Oh to be A Muse (D) - Part II

The festivities at Art Hamptons have begun. Thursday night, my Mistress of Beauty and Adventure went on a fact finding mission for me to find a pussycat friendly artist who would entertain the idea of my becoming their muse! While she was there, talking to a drag queen/performance artist, she was interviewed by Hamptons Television about my feelings about art. Please check out 32:25 of the video:

My Mistress of Beauty and Adventure at Art Hamptons on Hamptons TV at 32:25

Before I become a Muse, I thought that I should fully explore what it means to be a Muse and ask Ultra Violet, aka Isabelle Collin Dufresne, Andy Warhol's muse who is at the show her thoughts on the experience on Friday afternoon.

Andy Warhol, Self Portrait, 1986, Acrylic on Canvas

Natasha Finkel: Ultra Violet, what was it like being Andy Warhol's muse?

Ultra Violet: BUY THE BOOK!

Natasha Finkel: Ultra Violet, I hear that you have a French accent. Are you from Paris?

Ultra Violet: Is Paris the only city in France? BUY THE BOOK!

Natasha Finkel: How did you meet Andy Warhol?

Ultra Violet: BUY THE BOOK!

Natasha Finkel: Ultra Violet, I'm trying to interview you. I don't have time to buy the book and read it for the interview. So again, how did you meet Andy Warhol?

Ultra Violet pictured on her book jacket (When she was Young)

Ultra Violet: BUY THE BOOK!

Natasha Finkel: Please, Ultra Violet, please!

Ultra Violet: I met Andy Warhol through Salvador Dali when I came to the United States. BUT IT'S ALL IN THE BOOK!

Natasha Finkel: Did you know Carmen Dell'Orefice?

Ultra Violet: No, who is she?

Natasha Finkel: Carmen Dell'Orefice is the oldest working model in the fashion world. She was Salvador Dali's muse and lost her fortune twice - first to the stock market in the 1980's/1990's and then to Bernard Madoff. Now she has to work.

Ultra Violet: Let me see her picture!

Natasha Finkel: Let me show you via Google on my iphone

Carmen Dell'Orefice

Natasha Finkel: Isn't she beautiful?

Ultra Violet: Did she have "work" done?

Natasha Finkel: I have no idea but she is a beautiful woman.

Ultra Violet: Is she Jewish?

Natasha Finkel: I do not know, but why do you ask?

Ultra Violet: Because those Jews were very greedy thinking they could get above average returns from Bernie Madoff.

Natasha Finkel: I'm Jewish, Ultra Violet and I'm not greedy!

Ultra Violet: Did you know Bernard Madoff?

Natasha Finkel: No I didn't but I wouldn't have invested with him anyway.

Natasha Finkel: So were you friends with Andy Warhol? What was it like being his muse?

Ultra Violet: Andy Warhol had no friends. He just liked to document and we from the Factory were just there to hang around. Being his muse had nothing to do with inspiring him.

Natasha Finkel: OK Ultra Violet, thank you for your insight regarding what it was like to be Andy Warhol's muse.

Ultra Violet: BUY THE BOOK! IT'S ONLY $25! BUY MY ART! THE PRICE IS HIDDEN ON THE PRICE SHEET!

Ultra Violet's IXXI

Well Pussycats, I'm going to try to find other muses to ask them their impressions. Perhaps I'll buy Ultra-Violet's book or art. She is doing a book signing today at Art Hamptons. Or, perhaps NOT! I'll report back soon pussycats!

Oh to be A Muse (D) - Part I

If you didn't read my last blog post, "Spank Me It's My Birthday", then you may not know exactly who Carmen Dell'Orefice and Kiki de Montparnasse are. If so, click on the hyperlink to play catch up, or else the claws will be coming out in full force sans manicure!

These two Mistresses have inspired me to no end in their roles as Muses to Salvador Dali for Carmen and Man Ray for Kiki. Perhaps I should become a Muse to a famous artist in order to propel my career in the Pussycat Modeling World. After all, Carmen got her start at the age of 15 in Mistress years and I'm not getting any younger! This could completely solidify my meteoric rise in the Pussycat modeling world and make me an icon on the art and fashion scene. Plus I'll get invited to all of the "right events"! I want to be a star...a legend...an immortalized icon...just like Marilyn Monroe!

Marilyn Monroe by Bert Stern

Living in Bridgehampton and in Brooklyn does have its privileges. So why not make the most of an opportunity to be adored while providing artistic inspiration to genius talent? I'm still "working it" in the Pussycat modeling world in the Fashion business, but haven't found a designer that has taken me "under his wing" so to speak in that capacity -- only on the catwalk!

This burning desire to be a Muse led me straight to Art Hamptons - run by the Hampton Expo Group. Art Hamptons is a yearly art fair that features top established artists and emerging talent - from Picasso to people you have never heard of but will be soon! This year, for the first time ever in their four year history, they are showcasing significant fine art photography from the finest art dealers in the country via their show within a show called PhotoHamptons.

Ruben Natal-San Miguel, who runs the eponymous photography consulting firm, is an artist in his own right and is the critically acclaimed blogger of Art Most Fierce, will present a highly informative and engaging fair tour entitled “How to Invest and Collect Fine Art Photography." Geared for both novice and experienced collectors, his exclusive tour will provide valuable insights and tips on building your fine art photography collection. Art Hamptons will be taking place at Sayres Park, 154 Snake Hollow Road in Bridgehampton, NY from July 7th - 10th. For tickets, click here!

My Mistress of Beauty and Adventure is a close personal friend of Ruben's. I am a very close personal friend of Gia, the cat that owns Ruben! Gia is a star art dealer in the Pussycat world and is a precocious and highly intellectual calico kitty cat. Though Ruben taught Gia everything she knows about art - but please let's keep that little secret between ourselves. I hope Gia doesn't read this blog!

