Blue is primary. It is primal. Blue are the waters that cover our beloved planet, which require far more responsible use of its sources. Blue is the color of lapis lazuli, ground for the pigment of Old Master paintings. It is the quintessential base of denim, the beloved all-American fabric, and the hue of the “extra something” a bride needs on the big day. In all cultures, blue materials are revered and fashioned into objects of desire. From Thursday, November 14th through Saturday, November 16th, 2019, Initiatives in Art and Culture will host its 21st fashion, jewelry and design conference, entitled “Blue,” celebrating the hue, at Parsons The New School.Lisa Koenigsberg, president, Initiatives in Art and Culture, says, "Like music experienced directly and requiring no translator, color is one the most powerful signifiers producing visceral responses embedded deeply within us. For this reason, blue, one of the most elemental colors, is the focus of Initiatives in Art and Culture (IAC)'s 21st Annual Fashion, Jewels Design Conference. Blue sits astride the entirety of fashion. Uniquely resonant, and thus the preferred color of branding, the color, with its many hues and variations, is central to the work of the great designers, artisans, jewelers, design pioneers, and authorities whom IAC is honored to welcome. We also express our gratitude to our project partner, The New School, for its engagement and to all other entities playing a role in making this metaphorically mixed deep dive impactful for all attending."
With materials at the forefront, IAC’s Blue conference begins Thursday evening with introductory remarks by Koenigsberg, followed by the talk “On this day: Blue,” given by Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell, fashion historian, journalist, and author of Worn on This Day: The Clothes That Made History. Cameron Silver, director, Halston, and founder, Decades, a vintage couture boutique in Los Angeles, follows in conversation with celebrity stylist, Andrew Gelwicks in “It’s Chic to Repeat.” The history of the color and the assorted materials used to realize its many hues in garments of historical significance will be chronicled, contextualized, and assessed for continued relevance, as will blue’s use in today’s fashion iconography. Further delving into making, on Friday morning, Rowland Ricketts, professor and associate dean at Indiana University’s Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design, reflects on his history of indigo farming and natural dye use in textiles in “Growing Blue: An Artist Reflects on Material, Color, and Process.”
Mined from the earth, and beloved as jewels, vibrant blue gemstones set into jewelry also captivate. Grant Mobley of the Diamond Producers Association, will explore the wonder and uniqueness of natural blue diamonds. Michael Peters, CEO, Trusted Gems & founder, Panjshir Valley Emeralds, and Elle Hill, CEO, Hill & Co. Fine Jewelry Launch and Growth Experts, discuss the extraction and transformation of precious blue substances, as well as their translation into treasures to be worn. Delving into the experiential, attendees will view “The Protagonist,” an exhibition of sustainable fine jewelry organized by Vogue Italia, held at the Park Avenue Armory. A dazzling array of gemstone pieces, created with better stewardship of our planet in mind, will be on view; attendees will be welcomed by remarks from creative director, and haute joaillerie designer, Alexandra Mor.
For tickets and more information please visit: www.artinitiatives.com.
[Pictured: CELESTINO, Couture, 2018 by Lindsay Adler; courtesy, CELESTINO]
