Category: Art & Design


Art & Design

March 16 2017

Mindfulness and Fearlessness

First, I wanted to say that I’m sorry I’ve been gone the past few days. It was Parker’s birthday on Tuesday and we celebrated for a few days. Also, I’ll be off tomorrow to change my hair color yet again! This time it’s going to be called what I call “horizon”, pink on top and light blue halfway down the middle. Hope it all works out!

There are a few things I wanted to share. One is this book I bought called The Mindfulness Manual and the other is Time Magazine’s Mindfulness issue. Both are really good reads on how to slow down and really appreciate life.

Here’s a quote I liked from the first book, under the article The Path of Joy:

Do I trust my own inner guidance? At the heart of every soulful life is the ability to ask your own questions and get your own answers, free from others’ judgement. It’s about tuning in to your innate wisdom and trusting what comes forth. The only way to do that is to cultivate a deeper relationship with yourself-free from the filters of fear and doubt and free from other people’s ideas and expectations. These filters build up over time and can cloud your ability to make decisions that are in alignment with your highest good.

Do I follow my heart or listen to my head? The heart never lies; the head does. We can overthink, doubt and rationalize almost anything, because the mind likes stability and a step-by-stop process. But the heart is nonlinear and sensing. So while our minds may make us believe it’s best to not take risks and avoid repeating the pain of the past, our hearts know the way to happiness.

Do I believe I can create the life I want? Your thoughts, actions and emotions all determine what your life looks like. When you don’t believe you are powerful, you allow others to hold the key to your life and happiness. And when you allow others to hold the power, you limit the options available to you. Know that by listening to your heart and your inner guidance, you truly can create-and live-the life you want. All is possible.

Written by Eden Clark and John Germain Leto

If you haven’t checked out the Instagram account of poet Mark Anthony, please do so. He’s a hopeless romantic. I bought his book.


Art & Design

March 9 2017

Have an Amazing Weekend!

On Friday, Sam and I will be going to LA to meet up with a consultant about starting a fashion brand. I’m excited because I think this is the start of something big! Right after, we’re headed to Big Bear with Sam’s side of the family, we’ll be celebrating some of the kids’ birthdays. (Can you believe that Parker is turning five next week? Where did the time go?)

Sorry, no Fun Links of the Week! Ok, here’s a few, delivered to you early, that you may want to check out:

Did you know that there is a house that breaks up when you do?

Can you guess which country is becoming a massive global tech hub?

What would fashion be without these women designers?

I love this statue and what it stands for.

Are you excited about the superbloom?

See you back on Monday!

Brendan McDermid/Reuters


Art & Design

March 9 2017

Two Eye-Catching Figurines at Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe 2017

You can always count on the art event, Sculpture by the Sea, to deliver some cool sculptures. Each March, Australia’s iconic Cottesloe Beach transforms into an outdoor sculpture park where you can see over 70 works from local and international artists. This year, there were two figurines that caught my eye.

The one above, by artist Alessandra Rossi is called Untitled Coral (aqua). Love how this girl was created in different shades of blue, which match the sky and the ocean. The meaning? Alessandra Rossi’s haunting, figurative sculpture “grapples with modern issues of identity, functioning as a metaphor for the patination and discoloration of emotion engendered by the digital era.”

The one below, by Zadok Ben-David, is titled Big Boy. It was created using stainless-steel. Doesn’t it make you do a double take? As the artist states, “I saw a boy in the street. I took a picture of him. I created a shadow. It was partly experimenting, trying to retain that sense of a flat image; then adding another dimension to create a kind of illusion. It was one of only a few figures from the installation I enlarged, in this case to about 51/2m.”

Zadok-Ben-David-Big-Boy-2016-Sculpture-by-the-Sea-Cottesloe-2017.-Photo-Richard-Watson-31

Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe is staged on Perth’s stunning Cottesloe Beach from March 3rd to March 19th 2017. If you’re living in western Australia, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t see this!


Art & Design

March 8 2017

2100 Illuminated Handcrafted Daffodils Represent the Light a Nurse Brings to a Terminally Ill Patient

I love installations like this. Ones that aren’t just beautiful to look at, but ones that have a deeper meaning behind them. The “Garden of Light” consists of 2,100 illuminated handcrafted daffodils which each represent a Marie Curie Nurse. The daffodils are purposely illuminated to symbolize the “light” these nurses bring to terminally ill patients during their last, most darkest days.

