Dispatches from Savannah: Speaking at SCAD Style

Earlier this week I traveled to Savannah to speak at SCAD Style, the month-long chock-full festival put on by the Savannah College of Art and Design that culminates in a student fashion show and lifetime achievement award. This year’s recipient: Isabel Toledo.

I was delighted to be in the company of an impressive roster of speakers, such as Pulitzer Prize winning Washingnton Post fashion critic Robin Givhan, hip-hop pioneer Russell Simmons, interior designer Jonathan Adler, Barneys creative director Simon Doonan, designers Mark Badgley and James Mischka, architect Clive Wilkinson, MoMA curator Barry Bergdoll, New York Times art critic Michael Kimmelman and many others. I would have loved to stay the month attending each talk – and I recommend it to all, since all lectures are free – but alas, my stay was just a few days.

I spoke as part of a panel of design bloggers. We had a packed house and a wonderful audience of students, faculty and staff who seemed as excited about the blogging as we are. My co-panelists were artist-blogger Katie Runnels, who has wonderful site, The Constant Gatherer, where she features her own work and the work of artists she finds, and Grace Bonney, who began Design*Sponge in 2004, to concentrate on home and product design, and is one of the first design bloggers.

 Where we spoke, the Pei Ling Chan Gallery, a former bank now part of the campus, as it was filling up with students.

 

 

Here we are after our talk (from left): Me, Katie Runnels and Grace Bonney.

 

 

 

SCAD graciously put us up in the wonderful Magnolia Hall, it’s 1878 mansion-guesthouse adjacent to Forsyth Park.

 

I love the way the ivy grew under each step leading to the front porch.

I took an early-morning walk through Forsyth Park and just couldn’t get enough of the Spanish moss. At right is the view from the floor-to-ceiling windows in my room.

 

One thing I love about the SCAD aesthetic is the way they mix styles, nothing is taken too seriously. In my room, a lucite chair, antique screen, Moroccan poof and funky silk lampshade (with chandelier printed on it) enjoy each others company. And at right, what a clever way to do mirrors in a bathroom, the arrangement also worked in lieu of a full-length.

 The dining room where we ate breakfast each morning. The draperies paired silk with burlap bottoms for a not-too-dressed up look.

  

Modern art punched up antiques and traditional accessories like the gold candleabra lights.

 At right, I loved the bright arrangement on the dining room table and later found the slim vases at a local shop owned by a SCAD alum called Arcanum (they don’t have a web site but can be found at 422 Whitaker St., 912.236.6000).

That’s all for now, but more Savannah inspiration to come!

Savannah on my Mind

I’ve been in Savannah less than 24 hours and I’ve already satisfied three desires:

1. I had shrimp and grits (less than 20 minutes after landing) at the big and bawdy 700 Drayton restaurant at the Mansion hotel on Forsyth Park.
Verdict: Usually I prefer a cream sauce but this one had a gravy, which was also nice, if rich, and the mushrooms rounded it out nicely.

2. I saw Spanish Moss, everywhere, dripping from live oak trees that canopy the streets. Tip: Don’t take any home, I learned that chiggers live in there. Ick.

3. I bought something. A kelly-green DVF dress to be exact. At a cute boutique called Bleu Belle on the great shopping strip of Broughton Street. (Shhhh, don’t tell my husband.)

I’m in Savannah to speak on a Design Blog Panel at the Savannah College of Art and Design’s SCAD Style event. Tomorrow I’ll be speaking with Katie Runnels of The Constant Gatherer and Grace Bonney of Design*Sponge. Come see us at 4 p.m. in the Pei Ling Chan Gallery.

More on Savannah to come …

Dress Your Nest With Queer-Eye Style

Ever since he popped on the scene in Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, interior designer Thom Filicia has been my secret gay crush. So likeable, so real and so adept at giving hopeless schlubs cool-livable style. His look is classic with modern touches. Very now, with a grasp of the past.

