NYC: The
John Derian - Astier de Villatte party.
The Roman plaster foot placed on hay set the tone for the party that was
held in John Derian’s new space to celebrate his on going collaboration with
the French white ceramic company Astier de Villatte. Elegant, simple, rustic, yet
incredibly sophisticated these all describe John’s designs that everybody craves
for.
The
fabulous displays of the white ceramics decorated by John which are produced in
the center of Paris and exported all over the world were enhanced by the most
beautiful and artistic paper flowers designed and made by Livia Cetti.
Everything looked so casual yet so very chic in the unfinished delabre space.
The hosts: John Derian, Benoit Astier de
Villatte, Emilie Mazeaud and Ivan Pericoli.
Artists, Elliott Puckette
and Hugo Guinness. Hugo is
known for his illustrations in the New York Times and his bold, graphic
black-and-white block prints, many of which have appeared in films and
publications. His sole dealer is John Derian, who yearly hosts a show for Hugo.
Whereas Elliott is known for creating gracefully drawn and painted abstractions
in which wandering lines move weightlessly throughout sparse monochrome spaces.
Handsome John Robshaw creates
beautifully designed fabrics and linens sometimes with an Asian influence for
his elegant home collection.
The New Scented Candle and The
Notebooks: To add to the already long
and extensive list of Astier de Villatte’s scented candles, which all have the
names of towns or places, John Derian designed one called Provincetown, where
he also has a seasonal shop, “It is a breath of fresh air, ocean wind and open
country, endless sandy beaches, wild vegetation it’s conceived after my
favorite village on the tip of Cape Cod.”
The notebooks are a famous staple in the Astier de Villatte’s collection;
these decorated by John Derian’s leaf collages are printed in random color
combinations. They are the only ones in
the world printed by a typesetter. And,
just to make them that little bit more special, the edge of the paper is gold.
James Beard Award winning cookbook author
Susan Simon and internationally renowned cool graphic designer, book author and
teaching professor, Louise Fili. The
sought after designer specializes in the food packaging, restaurant identities,
logos, and book design.
I was fascinated by this handsome pair of artists, mother
and son, Sono Kuwayama and Sei Smith.
Architect specializing in restoration, interior design and
gardens, Brian Sawyer and art director Stephen Johnson. Brian is also known for
designing Julianne Moore’s New York City townhouse garden. Stephen is working
on a hush, hush book project, out next year.
The bar area looked incredibly pretty with real tulips
cascading from an Astier Paris vase. The
cheese platter was well stocked, comme il faut, and served with fruit, nuts and
olives.
Great short story writer Jacqui Kravetz, illustration agent
Stephanie Pesakoff and designer Stacey McArdle.
John Derian and American Vogue’s editor at Large, author and
curator Hamish Bowles. The always
impeccable, Mr. Bowles is having a tartan period.
Assouline’s Romina Djelosevic plays with the give away eye badges.
The magnificent bouquet of paper flowers made by the highly skilled floral and still-life stylist, crafter, and event
designer Livia Cetti.
Cult photographer and artist
Jack Pierson and visual artist Peter McGough of McDermott and McGough. David
McDermott and Peter McGough are best known for using alternative historical
processes in their photography, particularly the 19th century techniques of
cyanotype, gum bichromate, platinum and palladium. Among the subjects they
approach are popular art and culture, religion, medicine, advertising, fashion
and sexual behavior.
I was attracted to photograph, photographer Marti Wilkerson
for her interesting pale almost pre-Raphaelite face and was happily surprised
when she play-acted with her hands for the photograph.
Sensational tissue paper flowers stand by the outdoor space
in a rusty iron vase in a very John Derian Style.
The pretty outdoor space was decorated like a stage set,
giving the guests a chance to sit down and chat. Chinese lanterns hung from wooden beams.
The new John Derian collection for Astier de Villatte in
which John continues to grace the company’s white ceramics objects with his
famous decoupages. Among the novelties;
The Apple Plate, The Salad Bowl with Blue Motif, The Cup and Saucer with Cloud
Motifs, The Frog Platter and A Surrealist Teapot and Teacup decorated with an Eye.
MinimalUSA’s president and CEO Bartolomeo Bellati and
Assouline’s Romina Djelosevic. Minimal
imports slick Italian kitchens much in demand among celebrities, and have also
been featured in two blockbuster Hollywood movies.
Vegetarian chef Amy Chaplin, who caters to the stars and creative
director at Martha Stewart Living Ayesha Patel.
Fashion art director Colin Donahue, RRL’s Travis Harrison
and The Smile’s restaurateur Matt Kliegman.
