Aerial Dancer Nichole Raab

August 20, 2014 in Editorial, Portraits, Style

I got to experience the magic of aerial dancer Nichole Raab last month at the Newport Art Museum's annual summer gala, Night at the Museum: A Beaux Arts Ball. When I entered the museum that evening, I was delighted by the sight of Nichole, wearing a pink mask and white wig, suspended in a bed of white fabric near the ceiling. It took me a few moments to notice her, but then I couldn't stop staring at her with a big smile on my face. It was a charming sight that set the tone for a lovely evening.

Later in the night, Nichole captivated the crowd with a surprise performance. Seeing her maneuver fluidly from one acrobatic pose to the next while hanging from red silks was a wondrous sight.

To read about Nichole, who has combined her love of aerial dance with sailing through the program she founded, The Art of Sailing Project, on the Tall Ship Sloop Providence, check out Jamie Gillette's interview in this week's Mercury.

Photos by Jacqueline Marque

Newport Folk Festival 2014

August 14, 2014 in Music, Personal, Style

The Newport Folk Festival celebrated it's 55th anniversary this summer with yet another thrilling weekend of amazing music and unforgettable moments. This year’s festival was jam-packed with performers whose music I was hearing for the first time. Like a birthday girl leaving her party with a bag full of shiny new toys, I walked away from the weekend buzzing with excitement over the priceless gift of new music to add to the soundtrack of my life.

Topping my list is the 1960's-inspired indie pop band Lucius. Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig, with their mod matching outfits and beautifully-synched voices, are a joy to watch. I fell in love with their gorgeous harmonies, stomping percussion and infectious melodies. I think I'll be listening to their debut album Wildewoman a lot this year.

Reignwolf's sweat-soaked electrifying performance left me speechless. Jordan Cook, aka Reignwolf, could be a one-man show. He plays the guitar – like he's possessed by the spirit of Jimi Hendrix – sings, and plays drums all at the same time. He doesn't even have a debut album yet, but he's already toured with the Pixies and Black Sabbath. Not only is he crazy talented, he's a super nice guy. I had a chance to chat with him after his set and he talked about how humbled he was to be playing the Newport Folk Festival. Something tells me it won't be his last time.

Speaking of amazing guitar skills, the Mexican acoustic guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela are unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Their music is a fusion of neuvo flamenco, rock and metal. The passionate duo are mesmerizing to watch as they strum and tap their guitars with unimaginable speed and precision.

Other new favorites include Monica Martin, of PHOX, above, and Rachael Price of Lake Street Dive, below. Both of these soulful leading ladies have impeccable voices and powerful stage presence. I see two stars in the making.

It’s always fun to check out the stylish ensembles gracing the Fort throughout the weekend.

Guitarist Steve Varney and violinist Jeb Bows perform with Gregory Alan Isakov.

Jimmy Cliff spreads good vibrations.

Ryan Monroe, Ben Bridwell and Tyler Ramsey of Band of Horses

Shakey Graves

The crowd goes wild while Trampled By Turtles performs.

Kurt Vile

Jesse Trbovich, right, performs with Kurt Vile, left, and The Violators.

Pokey LaFarge

Alynda Lee Segarra performs with her band Hurray For The Riff Raff.

Shakey Graves

Deer Tick frontman John McCauley gets a smack on the cheek from Folk Festival Producer Jay Sweet.

Beck was roaming around in the crowd as a spectator on Friday. With a straw hat, sunglasses and a nautical striped shirt, he could have blended right in with the crowd if it weren’t for the backstage access sticker he was wearing with BECK written on it. Very few people seemed to notice him, but he was graciously posing for photographs and saying hello to fans who approached him.

With so much good music to hear, it's impossible to get to everything, but I'm happy I made it to the quad stage to catch the end of The Oh Hellos' exuberant set. I loved seeing the performers react to the crowds' roaring applause.

