Oka's World

Oka Doner's work is fueled by a lifelong study and appreciation of the natural world, from which she derives her formal vocabulary. I'm entranced by her works!

The Hipster on Abromovic

A couple weeks ago I posted the Unknown Hipster blog. I'm happy to see he's posting again, but I a most happy that he has posted about Marina Abromovic's exhibit. Yes, there has been a lot of talk about the show, as there really should be! I have chosen to not blog about the show, even though I really have wanted to, but felt I could never describe it perfectly enough with out sitting down in front of my computer trying to write the most perfect eloquent post, which would take me,ummmmm... all day! To me the show was that good, that I don't even want to touch it by writing about it, if you know what I mean. I'll leave that to the professional writers. Marina Abromovic's exhibit moved me tremendously, and I won't say anymore because it's something that one has to experience for themselves, because everyone will take away from it something different I'm sure. But check out the Unknown Hipster's blog, he writes a bit about the experience of the exhibit, and his renderings are delightful!

Michael Hainey

I've just discovered the talented Michael Hainey! deputy editor of GQ magazine, Hainey is also a poet a writer and painter who resides in Greenwich Village, NYC. His pieces are being snatched up by the likes of Thom Brown, Jeff Klein and Nate Berkus. Awwww shucks, which means I can never afford his work now!! Anyway, I can at least sit back and enjoy the understated beauty of his quirky, thoughtful, and whimsical creations. Damn! But that little charcoal bird would look amazing in my apartment. Hmmmmm

Deka Ray of Light

That's exactly what Ms. Huang Selway's Deka Ray's Jewelery line is to me.. little jewels of light... twisted, and angular...sculpted and architectural.

Growing up amidst of stacks of blueprints, art volumes, and music anthologies in the woods of North Carolina, Ms. Huang Selway first began making jewelry after reading a book about Alexander Calder at the age of 8. Between pursuing bachelors and masters
degrees in architecture at MIT and Columbia, she spent a year in middle Ohio learning how to rebuild motorcycle parts and motors. She currently shares the NYC-based architectural practice Formactiv.

All Blown Up

Karl Haendel creates large-scale graphite drawings on paper in various sizes, which are displayed in a diversity of configurations on the walls. He combines and arranges the works, acting as an editor, generating new relationships and juxtapositions between images, and suggesting new meanings for a number of themes. The subjects of Haendel's works are collected from the private and public realm, usually photographic imagery, and include personal narrative, political commentary, and modernist references. Showing now at Lever House Art Collection NYC

Where The Wild Things Will Be This Summer

Well, at least one wild thing...ME!! I've been following Patrick Dougherty's work for about a year now, and I can't wait for his installation at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens centennial this summer. I'll be a kid all over again!

The Unknown Hipster

This guy has not posted in a while, but his blog is very entertaining!

Born French, Unknown Hipster early moved to New York to become a painter, a poet, or whichever position was available on the Art scene. Once a lead tambourine for « Uneven dusk », it’s unclear what became his main occupation after the band quickly broke-up. All can be said is that Unknown frequently appears at Fashionable and Cultural events without being necessarily on the list. The Unknown Hipster

Lonny Magazine

With the end to quite a few Interior Design Magazines this past year, Lonny Magazine is amongst those who have tapped into the power of Internet. Check out this new online Interior Design magazine. Lonnymag.com

Mikael Kennedy At the Chelsea Hotel

“In 2002 I was twenty-three years old. David Lamb and I were leaving the blood bank in Seattle where we went twice a week to make 45 dollars selling our blood…I sold my blood to buy expired Polaroid film where I could find it, and when that didn't work I would steal it... We had no jobs, we had no plan…I told David that this was to be the plan: No plan. I said we'd ‘Shoot The Moon.’ Like in the game of Hearts, you collect all the bad cards you win, you get almost all of them but not all, you lose. So I started collecting my cards in the frame of a Polaroid.” - Mikael Kennedy

The Chelsea Hotel, Peter Hay Halpert Fine Art, 222 W. 23rd St., Suite 524. Reception from 6-8 p.m. tonight

American Modern

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am not a minimalist. I love collecting an assortment of interesting objects, from the pretty to the ugly. However my apartment is certainly not cluttered-there's a place for everything. I always say accessories and artwork really make your home you! The things you live amongst says a lot about your personality, and these things brings a sense of warmth and character to the space. I can never be a Buddhist, I have such an attachment to all my things. My new favorite coffee table read is "American Living" by one of my favorite designers, Thomas O'Brien. It's all about beautiful organized clutter. I love it! I also love O'Brien's showroom in SOHO called Aero.

