Two Big Shopping Events!

Want to snap up your own masterpiece—without the huge cost? Or better yet, that sweet pair of designer jeans for a lower price? Art Fair on the Square and Maxwell Street Days are just the answer to your shopping desires.

First, this weekend’s Art Fair on the Square is a bonanza of artists selling everything from: mixed media, ceramics, drawing, graphics and printmaking, fiber/leather, furniture, glass, jewelry, metal works, painting, photography, sculpture and 3-D mixed media and wood. Phew, that’s all of the categories! That’s about five hundred artists showing off their wares, folks.

While it’s not a “sale,” items range in cost from affordable jewelry and prints to pricey ceramic and glass pieces and everything in between. It all depends on what you’d like to spend—and of course, what pieces speak to you. So pick up your own little piece of art, whether it’s a pair of earrings or that must-have painting.

Yes, the Square can get crowded but Art Fair only comes around once a year—so why not embrace it, take your time, and support local (and national) artists?

Images courtesy of MMoCA.

Art Fair on the Square, July 11 (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) July 12 (10 a.m.–5 p.m.). Capitol Square. Mmoca.org

Next weekend (July 17–19) is Maxwell Street Days. What is Maxwell Street Days, and why the heck is it called that when it’s on State Street?!

“Maxwell Street in Chicago, Ill., was home to a famed outdoor market and ‘urban bazaar’ from 1871 to 1994. In 1975, Martin’s, a Madison, Wis., clothing store and tailor shop, founded an outdoor sidewalk sale to showcase the State Street shopping district, starting Madison’s very own ‘Maxwell Street Days’ tradition.”

That’s according to downtownmadison.org, of course. Anyway, deals abound at the largest sidewalk sale in Madison. And I mean sidewalk sale in a classy way of course, not in a rummage-sale-selling-cheesy-owl-tapestries way. More than eighty shops, boutiques, galleries and restaurants (most locally owned, of course) will have bargains on clothing, jewelry, home goods, shoes, active wear and more.

I must confess I am looking forward to bop’s sale. The fun, fashionable women’s shop will offer killer deals on tons of items in the store—including their best denim sale of the year. If you make the pilgrimage to bop, be prepared to wait in line around the corner—the sale is just that good.

Maxwell Street Days, July 17–18 (8 a.m.–6 p.m.) July 19 (10 a.m.–5 p.m.). maxwellstreetdays.org, visitdowntownmadison.org

Chic Coifs

Last night I attended the fanciful Hair Affair show put on by the Art League of MMoCA. As I blogged about earlier this week, organizer Elizabeth Tucker says this event is a first for the museum. I sure hope it’s not the last. Everyone thoroughly seemed to enjoy themselves and dressed fab! I saw a silver dress with blouson sleeves over leggings and uber-trendy heels on one woman; a hot-pink strapless short cocktail dress with a flared skirt on another and a Jessica Catherine design on Natasha Vora (see picture!)

More importantly this event signifies that there are people in this city willing to put on an edgy, fun, FASHIONABLE event! An event that raises funds for the museum and is more than the standard cocktail party—it’s a (trendy) feast for the eyes!

The looks were part fantasy—but part reality: many of the looks rocked trends we’re seeing for spring: tribal/nature inspired looks, rock-n-roll edginess, metallics and touches of retro glamour were all woven in.

The models looked so different that I didn’t even recognize someone I knew—Lissa Koop, who gracefully modeled the nature-inspired look designed by Rachael Drechsel of Elements (photo, left). Nice job, Lissa!

Photos, top to bottom:
"Spring Fantasies" by William Jon Salon. Hair: Jekaterina Agapanova; Fashion: Egita Pearson; Model: Ashley Nelson.

"TexturEvolution" by Hair. Design team: Julia McConahay, Zach Zaricor; Model: Cat Ross.

