Emilio Pucci – the Prince of Prints
When the swinging 60’s ushered in a world of psychedelic graphics, one artist’s images stood head and shoulders above the rest – Emilio Pucci. It’s not surprising, however, since Pucci’s dazzling originality predated the Summer of Love by two decades. His seminal ideas and epochal images were forever ahead of convention, and stand today as timeless classics. “Color directly influences the soul.” Wassily Kandinsky, Concerning the Spiritual in Art 1969 2015 worn by Kendall Jenner Born Marquis Emilio Pucci di Barsento to an aristocratic family in Florence, Italy,...
Read MoreSummer of Love
Every generation has their own “coming of age” decade. The 1940’s were dominated by Hitler, the Holocaust and Hiroshima. A break from combat involved dancing to the tunes of Tommy Dorsey, Glen Miller, and Harry James, as couples held each other tight for whatever time they had together. The 1950’s heralded Peace, Prosperity and Possibilities. Kids cut loose to rock n’ roll in safe, serene suburbs. The 1960’s ushered in the Cold War, Cuban Missile Crisis, Berlin Wall, and escalation of the Vietnam War. It’s no surprise that kids who experienced “duck and cover” air raids with regularity in...
Read MoreAdolescence
“Fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, lemme tell you. Those are big years. Everybody always thinks of it as adolescence—just getting through to the real part of your life—but it’s more than that. Sometimes your whole life happens in those years, and the rest of your life it’s just the same story playing out with different characters. I could die tomorrow and have lived the main ups and downs of life. Pain. Loss. Love. And what you all so fondly refer to as wisdom.” Lidia Yuknavitch, Dora: A Headcase We’ve all heard school reunion stories about the nerd who’s now a...
Read MoreCinderella Redux
Cinderella is a timeless tale of good vs. evil, kindness vs. oppression. The origin of the story is ambiguous, although many claim authorship. Attributions range from Roman historian Strabo in the first century BC, to Sheh Hsien in China, to French author Charles Perrault in 1697…and on infinitum. According to SurLaLune, there are anywhere from 345 to 1,500 versions of the tale! The site opines “Most…tales include an epiphany sparked by an article of clothing (usually a shoe) that causes the heroine to be recognized for her true worth. With Carrie Bradshaw leading the charge, we’ll embrace...
Read MoreCinderella in Four Acts
I don’t know if this charming quartet of Cinderella hankies came as a boxed set, or if a little girl had to collect each image individually, perhaps as a reward for good behavior. This is an intriguing ensemble, for the heart theme unifies the images both visually and through subtext. Each scenario is ensconced in a heart, while Cinderella’s ball gown is awash in tiny valentines. Let’s start with Chapter One, where Cinderella appears to bypass her Fairy Godmother, white mice, pumpkin coach, stepsisters, frankly the who shebang, and zips directly to the Fashion Tree....
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