CUE, July 2012

A GAMBIT PUBLICATION | J U LY 2 0 1 2

HOME FASHION

BEAUTY

32 names. 3 floors. no sweat.

Saks Fifth Avenue • Allen Edmonds • Anthropologie Ann Taylor • BCBGMAXAZRIA Banana Republic• Brooks Brothers • Coach Francesca’s Collections • French Sole • Georgiou Jade • JCrew • Jack Sutton • jeantherapy L’Occitane • Michael Kors • Mignon Faget Morton’s The Steakhouse • New Orleans Knots Paris Parker Aveda • RHINO Gallery • Saint Germain Solstice Sunglass Boutique • Starbucks • Sunglass Hut The Theatres at Canal Place • Treasure Island Wehmeier’s • White House/Black Market

It’s why you shop.

333 Canal Street • 504.522.9200 Monday-Saturday 10-7 & Sunday 12-6 www.theshopsatcanalplace.com The Shops at Canal Place theshopsatcanal

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contents

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FASHION

15

poolside service Au courant swimwear, including suits by local designers

31 35

HOME

20 27

modern appeal An Uptown marvel of mid-century design

closet cases Ten tips for organizing closets

SHOPPING

10

neW&cool

13

What gUys Want

Toys and clothes for pint-sized patriots

cUe tips Charitable T-shirts and bracelets

PERSPECTIVES

09

From the editor

32 39

indie Friendly

Sea sides

Peggy Bishopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ceramic totem poles

shop dogs Chyna and Sabra of Fetch

BEAUTY

Accessories and dresses for landlocked mermaids

Beat the heat in a man cave

cUe kids

37

lUsterphile Save face with waterproof cosmetics

Activewear Dries Van Noten The Row Dusan Rick Owens Forte Theyskens Theory Ter et Bantine Mantu Pamela Henson Dear Cashmere AR 04 CUE

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Model: Julie Martin

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OPEN MON–FRI, 10 AM –6 PM • SAT, 10 AM –5 PM | 504.456.5993 W W W. PE R F EC TF IT S H O E S . N E T J U LY. 2 0 1 2 < < <

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ashion hears the mermaids singing, each to each: Trends like seashell accessories, lobster motifs and wavy, seaweed-loose hair are evidence of the siren song’s lure. This month, CUE takes to the water with a focus on swimsuits (page 15) and oceaninspired accessories (page 10).

They’re looks any landlocked mermaid would love — and ones I suspect many New Orleanians gravitate toward.

I have a theory that residents of this mythical city — which is bordered by water, situated mostly below sea level, and is the possible site of a future Atlantis (if global warming and coastal erosion continue) — share an uncommon affinity with mermaids. As a child vacationing with my family at Ship Island, I wished for gills and sequin-bright fins to propel me to the Gulf’s silent floors.

After a day on the shore, we’d go back to our camp in Pass Christian, empty the crab traps and boil up our catch. Though Louisianans aren’t mermaids in the physical sense, we certainly feast like them.

Also, there is something in the mermaid’s conflicted nature that speaks to us: Fully at home neither on land or in the sea,

PhOTO by Que DuONG AND The MAkeuP L Ab ArTISTry

from the editor

F

oN CUE m i S SY W i L K i N S o N |

Most Luxurious Day Spa

her otherness repels and enchants.

Perhaps this is the secret of the siren song’s appeal — and the power of a city that has been submerged in salty waters, only to surface once more.

mArGo dUBoS | editor

NEW ORLEANS’

dorA SiSoN |

editorial

K A N dAc e p o W e r G r Av eS

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4030 CANAL STREET | MID CITY | NEW ORLEANS | 504.482.NOLA J U LY. 2 0 1 2 < < <

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SHOPPING

NEW + COOL

SEA

CHANGE TRINKETS AND DRESSES FOR MODERN-DAY MERMAIDS

BY NICOLE KOSTER AND MISSY WILKINSON

FOR MERMAID HAIR, USE AVEDA BRILLIANT DAMAGE CONTROL, $16; RETEXTURIZING GEL, $17; AND AIR CONTROL HAIR SPRAY, $24; ALL AT PARIS PARKER SALONS (CITYWIDE, WWW.PARISPARKER.COM). IMAGE COURTESY OF AVEDA.

