be fresh. n

ART David Yarrow is exclusively represented here in the United States by Kimberly Aston an art representative and broker with a passion for contemporary art and photography. She works with artists to help them reach new markets with their work by partnering with galleries like Isabella Garrucho Fine Art that have a broad reach, extensive client base and a physical location from which to exhibit David’s work.

The Art Of (TAO): Why did you choose to represent David Yarrow?

Kimberly Aston (KA): I met David for the first time at a private dinner with friends while we were attending Miami Art Basel. I chose to represent him after seeing his passion, storytelling and charismatic personality. From a young age, I have gravitated toward the contemporary—in art, interiors, and fashion. I like finding beauty in unexpected places and the act of interpretation. I have a pathological fear of boredom and the contemporary always excites me. This perspective Photo Credit: Anthony Chiang keeps me seeking disruptive new and established artists. David Yarrow started his photography career in a disruptive manner and continues to be disruptive.

TAO: What do you find particularly inspiring about David Yarrow’s work? Why is it worth investing in? KA: David broke the mold of wildlife photography by elevating it to fine art. He creates iconic images of animals that are likely to be extinct in my children’s lifetime. And his mix of wildlife as his primary subject matter augmented by his indigenous communities and storytelling (which are quite edgy) is smart, as he appeals to everyone. But wildlife is his calling card and his most avid fans own wildlife pieces. His proximity to his subjects is unexpected and creates disruption. David’s work is worth the investment because of the elusive subject matter, technical quality of the work, and because he exercises strong edition control.

Photo Credit: David Yarrow

December 6th: VIP Only Viewing & Book Signing, December 7th: Public Viewing & Book Signing

the ARTof

INTERIOR DESIGN

... The Perfect Nights Sleep with Hästens

Photo Credit: Hästens

For decades, sleep has been a severely undervalued commodity. And even now, today, the pressures of society and living in general mean that quality sleep is often nothing more than a daydream. Yet the balance is swaying, as people begin to truly understand the power of sleep; a natural facet of life that we can’t simply put aside for another day—or night for that matter. The truth cannot be clearer; we need to sleep. And we need to sleep properly so our body and mind are at sharp and strong—to get the most out of life. Science shows that sleep is the world’s most powerful natural medicine. It’s not something that can be synthesized or bought over the counter. When a doctor prescribes ‘sleep’ you’ll get no prescription. The beauty of sleep is that it’s free, and we can all do it when we give our body and mind the right conditions to achieve a good night’s rest. While science wraps sleep up into jargon, we at Hästens think of it more simply. It’s a rejuvenating state where mind and body become re-optimized for a new day. It’s like a tidal system, that begins to flow as you drift off, with waves of hormones and neurons working in harmony to cleanse, repair and hone your body. Give your body and mind the time to complete a cycle and that’s it—wake up and go. Your body will be stronger, your brain will be sharper, and you’ll look all the better for it. Without having to pay a dime. But how does one master the art of sleep? Ultimately, perfecting sleep comes down to a few basic steps that if followed, will lead you to sweetest of dreams…

INTERIOR DESIGN

Step One: Choose the Right Bed

Your Bed Must Be Comfortable It’s an age-old saying; “Your bed is the single most important item of furniture in your home.” After all, you’ll spend on average about 26 years of your life in bed. So it’s got to be the right bed for you and how you sleep. You can’t (and shouldn’t) order or buy a bed without trying it properly—so we recommend all Hästens clients to try a bed for at least 60 minutes as you work towards the level of support that suits you. Imagine that the right bed will speak to you softly, and that your body will respond by entering a place where you don’t even notice you’re on it anymore. When the real world ebbs away to be replaced with comfortable bliss, you’ve found your bed.

Photo Credit: Hästens

Your Bed Must Provide You with the Right Support When discovering your new bed, it is important to look for the one that provides proper support for your body and keeps it perfectly aligned. You need a bed that really understands and responds to your body’s contours whichever position you’re in. At Hästens, all of our bed models contain two or more cooperating spring systems; soft and flexible springs at the top of the bed to provide surface softness and firmer springs below for deep support. You’ll feel how these spring systems work, to provide a sweet spot of comfort and support. A good mattress boutique should guide and help you along the way. Never feel rushed or pressured to make a fast decision and come back for a second testing if you wish.

