March 24, 2012

Judgement of Paris

     
photo montage by Styrous®


This is my photo montage interpretation of an ancient Greek myth, "Judgement of Paris". The images are from two photo shoots done months apart in 2004; the montage was made in 2008.

An Ovation TV ad used my "Judgement of Paris" montage in the My Art Series, 2009, Set 7, which featured Fred Scott, Styrous® and Wade Lawrence.

Comments about the "Judgement of Paris" montage on Ovation TV.

"Judgement of Paris" was shown in The Love Show, the inaugural exhibition for the Gray Loft Gallery.

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The down 'n dirty version of the myth:

A bunch of gods had a party. One goddess didn't get invited, so she threw a golden apple into the mix to create discord. It worked, the gods started squabbling about who the apple was meant for. The boss god didn't want to take the heat so he had a mortal make the call. Each goddess tried to bribe the mortal into voting for her. He picked one but it turned out to be a very bad choice. If you REALLY want to know all the facts, full details below.

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The high brow version:

SYNOPSIS
THE JUDGEMENT OF PARIS was a contest between the three most beautiful goddesses of Olympus--Aphrodite, Hera and Athena--for the prize of a golden apple addressed to "the fairest".

THE MYTH
The story begins at the Wedding of Peleus and Thetis to which all of the gods were invited, all except Eris, the goddess of discord. When she appeared at the festivities, she was turned away, and in her anger cast a golden apple addressed, "Kallisti" ("To the Fairest") amongst the assembled goddesses.

Three goddesses laid claim to the apple--Aphrodite, Hera and Athena. Zeus was asked to mediate but he didn't want any part of it, so, he commanded Hermes to lead the three goddesses to Paris of Troy to decide the issue.

The three contenders bathed in the spring of Ida, then appeared before Paris, the shepherd prince, on Mount Ida in the climactic moment that is the crux of the tale. Each goddess wanted to be judged the fairest, so they each undressed and presented themselves to Paris naked, in hopes of appearing more sexual than the other two. While Paris inspected them, each attempted with her powers to bribe him; Hera offered to make him king of Europe and Asia, Athena offered wisdom and skill in war, and Aphrodite, who had the Charites and the Horai to enhance her charms with flowers and song, offered the world's most beautiful woman. This was Helen of Sparta, who was the wife of the Greek king Menelaus.Paris accepted the gift from Aphrodite and awarded the apple to her, receiving Helen as well as the enmity of the Greeks and especially of Hera. (Euripides, Andromache, l.284, Helena l. 676).   

The Greek expedition to retrieve Helen from Paris, both of them had fled to Troy, led to the fall of the city and is the mythological basis of the Trojan War.    
 - (Greek myth)

Styrous® March, 2012
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March 18, 2012

Britex Fabrics - Designer Spotlight Series

 
 
On March 15, 2012, Britex Fabrics began celebrating it's 60th year with it's first Designer Spotlight Series. Britex supplies fabric & all things necessary for fashion designers, sewers, dyers and anyone who makes clothing of any type.

This first event in it's series, Bridal & Evening Wear, featured bridal and evening wear by Karen Tierney, Amy-Jo Tatum, Melissa Bolin, Monique Zhang, Helena Chenn and Hester Michael. The incredibly narrow but well-organized, softly lit, almost romantic, store was a perfect venue for the event.
 (click on any image for slideshow)
 photo by Styrous®

photo by Styrous®


Karen Tierney of Studio Trousseau
Her focus is on designing and producing custom-made wedding gowns and unique or historic gowns, and the restoration and preservation of historic gowns. She also does historic costume consultation and construction for theater, film, and ballet; and museum consultation for preservation and dating of vintage textiles.

 photos by Styrous®

Amy-Jo Tatum
She produces extraordinary, one-of-a-kind dresses in her custom design studio, Bridal Alternatives. She was a columnist for the San Francisco Fashion and Art News, has a weekly fashion spot on One Wed blog, founded a networking organization called, The Design Project of San Francisco, and is working on a book called, "Bride Chic", about the special designer/client relationship that creates that special dress every woman dreams about for her wedding.

 Laura Schloss, model (left)
Amy-Jo Tatum, designer (right)

photo by Styrous® 


Melissa Bolin of Kitty Andrews
The inspiration for her art of millinery comes from costuming and haute couture, pin-up and punk rock, and years of traveling abroad and living in Japan. At Kitty Andrews she combines traditional knowledge, techniques and design precedents with a fresh, youthful approach that draws on modern materials and tastes. Each hat is meticulously crafted by hand from the highest quality fabrics, felts and trimmings.

 
hats by Melissa Bolin 
photo by Styrous®

hat by Melissa Bolin 
photo by Styrous®

hat by Melissa Bolin 
photo by Styrous®


Monique Zhang
She is principal designer and stylist for her high-style, custom design studio, Cicada Couture, near Union Square. The studio features her signature line of special occasion apparel which is also available at Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and boutiques in New York, Honolulu, Santa Fe and Shanghai.

