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ELYSIAN Women Inspiring Women

DISPLAY UNTIL JUNE 1, 2023

The Matter of the Wind A fashion showcase of AZZI & OSTA’s “La Matière du Vent” collection. BY SAMANTHA PAIGE

ELYSIAN

56 88106

VOLUME 9 • ISSUE 1 • THE PET & FASHION ISSUE / L’ÉDITION POUR ANIMAUX DE COMPAGNIE ET MODE • LE PRINTEMPS 2023

FEATURES

zsa zsa Zsa Zsa Gabor. BY KATE MCMULLEN

Paris

City of light & love & fashion. BY DAINA SAVAGE

Frida Kahlo

122

The two Fridas. BY HELEN ARDEN

Inspiring Women Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin page 124 Vikki Scott page 134 INTERVIEWED BY KAREN FLOYD

DEPARTMENTS

44 fashion

Pagerie: fashion is more than fur deep. BY SONIA HENRY

16 art&history The cat in art. BY HUNTER HOLLIDAY

architecture&interiors Livable sophistication. BY CHRISTY NIELSON

shopping

Porcelain cats & pups in pairs. BY SINDIE FITZGERALD-RANKIN

148 philanthropy A furever family. BY CAROLINE RYAN

178

health&wellness back story 192 The benefits of birdsong. BY MARCY DUBROFF

ELYSIAN celebrates the launch of its 2022/23 Winter issue at the NFLW’s annual conference in Charleston, SC.

on the cover

Singer, composer, designer, actress, philanthropist and entrepreneur, Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin, photographed by Michael Paniccia.

The goal of Pagerie is to design innovative pet accessories that will stand the test of time. Imbued with artful craftsmanship, exquisite attention to detail, and conscious functionality. PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY PAGERIE / PAGERIE.COM

E publisher

Karen Floyd c r e at o r - i n - c h i e f

Ryan Stalvey

production director

Rob Springer

d i g i ta l d i r e c t o r

Celia Wise Cooksey

comptroller

Anna Christian special projects director

Joey Iannetta

director of philanthropy

Kimberli Scott

d e s i g n a s s o c i at e

Amber Edwards

managing editor

Jason Spencer

director of web design

development

Elliot Derhay

special events director

Sarah Smith

editorial director

Rita Allison

c o m m u n i t y a f fa i r s

Ann Bible

d i r e c t o r o f d i g i ta l p r o d u c t i o n

Caleb Chilcutt

lead photographer

Michael Paniccia

post-production supervisor

Elise Rimmer

post-production editor

Ty Yachaina

d i g i ta l a d d i r e c t o r

Christiana Purves

s o c i a l m e d i a c o o r d i n at o r

Stephanie Duclos

e x e c u t i v e a s s i s ta n t

Tracie Bailey

contributing writers

Helen Arden, Marcy Dubroff, Sindie Fitzgerald-Rankin, Sonia Henry, Hunter Holliday, Kate McMullen, Christy Nielson, Samantha Paige, Caroline Ryan, Daina Savage copy editors

Nancy Brady, Monya Havekost, Diane High, Hadley Inabinet

c o o r d i n at i n g p r o d u c e r

Paula Fender

c i r c u l at i o n s p e c i a l i s t

Greg Wolfe

e-mail distribution

Mark Trombetta

contributing photographer

Dalton Rook Barber

Director of Philanthropy Kimberli Scott, Special Events Director Sarah Smith, and the ELYSIAN team have been working tirelessly for more than a year to realize Publisher Karen Floyd’s vision for the inaugural CatWalk FurBaby event during the 2023 New York Fashion Week. This unique event, which benefits animal rescues and charities across the country, will bring together top designers and models for an unforgettable experience – hands (and paws) down. For more on this ELYSIAN watershed event, please page 148.

media

ELYSIAN Magazine is published four times per year by Palladian Publications LLC., 113 W. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29306. For subscription information, call 864-342-6500. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

• le printemps 2023 • l’édition pour animaux de compagnie et mode • readelysian.com

