In less then two weeks I am off on a vintage adventure to attend the opening gala of the Gaultier exhibit in San Fransico. My Guy and I are meeting up with my own collaborating vintage bad boy — David Shefflin and his partner, along with a slew of other fashionably naughty folks and plan to dance the night away! I am so excited to meet Mr Gaultier at the event — watch for my follow up post!
If you are near San Fran here is a bit of the official bits from the museum on the event — I hope to see you there... ...
Opening on March 24, 2012 and continuing its strong track record of exhibitions highlighting the work of the innovators and iconoclasts of the world of fashion, the de Young Museum in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park presents, The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk, the first exhibition devoted to the celebrated French designer and his personal themes of “equality, diversity and perversity.” The de Young is the exclusive west coast venue for this critically acclaimed international exhibition after its premier at the organizing institution, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and its presentation at the Dallas Museum of Art. The exhibition will be on view at the de Young in the Herbst Exhibition Galleries from March 24-August 19, 2012.
The multimedia installation is organized along six different thematic sections tracing the influences, from the streets of Paris to the world of science fiction, that have marked the couturier’s creative development:
- The Odyssey of Jean Paul Gaultier – begins the exhibition with an exploration of several signature Gaultier motifs – the blue and white striped sailor shirt in all its themes and variations, spectacular mermaids and virgins, and welcomes the visitor with singing mannequins and a special cameo by the designer himself.
- The Boudoir – explores Gaultier’s fascination with lingerie and underpinnings culminating in his signature collaboration with Madonna for her Blonde Ambition tour.
- Skin Deep – a risqué, provocative gallery featuring garments inspired by themes of bondage and body art.
- Punk Cancan – features the dichotomy between the typical upscale French couture client and the street punks of London.
- Urban Jungle – a multicultural clash of influences including Hussars, Mongolians, Hassidic Jews, Frida Kahlo and China. This gallery includes highlights of Gaultier’s haute couture detailing with unusual materials and techniques on view.
- Metropolis — concludes the exhibition with a presentation of Gaultier’s work for film, performance pieces and his relationships with pop icons such as Kylie Minogue and Tina Turner.
Sketches, stage costumes, excerpts from films, runway shows, concerts, videos, dance performances, and even television programs on view further explore how his avant-garde fashions challenged societal and aesthetic codes in unexpected, and often humorous ways. The many legendary artistic collaborations that have characterized Gaultier’s global vision are examined in film (Pedro Almodóvar, Peter Greenaway, Luc Besson, Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet); contemporary dance (Angelin Preljocaj, Régine Chopinot and Maurice Béjart); and within the realm of popular music through performers such as Madonna, whose friendship with Gaultier has led her to graciously lend two iconic corsets from her 1990 Blonde Ambition World Tour that launched the cone bra into fashion iconography.
La Grand Fête Opening Party – March 23, 2012, 8 pm Blond Ambition. Gritty Glamour. Gender-Bending. La Grande Fête will be an outrageous occasion celebrating the wild and wonderful world of Monsieur Gaultier. Ticket on sale on January 12, 2012 and are $250/members and $300/general public. For more information, contact: 415-750-7660.
Hours: Tuesday–Sunday 9:30 am–5:15 pm
Friday (beginning March 30) 9:30 am–8:45 pmMonday Closed
Admission: $10 adults; $7 seniors; $6 youths 13–17 and students with college I.D. Members and children 12 and under are free *There is a $10 surcharge for The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk
Tickets can be purchased on the de Young’s website: www.deyoungmuseum.org. Reservations for group tickets are available at groupsales@famsf.org.
All online tickets include a $1 handling charge.
Photo: Jame Bort