I can't decide if I want to live in or avoid the worlds depicted in German artist Till Gerhard's paintings. Lush, haunting, enigmatic, and menacing, they could be pleasant dreams or subtle nightmares. Either way, they're riveting.
Recently in Art Category
Artisanal Ansatz is a French design duo interested in surrealism and ballpoint pens. They painstakingly recreate graphic paper grids that are adorned with simple-lined images of everyone from Woody Allen and Rene Magritte to David Bowie and Serge Gainsbourg. (And one cannot forget Snoop!) Get 'em in their online shop or over at Colette.
Loving Grace Lee's colorfully minimal illustrations of everything from Tokyo bar fronts and travel essentials to mini prawns and her own hodgepodge workspace.
It's hard to attribute these to either Campbell's or Andy Warhol, but skater street wear label Supreme pays homage to both in their latest collection of Campbell's® branded products. You can choose from three different types of Vans sneakers riddled with can labels or wear a baseball cap spelling out the word "SOUP" if you so choose. Pair it all with a grilled cheese sandwich. Crusts cut off, please.
You changed the world, Steve Jobs. Thank you.
If I had to choose one store in which to blow a ton of money I don't have, I would--without hesitation--throw it all away at LN-CC, aka Late Night Chameleon Cafe. Pretty much ground zero for the heppest of hep-cats in East London (and many a celebrity who book private appointments), LN-CC is a Kubrick-esque concept store, web shop, library, basement club, music hub, and mini style museum. I'm going to go ahead and declare it the coolest store in the world right now, because you know what? IT IS.
Launched in September 2010, LN-CC is the brainchild of seasoned buyers John Skelton and Dan Mitchell (formerly of Harrods and Oki-Ni). Boasting innovative and hard to find labels like Damir Doma, P.A.M, Saskia Diez, Folk, Tze Goh, and footwear brands like Silent and Yuketen, LN-CC takes their retail concept further by stocking art books, zines, and music. They also host DJ nights and art openings such as this month's Richie Culver exhibit and have recently introduced a sort of "thank you to our International customers" contest that will give away a free trip to London plus a £15,000 shopping spree at the store.
A place for inspiration as much as retail-ization, the LN-CC store itself is a dramatically minimal wonder. From a caged hallway tunnel to a series of individual rooms linked via untreated wood, soft lit concrete, and gravel pathways, it's a lifestyle store unlike any other. Here's a peek inside...
The Earth Room
The Light Room
The Library
The Warmth Room
Items from my wish list...
Looking forward to the next issue of Zoetrope: All-Story guest designed by Beck.
While browsing in the men's section of Bloomingdale's downtown, I kept feeling like someone was watching me. I turned around and found myself eye to eye with this odd, bearded sailor fellow. Next to him was another bearded man whose thatch of brown hair was offset by a seasick green visage. They stared me down as I approached. When I got close enough to touch--their eery open-eyed gazes unwavering--I realized that they were, in fact, made out of paper. Lots and lots of paper. I couldn't really comprehend what I was seeing; moreover, I couldn't believe that what I was looking was some seriously AWESOME artwork right there in the basement of Bloomingdale's.
This is the work of Nick Georgiou, a Tucson-based visual artist who is inspired by "the death of the printed word." Nick makes sculpture out of books and newspapers in an attempt to convey our shift towards digital domination. A former New Yorker, Nick also draws inspiration from the surroundings in his new desert Southwest home. His sculptures run the gamut from portraits and still life tableaus to spooked looking animal creatures. It's weirdly wonderful work, subversively genius. You know what's also weird and wonderful? That Bloomingdale's is exposing the masses to such interesting art. Bravo.
My new favorite store reminds me of both home in the desert southwest and what my dream bungalow would look like in Silverlake.
Love, Adorned: 269 Elizabeth Street between Prince & Houston; loveadorned.com
Let me just say this about the new Cartoon Network show, The Problem Solverz: There's a "half anteater, half man, and half dog" character named Alfe (pronounced al-FAY) who loves pizza. Also, there's a robot named Roba who isn't really a robot, just a neurotic boy who dresses like a robot to combat his fear of humanity. Then there's Horace who's totally normal except he pals around with these two crazies who, um, drive him crazy all while they're trying to--wait for it--solve problems.
