Is It Art?

Rick Owens from T Magazine

Is fashion sometimes art? More often not? Terms like "wearable art" and "art to wear" are flung about frequently. Clothing is like architecture and sculpture: it's three dimensional and can be cheap and mass produced to appeal to a broad taste, or it can be a masterful construction of line, mass, texture, and color. What makes some clothing unique as an art form is that it can transform the wearer or it can be transformed by the wearer. Artful clothing doesn't need to be couture or expensive. How creatively the wearer puts it together can make it a work of art, and the wearer an artist.

Missoni

However, there are some pieces that stand alone. Without any alteration by the wearer, these pieces are works of art because of the fabric patterning, color, structure, or manipulation, or the cut and line of the silhouette. These designs are inspired by a time period, a social movement, visual art, or architecture as in Issey Miyake's Staircase dresses,

Issey Miyake Staircase Pleats 1994/Irving Penn Photograph







A woman can be her own work of art, using fashion to create whatever she wants to be at the moment

 

Bottega Veneta from T Magazine

or finding a comfortable look and sticking with it.



Grace Coddington

 



The Reggie Life

I love riding in the car and I go someplace almost every day. A few days ago I road along to the Lamy train station to drop off Dad. I'm buckled in to keep me safe, and I usually just fall asleep unless we're going to the dog park or doggy day care. Then I go nuts cuz I know I'm goin' to Doggy Disneyland!!! I start barking waaayyyy before we get there, and I'm wagging my tail so hard, dragging my people cuz the party boy is comin'. I'm sure no other dog does that.

Lamy Train Station

Me saying good-by

 

So here are the two geeks I live with, Desi and Lucy. I'm sorta scared of Desi cuz he seems like he's not scared of anything, especially me. I swear he could face-off a Grizzly, but sometimes I bark at him just to prove what a "man" I am. Sometimes he rubs up against me cuz he's claiming me or something, I don't know. Lucy's ok; truth is, I'm in love with the gray fur ball. I know that she loves me too, but she plays hard to get but flirts with me. What's up with women? They're so weird. And, about 10:00 at night she starts yodeling! I'm serious - she goes on and on and in the morning we find little towels and socks and stuff all over the place. Cats.....I just don't get it.







Lucy trying to get things going

 

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Dia de los Muertos and Reggie

Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead was over a week ago, but it's not too late to continue the celebration of this famous festival. Most people are familiar with the glorious, colorful costumes and icons of this historic holiday. As a reminder, here's a bit of history: Wikipedia says that, "Scholars trace the origins of the modern Mexican holiday to indigenous observances dating back hundreds of years and to an Aztec festival dedicated to the goddess Mictecacihuatl.The holiday has spread throughout the world, being absorbed within other deep traditions for honoring the dead." The holiday now focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died.

Daughter-in-law Anita Cavanaugh creates beautiful face paintings to honor and celebrate this important holiday. Dia de los Muertos opens the door for some amazing creativity, and Anita expresses a wonderful art form in her "masks".

This festival of the Dead is a rich and wonderful tradition that embraces every person's contribution during his or her life, as well as celebrating their next step to wherever that is,.

And now...

The Reggie Life

Because Reggie is such a clever dog, it's been suggested that he have his own blog. Well, that isn't going to happen, so I told him he could have his own corner of the Studio Lizzy blog. Although he's very decisive, I chose the picture of him, which probably wouldn't be his first choice. One evening our friend Kataya decided that Reggie should be styled. So, no, those are not dreadlocks, they're the remnants of some poor sad puppy toy.

Now Reggie can have the last word.

Hey there, no, I'm not happy at all about the photo chosen to represent me. Now I feel that I have to redeem my dignity by describing my kingly self. I'm a gorgeous, muscular boy who's lumped into the catch-all breed of Pit Bull. Since not a dime has been spent to find out my DNA, who knows what that actually includes. Just trust me, everyone at the dog park comments on how handsome I am and that I have the shiniest black coat.

So, let me just begin by telling the truth about my fabulous breed. We were once America's favorite dog - yes! We were known as the Nanny Dog because we were so good at taking care of the kiddies. Teddy Roosevelt was a fan and Helen Keller trusted her life with Sir Thomas. The list of current politicians, sports figures, and entertainers who adore their pitties is endless, so they're obviously very smart humans to have such good taste.

My corner of the artsy blog will probably be the most popular since I'll be sharing stories about my life here with the Cavanaughs and those two cats...dare I say their names, Desi and Lucy. Yes, I was brought into this home from the Espanola Valley Humane Society as an innocent four month old, and I've survived the torments of those two for almost two and a half years. I'll be three years old in January, so I'm in the prime of my man-hood. And yes, I particularly like those cute girl dogs at the park and doggy daycare, but of course, the Cavanaughs made sure that my adoration of the female could only be platonic. I have no idea why they wouldn't want mini-me's joining the family since I really am quite amazing.

So, this is the start of the famous Reggie Life. Let the games begin.