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This week, Opening Ceremony is going on a juice cleanse. In the spirit of healthful living and dressing to match, we’re delving into the colorful world of veggies and fruits, the second tier on the food pyramid that inspired our new Pre-Fall 2015 collection.

We already gave you the juicy scoop on our veggie-centric prints and scannable produce barcode patches as seen on collection pieces. Below, we give you the juicy scoop on our veggie-centric prints and scannable produce barcode patches as seen on collection pieces.

Shop all Opening Ceremony men’s and women’s

From vibrant to understated, literal to conceptual, party-ready to business chic, the wide range of prints in OC’s Pre-Fall 2015 collection is united by the collection’s theme: juicing. After months of tagging each other in veggie-centric Instagram posts, researching juice recipes, and making constant trips to Madhufalla, our design team created a series of prints that are OC—and maybe someday even FDA—approved.

Check out the pics above to get the low-down on the making of each print, from hauling a ton of bananas into a photo studio to making a miracle veggie into your fave new party dress.

Fruit Face
Look at our all-over fruit print for long enough, and you might notice it’s looking back at you. Inspired by children playing with their food, the fruits and veggies in what is appropriately titled the “Fruit Face” print make up subtle, smiling faces on shift dresses and cropped pants.

Banana
Notice how the banana print that graces the collection’s neon minis and demure trenches mimics the age spots of real bananas perfectly? That’s because OC’s design team took to the photo studio to peel countless bananas and meticulously arrange the skins to capture the perfect-imperfect print of their dreams.

Swiss Chard
Pre-Fall’s swiss chard print pops out at you—literally. The already

High on the heels of Friday’s Supreme Court decision, which officially makes same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states, is Dirty Looks: On Location. Taking place throughout the month of July, the film and art festival showcases a different movie or performance art video each night in a different queer space—think shuttered bars, former bathhouses, and the iconic Stonewall Inn. Organized by Bradford Nordeen, each screening or visual performance celebrates queer culture.

With over 31 moments to catch throughout the month-long festival, we’re helping you out by picking out our favorites.

Thursday, July 2: Party Girl at Seward Park Library at 6:30PM
Did you ever watch Parker Posey party her way into trouble and end up working as a clerk in library and think to yourself, “Damn. I wish I could watch this movie again in that exact same dusty, book-lined library.” Well, now you can. To help kick off the month-long art and film fest, Dirty Looks will screen the 1995 film in its entirety at The New York Public Library’s Seward Branch, one of the locations where the film was shot. “Party Girl is a textbook for NYC scene queens in a lot of ways, but then there's also a whole contingent of folks who have never seen it,” says Nordeen. “And then, there's the librarians…”

Tuesday, July 14: Breeden in secret hotel room in Midtown
This experimental documentary video follows a young American videographer who works in independent film and hardcore gay pornography and takes place in an anonymous hotel room.
Which makes the screening all the more realistic seeing as multiple screenings will take place from 8PM-11PM on July 14 in a disclosed Midtown hotel room. You’ll have to email dirtylooksnyc@gmail.com for the location information.

Friday, July 17: She Said Boom: The Story of Fifth Column at Spectrum at 9PM
Released in 2012, this documentary tells the untold story of Fifth Column, a pre-riot grrrl Canadian queer experimental band formed in the early ‘80s. The doc is interspersed with interviews with rebellious icons such as Kathleen Hanna, Bruce LaBruce, and Vaginal Davis. “Those three are something of a holy trinity in and of themselves, but [Fifth Column co-founder] G.B. Jones is kind of like the coolest person alive, going from Fifth Column to her amazing Tom-of-Finland-for-the-lesbian-leather-scene illustration work to her small-gage filmmaking, like the The Lollipop Generation or the The Yo-Yo Gang,” says Nordeen.

Sunday, July 19: Read Only Memory at Le Petit Versailles Garden at 7PM
What’s a leisurely stroll through the garden without some colorful imagery courtesy of flamboyant performance artist Leigh Bowery? Read Only Memory is a portrait of Leigh and his contributions to the art and drag worlds, as well as a tribute to ‘80s and ’90s club culture. The only difference is this screening will be less Wigstock, more garden flowers.

Tuesday, July 21: Bad Asians Part 1 + Deux! at Stonewall Inn at 8PM
Taking place at the legendary Stonewall Inn, which opened its doors in 1967, this two-part series (Bad Asians 3.0 will show at the same location on J

We all have that moment where Friday night rolls around and a Netflix binge is the primary “event” option. In order to cure your major case of FOMO, we’ve teamed up with The Mirror Cube, a new happenings site that features events recommended by artists. With their expert panel of visual artists, actors, writers, and directors, The Mirror Cube brings you the lowdown on what shows, screenings, and exhibits you should check out each week in New York and Los Angeles.

NY: Stray Dog at Film Society of Lincoln Center
July 3-11
Picked by: The Mirror Cube

What: An intimate documentary portrait of a biker and Vietnam vet from Winter’s Bone director Debra Granik.

