Whole Foods Market Venice: Fantastique French Wine Tasting & Art Exhibit

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for Whole Foods Market Venice.

Whole Foods Market Venice is hosting a fun fundraiser this Saturday, March 1st from 5-8pm featuring the works of Gildas Coudrais and French wine tasting!  The cost is only $10 per person and proceeds will benefit the Whole Planet Foundation!  Germanybased French artist Gildas Coudrais unique pop culture inspired artwork looks fantastic on wine labels and reminds me of modern contemporary pieces I'm such a fan of!  For more information, you can check out the official event page here (or if you are savvy, click the flyer!)

The featured wines:

• Chantebelle Sauvignon Blanc

$9.99/750 ml

A bright and brisk beauty with crisp citrus flavors, it's sensational start to the evening, especially with chilled shrimp and goat cheese!

• King Rabbit Malbec

$9.99/750ml

Rich, black plums, berries and cherries dance smoothly on the palate, hoping to get a turn with roasted duck, beef, or rabbit!

• Anciens Temps Cabernet – Syrah

$9.99/750 ml

This is serious bang for your buck, with robust flavors of black pepper and berries, and a vanilla-kissed finish. It begs for steak au poivre topped with St. Agur bleu cheese!

• Eagle Coq Pinot Noir

$9.99/750 ml

A pleasantly priced Pinot Noir with juicy red cherry and currant flavors pleasing French & California drinkers alike, especially when served with baked Brie or Coq Au Vin!

• Fantastique Pinot Noir

$9.99/750 ml

A fantastically bolder Pinot, with flavors of spiced black cherries that would love to meet up with some cedar-plank grilled salmon or a French dip sandwich!

One of Gildas Coudrais pieces - c'est magnifique!

Get social with Whole Foods Market Venice by following on Facebook and Twitter!

Do Christmas Different - Give Art!

I'm always on the hunt for art.  New and vintage, whatever stands out gets added to my collection.  My favorite is when vintage and new are melded effortlessly.  Replaceface does this with digital copies of George Dawe's paintings and his own work with Photoshop - the finished pieces are majestic and wonderful.  He has over 30 celebrities available and you can even get your own face done up!  Do Christmas Different - Give Art!  And if you happen to read this after the holidays, give art just because.

*I am a Society 6 Curator

Rose Hills Dia De Los Muertos Cultural Festival

Disclosure:  This post is brought to you by Rose Hills Dia de los Muertos.  All thoughts and content are my own.

If you have never checked out a Dia de los Muertos celebration in Southern California, make this the year you start.  Make no mistake, even though Dia de los Muertos translated is Day of the Dead - it is a unique cultural event that respectfully remembers those who have passed while it celebrates and honors the rich traditions and heritage with all generations.  I'm thrilled to share about Rose Hills Memorial Park's 4th Annual Dia de los Muertos Cultural Festival on Sunday, November 3, 2013 from 11am-5pm.  It is FREE!  There will be good food, arts & crafts area for kids, a vendor area featuring Dia de los Muertos themed arts and crafts, performances and entertainment including Paso de Oro's Aztec dance group, local dancers from Tierra Blanca Dance Company, Mariachi Trompetas de Mexico, and a special closing performance by the band Cambalache.  Best of all and my personal Dia de los Muertos favorite - Families are invited to create their own altars and enter the community altar contest!  Dia de los Muertos is deeply personal and undoubtedly beautiful - love fuels the creativity.  

The celebration also includes an art exhibit inside the SkyRose Chapel showcasing the talents of various local artists who will be sharing some of their Dia de los Muertos artwork!  Internationally renowned local artist Yolanda Gonzalez is 2013 Rose Hills Dia de los Muertos featured artist!

For more information, visit Rose Hills Dia de los Muertos Facebook / Rose Hills Day of the Dead

The Art Of Chris Galaviz: Dia De Los Muertos Masks

What started out as a project for my husband's Public Speaking class has propelled into a full-on business venture.  This mask was originally made for me because we celebrate his Mexican heritage on the Dia de los Muertos holiday.  The mask came out absolutely stunning and since we are raising funds to fund my new camera - he decided to offer 10 to insure delivery for the holiday.  The mask itself is paper mache and hand painted/drawn.  You will have the option of choosing the design and color scheme.  Your mask does not have to look like mine and it can even be male.  

If you are interested, you can purchase directly from his shop or on my Instagram starting at 12pm.

Instagram instructions:  When the picture above goes "live" on my Instagram, leave a comment with your email address.  If you are one of the first five, you will be invoiced from theartofchrisgalaviz@gmail.com and emailed to complete your order.

Happy Thrift Shop Day! #talesfromthethrift

I haven't had a thrifting post in awhile because we just haven't gone thrifting.  I guess it's kinda good we haven't gone because in a week, I scored some amazing vintage goodies.  I was actually going to post this next week but when you wake up to a message from Ruby wishing you a Happy Thrift Shop Day and Marilla doing a thrift shop post shouting you out - you get inspired to get to work!

Behold a Fenton Milk Glass bowl with a cover.  I actually had this in the bottom of Omie's stroller and a few thrifters were just waiting for me to put it back on the shelf.  $10 is usually out of my price range but I had to have it.  This may have been the best rule I broke all year.  Don't you ever question the workmanship on a Fenton piece - it is truly a masterpiece.

It is a little dirty still - I don't have the heart to wash it just yet.  Especially since the sticker is still intact.

My husband has been collecting "Big Eyed Art" for me for awhile now.  Our collection only consists of Lee prints and I have never heard of Ann (is it a knockoff?) Anyways, this is in excellent condition, still wrapped and was only $2!  Now if only he can find me a Lee "bear" print.

