VENÜ SUMMER #45 2021 by VENÜ MAGAZINE

CONTEMPORARY CULTURE

Issue_

CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

M T A

T 2 a

Still Life with Watermelon, Oil on Canvas 36” x 38” Summer Garden, oil on canvas, 22” x 18”

www.julieleff.com

203.434.8655

julie@julieleff.com

The Bridgehampton Museum 2368 Montauk Highway, 11937 artmarkethamptons.com

Photo: Constantin Mirbach

Market Art & Design The Hamptons Aug 12 — 15, 2021

SUMMER Issue_45

68 SPOTLIGHT FEATURES

12 Artist Profile Les Graff

APPETITE

(RCA)

Steelpointe Harbor Redefines Bridgeport

Doug McCraw Debuts Artist Sara Garden Armstrong at FATVillage

It’s virtual insanity with Can Büyükberber

Cover Story Marcel Wanders Phenomena to Wanders is to Wonder 4

CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

vents and Festivities with E Rosinne Chlala

18 The Golden Palate The

Florida Foodie Destination

Meet Abstract Impressionist Artist Kay Griffith

View an Interactive Art Exhibit aboard the Art Spaceship

Musicians and Mick Rock

STYLE 42

Accessories Stadium approved Clear Handbags

Fashion NSU Reels you inside the World of Anna Sui

DESIGN 48 D esign Nobody Does it

Better: guardDog your Assets

54 Fernando Romero’s Parallax of Nature

106

STEELPOINTE 29 Special Promotion REAL ESTATE 38 Compass Coastal with

Susan Vanech Properties

Compass with The Angela Swift Team

38 CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

SUMMER Issue_45

98 TRANSPORT 106 Aviation The Spirit of

Aeromobil

110

WELL-BEING 110

ome Spa Cutting-Edge H Wellness Technologies

FILM & ENTERTAINMENT 114

Fox on Film French Exit

VENÜGRAM 116

Featured Evan Smith

IN EVERY ISSUE 8

Publisher’s Letter

10 Masthead 6

CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

ADAPT

“There are two kinds of light– the GLOW that illuminates and the GLARE that obscures.” –James Thurber

Glenn Merlin Johnson

CUSTOM HOMES |

THE ART OF ILLUMINATION | LUXURY DEFINED | AdaptiveDG.com CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

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Welcome to our first post-COVID print publication of Venü! We’ve been dreaming about this moment for 18 long months

PUBLISHER’S LETTER

and are excited to be back in our readers’

balanced to tease the viewer into her world of visual possibilities. Architect Fernando Romero defies convention with his architectural adaptations, changing

hands! As you saw in our online issue

stellar line up of personalities, parties and

landscapes and expectations with

earlier this year, we have stayed in touch

passions that make each page come alive

movement, proportion and scale virtually

with the culture and arts scene, taking a

with extraordinary reading experiences.

unequaled in reality or imagination. And

pulse on reimagined trends, scoping out

From the design wizardry of our cover

discover how artist Can Büyükberber

new artists, immersing in online design

star, Marcel Wanders, to the colorfully

brings technology and art together to

forums and zooming in on introductions to

expressive art of Kay Griffith, one of the top

create digital audiovisual compositions that

some pretty amazing talent. We toasted,

abstract artists in the world, to the nautical

double as virtual environments that invite

tasted and treated ourselves to virtual

vision of Robert and Bobby Christoph who

you in to stay awhile.

events with the luminaries of the food and

have literally transformed a key shipping

wine scene, artists from around the world

port in Bridgeport, Connecticut, into a

inside speak for themselves. Turn the

and yachtsmen whose boats get bigger

yachting destination – and boat show

pages and take a trip through some of the

and better than ever before.

venue – beyond compare and the flying

world’s most creative minds to see what

cars that take fast cars to new heights,

they’ve been working on while we were all

harmony and balance in art and life and

there’s no end to the sensorial pleasures

on pause.

inspiration. We are excited to introduce a

going on inside.

This printed edition of Venü is all about

I could go on and on but the stories

While we never want to go silent again,

Wait until you glimpse the sculpted multimedia works of Sara Garden

we have to say that this issue was certainly worth the wait!

Armstrong, part art, part science and all uniquely contradictive yet harmoniously

Tracey Thomas Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

Venü — Where your passion is our venue.

Cover Story Marcel Wanders Moooi Monster Carpet. See story on page 74

CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Tracey Thomas ART DIRECTOR Denis Oproiu MANAGING EDITOR Kamitha Sloan FEATURES EDITOR Cindy Clarke FOOD EDITOR Fred Bollaci FILM & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Peter J. Fox EDITORIAL & MARKETING Lisa Mikulski

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THE SMALL PRINT: No responsibility can be taken for the quality and accuracy of the reproductions, as this is dependent upon the artwork and material supplied. No responsibility can be taken for typographical errors. The publishers reserve the right to refuse and edit material as presented. All prices and specifications to advertise are subject to change without notice. The opinions in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. Copyright VENÜ Magazine LLC, All rights reserved. The name VENÜ Magazine is copyright protected. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted without written consent from the publisher. VENÜ Magazine does not accept responsibility for unsolicited material. This is a quarterly publication and we encourage the public, galleries, artists, designers, photographers, writers (calling all creative’s) to submit photos, features, drawings, etc., but we assume no responsibility for failure to publish submissions.

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Art on Paper New York Sep 9 — 12, 2021

PROFILES: Artist

Les Graff 65b Spring Awakening 42x50 oil on canvas

Graff, Les Hillside Forms Orange 16x16 oil on panel framed

LES GRAFF (RCA) REMEMBERED PRAIRIE By Angela Bugera and Margaret Witschl

Les Graff with Warm East Wind 32x42 oil on canvas

At 85, Les Graff (RCA) is a prolific and

at a very young age. With encouragement

artistic merit and his contributions to the arts.

energetic artist. His detailed and highly active

and support from the town, he studied and

“The subject for my work continues to be

painting style is as much a self-portrait of the

graduated from the College of Art and Design

the prairie environment, which by now has

inner man as it is observations of the external

in Calgary, Alberta and went on to earn a

become a spiritual touchstone. There is now

world. His mind and body are in constant

graduate degree in 1960 from the Cranbrook

a need to bypass the concrete and to instead

motion.

Academy of Art in Bloomfield, Michigan.

explore the intangibles. Colour continues to

Graff’s abstract expressionist work touches

Graff has maintained a daily studio practice

one deeply. It is evocative and soothing, soft

for over 60 years. He also served as the Direc-

and jarring. It is a symphony and a cacophony

tor of Visual Arts, Alberta; influencing policy

of color, shadow, and gesture. It is visually

and spearheading the establishment of the

tactile, looking like velvet in some places and

Alberta Foundation for the Arts.

unyielding in other places.

Solidifying his place in Canadian art history,

Born, the son of the local butcher in Cam-

Les Graff was inducted into the Canadian

rose, Alberta in 1936, Graff started painting

Academy of the Arts (RCA) in 2016 for his

be the all-important dimension of my voice.” — Les Graff ☐

Bugera Matheson Gallery 10345-124 Street Edmonton, Alberta T5N 1R1 780-482-2854 @bugeramathesongallery CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

APPETITE

Hospitality By Robin H. Phillips

IN THE GENES

Meet Festivities’ Rosinne Chlala

CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

with a bride, or for that matter, any client, I show her a square, then I draw a star in the middle. I explain that that is the center of the event and that’s where she will put the details that are most important to her. Then around that I place connecting circles of different

t’s time to start celebrating again—with friends old and new, and family near and far. Events, wedding

receptions,

milestone birthdays, and graduation parties—they are all being planned for this summer and beyond. When most of

us return to these gatherings we will

moon to be putting our energy back where it belongs,” says Chlala with a big smile. While the pandemic put much of Festivities’ event and catering business on hold, Chlala found plenty to do. She spent time researching and brainstorming about her field and ways to make it better. She devoted time to expanding one of her best ideas: a soon-to be trademarked wedding-planning program called Considered Chic. “When I first sit down

sizes. Inside those circles we write the other elements of our plan, food, music, beverages, dress,” she explains. “As they visualize the map, we begin to move items and their price tags to different circles until our client can see exactly what is most important to her. We build the event from there.” She and Bill, who happens to be a French Culinary Institute grad and one of Bon Appetit Magazine’s Leading Chefs of the Nation, also created a gourmet meal delivery service to help those

bring with us a newfound joy for how wonderful it is to be together again. No one is more delighted about this hopeful return to some normalcy than Rosinne Chlala, the president of Festivities, an award-winning event planning and catering company based in Norwalk, Connecticut. In business for over 36 years, Roe, as most people call her, and brother/co-founder and executive chef Bill Kaliff are busily planning many special occasions. “All of us are over the

As they visualize the map, we begin to move items and their price tags to different circles until our client can see exactly what is most important to her. We build the event from there.

APPETITE

pandemic fatigued families from cooking for so many at-home meals. But you’d be underestimating Chlala if you thought that was all she would accomplish this past year. Chlala, knowing that her industry would need support to restart safely, became a founding member of The Connecticut Event Industry Coalition. “Along with four other leading event professionals from different parts of the industry, we began working on a plan to get both our officials in Hartford and our representatives in Washington to hear our voices,” she says. At the very least, they hoped that politicians would learn more about the event planners’ circumstances and take them into their considerations. “Our visionary goal was to get them to agree to a plan: in Hartford, a plan with protocols to re-open, and in Washington, federal aid that would sustain us during the shut-down of our industry.” After several months of developing a working relationship with state officials at the Department of Economic Development, Chlala and the coalition were able to not only keep abreast of the most current thinking about re-opening policies and protocols, but also got a seat at the table, advising on event protocols. “For those of us in the off-premise catering business, whether producing events at private homes or in a venue, our responsibility was and still is to be aware of the constant revisions in the reopening plans, and be willing to adhere to the protocols necessary for safe and fun events,” she continues. So now, Festivities’ expertise extends beyond making a great party and into ensuring that a great party is as worry-free as possible for her clients. “Trust us, and trust the process,” says Chlala.

Auspicious Beginnings

friends from the West Bank and Saudi Arabia. “It was very eye-opening for an American in the 70s to learn first-hand about the lives of these women,” she explains. “It gave me the most expansive world view and I learned so much.” It’s also where she met her future husband Antoine Chlala, ten years her senior, and a successful French-Lebanese business man. After graduating, Chlala joined an English newspaper in Beirut, The Daily Star, as a features editor. “I am inquisitive and always want to learn someone’s real story— what makes people tick,” she says. “I was embedded with journalists like Peter Jennings as we covered the rising tensions in Lebanon.” In total she spent 10 years in the Middle East. From Lebanon, she and her husband had a stint in Saudi Arabia. There Chlala had a crash course in finding creative ways to occupy herself when there wasn’t much she could do in the outside

Growing up in Fairfield, Connecticut, as a Lebanese-American girl, Chlala experienced what it

world. “I’ve lived in the desert. I lived through

was like to attend a party and not feel comfortable. “I always found it hard to walk into an event

war in Lebanon. I had no phone, no TV, no car,

and see little groups chatting. I couldn’t always find my comfort level,” she explains. “When we

and I had a little baby,” says Chlala. “I learned

first started creating events, I always scanned the room to watch the guests and their reactions.

how to bake and decorate cakes. I macraméd. I

You could see the ones that were uncomfortable. And so, no matter how beautiful or exciting

promised myself that I’d be creative and not let

the event, these guests were not going to enjoy it,” she continues. “That is part of what made

a day go by without learning something new.”

me into someone with a passion for understanding how important the guest experience is—from

With war breaking out in the Middle East, it

parking the car to a welcome drink, our goal is to have each guest feel that great feeling, “Yes, I

was time for the family to return to the States.

am invited to this party!”

Back in Fairfield, Chlala, along with her hus-

Chlala’s father was a successful international businessman who, as a Lieutenant Colonel in

band and brother decided to open Festivities,

the US Army stationed in Cairo, became a trusted advisor of President Eisenhower. “My parents

a retail store in Norwalk. It soon blossomed into

knew how to entertain all kinds of people and how to make everyone who entered their home

a full-service catering and events business. “I

feel special,” she says. A graduate of Fairfield public schools and Stamford’s King School, Chlala

found myself taking on the design, planning,

went onto study at Sweet Briar College. For her junior year abroad her father urged her to go to

and execution of more and more events and

Beirut. “I wanted to go to Italy, but my dad said no – we had relatives in Beirut and he assured me

loving every minute of it,” says Chlala. “Hos-

it would be more interesting. And it sure was!” As a college student, Chlala made a tight group of

pitality is in my blood—it is ingrained in my

CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

DNA!” Chlala says cheerfully. “I am Lebanese! That is what we do!” But like everything Chlala embarks on – she finds real meaning in the work. “The power of hospitality is creating events where people feel good about being there. Where they feel taken care of and even honored,” explains Chlala. It’s not just a job -- it is a craft that Roe and Bill take very seriously. What makes a party unforgettable? Chlala says “love.” Love? “The best parties and events are all about love! Love of family and friends, love of entertaining, love of wonderful cuisine and drinks, love of the craft of creating a personalized experience,” she says with her trademark enthusiasm. “No matter the type of event, making everyone feel welcome and showing them a great time, that is always

Returning the Favor

Chlala’s passion may be parties – and helping people create the most memorable and meaningful ones – but it is truly matched by her lifelong desire to give back. A longtime volunteer for several local charities, and a board member for the Center for Family Justice in Bridgeport, Chalala founded the Festivities Foundation six years ago as a way for her, Bill, and their team to give back to the

Rosinne Chlala

Craig Warga Photography

the underlying mission for us.”