Why Go: Focusing on motorcyclist Ron “Stray Dog” Hall, Granik offers a look into a segment of Middle America that is often misunderstood. Granik will be present at several of the screenings to talk about her new film in person.

NY: The New Pornographers, Thao & The Get Down Stay Down at Prospect Park Bandshell
July 11 at 8 PM
Picked by: Maxwell Hoffman

What: The Canadian and San Franciscan indie rock bands will play a free outdoor concert in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park.

Why Go: The power-pop group The New Pornographer’s 2003 album Electric Version made Rolling Stone's “100 Best Albums of the Decade” for the aughts, and NPR described the vocal delivery of Thao & The Get Down Stay Down’s Thao Nguyen as “delicate yet fierce.”

NY: Alison Mosshart: Fire Power at Joseph Gross Gallery
June 18-July 11
Picked by: Brianna Lance

What: The frontwoman of rock bands The Kills and Dead Weather exhibits new multimedia artwork in her first solo show.

Why Go: The Village Voice called Mosshart’s pieces “brutally honest,” and her work was inspired by and created during her life on the road as a touring musician.

LA: Calexico at The Regent
July 7 at 8 PM
Picked by: Douglas Smith

What: The Arizona-based band makes a Los Angeles stop while touring to promote their 2015 release, Edge of the Sun.

Why Go: Calexico gets its name from the California-Mexico border city, and its sound is a blend of many different genres, including Americana, Tex-Mex, and mariachi. In its review of Edge of the Sun, Pitchfork wrote that Calexico makes “music that is almost inevitably about borders both musical and national: finding them, crossing them, blurring them…”

LA: Jennifer Wynne Reeves: A Bolt of Soul: Grooved Foreheads and Dog Tee

We’ve all been there… a fashion dry spell, a rut, or a rough patch. Whatever you want to call it, it happens and it’s alarming. For me, the dry spell is handbags. I work in fashion and I live for it, yet after so many accessory purchases, I hit the point where splurge-worthy handbags just didn’t seem like they were worth the money spent. All I cared about was a nice leather carryall I could fit my endless junk in, that looked good with everything, and if a piece of chewing gum came unwrapped inside on a hot day, everything would be A-OK.

Then, one day while drinking coffee in Washington Square Park, I saw it: A perfectly smooth, black leather bucket bag with minimal hardware and a sleek drawstring closure. I had to ask, who makes that bag? The answer was a brand whose name we would all hear again and again… Mansur Gavriel.

Since 2012, it’s been no easy feat getting your hands on a Mansur Gavriel bucket bag or backpack. Many fans have waited months for the chance, though contrary to what some might believe, this isn’t part of the hype. Designers Rachel Mansur and Floriana Gavriel didn’t want to make the common mistake many brands do when they achieve instant fame, foregoing quality to keep up with demand. All bags are manufactured in Italy by only one factory. So be patient, ladies: like any true romance, it’s worth the wait.

As of today, you can register for a chance to pre-order Mansur Gavriel with Opening Ceremony online. Because quantities are very limited we can’t guarantee all pre-orders, but we can help your chances by sharing this crystal clear How-To:

How To Pre-Order Mansur Gavriel Fall/Winter 2015 at OC Online

—Sign up for our newsletter for a chance to be notified when pre-orders begin
—E-mail notifications will be sent out on a first come, first serve basis while stocks last
—E-mail notifications will end once all handbag pre-orders have sold out
—An e-mail notification does not guarantee that stock is immediately available
—Scroll through the slideshow above to view all styles that are available during this pre-sale event
—If today isn’t your lucky day and you do not receive an e-mail update, stay tuned in for an update on when our in-store delivery of Mansur Gavriel Fall/Winter 2015 drops in the next couple of weeks!

For real-time updates on Mansur Gavriel, follow us @OpeningCeremony on Twitter and Instagram. Best of luck—we’ll be praying to the accessory gods for each and every one of you!

Click through the slideshow to see all of the Mansur Gavriel styles that will be available for pre-order.

Veg-Tanned Bucket Bag in black/gold

Mini Veg-Tanned Bucket Bag in black/flamma

Veg-Tanned Bucket Bag in black/flamma

Large Calf Leather Tote in black/flamma

Large Calf Leather Tote in sand/sand

This week, Opening Ceremony is going on a juice cleanse. In the spirit of healthful living and dressing to match, we’re delving into the colorful world of veggies and fruits, the second tier on the food pyramid that inspired our new Pre-Fall 2015 collection.

We already gave you the juicy scoop on our veggie-centric prints and scannable produce barcode patches seen in the collection. Below, we update the paper or plastic debate by introducing our produce-inspired handbags and accessories.

Shop all Opening Ceremony men’s and women’s

Admit it: you sometimes dress up to go grocery shopping. We’ve seen more than our fair share of New Yorkers fashionably toting veggies in our reusable red-and-blue shopping bags, and, while we resoundingly approve, think it’s time for an upgrade. Specifically, to our Pre-Fall 2015 collection, which brings the best of the produce aisle to gorgeous, luxe leather accessories.