"The Fix" by B.fix Salon. Hair: Adrian Borseth; Makeup: Shiva Borseth; Jenna Kundert; Fashion: Meg Koglin, Kyra Lawrow-Svedvik; Model: Kyra Lawrow-Svedvik.

"Earth and Air" by Elements. Designer: Rachael Dreschsel. Model: Lissa Koop.

"Migoto" by Aniu Salon Spa Yoga. Design team: Bentley Kreier, Melissa DeNure, Kim Martens; Makeup: Kendall Frisbee.

"'On' Wisconsin" by Ultimate Spa Salon. Design team: Mitchel Levey, Donald Fredrickson, Ericka Stellflue; Model: Carisa Meyer.

"Rockabilly Mama" by Cha Cha Beauty & Barber. Hair, Makeup and Fashion: Alice Ezrow, Sigrid Fanalé, John Bass, Gen Smith; Model: Marilynn Johnson.

"Post-Apocalyptic Warrior Princess" by Deonne Salon & Day Spa. Designer: Jenny Polito; Model: Jessica Fanone.

These gals were awesome, left to right: Kym, Mesa, Jenn Schultz, Angie Riker-O'Sheridan and Karen Wenning went all out.

I loved these table centerpieces—Barbasol comb jars with goldfish! The jars are very retro-chic, and reminds me of my grandpa's barber shop, where they have these!

Mad Mag unite: Tiffany Thom, our marketing director, dons a purple wig in her own photo. Myself, Katie Vaughn and Tiff also posed. I tried to fit in at the event with my feather headband, but it's pretty hard to see in the photo!

Ladies in red: Natasha Vora (wearing Jessica Catherine) and friend Sarah matched in red.

Read Kative Vaughn's blog, Liberal Arts, for her take on the event!

Hair Flair

As I included in my events last week, the Art League of MMoCA’s Hair Affair event is quickly approaching—this Thursday, to be exact. This is the first year the Art League is holding the event—and I think it’s an utterly fashionable way to raise money for the museum’s exhibition and education programs.

After all, fashion is about fantasy and fun. Take John Galliano, someone I’ve talked about on this blog before. Mr. Galliano is the master of fashion escapism—designing some truly out-there looks and pairing them with a fantastical runway experience. I’ve always longed to attend a John Galliano runway show—his crazy genius has always enthralled me. Yes, Mr. Galliano, I’ll take an extra helping of models that appear as though they’re wearing muppets on their heads and models dressed up like elaborate Russian nesting dolls in coats ten sizes too big. Thanks!

I really don’t think there’s a better way to spend a Thursday night than viewing “extreme hair sculptures designed and executed by premier area salons and stylists and displayed by live models.” Fashion fun and a good cause … a great combo.

I asked Elizabeth Tucker, project consultant with MMoCA, about why they chose to hold this event for the first time this year.
(Photos © Tom McInvaille)

Madison Magazine: What was the inspiration behind planning the Hair Affair event?
Elizabeth Tucker: I was brought on after some of the initial concepting of the event. The event was the idea of Annie Levihn, one of the chairs of the Art League committee. Other museums across the country do something similar—there’s an event that the Des Moines Art Center does that’s a similar concept (the Big Hair Ball).
The idea the Art League had was to do a fresh, different fundraiser to bring a new audience to the museum. [The audience will be] a really diverse group; probably half will be regular museum attendees and supporters. The other half of the crowd will be people that are newer to the museum, like people from the salon community or clients of the salons. In terms of ages it’s going to be a really diverse audience, which is exciting.
The salon community has been a new group to reach out to.

