Zen Genius News and Updates: 2008

I try to find the holiday spirit while still working in the retail industry. But seriously, when you start think about Holiday for 2009 well...now...it's sometimes hard to muster up the holiday spirit when it comes time to deck your walls and don your gay apparel. Inspiration and spirit usually ignite for me when I tromp down Madison Ave, Park and Lex after midnight to see the holidays in their full and fabulous glory....the Holiday windows in New York City. This is truly where I get inspired to give a little extra or put a little tinsel somewhere to show how excited I am about this time of year. We've all been pounded with the economy from every angle and I had no idea what to expect when I walked down the streets. Would I be left in awe at the outrageous and genius efforts of the towns most fortunate window dressers? Would I have a moment of pure belief that leaves me with no doubt that there is a Santa and he will bring me everything on my list from Bergdorfs, Barneys, Tiffanys and Sony. Will I ever make it on the good list and wake up one Christmas morning to find all of these gifts beautifully wrapped underneath the tree? There are many windows worthy of being put on the extraordinarily good list and I hope those merchants are seeing the benefits of that in traffic and sales.
In the "Takes my breath away" category Bergdorf Goodman once again with a nod to the seasons left me gasping after a "Wow" and an "Oh My God." Lavish and lush with exquisite attention to every detail down to the ruffles on the white monkey butler jackets. A true celebration of nature inspiring beauty and fashion.

I'm including some of the photos I took. However... if you want to see some real photography that will blow you out of this world hop on over to photographer Richard Cadan's site: www.richardcadan.com/holiday08.html Richard has created a Holiday window slide show featuring the best windows in the city. His photos are magical and capture all the great details and dramatic lighting. Check out the Stueben Glass ornament tree! Wow!

Standing firmly in the "Fun and Fab" windows the architectural elements and whimsy tongue and cheek interpretations all while standing in a foot of real plastic snow were the Juicy Couture windows. The only thing that could have made them better would have been to hire Fergie as a live Freeze Model to gather a crowd.

Also in the Fun and Fab category but also add Fabulous and Fantastic! The windows at Barneys. The Hippy Holiday theme was translated into a visual feast. I always prefer to visit the windows late at night after the store is closed and the traffic is low. This year we ventured out after seeing Mary Poppins. It was a practically perfect evening with unexpectedly good last minute seats that offered us a peek up Mary's skirt as she flew over our heads at the finale of the show, followed by a quick subway trip to the wonderful windows at Barney's to start our window tour. The Hippy Holiday windows celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Peace sign and . A miraculous collaboration between designers, window dressers, artists and students working to create a statement about Peace. Yes, the message is strong and more timely than ever and the details and cleverness were exquisite in every imaginable way. Yet a part of me still yearned for more. The big shock! It was a positive message of course and hard to contrast with shock factor but I would have enjoyed seeing a naked love in or some of this years celebs that have reclaimed inner peace (Brittany, Robert Downey Jr, Mickey Rourke)...or a politically correct/incorrect pardadie with President Bush or President Elect Obama... I know, disgusting. Right? Still. I did enjoy the windows thoroughly and spent a good amount of time exploring every visual detail. Each designer interpreted the Peace symbol and the artwork from the children at Harlem elementary. Even late at night and into the morning the windows stop pedestrians and cars as people stop to explore and photograph the windows. (PS- If you want really great photos of the windows it's best to go at night when the reflections are lower. I usually do not use a flash.)
Bravo Barneys and Peace in the New Year!

Fun, Fab, Flawless and Funny? Anthropolige. With their tangled lights, tinsel takeover and vintage ornaments the windows made people passing by laugh and shout comments about their own christmas memories about tinsel and tangled madness. Interactive? In a way. The way they engaged the audience and provoked from people.

I believe. I believe in Macy's. For two years in a row they left me jaw dropped photo/video crazy just like everyone!!!
This year....more later....

more later......blogging takes time doesn't it?

The December group show at the ZenGenius Gallery is rounding
out the year with a fabulous show. This completes the first year
of trying out the Gallery concept down the alley from High Street at
44 East Prescott. This non-traditional gallery space has been used to feature
various ZenGenius gurus and friends of ZG throughout the year. Each month the front two rooms are transformed to create an exciting show.
The Short North is known as the Arts District and has always catered to a bohemian and unexpected art culture. Over the years the Short North has evolved and comments are often made that the Short North does not have as many galleries as it once has. There are actually still eighteen galleries within the district and the Gallery ZenGenius brings back some of the unexpected experiences that visitors to the Short North are looking for.
The Gallery is open on Gallery Hop evenings from 6PM-10PM or by appointment (614) 220-9040.
The Gallery ZenGenius will also be open on the evening of December 20th for the first Gallery (S)Hop event 6PM-10PM for all of your last minute gift ideas.
Just take a look at the talented artists that are in the December ZG Show.
Devon Palmer, Paul Cook, Megan Green, Mildred Elzy, Brian Duran, Stephanie Bair-Garant, Mike Boich, Lisa McLymont, Laura Clarke, Eve Warnock, Jay Moffet and Joe Baer