The651.com

This Friday, the Goldstein Museum of Design opens a new exhibit that I can’t wait to check out! As an appréciateur of both art and fashion, this exhibit appeals to my fancy side, as well as my visually obsessed side.

Co-curated by Dr. Barbara Heinemann and curatorial specialist Mark Schultz, Intersections will pair famous works of art with phenomenal designer fashion pieces from the museum’s collection, as well as from the personal collection of noted fashion journalist and exhibit consultant, Margot Siegel. Featured in the exhibition are original works of art by pop art masters Andy Warhol and Richard Hamilton, along with and fashions from Louis Vuitton, Martin Margiela, and Steven Sprouse. See the much-coveted Louis Vuitton handbags designed by artists Takashi Murakami and Richard Prince; handbags by Italian designer Franco Moschino; garments emblazoned with the work of artists such as Roy Lichtenstein and much more.

This week I chatted with exhibit co-curator Barbara Heinemann about Intersections, “outside the box” fashion, and the local fashion scene…

What can visitors expect in the new exhibit? What pieces are you most excited for people to see?

Mark Schultz, my co-curator, and I hope that visitors will have fun at this exhibit but also see that “important” art is accessible as well. What I mean by that is visitors will recognize the subject matter and be able to identify with each piece personally. For example, Wayne Thiebaud’s “Shoe Rows” speaks to the heart of many women, and men will immediately “get” that shoes are important to the women in their lives. As an artist, Thiebaud is associated with the Pop Art movement because of his interest in objects of mass culture. He focuses on the commonplace in a way that suggests irony and objective distance from his subjects. And then, of course, there is the iconic Warhol “Marilyn!”

One piece that excites me personally is a truly special artifact that belongs to Margot Siegel, the inspiration for this exhibition in the first place. Her daughter and son were trying to think of a special gift for their mother’s 70th birthday. Because she has such a passion for art, they decided to write to some of the most famous artists and asked each of them to send her a birthday card or note. The responses were amazing, resulting in “The Birthday Book,” and we are showing several replies in the introduction section of the exhibit. Each is a personal reflection of the artist and his or her art – it’s like an intimate exhibit within an exhibit! We also hope that visitors will begin to see intersections and relationships between art and fashion that they may not have thought of before. There are so many pieces that we think people will find exciting!

Some people view high fashion as pretentious and unapproachable, personally, I see it as an art form. What is your advice to those who are afraid to “dress outside the box?”

I think everyone has a personal comfort level about “dressing outside the box” and I respect that. However, if I could give a piece of advice I would say that is important to understand that no one can wear all styles, shapes, or colors successfully. Instead, I would encourage people to at least try on garments that might push the edges a bit but not in every aspect. For example, I’d say look for garments in colors that you know look good on you and experiment with a new silhouette or style. Then take those items that might work for an “audition” at home. See if you are wearing the garment and that it are not wearing you. I “audition” clothes that all the time; in fact I have “auditioned” four pair of shoes for the Intersections opening and found the perfect pair for what I will wear. Two pair will go back and I’m still considering the third – the color is perfect and fits with my entire wardrobe but the heel height is a bit scary. I will continue to “practice” walking in them at home and then make a decision. I really want – no – love them!

The Twin Cities has a great independent fashion and art scene that is constantly evolving. Seeing art and fashion merge in new ways is always inspiring – what do you think about the local scene, and how do you think Intersections relates?

I know several young designers who have amazing talent and I have had the great good fortune to work with them at the University of Minnesota in both teaching and advising roles. Intersections is the perfect example of how art and fashion relate. This exhibition plays with these connections in five stories using fine art by renowned artists and fashion and accessories from prominent designers. The themes that unite them examine “Fashion Uses Art,” “Art Uses Fashion,” “Fashion Is Art,” “Art, Fashion, and Consumerism,” “Artful Handbags,” and their intersections. These young designers really get these connections!

If you were to wear one of the pieces from the exhibit out on the town, which would it be and where would you go to show it off?

Because the Minnesota Opera is having a “Bastille Day Celebration: Storming of the Opera” on Saturday, I would attend wearing the black and white Yves Saint Laurent suit from his Picasso Collection where he paid homage to the revolutionary work of Picasso’s Cubism. While Saint Laurent was born in Algeria, a French territory in 1848, he said he thought of himself as a Frenchman. He collected works of art of all periods, and art and artists inspired him in several of his collections. He had a remarkable ability to transpose pictorial material into textiles.

Intersections: Where Art Meets Fashion opens Friday, July 10th with an opening reception from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and runs through November 1st, 2009.

Museum Hours: Tues-Wed-Fri 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thurs 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sat-Sun 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; closed Mondays and holidays.

Goldstein Museum of Design, 241 McNeal Hall, 1985 Buford Avenue, Saint Paul