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A Tribute to Constantine P. Cavafy

18 Nov

220px-Cavafy1900What an impressive mustache! Cavafy via Wikipedia

When you set out on your journey to Ithaca,
pray that the road is long,
full of adventure, full of knowledge.

~ from the poem “Ithaca” by Constantine P. Cavafy

Born in the Egyptian province of Alexandria, Constantine Peter Cavafy was born to Greek parents in 1863. Riffing on last week’s British invasion theme, I’ll note that he actually spent some time in the Beatles‘ hometown of Liverpool. Cavafy’s life, like Kerouac’s, was one of movement. From Liverpool, he moved back to Alexandria, and then from there to Constantinople and back to Alexandria. He also spent some time in France.

Cavafy worked as a journalist, and it wasn’t until he was in his forties that he wrote his most important works of poetry — giving all us late-bloomers hope! He urges us to embrace life’s journey in his passionate 1911 poem Ithaca, inspired by Homer’s Odyssey. He urges us to slow down, to explore, to learn, to experience, to savor. It is the perspective one gains on the journey itself that matters.

Tonight PEN presents a tribute to Cavafy, featuring André Aciman, Michael Cunningham, Mark Doty, Olympia Dukakis, Craig Dykers, Edmund Keeley, Harry Kremmydas, Daniel Mendelsohn, Orhan Pamuk, Dimitris Papaioannou, and Kathleen Turner. For more information on the New York tribute, visit the PEN America website.

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You may also like:

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Burning Furiously Beautiful: The True Story of Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road” is now available as an ebook and paperback!

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The Quotable Greek: One Word Frees Us of … Pain

4 Nov

441px-Sophocles_pushkinCast of the bust of Sophocles from the Farnese Collection via Wikipedia

 

“One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life:

that word is love.”

– Sophocles


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Big Sur Comes Out Today

1 Nov

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Kalo mina! The film adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s Big Sur comes out today. Will you be watching it?

It stars Jean-Marc Barr as a Jack Kerouac who’s overcome by the notoriety that descends on him after the publication of On the Road. Barr told Salon:

“I’ve been living Kerouac all my life. So there was nothing to play.”

Though that statement seems over-reaching, from the trailers the half-French Catholic does seem to get to a closer emulation of Kerouac than other recent actors.

Of course, he’s also playing Kerouac at a much different point in his life than he’s been portrayed in the other recent films. In “What Hollywood Gets Wrong About Jack Kerouac and the Beat Generation” for The Atlantic, Jordan Larson wrote:

But the current Beat revival arguably goes too far with its re-imagination of the Beat writers’ livelihoods as simple adolescent goofing around—its most prominent writers were, after all, well into their grown-up years when they wrote many of their most notable writings.

Kerouac is definitely an adult in Big Sur. A rather depressed one at that. And it brings up the point I discussed earlier this week when mentioning Karen Yuan’s argument in the article “Notebook: Hollywood shouldn’t glamorize the Beat Generation’s self-destruction” for The Michigan Daily, and that is, whether portraying them as adolescents or as adults, Hollywood and the Beat Generation is being criticized.

What’s interesting about Big Sur, though, is that the executive producer is Jack Kerouac’s nephew Jim Sampas. He was also the producer of One Fast Move or I’m Gone: Kerouac’s Big Sur. Sampas also produced Dr. Sax and the Great World Snake and Joy Kicks Darkness, among other projects.

In 2009, Sampas told IFC:

“‘Big Sur’ is Jack’s most personal and confessional novel. I am blown away by his courage in writing about his own spiral downward with such honesty and depth. My goal is that this film we’ve created influences a younger generation to embrace this work. And if people who see this film are inspired by Jack no holds barred honesty, wouldn’t that be incredible?”

I had the pleasure of meeting Jim Sampas, a fellow Greek American, at this year’s Lowell Celebrates Kerouac, when Billy Koumantzelis (check out his CD on his time with Kerouac) introduced me to him. It will definitely be interesting to view this film in light of the others.

I’ve read mixed reviews, and I’d love to hear what others think of the film. Please post comments if you see it!

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Burning Furiously Beautiful: The True Story of Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road” is now available as an ebook and paperback!

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The Day We Said “No” during World War II

28 Oct

If there had not been the virtue and courage of the Greeks, we do not know which the outcome of World War II would have been – Winston Churchill

Today is Oxi Day. The day Greeks said “No” during World War II.