The immersive art installation, created by public artists Greyworld, opened to the public in London’s Paternoster Square on March 1st and can be seen through March 14th. It will travel across the country and be open to visitors in Edinburgh and Cardiff.

For those unfamiliar with Marie Curie, it is a charitable organization in the UK which provides free care and support to people with terminal illnesses and their families. It was established back in 1948. The Great Daffodil Appeal is Marie Curie’s largest annual fundraising campaign. Each March, millions of people in the UK support this fundraising event by giving a small donation to wear a daffodil pin.

Visitors to the installation are encouraged to walk through pathways amongst the flowers while hearing recordings of voices reading real-life letters sent to Marie Curie Nurses from the families of patients they’ve supported. Seeing these lit up daffodils and hearing the touching stories, I can only imagine the feelings this powerful installation conjures.

marie-curie-02

marie-curie-03

marie-curie-04

via Design Curiel
Photos via Marie Curie


Art & Design

March 7 2017

Whimsical Painting of an Elephant on Books

Artist Mike Stilkey is known for creating whimsical paintings on the covers of books. Last year, he put on a grand exhibition showcasing 10 years of his work, which included large-scale installations, book sculptures and paintings at the Orange County Great Park. This was one of his pieces. It stopped me in my tracks. Check out more of his work on his recently redesigned website.


Art & Design

March 3 2017

Fun Links of the Week

What are you up to this weekend? I’m meeting up with some old high school friends (and their husbands and kids) and we’re all going to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. It’ll be good catching up. Today, I’m going to get my hair colored an even brighter pink. (Think Irene Kim.) Got to believe in my own motto, Be Bold, right?

Ok, now let’s get into the fun links of the week.

This 75-year Harvard study found the one secret to leading a fulfilling life.

‘Worst view in the world’: Banksy opens hotel overlooking Bethlehem wall.

This Topshop X Man Repeller video was actually pretty engaging.

Who knew that book shelves could look so sexy?

Bicycles and coffee. Why not?

I like Coke’s new storytelling method of advertising. You never know what could happen in an elevator. (Shout out to my new LA friends!)

This vlog made me cry…ok bawl.

Science says parents of the most successful kids do these 10 things.

Adding art installations to a fashion store. This is the future.

This is such a simple T-shirt but the embroidery kicks it up a notch.

Though many of you may know this song from Kanye, called Ultralight Beam, I was only introduced to it this week. It is beautiful. Meaning, here.

Moby has just released four hours worth of free music designed for yoga and meditation.

Photo: Rainbow labyrinth, titled Yǔzhòu, by Brut Deluxe.


Art & Design

March 3 2017

The Dream of Launching a Fashion Brand

What a crazy and fun-filled three days. Sam and I went to downtown LA on Sunday night to attend three days of seminars at the LA Textile Show. I went into the conference thinking of making just one really kick-ass piece of clothing but came away from it with a whole new approach. At the end of the session Need for Speed – Keeping up with Production Cycles in an Evolving Retail Landscape, we met up with the speaker Syama Meagher at Scaling Retail. She told me something that just blew me away. She said, “Don’t just create one thing. Dream big! Create a brand.”

At first, I was taken aback but then I remembered how I studied Marketing when I was getting my MBA and how much I loved it. I thought about my experience in social media and blogging from the last seven years I ran My Modern Met. Could all of my past experiences lead me to this defining moment?

Yes!

Suddenly, I felt both extremely excited and unbelievably afraid. What? Me? Start a fashion company? Just two or three weeks ago I would only wear black leggings and a baggy sweater. Sure, I may have mad respect for designers like Alexander McQueen (may he rest in peace) and Karl Lagerfeld but how would that translate? But then, something clicked. I was in the session Women’s and Young Contemporary Trend Stories for Spring/Summer 18 and during that presentation they showed these really engaging videos. What inspires the designers to come up with their latest pieces? Art! Architecture! Design! Photography! Precisely what I had been curating and writing about for seven years. In fact, I had written over 6,000 posts on creativity or the art that surrounds us.