YOU CANNOT BUY LOVE…YOU CAN RESCUE IT...AND IT WILL SAVE YOU”

named him Kansas. My first and deepest animal love. He was THE rescue that changed our lives forever. When my only sister Kathy lost her battle to cancer, my husband Gordon gave me a gift of healing. She was a beautiful black lab named Moxie. She was both feisty and gentle, all wrapped in a shiny black fur coat, which she wore with pride…. She lived her entire life with us, sleeping next to my bed every night. When she “crossed the rainbow bridge,” my vet called to see how I was doing and if I thought about a new dog to fill the hole she left in our home. From deep inside, a thought entered my mind, and I asked him to be on the lookout for a different type of dog . . . one that needed a forever family, was “down on its luck . . . but was . . . well, special.” I still do not know what prompted me to say that and it was so inconsequential at the time that I did not think anything further about the conversation. One day, many months later, my assistant said that Dr. King was on the phone, and he had found “my dog.” I picked up the phone and he explained a large mixed breed had been found surviving off garbage. A lady had unceremoniously left him at his office, and the microchip implanted in his neck, led them to a home in Kansas, which was how Kansas came to be named. Later we learned that Kansas’s original owner had passed away while serving in the military overseas. Apparently, Kansas reminded the family of their loss, and it was “too much” to take him back. In my heart, I believe Kansas traveled the distance from Kansas to South Carolina looking for her . . . “What does he look like?” I asked the vet. He sighed and explained that Kansas had been dipped for fleas and shaved because his hair was so matted, there was no alternative. He was recovering from heart worms but felt sure he would survive the treatment, if I was willing to invest in a series of injections. Dr. King also knew I had a special needs adult brother who is frequently with us, so it went without saying that the dog would have to be gentle and kind. It was close to Christmas and my brother was coming to stay for the holidays so we decided Kansas would be his present. I wanted to meet Kansas before the “big day” when my brother would receive the finest gift of our lives. Suffice to say, from afar he was not impressive . . . old, gawky, straggly, and bone thin. Yet he was noble, sitting erect, with the gentlest demeanor and the wisest brown eyes I have ever seen. I fell in love instantly. The day arrived for Casey, my brother’s visit. As we sat in the Smith Animal Clinic waiting room, an entourage from my office flanked Casey. We bought a bright red bow and a red collar for Kansas, implying he was Casey’s Christmas gift. The door opened to an eerie silence. Somehow, Kansas knew instinctively that Casey needed him . . . we all needed him eventually. Without any hesitation he walked directly to my brother and laid his head in his lap. Casey’s head was tilted downward but we saw tear droplets hitting Kansas’s shaved head . . . bouncing upward, one by one. I looked up and while our vet’s eyes were moist… tears were running down the faces of every person in the room. It is a memory we will share forever. Over time, as we cared and loved him; he grew into the most beautiful creature. For years he ran with me to work and would sit quietly on his couch as clients came and left, throughout the day. Many a Christmas card had our Kansas as the office mascot. And it was not uncommon for random people to stop by the office to give him treats. But with every first chapter of the “book called life,” there is a final chapter. Kansas lived until his poor body could go no further. Ridden with arthritis and kidneys failing, our beloved vet said, “it was time.” It was heart wrenching to watch this beautiful, noble, being struggle and suffer so. On January 29th Dr. King came to our home. My dearest friend sat with me, as I held Kansas’s large, beautiful head in my lap, just as Casey had done years before. Our vet gave him two injections until he slept his way into heaven. It was peaceful and dignified. I walked the vet to the front door and hugged him, thanking him for bringing such an incredible being into our lives. I returned to the sitting room and watched as Becky continued to stroke Kansas’s beautiful honey locks. I said, “Becky, honey he is gone…he can’t feel you petting him.” Tear streaked her cheeks, as she looked up at me “I know, Karen” she said, “but I can still feel him.” Kansas stories could fill the pages of this magazine. He taught us unconditional love, and yes, how to die with grace, while also leaving a legacy of love. There are unending stories about pets like our Kansas, and it is my hope that through these pages you might be inspired to rescue an animal. They can change your life forever and teach you infinite lessons of love, loyalty, and hope . . . if you are only willing to risk falling in love, it will in turn save you. This issue is dedicated to all animals seeking forever homes. ELYSIAN will continue the quest with leaders like Cathy Bissell, whose vision remains, “Until every pet has a home.” Thank you for sharing the journey. With love,