Mavis Staples celebrated her 75th birthday by closing out the festival with an uplifting set that inspired some folk fans to form an impromtu Soul Train line in the crowd. Watching strangers skipping and dancing through the human walkway reminded me of what I love most about music: it's power to spread cheer and bring people together. Mavis' set featured lots of special guests, included Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig of Lucius, Norah Jones, Trampled By Turtles and Jeff Tweedy. She closed with a moving group singalong of "We Shall Overcome" in tribute to the late Pete Seeger. The weekend ended with the presentation of a birthday cake and the audience broke into song, "...Happy Birthday, Dear Mavis, Happy Birthday to you!"

Folk fan and beloved New England musician and visual artist Dan Blakeslee of Somerville, Mass., dances his way through the impromptu Soul Train line that formed during Mavis Staples' set. Dan wasn't one of the performers at this year's festival, but he's set to celebrate the release of his sixth album Owed To The Tanglin' Wind at the Columbus Theatre September 4th.

Photos and text by Jacqueline Marque

Jim & Laura's Light-Filled Providence Colonial

July 21, 2014 in Interiors, Style

There had been no talk of moving in the Nelson family when a house in Providence caught Laura’s eye in the newspaper one Saturday in 2009. Pictures of the sun-drenched kitchen and unusually large backyard jumped off the page. And the charming College Hill colonial, built in 1772, was a mere two blocks from Laura’s childhood home. “It reminded me of the house I grew up in, but re-imagined in a much fresher, more modern way.” Thinking ahead to the urban life they planned to resume in retirement, Laura said to her husband Jim, “When we move to Providence, that’s the house I want to buy.”

The couple had been living in a wonderful Dutch colonial in the suburban community of South Kingstown for 16 years. Situated near the University of Rhode Island and within close proximity to both the woods and beaches and thirty minutes away from Providence, the Nelsons had access to a lot of resources. While they loved the life they had built raising their four children in South Kingstown, Jim, a high school principal, and Laura, who works at a marketing communications and public relations firm, are urban dwellers at heart.

In addition to the five years they lived together in Manhattan before spending a year traveling the world, the couple lived in a Greek revival they gutted and renovated in Providence’s Armory District. When they eventually moved to suburbia to satisfy their need for better schools and more open space, they always knew they would one day find their way back to the city. They just didn’t imagine it would happen so soon.

Laura was planning to visit her parents in Providence the day the newspaper article was published. Unable to resist the urge to see the house, she called the agent and asked if she could take a look even though it was a day before the open house. “I saw it and fell in love with it that day.” The next day, she and Jim went to the open house. They made an offer that night.

“We just loved everything about it. It was impulsive,” Laura concedes, “but we don’t regret a single bit about it. We loved it exactly the way it was…Even though it retains all of the charms of the period, it feels modern at the same time.” After listing all of the things that won him over – the light, the openness of the main floor, the kitchen, the yard, the radiant heat in the master bathroom – Jim simply states, “It’s the perfect house.”

Four-and-a-half years later, Jim and Laura couldn’t be happier with their decision. “There’s nothing in New York that we can’t get here and it’s really just more manageable here,” Jim explains. Their expansive back yard, surrounded by a picket fence, offers them the kind of privacy and open space you don’t often find in an urban setting. Great food, theater, art and cultural events are just footsteps away. It seems that Jim and Laura’s impulse was spot-on; they have landed exactly where they belong.

You can see the full tour and learn more about the Nelson's home and inspiration on Apartment Therapy.

Photos and text by Jacqueline Marque

The Beautifully Strange World of Miranda Lake

June 20, 2014 in Interiors, Style

I fell in love with Miranda Lake's home after seeing it beautifully featured in Valorie Hart and Sara Essex Bradley's wonderful book House Proud: Unique Home Design, Louisiana.I knew right away that I had to meet the woman behind this magical home with the 1952 double-decker bus in the back yard. Miranda's home is fearless, playful and offbeat. I'm delighted I had the opportunity to explore this strange wonderland and share it with you.

Stepping onto the grounds of Miranda Lake’s New Orleans home feels like being transported into the whimsical world she depicts in her artwork. Just as her encaustic collages portray surreal scenes featuring cleverly juxtaposed animals and objects, Miranda’s Uptown home treats visitors to a visual feast of artfully assembled vignettes with similar motifs. The front porch alone is a delightful display: A plastic deer head peers out from a pot of colorful flowers; a small toy horse rests in front of a vintage scale holding an arrangement of succulents; a collection of tiny birds emerge from a rusty typewriter.