If you could afford to hire him — like J.Lo and Mark Anthony did for their Hamptons house, right, which was featured in Vogue Living —  you could have his magic touch. But GOOD NEWS, Filicia just announced he’s releasing the Thom Filicia Home collection via with partnerships with several well-known manufacturers, such as Vanguard. Let’s hope the prices are recession-friendly so we can all have a piece of Thom. More to come on that.

Another great way to get a piece of Thom’s style. His book, Tom Filicia Style: Inspired Ideas for Creating Rooms You’ll Love.

For more of Thom, check out his portfolio here. Or visit Habitually Chic’s coverage of Thom here and here.

The new season of Thom’s show Dress Your Nest starts April 22 on The Style Network.

The Most Controversial Man in Art

Oh we love to hate Jeff Koons. The artist’s sculptures have fetched millions, he’s represented by heavyweight Gagosian Gallery, yet he once married a porn star and he’s known for works that look like enormous balloon animals. Something’s not right here.

Or is it.

A new book explores the kitch-loving world of Koons. Koons ($70, Rizzoli) is a reissue of a limited edition book (the first signed copy of that edition went for $450,000 at auction). But don’t buy a book because it will go up in value, buy it because you love it. O.K.?

Or go see his “Puppy” on permanent display outside the Guggenheim Bilbao in Spain. I love this 12-foot dog sculpture made of flowering plants. He took the sappy combination of puppies and flowers to create a monumental statement that references 18th-century manicured gardens.

Now I wonder what he could do with those greeting card sepia-toned kids dressed like adults?

Make Mine (Bargain) Virginia Wine

Visiting wineries in Virginia is usually fun and lovely but not always especially palate-pleasing or affordable.

The state does two things well: Cabernet Franc and Voignier, so if you don’t like the tobacco-y red or sweet-floral white, you’re usually out of luck. Plus, prices usually hover around $20 a bottle, which is too high for so-so wine.

So, I was pleasantly surprised to find a fine, Meritage at Blenheim Vineyards for just $10. A touch of oak and tannins with nice hints of cherry and plum. Not bad at all. In fact, pretty darn good. 

 

The winery, which is part-owned by Dave Matthews and run by his brother Peter, seems to be coming into its own with new winemaker Kirsty Harmon. They’re doing some smart things, like developing a rose ($14), another rarity in Virginia.

Blenheim’s tasting room had been open by appointment only until recently.  And the building is a beautiful spot to sit with a $10 bottle and picnic lunch. 

 

The tasting room is built with reclaimed heart-pine and features a cool glass floor where you can see to down to the barreling room below.

Rock Out in Charlottesville, Va.

Discover the next bluegrass and roots-rock stars in this music-loving college town.

WHERE TO STAY
To be within a quick walk to live-music venues, book accommodations in downtown Charlottesville.

The outdoor “Downtown Mall” is chock-o-block with venues. To be near the action, stay at the three-story Victorian 200 South Street Inn, right, (from $160). Request room 18 on the second floor, which is insulated from downtown’s rumbling trains. Fuel your night of living like a rock star at Asian-tapas restaurant Bang!, across the street (213 Second St. SW, 434-984-BANG).

Rub elbows with performers at the Omni Hotel (from $169), a three-star high-rise, popular with headliners at the state-of-the-art John Paul Jones Arena — named after a donor, not the bassist. If Keith Urban, Phil Lesh and Bruce Springsteen sightings are nil (they’re all playing the arena this spring/summer), take solace in the indoor and outdoor pools, seven pillows on the beds, and the unparalleled location on the Mall.

For easy access to the University of Virginia’s nightlife strip, “The Corner,” check into the Dinsmore House Inn (from $119), an exquisitely preserved bricked colonial. If you plan on finding an afterparty, request the Veranda Room for its private entrance.
Three blocks away on Elliewood Avenue restaurants such as Coupe DeVille’s and the Buddhist Biker Bar, above, let the party spill outside, at the latter on a generous fenced front lawn, with live reggae, blues or rock most nights.

WHERE TO EAT
Start your day with a coffee and potato-doughnut from Spudnuts Shop, below, (309 Avon St., 434296-0590), one of the only remaining outposts of the ’50s-era chain. A $6 a dozen of the fluffy, ultra-sweet glazed blueberry cake donuts will make you question the wheat-flour-based standard. Place your order before closing time at 2 p.m.

