MINTRED INTERNATIONAL PR, PRESS AND CONSULTANCY AGENCY ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Flanders & Brussels are full of talent -in fashion, design, art, music, gastronomy and any other display of creativity that you care to mention– and we feel that they can get a lot more exposure in the international media than is the case today.

Hence, the MintRed newsletters contain the latest news about the most interesting creative talents from Flanders and Brussels, as well as digital photos, up-to-date contact information and all you need to know about exposition dates, defilés, vernissages, etc.

Exactly one month after you received the first monthly MintRed newsletter, here is number 2, the July issue. We hope it will be useful to you and that you will enjoy browsing through it.

The MintRed newsletters are being sent out to all our contacts -both in Belgium and abroad- as we intend to get maximum editorial exposure in the art, lifestyle and fashion media (print, radio, television, the internet and so on) for all things created in Belgium, or by Belgians.

We would naturally appreciate it if you could forward the newsletter to contacts of your own that you feel might be interested as well. If they like it, they can subscribe for free by sending an email to mintred@pandora.be.

And if you have/know of suitable subjects for one of the upcoming newsletters, want to advertise, subscribe others/unsubscribe yourself, want to know more about one of the featured subjects, or if you have suggestions to improve our content or lay-out, just drop us a line or give us a call.

Creativity is the way forward.

Thank you & see you again soon!

Ninette Murk - MintRed CEO

Note: shortly the MintRed website will be online as well. On it you will find longer and more in-depth articles, lots of images and much, much more.

Lambermontplaats 26, B-2000 Antwerp.
Tel / fax +32-3/237.33.82.
E-mail: mintred@pandora.be

Copy & concept: Ninette Murk (www.mintred.be)
random titbits: Mischa Bludts (www.guerilla.be)
Layout & Design: T-kila (www.kila.be)

ITZU - FOR LOVERS OF ART, FASHION, ORIENTAL OBJECTS AND ROCK 'N' ROLL (shopping)

Facing the river Meuse in the heart of Belgian town Liège (so much for the 'Brussels & Flanders’ bit in the intro of our newsletter :)) Itzu opened a couple of months ago. The first thing that catches the eye is the shopwindow, which is always spectacular to say the least: crocodiles on a leash, a huge bison staring you down or other exotic animals, decorated with some clothes for good measure, are the talk of the town since the day Itzu opened its doors.

When you enter the shop, you immediately feel the tranquil atmosphere, enjoy the smell of incense and the sweet music. The shop’s sales crew couldn’t be any friendlier if they tried.Of course there’s fashion galore here: brands stocked for next fall and winter include D-Squared 2, Evisu , Y-3 and D&G (all for both women and men), plus Antik Batik (women) Umbro by Kim Jones and Bikkembergs (men) and there’s a great selection of shoes, boots, belts, bags and underwear. So far, so good.

What makes this shop really different is the combination of those items with spiritual jewelry made by Brazilian Amazon Indians (commissioned by Itzu), oriental interior objects such as carved wooden chairs, tables and mirrors from Bali, exotic glass- and earthenware, contemporary art lining the walls, the fitting cabins and showcased in the gallery upstairs, which has changing expositions with matching wild parties at the opneings. Lovers of rock ‘n roll memorabilia can hunt for treasures like signed photos or instruments of famous musicians, while in the small bar at the back of the shop you can relax, have a drink, admire your purchases and the other shoppers –and wonder why it’s so hard to find a shop like this in more well-known fashion cities.

Itzu, Quai De Longdoz 60, 4020 Liege, Belgium

Tel. ++32(0)43/442.609

Opening hours:

Mon: 1pm - 6pm

Wed, Thu, Fri & Sat: 10.30am - 6pm

Closed on Tuesdays and Sundays

PHOTOGRAPHS & FILMS - WILLIAM KLEIN RETROSPECTIVE @ FOTOMUSEUM ANTWERP

(expo)

Photographer, painter, filmmaker, graphic designer William Klein is one of the most controversial and influential artists of the twentieth century. He was born in 1928 and grew up in Manhattan. He graduated from City College at the age of eighteen, entering his two years of service in the army. Settling in Paris, where he has lived ever since, Klein began his career as a painter. He studied briefly with Fernand Leger, and was doing hard-edge, geometric painting before he began experimenting with photography.