Airing on Cartoon Network on Monday nights, The Problem Solverz is the brainchild of artist Ben Jones, he of the ultra-awesome art collective Paper Rad. Ben's work has been shown at PaceWildenstein, Deitch Projects, Tate Britain, and The New Museum of Contemporary Art among many others, and he has done animation for everyone from M.I.A. and Beck to the Nick Jr. show Yo Gabba Gabba. With The Problem Solverz, comes a whole new bag of neon magic. I think I've watched the "Pizza Time" clip a dozen times already. H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S. Don't miss this show.
It's ridiculous how much I want this belt. Isn't it amazing?! It's the cast bronze wonder-work of Brooklyn-based Serra Victoria Bothwell Fels, an artist, traveler, designer, jeweler, metalsmith, teacher, writer, illustrator, and rusty object collector. That's just a preliminary list of Serra's polymath-like descriptions, FYI. She currently makes awkwardly shaped house installations in places like a former convent and will be showcasing new work at the Gowanus Ballroom's Art + Architecture show opening this Friday. Go check it out!
"Black is the uniform of poets. We lined them up and gave them new customs..." - Poem #2 by Richard Hell and Patti Smith
I have not wept openly at a concert since I witnessed Tori Amos sing "Me and a Gun" a capella in the firefly light of Austin, TX, sometime around 1996. Last night marks occasion #2. We arrived at Milk Studios around 8pm for Steven Sebring's ILLUMINATION: Who Are Poets exhibition expecting a short poetry reading, as promised, by his friend and subject Patti Smith. The entire exhibition celebrates the work of poets--lyrical and otherwise--such as Jim Carroll, Neil Young, Michael Stipe, Philip Glass, Joey Ramone, Richard Hell, and Ms. Smith herself. The performance that was given, however, was something else altogether.
The room was wall to wall with the usual black bedraggled fashion-slash-artist armada, and we all staked our spots in front of the small, piano covered stage an hour before anything started. It was sweaty and close, but no one cared, and when the music finally faded (REM over the loudspeakers, coincidentally), Michael Stipe took the stage to snap us to attention with his fingers. Patti emerged, her hands clutching several sheets of paper, and she gave a ferocious reading of Poem #2, dedicating it to Richard Hell, and finished by tossing all of her sheets to the nonexistent wind as the piano tinkered on, the rest of us hooping and hollering, happy with what we thought was the entire performance. But, lo, there was more...
What followed was Patti singing a soft, stripped-down version of Neil Young's "It's a Dream" (which started my tear-train), her longtime bandmate Lenny Kaye honoring his other former bandmate Jim Carroll with a song, and Patti reciting her emotional poem, Radio Baghdad, while her daughter Jessie Smith played a Philip Glass piece on the piano. Then there was the moment of true tears, the opening chords to REM's "Everybody Hurts." Everyone looked over at Mr. Stipe, who was standing behind the piano merely watching, mind you, clearly not intending to participate. Then, as Patti began to sing, she "accidentally" forgot all of the words, and he jumped on the stage to rescue her. Together they led us all in a sing-a-long which saw not only me, but several softies, bawling our eyes out as we shouted the lyrics with not one, but two of our heroes in a smallish concrete room on the westside of Manhattan.
I know I'm being dramatic as I type this, but it was that kind of night. This was not the song that ended the show, however. Joey Ramone was the last honored poet, and his musical homage included another sing-a-long which Patti insisted the audience lead, this time to "Blitzkrieg Bop." There wasn't a single person in that place--not even the coolest of the cool--who wasn't smiling and singing along to the chorus. It made me wonder, hope really, that maybe we could all leave that room remembering the importance of a poet's words, be they spoken, shouted, keyed, strummed, or read.
They're piling in the backseat
They're generating steam heat
Pulsating to the back beat
The Blitzkrieg Bop
Photographs by Hamish Robertson
Chest-diving deer. Treehouse heart explosions. Girls and cats, messy and intertwined. I love the tangled-haired sleeping beauties drawn by Canadian artist Marigold Santos.
