Julia deVille and William Llewellyn Griffiths: The Exhibition!

It's not so often that I quote Edgar Allan Poe. That is, unless you count my midnightly ritual of slipping out to the local cemetery and raising the occupants with a rousing Cockney knees-up recitation of 'The Raven', thus:

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
'Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, 'art sure no craven.
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore --
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!'
Quoth the raven, 'Nevermore.'

So anyway, this brings to mind an upcoming joint exhibition by Melbourne-based artists Julia deVille and William Llewellyn Griffiths at the Sophie Gannon Gallery from 28 July to 21 August. Both artists are well known for their exquisitely delicate interpretations of all things creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky.

Check these tiny critters a-glitter beyond this mortal coil in marcasite, diamonds, silver and gold.

Julia deVille's 'Night's Plutonian Shore':

William Llewellyn Griffith's 'A Deus Ex Machina':

And, if a distraught young urchin child happens to tug at your shirt-sleeve and yowl: "But why isn't Angelina Ballerina dancing?" you are soooooo of the hook, Jimmy!

The little mousies are en pointe in a diorama driven by gears!

Where is it again?

Sophie Gannon Gallery
2 Albert Street
Richmond, VIC, 3121

And when did you say?

28 July to 21 August, 2010

And, as they say in the taxidermy biz: GET THERE OR GET STUFFED!

x Samone

Gail Sorronda is gale force!

Hang on to your hats, kids, because Gail Sorronda is one label a-stormin' up a serious gale. Yeah, you heard the forecast! Hector Pascal’s manning the Barometric Pressure Bar and it’s weather-related puns ALL ROUND.

Now obviously I don’t know a single thing about meteorology, but I do know that Gail Reid’s label Gail Sorronda was recently announced as one of seven finalists in the Vogue Italia emerging talent competition 'Who Is On Next'. 

Well, friends at Vogue Italia, I can confidently answer your question (curiously devoid of a question-mark, which means it is probably a statement), thus:

GAIL SORRONDA IS ON NEXT, THAT’S WHO!

(Only don’t ask me to say it in Italian.)

So, as a finalist for 'Who Is On Next', Reid presented the Gail Sorronda ‘Murmur’ collection in Rome last Saturday. As you can see, the SS 2010/11 collection is a diaphanous plume of exquisite gathering, ruffles and tulle, all tethered with zips, buckles, seriously taut tailoring.

And, speaking of hats, as I vaguely was at some point, get a goosey gander at these hats, why don’t ya?

Gail Reid may have called this collection Murmur, but I say SPOLMONARSI.

(According to my real Italian friends -- also known as Google Translator, as my real Italian friends are, at a pinch, fictional -- ‘spolmonarsi’ means ‘shout oneself hoarse').

So, I'll shout myself hoarse by shouting, hoarsely:

SPOLMONARSI!

x Samone        

Friedrich Gray Studio Store

MAN ALIVE!

If there is anything to be positively scintillated about on this gloomy old Monday is Glum-day, it would have to be Friedrich Gray's Studio Store opening this Thursday June 10.

Up for grabs is the Winter 2010 collection, the Friedrich Gray studio collection, archive pieces, prototypes, and, if THAT isn't enough for you, you greedy thing, custom-made leather jackets to order!

So where is the store?

Level 1/1 Dunning Ave (Cnr Epsom Rd), Rosebery.

And when is the store open?

Wed-Fri 12pm-7pm
Sat 10am-2pm
and by appointment info@friedrichgray.com

Even more excitingly, there, within the studio space, is a HOUSE. Here is a mysterious sneaky peek of this mind-bending concept, just for you:

You got it: there is a HOUSE in the HOUSE, which is actually a STUDIO, and now, a STUDIO STORE.

Things are starting to feel positively David Lynch-tastic round these parts (and that's always a very good thing).

x Samone

Romance Was Born: If your collection was a mood ring, what colour would it be glowing?

We asked Anna Plunkett of Romance Was Born: "If your collection was a mood ring, what colour would it be glowing?"

And you'll find the answer at the spot marked 'PLAY'.

Romance Was Born: A few questions after the show with Anna

After the show, we caught up with Romance Was Born's Anna Plunkett to ask the questions that COUNT (especially by halves).

Question 1: What story is the collection telling?

It’s the story of dinosaurs getting transported through a crystal portal to the Renaissance to savage the upper class and free the lower class … and eat them.


Question 2: How did this story translate into the show?

