Tastes Like Caramel » David Bowie

Exhibition Reviews: Alexander McQueen’s Savage Love and David Bowie, Artist

anthoNYC — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 19:20:02 +0000

Last week I took myself on 2 museum dates to celebrate my birthday on Friday, finally catching both the Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the David Bowie, Artist exhibit at the Museum of Art and Design. My museum trips preceded an art and film-filled birthday weekend that extended to Bushwick Open Studios and X-Men: First Class.

David Bowie, Artist at The Museum of Art & Design

Retrospective Reframing David Bowie as an Artist Working in Performance

To be quite frank, when I arrived at the Museum of Art and was told that the “David Bowie exhibit was not an exhibit but a few kiosks,” I was a bit irritated (rarely do I venture uptown past 23rd Street) until wandering around the museum which housed some very interesting pieces (see pictures here.) The small installation was in fact a 4 multimedia kiosks in a hallway, expertly curated to highlight Bowie as a performance artist rather than as the icon we all know and love. I found myself completely engaged with live performances I’d never seen, music videos and film clip for a longer time period than I’d first imagined.

The exhibition extends into a film series of Bowie’s most notable films through the end of the month, including Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, The Hunger, Labyrinth, Basquiat and more. I definitely advise all to check out the exhibition before it closes on July 15th, 2011, especially on Thursdays between 6PM and 9PM when it’s free!

Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

“People find my things sometimes aggressive. But I don’t see it as aggressive. I see it as romantic, dealing with a dark side of personality.” – Alexander McQueen

Acclaimed British designer Alexander McQueen’s career retrospective exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Savage Beauty (on display May 4–August 7, 2011) was one of the most amazing museum collections I’ve ever seen. Opening just over a year after McQueen’s passing on February 11th, 2010, the exhibit takes it’s visitor through a breathtaking archived journey of his common themes, concepts and passion dispersed throughout his collections: The Romantic Mind, Romantic Gothic and Cabinet of Curiosities, Romantic Nationalism, Romantic Exoticism, Romantic Primitivism and Romantic Naturalism.

McQueen was a true artist who expressed his views on religion, politics, stereotypes, human emotion, beauty, death and perception throughout his 19-year career in fashion. Although bittersweet, Savage Beauty has left me truly inspired and not to be missed! I suggest visiting the Met on a weekday by 10AM to see the exhibit. Admission is by donation.

Happy 63rd Birthday to David Bowie!

anthoNYC — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:59:48 +0000

There is not much that needs to be said about The Thin White Duke aka Ziggy Stardust aka glam-rock icon David Bowie (who also shares the same birthday as Elvis Presley!) Active since the 60′s Bowie has successfully tackled music, art, fashion, philanthropy and film and is still going strong. Join us in wishing Bowie a fabulous 63rd as we eagerly await his next move!

MP3: David Bowie – All The Young Dudes or zShare
MP3: David Bowie – Rebel Rebel (Soulwax Mix) or zShare

Last Shadow Puppets cover '60s era Bowie

TLC Blog — Tue, 20 May 2008 04:52:00 +0000

I had feared for a while there that this was going to turn into a Last Shadow Puppets blog as my zealous, repeat listens of The Age of the Understatement were getting a bit out of hand. I can’t remember the last time I memorized all the words to an entire album in one day. Even though my initial flush of infatuation with Turner & Kane has ebbed this week, I just had to feature their gem of a b-side cover track.

As a b-side to first single, The Age of the Understatement, the duo recorded In the Heat of the Morning, a classic early early early Bowie pop song. Clearly a nod to one of their album’s strongest influences. I am so glad someone is bringing attention to and being influenced by these songs, which can be found on The Deram Anthology.

The boys recorded a soulful version faithful to the original. It’s about time young musicians are taking another listen to mod era Bowie and gleaning some very strong pop sensibilities from the tunes. By breathing new life into In the Heat of the Morning, The Last Shadow Puppets will no doubt introduce this Bowie period to a new group of listeners.

Perfect pop song. Perfect cover. Perfect summer tune. Have a listen: