New York Art Scene

Salmagundi Celebration

The Salmagundi Club of New York is one of the country’s oldest arts organizations, founded in 1871 by artists and patrons to support one another. The clubhouse occupies a beautiful, landmarked brownstone at 47 Fifth Avenue. Originally built in 1853 for Irad Hawley, president of the Pennsylvania Coal Company, and his wife Sarah, it’s the […]

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Karen Rempel Voguing Cherry

Voguing Cherry Blossom

Hello friends, this month I visit Chelsea’s new gallery on the block, Hauser & Wirth Editions at 443 West 18th Street. Trees are flaunting their blossoms and I feel like voguing in wearable art by Engineered by Andrea T. This fantastical pink pouffe mocks the cherry blossoms, embellishing a slim black dress with Andrea’s trademark […]

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West Village model Karen Rempel at Manhattan's Gansevoort Peninsula

At the Beach!

Manhattan’s first beach, the unimaginatively named Gansevoort Peninsula, opened in October 2023. When choosing the location for this month’s column, I wanted to keep the beach action going after a quick trip I made to play on la playa in Puerto Vallarta in January, so I decided to head for our new beach on the […]

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New York Photographer Philip Maier

Philip Maier’s Union Square

My friend, the fantastic New York photographer Philip Maier, has just released a fascinating book about Union Square. Phil’s photos capture the past 20 years of New York history in this focal point of Greenwich Village. His artistic vision will touch you with humor, joy, grief, sadness, and his tremendous love of the city and […]

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Karen's Quirky Style - Engineered by Andrea T "Dominion Day" dress and painting

EAT Dominion Day

Engineered by Andrea T is the design studio of transformation artist Andrea Thurlow, a designer and bespoke tailor with a flair for the dramatic. She creates striking evening wear, day wear, and Broadway costumes with a personal aesthetic using top-quality natural fabrics and an engineer’s precision methodology. My favorite piece by Andrea T is a […]

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Karen's Quirky Style - West Village Model Karen Rempel's singing debut in Bowie blue suit

Quirky Singing in 70’s Style

You might have guessed based on my personality and love of unique expression that I am a big fan of David Bowie. He’s definitely an influencer on my quirky style. I’ve previously mentioned conducting the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra dressed as Bowie. You may not know that I also ran the New York Marathon dressed as […]

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KQS - West Village Model Karen Rempel in award-winning photo Playing Statues on Bleecker by Dusty Berke - square

Award-Winning Style

My friend Dusty Berke received an award for her arresting photograph Playing Statues on Bleecker on October 16 at the prestigious Salmagundi Club. The photograph of West Village model and photojournalist Karen Rempel (moi) originally appeared in the “Karen’s Quirky Style” column in the May 2019 issue of WestView News. You might recall my blog […]

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Karen's Quirky Style - Pierre Cardin Red and White Parabolas

Pierre Cardin Futures

I saw the Pierre Cardin Future Fashion exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum, and loved his fascinating future-forward clothes.   Cocktails at the Norm The exhibit was very dimly lit, to protect the fabric, so unfortunately these photos are all somewhat dark. Anyway, I thought it was worth the trip to Brooklyn, because it’s a fun […]

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Karen's Quirky Style - New York Model Karen Rempel at Pace Opening

Pounced at Pace

I attended the opening of the new Pace Gallery in Chelsea this week, and had a great time checking out the 7 floors, including outdoor terrace with great views of Chelsea and downtown Manhattan. The event was covered in the New York Social Diary, in a fantastic article by Jill Krementz. Patron of the arts […]

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Karen's Quirky Style - Camp at the Met - Fashion Mashup New York Style

Outrageous Camp at the Met

The Met has a new exhibit in The Costume Institute‘s “Fashion Wing,” called Camp: Notes on Fashion. The above was my favorite quirky look in the exhibit. I like the mashup of elements: Mannequin holding baby Mannequin wearing glasses Plastic rainhat Chiffon ballgown with yellow birds on it

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