The building and the set had a Renaissance kind of feel for us, for Australia, and the jungle is meant to be like Jurassic Park … we were inspired by the movie and the soundtrack.


Question 3: Was there a particular piece in the collection that you most connected with, or found most challenging to execute?

I really love the first outfit, the mask was the first Pandora mask that we did. I love the volcano, the crystal girl, and the bride. I really like the shoulder ride.


Question 4: In the mad lead-up to tonight’s show, who or what have been your daily heroes to help get you through?

Nella and all our workies … and my boyfriend. Just so many people to mention.

***

x Samone and Jaye

Our Daily Hero: Meet Narelle Robertson

The warm, gorgeous, and unassuming Narelle Robertson is a beloved hero of Romance Was Born. Narelle's nimble whirling of the thread came into play in the days leading up to last night's show.

And we all know what a stitch in time saves, don't we? (Answer: nine.)

"I've just been helping the guys. There's just so much handwork to do, just lots of little jobs to put it together to get to the total garment that they want. It takes a day just to embellish these sleeves and put them together."

Narelle, as the first Daily Hero featured on this blog, we salute you!

x Samone and Jaye

Romance Was Born: 'Renaissance Dinosaur', SS2010/11

Last night, The University of Sydney’s majestic MacLaurin Hall was the holding pen for Romance Was Born’s ‘Renaissance Dinosaur’ SS2010/11 spectacular. In the best kind of theatre, a trail of tinkling, thudding, and galloping ivories lured guests up the neo-Gothic staircase and into the venue. On the landing, we were met by a pianist in friar robes and a Venetian mask. A horned technicolour furry toy lounged on the grand piano lid, much like Michelle Pfeiffer in ‘The Fabulous Baker Boys’.

As the crowd surged inside, the room began wheezing with animal calls, grunts, and rumbles that built to a prehistoric hysteria. The scene was a moss-laden Eden of ferns and palms, dripping with vines. The runway was a glittering volcanic wonderland, laden with crystals, incense sticks, tiny insects, and a Late Cretaceous Period up-sized tortoise.

Jurassic foot-stomps stormed the walls and rafters, and then the show was ON.

And how to describe this riotous rumpus? Let’s try for some bullet points:

* Rainbow-coloured fairy-floss hair plumed sky high with headpieces of horns, chunky crystals, diamante hairnets, feathers, fans, and smatterings of Pandora charms.

* Necks were appliqued with a funereal rhinestone-studded lace. Nails were not nails, they were talons.

* The somehow lovechild of Princess Amidala and a Gothic Geisha strutted with an armoury of artificial fingernails embedded in her chestpiece.

* A floaty violin-print tunic and trouser set was made to waltz to its own tune.

* Raquel Welch’s ‘One Million Years BC’ met Toucan Sam in a deliciously lurid jungle-print bolero and shorts set.

* A gold-flecked knight of the Crusades heralded a bride-zilla riding on the shoulders of her groom.

And, the outfit that blew the roof right off that hall …

* The human volcano.

It was a BLAST.








Photo courtesy of vogue.com.au (final photograph only, all other photographs taken by Jaye Carcary).

x Samone and Jaye

Romance Was Born: Behind the scenes hair and make up

Faces of Romance Was Born: 'Renaissance Dinosaur' SS2010/11.

Make up by super-talented Natasha Severino for MAC, hair by the extraordinary Lores Giglio for Fudge.















x Jaye

Romance Was Born: Top 10 looks snapped outside the show

Q: What is your favourite creature with wings?
A: That would have to be a bird.




Q: What is your favourite national costume?
A: The lederhosen from Germany.




Q: Where is your favourite spot to take a seaside holiday?
A: Jervis Bay.




Q: What is your favourite African animal with stripes?
A: The zebra.




Q: Who is your favourite artist to disco with?
A: Donna Summer.




Q: Who is your favourite character in a film?
A: Rex Harrison as Henry Higgins in 'My Fair Lady'.




Q: What is your favourite thing that glitters or shines?
A: This top.




Q: What was the last song you listened to?
A: 'Paris' by the Friendly Fires.




Q: What was your favourite sport as a child?
A: Soccer - the same as it is now.




Q: What are you having for dinner tomorrow night?
A: Vietnamese, please!


***

x Jaye

Therese Rawsthorne: If your collection was a mood ring, what colour would it glow?

We asked Therese Rawsthorne "If your collection was a mood ring, what colour would it glow?"

HIT PLAY!