If you like to eat with accompaniment, Mono Loco, below, is a Latin-inspired eatery with live music on weekends. Order the tender braised pork burrito and pair with one of ten tequilas, or better yet, a blood orange margarita. Move out to the patio  at 10 p.m. where you can dance to local favorites like Appalachian klezmer act Accordion Death Squad or Bluegrass-influenced folk band The Whiskey Rebellion.

Enter the Coran Capshaw nightlife empire at Mas, below, an artisinal Spanish tapas and wine bar owned by the controversial real estate mogul and Dave Matthews Band manager — he’s the financier behind many of the city’s upscale eateries and new music venues, including the Charlottesville Pavilion. For small plates that eat like meals, order the “queso cocido con alcachofal” (artichoke and goat cheese) or the smoky “croquetas de jamon” (ham, Yukon gold potatoes, Manchego cheese).

Treat post-show hangovers with sausage and gravy and a generous side of grits from UVa-student favorite The Tavern (1140 N. Emmet St., 434295-0404). Or, stop into Riverside Lunch (1429 Hazel St., 434-971-3546) for a greasy and savory hamburger served on a mini paper-plate. The White Spot (1407 University Ave., 295-9899), left,  serves the legendary “Gus Burger,” below, a satisfying griddle-cooked cheeseburger blanketed with fried egg.

WHAT TO DO
Chock it up to the music-loving UVa student body, Virginia’s bluegrass legacy, or the success of the Dave Matthews band — Charlottesville has emerged as a mecca of Americana, folk, and roots-rock talent. And there are almost as many venues as there are great bands.

For the biggest talents, see a show at the Charlottesville Pavilion, a new, regal-looking outdoor amphitheater where folk-rock and country superstars perform — David Byrne (right), George Jones and Jackson Browne are booked for the summer. Kick off your weekend at the Pavilion’s free Friday After Five concerts, where up-and-coming local artists, like blues prodigy Eli Cook and eco-rockers Trees on Fire perform.

Find the next big thing at the Mall and the Corner’s smaller venues. For emerging blues and folk acts, duck into the subterranean Gravity Lounge, left, a living-room size coffee shop and music venue where local MacArthur “genius” Award-winner Corey Harris often plays his Rasta-tinged blues. Catch local folk singer Shannon Worrell on April 22. To hear buzzy indie-rock, plant yourself on a giant floor-pillow at the Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar, below, a cafe and small-concert space. Miller’s (109 W. Main St., 434-971-8511), the legendary pharmacy-turned-bar, is the place to take in live jazz. Check out Thompson D’Earth’s masterful improv on Thursday nights. The Charlottesville Music Showcase runs every Wednesday night at Rapture a restaurant/night club with a New Orleans vibe.

Escape to Charlottesville’s wine-growing country — for the music tie-in, of course. Set up a private tour and tasting at Dave Matthews’ family vineyard, Blenheim Vineyards, located 11 miles outside Charlottesville. Sample the Cabernet Franc, an earthy-red varietal that thrives in these parts. Back towards town, pick up fresh produce and eggs at Matthews’ 1,200-acre organic farm, Best of What’s Around. The farm sells shares to members and supplies crops to area restaurants; arrange by phone for a private tour.

INSIDER’S TIP
To find out which shows are worth their ticket-price, tune into local independent radio station 106.1 The Corner’s Live and Local show at 8 p.m. Purchase tickets in advance through Charlottesville’s MusicToday.com, a ticket and merchandise e-commerce site started by Coran Capshaw, and now owned by Live Nation. For a complete roster of show listings, pick up one of Charlottesville’s alt-weekly newspapers, The Hook or C-ville Weekly, in one of newspaper boxes on the UVa campus and the downtown mall.

