THE NEW BLACK

CLAIRE PESTAILLE

2011-03-23T13:03:00.002-04:00

Hi.

It's been a long time. I don't know why, really.... been busy working, a bit disillusioned and trying to figure it all out. The last year has been sort of a creative crisis, but I'm working on it. I promise.

I'm out of practice in posting, so I'll quote a source that knows what it's talking about. I just think these are so beautiful. And geometric. And old-timey.

Saatchi Online says:
"The Crystal Time series depicts images of women taken from found photographs from the 1920's. The found image has been photocopied twice, divided, squared and cut. The replicated image is reassembled within the format of a grid or view finder multiplying and removing contents from the original in order to produce a fractured circuit or a simultaneous double. Crystal Time (Loretta) is a dream image or a recollection image where there becomes a cross over or blurring of actual and virtual, past and present, where the real and imaginary exist within the same world."

I've missed this.

xo.s

PHILIPPE STARCK THINKS DEEP ON DESIGN: TED TALKS

2010-09-15T13:46:00.004-04:00

FILM AND ANDY WARHOL

2010-08-12T18:50:00.003-04:00

I'm reading a biography on Andy Warhol as I write this and as such have been sort of voraciously researching and needing to see all the things I never knew I needed to see. I've always been sort of indifferent to a lot of his work, understanding that at the time he WAS doing something completely revolutionary with painting. It's just a personal thing, I guess- I'm not big on his colours and the obsession with celebrity- although the idea of consumerism as a subject matter is something I am (clearly?) drawn to.

He is known as being one of the worst filmmakers in history. I agree and disagree. Watch for yourself.

The above 'Screen Tests' were filmed from early '64 through late '66 and were originally conceived as film portraits (I love this and have seen more contemporary takes on it in modern art museums in the recent past)- portraits done on film rather than on canvas. Bob Dylan's piece was highlighted in 'Factory Girl' a few years back, and it has been said that Dylan got up within minutes and left the factory because he was disgusted by Andy's allegedly talentless leaching and worship of consumerism.

It's wild how differently each subject 'handles' their time in front of the camera. Nico seems a bit distracted, perhaps sort of self-conscious, while Lou Reed is the fucking epitome of cool indifference. Sedgwick is such a damaged, beautiful muse. Apparently Warhol also did screen tests with Allen Ginsberg and Donovan, but I can't find them!

I've also got some slices of 'Vinyl' (which you might also recognize from 'Factory Girl') and 'Blow Job Movie' with Gerard Malanga.

An interesting way to watch? Turn all the screen tests on at once. Maybe a little Brady Bunch-y, but way cooler.

xo.s

BETH CAVERNER STICHTER

2010-07-21T14:02:00.000-04:00

In some ways I know it's a newfound personal appreciation for the animal kingdom, but art and design have DEFINITELY been nodding toward the natural world increasingly over the last few years. Taxidermy. Anthrompomorphic figures. Mountains and forests. Yeah, I know, it's a reaction to modern day life and our worsening obsession with technology. Isn't it always?

Anyway. These sculptures are stunning, disturbing, and..... white. They may seem to be 'unfinished' in their lack of colour, but I think the palette is meant to draw attention to the material/process (clay) and keep the focus on emotion.

From Stichter's Artist's Statment:

"There are primitive animal instincts lurking in our own depths, waiting for the chance to slide past a conscious moment. The sculptures I create focus on human psychology, stripped of context and rationalization, and articulated through animal and human forms. On the surface, these figures are simply feral and domestic individuals suspended in a moment of tension. Beneath the surface they embody the impacts of aggression, territorial desires, isolation, and pack mentality.

Both human and animal interactions show patterns of intricate, subliminal gestures that betray intent and motivation. The things we leave unsaid are far more important than the words we speak out loud to one another. I have learned to read meaning in subtler signs; a look, the tightening of muscles in the shoulders, the incline of the head, and the slightest unconscious gestures. I rely on animal body language in my work as a metaphor for those underlying patterns, transforming the animal subjects into human psychological portraits"

It continues on, so have a look. Her statement is well done and the site shows the UNBELIEVABLE amount of intricate work involved, with a step-by-step photo journal of her process.

click click

xo.s

S'MORE

2010-07-01T22:41:00.001-04:00

This collage stuff is fun. Can't wait to paint these.

xo.s

SOME NEW WORK BY YOURS TRULY

2010-06-30T14:27:00.001-04:00

I'm currently working on some digital collage that will likely become a series of paintings. Super excited.

xo.s

ROLAND TIANGCO'S DIRT POSTER

2010-06-30T14:22:00.000-04:00

Parsons student Roland Tiangco's message to the 'information generation' is a clear one; that is, if you're willing to get it dirty. We're full of potential and there's much to be done. Go ahead, get on it.

