Joseph was in Paris last week to perform at the annual Los Angeles fashion show at Galleries Lafayette. Here is an article about the show with a brief mention of Joseph. (The image is from the event's catalog.)



Fashion Wire Daily

While thousands of marchers rioted in Paris, others flocked to the city's biggest department store to celebrate L.A. fashion and the gaudiest symbols of America.

In the same week that France rejected more pro-capitalist labor laws, Galleries Lafayette created a pro-American parade on Boulevard Haussmann, named after the architect who once built huge avenues to allow the military to control the Paris mob.

In the 9th arrondissement, under a billboard showing Naomi Campbell as the meat pattie in a silk cushion hamburger, a marching band, baton twirlers, motorcycle gangs and even Grid-Iron players made up an all-American parade. Cheerleaders, break-dancers and carloads of hip hop boys and girls drew masses of potential consumers at its 8:30pm slot - when most Parisians are heading home.

Across in the 7th arrondissement, "casseurs" or wreckers overturned cars and fought battles with riot police.

The in-store promotion was also efficiently tailored for mass consumption. Paying homage not only to L.A but all that America is famous for, a 60 years of Fender exhibition opened the same evening inside the store featuring hand decorated guitars from a range of eras and rock 'n roll stars.

Launch party folks sipped Moet and Chandon Champagne and were entertained under the gorgeous leadlight dome by Ohio singer songwriter Joseph Arthur.

However, just like in the protest, confusion reigned in the store. Arthur was initially denied access to the supersized party by a half dozen, shoving security heavies, in a free-for-all at the main entrance.

Upstairs, the entire motorcycle club from the street parade mixed with L.A. fashion fans, who milled about the exotic colored American Apparel display ogling the flexing muscles of bikini-clad body builders.

Staying true to the theme of Venice Beach and Hollywood studios, young baseball capped models dressed by Guess? Body painters in candy colored wigs animated the women's wear floor - reminding guests of
Julia Roberts' opening scene in "Pretty Woman" and the showy babes of "Baywatch."

Tori Praver - the green-eyed flaxen-haired beauty replacing
Paris Hilton as the face of Guess? - was the biggest highlight at this launch.

Sadly, there was precious little sign of L.A. fashion, save for American Apparel's range of ethical cotton-wear, but the smoke and mirrors that Hollywood studios are famous for were enough to distract most guests in this complete fashion void.

(from Fashion Wire Daily)

Thanks Angela!
Some pictures of Joseph at the Fashion L.A. party at the Hard Rock Cafe/Galeries Lafayette, 6 Apr 2006

http://www.filmmagic.com/SearchResult.a ... hur&sfld=C

(from filmmagic.com)
P.S. Who are those girls, were they made to wear those hats?

wow he's doing shop animation now...sorry i find it (him) gross; i've been a faithful devotee for years, then, at random , saw his gross gross blog and now i don't know anymore what to think of him, his events/non events and those embarassing spelling mistakes... only wish next album will be proportionally good,
Vince

ooops...embarrassing
i'm german so i guess i can make mistakes

Hello Vince, welcome!

Joseph playing at a fashion party, I found that idea a little surrealistic, too. But why shouldn’t he perform there if he gets the chance to, what’s wrong about this? Did you read the new blog about the signing experience? And a couple of days ago there was another one online called “I was at the parade” which he deleted later on. Speaking of, yes, the blogs are provocative at times and of course not everybody’s cup of tea. What would true provocation be without people who feel offended and disgusted? What a pity you are one of those, though.



No, Vince, you can’t. In fact, 'embarrassing' with one 'r' in a complaint about someone else’s embarrassing spelling mistakes is the most embarrassing thing I’ve ever seen in a post, no matter if you’re German or bringing another embarrassingly lame excuse.

Edit: Forgot to say thank you to Angela and Helen for the article and photos!

Good find I couldn't think of what wire service would have them.

Maybe they handed out the hats for people to wear to get into"L.A. mood"? You could also get tatoo paintings at the store.

thank you for the welcome...
just my opinion, really, and i do make a difference between gross and provocative...and when english is your native language it's just surprising, as much as the texts have been officially exposed on his website, still containing the same mistakes...maybe jsut typing mistakes but nevermind...more interesting, the last post is much better...he talks about invisible parade...does he talk about an european release or an american release?

Hi Vince, welcome on board.

This is actually the forum for posting news articles. If you want to talk about Joseph's work, please move your discussion over to the Joseph Arthur forum. Thanks.

A few videos of the party here (no Joseph) :
http://www.galerieslafayette.com/goFold ... _Parade_LA
(some idea of the parade Joe talked about in one of his recent blog)
http://www.galerieslafayette.com/goFold ... o_Tatouage (on this one we could listen to Can't exist in the back)

Joseph decorated a Fender guitar, called 'Teenage Dreams', that was also displayed in the 'RockChic' exhibition at the Galeries Lafayette, Paris, April-May 2006

Here is a short video of the exhibition with a glimpse of Joseph's guitar, I think
http://www.galerieslafayette.com/goFold ... o_guitares

Pictures courtesy of a Fender fan, alain ....

Joseph's comments on the guitar he decorated for the exhibition:
"I wanted to paint the guitar like I would one of my own. Like a teenager hiding in his bedroom giving his most prized possession mythical tattoos. I wanted it to look like I lived with it. Like I wrote some classics on it. I wanted to give it a soul."

More on the 'RockChic' exhibition and guitars here

There will be an exhibition of the guitars in the UK later this year before the guitars will be auctioned off to raise money for charity.

The Rockchic exhibition looks set to be staged in Dublin and London. Anyone want this job ....

JOBS N STUFF>>

BigTime TV / RockChic(TM) - Channel Manager
To mark Fender(r)'s 60th anniversary, BigTime TV has invited 60 world-renowned creators to customise a Stratocaster(r). The exhibition 'RockChic' launched to huge acclaim in Paris, and is now set to move to Dublin and London, before the guitars are auctioned for charity. Contributing creators include: Bryan Adams (ft Kate Moss), Agnes B, Christopher Bailey, Bono, Sir Peter Blake, Anton Corbijn, Patrick Cox, Buddhist Punk, Diane Von Furstenberg, Jamie Hewlett , David LaChapelle, Peter Lindbergh (ft Keith Richards), Jennifer Lopez, Jean Baptiste Mondino, Rankin (ft Heidi Klum), Nick Rhodes, Johnny Rocket, Lord Richard Rogers, Hedi Slimane (Dior), Philippe Starck.

BigTime is looking to recruit a Channel Manager who will coordinate the logistics of staging the show in Dublin and London, providing a day to day link between our exhibition venues, production team, publicists and the 60 creators. In addition, the Channel Manager will play a key role in developing complimentary RockChic channels - including a book, a dynamic digital channel and possibly a TV documentary. The manager will also be responsible for identifying new commercial opportunities and partners for both the online and physical manifestation of RockChic. The Channel Manager should be a good organiser and people person, able to balance various concurrent projects. Editorial and web skills an advantage, ability to get on the phone and talk to potential partners a must. Applicants should send a CV to info@bigtime.tv - check http://www.rockchic.tv for more information on Rock Chic.

(from CMU Daily - 06.07.06)