New Years 2010- Nikki Beach is celebrating all over the globe!

Runner Up:

The Kenwood Group wishes you the happiest of holidays... and a smooth ride ahead in 2010!

White Wall and KiptonART Foundation Party at Nikki Beach Friday night was absolutely the ultimate scene for the Nouveau Bourgeois Connoisseurs d'arte.

All the nipped, tucked, botoxed, coiffed, primped, glossed, and overall fantabulous were poised for viewing. That is until the ultra glam performance began by NYC's The Box. Word is, over 30 employees from the NYC based ensemble was flown down for the exclusive event... and definitely worth it.

Click to view the SBS Photo Gallery of the event.

Thursday evening, I attended the Cipriani Wall Street Fashion Series featuring designer Duncan Quinn. Alex Merkin, who relayed the designer’s regrets for not being able to present the collection personally, introduced the menswear collection. Mr. Quinn is currently in Miami in preparation for the opening of his forthcoming Limited Editions pop-up shop in Miami's design district… featuring its own indoor croquet pitch.

The London-born, New York based designer and “recovering lawyer” found inspiration for his featured designs in film and classic works of art; including all things Alfred Hitchcock, The Thomas Crown Affair, James Bond, Eastern Promises and the Mona Lisa.

I found the color palette for the line to be both regal and playful, with heavy plums, burgundy and charcoal tempered by lavender and rose accents in ties, handkerchiefs and dress shirts. There is an intellectual sharpness and meticulous attention to detail in the cufflinks, leather duffels, and umbrellas.

After the show, I caught up with Mr. Merkin, donning Duncan Quinn garb head to toe. The Director of the upcoming film Across the Hall, indulged my questions about the December 4th New York release. He told me that the film, featuring Danny Pino, Brittany Murphy and Mike Vogel, is a thriller about a standoff between a young man, his fiancée and his best friend, who occupy hotel rooms across the hall from one another. I gathered it’s a little dark and scandalous, a delicious combination.

Later into the night, I had a lively chat over drinks with Simon van Kempen and stylist Derek Warburton, who lamented over Editor Britten Heft’s absence. It seems they just missed each other at an earlier charity event. Designer Peyman Umay joined us for a spell, offering style expertise and exchanging opinions of the evening’s presentation.

I left Cipriani picturing how dapper and tailored my man would look in a “bespoke Duncan Quinn suit” while defending clients in the courtroom and for all our upcoming Holiday festivities… I think Christmas may have to come early this year.

My two fave gallerist have done it again. David Kesting and Johnny Leo of Leo Kesting Gallery, showcased an explosive opening on a stormy night for Jonny Fenix latest: Swing the Door Wide, this past Thursday to a crowd of 400, rave reviews, and selling 6 pieces from the collection. I've professed my love, support, and enthusiasm for the dynamic duo before, yet I'm pretty sure Mr. Kesting was the most ecstatic about this show. Obviously, I had to know why the hype...

David Kesting: I am pretty excited about the show as its been about a year since we had fresh works from Fenix. He was well received in Miami for Art Basel and in NY for The Armory, but this is much grander then the scope of those two shows. The window of the gallery is done in a wall of dripped pink similar to pepto-bismol. A preemptive coat for the weak of stomach who may not be ready to handle these new uneasy works. Just past the facade, is the entitled painting "Cake"- a framed 20x24 mixed media on panel, that starts the collection with a bang of lime green and white frosting with the words 'Get Fucked' written in cursive. The piece is surrounded in white Christmas lights, green AstroTurf and bouquets of flowers. A poingnat starting point and reminder to those who may disagree with the artists that frankly, your opinion doesnt matter.

SBS: Love it... but SFW, right? His statements are pretty in your face, which works do people gravitate towards?

DK: Of course crowd favorites, "Jesus Rodeo" and "A Note to All Indigenous People Everywhere" and "This Will Only Hurt Forever", round out a solid collection. These works, originally made in 2008, are a reflection of our desire to take Fenix's work everywhere, but also reflect the showmanship of the artist.

SBS: What do you mean? They are a trans-America show pleaser/stopper?

DK: The Miami New Times loved them from Fountain Miami, but will the pieces ever sell? Or are we, as art dealers, content on constantly showing these works just to upset the audience?

SBS: Got it. What is new to this collection that might gratify the audience?

DK: A wide availability of limited edition prints is also a new welcome to the collection. A set of 5 silk screens entitled, "I miss licking stamps", are the artists call sign - a pink street swallow with cordial black blossoms behind it, screened upon wood grained planks to give each piece a unique feel. The works are selling for $450. framed. Also available, "Tokyo!" and "Tiny", an edition of 81 pieces: "Tokyo!" prints at 23 x 17 and "Tiny" at 6.5 x 4.5, both framed and also images of the street swallow.

SBS: Hook me up. I love to love the swallow prints, the screened on wood is absolutely delicious.

DK: Yup, you and Lori Levine, publicist a celebrity handler. She made her way through the crowd, quite happy with here acquisition of Fenix's work from last year. So much so, that she framed the box we sent it in and her collection was photographed by the NY Times for the apartment reviews.  From the new collection, she promptly snatched up "Yeah, thats exciting, sounds good, shoot me an email". A wonderful 12 x 20 framed mixed media work- a close up of a Macintosh keyboard were all the keypad letters are replaced with 'BLAH BLAH BLAH'.

SBS: Fantastic. Fenix is such an invigorating artist. Plug the show, how long is it up for and where can people catch it?

DK: Jonny Fenix: Swing the Door Wide, until July 5, 2009. 812 Washington St (at Gansevoort) NY NY 10014, Tue - Sat from 11:00 am until 7:00 pm, Sun and Mon 1– 6pm.

SBS: Thanx!

DK: No probs.

*Cake, mixed media on panel, 19 x 23.5, 2009 by Jonny Fenix

*A Note to all Indigenous People Everywhere, mixed media on panel, 29.5 x 23.5, 2008 by Jonny Fenix

*Tiny, limited edition of 80 hand pulled silkscreen prints, 6.5 x 4.5, 2009 by Jonny Fenix

Please visit or contact Leo Kesting Gallery for more info and pricing.