“I see this house as an extension of my portfolio work,” Miranda explains. “It’s as much me and as much of my art as it is a house. It is an experience.” The experience is filled with collections of “beautifully strange” decorative objects she finds in a variety of places including junk stores, eBay, Etsy, Craigslist and travel. Her love of biology, zoology and all things having to do with animals is abundantly clear. In addition to her two dogs, Mr. Whipple and Birdie, and four bunnies, Tumpta, Flapjack, Toofus, and L.B. Fou Fou, the house is filled with creatures of land and sea in various forms: plastic toys, ceramic vases, entomological specimens, faux and real taxidermy. Animals are depicted in paintings, printed on pillows, and seem to appear wherever you turn.

When Miranda bought the house 15 years ago, she knew right away that the 1910 shotgun house on Jena Street was perfect. In fact, it was the only house she looked at. “It’s a special house. It’s deceptively large. It looks teeny from the front but keeps going, going and going.” The back half of the house is divided into a separate apartment, adding the bonus of a built-in source of income. If she needed any proof that it was meant to be, she got it two weeks before she moved in when she was shopping on Magazine Street. The stars aligned when she stumbled upon a fated find: a hand-painted 1920’s wood bar with a tag that read, “Made by the Coco-Cola Company for the Jena Street Social Club.” The bar is now the focal point of her parlor.

When Miranda acquired the empty lot next door just before Katrina hit in 2005, she was able to add a swimming pool and transform the property into the compound it is today. It is a rarity in New Orleans for a modest home to have so much yard space.

It’s hard to believe the grounds that surround Miranda’s home started out as an empty patch of grass surrounded by a chain link fence. A lush garden path filled with little surprises – a claw foot tub filled with small horse figurines, antique toys tucked into the greenery – winds around the property and leads visitors into a magical adult playground where Miranda’s unique artistic vision comes to life. A fully restored ’62 Shasta camper trailer and a 1952 double-decker bus, which she describes as “one big shiny, giant happy pill you can actually get inside of,” are parked alongside a stunning lap pool. Miranda bought the bus from a friend and plans to get it water tight and eventually hook up electricity, air conditioning, and install a sound system. She envisions it as a poolside cabana. The atmosphere is perfect for Miranda’s casual lifestyle, where friends feel free to drop by for a swim.

Miranda’s home embodies the easy, offbeat spirit of New Orleans. Although she was raised in rural Connecticut, she has found a muse in the Crescent City. “The crumbling decay is just eye candy for me. It’s like Shakespeare here. The whole cycle of life is very easy to see and feel. It’s all around you.”

You can see the full tour and learn more about Miranda's style and inspiration on Apartment Therapy.

Photos and text by Jacqueline Marque

The Lawless Family

June 12, 2014 in Portraits

I had the pleasure of photographing this sweet family on a beautiful May evening in Middletown. Here are a few of my favorites from the shoot:

This one is my favorite. I just love this kid's curls and smile. What a cutie.

Valorie's Bold New Orleans Home

June 04, 2014 in Interiors, Style

Valorie Hart is fearless when it comes to style. Her bright pink pixie coif, bold wardrobe and oversized eyeglasses, reminiscent of fashion icon Iris Apfel, make clear that this decorator, interior designer and stylist loves to have fun and make a splash. This self-described “New New,” a New Yorker transplanted to New Orleans, treats her home as a design lab, where she dares to test out big ideas with spunk to match her eccentric look.

It’s hard to imagine that this Irish Channel shotgun was “a sad little house” when Valorie and her late husband Alberto bought it nine years ago. The property, used as overflow housing and office space for a girls’ orphanage, was cold and drab. It had been renovated by volunteers using a hodgepodge of donated materials. Architecturally, it was nothing special, but to Valorie and Alberto, it was perfect. The infrastructure was solid, the price was right, and the possibilities were endless.

