*Bergdorf Goodman Men's and Van Cleef and Arpel's Holiday Windows 2016*

The fall production season rolled in full force this year at the Bergdorf Goodman Men's store, with a slew of rotating window and interior installations, and glittering holiday window production. This is the time of year I live for! When all I do is make art for a living, all day everyday on a dynamic team of highly trained artisans. This year Bergdorf's holiday theme is 'Destination Extraordinary,' with windows that pay homage to exploration in nature and adventure. Under the watchful eye and hand of visual director Shane Ruth; our team crafted lush environments out of grass panels, chromed wooden sculptures, bejeweled floors, and faux stone walls carved out of foam. 

                                     

Bergdorf Men's 'Destination Extraordinary' Holiday Windows 2016

Art Direction by Shane Ruth

Fabrication by Sparkles and BG Men's Crew

In October, I took an unprecedented leap during holiday window season to work on the Van Cleef and Arpel's holiday windows with Art Director Douglas Little. The remaining warm fall days were spent painting and sculpting in a charming backyard on the Upper West, before transitioning to a surreal, subterranean studio in a rock quarry at the Compleat Sculpture in Tribeca. This year, Van Cleef and Arpel's esteemed holiday vitrines have been transformed into highly customized, lush winter gardens that feature an newly launched Emerald jewelry collection. These enchanting verdant displays feature a hand-crafted landscape of moss and succulents, painted flowers, leaves molded out of resin, sculpted vines, and shards of selenite stones styled to emulate pine. 

                                     

Van Cleef and Arpels Holiday Windows 2016

Art Direction by Douglas Little

Fabrication and Installation by Sarah Sparkles and DL Crew

The holiday window season came to a dramatic conclusion in November, with the tumultuous presidential election at the fore. The 5th Avenue window dressers working across the street from Trump Tower had to maintain intense focus and attention to detail during install, while the protests waged on outside the glass. As they say in the biz; 'the show must go on..' 

The Bergdorf Goodman and Van Cleef and Arpels holiday windows are on 57th-58th street and 5th avenue, up through January 2nd, 2017. If you are in NYC, I hope you will take a lil trip to Midtown and enjoy the artistry of this season. Wishing a healthy and happy holiday season to all.

 Love, Sparkles 

*Van Cleef and Arpels Holiday Décor* November 2012

For the past three years creative director Douglas Little has designed the Van Cleaf and Arpels holiday windows and interior décor. This year he booked me and one of my favorite co-workers on the planet Jessie Flynn to encrust a phoenix statue in mother of pearl for the main floor of the iconic luxury jewelry store. This was one of my favorite projects of the season, because meticulous detail work with tiny sparkly things is one of my life's callings. The phoenix sculpture was fabricated by the ultra talented artist George Sellers and one of his assistants started the shell work in Dallas. Jessie and I brought it home :)

Jessie Flynn is an amazing inter-disciplinary artist hailing from Scotland/ Northern England. Her specialties include painting, mosaicing, mask making, and is currently producing props for the highly acclaimed theatre show Sleep No More.

Jessie Flynn painting Van Cleef and Arpels Holiday windows 2011

The first day Jessie and I ever worked together we ended up dressed as stiletto-clad maids covered in hot wax assisting Douglas in a Bergdorf Goodman Fashion Week window. The fates smiled upon us.Since then we have worked together as production artists on television, glamorous special events and unique high-end fashion windows. We are like old war buddies, with a high threshold for pain and extremely long hours. We love what we do. This holiday production season we were both working around the clock, running back and forth between Bergdorf Goodman holiday production and Van Cleef and Arpels.

                                                                         TADA!!!

 

 

The completion of the Van Cleef holiday windows and decor was celebrated with a fabulous launch party. I was too busy drinking champagne and having a ball with my cohorts to take many photos, but luckily the paparazzi was there.­ Photos available on Patrick Mcmullan.com