Our Lele Handbag and Izzy Backpack, introduced last season, are splashed with a vibrant array of colors like deep blueberry and raspberry. The Athena Lunch Bags from last season get a more literal (and most likely, Michelle Obama-approved) cafeteria makeover with a shiny pebbled leather texture that mimics the skin of ripe oranges. One of our favorite print details, the scannable produce patch, is also sprinkled onto the Izzy Handbag, ensuring you can proudly display your fruit preferences on your bag wherever you go.

Complement your Izzy with a matching Varsity Jacket, and you’ve got a look that will have all of the Whole Foods checkout scanners going wild.

Izzy Fruit Sticker Backpack in black multi and Leather Hand Clasp Clutch in black multi (available in stores).

Mini Lele Patent Leather Handbag in blue currant

Misha Rectangular Wallet in raspberry

Designer Adam Selman—the genius behind our favorite cat-eye Le Specs AND Rihanna’s sparkly nude CFDA dress—is also quite the undercover Uncle Sam. Below, he gives us his go-to tips on how to impress at any Fourth of July celebration (hint: It doesn’t matter what stroller you need to stand in front of or whose bed you’ll have to climb into later to catch a glimpse of fireworks. Just do it).

Shop all Adam Selman here

The Fourth of July is my absolute favorite holiday. I am PROUD to be an American. Think of what we have to celebrate this year: Marriage equality! The removal of the Confederate Flag! Caitlyn! George Clooney finally found love everlasting! Ben Affleck went full frontal! Galliano is back in fashion! I can only hope we’ll get to celebrate even bigger accomplishments next year. This holiday, the greatest of all holidays which celebrates OUR independence, is surprisingly also the most low-key. There is no pressure of giving gifts, no fancy feasts, and no dress codes. Instead, there are spectacular firework displays and (best of all), it’s socially acceptable for people in the fashion industry to eat hot dogs in public.

If there’s one thing I know about this holiday, it’s all about going with the flow: don’t fight it. For one day out of the year, just kick back… the good old-fashioned American way. Below are some tips to get your American groove on and make you the perfect party guest.

The Body
Maybe you’re like me, and have been going to Barry’s Bootcamp every day in June to prepare for this special day. I certainly hope so. If not, no stress man! No judgements. Here is a quick exercise to get the juices flowing, and perhaps give you an ice-breaker if the conversation needs a little pick-me-up:

You: So, Happy Fourth!
Other person: Yeah, Happy Fourth...
You: Have you seen the Jurassic World movie yet?
Other person: No.
You: Ex Machina?
Other Person: No.
You: Okay. Um…. well, I just started this new workout regimen. I just worked out real quick today since I am starting Barry’s Bootcamp next week.
Other Person: OMG, I love Barry’s. What time are you planning on going? Have you worked out with Patrick yet? He is SO HOT!

See? Instant ice-breaker.

The Skin
I am big on skincare; it’s always important to have a summer glow. Even if you’re like me and have been working so hard that you’ve only had glimpses of the summer sun between the street avenues, it’s important for people to wonder how you’ve nailed that summertime sheen.

The Look
It’s important to dress the part for the Fourth of July as it can make the party memorable. Everyone has denim and something red, white, or blue. It’s important to think festive—without screaming “Yankee Doodle Dandy.” My favorite outfit that I’ve been wearing for over eight years consists of:

Denim Daisy Dukes (The more holes, the better)
My good luck polka-dot boxers
A ratty white shirt
A patchwork American flag denim vest

The Setting
It’s important to know where

This week, Opening Ceremony is going on a juice cleanse. In the spirit of healthful living and dressing to match, we’re delving into the colorful world of veggies and fruits, the second tier on the food pyramid that inspired our new Pre-Fall 2015 collection.

We already updated the paper or plastic debate by introducing our produce-inspired handbags and accessories. Below, we share the secrets behind the construction, where classically beautiful textiles fuse with innovative construction.

Shop all Opening Ceremony men’s and women’s

It’s been established: Opening Ceremony Pre-Fall 2015 is a fun collection. From produce sticker patches, to waxy, bright accessories, to smiling faces made of fruit, its jam-packed with the sense of humor you would expect from a collection inspired by juicing. At its core, however, Pre-Fall 2015 also is about luxe techniques. It fuses classically beautiful textiles with innovative construction, for a result not only never before seen at OC, but anywhere else within fashion.

The Laser Cut Fruit Sleeveless A-Line Dress highlights this best, with neoprene fruits embroidered over delicate organza to create a novel textile. Also new to OC’s fabric choices is a fil coupé jacquard, used for many of the swiss chard-printed pieces. Each leaf in the print is lined with a border of soft fringe, bringing the fabric—and thus, the garment as a whole—into a new dimension.