Valorie continues to enjoy exploring these possibilities with a sense of humor, despite a recent unexpected turn of events. She has been living alone since Alberto died suddenly four months ago. “I am picking up the pieces, and my work that I love is a key component,” she explains. On an April afternoon, her dining room table is impeccably set and a banner that reads, “Holy shit, you’re old!” hangs above her banquette. The table’s upholstered bench seating was the last project she and Alberto worked on together. She describes the fun she had selecting the perfect china from her collection to dress the table and her outdoor seating area just for my visit. Throwing dinner parties is something she’s always loved. She obviously takes great pride and pleasure in sharing her keen visual eye with others. No matter what happens in life, Valorie’s passion for style will keep her young at heart.

In Valorie’s world, decorating is a way of life where nothing is off-limits. Textiles and paper Fornasetti cutouts act as wallpaper; a cow hide becomes a tablecloth. She describes her style as “free and all-inclusive.” Known for her popular design blog The Visual Vamp and her interior design book House Proud, Valorie effortlessly mixes unlikely combinations with ease: modern furniture with antiques, high-end pieces from the likes of Bloomingdales with rusty treasures salvaged from the street. A disco ball hangs from the ceiling in the same room with an antique French settee. Ceiling-to-floor silk drapes in turquoise and lime green dress windows in luxury, while a painter’s drop cloth purchased from a local hardware store hangs as a DIY wall covering. It’s hard to imagine that this Irish Channel shotgun was “a sad little house” when Valorie and her late husband Alberto bought it nine years ago. The property, used as overflow housing and office space for a girls' orphanage, was cold and drab. It had been renovated by volunteers using a hodgepodge of donated materials. Architecturally, it was nothing special, but to Valorie and Alberto, it was perfect. The infrastructure was solid, the price was right, and the possibilities were endless. Valorie continues to enjoy exploring these possibilities with a sense of humor, despite a recent unexpected turn of events. She has been living alone since Alberto died suddenly four months ago. “I am picking up the pieces, and my work that I love is a key component,” she explains. On an April afternoon, her dining room table is impeccably set and a banner that reads, “Holy shit, you’re old!” hangs above her banquette. The table's upholstered bench seating was the last project she and Alberto worked on together. She describes the fun she had selecting the perfect china from her collection to dress the table and her outdoor seating area just for my visit. Throwing dinner parties is something she’s always loved. She obviously takes great pride and pleasure in sharing her keen visual eye with others. No matter what happens in life, Valorie’s passion for style will keep her young at heart.

You can see the full tour and read more about Valorie's style on Apartment Therapy.

Photos and text by Jacqueline Marque

Matilde & Gustavo's Arts District Apartment

May 19, 2014 in Interiors, Style

Apartment living is the key to happiness for Matilde Alberny and Gustavo Duque. These New Orleans artists never imagined they would end up renting their beloved home in the Lower Garden District to move into their 710 square foot investment property. But after short-term tenants opened the Colombian couple's eyes to the joys of living in their small Warehouse District apartment, they decided to make the move. After three months of renting Matilde & Gustavo’s Warehouse District apartment, the tenants, who were in the final stages of building their dream home, had fallen in love with the freedom and simplicity of small-footprint living. Once their house was completed, they made the radical decision to sell it and buy an apartment instead. Inspired by their tenants unexpected about-face, Matilde and Gustavo chose to give small-footprint living a try themselves.

They walked away from all of the excess in their life and started anew with only the things they really love: their favorite pieces of furniture and their art collection. The result is a simple space that feels right at home in the city’s Arts District. The thriving neighborhood of converted warehouses, situated just a stone’s throw away from the Mississippi River and French Quarter, is filled with restaurants, shops and art galleries on nearly every block.

The paintings and sculptures that fill Matilde and Gustavo’s apartment tell the story of this devoted couple’s life together. Gustavo’s painting, “Mi Colombia,” the focal point of the living room, is where it all began. Matilde fell in love with the graffiti-style painting when she saw it on exhibit and was determined to meet the artist. A mutual friend arranged a meeting and Gustavo paid her a visit in hopes of selling her the painting. What started as a potential business relationship turned into a romance. Seventeen years later, they still wear the loving glow of newlyweds. The artwork they’ve made for each other throughout the years fills their home with memories of their journey.

