As one of the leaders of the local arts community -- and a major player on the national scene -- Payton is incredibly stylish and always interested in the intersection of fashion and art. So, Cat has asked each designer to sketch an outfit for Payton to wear to a museum opening. Perhaps even the opening of the new MCA building in late 2007?
The designers have until Wednesday, April 11, to turn their sketches into Cat. She will then forward them to Payton and post them right here on The Cat's Pajamas. The winning designer will receive accommodations at the Adam's Mark Hotel, dinner for two, theater tickets, tickets to see Peace Project, the new exhibit at MCA, and a brief meeting with Payton herself.
The winner will be announced on the runway on Wednesday, April 18.
To help guide the designers, Cat asked Payton a few questions about herself and her sense of style.
Name: Cydney Payton
Bio: Cydney Payton is the executive director/chief curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver. As such, she has led the museum to the creation of a new building designed by British architect David Adjaye, which is set to open in the fall of 2007. Recent exhibitions include Pop Jack: From Warhol to Muramaki (2002); BLOOD: Lines & Connections (2003); PILLish: Harsh Realities and Gorgeous Destinations (2004); Over One Billion Served: Conceptual Photography from the People's Republic of China (2004); Truss Thrust: The Artifice of Space (2005), and See Into Liquid (2006).
Payton's work has received attention in hundreds of articles and publications such as Art in America, Artnews, Architectural Record, Art Papers, Metropolitan Homes, Newsweek and The New York Times. For the past four years Payton has been ranked in the top ten in "Denver's Top 25, Forces of Culture" in the Rocky Mountain News.
Payton has served on numerous public art panels including the World Affairs Conference, University of Colorado; Art in Public Places Program for the City of Denver; and Creative Capital, New York. She has taught at the University of Colorado at Denver and Rhode Island School of Design and been a frequent guest critic at Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design as well as the University of Colorado at Denver School of Planning and Architecture.
How do you see art and fashion intersecting? Art makes fashion
How would you define your style? Minimal
What do you love about Denver? The sky
High heels or flats? High heels
Loose or tailored? Tailored
Jackie O or Jackie Brown? Jackie O
Favorite colors? Black
Last book you read? Creating Participatory Cultures
Vogue or W? W
Favorite designer? Miu Miu
Favorite Denver eatery? Z Cuisine
Town or country? Town
Form or function? Form
For every day: Large tote or small clutch? Large tote
Pretty or edgy? Pretty
Manolo Blahniks or cowboy boots? Manolo Blahniks
Skinny jean: great comeback or fashion faux pas better left in 1988? Faux Pas
Fashion trend you're most excited about? Red lipstick
Clothes or accessories — i.e. do you prefer basics with great accessories or are the clothes themselves the statement? The clothes themselves.
Simple and classic or theatrical and wild? Simple and classic.
Favorite local boutique? MAX
Designer you most wish you could meet (past or present)? Miuccia Prada
Favorite accessory? My wedding ring
Green chile or red chili? Green
Favorite guilty pleasure? Mr. Ping
Favorite place to travel? Into my husband's heart
Suits or separates? Separates
Prints or solids? Solids
Favorite decade for fashion? Now
Chloe Sevigny or Scarlett Johansson? Scarlett Johansson
Did you ever have big hair? Absolutely!
What's playing on your iPod? Miles Davis, Blossom Dearie, Air, De Phazz, Damian Marley, TV on the Radio.
Most stylish building in Denver? Soon-to-be MCA
Building most in need of a makeover? Penn Station, NYC