Your Bed Should Consist of Natural Materials Choose a natural bed, a bed that breathes. In our 160 years of hand making beds we’ve tried every material out there in our search to give you a perfect sleep. We understand sleep. And we also understand why people don’t sleep. The body over-heating is one of the primary reason people wake during the night, interrupting that all-important sleep cycle. And 160 years’ experience of bed making tells us that there is nothing better to regulate your body’s climate than to sleep on pure, all-natural materials. Natural materials breathe, they let air circulate around your body, they absorb moisture (releasing it slowly afterwards) and don’t emit chemicals that your body and skin will absorb. They’re better for the environment. And, in our opinion, they just feel better next to your skin. As with everything in life, natural is best.

Step Two: Create Your Sanctuary Let Plants Purify Your Air

India has a government program to support the use of plants as air purifiers in office buildings. Reports suggest the initiative has delivered dramatic decreases in breathingrelated health disorders and significant increases in productivity.

Air Purifier

Anyone who suffers from allergies, asthma, or nasal congestion knows these conditions can be major obstacles to much-needed sleep. Installing an air purifier into your bedroom can be the best remedy. A good air purifier helps to clean the air and reduce the odds that pollutants, pollen and other airborne allergens will make their way into your lungs and nose.

Choose a Low-or No-Voc Paint

Conventional paints “off-gas” over time, which means you breathe in chemicals while you sleep. These emissions continue for approximately 18 months after painting.

Blackout Curtains

It takes less light than many people think to interrupt sleep. For many, a completely dark room can be the key to a good night’s sleep. A sleep mask can help, but blackout curtains are even more effective at eliminating light through the window (and even some

Go All Natural with Your Bedding

Airflow and breathability are key if you want to minimize the risk of waking up in a sweat during the night. Hästens advise sleeping in bedding of 100% natural materials and without anti-wrinkle coatings.

Keep Your Colors Cool

Colors affect the human body. Warm colors actually increase your heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. Neutral or cool colors are best for spots where you seek stillness, like the bedroom. Blue and even brown can be great choices. If you love yellow or red, keep it as an accent color on a pillow, a blanket or in pieces of art.

Leave out the gadgets.

Avoid Carpet If You Can

Most carpets are made out of petroleum-based synthetic nylon and polyester blends. This renders them a significant source of indoor air pollution. They can continue to emit chemical gases for as long as five years. Then, there are the inevitable dust mites that can trigger allergies and asthma. Instead, go for natural fiber rugs of wool or machine-washable cotton or a simple, bare warm wood. Photo Credit: Hästens

Dim your alarm clock or turn it away from you, leave that smartphone in another room and take a book to bed instead of Netflix. Studies show that the ‘blue light’ emitted from our tech devices in the periods before bedtime ruin an otherwise perfectly good sleep.

INTERIOR DESIGN

Step Three: Develop a Sleep Routine

Our bodies are governed by natural cycles. The one connected with sleep is called the circadian cycle and it dates back to our cave-dwelling ancestors, whose bodies reacted subconsciously to the paths of the sun and moon to let them know when to rest and when to be active. Today we’re clouded by tech and gadgetry. But that’s not to say the 24-hour circadian rhythm doesn’t still need listening to. And to help your body get the best sleep, we recommend that you lead it to bed gently rather than just hop in and hope. Start to prepare for bed half an hour before you normally go to sleep. Turn off the TV, dim the lights, wash and use soothing music to calm your body and mind as you head to bed. After a short while, your sleep routine will be a natural part of your waking day and turn your perfect, quality sleep from a daydream into a welcome reality. n

Photo Credit: Hästens

We hope that you now feel armed you with the knowledge and tools you will use to help you master the art of sleep. To continue the conversation or to let us assist you achieve your perfect night’s sleep, please visit our Hästens showroom and Sleep Spa at 21-23 East Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT. Or head to hastens.com.