communities they serve. “Through donations of party and home accessories to our retail store, our goal is to create a sustainable repurposing of items from happy occasions,” says Chlala. “The proceeds from these sales will, in turn, fund our mission of aiding local programs that support safe and healthy homes for those who need them.” Since their beginning, the Festivities team has been acquiring donations of gently used items from celebrations such as weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, anniversary parties, and birthdays, corporate and charitable events. She calls this the “Pass on The Love” campaign and welcomes donations and collaborations with local charities to further the message and goals. Many of Chlala’s clients are repeat customers. “I love getting to know families and helping them create their important events,” she explains. One of her biggest fans is Christina Lake, Interior Designer of Forehand & Lake. “We have done several events with Roe and Bill. Each one had a different theme. As an interior designer and entertainer myself, my standards are always very high, and Roe and Bill surpass them every time. The absolute best part is how fun she makes the process. Now, whenever I plan a party, I just let them do what they do as I trust Festivities implicitly,” says Lake. It is no wonder Festivities and Chlala have won so many accolades. Most recently CT Bites honored her with its prestigious distinction, Top Five Women of Influence in the CT Culinary Industry. “I was so touched and surprised,” she says. “Most of these women were chefs themselves, so I was

even more honored to be included among so much culinary talent.” She’s also been named Best Wedding Planner for six years straight in Moffly Media’s Best of The Gold Coast Awards. “Since 1984, Roe Chlala has wowed guests and clients,” the award team noted. “She’s known as an outstanding caterer and event planner which is why brides turn to her and her dynamic team for their big day. From the big picture to the smallest detail, Roe infuses her natural love of giving, providing, and showering others in love.” Many of Chlala’s brides tell her, years later, how special she made their day. One recently wrote to her: “It was an evening to remember, not only because the food, the team, and the décor were so magical but because every detail embraced all the love in the room.” Feedback like this fills the Festivities team with gratitude, and validates what so many already know— that they are among the best in the business. “Navigating the world of gatherings has been challenging with rules and protocols, but hopefully soon we will be back to normal. No matter what, we will always strive to make celebrations the best they can be,” says Chlala. ☐ For further information, visit: Festivitiesevents.com @FestivitiesCT (IG & FB), @RoeChlala (IG) CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

APPETITE

By Fred Bollaci

Eating in Tampa Bay The Florida Foodie Destination Whose Time Has Come Until now, Tampa Bay may be best known for sunshine, beaches, sports, and year-round recreation. Few people considered the area a culinary destination, though there were a handful of great restaurants people would plan vacations around. In the past decade, the Greater Tampa Bay Area, which includes Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and towns in-between has established itself as a foodie destination, combining amazing talent and marvelous new venues. In light of the pandemic where restaurants have struggled to survive, it’s time to visit Tampa Bay and enjoy some great food!

Salad with Tuna at On Swann

Part One in a Two-Part Series: Tampa

No visit to Tampa would be complete without visiting at least some of the following institutions, which have stood the test of time. Bern’s Steakhouse, a landmark since 1956 features 500,000 bottles of wine, prime steaks aged and butchered in house, and the famed Harry Waugh Dessert Room upstairs. The original Columbia Restaurant (1905)—enjoy the “1905 Salad,” Cuban/Spanish fare and flamenco dancing. Donatello is the grand dame of Old World, romantic Italian restaurants—you’ll think you’re in Italy. Malio’s Prime Steakhouse (1969) is a local “power scene.” Mise en Place restaurateurs Marty Blitz and Mary Ann Ferenc pioneered New American cuisine (1986). Armani’s (upscale Italian with rooftop views), and Caffé Paradiso, a South Tampa Italian gem. For the best newer additions to the Tampa

food scene, stay the Epicurean Hotel (affiliated and across the street from Bern’s—it is THE perfect place to sleep off your “food coma” from the typical 4-hour Bern’s meal!) Explore the wonderful culinary options in the hotel and surrounding areas. Sip cocktails at EDGE, the cool rooftop lounge, and dine at Elevage SoHo Kitchen & Bar nearby Haven, also part of the Bern’s family. Edison food + drink lab, owned by 5X James Beard nominee, Chef Jeannie Pierola features some of the most inventive and inspiring food and libations in town. Visit Tampa’s new food hall, the Armature Works—in a revitalized warehouse. Choose from an exciting array of international and local food and beverages. Steelbach, which showcases Florida’s top producers and grass fed beef, and Oak & Ola, with timeless appeal and a seasonal Euro-American menu by James Beard award winning chef/owner Anne Kearney are two notable full-service options. At Rooster & the Till, James Beard semi-finalist chef Ferrell Alvarez utilizes the best fresh farm-to-table ingredients, paired with partner Ty Rodriguez’s expertise in wine. Cena by Long Island native chef Michael Buttacavoli features a fresh, modern take on Italian cuisine downtown. The best sushi experience in Tampa is Koya by Eric and Adriana Fralick. The omakase experience is legendary. On Swann and the new Olivia are two hip Tampa spots by veteran restaurateur Chris Ponte. Ava and Forbici, both Dessert at Cena

For more information about Fred Bollaci Enterprises, visit: www.fredbollacienterprises.com 18

CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

Roman-Style Pizza at Forbici

Squid Ink Pasta at Cena

in Hyde Park each serve unique Italian-style pizza. Enjoy beautiful fresh Vietnamese-French fusion at Restaurant BT, both in fashionable Hyde Park. Another example of Tampa’s urban renewal is the Oxford Exchange. Part book store, part restaurant, this is the most “Instagrammable” building in Tampa with stunning architectural details evoking the spirit of Old London. Stay tuned for my next feature on the rest of Tampa Bay, the St. Petersburg-Clearwater area. “The Burg” has experienced a renaissance the past decade, especially along the bay front near the Dali Museum, and is considered very fashionable. If you haven’t been to Clearwater Beach in the last 15 years, you wouldn’t recognize it! The dramatic transformation of the entire area has brought great new restaurants and places to stay (my favorite being the luxurious Sandpearl on Clearwater Beach). In addition, there are many charming villages and towns in Pinellas County, each with their own style and unique flavors that are worth exploring. If you’re planning a trip and want to know more, please feel free to visit my blog, www.fredbollacienterprises.com and reach out to me personally: info@fredbollacienterprises.com ☐

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FEATURE

A Waterfront

BY CINDY CLARKE

CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

Photo by Patrick Sikes

Steelpointe Harbor

Redefines

Bridgeport

Renaissance CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

FEATURE

many other once urban powerhouses, due to a number of factors from deindustrialization, political shenanigans, economic downturns and more, a banged up Bridgeport teetered on financial ruin for years. That is until waterfront developers Robert and Bobby Christoph, the father and son team behind RCI Group and its affiliates, once again saw promise in its port. The Christophs are dream makers for boaters and the mega-yachting set. They specialize in the development of world-class marina destinations, transforming distressed dockage into coveted boating communities

aving grown up riding the ferry from Bridgeport, Connecticut, across the Long Island Sound to Port Jefferson, New York, I was familiar with the area where Steelpointe Harbor is now docked. It was a harbor off the grid then, save for rail and ferry commuters who had little time to reimagine the thriving 1800s waterfront of old that bustled with whaling ships, oyster boats and magnificent sailing yachts newly built or the one that would sail into view in the future surprising long timers like me with a vision and ventures impossibly impressive and inspiring. Historically Bridgeport has seen more than its fifteen minutes of fame. It gained notoriety for its pivotal wartime roles during the American Revolution, as the home of 19th century showman P.T. Barnum, the city where a successful workers’ strike led to the establishment of the 8-hour workday that set the standard for the rest of the nation, the founding site of the phenom 20th-century Subway sandwich shop, the manufacturing headquarters for aviation pioneer Igor Sikorsky’s world’sfirst helicopters and the deep water harbor for the Bridgeport-Port Jefferson ferry, linking Connecticut to Long Island since 1883. It has also seen its share of transformations. Its advantageous geographic location encouraged early settlers, who thrived on fishing and farming, to shift from agrarian to mercantile and manufacturing pursuits. When the railroad opened in 1840, with a train station right on the waterfront, the city became a booming industrial center and produced everything from carriages and sewing machines to ammunition. Bridgeport’s growth accelerated even further from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century with the advent of massive immigration and labor movements until, at its peak population in 1950, Bridgeport was Connecticut’s second most populous city. Like the demise of so 22

CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

across the US, including Boston, Miami, Key West and San Diego. “We saw a great opportunity here,” admitted Bobby Christoph, who first saw the site on the recommendation of a boater he met at his Miami marina. “We were impressed by the infrastructure and the deep water we found there, along with the fact that there was no bridge to limit big ships from entering the harbor.” Add the fact that Bridgeport is the perfect – and virtually only – mid-way point for megayachts sailing between New York and points south to Newport and Sag Harbor, it was a big win on all counts. The Christophs invested in Bridgeport back in 1998, long before troubling financial times brought Connecticut to its knees, explaining that while other developers bailed, they dug in for the long haul. “Even a

We were impressed by the infrastructure and the deep water we found there, along with the fact that there was no bridge to limit big ships from entering the harbor.

recession could not lessen our view of what was possible in Bridgeport.” Or a pandemic, I thought, because what they have accomplished at Bridgeport’s waterfront over the past two decades in less than stellar conditions has gone beyond expectations in every way. Just as they did with their “counterports” in Florida and California, they’ve raised the bar with their vision for what a dream dock should look like. Like the finest real estate developments, it’s all about location, location, location. Steelpointe Harbor sits at the intersection of commerce, transportation and recreation, with an easy-on, easy-off dedicated exit off the 1-95 corridor, walk to convenience to Metro North and Amtrak railroads, onsite access to the Bridgeport-Port Jefferson ferry and some 100 acres of shorefront close to the mid-point of

113-mile long Long Island Sound, an integral part of the well-sailed Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. It’s a quick one-hour drive from Manhattan and minutes from Sikorsky Airport. With location comes infrastructure, and they’ve got that covered too. In addition to its access to Connecticut’s largest cities and premier services, they made sure the harbor was home to world-class brands that would attract boaters. “We went after them, starting with Bass Pro Shops, Starbucks, Chipolte, and T-Mobile, who all have retail operations here now and are helping to build Bridgeport’s future.” he said. They also went after some of the biggest names in the marine industry, including HornBlower, which plans to have their fleet of sightseeing ferries serviced at Bridgeport Boatworks, Steelpointe Harbor’s full service shipyard, and international sail maker North Sails, who are moving the global headquarters of their North Technology Group here this summer. They are also welcoming a windmill manufacturer and Bridgeport’s new ferry terminal on-site down the road, once the on-going construction is complete.

Photo by Patrick Sikes

“We custom built all concrete loading docks here, first class construction that is CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

FEATURE

probably ten years ahead of its time, with 16 foot wide main piers for commercial and recreational ships. With 220-deepwater slips, we can accommodate boats from 20 feet up to 200 feet, with drafts up to 25 feet at the end of our docks.” Sensitive to environmental resiliency and climate change concerns, they had to bring in all new infrastructure when they were developing the site. They built a new bulkhead all the way around the entire property so that it was positioned for the long term. They are confident that there will never be a flooding issue here, and hurricanes and nor’ easters, all too common here in New England, won’t be a problem either, thanks to the safeguards they put in place, including a 14 foot breakwater and hurricane proof windows. Developing a top of the line boating destination also calls for entertainment venues and the Christophs have that covered too.

of community to enrich lives and empower

Bridgeport Harbor has long been recognized for its premier oyster

change. Already creating hundreds of jobs for

beds, an endeavor thoughtfully sponsored by the Christophs in nearby

the Bridgeport economy through their devel-

Yellow Mill Pond, so it comes as no surprise that you’ll find a water-

opment, a percentage of the show proceeds is

front oyster bar on site, open for landlubbers and boaters too. Expect

designated for a fleet of local charities, includ-

movie theaters and hotels to pop up in this pedestrian-friendly nautical

ing pop-up fresh food markets, youth sports

harborside too, along with new eateries and retail shops connected

leagues and more. That their business model

by a boardwalk that will appeal to local residents and marina guests.

is all about transforming distressed, under-

Live Nation, the nationwide entertainment company renowned for

served urban properties into mixed-used,

producing extraordinary live shows, is opening an amphitheater on

recreational-friendly waterfront developments

the waterfront that will attract people from all over, including boaters

tells part of the story. Their interest lies in cre-

from across the Sound in New York and Connecticut who dock here

ating and supporting destinations that bring

for dinner and enjoy an outdoor concert or show. Where else but

people back to the waterfront to discover and

Steelepointe can you do that?

enjoy its many treasures is another.

For an eye-opening peek at the future the Christophs envision here

“I moved my family here from Florida and

when the last phase of their planned development is done – brand new

we are here to stay. We want to be part of the

multi-family housing, from apartments to condos, and an Olympic-sized

community. The show, however opulent and

swimming pool for marina members included – make plans to attend

fantastical and fun to dream about, is part of

their invitation-only Steelpointe Yacht and Charter Show held annually

our desire to give back to the community.”

in June.

The Steelpointe Yacht and Charter show

No ordinary experience, the four-day boat show is designed to be

will most certainly attract visitors to this

the ultimate show stopper, with private jets, luxury cars, megayachts

harborside neighborhood. But it will be the

and headlining musical talent from all over the country lining the docks

Christoph’s real-time vision of life here that

and fireworks, some of the best in the Northeast, lighting up the skies

will keep them coming back. ☐

above. Surprise superstars – think major sports figures and high-profile celebrities – will make their entrance by seaplane, helicopter or high-end car, barges will double as bandstands and impossible-to-resist culinary treats from Connecticut’s best caterers will whet your appetite for the good life. Their reason for pulling out all the stops for this over-the-top event is deceptively simple. The Christophs believe in the power

CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

About Steelpointe Harbor Steelpointe Harbor is an urban-oriented, mixed-use development designed to embody the most desirable characteristics of a harbor-side neighborhood. When finished, the development will include 1,500 residential units, 800,000 square feet of retail, 200,000 square feet of commercial/office space, and 300,000 square feet of hotel / meeting area overlooking a 200+-slip marina with complete shore-side support.