Let’s be real, all of the effort put into creating beautiful fabrics would be put to waste if the collection’s construction wasn’t equally as beautiful. Inspired by peeling fruit, the ruffles in the collection go from party-ready—like the Cody Double Twisted Seam Flare Dress or Flor Sateen Twisted Front Mini Skirt—to subtly avant-garde in the Flip Bonded Twisted Sleeve Coat and Rib Insert Pullover. The ruffles are inserted along a bias seam, and took our design team months to perfect. The result of that hard work, not just on the ruffles but the collection as a whole, extends far beyond br

It’s time to pull out those rusty barbecue grills and clear out your nearest bodega’s supply of 24-packs of beer. Since you’re probably busy prepping for your beach BBQ, we took the liberty (ha!) of selecting a few festive pieces that will match the beauty of the fireworks you’ll be watching in your joyful, buzzed state.

As our resident Fourth of July guru Adam Selman wisely stated, “Everyone has denim and something red, white, or blue.” We’re here to ensure that that statement is true this year, even for the slackers. Click through the slideshow above to see our favorite festive Fourth of July pieces.

Shop the Fourth of July guide here

Clockwise from left: Riudavets for Opening Ceremony Avarcas Leather Sandals in red/white, Gitman brother for Opening Ceremony Patchwork Bucket hat, Teva Flatform Universal Sandals in bright white, Thierry Lasry Celebrity Sunglasses in red, Area OC-Exclusive Tennis Shorts in red, Gurkee OC-Exclusive Montego Sandals in red/white/blue, Local Supply Ice Cream Sky Mirror Sunglasses in matte off white, and Gitman Brothers for Opening Ceremony OC Patchwork Long-Sleeve Button-Down in patchwork.

Riudavets for Opening Ceremony Avarcas Leather Sandals in red/white

Teva Flatform Universal Sandals in bright white

Thierry Lasry Celebrity Sunglasses in red

Area OC-Exclusive Tennis Shorts in red

Gurkee

This afternoon in Paris, Kenzo creative directors Humberto Leon and Carol Lim unveiled Here Now, a new short film for the brand’s Fall/Winter 2015 collection. Directed by Gregg Araki, our fave iconic director who has become synonymous with giving the angsty youth a (stylish) voice with cult classic films like The Doom Generation and Nowhere. Luckily for those of us outside of Paris, Please! magazine Founder Olivia da Costa covered the press screening for OC and shared a chat between Humberto Leon and Gregg Araki about Araki’s landmark films, collaborating on Here Now, and giving Rose McGowan her big break.

Earlier this afternoon, I was comfortably seated in the cool Germain Paradisio cinema with an intimate group eager to see Here Now, a Gregg Araki film that Kenzo creative directors Humberto Leon and Carol Lim commissioned for their Fall/Winter 2015 collection. Araki is an iconic underground Californian director best known for depicting disillusioned American youth in the cult status Teenage Apocalypse Trilogy films Totally Fucked Up, The Doom Generation, and Nowhere. Hailing from the suburbs of Los Angeles, Carol and Humberto grew up on Araki’s cult-films, and if you know anything about their past collections for both Opening Ceremony and Kenzo, you surely realize they are nostalgic-junkies. This trio is a match made in rebellious heaven.

This season, Carol and Humberto pay homage to Araki’s subculture that they hold so dear with their Fall/Winter 2015 collection and accompanying film. Here Now is a short film that features a mix'n'match cast of colorfully strange characters—all dressed in Kenzo men’s and women’s collection pieces. As the film begins, we discover a lovey-dovey couple (played by Jake Weary and redhead siren Nicole LaLiberte) passionately devouring a hamburger together, a guy (played by Avan Jogia) having relationship problems with his promiscuous girlfriend (played by Jane Levy), and a slightly unhinged girl (played by Grace Victoria Cox) dressed as a nun preaching Jesus’ word. All of this takes place in the same dark obscure bar in LA that Araki wanted lit as dark as possible, like the stage of a theater, in order to put all the focus on the characters and the clothing.

During the press conference, Araki confessed to not knowing much about fashion, but admitted that he was immediately put at ease by Carol and Humberto's designs. “I couldn't have made a film for a brand that didn't fit in my universe,” Araki stated. “All of my friends knew Kenzo and told me that it was a hip and cool brand.” Araki says that he stylizes the truth, similar to what all fashion designers do with their collections. Here Now was Araki’s first commercial project and needless to say, he dove right in. In fact, the film was shot in one day, which is miraculous compared to his usual projects, which can sometimes take several years to be completed.

Humberto Leon and Gregg Araki talk about the experience of c

Humberto Leon and Carol Lim are true cinephiles. They’ve proven it over the years with a collection inspired by David Lynch, a fashion show-slash-play co-written by Spike Jonze and Jonah Hill, and, as of this weekend, a collaboration with cult director Gregg Araki on a short film for Kenzo. For the premiere of the film, titled Here Now, the duo hosted a Friday evening barbecue at the Jardin d'Acclimatation, in the heart of the Bois de Boulogne. Needless to say that with the heatwave in Paris, it was all people were dreaming of! Program of the day: beers and burgers—because, yes, this was the eve of the Fourth of July—and a relaxed vibe à l’américain. Meanwhile, Here Now transported viewers to an Americana dreamscape, with a stylized take on Los Angeles (Carol and Humberto’s hometown, as well as Gregg Araki’s). Scroll to the bottom to watch the film, and check out what guests at the barbecue had to say about it.

