Celebrating Joyful Sculptures

Artist Gesso Cocteau is a vision herself, before even getting to her art. I first met her a few years ago when I was producing a story for a CBS affiliate. 

We had a lovely afternoon strolling her garden filled with her sculptures, and then later watching her work in her studio. Her work is curiously compelling, and evokes the emotional intensity of the human spirit in a minimalist, pure form. 

For the past 20 years she’s been working primarily with bronze. Joy, jubilation, love, desire, grief and despair are all present in her work.

An Indian Wells resident, she’s has been showing in galleries since the late seventies, with her work evolving from drawings in pen and ink, to painting, to fabricated steel sculptures. In 1990 she began focusing on casting in bronze, evolving toward a celebration of the human form. 

“I want my sculptures to be a language that becomes the tangible expression of thought, to reflect my own life’s journey,” says Cocteau. “The truth that lives in the posture of the body is what becomes evident, a truth that reflects the condition of the human spirit.”

Her monumental works include a 51-ft. cast bronze, Endless Celebration, the tallest standing cast bronze sculpture in America, installed in Bellevue, Washington, and a 20 ft. cast bronze Dragon commissioned by Don Brownstein and installed in Los Angeles, California. 

Some of her many commissions, aside from major private collectors, include Hard Rock Cafes in Rome, Berlin, Niagara Falls, Boston, Cleveland,  and Orlando. When I was in Rome this past year, it was cool to see her work in the Café windows.  

Her show, “20 Years of Bronze,” is currently at Classic Art Gallery, 73-399 El Paseo in Palm Desert. 

Check out her website at www.gessococteau.com.

Project Runway Designers Visit SoCal Desert

Fashion and reality television collided in a good way at Fashion Week El Paseo in Palm Desert last week. The most anticipated runway show featured six former Project Runway competitors, with Coachella Valley resident and Project Runway alum Michael Costello the brightest star. Costello was instrumental in lining up the designers, along with Palm Springs Life Magazine Fashion Editor Susan Stein. Participating with Costello were Mila Hermanovski, Seth Aaron, Joshua Christensen, Michael Drummond, Gordana Gehlhausen.

The designers wowed the standing room only crowd at the runway show with their original collections.

Costello is always a favorite with his local peeps, and he didn't disappoint with his signature draping and sleek designs.

Designer Seth Aaron's collection was audacious with his punk sensability, 50's French style theme, and pop art inspired fabrics.

Possibly the most fun of the entire week was the Project Runway trunk show where fans and fashionistas had an opportunity to browse the collections, try on pieces, meet the designers and have one-on-one consultations.

Business was brisk for most of the designers as a steady stream of customers packed the tent, trying on pieces and being measured for orders.

Costello catered to new and old customers, many pleasantly surprised by his reasonable prices.