You can read my post on the history of this day here.

 

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Burning Furiously Beautiful: The True Story of Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road” is now available as an ebook and paperback!

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Maria Fragoudaki’s “Superheroes”

3 Oct

mfragoudaki_11-lgMaria Fragoudaki’s “Sometimes I Cannot Control Myself”
2013
Mixed media on canvas. 70in x 56in.

Move over, Ben Affleck! Maria Fragoudaki‘s Superheroes opens tonight at New York’s One Art Space (23 Warren Street; Street level—Gallery 1; Manhattan). Fragoudaki explores issues of identity in New York City. Her larger-than-life works of mixed media shine like the bat signal, exposing the fast-paced, fragmented lives we lead here in Gotham.

Born in Athens, Greece, Fragoudaki has shown her work in New York as part of groups shows in the past, but this is her first solo show in New York City . Tonight’s opening reception begins at 6.

From the press release:

The inspiration for this body of work came in New York during the last two years. The artist explores issues of individual identity in a fast-changing world where anchoring points are disappearing. These themes, familiar in Maria’s work, take a new twist here as emotions are amplified by the uniquely fast-paced rhythm of the archetypal metropolis, New York.
At the center of this whirlpool where anxiety is constant and uncertainty the norm, the need for stable references, strength and reliance become more acute. This prompts her to reach to the world of superheroes, which in addition has direct references to New York. Drawing on the collective unconscious of pop-culture the artist creates immediate associations that facilitate a casual and direct communication with her audience.
In the creative process the superheroes become abstracted moving the focus to the notions they represent. Deceptively simple messages, with child-like directness, are superimposed at times as statements, at time as cries, while the medium of collage enhances the feeling of the fragmented self in the process of constructing identity and meaning.

Maria Fragoudaki’s first solo show in New York induces the public to connect with their emotions and conflicts. This exhibit allows each of us the opportunity to discover our own personal Superhero.

mfragoudaki_12-lgMaria Fragoudaki’s “Spiderman’s Arrival”
2013
Mixed media on canvas. 91in x 27in.

From Fragoudaki’s website:

Maria Fragoudaki was born in Athens in 1983. She studied chemistry, pharmacology and business management in London where she subsequently worked for a few years. She started painting systematically in 2008 and over the last 4 years she attended various courses and seminars in painting & fine art in New York and London. Her work utilises a wide variety of media such as oils and acrylics on large canvas surfaces and she has also produced other mixed media works incorporating the technique of collage. Over the last 4 years Maria has participated in numerous group exhibitions in New York, Belgium and Greece and has also presented her first solo exhibition in Skoufa Gallery in early 2011. She is currently working on her forthcoming solo show in London. Her work has been acquired by private and corporate collections in New York, London, Greece and Belgium.

Superheroes will run at One Art Space through October 24.

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Burning Furiously Beautiful is now available as an ebook! You can download your copy here.

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Greek American Fashion Week: Hair by Christo Curlisto

18 Sep

C3That’s hairstylist Christo on the right.

If you want to know why the hair coming down the catwalk at the 2013 Greek American Fashion Week runway event looked so great, it’s because Curlisto salon did the hair.

Curlisto is a salon that specializes in curly hair but provides services for all hair types. As the salon’s website says:

Christo awakens his clients to the hair they’ve always dreamed of and could only hope to achieve. With his keen insight into the special needs of curly hair and his desire to allow his clients to celebrate their individual style, Christo’s philosophy centers on providing clients with the flexibility to wear their curly hair the way they want and choose to; that is why Curlisto was created….

Curlisto focuses on first nourishing the hair with ingredients that specifically remedy curly hair challenges. Each client’s curls are unique, with specific texture, structure, and wave. Curlisto methods of reviving hair with special treatments are the basis from which an individual’s particular needs are met. Cutting curly hair is an art….

The hairstyles at Greek American Fashion Week were indeed works of art. They worked with the models’ natural hair textures to create eye-catching hairstyles. Whether rocking unrestrained locks, perfectly coiffed bouffants, or elegant updos, the models had hairstyles that brought out their natural beauty and complemented their wardrobe.