OPALESCENT SHELL EARRINGS, $10 AT FUNKY MONKEY (3127 MAGAZINE ST., 899-5587).

TRINA TURK AMELIE SLEEVELESS SILK DRESS IN TURQUOISE, $348 AT HEMLINE MAGAZINE ST. (3308 MAGAZINE ST., 269-4005; WWW.SHOPHEMLINE.COM).

CRYSTAL JELLYFISH PAPER WEIGHTS, $48 AT SOURCE (2103 MAGAZINE ST., 561-7558; WWW.SOURCENOLA.COM).

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STINGRAY RING, $165 AT HAUTE BOUTIQUE (725 MAGAZINE ST., 522-8687; WWW.HAUTENOLA.COM).

TRACY REESE PINK METALLIC BUSTIER DRESS IN SILK AND LUREX, $279.95 AT HEMLINE MAGAZINE ST.

NEW + COOL

SHOPPING

SMALL SCALLOPED BOWL, $68 AT SPRUCE ECO-STUDIO (2043 MAGAZINE ST., 265-0946; WWW.SPRUCENOLA.COM).

OCTOPUS NECKLACE, $31 AT A GIRL IS A GUN (6010 MAGAZINE ST., 891-4475; WWW.AGIRLISAGUN.COM).

LOBSTER PLATE, $42 AT SOURCE.

CHET POURCIAU DESIGN 3652 Magazine Street

New Orleans LA 70115

504-522-CHET

Unique Home Decor…Perfect Wedding Gifts Pick up Something Special for Yourself While You’re Here...

Catch Chet Chat on Saturdays @ 5:30 p.m. on WLAE-TV with NEW Episodes @ 9:00 p.m. the 3rd Wednesday of each month WLAE-TV - Cox Ch. 14; U-Verse Ch. 32; Direct TV Ch. 32; Charter Ch. 11 Also, watch Chet on WVUE Fox 8 on Tuesdays @ 12:30 p.m. & Fridays @ 8:15 a.m.

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W H AT G U Y S W A N T

SHOPPING

EXPLORING THE

MAN CAVE

Trick out his natural habitat with these covetable goods and garments.

BY LINDSEY DARNELL

SHOWCASING GRAPHIC PATTERNS AND STRIKING COLORS, THIS MODERN SMOKING JACKET MAKES A BOLD STATEMENT, $125 AT MISS CLAUDIA’S VINTAGE CLOTHING & COSTUMES (4204 MAGAZINE ST., 8976310; WWW.MISSCLAUDIAS.COM).

A MODEL OF PETERSON’S AROUND THE WORLD PIPE FEATURES A VULCANITE STEM AND FISHTAIL MOUTHPIECE, $110 AT DON JUAN CIGAR COMPANY (3200 SEVERN AVE., METAIRIE, 455-8591).

LOCAL ARTIST ASHLEE ARCENEAUX’S RUSTIC, REPURPOSED WOOD SIGNS ARE PAINTED WITH SMUDGE-PROOF LIQUID CHALK PIGMENTS. SIGNS ARE $100 EACH AT SMALLCHALK (WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SMALLCHALK).

THE EKORNES STRESSLESS JAZZ RECLINER AND OTTOMAN IS SUPPORTIVE (IT’S ENDORSED BY THE AMERICAN CHIROPRACTIC ASSOCIATION) AND SOPHISTICATED, $4,095 AT SCANDINAVIA FURNITURE (4513 AIRLINE DRIVE, METAIRIE, 455-7100; WWW.SCANDINAVIAFURNITURE.COM).

NO MAN CAVE IS COMPLETE WITHOUT A BEER TAP. THIS SELFCONTAINED BEER SYSTEM HOLDS A MINI-KEG AND REQUIRES NO PLUMBING, $3,299 AT NORDIC KITCHENS & BATHS (1818 VETERANS MEMORIAL BLVD., METAIRIE, 8882300; WWW. NORDICKITCHENS.COM).