THE STAR

Photos by Patrick Sikes

Behind Showpiece Shows

Jennifer Jones, “JJ” to anyone who ever has had the pleasure to meet her, was born with stars in her eyes. A world traveler with a passion and penchant for putting people and places together, JJ is an event planner extraordinaire with a portfolio of parties that’s second to none. She was born and raised in Florida, studied business, finance and hospitality management in college, and marketing postgraduate, and currently runs a boutique luxury lifestyle marketing and event planning agency, Showpiece Shows, that has upped the game for others in her field. Her client list includes some of the biggest names in the sports, cars, boating and entertainment industries, who all count on her to produce best-in-class, uniquely elegant events for their

high-profile brands. Her company has thrown Page 6-worthy Super Bowl productions, fishing tournaments, celebrity soirees and more for the rich and famous, but it is her boat shows that are making waves this year. A media sponsor for some of the most elite boat shows in Florida, Venü first met JJ in Fort Lauderdale, then again in Bridgeport at the Steelpointe Yacht & Charter show last September. What attracted us then was what attracts her high-profile clients now. Her enthusiasm is palpable, her interest in your happiness, genuine, and her easy smile, not only contagious, but ultimately life changing. Let me explain. JJ likes to make things happen. In fact, that’s where she excels. Whether she’s driving away from a hurricane, high winds at her wheels, en route to a safe harbor up the coast or putting on a show in the heat of a pandemic, she is not averse to changing course if something, CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

FEATURE

she said, adding that the yachting life is not something everyone is familiar with. “I want the people who participate in our shows to not only just come here to showcase a boat or a car, but to meet each other, learn about their businesses, make connections and transact,” she explained. She wants the same for show’s attendees, giving them the opportunity to understand and see what boating is all about. That’s a big part of what’s behind her vision for Bridgeport’s even an injured puppy, needs

had orchestrated, she recalls,

were advertising,” she said. “While

Steelpointe Yacht & Charter Show

her help. That’s what happened

when she returned home late

he explained that he thought the

– and then some.

a few years ago when she was

to search for more event-related

job was way beneath me, he

JJ and the Showpiece team

making her way to Newport for

opportunities online.

asked me if I would consider it

orchestrated Steelpointe’s first

a yachting event. She found a

“I happened upon a recruit-

anyway. I didn’t know a lot about

show just as the pandemic hit,

discarded little dog in a South

ment ad for a yacht company that

boats even though I grew up on

having planned every detail

Carolina gas station dumpster,

caught my attention so I called

a Fort Lauderdale beach, and I

with meticulous thought months

back broken, and drove it all the

them up the next day and told

wanted to learn about them so I

way to a Connecticut veterinarian

them I wanted to check out their

accepted his offer on the spot.”

where she was told it could be

event space. I went and saw all

That entry level job at Allied

helped. She even found the little

these amazing boats and the next

Richard Bertram Marine Group,

guy a new home, on a megay-

thing I know I was talking to the

a yacht company led to a suc-

acht, and Franklin, as he is now

vice president about the job they

cession of corporate ladder

known, lives the good life. That

story

reflects

promotions and a fleet of sucJJ’s

cessful boat shows, preparing

serendipitous career in event

her to eventually captain her own

management and her journey

ship at Showpiece Shows.

to Bridgeport where you’ll find

Introducing people to the

her today. She got her feet wet

boating life through the shows

in the sports and entertainment

she produces has become a

arena

became

key goal for her. “Our shows are

involved in yachting. It was after

really about educating people

a Super Bowl production she

about boats and the waterways,”

before

she

CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

About Showpiece Shows Jennifer Jones “JJ”, Mike Fonseca, Bobby Christoph

show welcoming more than 5,200 to the site a few months later. This year, Steelpointe expects to limit attendance to 6,500 attendees over a 4-day invitation–only event. This event promises to make a bigger splash with an incredible line up of luxury yachts, planes and automobiles, all curated by JJ in advance. Non-plussed at the crowd and safety restrictions in play at the time, she rearranged the layout of the show with intimate beach cabanas, along with other COVID-related protocols, to offer sanitized surroundings and social distancing to everyone on site. In spite of the challenges, the outdoor show held in June, 2020 attracted some 4,000 exhibitors and visitors, with a September

and Showpiece Shows. The sky’s the limit when it comes to JJ’s innovative shows and she deftly brings them to life as seamlessly as she imagines them. This year’s show opens with a Wednesday night, white-attire requested, Wings, Wheels and Water event at Sikorsky Airport where a receiving line of Ducati motorcycles, Hermés speedsters, vintage roadsters, private jets, helicopters and surprise treats welcome everyone on board, setting the bar as high as it can possibly go. It continues with a culinary-inspired cocktail yacht-hop on Thursday, a progressive evening event that gets better with each taste of the good life, as up and coming musicians, headlining celebrities and famous athletes make their entrance by land, sea and air. Friday and Saturday celebrate boating by day and superstars by night, wowing guests with an A-list cast of entertainers and a

Showpiece Shows provides world-class show management, design, production, marketing and experiential event expertise for the luxury market worldwide. With over 9 decades of combined yachting industry experience, our single objective is to provide experiential event platforms that are unparalleled and to showcase luxury goods in one-of-a-kind settings. The Steelpointe Yacht & Charter Show features Showpiece Shows’ signature combination of luxury yachts, rare and exotic cars, private jet and helicopter samplings, and, live music from across the US. This prestigious invitation-only event reflects the refined and deluxe caliber of luxury lifestyle brands, and our primary goals focus on boating education and exposure to the possibilities in yachting. Here, our guests, exhibitors, and sponsors alike experience a new level of service and appreciation for being a part of the Steelpointe Yacht & Charter Show.

traffic-stopping fireworks display they’ll long remember. Sunday marks the end of the reverie, but not before making someone’s dream come true with a winning raffle ticket for a vintage BMW, rendered into a priceless piece of art by renowned artist Rick Garcia who will hand-paint the entire car during the show. Which bring us back to the beginning of this story about JJ’s ability to manifest life-changing smiles through the connections she makes. She did it for Franklin, the pup she named in honor of wheelchair-bound FDR, with high hopes of giving him a life of comfort and ease. That he lives on the kind of presidential yacht that will be showcased at Steelpointe makes her story all the more engaging and makes us smile even more.

CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

Who knows what it takes to make a great martini better than a great bartender? So when picking the perfect vodka for your at-home martini-ing, choose one that’s not just mixologist-approved, but was actually made by a bartender. We’re guessing your first bottle of Cylinder won’t be your last. Shop for more, and get some creative cocktail recipes as well, at cylindervodka.com.

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REAL ESTATE: Compass

COASTAL

What Sets Susan Vanech Properties Apart?

s the founding member of Compass Westport, SVP’s approach is dramatically different from others in the field. Through

Susan’s passion for remodeling homes, she found a love of real estate. Along with her team of licensed real estate strategists and

analysts, she enjoys helping both property owners and prospective buyers navigate today’s market and maximize their opportunity. Her abundant experience gained in completing transactions that involve the efforts of architects, builders, inspectors, appraisers, colleagues, and town departments affords 38

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Tri-State, Rory Golod, Connecticut’s Senior Managing Director, Elizabeth Ann Stribling-Kivlan and agents and managers coming from Greenwich, Stamford, New Canaan, Westport, Litchfield County CT her a wisdom she shares with her clients.

Reffkin in No One Succeeds Alone, SVP

and Palm Springs, CA. All experienced the

When representing a luxury home for sale

collaborates without ego. Reffkin’s principles

enchanting property including the main

she uses her expertise to best position the

were recently exemplified for an invitation

house, guest house, river house, pool, and

property in front of the widest possible qual-

only event at a spectacular Gold Coast

tennis courts and were each given private

ified audience. She helps the homeowner

multi-generational riverfront estate.

tours of the exceptional grounds offering a

prepare the property to appeal to today’s

To be certain this multi generational estate

true open home experience. A delectable

buyers’ mindset. She offers an exclusive pro-

was appropriately experienced, Susan part-

parting gift was provided by BE Chocolat of

gram with Compass that uses a concierge

nered with Black Horse Automotive Services,

Fairfield. SVP understands how to present

service to pay up front costs in order to

a luxury classic and vintage car restoration

a home by engaging the right audience

best position and prepare a home with the

company, for an open home experience

experientially.

expectation to achieve the highest price the

where guests were invited to lounge at the

market will bear. SVP, with Compass, truly

pool, play tennis on the courts, enjoy the one

invests in the homes represented.

A Revolutionary Open Home Collaborative Concept

In Her Own Words

hundred and forty feet of river front wonders,

“Whether we are working with first-time

while Black Horse shared several exceptional

buyers or indulging the connoisseurs of life,

vehicles to be admired by all.

whether we are marketing a townhouse or an estate on the gold coast, the same time, care,

Always implementing Compass’ eight core

Guests included Compass’s Chief Evangelist,

attention and expertise goes into the process.

principles powerfully shared by CEO Robert

Leonard Steinberg, President of Compass

We love what we do, and it shows.” ☐ CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

REAL ESTATE: Compass

Helping You Navigate The Suburbs The Angela Swift Team at Compass is the

knowledge of social media marketing

Working together, the Angela Swift Team

• Expert negotiating skills

Connecticut. Comprised of industry leaders

brings four proven capabilities to the Green-

• Expertise in the Greenwich area

Angela Swift, Megan Sullivan, Jennifer Bello,

wich market:

premier real estate team of Greenwich,

Our competitive advantage

This team has worked through the highs

and Maureen McGrath, this team has a track

• Innovative Marketing Strategies

and lows of various real estate markets. With

record that speaks for itself.

• A strong social media presence and

over three decades of combined experience

CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

sales, negotiating skills and always going that extra mile for her clients. Megan Sullivan has a strong marketing

The Angela Swift Team at Compass is building a path forward and helping clients to navigate their beloved Greenwich, and

background, specializing in content creation,

they are available to help you with every

social media, influencer media, branding,

step of the home buying and home selling

consumer marketing, and brand partnerships.

process. Greenwich is not only where they

Jennifer Bello is a licensed salesperson with

work; it’s the place they love and the place

vast knowledge in finance and everything

they call home! ☐

Greenwich. She has lived in the Greenwich community for over 40 years, and is there for her clients whenever they need her. Maureen McGrath serves as the Client Concierge Manager for the team and is available to assist clients with their needs long after closing.

Your local guides

Each team member is familiar with the neigh-

used to guide both home buyers and home

borhoods, schools, and cultural landscape

sellers around Greenwich, The Angela Swift

of Greenwich. Their experience and comfort

Team prides itself in making the sometimes

with the nuances of the community have

complicated real estate process as simple

generated a loyal customer base throughout

as possible. They are focused not only on

the years; Angela is often called the “mayor

closing each property but also on the optimal

of Greenwich” because she knows everyone

fit for each client. It’s this tenacity that has

in town.

turned real estate transactions into longstanding relationships throughout this team’s years of service.

Your relocations specialist

The beauty of the Angela Swift Team at Compass is the breadth of knowledge each agent brings to the table. Spanning the whole life cycle—from families with young children to retirees—this team knows Greenwich and understands how to get their clients plugged into the right environment to fit their needs. Together, this team helped more than 58 families relocate to Greenwich from New York City since the beginning of the pandemic in early 2020. Angela Swift has spent the past 30 years building her business and life in Greenwich. She is one of the top-producing agents, consistently ranked in the top 25 agents in a town of over 1,100 realtors. She crafts her deals by being a trusted and knowledgeable real estate advisor, utilizing her strong marketing, CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

STYLE: Accessories

THE FLIE LAUNCHES PREMIERE COLLECTION OF STADIUM- APPROVED CLEAR HANDBAGS The new accessories brand blends form and function, giving concertgoers stylish options that comply with the public safety “clear bag” policies at major venues across the United States. THE FLIE announces the launch of its new line of stadium-approved, clear handbags that are as posh as they are practical. From sports tournaments to music and entertainment events, the entry to large-scale arenas is taxing. Indeed, tight security adds to the wait time and bars certain fashion and accessories. Laura Baldini, CEO, and Founder of THE FLIE, aims to ease the process by offering a fashion-forward collection designed for concert and event-goers that is completely hassle-free. “In 2013, the NFL established their clear bag policy to enhance the safety for all those attending games,” she says. “Since then, I have sought to find a bag that meets the

CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

regulations, but doesn’t sacrifice style. Clearly, I didn’t find one and thus THE FLIE was born.” THE FLIE’s inaugural collection flaunts three handbags created for those who value great style and the considered details that come with it. Whether it is the rosegold studs on the Tailgate, the eye-catching chain on the Convertible Concert Clutch, or the sleek black leather piping on the Ticket Holder, every option imbues flair and elegance. Each is available in two colors: black and vachetta. In addition, the entire line is designed to adhere to the standards and safety regulations of stadiums and other “clear bag” establishments, which often require ultraclear materials in the construction of an accessory, and also meets the approved size requirements. “THE FLIE was founded with a vision to

celebrate the individuality and confidence that makes every woman beautiful,” Baldini says. “The clear bags I had seen were simply not doing the job! So, we set out to create a collection that simultaneously offered women luxury, convenience, style, and functionality. I couldn’t be happier with the finished product.” ☐ For information about THE FLIE’s products, mission, and other resources, visit our website at www.theflie.com

STYLE: Fashion

PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEVEN BROOKE 44

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STYLE: Fashion

MUZIK TO MY EYES, MUSIC TO MY EARS Since her first catwalk show in 1991, Anna Sui has become known for creating fabulously original clothing inspired by intensive research into vintage fashion and popular culture. The exhibition ranges from early looks such as the exuberant Carnaby Street schoolgirl outfits worn by supermodels Linda Evangelista and Naomi Campbell in Sui’s first runway show in 1991 to the cowgirl and cheerleader modeled by Gigi and Bella Hadid in her Spring/Summer 2017 Americana-themed collection. Born in the suburbs of Detroit, Sui joined New York’s cultural underground at an intensely creative time in the 1970s, forming important relationships in the worlds of fashion, photography, art, music and design. The exhibition looks at Sui’s artistic journey through her creative process, collections, interiors, and collaborations. Thematically arranged, the exhibition explores Sui’s lifelong engagement with an array of ‘archetypes’ including Americana, rock star, the schoolgirl, the punk, nomads, and surfers — motifs featured throughout her work. From fairy tales and fables to Victoriana, Sui researches her current cultural obsessions in minute detail to create a different story with each collection. Hallmark outfits include Sui’s “Silver Peruvian Ensemble” and iconic sequined silk organza “Babydoll Dress” from Spring 1994. In conjunction, featured looks are displayed in context with their original backdrops used in Sui’s arresting fashion

shows. Items also include fashions worn by Sui’s style icons Anita Pallenberg and Jane Holzer. Sui is known for the richness of her printed textiles, combining a complex layering and mixing of patterns, texture and colors. The show highlights Sui’s own distinctively graphic materials as well as those created with high-profile partners such as Ascher Studio, Zandra Rhodes, Jeffrey Fulvimari and Barbara Hulanicki. In addition, the exhibition explores her design processes through mood boards, photographs, sketches, runway shots, and cultural ephemera. A section on collaborations documents 46

CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

her long-term creative partnerships

with

models such as Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington and Naomi Campbell, as well as with make-up artists Pat

McGrath

and

Francois Nars, jeweler Erickson Beamon, knitwear designer and milliner James Coviello and hairstylist Garren. The influence of music is seen throughout the exhibition, from Sui’s continuing love of Bohemian chic to her seminal 1993 grunge collections. The range of different styles on display emphasizes Anna Sui’s consistent design approach as she incorporates her current passions into every garment. As it celebrates American fashion, the exhibition also provides a fascinating guide to the history of American pop culture and an inside look into the creative process and unique world view of this iconic designer whose daring and experimental approach to design has become a mainstay of the interna-

room, each element helps share a bit of my world. Even the songs playing throughout the exhibit are from some of my favorite bands. My dream was always to become

tional fashion scene.

stars I listened to like Kurt

“Originally displayed at the Fashion and Textile Museum, London in 2017, The World of Anna Sui continues to highlight a fresh and engaging cultural perspective. The exhibition showcases a fashion designer who is not only highly creative and entrepreneurial but also playful and positive,” said Dennis Nothdruft. “The NSU Museum did a fantastic job of showing all the elements that truly make something “Anna Sui.” From the signature lavender color of the walls to the storefront that greets you before you turn into the first

a designer and dress the rock

In reciting a quote from the movie Almost Famous where Penny Lane says “If you ever get lonely, just go to the record store and visit your friends, like for so many of us who adorn Anna Sui’s garb, wearing one of her pieces is like visiting with a dear friend in the vein that we’ve become co-participants of the world she’s manifested. Her reference of textiles and color creates a universal language that takes on its own identity by the wearer. Sui’s collections remain the soundtrack of our lives. “In a word, simply rockadelic.” – Celebrity stylist Rosy Muto

Cobain or Madonna. In addition to music, my collections are often inspired by a recent trip, a movie I just saw, or the latest exhibition at one of my favorite museums. My hope is that anyone who visits The World of Anna Sui leaves with a little piece of my world that inspires them.” – Anna Sui ☐ ----------------------------nsuartmuseum.org Exhibition running through October 03, 2021 CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

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Nobody Does it Better: guardDog your Assets

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Over the last decade, the smart appliance has permeated throughout our culture and our homes to provide us with convenience, improve our well-being, and bring us all the comforts that our heart desires. The momentum of voice control & home automation, security, and remote & monitoring control devices has risen to such popularity that we can count up to a minimum of 37 comprehensive, interconnected IoT utilities, entertainment, and communication systems in a newly constructed custom home. With all of the high-tech development, expansion, insights, and discussions about how these advantages simplify our lives, no one talks about the unmonitored, unforeseen breaches and attacks that come along with it. Most of us only seem to care about connectivity, multitasking and watching our favorite streaming TV programs until the moment of impact arises.

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Contrary to popular belief, current technology for in-home appliance and electronic integration must come from an electronic architect to educate the consumer

These are some of the most poignant questions that

on the latest products, what’s best to stray away from, and engineer them to secure

need to be asked to minimize risks and take proper

the homeowner’s safety and meet their needs.

measures in mitigating the attacks effectively.

Since most of the working population has been forced into a new norm of work-

What router is used at home and has it been updated

from-home, we’re engaged in a new uprising territory of data breaches that enter

with the latest upgrade?

right through our front door. We’re “all” floundering and fumbling into cyberspace

How many wireless access points do you have in your

through the unknown and against an attack surface that’s been more significant in

house?

2021 than any other time in history. Unbeknownst to us, our unseen connectivity could be through a cybercriminal “Man in the Middle” ploy that could arise from your neighbor, a car parked outside of your house, or better yet, hidden intrusions that crop up in between the network and Wi-Fi devices in our home. Glenn Merlin Johnson, President at Adaptive Design Group, reports, “We are living without law, privacy and protection against invisible cybercriminals who are extremely savvy in retrieving your personal information which can include bank and retirement accounts, social security numbers and medical records, to name a few. Under the radar and with a few keystrokes, they actively look for a pipeline that grants them easy access into your world.” With science behind it all, ADG is an expert in applying all Wired technologies that are integrated “behind the walls” and all Wireless technologies that are in the air for all IoT devices to ensure a privately secured successful home. Wireless and “app” based systems are largely one-way plug, press, and pray systems at best that are prone to 50

hackers and failures.

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DESIGN: Smart

Home Security

Photos by Brian Twede, Private Residence by Adaptive Design Group Critical application “behind the walls” see the visibility of the threats before they happen.

CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

DESIGN: Smart

Home Security

Who is your Internet Service Provider, and what protections do they have in place? What computers are connected to your home network, wired and wireless? What computer or computers do you use to access the Corporate VPN? What computers are accessing the home-school environment? Do you have access to the corporate server through your cell phone or tablet in and out of the home? What gaming machines are utilized in the home - golf and ski simulators, VR, etc.? What other Wi-Fi/IoT or connected devices do you have throughout the home? (Printers, webcams, doorbells, baby monitors, thermostats, TVs, smart appliances including refrigerators, fitness bikes and mirrors, Alexa and other Home Automation Systems, etc.)

How many apps do you have on your phone controlling your home devices, and

longer a desired need for a vendor to drive product

what are they?

decisions or safety protocols, especially when the latest

ADG’s practice plays a significant role between the delicate balance of function

and most critical member of Adaptive’s Modern Design

and aesthetic coupled with today’s full home technologies. As the overlord of their

Team is guardDog.ai. No longer do you have to pray

engineered projects, they and their integration teams provide complete electric

that your home is protected from these invisible outside

design; lighting, dimming system design and programming, secure full home network

influences; with guardDog.ai, you just plug and protect.

design and specifications, distributed audio design specifications, distributed video

The guardDog.ai service is here and ready to be

design specifications, security design, camera design, temperature control, access

deployed. It will be working hard for you 24/7 to sniff

controls doors & gates design, and water leak detection & monitoring. There’s no

out, expose the vulnerability, log activities system-wide

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At Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove appliances you have unparalleled quality, connectivity, and peace of mind – always putting privacy at the helm of the customer experience.

“2020 & 2021 has been a free-for-all breach fest in the home electronics market. Everyone has a cool APP that’s selling more content and product to the consumer than ever before.” — Glenn Merlin Johnson

and provide proactive protection against attacks from your secured home environment without collecting your data. Riding tall in the saddle with a cyber jurisdiction path, guardDog has armed teeth against automated cyber weaponry to jail the virus and cuff the villains trying to hurt our family, communities, country, and the world. All of this is done while we are snug in our beds, having our morning coffee, running errands, helping the kids with schoolwork, or writing orders for work. Relief is here and ready to go to work for you. Artifical Intelligence is the key component in keeping today’s cybercriminals at bay.. Now with ADG, you too can manage all your home devices with the flexibility you deserve while maximizing your home security. Sense the crime and drive them off your scent… Don’t get Victimized, Get Sanctified! ☐

For more information on the custom secure home, contact glenn@adaptivedg.com CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

Virtually Fernando Romero’s parallax of nature

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FR-EE BY KAMI SLOAN

MEXICO CITY’S NEW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT BY FR-EE AND FOSTER & PARTNERS

DESIGN

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initial stages of a project as exemplary lighting

Throughout history, architecture’s been the pinnacle of human achievement. Fernando Romero’s adaptations are more than prolific marvels of awe; they are a corollary of historical, social, economic and environmental contexts. The fabric of FR· EE’s expressive envelope is to challenge new forms of movement, proportion and scale that amplify our interactions to meet our responsive needs for a better way of living. To say that his masterpieces defy conventionality is indubitable; Fernando’s architecture is the painting to our living dreams.

design can only enhance any architectural work. Not only is lighting a fundamental aspect of architecture, but it has the power to transform a space both physically and virtually. CB: For practicality’s argument, what’s your take on flat vs. curvilinear surfaces? Do humans feel more at home in a cubicle than they do in irregular surfaces? FR: Our duty as architects is to translate the essence and the needs of the times into a livable space where people can feel comfortable and safe while taking care of the natural resources during the design and construction process. There are no right angles in nature as it has many sinuous forms. CB: Can you please share more about your creative self-sustaining environments and how you live personally in residential and public spaces? FR: Since the pandemic, open spaces are becoming more prevalent for our mental and physical health. Providing spaces with these

Romero gets personal with Can Büyükberber to stress the importance of biophilic fluency and the apparent manifestations of virtual constructivism. CB: As we delve deeper into the future, VR spaces are becoming more prevalent and require less from the physical environment. What will our responsibility be in the daily interactions of these new terrains, and how will you approach these new virtual environments? FR: Technology is driving us into the virtual

qualities is an essential task for architects nowadays. My studio in Mexico City has a lovely garden where my team can find the right design conditions. I enjoy being in touch with nature both at work and at home. CB: What ideal material would be your dream to work with, whether near existence or theoretical? FR: I’m very interested in the research of cyberspace and how the relevancy of the NFT boom will affect architecture and the outcomes of merging worlds becoming one.

world. Even the art world is shifting now to be more in the virtual terrain than the physical one; for being able to grow, we need to evolve with technology. CB: Will lighting be as instrumental in the VR MEXICARTE MUSEUM

world as it is in physical reality? FR: Lighting should be considered at the CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

DESIGN

“LIFE IS JUST A

FANTASY -CAN WE LIVE THIS VIRTUAL LIFE?” CB: Can you share your experience designing the Mexico City New International Airport with Foster + Partners? FR: Both teams worked seamlessly since the very beginning. It was pretty interesting to see Foster + Partners airport experience matched with FR-EE’s creativity to develop a state-of-the-art yet functional design where you can see the Mexican influence in an international context. CB: How do you foresee the future of architecture? FR: Architecture needs to adapt to the times that we are currently living in. We need to design spaces that are respectful to the environment and promote health. CB: Do you think technology will determine the fate of human extinction, or will we figure out how to create harmony and balance among humanity, nature, and a robotic ecosystem? FR: I believe that in the end, we should find a balance between humans and technology. History has proven that humans will evolve alongside technological development and benefit from it. CB: Feel free to share new projects you’re working on. FR: I’m taking this time to focus on small-medium scale projects that acuminate the quality of the work with a keen eye on construction details. ☐ fr-ee.org 58

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MUNET

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DESIGN

TEAHOUSE Photo by Iwan Baan

VILLA VIRREYES

VILLAMAR RATIONAL

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RENDERS COURTESY OF FR-EE

HEXACITY

FERNANDO ROMERO Photo by FR-EE

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FEATURE

Decem Aspirare, 2012 Stainless-steel tubing, dyed and painted fabric, industrial blowers, hosing, electronic and mechanical timers 15’ × 8’ × 40’ overall United Therapeutics Corp. Silver Spring, MD Photo by: John Cress

CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

I N T O N AT I O N S

B Y

K A M I

S L O A N

FATVillage debuts Sara Garden Armstrong’s Modulative

Retrospective 63

FEATURE

Environment: Structure/Sound III 1979/2021

Wood, canvas, acrylic, speakers 16 forms, ranging up to 80” x 24” x 16” Photo by: Ben Ezra

The grit and raw esthetic of the historic warehouses provide the backdrop for emerging and renowned artists’ collectives mounted in the Projects Space and FAR Gallery that has an outreach of regional, national, and international visitors to its doors every year. Founder of Fort Lauderdale’s FATVillage district, Doug McCraw, describes the cultural heritage of the neighborhood indigenous and “of the place that distinguishes them as a brand development leader in the creation of design art-tech-food communities. With curricular art forums, installations, ArtWalks, pop-ups, and events, FATVillage welcomes eximious artist Sara Garden Armstrong’s THREADS and LAYERS curated by Paul Barrett. Armstrong’s works hone in on specific behaviors FATVillage is a community

COSMO MEMORIES 3, 2010

among the natural world, bodily functions and the built

of artists and techies with

Photo-collage, pastel graphite, gel medium on paper, mounted on wood

environment that allows iterative disciplines and mate-

inclusive studios, co-work

3 parts, 26′′ x 20′′ x 1.5′′ overall

vocabulary, and still, what remains throughout the

advertising, public rela-

Photo by: Tara Stallworth Lee

embodiment of her collective, is an intimately open

tions firms, film production

exchange between artist and viewer that’s an unwrit-

studios and restaurants.

ten narrative left up to interpretation. Between the

Think of a place where

verbal and the visual, they communicate something

living, working, and playing is a dynamic nucleus of discovery that continually grows and advances with the times. 64

rials. Art and science have been a part of Armstrong’s

spaces, graphic arts,

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that remains unexpected in the listener’s ears. “On all accounts, I use sound, as I would paint. The

BELOW LEFT: Marking Landscape 6, 2021

describes, “Is there for a reason, not an end in itself.” An example of this can be referenced in the sculp-

Abaca fiber, LED lighting, custom controller

ture she created for the Multiple Sclerosis Society at the

Dimensions variable

University of Alabama in Birmingham Medical Center,

Photo by: Ben Ezra BELOW RIGHT: Sentient Matrix, 2014 Abaca and kozo fiber, acrylic, gel medium, programmable LEDs, microcontroller, Aluminum, stainless steel, PVC tubing 20’ ×21’ ×16’

where programmable LED lights were used to demonstrate neurons. This led to more work with LEDs and the piece in the exhibition, Marking Landscape 6. Technology became part of the materiality utilized as painted brushstrokes. The light is all white light, and the skins show how we’re different and indistinguishable at the same time.

