OBJECTIFIED

A new documentary film by Gary Hustwit, the director of 'Helvetica'

The Canadian premiere is at the Bloor Cinema in Toronto, May 3rd and 4th (tickets)

From objectifiedfilm.com:

"'Objectified' is a feature-length documentary about our complex relationship with manufactured objects and, by extension, the people who design them.  It's a look at the creativity at work behind everything from toothbrushes to tech gadgets.  It's about the designers who re-examine, re-evaluate and re-invent our manufactured environment on a daily basis.  It's about personal expression, identity, consumerism, and sustainability.

What can we learn about who we are, and who we want to be, from the objects with which we surround ourselves?"

The film features Paola Antonelli of the MOMA NY, Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, the people of IDEO, Naoto Fukasawa, Jonathan Ive (responsible for Apple's design force), Hella Jongerius (who I blogged!), Marc Newson, Dieter Rams, Karim Rashid (a well-known designer who used to teach at OCAD) and many many many more.

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A LITTLE SOMETHING

I'm feeling compelled to show a bit of my work.  Just a bit.  This is an identity exercise for a graphic design class.

xo.s

ETC. ADELINE RAPON

This is Adeline.  Another blogger from Paris.  Her photographs are gorgeous, somehow making the everyday seem especially charmed and dark.  She does little to manipulate her images, and although one can tell they're of a hobbiest turned professional-in-training, I most love the humility in them.  I hope that no matter where life takes her, she doesn't lose that.  

She would be a wonderful fine arts or fashion photographer, but the accessibility of her imagery is what makes it so captivating.  Her work is understated and raw, but also very alive.  Her blog shows vulnerability... the output of a lady coming into her craft but still holding onto the innocence of her 'girl with a camera' roots.

Crustina will like :)

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LE BLOG DE BETTY

This is Betty.  My 25-year-old Parisian fashion muse.

She is adorable, and so is her site. 

Fashion is expression too.  Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.  It's a gateway obsession.  It starts with loving the clothes, then loving the CRAFT.... and everything in between.

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A BLOG ON BLOGS

And so, inspired by some comments today from bloggers (is it wrong that I hate that term?  ah well....) from all over, I've decided to share some of my favourite 'personal' sites (aka blogs).  I'm not sure where this new fascination with blogs comes from, but I'm ready to admit my addiction.

I know I've said very little about myself up until now, but I'm an avid "people watcher"; meaning, nothing fascinates me more than human beings.  Sounds common, but some live for dissecting human behavior.  I'm one of those.  

Sometimes I'm horrified, often sympathetic, inspired, shocked, disappointed, whatever.... but it's always fascinating.  If I have one true obsession it would be trying to figure out what makes people tick, what moves them, whether or not they're all out or trying to hide.  What better way to analyze than through the visuals they associate themselves with?  You might not be able to judge a book by it's cover, but it still says so much.

Blogs put it all out there.  Some of them are tacky, some are ridiculous, but the amount of beautiful, unique personalities I'm falling for, having never met the authors of these sites, completely amazes me.

I could go on and on..... politics, religion, social issues, but I'm in the business of art and want to share some of the sites that inspire me, make me smile, and make me covet.  Not covet things, but covet visions.  I have my own to nurture, but being presented with ideas from others- things I've never seen or imagined myself- takes my breath away.  It's wonderful.

xo.s

ps- still working on my portfolio site.  can't wait to put out ;)

COMMENT NEGLECT

I suppose I'm still fairly new to the concept of blogging, because i had NO IDEA that some of you were commenting! For some reason, my account kept it from me.  I've published them now and it made my day to find them all!

Please keep them coming.  I appreciate the feedback, the critique, the inspiration.  Actually, no, that's a lie- I friggin love it and am beside myself happy to receive it.  I've in fact just been introduced to two new beautiful artists by fellow bloggers.

I'm adding you all and checking out what you have to show and tell as well.... and I'm inspired all over again.  It's an art community I've never experienced.

xo.s 

DANIEL ARSHAM

Daniel Arsham is a 29 year old American Artist, best known for his reworking of architectural and natural forms of the everyday.  These pieces were done for a 2007 exhibition called "eyeSpace" at the Miami Performing Arts Center.  His work aims to demonstrate how art wields power over other fields.

These installations were done using rubber, plaster, paint and fabric.  So simple yet so powerful; the work instantly challenges what we hold inherently true about the 4 or more walls that surround us in any space.  

He again collaborates with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company starting March 29th during the French National Biennale of Dance in Paris, integrating found objects into his work and cutting holes in the back walls of the theatre.

'hammock' 2007

'corner knot' 2008

'curtain' 2007

'sheet' 2007

photos courtesy of Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin

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IKEA CAR?????!!!!

From designboom: (this site is my everything)

I'll quote it word for word cause I can't believe this:

"The internet is awash with people debating whether or not ikea is to launch an eco-friendly car called the 'leko'.  The hype stems from a french website where designer christophe grozs explains the virtues of this new environmentally sound car.

The 'leko' is covered in a white sheet adorned with the ikea logo and URL above it as a live countdown to the supposed launch date: april 1st.  Obviously this has lead many people to believe that the whole thing is simply an elaborate april fools day joke.

Yet, for those showing more faith in the potential release of an ikea car, note that the website bears the WWF logo and that france's 'sustainable development week' also kicks off on april 1st.

Ikea France's PR Manager:

"I can confirm that ikea france has decided to support a new car system in line with its positioning:  cheaper and more responsible than any other; allowing a dramatic reduction in your gas spending; built so it can adapt to the products you want to carry"

But, no complementary information is supposed to be released before the launch.....

So, hoax or not?  Check out the leko website!

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WE HAVE DECIDED NOT TO DIE

'We Have Decided Not To Die' is an unusual short film by Daniel Askill.

From NotCot:

"A modern day allegorical triptych, three figures undergo transformation through three rituals: Birth, Between, and Rebirth.  Though not a story in any conventional sense, 'We Have Decided Not To Die's visual poetry captivates just the same, evoking a surreal ritualistic world, whose characters appear to float free of space and time.

Askill is a music video director with a penchant for water environments and slow motion and has done work for UNKLE, Placebo and Digitalism among others"  

Sorry that the video doesn't quite fit on the right side, but it's not affected too much.  The film is 10 minutes or so, and completely worth it.

I'm not thrilled with how it ends, but the beauty of the cinematography more than makes up for it.  The shots are stunning; the colours, the contortions.

I guess this video is fairly (very) old?  From 2003.  I was only just introduced to it a few weeks ago but still think it's very relevant.  

Have a look.

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MARLOES TEN BHOMER

It's been awhile.  I've been swamped with schoolwork and work work, so i've been neglectful of blog work.  Apologies.

But again, much to do tonight so I'll quote my favourite site for this beautiful post.  Take it away, designboom:

"Ten Bhomer is currently exhibiting at the Krannert Art Museum in Illinois and the Design Museum, London.  Her innovative take on shoe design led us to investigate her work a little further.  We discovered a full range of couture shoes that further demonstrated new ideas in footwear.  Her range of designs includes pieces made using leather-mache, a take on more traditional papier-mache and the use of lots of carbon fiber.  While most shoes are designed with functionality and aesthetics in mind, Marloes Ten Bhomer aims to create shoes which are both 'provocative and otherworldly'"

Beauty.

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xo.s

'PAPIER' BAGS by saskia kiez

again.  brilliant.

these 'papier' bags by german designer saskia kiez are made of DuPont 'Tyvek', so they are recyclable, tear-proof, waterproof, and extremely light.  paper!

the pictures say it all.... even show the process.  the look of the bag changes as it is used, the wrinkles almost giving it the feeling of old leather.

they go on sale in very select stores and on kiez' site in april.  i have no idea how much they'll be...... but just in time for my birthday.  

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LIFEGOODS

from ID magazine:

"The nurse, the optician, and the art student (Sophie Depery, Olivier Burgisser, and Singal Moesch) met at the University of Art and Design in Lausanne in 2003 and pledged to work together as a trio once they'd graduated.  They kept their word, and their sudio, Lifegoods, has since been turning out eclectic designs that rarely sacrifice the surreal for the merely practical.  

Burgisser credits the groups members' disparate backgrounds with bringing "complementary competence" to their work"

A nurse and an optician.  Whatever it is that they bring to the table, it works.  Some of the best design firms in the world- such as IDEO- employ social workers, biologists, chemists, engineers, etc. in order to bring insight that might never have been otherwise explored.  

bedside lamp

'serie' storage

'serie' storage

'wifi desk' (meant for public spaces)

'table basse'

'eclosion stool'

bedside table

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