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Curlisto was founded by Christo:

At the age of 12, Christo started his apprenticeship at his family’s salon in the Greek island of Cyprus. During his teenage years, he ventured to Paris and advanced as a young talent for his Parisian clientele. By his early 20s, Christo led a team of platform artists around the world to educate salon professionals. His passion for hair also led him to develop his own line of hair care products that are now widely distributed in Europe, Asia and South Africa. In 2002, Christo opened Christo Fifth Avenue Salon so he could expand his empire and service his A-list and royalty clientele.

Christo’s hair expertise has appeared on Bravo’s “Guide to Style,” TLC’s “Date Patrol,” PIX11, ABC, CBS, FOX 5, and Telemundo. His work has been featured in such print publications as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Time Out New York, Vanity Fair, American Salon, Glamour, Teen Vogue, and Marie Claire.

Curlisto Salon is conveniently located in Midtown New York and offers a variety of services from cuts and styling to hair treatments. The salon also sells its high-quality hair products, for men and women, that extend beyond “curly” to “wavy,” “medium,” “tight,” and “coily,” in addition to “straight.” These products are great for curly Greek hair as well as other hair types. The website also features how-to videos so you can replicate the looks on your own. Thanks to Curlisto, you can have runway-worthy hair every day!

 

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Greek American Fashion Week Presents Stratton

18 Sep

The elegant designs of Stratton hit the runway at the 2013 Greek American Fashion Week.

Stratton’s sophisticated designs suit women looking for a tailored look. They are structured, well cut, and made from luxe textiles. They belong to those who favor the iconic styles of Jackie O. and Audrey Hepburn.

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Perhaps the most telling trademark of Stratton’s collection is the neckline—from boat neck to keyhole, high cut to spaghetti straps, the details are in the décolletage.

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In addition to his dresses, Stratton makes refined everyday wear. Though these pieces are a little more flowy, they still feature precise cuts and are in a classic color palette. This strappy number could be dressed up or down, for instance.

 

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Stratton Bouloukos graduated from Sarah Lawrence College and studied fashion design at Parsons in Paris and fine arts at Parsons here in New York City. He is a counselor at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).

As the Stratton website says:

Season after season, Stratton’s design ethos has demonstrated how forward yet timeless creations of graceful, structured pieces can become progressive, modern classics. He produces his luxurious made-to-measure clothing line and handbags in the United States. Superior in both design and fit than ordinary ready-to-wear, each made-to-measure garment is constructed to fit the client individually. After her measurements are taken, they are then paired with an existing base pattern of equivalent size and altered to create a new pattern from which to construct the custom garment; the result is a well-fitted product, created in the client’s chosen textiles. The usual time-frame for made-to-measure clothing is approximately three weeks.

Following his success at Barneys, Stratton interned for four months with the international house of Carolina Herrera before landing a two-year stint at Albert Nipon as head design assistant. When the company folded, Stratton decided to once again venture out on his own. His Fall 1992 line of chic day dresses in sumptuous wools and silks earned him an article in WWD as a promising young talent. Henri Bendel and a few specialty boutiques carried the line. He then began generating a number of private clients who were seeking one-of-a-kind designs.

Today, his clients include high-profile names.

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Greek American Fashion Week Presents Angelo Lambrou

18 Sep

Fashion designer Angelo Lambrou was back again this year at the 2013 Greek American Fashion Week.

You may recall that last year, the event’s founder Maria Pardalis wore one of his designs at the show. You can read my full coverage of his collection from last year here.

As in 2013, Angelo Lambrou showcased his gorgeous wedding dresses. His designs are painstakingly detailed.

Take for instance, this dress. The bodice is intricate and tactile with 3D flowers. The back features a low scoop neck, with flowers sewn to the straps. The back is a particularly important aspect of a wedding dress, as guests, family, and friends have grown accustomed to watching a bride walk down the aisle and pay more attention to the back of a wedding dress more than they would the back of any other dress.

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Lambrou also showcased high-sheen evening wear. In frosted plums, Concord grapes, and silvers, these dresses exuded the magic of a winter’s eve. They were sophisticated yet over-sized bows kept them playful.

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Angelo Lambrou is based in the East Village here in New York now, but he was born in Southern Africa to Greek-Cypriot parents.  He studied fashion in Johannesburg and London before returning to Botswana to start his own fashion line.  He worked with Miss Botswana in 1999 and designed all the contestants’ dresses for the 2000 Miss Universe competition; he dressed Patti LaBelle for the 2002 Grammy Awards and Maria Bello for the Secret Window premier.