Shop all Kenzo here

Read Humberto Leon’s interview with Gregg Araki about Here Now here

Simon Porte Jacquemus, designer: The film is really funny, quite sweet. I was expecting to be a bit more thrown by Gregg Araki, his films often make me feel a bit uncomfortable. I have seen Mysterious Skin many times, it's a masterpiece, but I can only watch it if I have 20 friends with me!

Joana Preiss, actress, director, and model: The film is funny, playful. I liked the references to sitcoms and the décalage [discordance]—he takes specific codes and twists them his way. I thought the actors were perfect. I love Gregg Araki's work, I know the Teenage Apocalypse Trilogy very well. I believe as a director he really brought something new to the film scene 20 years ago!

Woodkid (musician and director): It's a very cool film. I'm delighted that Kenzo, a very friendly, not-at-all pretentious brand that I am really fond of, has collaborated with Gregg Araki, a director that I love. Mysterious Skin is one of my favorite films.

Lily McMenamy (model): It was really cool, I’m a huge fan of Gregg Araki! I saw The Doom Generation with my first boyfriend in his bedroom when I was 16; it was the best thing ever! I just met Gregg, and said, “Wake up and smell the cappuccino!” That’s a line from his movie.

Grace Bol (model): The movie was amazing, but I want to see more. It was too short!

Gildas Loaec (Founder of Kitsuné): I really loved the colors and the saturation of the film—and most of all Slowdive for the music!

Gregg Araki on the screening: I’ve always thought of this movie as being really fun, and this party is colorful, everybody is relaxed, this place is amazing. It’s the perfect set-up.

Humberto on the screening: It’s almost like giving birth, we’ve been talking about this for so long, and finally we’re getting to share it.

Is there a shoe trend that has lasted longer than the espadrille? Since the comfy, casual style’s creation over 700 years ago in the Pyrenees Mountains, espadrilles have been a constant fixture on the feet of artists, actors, and even presidents, summer after summer.

Keeping a shoe universally recognized as cool and on-trend is difficult to do for multiple seasons, much less centuries. So how has the espadrille held onto our hearts for this long? Not only are they insanely comfortable—the traditional jute rope sole is meant to mold and conform to your feet—and breezy in the summer heat, but the style itself is classic enough to be adapted to any look, regardless of decade. From the dainty Ball Pagès to the minimal Riudavets, Summer 2015’s class of the iconic sandal proves this just as much as any year—past, present, and surely future.

Clockwise from top left: Kenzo Kenzo Logo Espadrille Flats in black, Ball Pages Filada Sandals in light blue, Hereu Rander Open-Toe Sandals in navy blue, Riudavets for Opening Ceremony Avarcas Denim Sandals in washed blue

Riudavets for Opening Ceremony Avarcas Leather Sandals in red/white

Ball Pages Calada Contrast Thread Sandals in white

Proenza Schouler Open-Toe Espadrilles in black

Gurkee OC-Exclusive Montego Sandals in red/white/blue

Hereu

This Thursday, July 9, from 6 to 9 PM, Opening Ceremony at Ace Hotel will host an artist signing for a new line of prints from art publishing company The Posters.

Below, we chat with The Posters artist Marc Hundley about the difference between T-shirts and art and why he chose a Smiths’ song lyric for his print. Check back this week for stories on other The Posters artists including Simone Shubuck, Wyatt Kahn, and Sara VanDerBeek.

The Smiths’ “Stretch Out And Wait” track from its 1987 album Louder Than Bombs opens in typical Morrissey fashion, with a fuzzy guitar riff and the sentimental lead singer beckoning, “Will the world end in the night time?//Or will the world end in the day time?//And is there any point ever having children?//Oh I don’t know//All I do know is we’re here and it’s now.”

While we don’t have an exact answer on when the apocalypse will happen yet, artist Marc Hundley has a pretty good idea what should be hanging on your wall when it does. Marc’s high-quality print for The Posters, titled Oh, I Don’t Know, features the thoughtful lyric from “Stretch Out And Wait” printed onto a soft blue background with circled dots that leave the impression of perforations. While the song lyric technically confirms the fact that Morrissey doesn’t have all the answers, it has a deeper meaning for Marc, who simply wants us to live in the moment. “I chose to use this lyric for a poster to remind myself that I should be present.”

Marc, who recently exhibited his signature type prints on a line of T-shirts in an exhibit at Team Gallery, frequently incorporates song lyrics and metaphors into his work. Does he feel there’s any difference between wearing them on your body and displaying them on your wall? “I do think there is a huge difference,” he says. “A T-shirt represents a body, and when a body wears a shirt with something printed on it, it is saying something… I also like how a shirt lives and gets old and dies just like a person. It also escapes the critical judgment that art receives.”

The great thing about The Posters, of course, is that its art invites critical judgment—while being cheaper than many T-shirts at $55 per print. In the same vein that Morrissey always expressed his man-motions, we feel as though your room deserves the chance to express itself with a Marc Hundley print that speaks volumes.