AN ODDBALL DAY
Charlottesville bluegrass legends The Hackensaw Boys, right, are usually touring these days, but you can still buy their records and take your own road trip to the mountains that inspired their sound. Pick up their latest release “Look Out” at Plan 9 Music, a Virginia-based chain that carries over 300 titles from area bands. Pop the CD into the rental and take Hwy 64 west 30 minutes to the Shenandoah National Park and have $15 pocketed for the park entry fee. Enter the Park at the the Rockfish Gap South Entrance Station, following the legendary scenic Skyline Drive, left, at a leisurely 35 miles an hour. Keep an eye out for delicate, white trillium wildflowers in spring and early summer — the roadsides are left unmowed to let them grow. At mile 17.1, pull over at the Range View Overlook to take in a jaw-dropping, almost full panorama of the Blue Ridge mountains. Next, stretch your legs at the Blackrock Summit trail, below, an easy one-mile-loop trail at mile 87. To reach the 3,092-foot vista, scramble over the rocks at the end of the trail. After working up an appetite, motor back to Big Meadows Lodge at mile 51.2, a thirties-era roadside resort and restaurant. Chef Terry’s serves dressed-up home cooking — like braised short ribs and garlic mashed potatoes. Let Charlottesville’s independent stations — 91.1 WTJU, 91.9 WNRN or 106.1 WCNR — keep you company on the drive back.

April Artist Chris Milk, Day 2

I’ve asked Chris five questions that we’ll release over a series of days with a piece of work each day. See all five paintings in the gallery or read Day 1 here.

What’s the oddest, funniest, nicest thing someone has said to you about your work?

“The only reaction to art, music, that I will stand behind, is that of honest affinity. For someone to say, “I love this painting because I love it.” That’s all I want to hear.
Sometimes folks will say, “Your work is so fun”. I would like never to hear that again.”

“The Hummingbird, I painted on my easel, and it became a friend,
floating next to the panels painted to the left, and right of it, over the course of a year. Again, here comes saw. Freed from the easel, hummingbird gets
his chance to shine, or fly, really, on his own.”

For more on Chris, visit his site or blog. Portrait by Ash Daniel Photography.

Outsider Art with Heart Sewn to Sleeve

Hey everybody, we’re now curating art! Since I’m passionate about art and want to share the inspiring artists I’ve come across, I’ve decided to begin a series of featured artist profiles accompanied by 5-piece art shows. All work will be under $2,000 and available for sale in the Culture Fix Gallery. Think of it as a virtual gallery where you get to meet the artist.

Meet Our April Featured Artist: Chris Milk Hulburt

Chris Milk is a theatrical sort. His writings are poetic. His nails are painted. His art is sweet and tells the story of sunny afternoons riding through historic Richmond, Va. neighborhoods on a bike, or curled with a lover. He even performs in a puppet show.

He lives and paints with three cats in an old home in Richmond’s Oregon Hill neighborhood. The sofa was recently cleared out and he’s now trying to unload a coffee table made from bowling-alley floorboards. He’s decluttering to make room for his sewing machine. He makes the puppets he performs with, the clothes they wear and some of his own clothes. Most everything he touches has been created or reshaped by him, including the vest he’s wearing in the above photo.

Hulburt is also one of the first artists whose work I bought, that’s one reason I asked him to be the first featured artist on Culture Fix. Another reason is because, while he’s well known in Richmond, having worked as an artist here for many years, he’s a bit of a hidden secret and I thought we should share.

You say you paint the in-between moments. What’s significant about that time for you?

“I like to think there is some narrative to all my work, but hopefully it is that quiet moment preceding, or following, something sad or wonderful. I think the actual occurrence of action is less interesting than its aftermath. Or the innocent minute before.”

Tell me about this painting:

“‘Kiss, with Gold’ came straight from sketchbook pages, too. A lovely moment, spent by the river’s edge. That girls gone, too. The memory remains. The gold pays homage to little minutes, lost.”

“Kiss, with Gold” $300
House paint with gold leaf on board, 19 1/2 by 22 1/4 inches.
To purchase, email culturefix@ymail.com

For more on Chris, visit his site or blog. Portrait by Ash Daniel Photography.

Know of an artist worthy of being featured? Email culturefix@ymail.com