Hästens Store Greenwich

(203) 629-8022 greenwich@hastensstores.com www.hastens.com

the ARTof

INTERIOR DESIGN TM

...

A Kitchen Drawer By Sheri Mercadante

Director of Marketing and Education for LEICHT A beautiful kitchen is a work of art, but a beautiful kitchen that is well planned and highly organized is truly a thing of beauty. One of the most attractive and efficient ways to fulfill this goal is to utilize lower drawers rather than traditional cupboards below the countertops. The end result is lovely, with a strong linear aesthetic and truly practical storage solutions.

Photo Credit: Leicht

INTERIOR DESIGN By eliminating traditional lower cupboards that need to be leaned into to reach items in the back, drawers bring all your stored items out of the cabinet and right to you. Experience has taught us adding lots of drawers all across your kitchen definitely requires that the quality of your cabinets be stepped up. The traditional, entry-level standard of drawer hardware is slides that are side-mounted to the drawer, usually include ball bearings, and only extend about three-quarters of the way out of the cabinet. Better quality cabinetry first addresses this last issue. Drawers should extend all the way out of the cabinet, period. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s impossible to see or reach anything in the back of the drawer if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still partially hidden inside the cabinet. Better quality cabinetry also no longer uses ball bearings or side-mounted drawer slides. Rather, they mount the slides to the underside of the drawer and employ a two-part tandem slide system. Now the slide is no longer visible and the two-part system is much smoother and quieter than ball bearings. This drawer system also comes with the added bonus of being selfclosing with just a small push. Self-closing drawer systems prevent rebound, which is when a drawer slams shut and then bounces back open a bit. Rebound also causes interior items to shift, which eventually makes drawer interiors look messy. Low voltage electricity can also be added to the system

Photo Credit: Leicht

to make the drawers self-opening for an even more luxurious experience. Now that the slides disappear underneath the drawer, the drawer itself can be made into a beautiful design. Leicht, for example, builds their drawers with full glass sides so that not only are they easy to see into even from the side, but they are also stunning to look at.

Photo Credit: Leicht

INTERIOR DESIGN

Photo Credit: Leicht

INTERIOR DESIGN

Inside the drawer is where you can create such custom storage solutions that every time you go into your kitchen you will feel so much pleasure. Drawers can be fitted with solutions for pot, pan and lid storage, dish storage in both stacked and upright positions, organized cutlery dividers, tear-off holders for foil and papers so you can throw away those unsightly broken boxes, integrated spice racks, and even integrated in-drawer knife blocks so you can get your knives off your counters and away from curious little hands. n

Photo Credit: Leicht

Leicht is Germany's #1 premium kitchen brand and the recipient of Germany's most prestigious award, The Plus X Most Innovative Brand of the Year for 2015. Leicht Greenwich is the newest Leicht showroom in the US, located at 11 East Putnam Avenue, and offers kitchen, vanity, closet, wardrobe, laundry and media center design. Mention discount code "ARTDRAWER" to receive free customized drawer interior storage solutions valued up to $1,000 with the purchase of a complete kitchen including cabinets, installation, countertops, and appliances.

Leicht Greenwich

(203) 340-9933 www.leichtwestchester.com

Albert Llobet Portel Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Happening? By Marisa Casciano

Photo Credit: Carmen Alicia

ART Going to Barcelona is being a part of a young, yet complete, culture. The energy is bubbling, constant and cool. The beaches are beautiful well into late October. The works of Picasso and the mosaics of Gaudi are sprinkled all over shopping districts, historic centers and in between magical fountains. The paella and the Mediterranean sandwiches are flavorful and a travel within itself for the tongue. The stories of the city are historic yet still being written, with tensions of people with two different flags. There isn’t a place where I have felt quite so surrounded by culture like this. One that seems to be created by such young energy; an energy captured by Barcelona artist, Albert Llobet Portell. Mixta Sobre Tela, 15.7”x15.7” Albert was born in a city just about two hours north of Barcelona. He was surrounded by art, and as a student would visit many museums. Being an artist was an easy choice. He studied art and design, in many different locations. From London to Barcelona, and the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) he was exposed to a variety of cultures and styles, but also given the chance to find his own.