The Posters signing at Opening Ceremony at Ace Hotel will take place on Thursday, July 9 from 6-9 PM

For The Posters product and event updates, follow us on Twitter @OpeningCeremony.

Oh, I Don’t Know, by Marc Hundley, a print from art publishing company The Posters.

This Thursday, July 9, from 6 to 9 PM, Opening Ceremony at Ace Hotel will host an artist signing for a new line of prints from art publishing company The Posters.

Below, we catch up with The Posters artist Simone Shubuck about her unusual career path, artistic inspirations, and experience working with The Posters. Check out our interview with fellow The Posters artist Marc Hundley here, and check back later this week for stories on other artists including Wyatt Kahn and Sara VanDerBeek.

These days, Simone Shubuck might be famous for her complex, colorful art, but her former go-to medium smelled a little more sweetly than spraypaint and acrylic. Shubuck’s previous stint as a florist for some of NYC’s most notable restaurants, such as Mario Batali’s Babbo, not only gave her a dedicated following upon her transition to art—a piece of her early work appears on the walls of former client Little Park—but a trove of technical and artistic experience to draw from in her current work.

The piece Shubuck chose to be reproduced by The Posters, entitled Mini Future Shoob, is a multimedia collage assembled with the precision only a former celebrity florist could supply. The subject of the piece also draws into Shubuck’s past. Says the artist, “The piece the poster is from is an idea vaguely based on this notion I had of myself as a 22 year old, and what I expected I would be like as an adult. It was both a joke and sincere—a sincere joke. Recently, I recalled this notion and [realized] it was now the present and I should attend to it, and made this piece.”

Having a piece printed by The Posters, Shubuck feels, is a welcome throwback to an art world in which print media was fully utilised. “I think it's exciting and also important to have things accessible to all levels now more than ever in a digital era when most galleries are not printing small cards or fliers for shows anymore,” she told us. “I have my own collection of old show announcements from peers and artists I love and treasure these as much as a special book or even an actual piece of art.”

Simone Shubuck, Mini Future Shoob

This month, Opening Ceremony is taking our juice cleanse to the next level with a new edition of Sartorial Snacks, where food and fashion mix (literally) to create the perfect concoction. In the spirit of healthy living and our new produce-inspired Pre-Fall 2015 collection, we’re introducing you to some of our fave juicers, with personal recipes to match.

MC Madrigal is one of those girls who can effortlessly sport the Lizzie McGuire-era crimp in her hair and munch on baby carrots while balancing work emails from exhibitors from around the world—and make it all look so legit. As head of Exhibitor Relations at UNTITLED. art fair and one of the MoMA PS1 managers who makes Warm Up happen, she’s got to have a healthy diet that’s flavorful while helping her keep up with her busy schedule.

Below, MC tells us her critical secret to success and shares the recipes for two of her own juices, the energy-boosting “To All My Ladies Who Work 9 to 5” and the beet-heavy “Roots.”

Shop all Opening Ceremony men’s and women’s

CHLOE DEWBERRY: Hey MC! Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do.
MC MADRIGAL: I work for as head of Exhibitor Relations at UNTITLED., which is a really beautifully curated contemporary art fair produced on the beach during Miami Art Basel week, so I’m basically the liaison between the art fair and all of our exhibitors. I also work as one of the stage managers at MoMA PS1 for their Warm Up series, which is a huge summer music series in Long Island City at the Museum. Right now, we have a huge installation as part of the Young Architects Program and it features the best in experimental live music and DJs.

I’m sure that working at both of those separate jobs every day can take its toll. What does your day-to-day schedule look like?
I pretty much work six days a week, just running around. Food is really important to me just because I need to have a lot of energy and stay alert and be ready to go. Eating well and eating wholesome food is very critical to being successful for me.

When did you get involved in the New York City art world?
When I moved to New York, I started going to a lot of shows and museums and I worked at Opening Ceremony as well as for a fashion designer in this sphere where fashion and art overlapped. So first, my interest was in fashion, but then it kind of progressed into contemporary art and contemporary art production. I was really interested in performance and music mixed in with audio-visual components. So right now, what I’m doing is very in line with what I’m interested in.

When did you get into healthy living?
When I went to college, for the first time I started to be able to make my own choices about what I wanted to eat; I became more aware of my body and what I was putting into it. I was a typical college girl and became a vegan/vegetarian and really got into that world and culture. I got really into cooking, food politics, and non-fiction food books because it’s hard to go out in the Midwest and find a vegan restaurant. W

Tonight, July 9, from 6 to 9 PM, Opening Ceremony at Ace Hotel will host an artist signing for a new line of prints from art publishing company The Posters.

Below, we talk with Wyatt Kahn about everything from artistic mediums to the state of accessibility in the art world. Check out our interview with fellow The Posters artists Marc Hundley and Simone Shubuck, and check back later today for the conclusion of our The Posters interview series with artist Sara VanDerBeek.