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Photography by Chad M. West

CLOTHING JEWELRY ACCESSORIES GIFTS 622 S. CARROLLTON 路 NEW ORLEANS, LA 70118 504.301.9410 路 TUE-SAT 10:30AM-5:30PM 路 SUN 10:30AM-5PM

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Color-bloCk one-pieCe by elise Doran, $85 at hickory chicks; lime-green hat, $29.95, sunglasses, $20, both at swim ’n sport; hugo suit (on male moDel), $45 at dillard’s.

poolside service swimwear from the local designers and boutiques of fashion week nola’s poolside shows by m i s sy W i l k i n s o n | p h oto s by Qu e D u o n g

Tribal prinT, rope-Tie bikini Top, $55, and boTTom, $53, boTh aT Swim â&#x20AC;&#x2122;N Sport; sheer green coverup by leah milana, $150 aT VerNoN.

Black hat, $29.99, trina turk Bikini Bottom, $78, and matching tunic, $144, all at Swim â&#x20AC;&#x2122;N Sport.

Gold bikini by AliciA ZenobiA, $65 At Haute Boutique.

Leopard print, vintage-inspired one-piece suit, $92 at A Girl is A Gun; sungLasses, $20 at swim ’n sport; stingray ring, $165 at HAute Boutique. on maLe modeL: Hugo Boss trunks, $59 at DillArD’s. on tHe cover: BLack-and-wHite striped asymmetricaL swimsuit top, $50, and HigH-waist Bottom, $50, BotH at Hickory cHicks.

store inFormAtion A Girl is A Gun (6010 magazine st., 891-4475; www.agirLisagun.com) DillArD’s (Lakeside sHopping center, 3301 veterans memoriaL BLvd., metairie, 8316140; www.diLLards.com) HAute Boutique (725 magazine st., 522-8687; www.HautenoLa.com) Hickory cHicks (1915 Hickory ave., suite a, HaraHan, 324-2454) swim ’n sport (Lakeside sHopping center, 3301 veterans memoriaL BLvd., metairie, 837-0885; www.swimnsport.com) Vernon (2049 magazine st., 309-5929; www.vernoncLotHing.com)

moDels katHarine micHie JoHneric peraLta

HAir AnD mAkeup Artist nicole emmons for gLenn micHaeL saLon (1623 metairie road, 828-6848; www.gLennmicHaeLsaLon.com)

stylists tracee dundas and missy wiLkinson

stylist AssistAnt kat dudden

pHoto AssistAnt Bryan mayfieLd severaL of tHe featured LocaL fasHion designers (eLise doran, LeaH miLana and aLicia zenoBia) and Boutiques (swim ’n sport, vernon) as weLL gLenn micHaeL saLon wiLL participate in strut & swim pooLside fasHion sHows at w HoteL (333 poydras st., 207-5030; www.wHoteLsneworLeans.com). a partnersHip Between fasHion week noLa and w new orLeans, tHe free events take pLace from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. tHe first sunday of every montH tHrougH august. speciAl tHAnks to rAynA HernAnDez, lisA micHie, emily scHmiDt, AriAnne torres-scHneiDer AnD tHe entire stAFF At w Hotel For AccommoDAtinG our pHoto sHoot.

MODEL OF

DESIGN

GEORGE WILSON’S UPTOWN HOME IS A STRIKING EXAMPLE OF MODERNIST ARCHITECTURE

BY LEE CUTRONE | PHOTOS BY EUGENIA UHL

eople come from all over the world to see New Orleans’ grand Greek Revival mansions, historic Creole cottages and charming Victorian shotguns. Architecture buffs, preservationists and those with an eye for design know New Orleans is also home to some notable mid-century modern houses.

George Wilson’s Uptown residence is one such gem. Designed in 1955 by architects Curtis & Davis, it remains an excellent example of the iconic modernist style.

Though he wasn’t looking for a house at the time, Wilson, president and CEO of Barriere Construction, bought the property in 2005 after a friend suggested he view it. The open floor plan and manageable size complemented his lifestyle. With four grown children who visited regularly (today, he also has two grandchildren and a third on the way) he wanted a house large enough to accommodate guests but small enough to feel lived-in on a daily basis. “I’d always lived in traditional houses but I’d always liked mid-century modern houses,” Wilson says. “This is a very easy, very simple house.

It’s almost like living outside. There are lots of windows. And it’s very minimal.”