National Multiple Sclerosis Society AL-MS Chapter U of Alabama at Birmingham Photo by: Hugh Hunter

space, the maneuver of movement through the form of the space, the color and shapes determine the auditory”, expresses Armstrong. The correlation between biota and the technological aspect of her works purvey the dualities of mechanization and natural process of both the exterior and interior landscapes. Sara goes on to say, “The morphology of how I turn an idea into an object is both cognitive and organic.”The use of the technological application as Armstrong

CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

FEATURE

Among aesthetics, circuitry and rhythmic sensa-

areas that I push myself into. Usually, I realize that I’m reaching backward as I’m reaching forward.”

tion, Armstrong’s compilations propel the frictional conscience of these physical and emotional orienta-

“When I started out in the early ‘70s the work was in

tions that seek to amplify new capacities. Hybridizing

many ways minimal (some blue boxes, very Judd- like)

her artistic impetus, paper is Armstrong’s strong suit

while at the same time working on these very phallic

due to its malleability and the vicissitudes of insights chosen to foster unique ideas and perceptions. Sara opines, “I’m always challenged by new problems, new

CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

BELOW and RIGHT Installation at FATVillage Photo by: Ben Ezra

hand head wooden forms. I’ve never been able to give up these contradictions and have never seen any reason to do that. (I think a part of this is from where I am from –

the south. For me, it is very gothic and filled with contradictions).” When query about how these sensibilities evolved with the ever-changing realities of her work, “I find that there are THREADS and LAYERS that have run through my work from the beginning and still concern me.” Her study examines the paradigm of freedom and restraint between spatial and temporal application. A fine line between the pragmatic and the intuitive, Sara’s oeuvre is a paradox of equanimities that educe among time, space, and self-awareness. Doug airs, “Art is a “universal language” fluently communicated and beautifully understood between cultures, ethnicities and countries. The potential for BELOW: Genesis I, 2018

art to provide harmony and balance to a chaotic world

Collaboration between Brad Morton and Sara Garden Armstrong

creates a virtual bridge between all of us, and certainly Sara’s work does this.” ☐

Abaca fiber, copper, lights 5’×10’×14′′ Private collection

fatvillage.com For further information: saragardenarmstrong.net Installations: saragardenarmstrong.com SARA GARDEN ARMSTRONG: Threads and Layers, curated by Paul Barrett, FATVillage (Flagler Arts Technology), Fort Lauderdale Apr 24-Jun 26, 2021

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FEATURE

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BY KAMI SLOAN

“Without birth and death, and without the perpetual transmutation of all the forms of life, the world would be static, rhythm-less, undancing, mummified.” – ALAN WATTS.

FEATURE

an Büyükberber immersive audiovisual compositions seek to eliminate the line of demarcation from our psyche between the physical and virtual space that promotes a more empathetic world view. Venü has a tête-à-tête with the artist to learn more about the holistic approach of his practice, the exploration of the mystical and creating a universal connection. Venü: How do you make a virtual environment feel more humanly luxurious when it can’t engage the senses like a physical space does? Are we really manifesting our future through the immersion of these digital habitats? CB: We love sensorial experiences that give the nod to the theatrical-Cinema, music performances, and pieces of artwork are a simulated response to stimulate our intellect and create sensations. We live daily in a different place, whether it’s a concert hall, movie theater, or museum that’s confined to a length of time spent in a shared occupied space. As artists, our aim is to give you a more participatory transcendental voyage. I think about how we can utilize these esthetic things we do in our daily lives and apply them to create a more gratifying and satisfying daily encounter. Our imagination is limited to what’s been promoted to us filled with external images provided by corporate branding. My understanding of luxury is to create a sentiment of bliss that elevates your mood seamlessly and positively. You can fill your home with opulent pieces and materials, but that’s not the happiness we strive for. My understanding of my practice is not just about creating art for art’s sake but also about making my life better and living my life as a better human being. Inspired by Architect Buckminster Fuller’s philosophies, living my best life is on the same creative frequency as achieving that kind of elation in my work. Venü: In creating the contextual forms of your surroundings and the world you opt to reside in, is there a musical reference that organically helps it take shape, or does form follow the rhythmic vibration? CB: It changes with my mood and state of being at that particular time. If there’s an ideal state I’m striving for, I listen to Steve Reich – Music for 18 Musicians. There’s an emotional perplexity that oscillates through my frame of mind to depict the flow of emergent shapes. In VR, I can start off with eerie elements that move through different feelings and end with a peaceful mindset, or the juxtaposition can become more annihilistic in nature. It’s a combination of receptivity and the message I’m trying to convey. Music is more notations-based and has an entirely different set of resolutions. My work filters through spatial perception and dimensional symmetry that takes you on a journey.

Several synchronistic events took place separately from where it’s individually exhibited. The curators

Venü: Let’s talk more about your new audiovisual piece Primordial Force and the

and organizers asked for similar themes. I did a social

exhibition in Atlantic Beach, Florida.

responsibility project with UNESCO Intergovernmental

CB: It takes the concept of water into its alchemical roots and uses it as a metaphor

Oceanographic Commission that brought together vid-

for the collective unconscious, as Carl Jung described - A primordial force can be

eographers and visual art musicians to create a smaller

modeled as energy that originated everything: reality, time, space, life; an infinite

piece that could be expanded upon. Jessica Santiago,

potential of constant movement, influencing the interaction between pieces, forming

CEO and Curator at ArtRepublic Global, asked me if I

an ever-evolving whole.

would like to design with the water team. Being involved

CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

FEATURE

with ONEWORLD ONEOCEAN was a passion project dear to my heart that visualized my version of water texture, rather the flow and emotion of water. Inspired and fascinated by Carl Jung’s work on psychology, the collective unconsciousness, dreams, symbols, and Jungian archetypes of his own art, he was in part a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst that delved into the mystical. A concept that I was heavily thinking about is: How can the mind generate these ideas that don’t come from our own imaginations? In Moscow, the audiovisual exhibit came to life as a 360 tunnel installation. In Florida, it was a large- scale building projection at One Ocean Resort Hotel in that incorporated Alan Watts theories accompanied by a new layer of magic that shared his deep understanding of Life, Zen and Buddhism. Jung encouraged water animations coupled with sound effects immersed in architecture. Tonality played

replenished itself. There was a harmony and balance that

center stage and ignited new feelings, expressions, and forms.

was restored within the walls of the eco-system’s infrastructure. How do you create the harmony and balance

Venü: How was this experience for you when implementing the formulations into new

within the landscapes you create so we can find it within

shapes of water?

ourselves?

CB: The piece I created is quite spacious. – With big water splashes in a cacophony

CB: The responsibility of an artist is to imagine possibilities,

of booms played in slow-mo that orchestrated a human silhouette. Thirty-second to

not dictate the imagination of others. Advanced tools of

one-minute interval sound bites from original recordings of Watts poetized descriptive

visualization can bring more attention on very abstract

realities of infinity held within a grain of sand and notions of human consciousness

things that normally can’t be put together in our minds

perfectly fit into the stops of the water swashes. It was a magical dream-set of emotions

view. When you solve a problem in a digital dimension it

drenched in the environs of the ocean.

becomes a tangible item that’s processed before you and provides digestible information that’s visually seen about

Venü: During the unprecedented times of COVID, the world stopped and nature 72

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the world around you and about yourself.

The concept of sustainability and the rippling effect of our ecosystems are not based on a limited time frame of periphery. When we look at a beautiful view, we don’t perceive it as millions of years in the making sliced up over time to create it. The world stopped and the rivers got cleaner, dolphins are swimming, and due to hitting the pause button we got to see the impact of the overview effects because we watched it in real time. When astronauts saw the planet for the first time, they came in as one organism living on a piece of solid rock together. Immersive artistry can generate a feeling of our universal place on this planet that’s more participatory and subjective. The norm of cinematic arts is a cerebral experience based upon the limitations of what the narrator wants you to see. Jung expels, “A man who has not passed through the inferno of his passions has never overcome them. As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being. Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.” Venü: Where do you see the immersive environment going into our future? Will it become a physical space where it can be tactile or do you see technology overtaking us? CB: I’m definitely concerned about the impact of our technology in the creation of these esthetic planes. We are building a world stage of communication systems that create a neoteric social existence and play a role in the desires of our dreams and psyche. It’s beyond having screens in our rooms. We can only begin to speculate about what this new “brain” computer interface will provide. It’s become alarmingly clear that we have to pay attention to the interactive immersion of them. Whatever we visualize can easily shape our life and present a cause-and-effect scenario that shifts perception. In the last decade or so, it’s inevitable to see that the parallels between the environments are getting blurry, and blurry and even more blurry in the future. It’s our moral responsibility as architects, artists, and designers, to have discussions about them and distinguish how we go about using these powerful tools in our designs. We have to be careful and present the best scenarios we can come up with for these new needs and platforms. Ultimately, it’s beyond our imagination and increasingly more tangible to think about how they will take place and emerge to construct a better world. It’s horrifying to think about living like the Hunger Games, but together we can crack the code. Putting aside generational gaps, humans did not evolve over millions of years to push buttons. I think that the most radical thing to do is to be a natural human being. This will be the biggest statement of the future. ☐ canbuyukberber.com CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

“I like excitement, things we care about, things we can feel, things that arouse us. Overcoming death into life.” - MARCEL WANDERS

CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

TENSION

DESIGN

MAESTRO MARCEL WANDERS MASTERPIECES BY KAMI SLOAN

COVER STORY

AQ Melority Intensive Cream, Baccarat Edition for Decorté, 2021

Moniker the “Storyteller” of product and interior design, Marcel Wanders composes evocative

experiences

for

private clients and premium cosmetic, furniture, lighting, hospitality

and

tableware

brands to include Baccarat, Bill Amberg, Christofle, Flos, Lladro, Louis Vuitton, Poliform, Roche Bobois, Yoo Hotel Design Group and his own luxury brand Moooi to name a few. Among the diversity of fantasy and romance, Marcel’s modern repertoire challenges your perceptions and brings sheer cinema to your soul that plays on your heartstrings. Wanders confabulates about the complexities of design and, with a hint of subtle humor, shares how he’s more provident towards the future. VM: What part of design is authentic to you and how do you define beauty? MW: Nothing is beautiful on its own; it’s always in a relationship to something else.

VM: What does human luxury mean to you? MW: Designers think that design is about functionality.

Therefore, we can consider that beauty is the study of relationships. Red is not beau-

Things are not great just because they function – they’re

tiful; red next to orange is fantastic. Red next to purple is fantastic. Red next to green

great because they do more than function. Functionality

can be troublesome. Simply, beauty is a measure of love.

is absolutely at the lowest standard, and if that becomes the criteria for qualifying quality, then we live in an imperfect world. It’s a myopic view of how you approach it.

Lladro Nightbloom 2019

VM: How do you foresee virtuality tying into our real world? MW: I think we are all on a path of being less in the physical world and more into the virtual world. I support it, and yet I’m frightened of it. This tension sometimes emerges as a result of memory. Today, we miss having a physical connection and our children will hopefully miss it less. As their children grow, they’ll be happy living in it. We’re on a never-ending slope that’s a contributor of our humanity. I think it’s a beautiful thing. VM: Will we have any constraints in this parallel universe? MW: Our basic needs will change. Who we think we are will change, and therefore what we think we will need will vary. If we think differently, we’ll accept a different

CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

Marcel Wanders with Bill Amberg Print, stylist Jo Bailey, c.David Cleveland

“Luxury starts where functionality ends. It’s only where true value is personal, without price or reason that magic can begin. A place where your deepest wish is fulfilled before you knew you had it.” - MARCEL WANDERS CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

COVER STORY

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“What makes the desert beautiful,’ said the little prince, ‘is that somewhere it hides a well...” - ANTOINE DE SAINT-

EXUPÉRY, THE LITTLE PRINCE

YOO Hyde Panama Pool 2018

COVER STORY

Rijks, Masters of the Golden Age collection

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world and the other way around. We’re very different from our fathers and mothers, as they are different from their fathers and mothers. We’re in an accelerated phase in which distances us from our ideals of physical reality. The most successful thing on earth is us. We’ve always been here adapting to the world around us. We’ve evolved as a species while other forms of life have become extinct and gone away. Our most amazing instruments are our bodies. – We’ve learned how to be resilient. Fantastic! VM: How has the impact of COVID challenged you or changed your work process as a creator? MW: There’s proof that the world has massively changed. Our interactions have become more automated without human connection. All of our relations with co-workers and friends feel too programmed, and non-physical things are suffering and will continue to suffer in the future. I’m afraid that with all of these computerized systems from home networking to zoom meetings, we’ve become too efficient. For years, we’ve been making studios with bean bags, billiards and have lunch meetings to nourish our creativity. People are getting too complacent in their home environments and distracted in their everyday lives with the dogs, children, etc. It will be hard to bring back the freedoms and privileges we use to have.

To wanders is to wonder …… what will you discover? VM: Are you fascinated with the study of synesthesia as it seems that throughout your body of work, regardless of the medium, you engage the senses? MW: Most people mainly experience the world by sight. Some are kinesthetic in understanding their place in the world; others see through the spiritual realm, while others feel it. There’s an entire range. I have a better perspicacity in seeing how people emotionally tie themselves to things. My approach to design is to not exclude or put up any roadblocks that allows for a multi-dimensional sensory experience. I’ve become a more-rounded designer and the gift I’ve been able to give to myself is to create an interactive narrative that has a meaningful connection. I don’t want to make something that feels unimportant. – Design is an operetta of the senses. VM: If you were to pick a character from a film or nursery rhyme, who would it be and how does that relate to you personally? MW: The Little Prince. “The thing that is important is the thing that is not seen.” ☐

Jardin d’Éden Collection for Christofle, 2021

― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

FEATURE

BY CINDY CLARKE

Consistently named among the top abstract painters in the world in a highly competitive global realm of talent, Kay Griffith expresses herself in colors, otherworldly and of this world both. They play out in experiences, visually inspired and reality based, put to canvas by an artist’s hand that is guided more by her heart than any other preconceived notion of her art. That she is an independent thinker is a given. That her art speaks in stories uniquely personal to the viewer is a gift. When Kay puts paint to canvas, she does it her own way, eschewing brushes and acrylics for palette knives and oils that don’t suffer mistakes.