MM: What is the timeline of the event?
ET: The event begins at 7 p.m. We’ll have a silent auction and complimentary hors d’oeuvres, and cash bar will be available. Every guest [can try] the complimentary signature cocktail, which is a Red Mohawk: a martini made with Prairie Organic Vodka and pomegranate.
At 7:20 p.m. there will be a live music performance by the Ahn Trio. They’re a contemporary classical music trio from New York City. They will be playing a full concert the following evening at Overture, so this will be a preview performance.
The main event for the evening is at 8 p.m., which is the hair show. All of the hair sculptures will be shown on live models and they’ll walk down the museum’s main glass staircase. There are thirteen salons participating (Salons include: Aniu Salon & Spa, B.fix Salon, Cha Cha, Cinema Hair Studio, Deonne Salon and Day Spa, Elements, Hair, Hybrid Salon, Millenium Salon & Spa, Rejuvenation Spa, RZ & Company, Ultimate Spa Salon and William Jon Salon). Each design is wildly different and there’s a great variety. The models and stylists will be around after the show to talk to people about the inspirations [behind the looks].
The event concludes at 10 p.m.

MM: Is the hair show a competition?
ET: It isn’t a competition. It could be in future years; maybe we’d put out a call for entries to salons in the beginning of the process and have a jury process to select. This year all of the salons were invited and they didn’t have to submit a proposal.

MM: What about the outfits that will be paired with the hairstyles?
ET: Almost every salon has designed a dress or outfit to complement the hair sculpture. Or they’ve put together some sort of wardrobe selection to complement the hair. Some of the descriptions we’ve received … the hair and wardrobe almost become one… In one case the salon is doing 35 mm filmstrips in the hair and the dress will also have filmstrips incorporated in it.

MM: Will you be doing this event every year?
ET: Another event you’re probably familiar with was the Design MMoCA event in 2008. Designers were asked to design a room for the weekend. So in this case we asked area salons to design a hair sculpture for the museum. With both events one of the really great things has been drawing in a new and different audience. We might rotate [the events] every other year.

MM: Are tickets available?
They are $65 per person and some are still available. We will be selling tickets through the end of day Tuesday and possibly still the day of the event. There always seems to be a rush at the end!

Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, 227 State St. 257-0158

Events

Dane Buy Local Fourth Annual Holiday Kick-Off Event
When: November 18, 8–10 a.m.
Where: Forrestal’s Gallery, 2904 Parmenter St.
Details: Mingle with Buy Local members! Just in time for holiday shopping the kick-off will feature holiday gifts, refreshments from Middleton restaurants and holiday music.
More information: danebuylocal.com

Holiday Earring Show
When: November 18–December 24. Opening: November 29, 5–8 p.m.
Where: HYART Gallery, 133 W. Johnson St.
Details: A show featuring over thirty artists from around the country and the UW School of Art. They’ll feature—you guessed it—earrings.
More information: 442-0562

Sarah’s Hope Jewelry Trunk Show
When: November 20, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
Where: Goodman’s Jewelers, 220 State St.
Details: Meet owner and designer Sarah Smith, and see her new fall collection. Sarah’s Hope contributes ten percent of net profits to fund business micro-loans to women business entrepreneurs.
More information: 257-3644

Thursday Disco
When: Thursdays until Christmas
Where: Three Orange Doors, 2789 Fitchrona Rd.
Details: Save 10 percent on your entire purchase from 5:30–7 p.m. Wine will be served and the disco beats will be bumping. Christmas décor and jewelry and gifts will be available.
More information: 848-3336

Ladies’ Night with Champagne and Chocolate
When: November 21, 5–9 p.m.
Where: Chalmers Jewelers, 6202 University Ave.
Details: What isn’t going on? Chocolate and hors d’oeuvres. Chair massages by Haven Spa. A Fashion Show with items from J. LaMore, door prizes and a silent auction! Whew!
More information: 233-4700

MMoCA Holiday Art Fair
When: November 21–23. November 21, noon–6 p.m., November 22, 10 a.m.–5p.m., November 23, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Where: Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, 227 State St.
Details: Handcrafted, artful gifts from jewelry to décor and everything in between. Enjoy MMoCA’s current exhibtion while browsing!
More information: 257-0158, mmoca.org
(Photo: Renee Roeder Earley, Hats-O-Fancy, courtesy of MMoCA)