I should talk.

Point is, this design is clever on so many levels.

click click

xo.s

OWI// OFFICE FOR WORD AND IMAGE

2010-05-07T13:24:00.002-04:00

I found this site about an hour ago and only stopped looking long enough to share it with you. If you love interior design, have a gander; BUT I have to stress that I see this so differently than your typical 'interior design' site. These lofts, barns, chateaux (yes, chateaux), and garages-come-living spaces are HOMEY. So homey. Interior work is often done by someone that knows little to nothing about their client. And more often than not, the client has no idea how to express what they really want. Hence, the beige phenomenon. There's nothing more indecisive than beige.

But I digress.

From the site:
"Office for Word and Image// OWI is specialized in full reportages, including text and images on architecture and interiors. We choose amongst the archives of some of the best photographers and journalists for features with a contemporary look and an interesting story. In our selection we aim for top quality photography and exclusive private homes or exceptional public buildings, accompanied by sharp interviews with some of the world's leading architects"

The places on OWI were done by architects and interior designers but it's the clients who know what they want and take an exceptionally active and creative role that make these homes what they are: The story of their lives.

This applies to many resources out there, but I just felt the need to really point it out. Make something. Put old flooring on the walls. Paint your walls and sandblast them. Build a faux brick fireplace and put candles inside. Put those candles inside old bottles. Have fun with it. Don't be scared and you won't regret it.

Unless you like beige.

click click
xo.s

BARBARA KRUGER AT THE AGO

2010-05-03T13:45:00.001-04:00

I would normally declare that I saw this on designboom first, but I can proudly say that my initial contact with this piece was in PERSON. I love living in Toronto.

From the boom:

"....a site-specific work by american artist barbara kruger is currently on display along the façade of the art gallery of ontario (AGO) in toronto. the public installation is located on the north facade of the frank gehry designed gallery as part of the contact photography festival. the piece was created by kruger in response to the festival’s theme ‘pervasive influence’. the work consists of a series of found images and statements that includes ‘shove it’, ‘love it’, ‘kiss it’, believe it’ and ‘shame it’. the project aims to explore ‘how photography informs and transforms human behavior, especially via the medium’s connections to mass media, advertising, consumerism, and propaganda.’ the installation will be on show until august 30, 2010"

These photos don't do it justice. I'd include some of mine, but they would do it even less. The lady's aim has always been impact, and impact she has. Kruger is an American Conceptual Artist known for the found black and white imagery she pairs with aggressive/generalized/short'n'sweet accusations on consumer culture, feminism and classicism. Her work leaves the viewer with the feeling of being in a power struggle with the artist, and it never ceases to amaze that Kruger is able to make us want to defend ourselves when we know she's right..... defend ourselves when we feel compelled to rebut that she doesn't 'know' us.... that the work of a single woman can accurately point fingers at SO many. However, let it be known that her work is not to put down, but to educate. To make us look more honestly at ourselves, one another, and the media we quietly consume. Tough love.

I'd like to write more but i'm off to work. check back?

xo.s

Ofr.

2010-03-31T13:16:00.001-04:00

0fr. Film portraits: Cheri Messerli from Ofr. on Vimeo.

So, I love 'Scout Holiday'; easily one of the most understated and captivating sites I've seen (nay, frequent). Charming charming charming.
Stylist and jewelry designer Cheri Messerli is behind the blog, having relocated with husband and graphic designer David Rager (excavation by spoonfulls) from LA to Paris. Recently posted was the Ofr Paris City Guide that caught my attention, and just today Cheri displayed some lovely shots of her work in the Ofr front window in Paris.

What's Ofr? I wondered, and now you are too. It's actually sort of hard to say. From the site, it appears to be a gallery and beautiful bookstore, hosting pop-up shops all over the world. The space holds shows, which are well-documented on vimeo, promotes artists and musicians and puts out some BEAUTIFUL graphic work- from the Paris Guide (I'd pick it up, anyone planning to go- the photos are gorgeous and doubtless they have hand-picked best places to visit) to their series of postcards.

Above, some of the shop's offerings, as well as a closeup of Cheri and her work. Isn't she lovely?

click click

xo.s

BRUCE MAU STUDIO: THE INCOMPLETE MANIFESTO

2010-03-10T12:19:00.004-05:00

"Now that we can do anything, what will we do?"

"Written in 1998, the Incomplete Manifesto is an articulation of statements exemplifying Bruce Mau’s beliefs, strategies and motivations.

1. Allow events to change you.
You have to be willing to grow. Growth is different from something that happens to you. You produce it. You live it. The prerequisites for growth: the openness to experience events and the willingness to be changed by them.

2. Forget about good.
Good is a known quantity. Good is what we all agree on. Growth is not necessarily good. Growth is an exploration of unlit recesses that may or may not yield to our research. As long as you stick to good you'll never have real growth.

3. Process is more important than outcome.
When the outcome drives the process we will only ever go to where we've already been. If process drives outcome we may not know where we’re going, but we will know we want to be there.

4. Love your experiments (as you would an ugly child).
Joy is the engine of growth. Exploit the liberty in casting your work as beautiful experiments, iterations, attempts, trials, and errors. Take the long view and allow yourself the fun of failure every day.

5. Go deep.
The deeper you go the more likely you will discover something of value.

6. Capture accidents.
The wrong answer is the right answer in search of a different question. Collect wrong answers as part of the process. Ask different questions.

7. Study.
A studio is a place of study. Use the necessity of production as an excuse to study. Everyone will benefit.

8. Drift.
Allow yourself to wander aimlessly. Explore adjacencies. Lack judgment. Postpone criticism.

9. Begin anywhere.
John Cage tells us that not knowing where to begin is a common form of paralysis. His advice: begin anywhere.

10. Everyone is a leader.
Growth happens. Whenever it does, allow it to emerge. Learn to follow when it makes sense. Let anyone lead.

11. Harvest ideas.
Edit applications. Ideas need a dynamic, fluid, generous environment to sustain life. Applications, on the other hand, benefit from critical rigor. Produce a high ratio of ideas
to applications.

12. Keep moving.
The market and its operations have a tendency to reinforce success. Resist it. Allow failure and migration to be part of your practice.

13. Slow down.
Desynchronize from standard time frames and surprising opportunities may present themselves.

14. Don’t be cool.
Cool is conservative fear dressed in black. Free yourself from limits of this sort.

15. Ask stupid questions.
Growth is fueled by desire and innocence. Assess the answer, not the question. Imagine learning throughout your life at the rate of an infant.

16. Collaborate.
The space between people working together is filled with conflict, friction, strife, exhilaration, delight, and vast creative potential.

17. ____________________.
Intentionally left blank. Allow space for the ideas you haven’t had yet, and for the ideas
of others.

18. Stay up late.
Strange things happen when you’ve gone too far, been up too long, worked too hard, and you're separated from the rest of the world.

19. Work the metaphor.
Every object has the capacity to stand for something other than what is apparent. Work on what it stands for.

20. Be careful to take risks.
Time is genetic. Today is the child of yesterday and the parent of tomorrow. The work you produce today will create your future.

21. Repeat yourself.
If you like it, do it again. If you don’t like it, do it again.

22. Make your own tools.
Hybridize your tools in order to build unique things. Even simple tools that are your own can yield entirely new avenues of exploration. Remember, tools amplify our capacities, so even a small tool can make a big difference.

23. Stand on someone’s shoulders.
You can travel farther carried on the accomplishments of those who came before you. And the view is so much better.

24. Avoid software.
The problem with software is that everyone has it.

25. Don’t clean your desk.
You might find something in the morning that you can’t see tonight.

26. Don’t enter awards competitions.
Just don’t. It’s not good for you.

27. Read only left-hand pages.
Marshall McLuhan did this. By decreasing the amount of information, we leave room for what he called our "noodle."

28. Make new words.
Expand the lexicon. The new conditions demand a new way of thinking. The thinking demands new forms of expression. The expression generates new conditions.

29. Think with your mind.
Forget technology. Creativity is not device-dependent.

30. Organization = Liberty.
Real innovation in design, or any other field, happens in context. That context is usually some form of cooperatively managed enterprise. Frank Gehry, for instance, is only able to realize Bilbao because his studio can deliver it on budget. The myth of a split between "creatives" and "suits" is what Leonard Cohen calls a 'charming artifact of the past.'

31. Don’t borrow money.
Once again, Frank Gehry’s advice. By maintaining financial control, we maintain creative control. It’s not exactly rocket science, but it’s surprising how hard it is to maintain this discipline, and how many have failed.

32. Listen carefully.
Every collaborator who enters our orbit brings with him or her a world more strange and complex than any we could ever hope to imagine. By listening to the details and the subtlety of their needs, desires, or ambitions, we fold their world onto our own. Neither party will ever be the same.

33. Take field trips.
The bandwidth of the world is greater than that of your TV set, or the Internet, or even a totally immersive, interactive, dynamically rendered, object-oriented, real-time, computer graphic–simulated environment.

34. Make mistakes faster.
This isn’t my idea – I borrowed it. I think it belongs to Andy Grove.

35. Imitate.
Don’t be shy about it. Try to get as close as you can. You'll never get all the way, and the separation might be truly remarkable. We have only to look to Richard Hamilton and his version of Marcel Duchamp’s large glass to see how rich, discredited, and underused imitation is as a technique.