"I paint self-portraits because I am so often alone, because I am the person I know best."
Everyone's puttin' in their two pesos on what their favorite _______s were in 2010. I've resisted because I'm not big on lists, but I've since caved. This was an interesting year in movies--or better yet, a polarizing year. There have been strong love-it/hate-it reactions to most of the films released during the holiday season (hi, Black Swan, True Grit, and Somewhere) and not too many standouts from the summer blockbuster extravaganza. I've had many a holiday party conversation about what cinema meant in 2010, and I found that few films actually touched people emotionally this year. The conversations often gravitated towards the subject of television instead, specifically long-form series' like Mad Men, Breaking Bad (my fave), and the now defunct The Wire, which has become a sensation in its DVD/download afterlife. Basically, TV shows that feel like a novel and movie combined are where it's at.
I have faith in the film industry, though. I'm hoping there's a zeitgeist around the corner. How long has it been since we've had a film movement? The internet puts opportunity in the hands of anyone who's audacious and hungry enough to seek an audience. Maybe this means the best is yet to come (or has yet to be discovered). We're living in a newer, faster, digital age, but I believe what we all continually crave is a really good story. Great stories never get old and stand alone regardless of whatever medium in which they're told.
Thus, here's a brief list of what touched (or tickled) me this year across the story spectrum. These are picture shows that appeared on film, on TV, on canvas, or on paper...
Stumped on what to get your favorite cinephile this holiday season? How about one of these modern movie posters...
"Work to me isn't hard; it's who I am. I think what's hard is going against a current, trying to be something else."
Artist and Etsy seller YOKOO is known for both her hand-knitted products and the uniquely stylish way she photographs herself wearing them. I peruse her shop regularly just to see what outfits she's concocted around her gigantic knitted scarves or pom-pom hats. Yokoo spends over 15 hours a day knitting her wares describing herself as a perfectionist who truly enjoys the process of creating and completing her work. She does all of this while watching old movies on her iMac, too, which might seem like a dream job until you realize how fast her hands must be working.
All of the hard work appears to be paying off as evidenced by a NY Times article that listed Yokoo's earnings as more than that of most law associates. She has singlehandedly proven that Etsy can turn a hardworking artist or craftsperson into a bonafide industry. Recently, The Storque (Etsy's handmade blog) did a fantastic film portrait of Yokoo capturing her thoughts, work process, and picturesque environment in Atlanta, Georgia. It's an inspiring and moving piece on the importance of staying true to yourself by doing what you love. Also, that hard work pays off in more ways than just your wallet.
I'm obsessed with the new Svpply website. Not only does it help you locate cool and interesting products from around the globe, it allows you to create and share your ultimate wish list. Just in time for the holiday season!
Artist Maria Forde was hungry for life advice, so she turned to a group of people rife with years of wisdom: the residents of her grandmother's retirement home. Compiled within the pages of a zine entitled Longview and also as the gallery show, "Life Portraits," Forde's whimsically detailed drawings and accompanying words and stories bring the midwest residents of the Longview retirement community to life reminding us about what's important (or not important) in our time here on Earth. For just $6, couldn't you use a bit of wisdom?
(Note: Maria also created the Marlon Brando comic book from my New York Art Book Fair post below. All of her work is FANTASTIC. Take a look here.)
Queens was overtaken by zine hungry zombies this weekend as Printed Matter's annual New York Art Book Fair descended upon MOMA's PS1 in Long Island City. Hordes of messy coiffed, brogue-wearing, bespectacled book lovers came from as far away as New Zealand, Japan, and the esoteric shores of Essex, UK, to both shop and sell vast selections of art, zine, graphic, and comic tomes from established and emerging creators the world over.
One of my favorite sellers was San Francisco's Needles & Pens, which introduced me to this fun Marlon Brando comic:
In between dodging a symphony of (intended?) B.O. and a never ending barrage of tote bags, I wrote a haiku about the experience.
Ripe amber sweat lodge!
Neon poncho wonderland!
Hipster jungle gym.
Here is but a smidgen of what caught my wandering eye...
An oversized Bradbury that, sadly, wasn't for sale.
These are made of paper.