Gia, the Pussy Cat Art Dealer on the 4th of July by Ruben Natal San-Miguel

Master of Photography, Artistry, Art Consulting and Art Blogging

Glamour Break Diva, by Ruben Natal San-Miguel

2009 Harlem NYC

Available through Finch and Ada at Art Hamptons

16" x 20" $800 edition of 7

My Mistress of Beauty and Adventure's other friend is Karyn Mannix, a Mistress of Organization for Art Hamptons, a Mistress of Emerging Artistic Mastery, a Mistress of Art Dealing via Karyn Mannix Contemporary Art and a Mistress of drip painting and tours at the Pollock-Krasner House, a national historic landmark!

KK in Pink by Karyn Mannix

14" x 11", edition of 10, mixed media on canvas

Available through Karyn Mannix Contemporary

I am personally friendly with Karyn's cats, Elvis (the stubborn, highly emotive musician), Oscar the slob and Felix the neat freak - but Karyn has not immortalized them yet, so I won't feature them here!

Karyn will be featuring the work of Athos Zacharias, Willem de Kooning's one time studio assistant and a famous, highly collectible local Hamptons artist, at the Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor on the Sag Harbor Wharf from 5:30 to 7PM as a warm up to the kick off of Art Hamptons.

Red Rose by Athos Zacharias

24" x 20", Oil on Canvas

Available through Karyn Mannix Contemporary

My other friend is Kathy Murphy, the publisher of Modern Painters magazine. She has graciously invited me to attend the VIP Cocktail hour on Saturday from 4-6PM at Art Hamptons which is being sponsored by her employer, Louise Blouin, also known in Pussycat and Art circles as the High Priestess of Art Collecting and Art Media Moguldom aka Louise Blouin Media.

Russell Simmons, Master of the Hip Hop, Fashion, Finance and Philanthropy Universe and fellow Brooklynite Danny Simmons, Russell's brother and Master of Artistic Expression are being honored as Art Patrons of the Year by Art Hamptons. Did you know they are from Hollis Queens? From what I understand, you can take the boys out of Queens, but you can't take the Queens out of the boys! Not that they are gay or anything! And not like there's anything wrong with that either!

Russell and Danny Simmons

Master of the Hip Hop, Fashion, Finance and Philanthropy Universe

and Master of Artistic Expression and Philanthropy, respectively

The VIP party on Saturday will definitely be the place to be! Ultra Violet, Andy Warhol's iconic muse from the 1960's will also be there so I will definitely have some questions for her about how to become a Muse. I can't become Andy Warhol's muse as he died before I was born. What a bummer that is! My Mistress absolutely IDOLIZES him!

Famous For 15 Minutes My Years with Andy Warhol

The Memoir of Isabelle Collin Dufresne aka Ultra-Violet

Kathy Murphy is not owned by a cat. She owns a dog named Olive and that's just fine by me. I like Kathy. She's likes animals and has good taste in art and is definitely inviting me to a great party! So hat's off to Kathy Murphy and Louise Blouin Media for sponsoring the event and for inviting ME!

On Thursday night, July 7th from 6-9 PM, Art Hamptons will feature their kick off party and art preview party featuring 5,000 significant works of art to benefit the LongHouse, one of my favorite places in the Hamptons in a special VIP tent. Karyn Mannix graciously invited me to this event as well and for just $100 you can go too by clicking here! The Long House's mission is to exemplify living with art in all of its forms.

The Gateway Bell 2003 by Toshiko Takaezu

The LongHouse Reserve

LongHouse Reserve Garden at Twilight

Founded by Jack Lenor Larsen, who is not from Queens, its collections, magnificent gardens, sculptures and programs reflect world cultures and inspire a creative life. Through its arboretum, sculpture gardens and educational programs, LongHouse brings together art and nature, aesthetics and spirit, with a strong conviction that the arts are central to living wholly and creatively. To join the LongHouse click here or to simply visit, click here. It's a really fabulous place pussycats!

Also, there's a lot going on in the Hamptons in conjuction with Art Hamptons. My friends Ruth Vered and Janet Lehr of the Vered Gallery at 68 Park Place in East Hampton village will be hosting a cocktail reception at their gallery for their new show called, "Art on the Edge" on Saturday, July 9th from 9PM to 11PM. RSVP is required at 631-324-3303. The show will feature new, majorly talented contemporary artists including Peter Buchman, Grant Haffner, Adam Handler, Francesco LoCastro and many other emerging talents who may or may not be from Queens or are Queens, not that that makes a difference!

Born in the '80's by Adam Handler

56" x 58" as shown on MOMA's PS1 Studio Visit site

Ruth and Janet of the Vered Gallery have great eyes for talent and also sell artwork from artist luminaries including Chuck Close, Willem DeKooning, Jackson Pollock, April Gornick, Bert Stern, Pablo Picasso, Larry Rivers, Andy Warhol, Frank Stella as well as many other established dead and living artists whose work is featured in many major fine art museums.

Hacilar by Frank Stella

1999 Cast Aluminum and Steel

Available through Vered Gallery

Chuck Close, Self Portrait

2000 Silkscreen, Artist's Proof, edition of 80

Process and Collaboration by Terrie Sultan (of the Parrish Art Museum)

Available through Vered Gallery

Well Pussycats, I will report back to you on the festivities at Art Hamptons, Karyn Mannix Contemporary's opening and the Vered Gallery when things get going. There's so much going on....and I am sure I will be able to become A Mused (D) by this all! Please come and join me for the festivities and I will keep you updated! Purrs 'n Kisses xoxo