“In that moment I discovered the world,” said Albert on choosing to study abroad at RISD, and come to America. RISD is one of the top art and design universities in the world. The art classes are intense but worthwhile, and being surrounded by fellow art lovers is a culture in itself. Albert had the choice to be a foreign exchange student in Germany or Norway, but America created a sense of wanderlust for him, and so he chose RISD.

Straight Line As A Visual Language Configurator II, 31.4”x31.4”

Looking Behind White Color, 31.5”x31.5”

ART “America was always like, ‘I want to be there. I want to study there,’” Albert said. “Everything is just more free.” Land of the free, home of the brave, right? Our culture comes with this openness to expression that creatives fall in love with. A world where they are free to connect with the people, create with the people, and be passionate with the people is important in the world of art. “People [Americans] are very open. They emphasize a lot. Everything is huge. Everything has to have show. Everything Photo Credit: Carmen Alicia has to have marketing on it. Every time you do something you are very passionate. I’m more comfortable there than in northern Europe.” Compared to America, Barcelona’s art industry is very different. Art is an investment, and finding a market can be hard if you are not famous. “If you buy a painting or sculpture here, you have to go a thousand times to see it. In America, things are quick. A person goes in a gallery. ‘Oh I love it. I want it.’” In America, it is less about who painted it and more about the work itself. Does it connect with you? Do you see it in your home? Does it inspire you? Albert describes his style as abstract impressionism. At age 28, he found this style quite early. He creates textures and uses color in a unique way that people are able to recognize time and time again. Smearing blue paints with a piece of cardboard, or scratching the canvas with blacks and whites. “The people know if it is mine or not. Even when I am evolving my artwork, people still recognize my work.” He is currently working on many projects. One in particular focuses on typography. Another was a past exhibition featured work he did on the Catalan and Spanish conflict within Barcelona. “My projects for that exhibition were very different in style,” Albert said. He created nine pieces to express his opinion on the Catalan independence movement. He tried to explain his point of view through a sculpture of a donkey, the symbol for Catalonia because of their hardworking demeanor. The result was an exhibition that brought together his hobbies of politics and art. However, this exhibition was far different from what Albert usually creates. His pieces are normally what he calls “happenings”. He lets the public participate in his art, in hopes of creating connections between people with a painting. “I want to break this separation between the people and the art piece,” he said. The phrase “don’t touch” just doesn’t apply in this case. He paints huge paintings, about seven meters by two meters long. He leaves the painting in a public place with an empty frame. The people find the piece of the painting they like most using the frame, and then cut it out.

“I want to break this separation between the people and the art piece.”

ART Another “happening” he created was with puzzle pieces. People would buy individual pieces for themselves, and then could search online to see who else has a piece. Together, the pieces made a full painting. “I am always trying to create that kind of situation with the people.” Albert consistently uses acrylic on canvas for his work. He creates layers with the paint, so the drying process becomes crucial. He mentioned that during his time in London, painting was very difficult because of the wet and cloudy weather. What is truly unique about his artistic process, however, is what he uses to paint. Most would pick up a brush. Albert never does. “I never paint with a brush. I use a lot of tools like cardboard or other tools you use for construction…I like to investigate with texture and color.” By not using a brush, Albert is able to achieve all different textures and really evolve his work, and when you look at his work it shows. He has even used his hand to scratch his paintings. “A brush will give you the same result as someone else.” Albert talked of the evolution of his work, and how past mistakes create another step into his future artwork. “When you do a painting, sometimes you do something wrong. But sometimes it just becomes a new thing you can use in your next project,” he said. “I’m doing another project that is a mistake of the last paintings.” He has that sense of creativity that we don’t always allow ourselves the time to find. “You need time to be creative. It means you have to have time to not do anything.”Our schedules are demanding, and Albert responded that the everyday person could incorporate art into their life by making time for creativity. “It’s very useful to disconnect…If you are in a lot of stress and have a lot of things to do, you never have time to be creative.” n

VIP show November 16 (by invitation only). Please contact us at info@igifa. com for details.

