I came across a relatively new to the market magazine while shopping in Hudson News in Grand Central last week. The name of the magazine is "Antenna", and it features very cutting edge, new ideas in casual fashion primarily directed toward the men’s market, but with some women’s included. They also have a website which is antennamag.com. This is a monthly publication…just be ready to spring for the $8.00 pricetag.

Recently we viewed Color Chart — an exhibit at MOMA,in New York City! For any of us who enjoy color — and color books, cards, libraries — this is the show. It’s all about the reinvention of color from 1950 to today. From Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe to everyday color at home — from Christopher Williams — the closest to Echo color charts are the color palettes from Gerhard Richter!!! And, for any of us at Echo planning the Holiday 08 and Spring 09 lines — Katharina Fritsch’s fluorescents are absolutely like being in our line presentations!

Don’t miss it — now through May 4th at MOMA. - Geri

Click here for the Color Chart site

Enjoying Family on Easter

Always such a great opportunity to get together with family since most of us are so busy in our own lives and don’t get to spend much time with extended family.

Every Easter is spent at my sister’s house where our families get together to enjoy a great day eating, laughing and catching up on each other’s lives.

My immediate family’s most special feeling about this gathering is seeing Mathew. This is my nephew’s first child who is now 4 years old. I remember the day my sister called me to tell me that my nephew Joe, had a boy, his name was Matthew. I told her how happy I was for her, but before I could finish my sentence, she said…he has Down Syndrome.

We have no history of Down Syndrome in our family so this came as a complete shock to us. What does this mean and what could we expect as this child grows and develops? How would my niece and nephew handle this situation, after all, this was supposed to be a healthy child that was going to bring such joy into their lives?

Well this is not written as a sad story, but rather a story of family love and togetherness. This beautiful boy, now 4 years old is a blessing and a joy to their lives and to our family’s lives. Seeing him this past weekend was so special. My children relate so beautifully to him and we love the interaction we all have with him. Matt now has a sister, who is 2, and they have a great time together playing and carrying on. Life will not be easy for my niece and nephew, as Matt will need special attention as he gets older. However, when family bonds together and shows the love we have for each other, we can overcome any obstacles or challenges we may face. This Easter was such a great time for my family because we got to spend the day with my sister and her family, and mainly because we got to spend the day with Matt.

Last week I went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.. It was mobbed–thousands of people from all over the world. They had three major exhibitions–Gustave Courbet, Nicolas Poussin, and Jasper Johns. I have known the works of all three artists and seen paintings of theirs many times previously, so I viewed the Courbet and Johns exhibits which I found fascinating.

First of all Courbet was an independent,ambitious and arrogant man who even declined the Cross of the Legion of Honor, so antagonized a lot of people. He painted whatever subjects he wanted and did not concentrate on one look. In the 30 years between the 1840s and the 1870s he painted portraits, self portraits, landscapes,nudes, group scenes, animals, hunting scenes as well as snow scenes. Many of the outdoor scenes were from the countryside around Ornans–a town in southwestern France where he came from and returned often.

He was hailed as the founder of realism and built elements of rebellion and dissent into his work. His work influenced many painters. There are 130 paintings in this exhibit. I am sure many would enjoy it.  Click here to read the NY Times review of the exhibit.

The other day Lynn and I went to MOMA and saw 2 exhibits everyone would find fascinating.

1-Color Chart–redefining color–1950 to today.

2-Design and the Elastic Mind.

- Dot