While their previous home was a quiet urban oasis, their new place is surrounded by the bustling energy of the city. It’s not unusual now for the couple to get a surprise call from friends and, minutes later, be dining together over a glass of wine just steps away from their front door. “Our life was completely different before we moved here,” says Gustavo

Living in an apartment allows them the freedom to pick up and go when they want to travel. The low-maintenance space also gives them more time for entertaining friends with Matilde’s wonderful cooking. “Life is so easy!” Gustavo exclaims with a giant smile and a twinkle in his eye. “We find more time for us. We enjoy more of life.”

Downsizing seems to have been all gain and no loss for Matilde and Gustavo. Everything they need fits comfortably in 710 square feet. Sitting on the couch beside Gustavo, Matilde looks up at “Mi Colombia,” and says “When we put this painting here, we said, ‘Now we are home.’”

You can see the full tour and read more about Matilde and Gustavo's art collection and style on Apartment Therapy.

Photos and text by Jacqueline Marque

E's Academic Records #7: Guilty Pleasures

May 08, 2014 in Music, Personal

Most people, whether they admit it or not, have something in their music collection that they only listen to when no one else is around. For what ever reason, it's a secret indulgence that’s kept under wraps. I've got plenty of guilty gems on my iPod (Miley Cyrus’ Bangerz, U2’s Pop) and a few in my record collection. Here are four of them:

Clockwise, from left:

Lionel Ritchie – Dancing On The Ceiling, 1986 Ah, Lionel. Everybody loves Lionel. How can you not? The mustache. The blazer over a turtleneck. The hits! I own a couple of Lionel Ritchie CDs and poached this album from my brother. I guess this is a double guilty pleasure since it's stolen. It is packed with cheese, but nothing tops "Dancing on the Ceiling." "Say You, Say Me" is a close second.

Culture Club – Kissing To Be Clever, 1982 I'm not even sure how this ended up in my record collection. Actually, I'm not sure how this and two copies of their 1983 release, Colour By Numbers, ended up in my possession, but they did, and I've played them more times than I care to admit. "I'll Tumble 4 Ya" and "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me" get the most rotations. When we were taking the pictures of this, Evangeline kept saying, "I like she's hat. I want a hat like she."

Kenny Rogers – Greatest Hits, 1980 This is the first record I ever asked for. It was a birthday present. I have a vivid memory of sitting in my parents' dining room and opening this gift. I was over the moon. I'm very happy I still have it and it's in pretty good condition. There are too many great songs on it to list, but obviously, "The Gambler" is tops.

Elton John – Greatest Hits, 1974 Technically, this isn't my record. It's on loan from my parents. I wanted to include it in my photo series because it holds a lot of memories for me. The record player was in our dining room when I was a kid. We listened to this album quite a bit. I remember dancing around the dining room table singing, "BA-BA-BA BENNY AND THE JETS!" with my brother Chris. The record is chock full of classics like “Rocketman” and “Daniel.” I suppose it only falls into the guilty pleasures category when someone hears you say, "So the other day I was listening to Elton John…" I'm not a fan of his music outside of this album. Not to deny his talent and philanthropy, but he carries a wacky pop stigma that some people just can't shake.

What are your guilty pleasures?

You can read about the inspiration for E’s Academic Records here and view my entire photo series on Instagram.

Images and text by Eamon Kelly

Kathie's Bohemian Live/Work Space

May 06, 2014 in Interiors, Style

When Kathie moved back to her hometown of Newport 13 years ago, her brother Dave knew he had found the perfect spot for his artistic sister to thrive. “It wasn’t pristine,” she remembers her first impression of the former auto parts warehouse turned apartment, “But, oh, how I loved the space, the sense of space, the height of the ceiling, knowing I would have to live and work here.” With a recording studio next door and various other artists living and working in the converted industrial building, Kathie felt an immediate sense of camaraderie with her creative neighbors. “Throughout the years, there has been a collection of extremely beautiful and talented people who have lived in this building,” she says with a sense of appreciation.

Having always lived in historic homes and apartments where changes were off-limits, Kathie was delighted to finally settle into a place without creative restrictions. This new home was full of possibilities. The self-taught artist approached her new space the same way she delves into her work: like a kid at play.

