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)
Artist Rita Ackermann's daughter Marika gives the signal.
(Photos by Susan M. Kirschbaum)
What always seemed great about Andy Warhol was that he courted fame for fame's sake and made no bones about it. Like a lurking psychologist, Andy surveyed, then appealed to people's vanity, painting them in big bold colors, making them overnight superstars. Some of them, already superstars, he bolstered to new heights. But, when he founded Interview Magazine in 1969, he legitimized his private voyeuristic fetish, sitting celebrities down with celebrities. He gave them tape recorders so the responses would remain spontaneous.
Almost forty years later, after the reign of editor Ingrid Sischy from the mid Nineties, owner Peter Brant decided to clean house -- and Ingrid, the lover of Brant's first wife Sandra -- to bring in a new regime. They were toasted last evening at Mr. Chow's uptown.
Glenn O'Brien Co-editorial Director (with fashion ad king Fabien Baron) and Christopher Bollen, the former Editor of V Mag, hosted several friends and creative cohorts. Designers Marc Jacobs, Francisco Costa (Calvin Klein), Adam Kimmel (very cool menswear), and Zac Posen, freshly gorgeous without nerd glasses, arrived to pay homage. Master photo retoucher Pascal Dangin,photographers Todd Eberle and Terry RIchardson also stopped by. Champagne flowed. Guests chowed down on beef skewers, crab corn dogs, and chicken satay, that my friend, gallerist Melissa Bent ate and unfortunately described later in explicit sexual terms. Richardson's girlfriend, Jen Brill, showed off her Chris Kane silver tipped lace up anklet boots (see photo.)
Glenn O'Brien, a veteran writer, art critic, and original member of Andy's club promised "surprises" with the new layout debuting in September. And there are three more rollout parties before the official first issue. Current issue features Maggie Gyllenhaal and stories on musician Jakob Dylan, film director Harmony Korine, and painter Richard Prince.
Jen Brill's dangerous heels, by Christopher Kane
CLICK BELOW! FOR MORE STORY AND PARTY PIX... BLUE LINE, HIT IT!
I'm ready for surprises! Today, when each movement of the famous is monitored, reality television shows place cameras in the homes of so called real folk, and internet stars are born overnight, fifteen minutes of fame -- Andy's mantra -- seems not so hard to come by. To further that, to rebirth a magazine that originally honored the spontaneous bloopers uttered in candid taped interviews and assure that they actually make it to print unedited, takes guts. The idea centers on promoting dialogue, not glorified hype.
Andy Warhol re-birthed himself from the humble origins of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania into a blossoming technicolor painter and artist of the zietgeist. He was also a star fucker but he posed questions. By making his subjects comfortable, they revealed something of themselves that was authentic. I hope the new Interview does the same.
Jen Brill cozies up to Max the photographer
Zac Posen and Susan, looking exclusive
Cutie Architect (Zac's partner) Brian Callahan, Alexandra Posen, Zac
Brian Phillips, Melissa Bent, and Adrian
Interview Editorial Director Glenn O'Brien and Anthony Haden Guest
Marika shows how it's done
Marika's Converse "Chuck Taylors" never go out of style
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!
keep up the good work <" To be a star you must shine your own light, follow your own path and not be afraid of the darkness, for that is when stars shine brightest."> peace 2008
susan, did you ever get my message or are my messages broken too? cause If I wrote hundreds of personal messages to people for nothing I'm going to cry
Certainly a different side to Gwenyth...but I like the unscripted element- I didn't know she had this in her! Great blog- always love reading your posts!
Thanks! I think you're spot on about creativity and madness, and how a lot of it has to do with personal choices. I try to focus on the positive as much as I can, and look for ways to work through things using the creativity that I have. I heard that's what J.K. Rowling did. :-)
Hey, Susan K! I just wanted to thank you once again for taking the time to write that wonderful comment on my blog. Every time I look at it, it really lifts me up and inspires me to keep doing all this stuff that my mother doesn't understand, lol. You have a generous heart and for that you definitely deserve credit.
Hey Susan, if all goes to plan i think will be in NYC around 10th April.I Am shooting a job for a Japanese jewellery company and there talking about shooting it there at the moment rather than coming all they to London or me going all the way to Japan, which i would really love! Should know in the next week whats going on but would be great to get over to NYC as i have not shot there for about a year i guess, and its a good place to be in the spring.
Hey D., I'm afraid the big Armory show closes on Sunday night. Then the world goes away from the Pier and the galleries here in Chelsea. When you are in, check them out along streets 22nd through 26th, btw 10th and 11th Aves. If you are coming in to shoot, let me know... I can post a shout out on the blog.
