More from the twenty-seven names store

MB xx

Twenty-Seven Names Flagship Store Opens in Wellington!

Yesterday morning, NZ cult-brand twenty-seven names opened the doors to their first store. An ex-gallery space on Vivian Street in Wellington, the shop's beautiful layout is an ode to the girls behind the brand, Rachel and Anjali's talent. With backgrounds in fine arts and fashion respectively, the result is a harmony of both arts; Rachel's graduate fine arts project of a ceramic lion and unicorn features as the centrepiece of the space, surrounded by framed sketches and embroidery pieces, graphic rugs and raw concrete floors. Not to mention the clothes. 

The current range is separated by print, matched with pillows on the back wall - one of which I bought shortly after they opened (as their very first ever customer!).

This evening the designers stayed late, inviting anyone in to have a glass of wine and have a chat to celebrate the opening. I had a great chat to Rachel about the current industry, where the brand has came from and where it's going, and what inspires them to keep growing. Coming from a fine arts background, Rachel said she didn't specifically look for an ex-gallery when looking for a space for the store, but jumped at the chance when one came available. The opportunity to sell their clothes in an environment that gave the same experience as a gallery and truly showcased the clothes was an ideal. 

MB xx

Customs Brew Bar!

Took my daily visit down to Customs Brew Bar on Ghuznee Street (Wellington) today to give their new Costa Rican brew a go. Brewed in a Chemex, the coffee had delicious peachy and caramely flavours. Yummy!

Customs Brew Bar is located on Ghuznee Street in Wellington, between Cuba & Marion Street.

Pop in a for a treat or follow them on twitter @customsbrewbar or instagram @customsbrews

MB xx

'Colour & Lights: Impressionism from France and America' exhibition at Te Papa

On Friday night another big international exhibition opened at Te Papa, following the recently opened Andy Warhol exhibition. What could be Pop Art's polar opposite; Impressionist paintings by the movements' greatest artists fill the large Te Ihomatua gallery. 

Works by French Impressionists Monet, Cezanne, Renoir, Degas, and their American followers Whistler, Homer (etc) feature - a combination of large paintings, sketches, sculptures and prints, all from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. 

Impressionism was brought to prominence amongst the French art scene during the 1870s and 1880s as Claude Monet's work gained recognition. Followers of his popularised the movement with their obvious brush strokes of non-blended colour, focussing on accurate lighting and its changing qualities to suggest movement amongst quite ordinary subject matter (often landscapes or common people). 

Although few major works featured in the exhibition, it was incredible to see work of such a stark contrast to Warhols work, where many of the pieces showed barely any sign of the artist's mark or hand-work. The typical impressionist method came as a reaction to the growing interest in photography as an art form, which too didn't show the artists mark in a way painting could.

The Japanese Bridge - Monet (1899)

The exhibition is on until January 2014

MB xx

Warhol Exhibition: Te Papa, Wellington

Yesterday I made my way down to Te Papa on Wellington's waterfront to see the recently opened Andy Warhol exhibition, 'Warhol:Immortal' (1June-25August). After seeing some of the top art works in some of the top galleries around the world, I have to admit I had become a bit of an art snob, and assumed (although I have been completely obsessed with Warhol and the 60's for as long as I can remember) the only works to feature at Te Papa would be a small selection of sketches and unimportant silkscreen prints.

I couldn't have been more wrong. Set in the Visa Platinum Gallery, the exhibition was as multidisciplinary as Warhol's work. Sketches, personal photographs, wallpaper, films, MTV clips, books, iPad apps and major silkscreens - both self portraits and of celebrities - featured in a range of set-out rooms and hallways. The yellow and pink cow print wallpaper covered a central room, filled with the infamous silver foil helium balloons to play with. Screen tests of Edie Sedgwick and the likes could be watched in the film room, while you created a Warhol-style screen test of your own. 

I was overwhelmed by the quality of work on show at the exhibition. Even though you 'weren't supposed to take photos' (something I found very un-Andy-esque), I had to take some sneaky hip-height snaps.

Opening this weekend is the American/French Impressionism exhibition 'Colour & Light' - another impressive list of artists to feature. Te Papa is upping their game, which I think could be to do with the similar game-up from the Auckland Art Gallery and their California Design exhibition, which has just opened. I'm sure they'll battle it out for a while longer, and I'm definitely not complaining.

p.s. and yes, the Marilyns are there :)

MB xx