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Politically Incorrect with Cynthia Rowley

Oct 06, 2008 @ 2:49pm

Cynthia Rowley Kara Walker Dress And now, a note from Faran...

Last season, Ann Demeulemeester made some pins inspired by Kara Walker silhouettes (without the racial subtext or the fury or the brilliance, of course).

This season, Cynthia Rowley is going one step further, introducing a holiday cocktail dress inspired by the artist's work.

It's actually a pretty great dress, and if it were sold with a different name - the Shadow Dress, maybe - I'd love it. But my stomach gets knocked sideways when you say, "Look, it's the Kara Walker dress," because it's not even subversive, or funny. It just seems hollow and kind of misinformed.

Kara Walker is an artist whose work is so beautiful that it clashes directly with her subject matter - hate, oppression, victimization, blame, poverty, shame, rape, madness. It's so complicated that I still haven't decided how I feel about it, but I do know this:

It feels really oblivious and pretty wrong to make a holiday party frock, and without an ounce of humor, to proclaim it your Kara Walker dress.

But maybe I'm just overreacting - I get worked up when I don't get to see the Chloe show in person, you see...

Love you guys, xo.

posted by etoilee8

Oct 06, 2008 3:15PM

Wow. Who wrote this? It is very well written and poignant. I love Karen Walker's work because it is volatile, sad and picks at all the frustration I have stemming from the way my ancestors were treated. Anyways, you hit the nail on the head here.

posted by guest

Oct 06, 2008 3:52PM

Walker actually made a holiday pop-up book for a Norton project.

I don't see why Ann. D's version is OK and this one isn't.

If anything, the Ann D version is worse because it doesn't acknowledge or respect the intricacies of Walkers work. It eliminates race and controversy from her aesthetic and what is left she made pins out of.

Its fine to honor an artist, but don't trivialize it.

posted by syako

Oct 06, 2008 3:58PM

...And now, a note from Faran...

;)

Oct 06, 2008 7:48PM

Strange, I know Cynthia she appears smiling and debutante like in every picture I've seen of her. I just searched for any article where she explains he inspiration but found none.

Has anyone seen any writings explaining her inspiration? I can't make out exactly which of Kara's images she used. She can't be that ditsy to think the artist work is cute enough to add to a collection. I assume (hope) she collaborated with the artist.

But thanks for bringing this to our attention.

posted by Faran Krentcil

Oct 06, 2008 8:11PM

#2, I didn't say Ann D's version was okay... at all. If you read the post, you'll see I'm disappointed / creeped out by it. This one, too.

Oct 06, 2008 8:46PM

I don't know why you guys always make such great points... and then kind of back away from them by saying "But maybe I'm just overreacting." Ummm, it's your blog, you're allowed to overreact and you're allowed to say what you think without any apologies. That's why you write for a blog and not a newspaper.

Oct 06, 2008 9:46PM

I miss Faran's commentary on this site ... And I completely agree with this post and don't think it's an overreaction.

Oct 07, 2008 2:41AM

I missed the part about "And now a note from Faran"!

Oct 07, 2008 12:03PM

I love it when you guys bring soul to what can be, at its worst, a soulless, trivial, capitalist industry.

Oct 08, 2008 7:46PM

Actually the Ann Demeulemeester collection was inspired by characters from "Grimm's" fairy tales not Kara walker.