So now I’m on a new journey. For about a year and a half I thought I wanted to become a photographer but now my heart is set on creating a fashion brand. At first, I thought fashion was superficial but then I realized that it’s also a form of art. It’s a way to express yourself. My first line will be inspired by my favorite artist, Yayoi Kusama and her installation Infinity Room. Think lots of color. (Here’s the article where I wrote about Infinity Room on Gizmodo, over 51,000 people read it.) My brand name will be called Skylar Yoo. Skylar is the name I would have given to my daughter if I had had one. My slogan will be simple: Be Bold. Finally, my logo will be white angel wings, symbolizing freedom.

Though some of this may change, it’s my starting point. I’m diving head first into fashion.

One last thing I forgot to add: A part of all sales will go to organizations about Mindfulness and Mental Health. As you may or may not know, I’m bipolar so this cause is near and dear to my heart.


Art & Design

February 17 2017

Fun Links of the Week

It’s been awhile since a Fun Links of the Week post. Sorry! Have had to take the last few Fridays off. I’ll try to be more regular with my posts. I’m actually thinking of turning this blog into more of a “trendspotting” one. I used to be into photography but after a year of pursuing it, I decided that I’m more interested in design, fashion and trends. More on that later.

A big storm is starting to come into southern California. Biggest one in years!

Here are your fun links of the week.

This clock trips me out.

That’s one pretty drink. (Shhh…it’s super secret.)

Isn’t this new chair pretty? Love the pink and gold version.

Which grown up girl doesn’t dream of wearing this?

I recently discovered Outdoor Voices. Excited because I’m big into leggings. Like this design.

Have you seen the new Time cover. Powerful animated version.

The small animal tattoo is cute and not too “in your face.”

This is a cute/cool nails trend.

I love the combination of pink and red. (Especially in shoes.)

Thinking about getting these for my nieces.

Love all things rainbow, especially this watercolor-esque pillow.

This glitter bomb case is mesmerizing to watch.

These five fashion brands are killing it.

I’m into the statement shirt.

Sequins is in and this one is a stunner.

The fishnet stocking is in. With white boots, it looks fresh.

Lately I’ve been obsessed with Scandinavian design.

Can’t wait for this movie’s sequel, even if it’ll only be 10 minutes long. (Can you believe it’s been 14 years?!)

Way to stay relevant, Nike.

Amazon is a beast.

Have you heard of the new catchy word “perennials“? I kind of like it.

I dig Spring 2017’s most important trend. Bring on the pink!

Monday, I’m off with the kids so see you back on Tuesday.


Art & Design

February 16 2017

Binge Watch Worthy Show: Fleabag

Though I like being on the cusp of new things, I’m all about a good recommendation. I admit, I binge watched Stranger Things and Westworld, I wasn’t the first to tell my friends all about them. Rather, I have my “tv-watching” friends give me their top recommendations. That’s how I got into Breaking Bad, Homeland and Mr. Robot.

A show that came up on my radar recently was Fleabag. Before it was an Amazon Prime Show, it debuted on BBC back in August of 2016. Even before that, it was a one-woman show. Interesting fact: The initial idea of the character of Fleabag came from a challenge by a friend, where the show’s main character, played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, was tasked with creating a sketch for a 10-minute section in a stand-up storytelling night. The stand up show was a hit and it even won an award. The show got turned into a series for BBC so our UK friends got to watch this hilarious and somewhat dark comedy before us here in the US! So what’s the story about? Fleabag follows the life adventures of a modern woman in London. Think lots of dating, sex, and complicated relationships. She talks into the camera, which is, I think the best part.

If you’re one that likes to fully read about a series before starting it, NY Magazine just wrote a full length story about the show. There’s a lot of spoilers in there, I’m warning you!

There are only six episodes that are about 30 minutes each so it’s not a huge investment on your time. I’m interested to hear what you think about the main character, she’s a complicated one, I’m not sure whether or not you’re suppose to love her or hate her. Maybe both. In either case, can’t wait for season 2!

Phoebe-Waller-Bridge-02.nocrop.w1024.h2147483647
Photo: Billy & Hells

Fleabag on Amazon Prime

Newer posts Older posts