Karen Floyd Publisher

• le printemps 2023 • l’édition pour animaux de compagnie et mode • readelysian.com

Sinking Not Sinking #3 Original Digital C Print, under Acrylic Glass 41 inches x 33.6 inches By Isabelle Menin

764 MIAMI CIRCLE, SUITE 132 ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30324 (404) 352-8775 / www.pryorfineart.com

My Wife’s Lovers by Austrian artist Carl Kahler depicting forty-two of American millionaire Kate Birdsall Johnson’s Turkish Angora cats.

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art&history

The CAT in art BY HUNTER HOLLIDAY

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IF MAN COULD BE CROSSED WITH THE CAT, IT WOULD IMPROVE MAN, BUT IT WOULD DETERIORATE THE CAT.”

Although not native to Japan, musk cats (jakoneko), or civets, served as an auspicious motif associated with longevity. They were a favorite painting subject of artists affiliated with the Kano school, on whose models this work by Uto Gyoshi was likely based. • Opposite: Magdaleine Pinceloup de la Grange, 1747, by Jean-Baptiste Perronneau.

— MARK TWAIN, AKA SAMUEL CLEMENS

nyone who has ever known and loved a cat understands the allure of their independent personality, subtle displays of affection, inquisitive nature, and graceful constitution. Cats are intriguing, so it is no wonder they have captivated the attention of artists for many millennia. From ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and Chinese calligraphy to Renaissance expressions, revolutionary cubism, and modern pop art, cats have been muses for the ages for all manner of artists and art forms. Throughout history, the representation of cats in art has been as mercurial as the furry felines themselves. Over the years, cats have been seen as everything from godlike to demonic and ultimately as beloved domesticated companions. No matter the depiction, cats remain a favored subject for artists around the world. Quite likely the earliest portrayals of cats in art come at the hands of the Egyptians, who portrayed cats in myriad forms. In Egypt, cats were painted on tomb walls, carved out of stone, and molded from clay. Thanks to their agility and hunting prowess, Egyptian cats were considered so sacred that gods and goddesses, such as Bastet the goddess of protection with the head of a cat and a slender female human body, were depicted in their likeness. Cats were so venerated in Egyptian culture that when they died felines were even mummified and placed in special cemeteries so they could pass into the afterlife. Anyone who killed one of these sacred animals would be sentenced to death. Asian cultures also have a long love affair with cats, which have been kept as pets in China for thousands of years. For Chinese royalty, cats were regarded as noble, and for commoners, they were kept for the practical reason of pest control. Images of cats in Chinese art most often revolve around their role as cherished pets who love to hunt, frolic with their human friends and cuddle up for a cat nap. Of all the rulers in China, Emperor Huizong—the eighth emperor of the Northern

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The Fall Of Man, by Dutch painter, Hendrick Goltzius, 1616. Goltzius presents the seduction based on mutual romantic attraction. Eve, with her back to the viewer, has already taken the first bite of the apple. She turns with a knowing gaze. The cat, representing the unjust judge, solemnly reminds viewers not to enjoy what they should condemn, lest they too cause more harm than good. EVERETT COLLECTION INC / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

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Song Dynasty—seemed to love cats the most. Known to enjoy art more than politics, Huizong is believed to have created multiple paintings of cats himself. Due in large part to their elegant, yet soft silhouettes, cats have remained popular subjects for Chinese calligraphers and painters. In Japan, the first cats likely came from China thousands of years ago where they were used as mousers on ships. Cats are considered auspicious in Japan, and it is fair to say that the Japanese culture has embraced cats in a big way with cat cafes, cat shrines, and even a cat island. Of course, there is also plenty of cat art in Japan, particularly on the woodblock prints called Ukiyo-e, which translates to “pictures of the floating world,” which were a popular art form from the 17th and 19th centuries. Utagawa Kuniyoshi was one of the last great masters of the art form, and although his pieces spanned a wide array of subjects from landscapes to legendary battles, his feline fixation was reflected in his notable series of humorous and satirical depictions of cats—many of which are personified as people.