Philosopher Marshall McLuhan’s famous phrase “The medium is the message” can be applied to a seemingly endless list of works, but few as literally as those of New York artist Wyatt Kahn. Playing to his background as a sculptor, Kahn’s paintings—a series of irregularly-shaped canvases assembled to create abstract, angular pieces—turn the focus of his work to the actual materials it is made of. By focusing on the physical qualities of his work and the space it occupies, Kahn brings the typical idea of what constitutes a painting into the third dimension.

The young artist’s unique approach has led to everything from being named one of Complex Magazine’s “25 Artists to Watch in 2014” to being included in the public collection of the Whitney Museum of American Art. Having his work reproduced by The Posters, Kahn says, is high up on his list of honors, not only for the increase in availability of his art—the artist describes The Posters as “[…] the perfect solution to current issues of accessibility and experience”—but as a way to capture a new medium. The piece Kahn chose for The Posters was a rare departure from the canvas sculptures he is famous for, and was instead a part of the artist’s short-lived dive into printmaking. "I made it in 2011, without any formal training in printmaking, which resulted in me using the press in an unconventional and intuitive way,” he says. When creating the print, Kahn coated blocks of wood with ink and pressed them onto sheets of plastic, creating a sculptural texture. For The Posters' version, he also experimented with technique, running the museum-quality paper through the printer twice to give the offset lithograph a unique varnish.

Even in poster form, materials matter. Meanwhile, the new medium also provides a unique opportunity for Kahn to preserve his work. “I made very few of these prints, and because of how experimental the process was, very few of the prints actually survived,” he says. “The Posters gave me an opportunity to expand the life of this work.”

NY: Jacco Gardner at Baby’s All Right
July 12 at 8 PM
Picked by: Jake Hoffman

What: The Dutch musician tours stateside to promote his newly released sophomore album, Hypnophobia.

Why Go: Gardner’s talent as a multi-instrumentalist, his complex arrangements, and his affinity for psychedelic sounds have garnered him comparisons to Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys and Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd.

NY: Indie ‘80s at BAM Rose Cinemas
July 17-Aug 27
Picked by: Douglas Smith

What: This extensive, six-week-long film festival is dedicated to screening narrative and documentary features from an under-appreciated decade in cinema history.

Why Go: The more than 50 titles being shown in the series—including films by Jim Jarmusch, Gus Van Sant, David Lynch, and Bruce Weber’s essential Chet Baker doc Let’s Get Lost—offer up an alternate side of ‘80s culture that’s a departure from the Brat Pack movies and testosterone-driven blockbusters we associate with the era.

NY: Joan Miró: Oiseaux dans L’Espace at Nahmad Contemporary
Apr 30-July 18
Picked by: The Mirror Cube
What: Large-scale abstract paintings created by the iconic Spanish Modernist in the ‘60s and ‘70s.

Why Go: Miró was one of the most influential painters of the 20th century, and his work influenced artists like Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning. These vibrant pieces were created during the last two decades of Miró’s life, in response to the American Modernists whose work he referred to as “a punch in the chest.”

LA: Real Estate at Santa Monica Pier
July 16 at 7 PM
Picked by: Anna Gray
What: The New Jersey four piece hits the road with material from their 2014 LP, Atlas.

Why Go: Real Estate’s latest album is a turning point for the band, with Pitchfork noting that, “[With Atlas], they’ve made the first record of their career that feels like it might teach you something over time. It is rare, and special, for a band to be this effortlessly and completely themselves.”

LA: Larry Sultan: Here and Home at LACMA

Tonight, July 9, from 6 to 9 PM, Opening Ceremony at Ace Hotel will host an artist signing for a new line of prints from art publishing company The Posters.

Below, we head back to history class with Sara VanDerBeek. Check out our interviews with fellow The Posters artists Marc Hundley, Simone Shubuck, and Wyatt Kahn.

If the photography in our high-school history books were as cool as Sara VanDerBeek’s, perhaps we would have paid more attention during that semester on Roman history. VanDerBeek’s photos filter classical sculptures through electric hues, recalling contemporary neon signs as much as the bright pigments originally used to paint the sculptures in the ancient world.

“I am interested in exploring how our recent and distant histories continue to inform our present,” says VanDerBeek of her series, a sequence of lilac-tinged photographs the artist took during a residency in Rome. “Much of what I do is based on a personal experience that I consider, translate, and expand beyond my view in an attempt to address larger ideas or issues that are impacting our current moment.”

Perhaps one of the larger issues impacting our current art state is the unrealistic goal of purchasing high-quality (and steeply-priced) art. But thanks to The Posters, VanDerBeek’s Roman Woman I print is available for $55. In a way, it’s a perfect medium for the subject matter. “In their widespread presence throughout the world, these [Roman] women are historic artworks that are important to our understanding of the evolution of art,” she says. “But they are also very iconographic. In image and form, they’re part of the larger shifting visual environment in which we live and work today.”

SaraVanDerBeek’s Roman Woman I print

SaraVanDerBeek’s Roman Women series

Mana Contemporary, located in the heart of Jersey City, is an unlikely artist haven offering workspace (and lots and lots of actual space) to creatives. Formerly a tobacco factory, the center’s unmarked walls, open studios, and bare interior decor act as the perfect contrast to the city across the river’s bustling streets and on-the-go residents. Below, OC stylist Kindall Almond catches up with Mana Contemporary’s Kendall Tichner, the director of digital marketing and partnerships who helped turn what was once a storage company into the art-world force it is today.