36. Scat.
When you forget the words, do what Ella did: make up something else ... but not words.

37. Break it, stretch it, bend it, crush it, crack it, fold it.

38. Explore the other edge.
Great liberty exists when we avoid trying to run with the technological pack. We can’t find the leading edge because it’s trampled underfoot. Try using old-tech equipment made obsolete by an economic cycle but still rich with potential.

39. Coffee breaks, cab rides, green rooms.
Real growth often happens outside of where we intend it to, in the interstitial spaces – what Dr. Seuss calls "the waiting place." Hans Ulrich Obrist once organized a science and art conference with all of the infrastructure of a conference – the parties, chats, lunches, airport arrivals – but with no actual conference. Apparently it was hugely successful and spawned many ongoing collaborations.

40. Avoid fields.
Jump fences. Disciplinary boundaries and regulatory regimes are attempts to control the wilding of creative life. They are often understandable efforts to order what are manifold, complex, evolutionary processes. Our job is to jump the fences and cross the fields.

41. Laugh.
People visiting the studio often comment on how much we laugh. Since I've become aware of this, I use it as a barometer of how comfortably we are expressing ourselves.

42. Remember.
Growth is only possible as a product of history. Without memory, innovation is merely novelty. History gives growth a direction. But a memory is never perfect. Every memory is a degraded or composite image of a previous moment or event. That’s what makes us aware of its quality as a past and not a present. It means that every memory is new, a partial construct different from its source, and, as such, a potential for growth itself.

43. Power to the people.
Play can only happen when people feel they have control over their lives. We can't be free agents if we’re not free"

Bruce Mau is a visionary.

click click

xo.s

ps- shoutout to sam sam!

pps- why is blogger being whack? I hate borders on my images. Grrr.

FRANCOISE HARDY

2010-02-22T17:26:00.001-05:00

Ever just feel like you could use a little more Francoise Hardy in your life to lull you to sleep?

bonne nuit.

xo.s

VANESSA BRUNO SS2010

2010-02-17T13:13:00.001-05:00

vanessabruno-Le Bel Eté-SS2010 from presse vanessabruno on Vimeo.

I saw stills of this video on Scout Holiday - one of my favourite blogs ever- last week and I can't take my eyes off of it..... or Lou, of course. How can you??

Spring/Summer! (It's snowing where I am)

I shared it on facebook and the boys thought it was boring. This one's for the girls.....

click click Vanessa Bruno

xo.s

SANTIAGO YDANEZ

2010-02-17T11:41:00.001-05:00

David Delfin and Gorka Postigo; collectors of Ydanez' work, in their home

I stumbled across the work of Santiago Ydanez very recently and haven't stopped staring. I have always been especially fond of portraiture for the obvious reasons: its ability to convey an acute and wide variety of human emotions; conveyance of striking realism or shocking mutation as seen in expressionist work; and always the intense reading of the EYES.

Ydanez works on 200cm canvases with minimalist colouring. Many of his pieces are done with more variation in hue, but I've chosen the above to showcase because I LOVE the strong contrast in his use of black and white.

What's most intriguing is his brushstroke; his work leans toward expressionism in its wild application of paint, however, it is evident that there is extreme calculation in his gestures. His portraits are not born of improvisation or of loose emotional abandon, but of painting used as an instrument and not an aim unto itself. It is an extremely successful pairing of opposite schools of thought.

While researching Ydanez I came across one of the reference images he had shot himself for one of his many 'untitled' works (top). He covers his subjects' faces in everything from (what looks to be) food colouring to whipped cream before photographing their screaming, twisted visages.

It's brilliant. So powerful. Be sure to have a look at the gallery video!

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xo.s

THAT'S NICE

2010-02-05T11:49:00.000-05:00

Back in April I did an iPhoto mashup-type post that I'm feeling again today. Enjoy.

xo.s

WALLPAPER GRAD DIRECTORY 2010

2010-02-03T10:30:00.000-05:00

Valentin Vodev, RCA, London

Robin Grasby, Northumbria University, UK

Norihiro Sueyoshi, Tama Art University, Tokyo

Niek Van Der Heijden, Design Academy Eindhoven, The Netherlands

Karoline Lagerqvist, Beckmans College of Art & Design, Stockholm

Johanna Hartzeim, Koln International Academy of Design, Germany

Joel Escalona, Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana, Mexico

Jaebom Jeong, Hongik University, Seoul (love this)

Helena Karelson, Kingston University, London

Giannina Capitani, RCA, London

Edward Robinson, Northumbria University, UK

Delphine Frey, ECAL, Lausanne

Daniel Svahn, Beckmans College of Design, Sweden

Colin Kelly, Savannah College of Art & Design

Bjorn Jorund Bilkstad, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, Norway

(This piece was chosen for the cover; a storage unit of axiometric cubes that look

shallow from a distance but reveal their depth as you approach)

Beatrice Durandard, ECAL, Lausanne

Bastian Bischoff and Per Emanuelsson, HDK, Gothenburg

(of Humans Since 1982)

Wallpaper always knows. Each year the magazine showcases their favourite pieces by graduates from some of the best schools all over the world, and I'm thrilled that this year's 'Design' category is showcasing an equal number of female students to their male counterparts. My graduating class had about 7 women in it total, out of nearly a hundred. Boys, don't go into ID if you're looking to pick up.....