After seeing a show of Klein’s abstract photographs in Paris, Alexander Liberman, the art director of Vogue, offered him a contract and financing for his New York project. Though new to photography, Klein’s improvised technique pushed the taboos of the medium. The use of wide angle lens, blur, grain, high contrast, cocked-eyed framing, accidents, and other techniques gave his work a dynamism and intensity that have never been matched. Klein’s first book Life is Good and Good For You in New York: Trance Witness Revels was published in France in 1956 and won the Prix Nadar for its radical photography and innovative design. In the years following, Klein completed and published other major photographic books: Rome, 1958-9; Moscow, 1961, and finally Tokyo in 1962. To finance his personal work, he created a new kind of fashion photography for Vogue from 1955 to 1965. In 1958, he began his remarkable film career with Broadway By Light. Since then, Klein’s titles include: Muhammad Ali The Greatest, 1964-74; Who are You, Polly Maggoo?, 1966; Far From Vietnam, 1967; Mister Freedom, 1968; The Panafrican Festival, 1969; Eldrigde Cleaver, Black Panther, 1970 The Model Couple, 1976; The Little Richard Story, 1980; The French, 1981; Mode in France, 1986; and In and Out of Fashion, 1993, among others. In 1999, Klein completed his most recent film, Messiah.

William Klein’s early and recent works continue to gain widespread acclaim. His photographs have been exhibited in museums and galleries throughout Europe, Japan and the United States, and are included in major public and private collections throughout the world. Recently, William Klein received the Gold Medal for Photography.

FotoMuseum Provincie Antwerpen
Waalse Kaai 47
B-2000 Antwerpen
Tel.: ++32 (0)3/242.93.13
Fax: ++32 (0)3/242.93.10
http://www.fotomuseum.be

FIFTY ONE FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY
ZIRKSTRAAT 20
2000 ANTWERPEN
BELGIUM
Tel: ++32 (0)3/289.84.58
Fax: ++32 (0)3/289.84.59
E-MAIL:51@PANDORA.BE
http://www.gallery51.com

MODE A L'EXTREME -SEIZE TALENTS FROM WALLON AND BRUSSELS

(expo)

from september 18th until october 10th at the Centre Wallonie-Bruxelles in Paris

Since the end of the eighties, the creativity of Belgian fashion has imposed itself internationally on a grand scale. More discreet in the beginning, designers from Brussels and Wallon, like Véronique Leroy, Olivier Theyskens, Xavier Delcour, Jean-Paul Knott, Laetitia Crahay, Cristof Beaufays and José Enrique Ona Selfa have have put their mark very clearly on the Parisian catwalk shows in the late nineties - with unique collections and show that Belgian creativity is beautiful and diverse.

With the exposition Mode à l'Extrême , seize talents de Wallonie et de Bruxelles the Centre of Wallonie-Brussels in Paris knows exactly how to put the spotlight on this aspect of fashion, at a moment where they celebrate 25 years of presence in Paris of the French community of Belgium and of the region of Wallon.

From September 18th until October 10th the Centre Wallonie-Brussels will give sixteen fashion talents complete freedom to show their universes in a scenography -developed by the artist Philippe Blondez- were surrealism will evidently be the central point.

Some participants to the expo are already known to fashion insiders, mostly because they have presented themselves in a brilliant manner at international fashion festivals. This is the case with Daniele Controversio and Cathy Pill, winners of the contests ITS#One and ITS#Two, organised in Trieste in 2002 and 2003. Valeria Siniouchkina won the Henri Bendel Price at the Festival d'Hyères in 2002, Sandrina Fasoli the Grand Prix of the Festival d'Hyères in 2003 and Laurent Edmond obtained the price 1.2.3 at the same event, together with

Sandrina Fasoli.

Some participants have proved themselves on the commercial front in and around Brussels: Azniv Afsar and her impeccably cut dresses, Eric Beauduin and his daring recycled bags, Sofie D'Hoore and her controlled modernism, Yaël Landman and her diabolical lingerie, Cristophe Coppens and his exceptional hats and accessories, Annemie Verbeke and her delicious timelessness...