Kathie’s live/work space changes seasonally to coincide with the inspiration for each of her new Teahan K woven metal jewelry collections. Art and textiles rotate, furniture is rearranged, wall colors change; nothing is off-limits. When Kathie is tired of a certain configuration, “it comes down as fast as the speed of light,” she says with a smile. “There’s no work in progress. If it takes me until 2:00 in the morning, I’m doing it. If it’s not speaking to me and making me still feel free to think, it’s gotta go.” Among this constant flux, Kathie’s goal for her live/work space remains the same: “This place has to stimulate me, but not overstimulate me.”

Kathie’s extensive textile collection, including quilts handmade by her mother, fill her home with patterns, colors and textures that inform her work. “They speak to me in a language that I understand. I am primarily a fiber artist who applies textile techniques to metal,” she explains, “I often study the pieces, the stitchwork, the choices that artist made in terms of color and shape."

In addition to fabrics, Kathie’s home is filled with an abundance of containers. Wood, metal, straw and glass; they are everywhere. They hold food, toiletries, tools and beads. Everything that enters her home in conventional packaging is transferred to a container. They help her compensate for the lack of cabinets, drawers and closets that are usually found in a traditional living space. Seeking them out at thrift stores, yard sales and catalogs has become a bit of a hobby over time.

Over a decade later, Kathie’s ever-evolving space continues to be a source of excitement. For this lively artist, there is little differentiation between home and work, the two are inextricably linked. “My space is a living work of art. It is a reflection of me, parts of me that I can’t articulate in words.”

You can see the full tour and read more about Kathie's style on Apartment Therapy.

Photos and text by Jacqueline Marque

Emily & Andrew's Colorful New Orleans Home

April 30, 2014 in Interiors, Style

All it took was one weekend for Emily to fall in love. It happened during a girls’ getaway to New Orleans with her best friend last January. When she returned to her home in rural upstate New York, she handed a New Orleans real estate magazine to her husband and said, “Andrew, it is incredible. It is an old-house-lover’s paradise. We have to live there someday!” From there, the story unfolded like a whirlwind romance. About a month later, Emily saw a posting for a job at Tulane that had her name written all over it. Fast forward to September, and the couple was moving into their new home in the Crescent City. “It feels like a wild stroke of good fortune that I actually did (get the job),” she explains, “though, of course, the irony is that we bought a new house in this old-house-lover’s paradise.”

The rush to get settled before the start of the school year and lack of real estate options that fit their budget and needs led the couple to buy a newly constructed home. One of the first steps to making the generic structure their own was to add color to the boring beige walls. Their extensive collection of modern and folk art pops against paint colors like yellow, purple and turquoise. Bold rugs, floor-to-ceiling drapes and lots of fun textiles — including quilts handmade by Emily — make the house feel lively and joyful, giving it the unique character they felt it was lacking.

After living in a Gothic Victorian for eight years, moving into a house with an open floor plan was a big adjustment. Although they quickly came to appreciate the amazing light that pours into their new home all day long, the lack of walls in the kitchen and living rooms posed a design challenge. Emily and Andrew turned to interior designer Valorie Hart to help them with this hurdle. Under the guidance of Hart’s expert eye, they were able to carve out defined spaces that add intimacy and warmth without impeding the flow of the wide open space. The couple also credit Hart with teaching them how to take their decorating that last critical mile by adding pillows and throws and helping them organize their built-in bookcase with style.

Foregoing an old fixer-upper for a brand new home has afforded Emily and Andrew the time to immerse themselves in the culture of the city. The couple didn’t waste any time making friends and joining in the revelry of Carnival this year. After a neighbor learned of Emily's beading skills, she recruited her to join the all-ladies Mardi Gras marching krewe Dames de Perlage. In honor of the New Orleans tradition of perlage — French for beadwork — the women march in parades wearing corsets and headdresses handcrafted annually to coincide with a theme. Emily’s gold-beaded costume, an homage to the famous restaurant Brennan’s, which is now closed, is proudly displayed on a dress form in their eat-in kitchen. With all the exciting cultural possibilities the Crescent City has to offer, who knows what future creations will appear in this fun-loving couple's colorful new home.

You can see the full tour and read more about Emily & Andrew's style on Apartment Therapy.

Photos and text by Jacqueline Marque