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Abstract U-399, 40”x30”, oil on canvas, it will be at the London Art Biennale

FEATURE

That is where her story and her stars align. Kay’s abstracts are a celebration of spirit, nature and passion, a trifecta of triumphs that have turned the eyes of some of the world’s most prestigious art shows towards her work again and again. Her art has been juried by the best across the globe and she has been invited to exhibit at the most elite museum quality international shows. Her paintings have hung in world-renowned museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Tokyo and the Grand Palais in Paris, along with being juried by a panel of international art experts of the London Art Biennale, not once, not twice, but three times, which is a really big deal in the art world. “I am truly honored when I am invited to exhibit my work,” she said, humbly dismissing the accolades that were forming in my mind each time I asked her about the exhibitions all over the world that showcase her art. That

she doesn’t subscribe to what others think she should

humility is part of her essence, a desire to give of herself

paint.

so that others can find their own joy in the work she does.

“When I first studied painting in the mid 1990s, I focused

“I don’t name most of paintings,” she explained, prefer-

on oils, learning how to execute highly detailed paintings like landscapes and wildlife,” she explained. She sold her work locally then, and settled into her career as a full-time painter. She dabbled in abstracts from time to time, she told me, but having no formal training in that type of art, she just followed her own instincts and took a different path than other artists in her genre. “I am who I am and I do what I do. I feel my way through my paintings.”

Below from left: “The Healer” 72”x50”, oil on linen Abstract U-343, 48”x60”, oil on canvas Abstract U-310 48”x60” oil on canvas

ring to let the viewer experience it their own way, without any subliminal suggestions from a title. “It’s not about me. It’s about the art.” Experience and mood are important to Kay, whose work is a reflection of the individual experiences she has, reminding me that like people, no two experiences are alike. “If I go outside, I see millions of bits of color, always in motion. I think the world is beautiful. I don’t think there is an

“If I have music on, I find myself painting to the rhythm of the music, rather than reflecting an experience. So when I’m actually doing an abstract, I don’t want music. My paintings require 100% focus so I can convey the experience or mood I felt. Sometimes I feel like a dancer as I choreograph the colors; each has its own set of rhythms and flow.” Kay knows her colors, often mixing them, altering their Detail of Abstract U-318 below

intensity and changing the hue ever so slightly until she gets them just right. She does so in the moment and not as calculated thought, each takes shape as she envisions the experience that moved her to paint it. The results are stories in motion captured on canvas, every stanza evoking

ugly color; it just needs to be in the right place. Whether it’s a desert or a lush forest, there’s a beauty to it. Paintings by their very nature are reflections of reality. As an artist, you can reflect the reality of those objects, or you can reflect the experience of being there. I reflect the experience.” That said, she doesn’t lay out or sketch her plans ahead of time. She just starts to paint, putting wet on wet until it is finished, regularly working up to 18 hours per day until it is completed.

Top right: Kay Griffith with Lady Sophie Windsor, member of the British Royal Family, London Art Biennale, 2019 Below: Tiffany Benincasa and Kay Griffith with Abstract U-318, 48”x80, oil on canvas

emotion, every swirl lifting the viewer someplace new – which is why her work is sought after by a top echelon of discerning collectors who appreciate her particular style and sentiments. “Do they commission her for pieces they want for their collection and ask her to color coordinate them with interiors they have in mind?” I inquire.

When she paints, she goes into her studio and locks the door. No phones, no interruptions, no music, no distractions, one painting at a time. She works long hours that test her physical endurance and rob her of rest, not that she cares a hoot about that. It’s part of the process of following her inspiration and her passion.

I DON’T NAME MOST OF MY PAINTINGS. IT’S NOT ABOUT ME. IT’S ABOUT THE ART CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

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“It’s not unusual to have somebody look at a painting, and love the way it feels. They love the feeling it gives them, but they want me to do it in a different color palette. I can’t do that. I can’t replicate a painting. I’m not following a recipe. That would make it really technical, which takes away the spontaneity and the inspiration behind it.” She will, though, hear from collectors who want another one of her paintings for their collection. “They will call me and ask for another one because they’re honestly having so much fun with the painting they own. Their guests come in to the room and everybody sees different things

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Abstract U-432, 20”x20”, oil on canvas Abstract U-388, 48”x 72”, oil on canvas

Photo by Justin Borja, Borga Visuals

Detail of Abstract U-403 shown below Abstract U-403, 48”x48”, oil on canvas

in the painting. It’s a great conversation starter. There’s a uniqueness to every person, and I celebrate that. And so I respect and celebrate their experience with the art. I think that adds to it. It’s not my experience that’s important. Once a painting is done, I really consider that I am superfluous. At that point, it is all about the viewer’s experience with the art.” Her agenda is a celebration of the earth, a celebration of its inhabitants, and a celebration of

in gold from the sun, or mirrored waters that glimmer and glint in blues beyond description, finding magic in the moment and inspiration in the air. And while she says she can never create on canvas anything that is as spectacular and beautiful as the real thing, what she does do is gift us a lasting sensory experience so full of life, energy and emotion that it never fails to summon smiles from viewers like me. And that is precisely her point. ☐

the uniqueness of individuals who are interacting with the art. Kay sees the world through a kaleidoscope of ever-changing colors all day long. She speaks of sunrises and sunsets that turn the sky from pink to purple to orange to red in the blink of an eye, of green and brown landscapes gilded

View her art in person at the London Biennale from June 30 through July 4, 2021, or at the C. Parker Gallery in Greenwich, Connecticut, or visit www.cparkergallery.com For more information about Kay Griffith, visit www.kaygriffithart.com CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

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CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

NEW

HORIZONS ART

GOING

SPACE

ART SPACESHIP

The Digital era has transformed the very essence of the way we live, as well as our

Shvets agreed to share more with VENÜ about the

perception of materiality and space. Art as a reflection of the changes in society have

nuances of the production process for this impressive

given momentum to a new medium of expression—digital art. Now, on the verge of

show, and navigates us through the virtual spaces of

this new space-age epoch, intangible and technological expressions of art are in

the Art Spaceship.

sync with the development of humankind. “Like the golden disk that was sent to extraterrestrial civilizations inside the Voyager in 1977, we will send a new message to the Universe,” says Anna Shvets, curator

How It All Began…

About a year ago, in the midst of pandemic, when all

of the Art Spaceship, a large-scale international exhibition of digital contemporary

the art institutions were frozen, we at TAtchers’ Art Man-

art, which replicates the interiors of a real spacecraft through virtual spaces. The

agement started this collaboration with the V-Art digital

Spaceship was developed with the participation of practicing space architects and

platform (www.v-art.digital) on an ambitious mission: to

a strong international technical team.

expand the realms of art and create virtual exhibitions 89

at a new level. Spaces that can be permanent in space expand the horizons of art presentation and perception and help to represent artistic research in all the depth.

With this aspiration in mind, TAtchers launched its first exhibition with an experimental space concept entitled ADRIFT/ becoming ocean, a digital show by Paul Rosero Contreras which displayed the results of expeditions to Galapagos Islands (2016-2019), Etna, Stromboli (2019), Antarctica (2013) and Amazonia (2013).

1: Samer El Sayary - The Oasis 2: Hall of fame: Nirit Binyamini Ben-Meir - Data Fossils, digital sculpture; Bohdan Svyrydov - Red Valley, generative art 3: Sandrine Deumier - Realness - Intimate Garden, VR

The project was situated on an island-cave in the middle of the ocean. The show was a great success, and it gave the team the courage to think about a new challenge. We started with this inspirational theme, asking “What concept can be stronger than Space?” In November 2020 we announced #SpaceOpenCall and received more than 200 applications from 54 countries encompassing over 1.8 million people from all over the world. By January 2021, 21 projects had been selected by a jury of leading art and Space experts: Maurice Benayoun - an artist, theorist and curator, a pioneering figure of New Media Art. Professor at the School of Creative Media, CityU Hong Kong, Founder of the Neuro-Design Lab. Barbara Imhof - an internationally well-known space architect, design researcher and educator that has pioneered the field of ‘space architecture’ in Europe. Valentino Catricalà - a scholar and contemporary art curator specialized in the analysis of the relationship of artists with new technologies and media.

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FEATURE

Judy Mam is the co-creator of dada.art, the

and projects. We also released a catalog of essays by

only visual conversation platform where people

the participants and advisers of our intergalactic project.

from all over the world speak to each other through drawings, making collaborative art.

Inside the Art Spaceship, artists, architects, engineers, researchers, IT specialists from Austria, Egypt,

Andres Burbano - an educator and

the USA, Greece, France, Ukraine, Switzerland, India,

researcher that explores the interactions of

Italy, Serbia, Russia, Canada, Lithuania, China, Brazil,

science, art and technology, concentrating on

Belgium, the UK, Ecuador, France present their research

interdisciplinary collaborative work in the field

projects in the following media: video, digital sculpture,

of digital art.

augmented reality and virtual reality. The projects were

Xin Liu - an artist and engineer, the arts

created together with AI and neural networks. United

curator in the Space Exploration Initiative in

by Space, they share with us their research and vision.

MIT Media Lab.

We hope our viewers will allow their curiosity to run

Working on the Art Spaceship we needed to

wild, exploring all the compartments, allowing ample

not only create interiors that replicate spacecraft

time to spend within each artwork, and ultimately

compartments, but also integrate art projects

absorbing these stories and reflecting on them as they

into digital environments while ensuring how

move within the labyrinth of the Art Spaceship.

maneuverable the application remains. One of

A virtual immersive journey begins in a Command

our most important parameters was the possi-

center or Mission Control – the ‘brain’ of the craft. Next,

bility of experiencing space travel using even

check flight controls. Try command desk features on a

the most simple smartphone or tablet. Despite significant current breakthroughs in IT, and in showing digital art, we still need to contend with a gadget’s operational memory limits and the fact that sometimes internet connections are imperfect.

In our desire to give the audience maximum possibilities, we supplemented the application (in which the visitor may physically move through the sections of the space station) with a web version in three languages that includes additional information about artists

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console dedicated to the search for the extraterrestrial Oasis with Samer El Sayary (Image 1, 11). The possible future is so compelling. Feel the invisible connection between Earth and Universe with Afroditi Psarra & Audrey Briot, and perceive the signal with your body. Ask yourself — are you ready to wear a garment with detectors that generate useful cosmic radiation data? How do you imagine space travel? Thomas Herzig offers you a vehicle – Marsbug (Image 7). Come closer to the engineer’s desk - here you can see even more. There’s an inflatable habitat for extraterrestrial planets and moons where it is possible to grow vegetables and fruit. To continue your exploration, let’s join Vitaly Yankovyi in his research of Transition footprint, and the after-Gentrification processes reflecting on the relationship between the urban, natural and digital world.

An alluring universe unfolds outside the cockpit windows – a spatial and atmospheric journey through forty thousand cubic kilometers of virtual landscapes, soundscapes, cities, natural formations and unbuilt projects of Damjan Minovski & Valerie Messini - 2MVD (Image 8).

4: Milos Peskir - Digital Fossil_Corrupt Galatian, Generative art 5: Alexandra Dementieva – Sleeper, AR art 6: R. Gopakumar - Ephemeral Void-Space I, video

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Before leaving the Command center, make sure that you remember to raise your gaze - Nine! Eight! Seven! And So On… Art Clay invites you into “Galaxy Gallery” where the viewer may experience a range of zero gravity artworks in the form of star constellations made up of new as well as vintage works that resemble the originals in an abstract but also in a recognizable way (Image 8).

Meditate in Ephemeral Void passage absorbing the power of Fire, Water, Air, Earth and Space. This sector connects all the Art spaceship’s compartments. R. Gopakumar is your guide here (Image 6).

It’s time to go to the Brain Observation Lab. Don’t be scared, our brain is also a Universe. Some ‘psychological experiments’ await you. We can start from tomography and see all the bits and pieces of our fragile memories with Selen Citron | Luca Lunardi. You can

7: Thomas Herzig – Marsbug project

film ‘Doll+: Body Transmigration in its Ideal Fantasy.’

8: Command center: cupola - Art Clay - Nine! Eight! Seven! And So On…, Interactive digital installation; windows - 2MVD - Head in a cloud, VR art

concepts of Ideal, Standardization, Perfection, Deifica-

9: Citron | Lunardi - Back up my memories, video

rethink (and possibly redefine) the semantics and aes-

even pick some of them up with tweezers for a closer look (Image 9).

Next, let’s dive into the fragile Digital universe with Milos Peskir to dig up and examine digital fossils. Be aware - sound is a crucial part of this experience. Try to reflect on the evolutionary closeness of humans and digital artefacts (Image 4). Now sit comfortably, Ran Zhou will show you her 94

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A strangle title indeed, but watch it to learn about the tion, Indigenization, Birth, Aging, Sickness, Death and Transformation of things (Image 13). You might have been wondering if there is a place for Artificial Intelligence on our ship, and there is, brought on board by Vadim Epstein. Pay attention! Neural networks StyleGAN2 and StarGAN2, this will probably make you thetics of your sensory perception (Image 10).

How many stories, memories and legends can humans share with extraterrestrials? Enter the Human archive to learn about a few. What would have been the most important information we could offer to aliens? How 9

might we reflect reality with our minds or create it with our imaginations?

10: Vadim Epstein - Terminal Blink, neural network co-production

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FEATURE

Please, turn all the lights off. Paulius Šliaupa will show us how to explore the darkness through night vision and what the techno remains of human digitalization would look like if someone came to our planet and found it devoid of light. Most of us have dreamt of or thought about time travel. Chari Glogovac-Smith offers you, The Afro-Futurist Guide To Time Travel. This piece is fantastic. Theories, novels, lyrics, critiques, and various other poetic expressions of the afro-futurist movement from the past and present. Are you curious about how to get yourself ready for a trip to the future? Just listen to Chari. (Image 12).

The following chapter of the Human archive is a video ‘How to make a Mazar*’ by Dan Li. A Mazar is a tomb, especially one revered as a shrine; any place of religious pilgrimage. You sink into a narrative about ‘-isms’, glorious heroes, wars and their victims. The website

https://orbicular.github.io/mazar_en is ‘a cell’ of the digital world in a post-humanist society that becomes a Mazar, built by Dan. Our ship’s Human archive would be incomplete without the chapter written by Felipe Carrelli and his colleagues - the virtual reality (VR) documentary Desert

11: Samer El Sayary - The Oasis 12: Chari Glogovac-Smith - The Afro-Futurist Guide To Time Travel, generative art, video

Stars. This will delight anyone keen on ethnoastronomy. Tales and legends about the Saharawi worldview told under the starry skies in a refugee camp. Stories about the sky and names of stars according to their tradition. We are now in the most solemn area of the Art Spaceship - Wardroom / Hall of Fame. With three huge portholes we can see interstellar aerospace with the eyes of three artists: perfect geometry of pulsing spheres by Priyanka Das Rajkakati, magnetizing blue in a kaleidoscope of flash images by Alejo Reinoso and unfolding in time and space Martian landscapes by Bohdan Svyrydov. Data Fossils of Nirit Binyamini Ben-Meir exist in the center of the hall – monuments of futuristic archaeology and alien anthropological research. Sculptures accumulate layers of information that mimic original historic buildings where parametric analysis of an image is translated into a 3D geometry (Image 15).