You can also see work by sweet dreamers gifted with a tremendous creativity (Willy for Vêtement de Willy), representatives of haute couture done the Belgian way (Michael Guerra), a designer with a surprising know-how in textiles and knitwear (Daniel Henry) and two young hopefuls who still have to make their name in the fashion world, but who already posses a sharp sense of sewing skills and irony (Olivier Reman and Jean-Paul Lespagnard).

The remarkable exposition 'Mode à l'Extrême , 16 talents de Wallonie-Bruxelles' knows how to emphasize each of these talents and draws the conclusion that on the planet of style, Belgium certainly has a bright future. And definitely on the axis between Brussels and Wallon, two regions that are unbreakably connected.

Le Centre Wallonie-Bruxelles - Elisabeth Dumesnil & Ariane Skoda

127-129, rue Saint-Martin

75004 Paris.

Info: ++33-1-53 01 96 92

Email: cwbparis@hotmail.com

CIRCE - NEW CLOTHING-ACCESSORY LINE FROM ANTWERP FOR WOMEN

(fashion)

Old corsage fabric, asymmetrical patterns, a combination of different styles, badges and a personal touch are the basics of this collection.

Custom prints and powerful texts on the t-shirts catch the eye as does the original packaging for the t-shirts and accessories.

Circé studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp and at the fashion department of the Academy in St.Niklaas and got job experience:at A.F.Vandevorst, Ines Raspoort and Annemie Podeveyn, before starting her own collection.

Points of Sale:

Hit, Strip and Maison Close (accessories), all in Antwerp,

Cosi (Lier), Suma (Tervuren), Prive Joke (Brussels) and Yeung (Gent)

Website:

www.circecollection.be

MALIGN MUSES - WHEN FASHION TURNS BACK

(expo)

Exhibition about looking back and backward view.

“What do we see? And why does our past continue to pursue us? Our collective memory is baggage, heavy baggage, and the older we are, the heavier but the more valuable it becomes. Everyday, I note that my baggage is becoming bigger and more fascinating, but also more complex and confusing. The emotions I shared about fashion with others in Florence, Paris, London or New York were extremely intense, new in revolt in the late sixties, to wonder and great entertainment in the eighties, to pride in the nineties, pride in our own fashion designer’s collections. Now, when I see the collections of today’s designers, I feel that I am looking back at things I have seen before and re-living my experiences. Déjà-vu is not uncommon, a short moment of admiration or negation, moving on without experiencing any major trend. Everyone does his or her thing, conceptually -commercially or non-commercially- but still seeking attention, proving or affirming, seeking or exploring. To me, Malign Muses is the story of this search for references and also of the search of the various motives that drives designers to create particular garments or images for their collections.”

Linda Loppa

This exhibition is the first collaboration between the MoMu (Antwerp) and the V&A (London).

Malign Muses will be held at MoMu from September 18th, 2004 until January 30th, 2005 and at the V&A from February 22nd, 2005 until May 8th, 2005

For more information, please visit the internet site of the MoMu, (online from mid-July onwards): www.momu.be

A  MAGAZINE

A Magazine is the new name of the Belgian fashion magazine whose title previously played with the letters of the alphabet. Insiders cherished the issues curated by fashion designers Dirk Van Saene (N°A), Bernhard Willhelm (N°B), Hussein Chalayan (N°C) and Olivier Theyskens (N°D). This issue will undoubtedly become a collector’s item as well, as the guest curator is Maison Martin Margiela.

Because the guest editor ‘designs’ his own magazine, every issue is reinvented from zero. Maison Martin Margiela used the contacts with everybody who had ties with the house over the years: staff members, collaborators, assistants, models, artists, photographers, musicians, choreographers, filmmakers... Maison Martin Margiela and the extended creative life and expression of the house became the leitmotiv of A Magazine. It’a bit like a reunion, where the creatives were invited to show what they are doing at the moment, or submitted a piece of work they have done for Margiela in the past which still remains precious to them. Since its very beginning, Margiela has worked with white as a unifying signature. A trace of these shades of whites runs like a thread between the various submissions.

‘The past is what bonds us – The future leads us’ became the motto for this reunion.

Info:

A Magazine

Nationalestraat 28/2

B-2000 Antwerp.

Tel.: ++32 (0)3/231.41.49
e-mail: gerdi.amag@modenatie.com  - hilde.amag@modenatie.com