But I digress.

Geometry, hand crafting, and allowing materials to rule seem to be the focus this year. I only chose my favourites of the favourites, so have a look at Wallpaper's site for the rest, as well as for grads chosen in Illustration, Fashion, Photography, Architecture and Graphics.

The future looks bright.

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xo.s

ps- if you follow regularly, you'll recognize the last piece: 'Clock Clock' by 'Humans Since 1982'!

INFOGRAPHIC MONEY CONCEPT

2010-01-20T13:00:00.000-05:00

I just saw this on designboom and think it's brilliant.

"Tokyo-based designer Mac Funamizu wondered what would happen if we rethought how coins were designed with an infographic perspective. He remarks on the merits and drawbacks of round coins, and while he acknowledges their benefits, he wanted to see if they could be redesigned in a way that was more universally understood. This would benefit travelers and people not accustomed to a specific currency...... each coin (has) an infographic form that corresponds to a pie chart"

Absolutely, there are drawbacks. But Funamizu is sure to point out that he designs concepts on his blog simply to explore new ideas that he knows might not translate perfectly into a real-life market. He invites readers to leave their feedback and even take his idea further- perhaps even into production- if they contact him. He is a working industrial and graphic designer and he designs and posts concepts on his blog for his own enjoyment.

I love that there is someone willing to share their ideas without the expectation of monetary benefit. Some of the projects are copyrighted, but for the most part he invites people to make them happen if they feel inclined. Most people hoard their ideas in fear that someone else will make a profit; why not share them if you have no intention of producing and allow someone else to bring your thoughts to fruition?

And the coins are great. Helvetica, you're a paradigm.

click click

xo.s

PIXIE MARKET, MY LOVE

2010-01-19T10:55:00.000-05:00

It pains me to give up the goods, but this one with the zippers is on sale for $75.

They have our size and everything. Buy it because I can't. Sigh.

Dear Pixie Market,

I'm yours. If you'd have me I'd never look twice at another retailer. I have yet to make my first purchase because I can't even afford groceries at this point, but when my day comes- and it will- I'm blowing a wad.

Would you look at this stuff? The designers they carry often have little more than a myspace page and are making these masterpieces in their homes! The most wonderful part is the price point- it's not cheap, but very affordable for the odd splurge, even for a student. You can feel good buying because these remarkable pieces are made by hand, with love, in limited amounts.

It's grungy, it's beautiful, even comfortable looking. STUNNING.

I know I'm a puddle, but I honestly think pixie market has it done PERFECTLY. Their first shop is in the Lower East Side, NYC and one just opened- I believe- in L.A. Spirit airlines has 60$ flights to NYC. Just sayin. This is the first time I've ever planned to hop on a plane to shop somewhere for an afternoon.

I'll treat myself one of these days. Until then, I'll live vicariously through you.

click click

xo.s

JJJJound

2010-01-06T17:44:00.000-05:00

Oh, snap. JJ has a blog. And it's seck........

My brother from another mother/ex roommate/best friend in the whole wide world has just gotten on blogger, and "it's a who's who, what's what type of livin"

Deep as a bathtub.

click click

xo.s

FREUDENTHAL/VERHAGEN

2009-12-29T17:09:00.000-05:00

"Carmen Feudenthal (photographer) and Elle Verhagen (stylist) have been working as a creative team since 1989. Their collaboration with fashion designers, performers and other artists results in a wide variety of work, which is, at the same time, always recognizable by a typical humoristic approach of daily life and an undeniable style, using and abusing contemporary imagery and (photo)graphic techniques"

The two were in-house designers for Bernhard Willhelm from 01-07 and have had much of their work published in I-d magazine, Dazed and Confused, Jalouse, and Flash Art International.

click click

xo.s

EUNSUK HUR: NOMADIC WONDERLAND

2009-12-11T12:44:00.000-05:00

SO beautiful.

Lots to do, so I'll quote:

"Eunsuk Hur is a textile designer who is looking to push the boundaries of fashion and interior design by exploring different materials and approaches leading to new textile futures. An interchangeable modular system of textile pieces can be transformed by the user to create a new piece of clothing or interior accessories which promote sustainable design"

She uses laser cutting and various printing processes, such as sublimation printing on wood, acid printing on wool felt, etching onto leather as well as handcraft techniques.