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Like the tapestries that adorn the ceremonial knight’s hall, film frames are captured and digitalized by Alexandra Dementieva. They come alive here with augmented reality effects, encouraging us to ponder the continuation of the story. If you, like us, believe that spaceships should also have a place of graceful contemplation, then your eyes will be attracted by the dome. It is Realness - Intimate Garden by Sandrine Deumier where sensory immersion

13: Ran Zhou - ‘Doll+: Body Transmigration in its Ideal Fantasy’, movie

and inspire others – to follow curiosity, to create, and to

14: 2MVD - Head in a cloud, VR art

yet to answer these and many more questions. But we

15: Nirit Binyamini Ben-Meir - Data Fossils, digital sculpture

see the beauty of the endless Universe and explore it. What can we tell, share, and teach about human civilization to the inhabitants of other planets? We have can now say with confidence that the digital dimension is its own universe, the study of which will continue to open up new opportunities and worlds for all of us. ☐

in a cybernetic garden is akin to the exploration of a

To navigate the Art Spaceship with your smartphone

possible identification of a mutant nature.

or tablet - download the app - https://vart.page.link/ z4UX, to explore a web version - www.V-art.digital/

Artists and researchers are always at the forefront as they expand the boundaries of the possible and the hori-

artspaceship

zons of reality. Digital technologies act as a powerful tool of transition, blurring the limits of what can and cannot be, allowing us to envision the Future. I am sure that in only a few decades (or even sooner!) we will be able to experience space flights in real life. I hope our planet will still be fertile and gorgeous. I believe, despite all the silly manifestations of human nature, we have skills to share

ANNA SHVETS - is an art manager, a producer of art initiatives and CEO at TAtchers’ ART Management. As a producer realized projects* in Russia, USA, Argentina, Lithuania, Spain, Sweden, Austria, Turkey, Finland, Italy, UAE, Egypt, Brazil, India and Ecuador. As a director and producer, she made the international art expedition Antarctic Biennale. Anna believes that art can be a unique language that unites countries and continents, culture, and science. Her art research spans widely across contemporary art theory, a collaboration of art, science, business and new technologies, and focuses on the interaction of art and environmental humanities in exceptional places of our planet. Currently, she teaches art business at several international universities. *http://tatchers.art CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

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Re ba wind 20 ck to the Pa 19, w No cass Su pag hen vemb ette ho hay eorg Mis er he sted b Za e an sy for r So an e rrou d Ro pho ho lo ven g Ov bert togr ft in t at de ersiz Wh aphe NYC an cora ed P itma r fro d be ted t olar n. life m al autif he w oids ec fit in l wal ul pe alls tha cent wit ks o ople t fi ric h th f ll t od he dit e sp ies ac e.

Miley Cyrus, Album Cover - Plastic Hearts, 2020 CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

FEATURE

MMISSY had been gaining a reputation for using her

loft as what some would call an artist-salon (think Gertrude Stein). She dubbed it ‘Palais

Rock’ and whenever an event was taking place word traveled quickly through her circle of friends. Friends would bring other friends; new networks would form and bohemian camaraderie would ensue. On this particular

night, her friend Geoff Horn brought a very special guest whom he knew would do more than fit right in. The elevator door opened and out walked the legendary photographer, Mick Rock. Mick and Missy instantly bonded. For the rest of the night, the two chatted in a quiet spot while sitting on two oversized thrones and the rest is palais rock history As 2020 rolled in, so did dozens of bubble-wrapped images. “We all sat together and opened each one. I was in disbelief. I knew I was cool but I did not think I was this fucking cool.” said Missy. “It was surreal because not only were we opening these incredible photographs — these moments that Mick was able to capture and immortalize — Mick narrated the entire time. My mind was blown.”

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1: David Bowie, Iggy, Pop, Lou Reed, London, 1972 2. Madonna, NYC, 1980 3. Tina Turner, London, 1974 4. Nile Rodgers

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FEATURE

1: Queen 2, Album cover, London, 1974 2. Lenny Kravitz, NYC, 2020 3. Tim Curry, Rocky Horror 4. Mick Rock, 2018, copyright, Nathalie Rock

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We all sat together and opened each one. I was in disbelief. I knew I was cool but I did not think I was this f’ing cool.

Mick first picked up a camera, he says,

fairness, we especially did not plan for Mick to

to those same thrones where Mick and Missy

“Only so many pics were taken back then,

shoot Miley Cyrus’s new album cover, ‘Plastic

had their first chat session.

no phones to document, no modern chit chat.

Hearts’ either,” Papageorge said.

Even less of the people are no longer with

As he sipped his latte Mick noted, “I knew

On the day of the shoot, Mick and Miley

that Miley was the real thing and that’s before

chatted while she wandered through the loft.

I shot her. She reminds me of Bowie. A girl boy,

“We had plans to do really outrageous

Miley lounged in a smoking chair, she licked

but it goes somewhere beyond all of that. Ya

stuff. We did not plan for covid but in all

the loft’s pet Disco Lion and found her way

know when you upset people just by being.”

us…..these icons.”

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FEATURE

1: Missy Papageorge 2. David Bowie, backstage, 1973 3. Janelle Monáe, Los Angeles, 2010

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4. Debbie Harry, NYC, 1978

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As a matter of course, the planning has not stopped. “I had always told Mick his work would be a perfect fit for Westport,” said Papageorge, who also resides in Connecticut. It’s always been a chic little artist’s mecca. It’s perfect timing for a celebration of Mick. We are packing up the palais and bringing all the rocks. We look forward to sharing Mick with Fairfield County this summer.” We’ll keep you posted you on Mick’s exhibition dates in Westport this summer through Venü’s Ü-LIST newsletter. Sign up at venumagazine.com. For more information on Mick Rock visit: mickrock.com

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TRANSPORT: Aviation

BY KAMI SLOAN PHOTOS BY MATUS BENCE

Is it a car? Is it a plane? Is it a kinetic sculpture? It’s AeroMobil – The luxury vehicle that takes you from your driveways to the airways. Venü correspondent Glenn Merlin Johnson visits with CEO and Chairman Patrick Hessel to discuss the ultimate experience and freedom of transport at your disposal. 106

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107

hours of special training to be operational and navigate the flying car safely. GMJ: With the initial rollout of hundreds of vehicles in 2023 does the approximately base package of 1.7 million purchase include training, and where would the training take place? If I were to order one, how would that work? PH: Training comes with your purchase and takes place in different continents both in Europe and in the United States. Primarily,

important significance due to the number of

design. What was AeroMobil fashioned after?

aviators and California just as pivotal. We’re

PH: We used to travel on horses and then

looking forward to having partnerships in

moved to automobiles. Humans are bound

these regions.

by gravity to be on the earth’s surface and have always aspired to fly and inspired by

GMJ: How do you plan on going to market

birds because it seems counterintuitive

with your product? Will you sell directly, or will

for us to be moving in a three-dimensional

it be dealership-based?

space. Our inspirational development came

PH: We plan on going through direct dealers

from the Greek mythological creature of the

who currently sell supercars, hyper-cars,

Pegasus that moved on the earth and the

exotic cars and airplanes. The exclusive

heavens. It was a fantasy image based on

demographic that they cater to targets the

our accomplished ideals in how the future car

car enthusiast and aficionado who crave for

could operate both on the ground and in the

an unforgettable storytelling experience. Ini-

air. Otherwise, many airplane designers and

tially, our prime consumers will be non-pilots.

engineers look towards nature –butterflies,

This usually doesn’t happen for airplanes.

dragonflies and insects. It’s quite fascinating to create what seemed impossible, possible.

GMJ: What’s the maximum flying distance of the vehicle?

GMJ: I read on your website that the Aeromo-

PH: Give or take, we’re at 460 miles for single

bil is suitable for learning pilots. Is that correct?

occupancy and 320 miles for dual occupancy.

PH: Just as the fabled wing-tailed horse, we say that Aeromobil is suitable for the learning

GMJ: Tell us more about the uber-type four-

pilot because it’s primarily designed for safety

seat opportunity.

and flight stability. You need a Private Pilot

PH: This is our second stage strategy approach

License (PPL), a standard certificate required

in growing our business. We understand the

to operate a small aircraft. For those who

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our target market, with Florida being of

GMJ: Nature has always dictated man-made

already hold a license, you just need a few

America

- GLENN MERLIN JOHNSON

need in the marketplace for both a sporty

TRANSPORT: Aviation

flights utilizing the aviation infrastructure of the 20K smaller airports with an affordable

advantage

and competitive edge over private jet companies. We’re looking at a 150-500 mile sweet spot in terms of range that sits right in between an automobile and a plane, where it usually would be too long for a two-seater and a larger capacity sedan. The latter will appeal to flying car customers looking for a larger vehicle, and will also serve as the principal “fleet vehicle” for our planned aerial limousine services, providing business class room and comfort whether on the ground or in the air. A no hassle and worry-free experience lets you sleep and relax for three hours without changing the mode of transport or going in and out of airports uncomfortably and waiting on long lines for security checks, luggage drop-

car ride and too short for a plane trip. It’s a big-time innovation that takes you door to door at your convenience without having the bother of changing planes when there isn’t a direct connection. What could be better than being picked up in an exotic flying limousine, being airborne through town and driven to your front door? With a pulse on ride-hailing over the last ten years (when a rider “hails” or hires a personal driver that takes a direct route without stopping to their destination), it’s the perfect premium offer with a complex operating system that’s emotionally

offs and pick-ups. Essentially, this will be a 24/7

driven and designed for comfort rather than

operation that is not bound to pre-scheduled

sport. We’re going to democratize a new age

of driving and flying that revolutionizes the way we think about travel. GMJ: Do you have to file a flight plan and in general what is the maximum altitude you can go? PH: The Aeromobil can go up to 10k feet which is standard among smaller aircrafts. We have to abide by existing requirements in the different control zones, but you don’t have to file a flight plan. All you have to do is communicate with air traffic control. There’s an astounding autonomy about having this kind of flexibility. GMJ: Who did the interior design of the AeroMobil? PH: We work closely with our in-house team and external design houses. Our plan is to do some extraordinary fashion-forward collaboration that will impress upon the glamour and appeal of its exotic body style. The Future is here with AeroMobil – Art never felt and looked so good! ☐ aeromobil.com CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

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WELLBEING

Well-up your home with these cutting-edge wellness technologies By Judy Chapman

spa…

THE ULTIMATE HOME MASSAGE (no therapist required). I discovered Migun Massage Therapy Table by migunworld.com a few decades ago and have been obsessed about them ever since.

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Over the last year, we’ve all become attuned

They are promoted as a cutting-edge pain

to the importance of maintaining a healthy and

management therapy, and I use mine daily

resilient immune system. We’ve also become

simply to rest and restore. Essentially, you

educated about the necessity of spending

are lying on a bed that is warm and comfort-

more in nature for our health and longevity.

able as far-infrared heated jade massage

Fresh air, clean rivers and oceans and the

heads glide up and down your back from

stars above – the largest wellness ‘industry’

The good news is that over the last few

the tip of your head to the bottom of your

is outside. But with over half of us living in

years, there’s been incredible research and

tailbone and up and down both legs. You

cities (it’s predicted that this number will rise

development into home spa wellness space.

may never need to book a real massage ever

to nearly 70% by 2050), then urban wellness is

Many of these are reasonably priced, portable

again! The heated massage and acupressure

becoming more important than ever.

and super easy to install. Simply put, if you’re

treatment is extremely effective at reducing

Which is why, as a Spa Designer, I’m

a wellness advocate and enjoy massages,

or eliminating pain. The deep heat penetrates

relentlessly on the lookout for results-ori-

saunas and taking care of yourself, then it

and relaxes muscles as it gently flexes and

ented wellness treatments and technologies

may be worth considering introducing some

stretches your spine, reducing inflammation,

that work for not only the commercial spas

of these at home so you have access to

improving blood flow and nerve conduction.

and wellness sector but also for residential

wellness 24/7 on tap! There are several ways

Migun Massage Therapy tables are recom-

and offices.

to transform your sanctuary into a wellness

mended for back pain, chronic pain, arthritis,

CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

fibromyalgia, sleep, stress, and anxiety. You’ll

become one of the most popular technol-

often find them in wellness clinics and Pilates

ogies introduced into the spa and wellness

studios all around the globe (and at my house)!

space. Sweating is one of the only proven ways to detoxify our body. They are used for

STAY REJUVENATED WITH RED LIGTHT TREATMENTS

detoxifying the body of heavy toxic metals such as lead and mercury, as well as alcohol

My current obsession is Red Light Treatments

and nictone. Saunas boost circulation, oxygen

(RLT) and with good reason. Presented in

and metabolism in the body. The Infrared heat helps to relax the muscles and are commonly

simple panels, they are easy to use, affordable and deliver great results for weight-loss, inflammation, enhancing sleep, skin and so much more! Sports athletes use RLT for healing inflammation, building muscle tissue and assisting with the recovery from injuries. In the beauty space, RLT is used for boosting tissue, collagen and skin glow. Red Light therapy was popularised back in the 1990’s when scientists discovered red light promotes growth of plant cells and started using this to grow plants in space. Fast track forward, and Red light has been studied for its effect on boosting energy in human cells. It’s thought that Red light strengthens our mitochondria, the powerhouse of our cells and where our cell’s energy is created. With

them into their spa as an actual spa treatment named ‘Sacred Nap’. The sensation of the weightless swaying in the hammock feels incredibly restful for the mind and body. There are many brands offering good quality silk Yoga Hammocks. One of these is UpCircleSeven based in Las Vegas. Their Yoga Hammock is said to help deepen one’s yoga practice while naturally relieving back pain through spinal traction. They help to

used by athletes for pain recovery. While maintaining a healthy immune system is heavy on our minds, the innovation of Infrared Saunas today are more outstanding than before that it leaves little for worry or wonder. You can easily install these at home, at the office (a great way to keep your staff energised) and even outdoors! The costs vary from brand to brand but normally are around $5-10k so if you are an avid sauna-goer like

increase your strength and flexibility while providing new ways to move one’s body and hang upside down with confidence and ease. These Yoga Hammocks are positioned to help improve Inversion and enhance backbends. I personally just like to hang about in them and drift and dream…ahhhh!

more energy, our cells can regenerate and repair faster and better. Interested to find out more? There are several excellent brands globally producing

DETOX IN A HOME INFRARED SAUNA Over the last decade Infrared Sauna has

simple and affordable RLT. Just some of these include the USA Joov brand, HigherDOSE New York and Aurora Red Light Australia. You can buy these as singular panels that you can use strategically on body parts or go all out and or invest in the full body one!