Photo Credit: Carmen Alicia

the ARTof Servicing a Client

By Chadwick Ciocci Chilton & Chadwick Global Real Estate Concierge

REAL ESTATE TM

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Real estate has never been more of an art than it is today. In fact, in what has become a hyper-competitive market with countless technological tools at hand, the best real estate agents should be turning towards those things decisively non-technological: providing clients with concierge services that no one else is offering.

The modern client with homes in Greenwich, Manhattan, London, Los Angeles and elsewhere requires more than ever before: more hotels, more jet charters and more household staff. These needs are an opportunity for real estate agents to help their clients in ways they never have before and in so doing ingratiate themselves with the clients equally in ways they never have been able before. It should always be the goal of a real estate agent to service clients not just in real estate but also in any way possible, from the mundane to the complex. Clients may need help sourcing something as simple as a plumber or electrician, but what may seem simple to a local real estate agent may be far less simple to a client who has just relocated from Paris. Merely having a list of local, dependable contractors on hand is an invaluable tool agents can offer that goes above and beyond the transactional nature of real estate. And yet that isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t nearly enough, at least not for the best agents and their top clients. Oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s real estate agent should not only offer world-class services in real estate but also art, jewelry, private jet and yacht chartering, household staffing and so much more. If you are buying a second, third or other home, your agent should have the interior designers, contractors and others on hand to transform that home in to the one of your dreams. They should be ready, willing and able to work with you to make it in to something special, just for you. Such service is not typically associated with real estate agents, but this level of service, connectedness and expertise is a massive differentiator between most agents and the best agents. And well beyond your home, a savvy agent should be connected in ways that will help you, with problems you have not yet realized you have. Has your wedding anniversary surprised you? Let your agent help procure a stunning piece of jewelry. Is your birthday around the corner? Let them help charter a jet to a villa in the Caribbean.

REAL ESTATE

Photo Credit: Chadwick Ciocci

Families here in Greenwich and in other places donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessarily expect this level of service, but they should. And they should seek out agents who are capable of delivering at this level. A top real estate agent should become more a part of your life than just a person who helps transact in real estate. They should become a concierge. And practice real estate as the art it is. n Chadwick Ciocci is the founder and CEO of Chilton & Chadwick â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Global Real Estate Concierge, an exclusive team within the Higgins Group, based in Greenwich, CT. The team offers services in real estate, art advising and acquisition, jewelry acquisition, private jet and yacht chartering and household staffing.

Chilton and Chadwick

(203) 987-4789 www.chiltonandchadwick.com

the ARTof

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Strengthening Your Soul By Marisa Casciano We are not all athletes. We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t all find an extreme thrill in hitting the gym or getting active. But the way our body moves and the way our soul is sparked can be some form of an art.

SoulCycle was founded in 2006 by Julie Rice and Elizabeth Cutler, beginning in the Upper West Side of New York City. It is designed to be a workout without the feeling of work, creating a high-energy community and inspirational movement. Candlelit spaces and intense cardio create a transforming experience for everyone involved. And the result is a stronger body and a stronger soul. Photo Credit: Soulcycle

FITNESS

The Art Of (TAO): What does SoulCycle want their clients to gain from classes? What makes SoulCycle better than traditional workouts? Instructor Conor Kelly (CK): By combining a unique mental component of inspirational coaching, curated music, and a full-body workout on a bike, SoulCycle has reinvented indoor-cycling and created an exercise movement. Today, over 13,000 riders take SoulCycle classes everyday to release stress, burn fat, tone muscle, find joy in movement, and change their bodies and lives. The SoulCycle experience is high energy, results-oriented, and community based. At SoulCycle, riders engage in high intensity cardio (burning between 500-700 calories in 45-minutes), while also toning their upper bodies using hand weights and core-engaging choreography. The exercise program focuses on rhythm and the â&#x20AC;&#x153;energy of the pack,â&#x20AC;? which creates a strong bond between riders. SoulCycle classes are held in candlelit studios, making riders feel like they are partying in a healthy nightclub. The dark, non-intimidating rooms allow riders to lose themselves in the workout. Rides take place to one-of-a-kind playlists with instructors who are inspirational coaches, pushing riders to do their best on and off the bike.