Hur graduated in 2009 from Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design with a degree in MA Design for Textile Futures.

Although she's not the first to experiment with this sort of modular fashion design, she's up there as far as I've seen with those who have done it successfully. Her work has real depth and such intricate BEAUTY. This process is going to be huge.

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xo.s

SHANNAN AND DAN AND THE SELBY

2009-11-23T12:32:00.001-05:00

Being at a complete fork in the road in my life makes a selby update like this put a smile on my face.

It's sort of how I picture my 'thing' one day..... a totally imperfect place, messy within reason, making a home out of things previously loved and self-made. Big dog. Time to paint. Cooking, relaxing, enjoying it all. A barn-turned-woodshop. City life for a bit, but then THIS.

Something to look forward to.

Anyway, he's a photographer and she's a model. So I guess that makes it slightly more glamourous. And ironic. Not quite 'Green Acres', but close enough. You have to love our generation and the way we can mix the mundane with the bleeding-edge so successfully.

It's our thing, no big deal.

blah blah click click

xo!!

ps- My grandfather has almost that exact jockey statue in his garden so I'd be all over having one. He had a name.....! I'll have to get back to you.

COCO IN MOTION & DETAILED CHANEL

2009-11-19T11:53:00.000-05:00

Chanel. Stop-motion. A charming french ditty. Natalie Portman. Love.

An animation for V magazine, directed by Stephen Smith.

AND, it's in the details with a silent-ish short of the Chanel spring/summer 2010 collection.

It's long, and kind of vapid, but the RINGS at about the 2:30 mark are incredible.

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xo.s

INK CALENDAR BY OSCAR DIAZ

2009-11-16T20:48:00.000-05:00

"The 'Ink Calendar' makes use of the timed pace of the ink spreading on the paper to indicate time. The ink is absorbed slowly, and the numbers in the calendar are 'printed' daily. One a day, they are filled with ink until the end of the month. The calendar enhances the perception of time passing and not only signaling it. The aim of the project is to address our senses, rather than the logical and conscious brain"

The ink colour is different for every month and is based on a spectrum that follows a temperature scale; each new page utilizes a colour that relates to our sensory perception of that particular month.

Wild.

click click

xo.s

INNATE GESTURES

2009-11-11T21:50:00.000-05:00

Something you should know about me is that I have a short attention span. I bloggered Cranbrook Academy of Art a few months back, with this 3d design collective of students in mind. To be more specific, they were the purpose of the post. And yet, somehow, I never got to them. Probably because it took a bit more work to get their images uploaded......

Anyway, they're on my mind again tonight and I thought I'd finally post. The truly relevant stuff is never long forgotten.

Innate Gestures is a collective of 13 3d design students at Cranbrook that took on a Masters studio with 2 'Master' designers; one of the school's designer-in-residences, Scott Klinker, and guest designer Leon Ransmeier. Small studios have been becoming increasingly significant in the design world over the last decade, often dreaming up 'products' (I hate using that term because the pieces are so much more....) that are far simpler, more beautiful and functional than those of much larger manufacturers.

From their site:

"Our interactions with objects are informed not only by acquired knowledge and comparison, but also by nuanced physical relationships with the body. Innate Gestures strives to isolate and amplify the natural sensory cues that make everyday objects intuitive, pleasurable, and simple to interact with"

Brilliant.

From top:

The Innate Gestures Collective on the grounds at Cranbrook

The collection

Waste bin by Youngeun Lee

Coat Rack by Isaac Chen

Triad by Talha B. Khwaja

Symmetrican by Saebyul Lim

Bench #7 by Bob Turek

Magazine Hanger by Isaac Chen

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xo.s

MONKEYABOUT

2009-11-08T22:19:00.000-05:00

Stumbled upon this blog. The most amazingly bizarre collection of images......

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xo.s

TOIVE BY VADISLAV DELAY

2009-11-06T20:38:00.000-05:00

Vladislav Delay - Toive from Lorenzo Sportiello on Vimeo.

SOUND SCULPTURES AND INSTALLATIONS

2009-11-06T20:23:00.000-05:00

Zimoun : Sound Sculptures & Installations | Compilation Video V1.2 from ZIMOUN VIDEO ARCHIVE on Vimeo.

MAT CULT

2009-11-04T14:44:00.001-05:00

All-Canadian. I love this stuff.

From the site's 'About':

"MatCult is an abbreviation of the term 'MATerial CULTure'. It is a line of designed objects by Jonathan Sabine and produced by manufacturers in and around Toronto, Canada. These objects are intended to explore primitivity/technological sophistication and materiality/conceptuality within the context of furniture and product design.