Helena Chenn is a wardrobe and image consultant. She designs custom couture, wedding gowns and is co-author of the book, "Image Power".

Hester Michael is a fabric artist specializing in custom sewing and pattern making.


Upcoming events in the
Designer Spotlight series:

May 31: Wardrobe Essentials
July 26: Costume amd Corsetry
September 20: Menswear and Shritmaking


Styrous® ~ March 18, 2012
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March 16, 2012

Gray Loft Gallery ~ Love Show memories

photo by Styrous®

What a great experience it was to participate in the "The Love Show", the inaugural Gray Loft Gallery exhibition. Jan Watten put many hours into getting it off the ground. Betty Jo Costanzo came down from Seattle to help with the final setup.

Jan Watten                                                                                                  Betty Jo Costanzo (left) 
photo by Styrous®                                                                                                          Tom White (right)
                                                                                                                                                                                               photo by Styrous®
 

 Final touches by Jan Watten
photo by Styrous®


The evening of the opening brought a different work load . . . 

 
photo by Styrous®

 
photo by Styrous®


 The evening commenced; 
first the artists began to arrive . . .


Larissa                                      Bonnie Boller Tyler
 photos by Styrous®

Larissa surveys the finished gallery.
 photo by Styrous®


. . . then the artists began to arrive with guests . . . 

Bonnie Boller Tyler (2nd from left) 
& Charlie Lucke (right) with guests
 photo by Styrous®

Tom White & Kate Rittmann
photo by Styrous®


. . . then the guests started arriving in swarms.

 photo by Styrous®

fashion Designer                                        Molly &
 Amy Jo Tatum                                 Danielle Mutch
& Edgar Wethy                                                       
photos by Styrous®

Guest                                Minoo Hamzavi (left) with
~                                        Betty Jo Costanzo (right)
 photos by Styrous®


  photo by Styrous®


The evening featured a performance by KaraMel.

 photos by Styrous®


 After the performance, the party continued on . . .

Amy Jo Tatum (left) & Elwyn Crawford (center)
photo by Styrous®

Susan Moyski (left) Raymond Saunders (center) 
& Susan Parish (right)
photo by Styrous®

 photos by Styrous®


The party got wild . . . 


Ake & Leslie Frierman Grunditz
photos by Styrous®

 . . . and quickly went to the dogs.

Julia Storrs                                  Heller Rathbone 
wearing the art                                       & Georgie
photos by Styrous®


The second weekend Tessier Winery held a wine tasting in the gallery. Kristie Tacey poured & Jan Watten welcomed the guests. Martin Sweet was Jack-of-all-trades.

Kristie Tacey (left)                             Martin Sweet
 Jan Watten (right)                                                    
photos by Styrous®


It was a languid afternoon with a steady flow of visitors so there was plenty of time to spend with each one.

photo by Styrous®


The third weekend was an open studio.
It was a beautiful, warm day &
we sat & talked between guests.

Cathy Cronin (left) & Susan Tuttle (right)
 photo by Styrous®


The final weekend, the gallery held a closing party for the Love Show. 

 
Martin Sweet & Susan Laing
 photo by Styrous®
 

 photo by Styrous®


The guests heard readings by
 Claudia H Long & Larissa from their works.

 photo by Styrous®

 Claudia H Long                                            Larissa
 photo by Styrous®                                                                     photo by Jan Watten


I'd had the benefit of meeting the Love Show's talented artists as well as the opportunity to know better ones I already knew. Just can't beat that.

photo by Styrous®

 Charlie Lucke                                     Tom White &
~                                                      Minoo Hamzavi
 photos by Styrous®

 Mariah Carle                               Gabrielle Lessard 
~                                                Mangosteen Jewelry  
 photos by Styrous®

 
Eben Ostby
 photo by Styrous®

 photo by Styrous®

 Susan Tuttle (left), PJ Callahan (center) 
& Bill Silveira (right)
 photo by Styrous®

Suzy Barnard                                             Larissa
& Emilie Watten                                                    
 photos by Styrous®

 Jan Watten (left), Julia Storrs (right)
 photo by Styrous®
 
 photo by Styrous®

 
 photo by Styrous®

Barbara Cushman (left)        Nancy LaRose (right)
 photo by Styrous®


                                           I even managed
                                           to get photographed.

Cathy Cronin                                           Styrous®
photo by Styrous®                                                              photo by Tom White

Cathy Cronin (left) & Susan Tuttle (right)
sat on the deck outside the Gray Loft Gallery &
watched the sun as it set on Jingletown
 photo by Styrous®


What a great time it was!

back row (left to right):
Nancy LaRose, Gabrielle Lessard
& Bill Silveira
front row (left to right):
Mariah Carle, Susan Tuttle, Susan Laing,
Jan Watten, Styrous® & Kathy Cronin
 photo by Martin Sweet


I wish pleasant memories to you all.