DE-STRESS IN A YOGA HAMMOCK Stress is now considered a leading cause for many of today’s chronic (and often preventable) modern diseases. Which is why I’m a big advocate of anything that helps one unwind and decompress. For less than $100, why not install a Yoga Hammock as your relaxation therapy! These hammocks feel so amazing that the Four Seasons Resort Bali introduced CONTEMPORARY CULTURE//MAGAZINE

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WELLBEING

AND THE PORTABLE INFRARED SAUNA When you can’t install a full-blown Infrared Sauna unit at home, then consider an Infrared Sauna Blanket from HigherDOSE. These are so easy to use - you simply snuggle up inside the blanket and the soothing and stimulating infrared heat will gradually heat, increases in blood flow and promotes sweat and detoxification - it’s like working out without working out! Another wonderful home spa sauna is the Clearlight Curve Dome saunas that have infrared mats on both sides so you are heated on the front and back of your body. These are lightweight and easy to fold up and store in a me, then the ROI is pretty healthy - you basically have to have 3 saunas a week for a year to get your return on investment. Some of the best sauna brands to consider include Clearlight Australia (you’ll find their saunas at the best spas around the world), Sunlighten Saunas Australia, and Higher Dose New York. One of the reasons I like the Clearlight brand is they really do their R&D when it comes to producing low EMF saunas and other products. What I also love about these are their contemporary design and functionality. The heat panels are positioned on the bottom half of the unit which means you don’t get so hot in the upper body brain area that is very aligned with the Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine approach to healing. There’s even a little cold cupboard inside where you can store your phone or iPad that makes WFH even more fun! The HigherDOSE brand offers full spectrum infrared saunas that come with chromotherapy and Bluetooth so you can play music, guided meditations, inspiring podcasts and enjoy colour therapy at the same time. Spa Designer Tip: When selecting where to install your sauna, why not place it in an area that overlooks your garden or greenery for added peace of mind. 112

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closet or corner of the room when not in use. . P.S. Clearlight are currently upgrading these to a next-level experience- stay tuned!

STAY RELAXED AND REGENERATED WITH A BIO-MAT I’ve only recently discovered the power of Bio-Mats and Infrared Mats. These are an emerging trend in luxury spas around the world. Essentially, you lie on these crystal-infused infrared heated mats for 20-30 minutes and reap the benefits of deep and profound relaxation. They are designed to de-stress, support the immune system, decrease inflammation, improve sleep and ease you into that lovely parasympathetic state where self-healing kicks in. In my opinion, the Amethyst Richway BioMats produced in the USA are one of the best brands. They produce medical-quality FDA-Approved mats for indications including relaxation of muscles, increase of local circulation where applied, reduce muscle pain and minor joint pain and stiffness as well as pain associated with arthritis. I first tried this at Evolve Health Labs in Byron Bay Australia during their Cryo Facial and the results were epic. The HigherDOSE Infrared Mats are also excellent and one of the most affordable on

the market. According to the founders, these

Clean air is a prerequisite for our personal

mats give a similar benefit to an Infrared

wellbeing. It’s said to improve our sleep,

Sauna but without the sweating element. The

mental clarity, mood and immunity. Which is

HigherDOSE Infrared Mats are made with four

why I love the USA brand Austin Healthmate

beneficial layers: Amethyst Layer, Tourmaline

Air Filters that are designed to protect and

Layer, Charcoal Layer, and the Clay Layer.

combat viruses, pathogens, dust, dander,

The amethyst layer, for example, provides a

pollen, and airborne allergens with medical

deeper penetration of therapeutic infrared

grade HEPA filtration. I am sure there’s lots of

and is like ‘a natural tranquilizer’ that helps to

other great brands on the marketplace – do

relieve stress and anxiety and balance mood

your research!

swings. The tourmaline layer is believed to

END: These are just some of the wellness

increase mental alertness, improve circulation

strength in mobility. These are said to remove

devices and technologies I am introducing

and strengthen the immune system. The char-

heavy metals and toxins that we ingest from

into spas around the world this year (and

coal layer amplifies the detoxification process

water supplies, food pesticides and additives

indeed into my own home)! With the pan-

and the clay later emits negative ions and is

and restructure drinking water on a cellular

demic keeping people indoors, this space is

balancing to the heat.

level to fully energize your body system with

evolving fast… ☐

All this, plus they are light, easy to travel and you can take them anywhere! P.S. HigherDOSE have just launched a travel version called the Infrared PEMF Go Mat (pictured) that offers the benefits of infra-

vitality and hydration.

…AND CLEAN UP YOUR INDOOR AIR QUALITY Air pollution is now considered one of the

Judy Chapman is an International Spa Designer and consults for hotel, spa and wellness brands around the world including Menla Mountain Retreat in the USA. Judy

red heat without the sweating. You can take it

most serious health issues in the world today

also develops white label skincare products

to the office and relax while you work – what’s

- especially when it comes to indoor air pol-

for spas and individuals. She is the former

not to love about that!

lution. In fact, the World Health Organization

Editor-in-Chief of Spa Asia magazine and

(WHO) reports that 92% of the world’s urban

PURIFY YOUR WATER

population live in cities where the air is toxic.

In these unprecedented times, there’s never

According to the EPA, indoor pollution

been a more critical time than now to intro-

can be two to five times greater than outside.

duce a water purification system. Bacteria,

Simply put, there are countless chemicals and

contaminants and viruses found in water

contaminants found in modern furniture, bed-

systems can cause serious illnesses. Some

ding and fabrics as well as in personal care

holistic practitioners go as far to say that

and cleaning products. Throw out your Air

viruses can leave an imprint in water that has

Fresheners – they are filled with chemicals!

author of several books on wellness and spas. Judy is currently based in Byron Bay, Australia. www.judychapman.com.au

an impact on one’s immunity. There are many water filtration systems to consider. I really like Alps Water Filters in Australia. The ALPS Water Filtration System employs Zeolite as the 2nd Layer of its filter cartridge. It has long been proven that Zeolite is highly effective in removing most heavy metals that may be found in tap water. Drinking fresh, clean, chemical free, structured, energized and alkalized Drink ALPS water and you will notice many benefits for your mind, body and physical health and energy. Alps also supply the super hydrating Prill water that are said to boost clarity, vitality and

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FILM + ENTERTAINMENT

Fox on Film by PETER FOX: about.me/foxonfilm

(Front) Danielle Macdonald as Madeleine, Valerie Mahaffey as Mme Reynard, Imogen Poots as Susan. (Middle) Daniel Di Tomasso as Tom, Isaach de Bankole as Julius. (Back) Michelle Pfeiffer as Frances Price, Susan Coyne as Joan. Photo by Lou Scamble, courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

FRENCH EXIT Directed by AZAZEL JACOBS Written by PATRICK DEWITT Starring MICHELLE PFEIFFER as Frances Price LUCAS HEDGES as Malcolm Price VALERIE MAHAFFEY as Mme Reynard IMOGEN POOTS as Susan A Sony Pictures Classics Release, Rated R, 113 minutes.

rench Exit is a masterfully executed film and offers an intimate look at what happens when a wealthy woman, Frances Price, whom Michelle Pfeiffer brilliantly portrays, faces financial ruin. Directed by Azazel Jacobs and written by Patrick de Witt, this dark comedy is both inventive and poignant. It offers an intimate look at the inevitability of default to one’s natural identity when

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the means to a high utility level, acquired through marriage, is no longer available. When the consequences become unbearable, Frances must choose between life or death. The story begins when Frances arrives unexpectedly at a high-end prep school to reclaim her 12-year-old son, Malcolm, portrayed as an adult by Lucas Hedges. Her husband has died, and she has

inherited a massive fortune, including cash, priceless art, and a Park Avenue home in New York City. Flash forward 15 years, where we learn from Frances’s advisor that the fortune is now gone, in large part to her careless spending habits. When Frances requests the money she brought to the marriage, the advisor reveals that the amount was minuscule and long ago. In the meantime, Malcolm is indecisive about his engagement with Susan, played by Imogen Poots. After a lunch meeting with her best friend Joan (Susan Coyne), Frances accepts her offer to move to Paris to live in her apartment. Francis, Malcolm, and their black cat, “Small Frank”-named after her late husband, leave the heartbroken Susan and New York for a passage on the Cunard line to Europe to settle in the Paris apartment owned by Joan. While on board the ocean liner, Malcolm enters the bar and meets Madeline (Danielle MacDonald), who works on the ship as a psychic reader. She and Malcolm share a few drinks and a roll in the hay, much to the chagrin of Frances. While at the customs counter after they arrive, Madeline forges a connection with the black cat before leaving them. At their new apartment in Paris, Francis removes her smuggled cat and 15 stacks of cash, worth a total

of 1.5 million Euros. She neatly places the money on a shelf in the closet, and as the story moves on, the stacks are like a ticking clock, winding down to a zero hour and its inevitable consequences. Shortly after settling in, Francis receives an invitation to meet an old friend from New York living in Paris, Mademoiselle Reynard (Valerie Mahaffey). Eccentric but affable, Reynard has prepared dinner and drinks but receives haughty condescension from Frances, whose dialog cuts to the quick for most of the film. There are plenty of gags along the way. When Mme. Reynard excuses herself for a moment, Malcolm discovers a frozen dildo in the kitchen freezer. When he returns to the living room and tells Frances, she asks: “Why would you want it cold?” Malcolm replies: “That’s the mystery.” Not a single cell phone or computer appears in the film, but the automobiles, costumes, and remaining art direction are present-day and give the film a timelessness. After a bike ride, Malcolm stops at a payphone to call Susan in New York and discovers she is now engaged to a new boyfriend, Tom (Daniel Di Tomasso). When he returns to the apartment, he discovers that Small Frank has bitten and injured

Frances. As he bandages her wound, the cat runs out into the Paris night. After this moment, the film’s central question is brought forth in dialogue spoken by Mme. Reynard. In a private chat with Malcolm, she asks him: “Do you ever feel as though you’ve had adulthood thrust upon you at too young an age, and you’re still essentially a child, mimicking the behaviors of the grown-ups all around you so they won’t uncover the meager contents of your heart?” Reynard could as well have directed this question to Frances, only on the subject of social privilege. Just substitute the word Privilege for Adulthood, and in this sense, the question speaks to Frances’ parvenu nature; a working-class woman who has married into wealth but must now face the naked truth that she is hopelessly on the way back down the societal and economic ladder to her place of origin and humble beginnings. As the years of her immersion in the ruling class have afforded her the look, vernacular, and mannerisms of someone “to the Manor born,” she is woefully unprepared for the impending loss of the resources required to sustain her gluttonous existence and counterfeit identity. Psychologically and emotionally, she is lost, fearful, and against the wall. Pfieffer’s performance is convincing and also sympathetic. We feel her hopelessness and desire to make things better, not only for herself but for Malcolm. Her ordinary world is quickly slipping away, but

she doesn’t know what to do about it. Before Malcolm can answer Mme Reynard’s pointed question, Frances bursts back into frame and bellows: “That witch you fucked on the boat on the way over. She understood him, didn’t she? Why can’t we ask her where he is?” A private investigator, Julius (Issach De Bankole), is summoned, and he quickly returns with Madeline. Shortly after that, Susan arrives in Paris with Tom, her objective being to decide whom to marry. With the apartment filled with all of these various characters, the comedic peak of the film unfolds as Madeline conducts a seance to locate and communicate with Small Frank, the cat. In the scene, Malcolm confronts Frank’s spirit on abandoning him as a young boy, bringing Frances closer to him. A quick look inside the closet reveals that the stacks of money are nearly gone, resulting from Frances’s inability to handle her finances responsibly. At the park across the street from

Lucas Hedges as Malcolm Price and Danielle Macdonald as Madeleine in FRENCH EXIT. Photo by Lou Scample, courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

her apartment, she gives a homeless man €300,000. Then, she sits at an outdoor cafe and writes a note to her friend Joan, informing her that she will commit suicide. She leaves a €100 tip for the waiter, who mails the message to Joan. Francis summons Madeline to conjure Frank for one last conversation but not to ask him to come home. Instead, she clears her slate with him regarding Malcolm, their marriage, and their ultimate fate. Aside from one technical

glitch in the film (I won’t give it away, but here’s a hint: keep an eye on the money), this is a near-flawless film, with Michelle Pfeiffer serving up one of the best performances of her career. Lucas Hedges is in equal parts soft, vulnerable, and firm in his portrayal of Malcolm. The sleeper performance of French Exit comes from Valerie Mahaffey, who displays excellent range as Mademoiselle Reynard. French Exit is a delightful, funny, and also thought-provoking cinema. ☐

Michelle Pfeiffer as Frances Price, Lucas Hedges as Malcolm Price in FRENCH EXIT. Photo by Tobias Datum, courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

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VENÜGRAM

“BURNING SUNSET” PHOTOGRAPHY BY EVAN SMITH

Burning Sunset, San Diego, CA

“Sunsets are proof that no matter what happens, every day can end beautifully.” – Kristin Butler –

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Summer is coming

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RICK GARCIA, “Seating for Two”, Acrylic on Canvas, 52” x 72”

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