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In addition to the fabulous shoes, Clarabella has a slew of new merch from both new and returning designers. There are so many perfect little summer accessories in here, I’m not quire sure how I manage to leave every day without something new draped around my neck/in my ears/on my shoulder/on my feet;). Check it out: (and sorry for the photos… the lighting isn’t so great in here today…)

Blumera
A new line of handbags designed by Mehera Blum. In her travels to Bali, Mehera fell in love with the colors and the richness of the Balinese leather and was mesmerized by the local craftsmanship. After seeing these bags, without even travelling to Bali, I think you’ll feel the same way. Each bag is completely handmade by artisans in Bali alongside Mehera.

Baba G
What’s this, you ask? Baby accessories at Clarabella? Yes indeed. The season is here, the sun is high in the sky and those soft little baby heads can be rather prone to too much sun. What better wat to avoid that than to buy your little sweetheart a little handmade cotton hat. Beautifully hand crafted and lightweight, these hats are near and dear to my heart. I’m sure I wore something similar when I was just a little ‘eri’ because they are handmade by my mom. Just stunning just like she is:)

Tyra Davis
Ms. Davis holds one of the most admirable professions I know: she is a teacher. She teaches middle school in Harlem and I can only assume that no matter how much she loves and cherishes her kids, making these earrings is something of a release;). And what a way to release - these earrings are perfect for summer. Hand crafted with bright blue lucite, turquoise stones, geometric wooden hoops and more!

Amy Tavern
Amy is a true metalsmith… Her innovation and skill is apparent in her designs. Only two of her current lines are represented at the shop, but man are they awesome. One is a combination of Steel and Gold. The rings are expertly crafted from steel - really the look of oxidized silver - and welded together with 18k gold. So subtle and so lovely! Her Egg and Bean series uses shapes from (you guessed it) eggs and beans. She uses colorful plastics and sterling silver to create earrings and necklaces. The pictures don’t do them justice, you have to come see them in person.

Jene DeSpain
I met Jene through fabulous shop owner, Ashley Hanosh, and am so glad for the connection! Jene is based out in San Francisco and has a cool elegance to her designs. All of her pieces are crafted using 14K gold fill and the most stunning stones. Hoops, dangles, necklaces, all named after an exotic locale. Wearing one of her designs might even transport you there;).

I love shoes… I just do. I’ve been surprisingly good about not buying up all of the shoes in the shop, but that stops here;). I think that I might just snag a pair of the shiny heels for myself. Run ladies, don’t walk, down to Clarabella because we finally got the new shipment of Mariana heels in. In a very attractive array of colors, tall heels and small heels… you don’t want to be the last one to pick these up!!

CHECK OUT THE SHOES:)
[for some reason, my website hates me today and every time I try to upload photos, it skews them, replaces them with something else, or something else really bizarre… rather than try to again, I’m sending you to flickr for some shoe fun!!]

ArtCal is a fantastic site/weekly mailer that gives information about new galleries and show openings with a strong focus on underknown galleries and artists. I sent out a press release and information about this week’s opening for Shaun Kardinal a few weeks ago with a reminder last week and have been sitting here with crossed fingers and toes, hoping to get a listing. Well, the finger crossing must have worked because Clarabella and Shaun Kardinal showed up in this week’s mailer! Check it out here and for easy reference, I’m pasting the whole dang thing below;). Many thanks to the ArtCal team - this means to much!!

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Shaun Kardinal, Buildings

Clarabella
East Village / Lower East Side

279 East Houston Street, between Clinton and Suffolk, 212-979-0270

June 1 - July 31, 2007

Opening: Thursday, June 28, 7:00PM - 9:00PM

Web Site

Show Map

Shaun Kardinal, Seventh & Pine (from the Buildings, 2006 series), 2006, Lambda C-Print from 120mm negative, edition of 6, 10 × 10 inches

New to the Lower East Side art scene, boutique/gallery CLARABELLA is pleased to present BUILDINGS, the inaugural New York City exhibit from Seattle based photographer, Shaun Kardinal. Photographing rooftops has been a hobby of the artist’s for many years. Though an avid digital artist in his teens, it was not until his twenty-third year with an antique medium-format camera in hand that Kardinal developed an absolute passion for the subject. It was the way the buildings looked as he gazed through the viewfinder, playing with the vibrancy of Seattle’s sunsets, the richness of her summers, the austere dullness of her grey winters. It was a love affair with a new city encouraging familiarity, ushering these monoliths in as kin, good friends, integral parts of Kardinal’s daily walks to and from work. In this way, his photographs are meant to be seen as intimate portraits.

These buildings, at once solitary and full of life, seem to play with and against each other: three skyscrapers playfully fall against one another; an isolated wall dares to stand alone; a telephone pole bisects a brick building, while sagging lines tease its rooftop; four more in four corners, never to embrace; another still, reflects on the day as the sun plays its final notes on a bright pink sky.

Image from Clarabella.