My dear friend and colleague Isabella Hughes is featured this month by artBahrain.  In the interview, she discusses her method for pursuing certain curatorial topics and her future projects, including This IS Hawai'i, a dual-site exhibition with the National Museum of the American Indian and Transformer.  On handling the expectations of the community, Isabella states:

"When it comes to the community that an exhibition will serve, I like to do as much research as possible to try and anticipate the kind of audience who will visit and then try twice as hard to attract an audience whom might not necessarily visit the exhibition because I think it is important that exhibitions are made accessible to as wide an audience as possible."

Read the full interview here.

Image: Detail of Kuu era: Polyfantastica the beginning, a 2006 work by Solomon Enos, This IS Hawai’i (upcoming May 2011)

A few weeks ago, I attended a fabulous event at Marchon Eyewear   hosted by the Accessories Council with other awesome bloggers, including my best bud Renata at Scorpion Disco (she also has some great photos up right now).  The focus of the evening?  Awesome picks for our moms for Mother's Day!  Thank goodness I had some help -- I never know what to get her.  We all left the night with lots of goodies, some of which I'm just gonna have to keep, Mom!  (Sorry!)

Nine West Leopard Tote w/ makeup bag, $79 -- actually helps organization with lots of great pockets and zippers inside; the sophisticated leopard print and quilted exterior have gotten me lots of compliments! (yeah, I'm keeping this one); available in Macy's in time for Mother's Day (photo: courtesy of Accessories Council)

Michael Kors Calista Sunglasses, $200 -- Stylish sunglasses with retro flair; my favorite part - the presence of the logo is minimal (for those of you who don't want to be too flashy); a keeper for me!

Judith Jack Perfect Match Convertible Necklace, $350 -- A glittering markosite necklace (Judith Jack is the master); can be worn as a choker or long, or displaying the back side (mother of pearl)  (photo: courtesy of Zappos.com)

Dorfman Pacific Hats, $42-$145 -- I'm not usually a hat person, but I'm thrilled with these hats; I know my mom will love wearing it!  In lots of colors and shapes to suit every preference, as well as moldable, these hats really do fit anyone's style

Other picks:

• Hair Rules Daily Cleansing Cream (I tried it - it's luscious and suds free - read Renata's review here)
• Colette Malouf flower head band
• Good Charma bracelets
• Belk bead bracelet
• an adorable and beautifully made MCM Congnac Visetos charm which can act as a keychain or handbag accessory
• Noon Copenhagen watches (changes color according to the time - cool!)
• Susan Beard Design and Wax Works Photo, who makes a beautiful home accessory out of your photos

And sponsorship and special appearances by Maria Brito Styling and Michelin Star restaurant Rouge Tomate.  Thanks!!

(P.S. - You can check out all the Accessories Council's picks here.)

Tonight the winners of the Mayor's Arts Awards were announced in DC.  Just got word that among the list of finalists, Transformer was a winner for "Excellence in Artistic Discipline."  You may remember the name from the recent National Portrait Gallery controversy.  There were a few other nominees I was rooting for, but the winners list isn't posted yet.

Alas, this is the only picture I took at the House of Sweden recently. My hands were busy with the delicious food and booze that comes with an opening hosted / funded by the embassy.

It was totally the Georgetowny crowd, but the space was amazing, including several galleries - one devoted to child's play or child's development or something. No, I don't remember the name of the exhibition because I was too busy loving and taking a pic of this yak.

(download)

Click here to download:

making-our-headboard-qmdixvksupulorHfCuks.zip (1.86 MB)

We glued padding onto a thin piece of wood from the hardware store and stapled on fabric. Then we sewed buttons for that pulled fabric look.

I've been driving everyone crazy this winter through my obsession with a song I can't stop singing.  It's so damn catchy. I love to sing it as annoyingly as possible, imitating the high pitch of the singer and pissing off the hubs.  So great.  The song is "Holiday," and is used in both the Tommy Hilfiger (see below) and Honda commercials.  (I think it works better though in the Tommy Hilfiger though, and the dog ending is especially entertaining.  There's another ending here.)

Through this article, I've learned that the song "Holiday" is by Vampire Weekend and is actually about a friend who stopped eating meat when the US invaded Iraq.  The part we don't hear in the commercial goes like this:

A vegetarian since the invasion
She’d never seen the word BOMBS
She’d never seen the word BOMBS blown up
To 96 point Futura
She’d never seen an AK
In a yellowy Day Glo display
A t-shirt so lovely it turned all the history books grey

I’ve got wheels, I’ve got cutter spray
And a healthy sense of worth
Half of me is the gasoline
But the other half’s the surf
So if I wait for a holiday could it stop my fear?
To go away on a summer’s day never seemed so clear

[From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/v/vampire-weekend-lyrics/holiday-lyrics.html]

They also have a song called "Horchata."  Ammunition (though weak ammunition) for why my Salvadoran husband should love the band and "Holiday".  YESSSS

christmas eve = booze. games. snacks.

in my family, always better than Christmas.