True to the modernist vocabulary of the 20th century, the house features private courtyards for indoor-outdoor living, a flat roof, an emphasis on vertical and horizontal lines, industrial materials and sparse ornamentation. A few modifications — such as a kitchen remodel and the addition of a tile floor throughout — had been made when Wilson bought the then 50-year-old structure. Otherwise, it was still essentially the

P

ABOVE: FOR THE KITCHEN RENOVATION, ARCHITECT ERROL BARRON DESIGNED CUSTOM CABINETS AND ADDED CLOSET SPACE FOR STORAGE. THE ROOM FEATURES STAINLESS STEEL APPLIANCES, FORMICA CABINETS AND COUNTERS, AND POLISHED CHROME FIXTURES. VERTICAL, RECTANGULAR CUT-OUTS IN THE WALL BETWEEN THE GALLEY-STYLE KITCHEN AND THE DINING AREA CREATE AN OPEN FLOW BETWEEN THE TWO SPACES.

LEFT: THE DINING ROOM’S CUSTOM TABLE IS PAIRED WITH ANZIANO CHAIRS BY DONGHIA. THE SIDEBOARD BELONGED TO WILSON BEFORE HE BOUGHT THE HOUSE, AND THE CERAMIC SCULPTURE ABOVE IT IS BY LOCAL ARTIST BRADLEY SABIN.

OPPOSITE PAGE: A DECK LOCATED JUST OFF THE KITCHEN PROVIDES SPACE FOR A BARBECUE AND A PIZZA OVEN. THE PAVED SURFACES FRAMED WITH WOOD WERE MADE WITH GRANITE RECYCLED FROM THE PREVIOUS YARD, WHICH HAD A MORE FORMAL FEEL.

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ABOVE: ThE liVing rOOm’s muTEd pAlETTE Of BEigEs is AccEnTEd By sEVErAl lArgE wOrks Of ArT: An ABsTrAcT pAinTing By nicOlE chArBOnnET And An inTricATE gEOmETric cOnsTrucTiOn mAdE Of shrEddEd liquOr lABEls mOunTEd TO pApEr By lAfAyETTE ArTisT TrOy dugAs.

righT: ThE mAsTEr suiTE OVErlOOks An EAsTErninspirEd grEEn spAcE And is spArsEly furnishEd wiTh clEAn-linEd cOnTEmpOrAry piEcEs.

same as when it was built. Working with architect Errol Barron of Errol Barron/Michael Toups Architects, Pierre Stouse and Clayton Carriere of Edifice Builders and interior designer Ann Dupuy of Holden and Dupuy, Wilson made his own updates, respecting the integrity of the original design. “It was a collaborative effort,” Wilson says. “They all had the same idea of keeping the new ideas consistent with the original ideas of the house.”

At the rear of the house, Barron expanded the roofline and turned a sitting room into a comfortable master suite — bedroom, bathroom and walk-in closet — that opens onto an enclosed rear yard. He redesigned the kitchen and two original bathrooms, added glass doors to the exterior walls, replaced the interior’s tile floor with Ipe (a dense Brazilian hardwood) and reconceived the front garden as an exterior living room with new page 25

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Sain ts & Angels

a boutique with Heart + Soul Jewelr y by

Waxing Pyrrah Poetic

Probst Decorating is now Sanctuary Interiors!

Thank you for 68 years of loyal, unwavering support of Probst Decorating! We have felt honored and privileged to have designed for so many wonderful people over the years and to have been trusted with making your house a beautiful place to come home to.

With that said, I am letting everyone know that we are not closing down; however, we are reinventing Probst for a new generation. We will no longer have retail space with bolts of fabric and furnishings. Our brand new design studio will be much more attentive + personal, offering a full one-on-one experience with each client. Our design assistance will be strictly by appointment from now on, allowing us to provide our clients with a more personal, complete service: something we have not been able to give beforehand.

LovHeales

Santos Wish

and much more

3300 Magazine St. • Suite B (@ Toledano) • Uptown 504 - 895 - 2094 • Hours: Mon-Sat 10-6, Sun 10-2 24 CUE

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The designers will be available for everything from in-home consultations to simple paint selections. We still have a full service on-site workroom for everything from custom couture window treatments and furniture to lighting, area rugs, and our extensive fabric + resource library, along with so much more.

Please send us an email, so that we can send you all of these new details, including news on our new jewelry boutique, Saints and Angels.

Whether you need an entire house interior or a paint consultation, know that we will be here, as we have been for over sixty yearsto make your house your sanctuary.

