Susan Kirschbaum has written features - covering trends, fashion, and art -- for various publications including Harper's Bazaar, London Times, New York Observer, and New York Times since the late Nineties. She has worked as a web editor for both fashion and art concerns and as a founding editor to Fashion Wire Daily, when it served as a wire service to the Associated Press. She has written both synopsis and forwards to photography books by Steidl Dangin. Currently, she is a contributing editor to Whitewall - a seasonal art magazine - that sets new visual and story telling standards to cover the art world. She also writes for Purple, the French fashion magazine.
Her first novel, WHO TOWN, a dark social satire is now being reviewed by several publishers through rock star agent Robert Guinsler at Sterling Lord Literistic.
(All photos on this blog are taken by Susan Kirschbaum on her Canon SD850 digital point and shoot, unless otherwise noted - please credit all photos accordingly)
Basquiat Died Under Robert Hawkins Who Brought His Circus Act to Town Last Night
Artist Robert Hawkins and Stylish Gallerist Bill Powers
(Photos by Susan M. Kirschbaum)
The Half Gallery in LES opened its second show last night, the pantings of London based artist Robert Hawkins. Hawkins, part of the Warhol gang, became notorious when Jean-Michel Basquiat's body was found dead in his own bed, under a Hawkins painting. Flash twenty years forward and Hawkins, astonishing initially for the silver ring in his nose, flashes cool smiles and offers a warm hand to his fans, who last night formed a secret enclave of cool on Forsythe Street. Clarissa, the Parisian and original muse of designer Thierry Mugler arrived in dark shades, even at night. Tom Sachs, brand bastardizer paid his respects. Filmmaker Hunter Hill ("Lake City") also an executive at Paper Magazine, dropped in. Gallery co-owner Andy Spade beamed. But, his partner Bill Powers (along with novelist James Frey) wins for style guy of the evening.
Powers, has evolved since we first met as young journos a decade ago. Then he sported an Afro that teased pretty high for a white guy. He slapped together vintage flannel shirts and graphic tees and took on a cool cat Seventies vibe behind the wheel of his Chrysler Le Baron. Now, he drives a scooter round the West Village. The dude has got some of the slickest suits and shoes in town. Check it out, home boys. Hawkins, whose canvases burst alive in details, could not have a rep more chic.
Powers, who is married to clothing designer Cynthia Rowley actually coordinated his look to the work at hand. Behold his gray jacket, created by Cynthia Rowley, slim fit Marc Jacobs white shirt, the vintage red striped vest, and Paul Smith sneakers. Okay, he's a little less circus, perhaps more Cirque de Soleil. All good from where I'm viewing.
(Half Gallery, Robert Hawkins, May 14th-June 14th, 208 Forsythe Street.)
**Chic jacket worn by Bill Powers, Cynthia Rowley Menswear, 376 Bleeker Street New York. Clean up your man real nice in her latest!
Vintage sweater vest, Cynthia Rowley jacket, Marc Jacobs shirt
Hawkins painting... Attention to color and detail
Paul Smith shoes next to blue denim, cap circus look
CLICK BLUE LINE BELOW TO SEE PAINTINGS AND GUESTS!!!!!
by Robert Hawkins
Tight Rope theme... by Robert Hawkins
Painting detail (LOVE THIS!) by Robert Hawkins
Artist Tom Sachs and Andy Spade
Clarissa and actress/writer Tanya Selvaratnum
Clarissa and Tanya full pose
Sheila Herzog, Andy Spade, and Bruce Herzog outside of gallery
Is that ME? It looks like me, has the same "cool smile" as me, but MY name is Robert Hawkins, not Robert Hawkings. I need to get more famous, Ah, mistakes happen. I guess it's better than being identified as "John Pearse", as I was in a London Times paparazzi picture last month at Rene Ricard's art show, (Hey, they called HIM Rene Richards, so... ) or "Unidentified male" as I was labeled in an Andy Warhol photo once.
Whew! Robert, SO SORRY about that! Slip up and I try to be so scrupulous. Sometimes I feel like a blind soprano, singing through the words and I missed a beat. FORGIVE ME. WONDERFUL WORK, INDEED, MR. HAWKINS!
You're a nice lady. Accidents happen. I hope I didn' t come across as an ingrate. I welcome any publicity, so call me whatever you please. As I said, I've been called worse.
Susan you have such an interesting and fascinating life in the big city! I'd love to have a night out on town with you sometime! Simply fabulous stuff here on your blog-thanks! You are so talented!
Check out two Brits who are cool hunting all over the globe.... Mr. and Mrs. Smith... just like Brad and Angie when they had to sneak into hotels under fake names... Ooh, la, la...http://blog.mrand mrssmith.com
"It's never been more important for me to respect a president's ability to handle foreign policy and to be a good listener and an open negotiator. Those are qualities I didn't think about in the past, but now, it seems crucial to the success and even the survival of our nation. Also, I cannot endorse a president who does not support women's rights to the fullest possible extent." Faran http//:www.nylonm ag.com
Who is "Candy" with Anna Wintour in the CFDA photos? I guess it's true that the ugly kids in school get their revenge as grown ups in fashion. They are both "bark, bark!" You are kidding about them as fashion icons, right?
Candy Pratts Price is the Executive Style Director of Style.com. She just won the Eugenia Sheppard (CFDA) Award for fashion journalism. While Candy's not a writer, she's got an eagle eye as a market editor so deemed a trend maker. Fashion loves her because she makes or breaks "looks," as in collection pieces. OUCH! on the revenge comment...
Thanks Lollie! Do keep reading and spreading the word on the page. Re: the hats, Philip Treacy's creations are like luscious cherries on gorgeous cakes. Each one, one of a kind.
Glenn O'Brien, new co-Editorial Director of Interview is exceptionally talented. I have a lot of faith in his vision and looking forward to checking out the new issue in September.
Do I care about Madonna, how could you not! While I'm no slave to her rhythm she is a remarkable woman breaking all former generations rules for what a woman of 50 should act and look like. That being said, how much longer does she have to be our pop princess? Is it still cool to be wearing bodysuits with tights when you're 60??http://media.uber .com/images/60x45 .jpg
Merci Lucille! Je comprende. Tu t'en fou de la vie ici' mais quand meme, tu lis le page. Souvent je m'en fou de la vie ici' aussi. Beaucoup de la betisse! xo!
Great pics!
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