Field Day in New York

It is never pretty when it rains in the city. The subway is more crowded, the people grumpy, the traffic slower, the Met packed. But for a 6 hour day in the city it was fairly relaxing. Normally I do reasonably well with crowds when I have a goal or a destination. The fact that the crowds had multiplied today and that I was in a pack of 6 others to keep track of and slow me down made everything more frustrating than it should have been. Sometimes I think it'd be better to walk above ground, rain and all, rather than stand around crammed in like searchings underground.

All gripping aside, the day was eventful (and as always, expensive given my impulse to buy books). The Met currently has a fabulous fashion exhibit--Rara Avis: Selections from the Iris Barrel Apfel Collection. Iris Barrel Apfel is a fabulously eccentric personality with phenomenal design sense and good luck with flea market finds. Her combinations of haute couture clothing, ethnic jewelry and random items is astounding. And it all works so well together. My only complaint is there is no record of this exhibit: no pamphlet, brochure or book. Hopefully with a little prodding the Met and Mrs. Apfel will arrange something. I'm trying to make it back into the city in a few weeks to see the exhibit again before it closes.

F.I.T followed: Dutch design. A lot of unusual items I'd consider more art than fashion, but interesting nonetheless. It's fascinating to see what others come up with. Some of it was fairly run of the mill (a black trench coat), some innovative (a process of "printing" textiles and garments as it were--completely computerized), some out right bizarre (a six sleeved white leather jacket). And full of young fashion designers viewing the exhibit--thinking they have something new to offer and looking exactly like the others around them. Funny how you can spot a twenty something artist or fashion student out without much effort.

With all of the chasing around, all of us managed to make it back to New Brunswick by 4 o'clock. Having parted our separated ways in the city, it was a bit of a shock to see the others on the same train as we disembarked.

Four hours of painting and I'm almost done with Romeo and Juliet. Tomorrow will be devoted mostly to Audrey...the designs are due in the shop by Tuesday and the actors will be seeing them Monday night. Lot to do in 36 hours.