· Fact: Emilio Pucci was a Godlike Genius and the entire female race is better for him having stormed through the 20th Century like a hellion of color and adventure. Smaller, but no less interesting, fact: Marilyn Monroe demanded that she be buried wearing Pucci, and in point of fact, was. So when we got word that installation artist Devon Dikeou would be showing his latest, Marilyn Monroe wanted to be Buried in Pucci, at Philadelphia University in September, well, we got so psyched we had to pass it on immediately. But that’s not all. This thing is heavy:

The installation will be comprised of various objects of art, artifacts and design including 36 abstract paintings created by the artist based on a Pucci dress. The number 36 represents the age of Monroe on her death. Five color photographs documenting the American flag hanging at half-mast in New York’s Union Square to commemorate the death of the great baseball hero Joe DiMaggio will be mounted on aluminum and hung sequentially showing the change of light on this mournful day in American popular culture (five was DiMaggio’s Yankee baseball jersey number). DiMaggio adored Monroe not only in her lifetime when he took her as his bride but in her death and year’s after their divorce remembering his love for her with six red roses that he would send weekly to her burial site. During the run of the exhibition, The Parisian, the Beverly Hills florist who took care of DiMaggio’s weekly request, will deliver a funerary urn with six red roses to The Design Center. The artist has commissioned a replica of the DiMaggio-Monroe platinum eternity band and it will be displayed for viewers to touch or try on affecting the spirit of this iconic American romance.

It’s like some crazy spiritual-numerological secret history of America. We can’t wait! [PhilaU]
· Meanwhile, Fashion Voyage continues its First Wednesdays series at La Bourse at Sofitel tomorrow after work with new designers Jaames Nelson and Orlando Caquias. More info on the link. [MySpace]
· And congrats to Salon Blush on both one year in the biz and their latest venture, Ralph’s Barber Shop, which opens on their anniversary. It all goes down with a big party/BBQ on July 11, from 5 to 9pm.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008 at 4:22 pm.