Photo Credit: Soulcycle

FITNESS

TAO: Why do you think SoulCycle has become so popular here in Greenwich? CK: The combination of the physical workout, endorphins, great music and positive messaging can be addicting! It also creates commonality and something people want to be a part of. It is OK to be addicted to something that is good for you!

TAO: What makes SoulCycle so much fun? CK: The combination of inspirational instructors, epic spaces, rocking music and dark candlelit rooms allows for a truly transformative experience.

TAO: What was one moment you’ve had while working at SoulCycle that really stood out to you? CK: We are constantly hearing stories from our riders about major obstacles they’ve overcome in SoulCycle classes – working through breakups, divorces, deaths, illness. SoulCycle has helped them find strength and support. We couldn’t be more humbled to be able to provide that for people.

TAO: Why do people come back to your location? What makes you the most popular SoulCycle in Fairfield County? CK: Our studios treat our riders like family and we build our rider communities one relationship at a time. We believe that in order to build an authentic and meaningful relationship, people need to be acknowledged, heard, understood and appreciated. Our goal is to make sure that each rider has an incredible experience every time. Photo Credit: Soulcycle

FITNESS

TAO: What kind of transformation do you see in people that participate in SoulCycle? CK: SoulCycle is a full body workout. Riders engage in high intensity cardio (burning between 500-700 calories in 45-minutes), while also toning their upper bodies using hand weights and core-engaging choreography. The patented SoulCycle bike allows riders to safely perform choreography that challenges both the large and small muscle groups throughout the body. During class, riders work with speed and resistance to push their aerobic and anaerobic fitness levels and burn fat. SoulCycle classes are rhythm based which trains riders in coordination and timing. SoulCycle will not only change your body and help you reach your fitness goals, it also benefits the mind through mental and emotional release. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a total mind/body experience! Instructors deliver inspirational messages that leave you feeling stronger and more powerful after every ride. Our riders tell us everyday that what happens in the studio reverberates in their lives outside of it. People walk out of SoulCycle physically and mentally stronger than when they walked in.

TAO: What makes finding a source of fitness so important? CK: Fitness is so important - both for your body and your mind. Find something that works for you and brings you joy while doing it.

Photo Credit: Soulcycle

FITNESS

TAO: What makes SoulCycle a community that people can be a part of? What do you do to maintain this community and keep people excited to be a part of it? How can people contribute to this community? CK: SoulCycle isn’t just a workout, it is a total mind/ body experience that’s become a lifestyle. When you have a great experience - you want to continue it. You want to take a piece of Photo Credit: Soulcycle retail with you, you want to continue the dialogue on social media - and that’s what our riders are doing. Our brand inspires our riders - and the inspiration and shared experience creates a committed and engaged community.

TAO: How can you compare the journey of finding your soul and changing your body to a work of art? CK: An individuals’ relationship to a piece of art is just that – individual. Unique. Each person gets something different from it. The same is true for SoulCycle. You can have a room of 60 plus people, all riding in unison to the beat of the music, but each person is there for a different purpose and brings a distinct intention. While one person may be focused on improving physical fitness another may be there for mental clarity and emotional release. It’s personal.

TAO: What is captivating about fitness? CK: It’s a journey! Fitness should be thought of as a lifestyle as opposed to something you check off your to-do list. n

Photo Credit: Soulcycle

SoulCycle Greenwich (203) 653-7685 www.soul-cycle.com

I sabella G arrucho Fine Art

I conic M odern home

Other Upcoming Shows October 18th Michelle Sakhai Closing Show VIP by invitation only October 26th VIP by invitation only / October 27th Public Opening for Paul Manes, Kate Kova, Sergio Valenz, Margot Nimirosky November 16th VIP by invitation only / November 17th Public Opening Manzur Kargar, Albert Llobert and Group Photography December 6th VIP by invitation only / December 7th Public Opening David Yarrow January 18th VIP by invitation only / January 19th Public Opening Chris Valle For a Digital Copy Go To:

For a Print Copy Go To:

40 West Putnam Ave. Greenwich, CT 06830 (203) 622-0500