“The real hero” Ciro Quintana, Ciro Art. Gouache on paper, 44 by 30 inch. Private collection.

It was such an honor to receive this piece of me from artist Ciro Quintana, and it is so generous and beautiful I had to share. Ciro was born in 1964, in Havana, Cuba, educated in Cuba, and has lived and worked in Barcelona, Milan, Miami, and New York since 1992. Please take a look at his site, where you can see how talented he is: www.ciroquintana.com.

Ivan Jensen sketched this portrait of me several years ago. It was in the Gramercy Park Arts Club in New York City with a fabulous cocktail reception for his entire exhibition. I love that it is in the colors of the rainbow macaroons that fill the cafes and pastisseries of the streets of Paris. Please see more of his talents on his site. This includes a series of artworks and a poem ”Anything Is Possible,” which coordinates so well with one of my favorite quotations of the same name: http://www.ivanjensonartist.com/

The same year Maya Angelou visited the area where I have been working in education, fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld came out with a collection and show which goes nicely juxtaposed with today’s theme of the rainbow. We appreciate originality and innovation, therefore Mr. Lagerfeld’s work as an artist is well-suited for this site. Like Daphne Guinness, he chooses unique and creative projects which set him apart from the rest of the design world. In fact, just this year he did a commercial for Magnum ice cream, a delicious brand not often found in the States, but relished in Europe, as well as another for Volkswagon, and some others.

Given the fact that much of the world lives in poverty, we hope the fashion world won’t mind us posting something from 2008 as it directly coincides with Ms. Angelou’s speech.  After all, the work of K. Lagerfeld is pretty distinct and timeless, and that is what we feel is true style.Karl Lagerfeld’s Fashion Show of Taste and Originality.