LOUIS VUITTON OPENS UNION SQUARE MAISSON - LUXURY FASHION PACESETTER COMBINES ART, CULTURE, AND LEISURE FOR ULTIMATE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE 23 May 2008 BY PAT MURPHY Sentinel Editor & Publisher San Francisco Sentinel 2008
Artistic capture of movement within static objects graces Union Square today, commissioned by world luxury fashion pacesetter Louis Vuitton. Grand opening of the Union Square Maison, expanded from four select world cities, spotlights the work of artist Teresita Fernández heralded as Hothouse (Blue). Maisons, creating an environment which blends luxury product, leisure, art and culture, to provide an ultimate experience for the customer, are located in Paris, Hong Kong, Taipei, New York.
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, his fiance Jennifer Siebel in Louis Vuitton, artist Teresita Fernández, and Louis Vuitton President and CEO Daniel Lalonde Sophie Azouaou in Zac Posen, Daniel Lalonde; with Heather Hartle, publisher of 7 7 Magazine, and Ali Crosswright
Sophie Azouaou, Daniel Lalonde, Teresita Fermandez, Jennifer Siebel, Gavin Newsom
Paul Pelosi, Jr., right, President of the San Francisco Commission on The Environment (and son of United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi) with Daniel LaLonde
Sophie Azouoau, Heather Hartle, Ali Crosswright Jennifer Siebel forefront as Gavin Newsom expands awareness of the fashion world guided by philanthropist Sophie Azouaou
Claudia Ross, who as leader of Cross Marketing, maestros major society events in San Francisco, with longtime pillar of San Francisco philanthropy Denise Hale Vuitton President and Chief Executive Officer Daniel Lalonde explained artist selection.
Teresita Fernández relax prior to dinner We are delighted to be able to incorporate a permanent piece of art by Teresita Fernández into our Union Square Maison, said Lalonde. She has a wonderful ability to create the illusion of movement in static objects and evoke conditions of nature and landscape. We are honored to be able to support her development, as one of the most promising artists today, and to be able to share her innovative work with the city of San Francisco. Fernández detailed Vuitton support for the project. Since beginning my collaboration with Louis Vuitton on this project, they ve been tremendously supportive of my artistic process, recalled Fernández.
It s especially gratifying to see how they ve embraced my concept of the artwork, which I see as being a very active element of the store s environment, reflecting the ambience and activities of the space. Hothouse (Blue) is a large 36 installation made of translucent blue glass overlaid with approximately 16,000 small, silvered cabochon mirrors that create infinite reflections of the store s interior, passers-by, and the changing light conditions and shifting activity of Union Square. The swarm of tiny mirrors creates a shimmering, sparkled effect as they respond to the dynamic activity of the setting. At night, when the store is closed, Hothouse (Blue) is illuminated creating a soft blue glow that activates the store s interior and acts as a radiant, hovering landscape inside the space. It additionally evokes elusive natural imagery; shimmering condensation, droplets of rain, migrating clouds. The work s title refers to the organic, vine-like contours of the piece as well as to a play on the French word for house, maison. Jennifer Siebel engages Daniel Lalonde on San Francisco fashion taste Fernández was born in 1968 in Miami, Florida. She has been featured in many exhibitions worldwide, and her work is included in numerous major private collections as well as the permanent collections of the St. Louis Art Museum; the Museum of Contemporary Art, Miami; the Miami Art Museum; the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota; and the Sammlung Goetz, Munich. The event was design by Claudia Ross, headliner of most major San Francisco Events.
Daniel LaLonde, Isha and UNGARO owner Asim Abdullah
Yuan Yuan Tan, Garen Scribner
Decorated main table for private dinner held at ORSON Restaurant A worldwide leader in luxury since 1854, Louis Vuitton has become synonymous with the art of elegant travel. Its leather goods are renowned throughout the world for ultimate quality, craftsmanship, innovation and stylish luxury. From 1997, with the arrival of Marc Jacobs as artistic director, it has extended its ranges to women and men prêt-à-porter, shoes, watches and jewelry. Louis Vuitton has an exclusive network of 391 wholly owned stores in 57 countries around the world. It has been a member of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the greatest and most successful luxury goods group worldwide since 1987.
Sophie Azouoaou, left, with Jewelry designer to the stars Rosalina Lydster and guest
Fashion Designer Lili Sami and kate Horan
Daniel Lalonde, Teresita Fernández, Jennifer Siebel, and Gavin Newsom
Zem Joaquim
Spring Collection LV hand bags Daniel Lalonde, Shelly Kramer, Lenny Wilkens, Marilyn Wilkens
Sophie Azouaou, Jennifer Siebel, Joel Goodrich
Spring Collection LV Handbags
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