All the best, Kelley Porter 504.895.2094, probstdecorating@yahoo.com

PAGE 23

THE POOL AREA IS SHADED BY A MASSIVE OAK AND IN THE COOLER MONTHS CAN BE WARMED BY THE OUTDOOR FIREPLACE, WHICH PROVIDES A VERTICAL COUNTERPOINT TO THE HOUSE’S HORIZONTAL LINES.

“

This is a very easy, very simple house.

It’s almost like living outside.

”

decks, an outdoor fireplace and a water garden/pool to enhance the house’s indoor/outdoor character.

Wilson also installed track lighting in the living room and landscaped the exterior living areas several times, so they married well with the modernist vernacular. Keeping the house simple, uniform and in sync with the original architects’ vision meant using the same glossy white paint throughout the interior and the same designscape of buff-colored Crema Europa limestone, white sinks, contemporary plumbing fixtures and glass showers in each of the three bathrooms. It also called for a lean mix of modern furnishings and lighting and a quiet color palette that didn’t speak louder than the architecture or compete with the house’s serene views.

Dupuy brought in classic modernist and contemporary pieces, mixing them with antiques Wilson already owned and art he’s collected.

Because the outdoor areas are so integral to the house, Wilson turned to several landscape architects to make them as manicured and minimal as the interior. Landscape architect Jack

Cochran added the pool planting and designed a traditional garden accented with a formal fountain in the backyard.

Robin Tanner, who designed the Japanese garden at City Park, transformed the spaces with the Japanese influence that is one of his specialties. In front, Tanner added horsetail to the existing planters around the pool and raphis palms on either side of the fireplace. In the rear garden, where drainage had been a problem, he dug a reservoir containing a hidden sump pump to divert rainwater to the street; then redesigned the green space with bamboo, crushed gravel and granite stepping stones recycled from the yard’s previous incarnation. The two separate decks, one for relaxing and dining and another for cooking outdoors, are both frequently used and enjoyed.

Though the house’s interior is about 2,000 square feet, the al fresco areas make it feel double its size. “I have the occasional dinner party and the house works well for that,” Wilson says. “It’s open and easy. You can have people inside and outside. It’s just very comfortable.”

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F e aT U R e

CLOSET Cases

HOMe

10 Tips for Organizing Your Closet

By Lee Cutrone oday, the trend in closets is to make them as large as possible. But whether your closet is roomsized, walk-in or small, the same organizational tips apply. According to professional organizer Virginia Barkley of Let’s Get It Straight (615-2678; www.virginiabarkley.com), a streamlined closet makes getting dressed easier and less stressful.

“The master closet and the kitchen are areas people go to first thing in the morning and therefore are the two organizational priorities,” Barkley says. “How well these spaces are maintained can truly dictate how the rest of your day goes.”

While custom-designed closets are nice, Barkley stresses that it’s not the physical dimensions or layout that matters most — it’s the arrangement of the contents. When organizing a clothing closet, she offers the following 10 tips.

T

1 | VISUALIZE Imagine what you want the space to look like. “Most people are overwhelmed by the thought of tackling their closet,” Barkley says. “Make it an adventure.” Barkley recommends clipping magazine pictures for ideas and as a way to shift the focus from fear to fun.

2 | CATEGORIZE By grouping like items such as jeans, pants, dresses, blouses, skirts, jackets, folded garments, lingerie, etc. and then categorizing by color, you can assess your needs and determine whether you have duplicates. “It’s easy to let go of an old, faded black shirt when you can see that you have seven others that are in great shape,” Barkley says.

3 | PRIORITIZE Ask yourself whether you like it, use it or need it, Barkley advises. If the answer is none of the above, donate the item or take it to a consignment store. If you’re having trouble letting go, Barkley suggests storing the item in a plastic bin for six months. At the end of that time, if you can’t remember what’s in the bin or haven’t missed it, donate it. page 29

When building her room-size custom closet, interior designer Shawn O’Brien visualized a space where she could see all her clothing and accessories.

She then spent hours drawing out the space to accommodate her wardrobe. Clothing is organized by groups and colors. A rolling table in the room’s center has shelves for storage bins containing small items like lingerie, workout gear, socks and scarves. Other organizational tools include a laundry hamper and hooks, which come in handy when getting dressed or hanging up pajamas and robes.