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Greek American Fashion Week Presents Tatiana Raftis

18 Sep

Tatiana Raftis made her return to the Greek American Fashion Week runway event this year.

You may recall Tatiana Raftis’ feminine fashion from last year’s show, when she sent sequins, florals, and sheer fabrics down the catwalk. As the program for the 2013 Greek American Fashion Week states:

Since debuting her collection at the first Greek American Fashion Week in 201, Tatiana and her collection have been featured in various Greek American media, including NEO Magazine, The National Herald, GreekAmericanGirl.com and appeared on an interview segment on Kalimera USA talk show on NGTV.

The Astoria-born designer who studied fashion illustration and evening wear at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) was back this year to show off her latest gorgeous designs: party clothes and evening wear.

Raftis’ skin-tight party dresses are guaranteed to turn heads. Her cocktail dresses are the ultimate in style for a night out on the town. If you like Bebe—the women’s retail store founded by Iranian businessman Manny Mashouf—chances are you’ll adore Tatiana Raftis’ latest fashion line. They are sleek, sexy, and youthful.

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Tatiana Raftis’ show featured looks that were sophisticated, daring, and ethnic. The program for the event, put it this way:

Thematically, Tatiana draws influence from her fascination with antiquity. She painstakingly channels the attention to detail, which characterized the fashions of classical Mediterranean cultures. Her creations make use of soft and hard textures, which empower femininity while providing a delicate allure.

These dresses are bold, statement-making creations that command a room.

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One of my favorite aspects of Tatiana Raftis’ new collection is her headpieces. The turbans are available at a great price on her Etsy shop!

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Update! Here are some additional photos Tatiana herself sent over.

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Love the daring cuts and intricate details. That last look is one of my absolute favorites!

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Greek American Fashion Week Presents Nikki Poulos

18 Sep

Nikki Poulos kicked off the 2013 Greek American Fashion Week runway event.

Nikki Poulos does retro right. The fashion designer’s eponymous ready-to-wear collection has vintage appeal with modern sensibilities. Poulos’ designs are all about bold graphic prints, feisty colors, and flirty cuts. They’re figure-flattering and sexy but never uncouth.

Take this punchy Palm Beach look for instance. The model has mile-long legs in these chic high-waisted shorts. The shorts are perfectly balanced with a conservatively cut shirt in bright stripes colors. Is it any surprise that Poulos is based in Delray Beach, Florida?

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Poulos is tops when it comes to bottoms. In addition to those killer-cute shorts, she has designed pants and a jumpsuit that ooze femininity.  Poulos pulls off the printed pant with a nod to the seventies.

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Her printed dresses offer something for everyone. Poulos’ maxis achieve that ideal balance between unfussy and stylish. Whereas the maxis may have plunging necklines, the tighter, shorter dresses—which have a Lily Pulitzer vibe—feature higher necklines, so that the right amount of skin is always showing. Right in the middle is the knee-length, button-down blouse dress, whose cut is reminiscent of the office wear of the fifties and sixties.

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Poulos is also a fan of stripes, and this little number is simply adorable. The boat neck collar, synch-tied sleeves, and belt are very gamine. The short scarf is quintessential fifties, adding a playful twist. (If someone finds the accessory too retro, they could swap it with a short red beaded necklace or a chunky gold necklace, but really the scarf does the trick!)

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Given the nautical stripes of this look, it’s not surprising that Nikki Poulos’ heritage stems from Kythera, a Greek island off the Peloponnese that was a naval crossroads.

Poulos starred on NBC’s “Fashion Star,” and her collection was included in the European spin-off of “Next Top Model.” She recently launched ‘nikki by nikki poulos’ on HSN. Her designs have been featured in the coveted Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, Elle, Lucky, and Fitness magazines.

Fun fact: Poulos studied marine biology and worked in coral reef conservation:

In the 1990’s, Nikki was the designer and proprietor of ‘ecobaby’ an environmentally friendly babies and children’s clothing business in her native hometown Sydney, Australia. A love affair with the ocean led Nikki to pursue a career in marine biology and her Bachelor of Science degree and a scholarship opportunity brought Nikki to US shores. Working in coral reef conservation, Nikki juggled the dichotomy between science and fashion; ultimately her creativity lured her back to the fashion world.

I wish I could raid Poulos’ closet. I love, love, love her designs. Her nikki collection on HSN is actually quite affordable and adorable.

 

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