Green With Envy

Green is the theme this spring! I want these three from the online shop Apolis Activism. Since Apolis is huge on philanthropy work, it'll make it easier for me to spend the green on these green goodies! blah blah blah...just an excuse for me to shop! No, but seriously, check out their stuff guys. The company keeps it simple, casual and relaxed.

Henri Cartier-Bresson At The MOMA

One of my favorites in Classic Photogaphy, Henri Cartier-Bresson at the MOMA April 11 - June 28.


“It is through living that we discover ourselves, at the same time as we discover the world around us.”
—Henri Cartier-Bresson, 1952

Casellula, Heaven To My Tastebuds

I realize I don't blog enough about food, and I loooove food! I mean...really love it! Especially if it involves some stinky cheese, and a load of carbs. Yep...this is why I see the gym just about every day. For an early Easter dinner, I went to a Casselulla just around the corner from my apartment. It's a charming little cheese and wine cafe, but they really have much more than cheese and wine, like yummy smoked cat fish tacos mmmm, my favorite! Anyway, This is their philosophy:

We like cheese. We really like cheese. A lot. Our philosophy is simple: to share our passion for hand-made cheeses with as many people as possible. To that end, we have about 40 cheeses from all over the world on our list every day. The choices range from the familiar to the obscure; from mild to strong (and on to super, duper, crazy, stinky); from fresh to washed to blue. And because not every cheese goes with quince paste we take pains to pair each cheese with its perfect condiment. We work with over 100 different compliments, including a variety of honeys, nuts, compotes, jams, pickles, nuts, herbs, pastes, candies, cookies and cakes. We also love eclectic wines, beers and anything else that goes with cheese. And the best part is you don't need to get all dressed up to come here. Yeah, and it's too bad I didn't get a shot of the chocolate cake we had at the end. How dare they pour a cup of cream over the entire cake right in front of you! UGH! Let's just say it was devoured so quickly I didnt even have the chance to pull my I phone camera out to capture it's beauty. ooohhhhh, but there will be next time!

Walk A Mile In Andy Warhol's Shoes

Well, now you can...kinda! Andy Warhol owned a pair of Salvatore Ferragamo shoes and, naturally, he painted in them. And then Warhol died. And then, in 2006, the Ferragamo family bought those paint-specked Warhol shoes at an auction. And now, authorized copies are available for $990 at the Ferragamo flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York. Call (212) 754-5200. Crazy right?!

AIPAD At The Armory

The AIPAD Photography Show at the Armory begins tomorrow and goes through Sunday. This is certainly one of my favorites!

Assault With A Deadly Buckle

Concrete Buckle is a set of 4 hand cast belt buckles with bar and hook bent from sealed reclaimed steel, boxed with a horse-skin Black Sable, Rose Grey and Bay Red belt. From Sruli Recht Or....you can always use it as a weapon!

Skin Fruit at The New Museum

“Skin Fruit: Selections from the Dakis Joannou Collection” is the first exhibition in the United States of the Athens-based Dakis Joannou Collection, renowned as one of the leading collections of contemporary art in the world. This is also the first exhibition curated by artist Jeff Koons, who was invited to organize the show by the New Museum and whose work inspired Joannou to start his collection in 1985. Through June 6.

Vintage Globes

I love vintage globes, and I love these at Partner & Spade

Adorned: Wavelengths of Light

Bonnie Portelance at the Department of Art and Music. Adorned: Wavelengths of Light. Opening Reception tonight 6-8

After the Static

Up the ramp and through the corridor of televisions with loud static screens yuck make me a little queasy. Something in between Poltergeist and nails on a chalk board. Annoying and gritty! Art? Symbolic for the pressure and the thought process involved with creating art? Beyond the loud fuzz pretty pieces to look at, ugly pieces that make you cringe, peculiar that makes you ponder. Enjoy my images from Pulse Art Show...these were my favorites!