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our Mark y r for a d n e l ca Jeans dson oP u h e th P sh PoP-u uLY 1 7 2 -J June e Metairie in @ HeMl

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page 27

4 | MAKE IT MANAGEABLE Once you know what you have and what you’re going to keep, approach the rest of the project in phases. “Avoid taking everything out of your closet at once,” Barkley cautions. “Break it up into doable tasks to prevent overload. If you’ve categorized, then work through one category at a time: blouses, skirts, dresses, pants, purses, etc. Only take those items out that you are unsure of and want to try on.”

5 | THINK OF YOUR CLOSET AS A STORY Think about how the arrangement of your closet should play out from left to right and bottom to top. Place the most often used items in the most accessible places and lesser-used items on higher shelves or harder to reach areas. If you have room, separate winter from summer. Being able to see things is key.

6 | USE CONTAINERS Storage containers help maintain order. Barkley prefers translucent plastic boxes for shoes and suggests identifying each with a photo of the shoes inside. She also uses containers to organize small things like undergarments and socks.

Containers come in endless varieties, so finding sizes and shapes to suit your needs shouldn’t be difficult.

7 | MAKE THE MOST OF WALL SPACE Utilize all the real estate, Barkley says. If you have a small wall, it’s more efficient to have two racks — upper and lower — than one. Space-saving items like vacuumseal storage bags and tie racks for holding belts are also useful when maximizing the room you have to work with. Putting accessories like purses on shelves reduces bulk in your hanging space and enables you to see them.

HOME

Where space is not an object, prioritizing can refer to amenities you don’t want to do without. For interior designer Natasha Shah, a washer/dryer in the closet she shares with her husband was a must have. By installing it underneath a center island designed to also house drawers and incorporate a vanity, she eliminated the need to cart laundry between rooms or up and down stairs.

PHOTO BY SARA ESSEX BRADLEY

8 | USE ONE TYPE OF HANGER “Regardless of what kind of hanger you prefer, pick one kind,” Barkley says. Using the same hanger throughout can increase hanging space and the uniformity is visually pleasing. When organizing a closet, Barkley tells clients to face hangers the wrong way. Then after wearing the garment and hanging it up again, clients turn the hanger around the right way. Over time, they can see which clothes get worn and which do not.

9 | CREATE AMBIENCE Fragrances, displays of favorite clothing and even music can enhance the atmosphere inside your closet. To keep things smelling fresh, Barkley recommends a fragrance diffuser and Damp Rid, a product that eliminates moisture from the air.

10 | PUT THINGS AWAY AFTER WEARING THEM To keep things from returning to a state of disarray and to preserve the life of your favorite fashions, Barkley advises that garments always be hung up after they’re worn. “Have a hook in your closet,” she says. “Even if you don’t have time to put [a garment] back in its special place, hang it on the hook. It’s the consistency of purpose that matters.”

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CUE 29

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SHOPPING

CUE K I D S

PRESCHOOL

PATRIOTISM Instill love for and knowledge of America with these outfits and toys.

BY M EG A N B R A D EN - PER RY

Featuring a flag-waving crawfish dressed in a bikini, this gingham twopiece lets your daughter show both Louisiana and USA pride, $19.99 at Swap for Kids (7722 Maple St., 218-5996; www.swapforkids.com).

Time For Kids: Our 50 United States and Other U.S. Lands is full of detailed illustrations and facts about each state and U.S. territory, $17.99 at Le Jouet (1700 Airline Drive, Metairie, 8370533; www.lejouet.com).

Baby will look shipshape in this two-piece sailor suit by Le Top, $38 at Haase’s (8119 Oak St., 866-9944; www.haases.com).

Melissa & Doug’s USA wooden puzzle has state names, capitals and related images on the front and lists each state’s flag, bird, motto, population and more on the back, $16 at Haase’s.

Let your little one bang along to “Yankee Doodle” on this drum, $14.99 at Le Jouet.

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CUE 31

PERSPECTIVES

I N D I E F R I E N D LY

TOTEM ANIMALS

PEGGY BISHOP’S CERAMIC TOTEM POLES TAKE YARD ART TO NEW HEIGHTS.

BY NICOLE KOSTER ard art is the bright spot in many a drab lawn, but in New Orleans it goes beyond the standard gnomes, concrete geese or plastic flamingos. Here, it’s all about making a statement, which is exactly what local potter Peggy Bishop (www.peggybishoppottery.com) does with her ceramic garden totem poles.