All the objects in the line are designed around local manufacturing capabilities. In this way Mat/Cult/ is an accurate, if limited, portrayal of the current character of Canadian design and manufacturing"

I've had my eye on Sabine's pieces for some time, and was mega pleased to see him in this month's Wallpaper, highlighting art/design/food&drink culture in Canada (as well as in the US, France, Scandinavia, etc- amazing issue).

click click

xo.s

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON (xo.cascade)

2009-11-04T14:25:00.000-05:00

I'm not dead. I promise.

I'm sorry it's been so long, although I'm not sure who I'm apologizing to. That's the thing about blogs... people comment from time to time, but I really don't know if anyone MISSED my regular posting? The truth is, I'm fine with not knowing. Much love anyway.

I'm back from a few beautiful/sad/happy/exciting/nurturing/inspiring months in Vancouver (where I didn't have internet in the apartment I was staying!) and feeling compelled to go at it again.

Welcome back. If I do say so myself......

xo.s

LITTER SF

2009-08-02T14:14:00.000-04:00

wowowowowowow.

wow.

Mackenzie and Rachael are the ladies behind 'Litter SF' (San Fran) Jewelry. This stuff is ethereal!

And not too terribly expensive, considering you're paying for PERFECTION!

They're backed up on some orders right now because they can't keep up with demand. Not surprising.

The DAY I have some money to spend I'm ordering that chainmail sort of vest piece and the last shoulder piece. Gawd.

click click

xo.s

BLEACH BLACK

2009-08-02T13:28:00.001-04:00

Valerie and Kristen are the ladies behind the BleachBlack Blog, and they have impeccable taste. Sure, there are scrillions of blogs in good style, but BleachBlack comes out on top with the BEST fashion DIYs I've seen, often written for Lucky Magazine.

Tell you what: I'll post some shots of the DIY's; you do the loving/linking/crafting.

click click

xo.s

CHARLIE MCCARTHY

2009-08-02T12:55:00.000-04:00

Just saw him on designboom and had a look at his vimeo account. Serene. See for yourself!

time vol. 1 from Charlie McCarthy on Vimeo.

flight patterns from Charlie McCarthy on Vimeo.

wilted from Charlie McCarthy on Vimeo.

xo.s

ANOUCK BERTIN

2009-07-26T14:16:00.001-04:00

The work of Anouck Bertin. Photographer for Nylon and freelance projects such as M83's 'Saturdays=Youth' cover and her personal series, 'NYC Kids'.

Beauty.

click click

xo.s

SCOTT CAMPBELL: MAKE IT RAIN

2009-07-26T12:35:00.001-04:00

Bros before Hos.

Scott Campbell is a Brooklyn-based tattoo artist; one that couldn't tell you exactly what stylistic elements of his art he is best known for. If you ask him, he's "known for dirty fingernails and paint all over his pants", but if you ask anyone that knows his work, he is famous for his antiquated ornamentation and use of a laser cutter on any and everything he can get his hands on.

The 'Make it Rain' series is no exception. Something about the tattoo culture imagery and the stack of dolla dolla bills goes hand in hand. Campbell has always been an artist, but 'Make it Rain' seems to have given him his first real taste of art world props. His lasercutting obsession has led him to create a wide range of decorative books and furniture, but the concept behind 'Rain' is much deeper.

The skulls are especially rad, no?

Oh! And the tattoos pictured above? Campbell and friend Marc Jacobs have a matching set.

click click

xo.s

DASH SNOW DIES AT 27

2009-07-20T11:26:00.001-04:00

'Polaroid'

Poster for 'Nest'

'Polaroid'

'Self Portrait in Blood'

Dash Snow. Dang

'Dash Snow Polariods', Dave Schubert

Shot from a New York Magazine article on Snow, Ryan McGinley and Dan Colen,

there dubbed "the polished derelicts"

'Untitled'

'Beautiful Losers'

A few days late on this tragic news, it has been confirmed that New York artist Dash Snow died of a drug overdose in the Lafayette House Hotel in lower Manhattan on July 13.

His passing may not come as a surprise to many of those who knew of his controversial lifestyle, having run away from his wealthy aristocratic family (both in the art scene [the Menils of the Menil Collection] and in pop culture [his mother is Uma Thurman's sister) at the age of 15. An unapologetic addict, he began taking polaroids as a record of places he might not remember the next day. He has been in and out of jail, addicted to crack and running away from the police for over a decade.

His photographic work has been considered thematically similar to photographers Nan Goldin, Larry Clark, Ryan McGinley and Richard Billingham, often depicting instances of sex, drugs, violence and art-world pretentiousness that are documented with disarming honesty.

Some of Snow's more recent collage work is characterized by the controversial practice of using his own semen and urine, splashed across newspaper articles of police officers and thousands of pages of New York City phonebooks. His work has been acquired by the Saatchi Gallery, The Whitney Museum of American Art and the Brooklyn Museum (where he took part in the 2006 Biennial "God Spoiled a Perfect Asshole When He Put Teeth in Your Mouth").