Scored this 2 pack of brand new vintage trays for my prop closet!

I have been on the hunt for a good Unicorn piece forever.  And then I laid my eyes on this and had to have her!  My rule of thumb is usually only spending $5 for thrifted art but hey, what's one more dollar for something you really want?

I had to make this picture HDR (High Dynamic Range) to show off the details of this handmade yarn owl from Mexico.  When I saw this figure, it immediately reminded me of breathtaking Huichol bead art.  It was missing a price tag and I was dreading what the price would be (or in some cases, I would have to wait the next day for them to price it) but it was only $1.99 - he had to come home with us.  If anyone has info on this yarn piece, let me know!  

What thrift store treasures have you found lately?  

I Was A Paparazzi Cosplayer At D23 Expo

I enjoyed playing an "outsider" in the Disney Kingdom at D23 Expo.  Capturing Disney cosplayers in their true element showing off their fashion and style.  Here are my favorite paparazzi shots.     

My favorite:  Toy Story 3 Barbie!

I saw "DisneyBounding" last Halloween season while at Mickey's Halloween Party.  It is one of the best things to happen to Disney fashion.  Was stoked to see Woody!  

Don't do it, you remember what happened to Eve!

Taking it all in...

Always up to something!!!

The one true Frog Prince!

Princesses gotta eat too.

Typical teenagers.

That One Time We Visited Gary Baseman's Home

I crave art.  I get cranky if we don't hit a museum or gallery at least once a month.  I love a good installation and my faves are the ones that aren't all stuffy.  Don't get me wrong, I totally agree with rules at museums, I've seen people touch paintings or wannabe photographers use flash on 14th century paintings and gasped at their manners.  The most recent art exhibition we visited was Gary Baseman: The Door Is Always Open at the Skirball Cultural Center.  It was far from stuffy, we were invited to sit in his childhood home, lay on his bed and roam around in his backyard.  By far one of the best exhibits I've ever seen.

Gary Baseman is an artist, illustrator, animator and toy designer.  Famous for his television series Teacher's Pet and iconic artwork for the popular board game Cranium, we heard about Gary Baseman by collecting designer toys.  The last show we visited was La Noche de la Fusion at Corey Helford Gallery in 2009 and I was amazed at the detail of the exhibit.  I was an instant Gary Baseman fan.  Duke was only 3 at the time so couldn't appreciate that visit but on this visit, he could not get enough. What hits home is how proud Gary is of his heritage - something we teach our children.  Gary was born in Los Angeles in 1960 to Polish-born Holocaust survivors.  His love for his parents is evident, I enjoy the exploration & influence of his Jewish heritage with American culture.  I can only hope our influence with our children runs as deep.

There are 9 rooms in Gary Baseman's home, each one stood on it's own - detailed and thoughtful, visiting made me remember my own childhood.  Our 7 year old son Duke happened to have his iPod and went crazy taking pictures.  He was amused with pictures of Toby's travels, Gary's old toys, his bedroom and his backyard.  Our 1 year old Omar kept smiling at Ahwroo (which should've been totally scary for a toddler).  The show runs till August 18th, go see it.

Craola - Stop Haunting Me

Chris decided last minute (he's been full of surprises lately) last Saturday that we'd trek up to LA to check out one of our favorite artists Greg "Craola" Simkins latest show, Stop Haunting Me at Merry Karnowsky Gallery.  I have said it in the past and I'll say it again, you can not look at art online - you need to see it in person.  There are a few reasons for this and I'll share in a future post!

I was surprised traffic on the way up was non-existent.  And by the powers that be, we found a parking space right in front of the gallery!  I teased Chris that it was probably because all the hipsters left LA for Coachella.  He laughed and said, I love Coachella!

I know with movies and music, I always hope that the sequels or follow-up albums are better... almost never the case but I can say... art is different.  I am not an art critic but I know what I like.  I know what's good.  My thoughts:  Craola killed this show.  Slayed.  His evolution is insane - love that he's using vivid colors.  Greg "Craola" Simkins does a fantastic job of making old painting techniques new.  Refreshing and stimulating.  Take your kids.  

Detailed.

Texture.

The prints from "Stop Haunting Me" show are perfectly executed.  I haven't seen anything like it and we are so excited to add "The Summer Vacation" to our collection.  Not the original piece because Everlast bought it but a framed print.  Do not sleep on art - get one.


Greg "Craola" Simkins - Stop Haunting Me runs till May 4th, 2013
Merry Karnowsky Gallery

170 S. La Brea Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 933-4408
Open Tuesday - Saturday 12-6pm

Note: I took all of these photos but they are not copyrighted by me - if you would like to use, email xeniadroid@gmail.com

The New Children's Museum - San Diego, CA

We recently went on a last minute staycation to our favorite city, San Diego!  One of our must-see stops:  The New Children's Museum!  The reason why I wanted to visit is because they commission art pieces directly from leading contemporary artists and their themes are designed to help visitors think, play and create!  Trash is the current exhibition and the mission is to change how we see trash, and changing perspective starts by asking more questions.

How do we decide what is trash?
How does your trash impact the lives of others?
How can we imagine new possibilities, and a new future for our trash?





Duke jumped right in and started exploring.  We all wanted to venture off on our own though!  There were so many things to look at and so many things to do.

My husband and I were so excited to see Vik Muniz as one of the artists.  We watched a documentary called, "Waste Land" about his work.


This post is heavy on the pictures... there is more
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