Bishop first took an interest in pottery when she and her husband enrolled in a class nearly a decade ago. “The class had almost 10 people in it, and there was only one wheel,” Bishop says. “So I bought my own and began teaching myself at home.”

Her home studio allowed her to spend more time learning to throw cylinders and creating functional ware. Homemade coffee mugs, plates and bowls adorn her house, along with a bountiful collection of art history books.

“I love making bowls of any size,” Bishop says. “I found I liked making big things. I started making cylinders, and I made so many that I didn’t know what to do with them. Finally, I started putting them on the ‘No Parking’ poles around the bayou. From there, the idea of garden totems just evolved.”

Producing a garden totem pole is no quick or easy task.

Bishop begins by throwing clay on the wheel, shaping it

Y

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TOP: PEGGY BISHOP TOOK HER FIRST POTTERY CLASS ALMOST 10 YEARS AGO AND DESCRIBES HER CERAMICS AS “SERIOUS BUT UNPRETENTIOUS ART.” LEFT: PELICAN TOTEM POLE, $1,800

I n d I E f R I E n d ly into a cylinder. Once she’s made five or six cylinders, the pieces are fired in a kiln at 250 degrees.

Each item is then painted and stacked to complete the totem pole. “If they ever come out wrong on the wheel, I can always destroy it, and start over,” Bishop says. “That’s what I love about art.”

Bishop is in the process of creating a piece of art for The Ruby Slipper restaurant. In past years, she has participated in the Palmer Art Market and has had pieces showcased in the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) gift shop. In 2010, Bishop was recognized for her bayou-inspired totem poles at NOMA’s Love in the Garden Celebration. Bishop has displayed and sold her work at The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and this year she sold one to Allen Toussaint.

“The only problem with going out and selling the art is the weight of each piece,” Bishop says. “It’s hard to travel with.”

Some of her most popular sellers have Louisiana themes. The pelican and reddened black fish top some poles. Bishop’s “Space Travel” totem pole starts with Earth, followed with a rocket and is topped with the sun. Her totem poles range from 4 to 6 feet in height.

Bishop describes her work as “serious but unpretentious art.” A garden totem pole is a way for anyone to add color, whimsy and fun to their front lawn, Bishop says. The totem poles have become her biggest seller, but she says she doesn’t do it for the business. “I like creating the work, and that’s why I do what I do,” Bishop says. “I’m not much of a businesswoman. The business is just a way to get my work out there.”

SPACE TRAvEL CERAMIC TOTEM POLE, $2,300

PERSPECTIVES

AN ASSORTMENT OF wHEEL-THROwN CERAMIC GARdEN TOTEM POLES.

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CUE 33

WE’RE MOVING! ( JUST RIGHT NEXT DOOR )

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SHIRTING

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ThE ISSUE

By NICOLE KOSTER hild sexual abuse and domestic violence often are taboo subjects, but with her charitable clothing line, Holding Harts (535-4483; www.holdingharts.com), Daquari DeLeon strives to strip away the stigma many survivors experience.

“People aren’t really comfortable about talking about sexual abuse,” DeLeon says. “And I thought we needed to get comfortable with (discussing) it to protect our children.”

The line consists of T-shirts and silk bracelets, and all proceeds go to charities.

She works most closely with the Heath Evans Foundation, which helps young people affected by sexual abuse, and the Lisa Ripp Foundation, which supports rape survivors.

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She also supports charities for breast cancer, organ donor awareness, lymphoma and the humane treatment of animals.

“The [silk] bracelets allow people to make a statement for the cause,” DeLeon says. “Purple represents domestic violence, green represents organ donor awareness and blue represents child abuse. “ From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 27, Holding Harts holds a Salsa for a Cause benefit at Rita’s Tequila House (419 Bourbon St., 298-8227; www.ritastequilahouse.com). There will be salsa dance lessons and a salsa contest. Donations are accepted at the free event.

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CUE 35

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LUSTERPHILE

Smashbox’s gel-based Jet Set Waterproof Eye Liner sets in 60 seconds and delivers bold, lasting color, $22 at Make Me Up (3426 Magazine St., 891-9688; www.makemeupnola.com).

BEAUTY

FACE THE HEAT Make a splash with these sweatproof, humidity-resistant cosmetics

BY LINDSE Y DARNELL Formulated without parabens, mineral oils or preservatives, Pixi’s Endless Silky Eye Pen is waterproof and smudge-proof, $14 at Target.