KINDALL ALMOND: I feel like Mana is such an enigma. When you try to explain it to somebody, it’s like, “Well, it’s an artists’ space, but it also used to be a storage company.” So, what is Mana and how did it become what it is today?
KENDALL TICHNER: When I started at Mana, it was a high-tech art storage and handling facility inside a giant former tobacco factory. I had actually been working for an electric motorcycle company that fixed bikes and was building them here. Then, Mana was just a concept. We had a couple of artist studios, and then Mana’s founder, Eugene Lemay, pulled me aside and was like, “I have an idea: switch companies and work with me and let’s build this thing.” So I left my motorcycle job and took a chance with Gene, who has an amazing vision. I've worked together with a team of some of the smartest, most driven people to build this place.

Gene is an artist himself, and was heading an art storage company. He was like, “Why are we putting artwork in here? Why don’t we put people in here instead?” So the studio concept started. Instead of storing people’s stuff, we started to clear everything out and started making room for artists’ studios. After, we started to offer all of the services that artists need. We opened a frame shop, a crate shop, art handling. Now we have a photo lab, book binding, silk screening, and a foundry for making sculptures. Basically, under one roof, or in this case, a couple of adjacent roofs, we have experts in every type of fabrication and type of art. The artists can all collaborate, mingle, and work with experts in every field. It’s become this campus for creatives.

You guys are still expanding. How are you hoping to evolve Mana?
We currently have a Mana Contemporary in Chicago, which has close to 100 studios. Similar to the Mana here, but on a smaller scale. We’re working on Miami now and plan to launch our first consistent presence in Miami this December. Los Angeles is the next phase, which I’m really excited for.

Tell me a little more about the personal project for Mana you’ve been working on.
I’m actually taking over the entire ground floor of Mana and starting this new project called The BSMT (Basement), which is giving a home to underground, young, emerging artists. A lot of my friends when they get out of school, they’re all artists or creatives mostly, and their main problem is space. They’re all isolated in Bushwick in these shitty studios—no offense to everyone. So what we’re building is going to be really affordable private studios next to a large open space with communal resources. We’re building a wood shop, photo lab, silk screening, ceramic studio, a digital lab with computers and photo equipment, and an outdoor space. It’s basically going to be a space for young creatives to realize their visions.

Are there any organized events or shows for the people occupying the spaces to furthe

The off-kilter elegance of Jacquemus collections are generally a nod to the sandy shores and calm blue waves of designer Simon Porte Jacquemus’ favorite beaches in the South of France. For his first-ever Pre-Fall collection, Simon took a more overcast approach, injecting a new colorway into his repertoire: muted gray. All the better to notice the curious silhouettes, like a straight-laced blazer that slips off one shoulder, or a button-down tunic cocooned in a sheath of wool. It’s a study in contradictions of the best kind.

Rien et Tout, our latest Jacquemus editorial, was shot in a space where grey—or as Simon calls his collection, “Gris”—can take center stage. Mana Contemporary, a tobacco factory-cum-art space in the heart of Jersey City, offers unmarked white walls, open studio spaces, and a bare interior, the perfect backdrop for this playful collection. But don’t worry—even to the clutter of your own studio apartment, a little bit of Jacquemus will add quirky simplicity.

View the editorial here

Shop all Jacquemus here

Model on left: Jacquemus La Veste Qui Tombe in navy and La Pantalon Pyjama in navy. Model on right: La Robe Manches Longues in navy and adidas Originals Superstar Foundation Sneakers in white/white/white. Photos by Katie McCurdy; view the editorial here.

Takashi Murakami won’t stop until he rules the world. The Japanese artist has single-handedly created the postmodern art movement superflat, collaborated with some of the biggest designers and musicians from Kanye West to Louis Vuitton, and had his work displayed in the world’s most famous galleries and museums. If you live in the states, however, you might not yet be aware of one of Murakami’s biggest works to date: his first-ever feature film, Jellyfish Eyes. Premiering for the first time in the US at New York’s IFC Center next Wednesday, on July 15, Jellyfish Eyes blends the animation that made Murakami’s work a cultural phenomenon with unexpected live-action footage to create a story as vibrant and unique as the artist himself.

We know waiting all the way until Wednesday to get in on the Murakami action is going to be hard to do, so on Monday, July 13 from 6 to 8 PM, we are teaming up with the film’s distributors Criterion Collection and Janus Films to celebrate the its release at our 35 Howard Street store. Come have a drink, pick up some official Jellyfish Eyes merchandise—including dolls, tees for all ages, and super cute accessories—and most importantly, meet Murakami himself.

Email jellyfisheyes@openingceremony.us to RSVP for the event.

View the trailer for Jellyfish Eyes below, and check out the slideshow for a sneak peek at the merchandise you can cop at Monday’s event.

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