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February 5—April 25
Blanton Museum of Art
 Successfully conveying human emotion can be an incredibly complex task for even the most seasoned artist. The range of emotions is innumerable and each one can be interpreted in a number of ways, depending on the artist and viewer. An upcoming exhibition by The Blanton Museum of Art at the University of Texas at Austin will delve in to the deepest corners of one very complicated emotion: desire. Beginning on February 5 and running through April 25, Austinites can view DESIRE and take in what over 30 international contemporary artists offer up as their renditions of the emotion. The Blanton aspires to provide engaging experiences by combining the arts with intellect, and DESIRE isn’t a run of the mill one-note exhibit. DESIRE, which emotionally comes in many shapes, takes numerous artistic forms in this modern exhibit featuring several mediums, among those including paintings, sculptures, drawings, and videos.
Each creation presented is unique from the next, but not simply because it is the work of a different artist alone. Every single work is created to depict or explore desire in a different manner. One creation is a literal translation, another a reminiscent daydream of an event or time, each work varying from the next throughout the collection. The artists exploring desire include Marilyn Minter, Glenn Ligon, Tracey Emin, Bill Viola, Isaac Julien, James Drake, Petah Coyne, Gajin Fugita, Georganne Deen, Adam Pendleton, Peter Saul, Valeska Soares, Danica Phelps, Miguel Angel
Rojas, Mads Lynnerup, Rochelle Feinstein, Richard Prince, Laurel Nakadate, Jesse Amado, Isabell Heimerdinger, Kalup Linzy, William Villalongo, Olaf Breuning, Alejandro Cesarco, Eve Sussman, Robert Kushner, Luisa Lambri, Chris Doyle and many others.
In addition to works from modern artists, prints by 25 historical artists, including Rembrandt, Fragonard, and Diego Rivera, will add further points of view on the subject. Check out the collection’s complementary illustrated companion of the same name and get a peek into the minds of other artists, writers, and poets who recorded their thoughts upon viewing DESIRE. The Blanton is located on MLK at Congress, and is open Tuesday through Sunday. For more information, call (512) 471 7324. A. Blair
Missbehave Boutique
The new crop of boutiques in the 2nd Street District has all fall fashion needs covered. Austin’s working women looking to be bad with some of their hard earned green are getting their shopping fix at Missbehave Boutique. With looks from the likes of Moschino, See by Chloé, and Rebecca Taylor, storeowner Andrea Valko is bringing big name designers to downtown Austin. The shop stocks the best of each brand, carrying everything from business to cocktail attire. Missbehave Boutique’s contemporary European interior was designed by DRS Architects and Planners. The glossy concrete floor gives the store a sleek, clean feel, while pink detailing throughout adds femininity to the primarily muted grey space. Signs posted on the walls encourage shoppers to misbehave. One reads, “I’m not bad. I just shop that way,” while another urges, “Life is short. Buy the shoes.” Valko, born in Slovakia but recently relocating from the East Coast, is putting her fashion savvy to use styling Austin’s twenty- to forty-somethings. With a background in business, Valko says she was inspired to open Missbehave when she “moved to Austin and saw a niche.” The store carries looks from up-and-coming designers, like printed tanks from Lauren Moshi and coveted crochet handbags from Brazilian designer Irá Salles. The shoe section at Missbehave, with styles from Stuart Weitzman, Via Spiga, and Alexandre Birman, to name a few, is stocked with fantastic fall finds—think plenty of platforms.
Gallery D
Open only months, Gallery D, the much-lauded boutique by fashion maven Emily Keast, is already a downtown destination, delivering the diverse designs Austinites demand. Keast, a former buyer for the trend-defining Henri Bendel boutique in New York, learned the business as an undergrad at UT and honed her eye as an assistant at Vogue. Now she’s employing her expert vision to seek out emerging designers from around the globe. “My personal style is all about mixing it up…[putting] something vintage with something modern, something casual with something a bit more dressed up,” Keast explains. This idea of blending styles to create a unique look is apparent throughout the store, in both the décor and in the designs that Keast selects, like the feminine but edgy draped dresses from Foley and Corinna and the vintage-inspired shoes from Les Prairies de Paris. Enlisting the help of top Austin designer, Jamie Chioco of Chioco Design, Keast created an inviting interior for her store through the juxtaposition of complementary contrasts. Keast’s sister, Julia, a photographer who plays art curator to the store chooses art that reflects and compliments the bold clothing hanging on the racks. With fierce fabrics, animal prints and leathers, hanging beside cozy cashmeres and flirty frocks, Gallery D is a downright delight. Both stores participate in monthly block parties, offering champagne, small bites, and deep discounts. Check websites for details. C. Harrold
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