Pez! Coal!
I want every single one of Olympia Le Tan's book clutches.
Pigtails!
Everybody's favorite, the ghost of Switzerland's Nieves Books.
Mr. Ghost says, "READ MORE BOOKS!"
Will Cotton, Churro Cabin, 2001.
Yes, that's a churro cabin, and yes I want to live in it. I want to sit atop the donut-rock while wiggling my toes in the chocolate milk river, daydreaming absentmindedly with powdered sugar fingers. Will Cotton's world is frothy and sweet--a billowy binge-world of swirly pink and melting cocoa--and, to me, it's what heaven looks like. Here's his take on Endless Winter.
Wouldn't these frigid temps feel better if spent in the shade of a giant cookie tree? Or how about curled up in the window of an ice cream cone and peppermint stick castle...
Continue reading I'm Sweet on Will Cotton.
"The Little Star Dweller" by Yoshitomo Nara
Japanese art wizard, Yoshitomo Nara, opened his new show at the Marianne Boesky Gallery this past Saturday night with a colorful cacophony that reverberated from the walls right into crowd (which included the wandering and seemingly undetected artist KAWS - thanks, CBS Sunday Morning). Viewing the artwork itself--a collection of new drawings on envelopes, large-scale paintings, and two massive tannenbaum sculptures that felt like they belonged in a more sophisticated Smurf village--meant that you had to tap and rub numerous shoulders for a glimpse. With vanishing buckets of beer, a trio of toddlers in tutus, and live music provided by DJ OORUTAICHI and the hyperkinetic Japanese girl duo M.A.G.O., the energy in the various rooms exploded with a kooky rainbow fantastic-ness. Here's hoping it's even more magically raucous at his solo exhibition at the Asia Society in 2010.
I've been a fan of Nara's since discovering his artwork on the cover of Shonen Knife's 1998 album Happy Hour. Mr. H and I trekked from Harajuku to Aoyama last year just to have a bite at the A to Z Cafe, a cozy Tokyo eatery Nara designed with graf media. While I've yet to come up with the funds to afford one of his tinier drawings, I ended up receiving something to hold on to for now directly from the man himself...
More from the gallery show:
DJ OORUTAICHI conjuring some digital magic:
A to Z Cafe...ah, deliciousness!
The "home" within a home at A to Z:
Milky green tea:
Cream cake:
Interior of A to Z's "home studio":
I recently started eating burgers again.
Meat and Cheese by Mike and Jen aka Duotard video by The Selby from the selby on Vimeo.
Photo by Catherine Ledner courtesy of The Beholder (via the lovely blog 2 or 3 Things I Know...)
Noble, gentle, sweet.
The donkey quietly weeps.
No one understands.
Absolute beauty. Rent it.
The most famous donkey of them all! You can celebrate Eeyore's birthday here.
A donkey is always misunderstood, so please show some love.
This li'l blog of mine, I'm gonna let it shine! Even when people say no. Even when big, fancy IT departments tag this website as "games" or "inaccessible at this time". I will not bend to "off limits."
Sigh, Verbose Coma has been tagged at my work place. Thus, I can't write from work anymore. It's frustrating but inevitable. I'm not in trouble or anything, but Verbose Coma isn't a "friendly" site at work I guess. I can totally browse any stupid gossip blog with random profanity and banner ads showing scantily clad co-eds, but writing (or reading!) this harmless little website is forbidden.
Dear IT Department At The Company Who Will Not Be Named,
Why is Perez allowed to visit my desktop and not me? Why am I not allowed to visit myself?
Best,
Desk #24
I could write about this for hours, but I won't. Instead, let me introduce you to Andreas Samuelsson! I adore the work of this Swedish artist, and I hope you will, too. I found his work on the fantastic art website Tiny Showcase, and I keep waiting for him to open an online store. Let's all band together and bombard him with emails about this. Seriously, how good is that pic above? And what about this madness right here:
LOVE. IT. Andreas, you're making my day! My evening. Right here in the comfort of my apartment away from Big Brother (aka The Killer of My Creativity) and his roving eye. I will rise to this technological massacre, and I will win.
"Surveillance" by Andreas Samuelsson