surprising number of famous artists have been inspired by their pussycats, including Renaissance man Leonardo da Vinci who once said, “The smallest feline is a masterpiece of nature.” Da Vinci made hundreds of sketches of cats, including one of a cat curled up with the Virgin Mary. In another penand-ink study sheet, da Vinci illustrates his skill by drawing more than 20 cats in a variety of poses—from sleeping to stalking to fighting. Pablo Picasso, arguably the most seminal artist and painter of the 20th century, was famously enamored with cats. Some of his paintings, such as Woman and Cat, depict cats living harmoniously with their humans. Others, however, including Cat Seizing a Bird, capture the dark side of their nature with a ferocious-looking fanged feline ripping apart a lifeless bird—an allusion to the war years. Swiss-born Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen was one of the great illustrators and printmakers of

Pets vie for the attention of a young girl in The Rivals by C. Burton Barber. Below: Cats In A Bicycle Race In Hyde Park, 1896, by Louis Wain. SCIENCE HISTORY IMAGES / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR A LOVER OF CATS TO BANISH THESE ALERT, GENTLE, AND DISCRIMINATING FRIENDS, WHO GIVE US JUST ENOUGH OF THEIR REGARD AND COMPLAISANCE TO MAKE US HUNGER FOR MORE.” —AGNES REPPLIER,

AMERICAN ESSAYIST

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Merchant’s Wife at Tea” by the Russian artist, Boris Mikhaylovich Kustodiev, 1918. PHOTOGRAPHY BY IANDAGNALL COMPUTING / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

the late 19th and early 20th centuries and a major contributor to fin-de-siècle drawings that appeared on posters and in murals and books. Steinlen had great affection for cats, which he portrayed in sculptures, paintings, and drawings. His most famous cat image is a poster he commissioned for a Montmartre-district cabaret—thought to be the first in France—called Le Chat Noir, “The Black Cat.” Born in Amsterdam and descended from a family of painters, Henriëtte Ronner-Knip was best known for her Romantic-style paintings of pets in domestic settings, primarily cats and dogs. Her most famous works, including Cat at Play, feature cuddly and playful cats in soft, warm colors and feathery brushstrokes that charmingly evoke the curiosity and liveliness of the humble housecat. One of the greatest cat paintings ever made, Carl Kahler’s My Wife’s Lovers, is an oil on canvas “meowsterpiece” that was commissioned by San Francisco millionaire Kate Birdsall Johnson to immortalize her clowder of precious pussies (and now you know the term for a group of cats!). There are 42 of these beloved Persian and Angora kitties showcased in the larger-than-life canvas. A gorgeous white Angora is the focal feline of French painter Jean-Jacques Bachelier’s White Angora Cat Chasing a Butterfly, one of his many works featuring cats, dogs, and even bunnies. The painting has a dark background that draws you in and allows the elegant details of the graceful white cat—with its fluffy fur and paw poised to capture the butterfly—to pop off the canvas. Even modern-day artists are captivated by cats, which continue to show up in all sorts of genres. Just consider the popularity of internet sensations like the utterly memeable Grumpy Cat or Zarathustra the Cat, whose cheeky artistowner launched the Fat Cat Art Project which superimposes Zarathustra into famous works like the Mona Lisa. It is clear that cats are purr-fect subjects for artists who will continue to create art with catitude.■

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Black Cat and Tomato Plant,1931, by Takahashi Hiroaki. Opposite: Picasso’s Cat Catching A Bird. The cat is said to represent Picasso. One eye is open to the exterior world, the other closed for insight. The cat is pregnant, as pregnancy is commonly used in poetry and art for a mind conceiving ideas.

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White Angora Cat Chasing a Butterfly, 1761, by Jean-Jacques Bacheliercirca.

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