Revlon’s Grow Luscious Plumping waterproof mascara is ophthalmologist tested and conditions lashes while enhancing volume and fullness, $7.99 at Rite Aid (citywide; www.riteaid.com).

Lid Last Shadow Pens by Pixi are multipurpose makeup crayons that won’t smudge or crease and can be used as eyeshadow, liner or highlighter, $18 at Target (citywide; www.target.com).

Estee Lauder’s Double Wear Light with SPF 10 is a lightweight, longwearing, perspiration- and humidity-resistant foundation, $35 at Dillard’s (citywide; www.dillards.com).

Just Bitten Lipstain

by Revlon provides a moisturizing balm and a waterproof stain, $8.99 at Walgreens (citywide; www.walgreens.com).

Double Wear Stay-in-Place concealer has an oil-free, water-resistant formula that lasts 15 hours,$22 at Dillard’s.

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CHYNA AND SABRA

SHOP DOGS

PERSPECTIVES

OUR

BY NICOLE CARROLL

FAVORITE THINGS ...

HUNTING WALKING ALONG THE BAYOU IN CITY PARK RAW FROZEN BONES YOGURT ROAD TRIPS CUDDLING (CHYNA) AND SWIMMING (SABRA)

PHOTO COURTESY OF JESSIE AND NICK THOMPSON

n a Mid-City pet specialty store, two eager pooches wait by the door to welcome visitors. Each guest’s species determines which dog will greet him or her.

“Sabra’s more of our dog greeter, and Chyna’s more of our person greeter,” says Jessie Thompson, who owns and operates Fetch! Mid-City (3536 Toulouse St., 373-5417; www.fetchmidcity.com) with her husband Nick.

Chyna, an 8-year-old Weimaraner, and Sabra, a 6-year-old Weimaraner/Labrador mix, were both rescued by the Thompsons. Chyna was found abandoned after Hurricane Katrina. When the couple adopted Chyna, they were both working full time, so the dog was alone most of the day. They decided to get Chyna a friend, but weren’t sure she’d get along with another dog. Sabra came to the couple from a friend who rescued her in Baton Rouge. “(Chyna and Sabra) met on the neutral ground,” Nick says. “They sniffed each other; they didn’t kill each other. We were like, ‘We’ll take her.’”

Named after reality TV stars, the dogs have similar backgrounds but very different personalities. Chyna, named after the female wrestler, was very high-strung at first. These days she is the mellower of the two, and she loves to cuddle.“She’s our dog that I really do think is a person reincarnated,” Jessie says. “She’s got people mannerisms.” Sabra, on the other hand, is much more energetic.

Named after a winner of So You Think You Can Dance, Sabra is always ready to play. “I’ll take her on

I

a five-mile jog in the morning through City Park,” Nick says. “We’ll get home and it’s hot and I’m drenched in sweat and she’s like, ‘That’s it?’” The pair does share one trait, however, and that is the love of the hunt. “My parents have a camp in Mississippi and when we go out there they both turn into, like, majestic hunting dogs,” Jessie says. “[They] will catch any duck, bird (or) squirrel.”

After Katrina, the Thompsons noticed a lack of quality pet stores in the city, and made frequent trips to Metairie for their canine needs. Nick and Jessie wanted to provide the very best health and nutrition to Chyna and Sabra and thought about filling that niche themselves.

“If I can’t buy it in Mid-City, I’ll open a store,” Nick says.

The two came across the location while jogging along Bayou St. John and decided it would be the perfect place to set up shop.

The store carries all things canine, including food, toys, treats and other supplies. There is a full-time groomer on staff. Specialties include healthy, all-natural foods and snacks, including those for raw diets, and local, fresh-baked dog treats. The Thompsons are always looking for new brands and products and adjust their inventory based on customers’ needs.

Fortunately, they’ve got their own product testers.

“We try everything on these two,” Jessie says, gesturing toward the dogs. Customers often ask which products Nick and Jessie give Chyna and Sabra, because they look so healthy. “They’re our best sales people, these two dogs,” Nick says.

PHOTO BY NICOLE CARROLL J U LY. 2 0 1 2 < < <

CUE 39

We’ve Moved!

Please Visit Our New Showroom!

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