Fashion marries art

Since I was a little girl I loved lace… I thought it was beautiful and feminine. For so many generations it symbolized wealth, and was actually almost considered a commodity. So it is no wonder why, when I was recently at a collection presentation, and realized that spring and summer 2011 is all about lace, I was so excited.

There is something extremely sensual about lace. It is gorgeous in moderation or combined with other fabrics and elements. I particularly love the fact that I don't have to give up my tattered torn jeans to wear it.

Over the years lace has been used in so many different ways. Interestingly, in the old days lace was even used to cover a dead body while awaiting burial.  Lace was a symbol of luxury and wealth, so this custom was meant to honor the dead.

How do I know that? These are the meaningful tidbits I have learned from my genius artist friend Sam Havadtoy.

Last year while visiting his home I was lucky enough to get the "tour de art".  We went to a lovely room downstairs at the basement of his home where his studio is.

Seeing all the different pieces of lace lying around I couldn’t help but be curious.

Sam explained that lace is used as part of the process of creating his paintings. "Lace is a delicate fabric with an ornamental pattern of holes and threads. For the past five years, I have collected old fragments of lace.  I feel a strange affinity with their condition. They were once loved and pampered, held in a place of honor.  However as they got old, torn and stained, they became useless, and were discarded.  Feeling the same way about my life, I wanted to use the lace fragments to express my own uselessness, hoping that in the process to restore its beauty and give us both a new lease on life.  We are all just fragments of each other." explains Sam.

Sam Havadtoy also known for his long term relationship with Yoko Ono, and years ago with John Lennon too, couldn't help but be inspired by those two icons. Yoko was quoted saying about Sam, "An artist is born. I am touched by the magnificence of his work.  He has dipped into the old Hungarian spirit and culture and created a work that is vey now.  It is very Hungarian, very Sam Havadtoy and it's beautiful".

I can't help but agree with the critics around the world who love this Hungarian born artist.

In November of 2010 Sam opened his exhibit "Beauty is Mystery" at the Tel Aviv Museum of Fine Arts, where he was honored. One of his most sensational pieces was donated by him to the museum.

I am touched and honored in equal measures to know him and consider him a friend.