I would have loved to show more of his work here, but would have to put a permanent disclaimer on my blog. Be sure to look it up.

click click

xo.s

GAP CHAIR BY WERNER ASSLINGER

2009-07-18T22:21:00.007-04:00

The best new chair I've seen in awhile!

This is the 'gap chair' by Werner Asslinger, representing "a new typology in the world of seating" (designboom)

"It is the marriage of a chair with central leg construction under the seat and a stacking monoshell chair"

The cuts in the seat are necessary for the legs to bend downward from the upper body of the chair- they are actually part of the seat, giving it structural integrity and serious industry props. The shell is made out of plywood curved with 3d technology.

Produced by Fornasarig

xo.s

TESTING

2009-07-17T19:44:00.001-04:00

Testing out how to post larger images. jackpot.

Have a lovely weekend!

xo.s

CRANBROOK ACADEMY OF ART

2009-07-07T12:04:00.000-04:00

'An American House '08', William Massie (created at Cranbrook and on a recent cover of DWELL)

The Grounds

I first touched on Cranbrook Academy of Art when I posted the work of Keetra Dean Dixon and have again been reminded of the brilliance coming out of that school after coming across the work of 'Innate Gestures', the alias of the school's student 3d design collective. I'm going to post them more specifically next, but wanted to highlight some of the school's more recent creations.

Cranbrook is a Grad school located about 15 minutes outside of Detroit, MI, (in Bloomfield Hills) which means it's in my hood; I've been lucky enough to tour the school a number of times with my instructors at CCS. Admissions only accepts a limit of ten or so PER DEPARTMENT every year, which means the school has approximately 100 students at any given time. Each grad is given their own studio space and work with artists in residence- rather than more traditional 'instructors'- to bring to life whatever is in them to create.

The work that I've seen come out of this school is exceptionally clever and remarkably simple, likely owing to the campus; students are required to live on the expansive grounds in 1930s arts and crafts cottage culture. It's like an art retreat, secluded and surrounded by giant trees. You'd think that grad students in design would do their best work in the cultural centers of major cities, but Cranbrook kids are laid back bookish craftspeople that thrive on nature and wide open space. Smart.

Ayami Watanabe, 'Bricks', 2005

Matt Monroe, 'Electric Orange Living Room', 2008.

(I saw this one at last year's grad show; it's interactive and asks the participant to shovel cheetos out of the pail and onto a conveyor belt. The delicious snacks are then shredded and shot into the air inside the tiny living room, collecting inches to feet of orange dust on the droning television and small sofa)

Audrey Russel, 'Large Cat', 2005

Alumni? The Saarinens, Ray and Charles Eames, Florence Knoll, Jack Lenor Larson, Duane Hanson and Hani Rashid.

Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen

Eames chair created at Cranbrook

$igh. How I'd love to go to Grad school at Cranbrook Academy of Art. Lottery first.

click click

xo.s

AUDREY'S PET

2009-07-04T14:03:00.000-04:00

It was recently brought to my attention that Audrey Hepburn had a pet deer.

I feel as though I should have one, then, too.

IARTISTLONDON

2009-07-02T18:42:00.000-04:00

So, this is interesting....

IARTISTLONDON has created a set of do-it-yourself kits for the recreation of well-known pieces of british contemporary art.

Mark Quinn, 'Self (the real thing)

The Do It Yourself 'Self' kit

Damien Hirst 'For the Love of God'

DIY 'For the Love of God' kit

Tracey Emin, 'Everyone I Have Ever Slept With'

The DIY kit

One of Banksy's Rats

Yeah. DIY

From the site:

"We believe art should be for everyone. Our boxes contain all the necessary elements so you only have to concentrate on creating. In no time you will have a masterpiece created by yourself. It couldn't be easier!

IARTISTLONDON presents the world's first affordable DIY high art sets"

There are currently six sets to choose from, including a DIY 'For the Love of God' by Damien Hirst to be created from a plastic skull and rhinestones; a 'Self' replica by Mark Quinn which allows you to create a frozen sculpture of your head out of YOUR OWN BLOOD (what. the. f&*k), and a DIY 'Everyone I Have Ever Slept With' tent a la Tracey Emin.

Ok, I've seen 'Self' and think it's a great piece, but to include instructions on how to create your OWN is insane to me. That is Quinn's piece, his vision, his creative sacrifice..... HIS blood. I mean, is this even safe??

All the work listed here to 'copy' is personal vision. I get the appeal, but I'm hating this idea! I don't think it would be possible to come up with an idea to cheapen these relevant pieces of art any more than IARTIST has.

Sure, anyone could collect the supplies to knock off nearly ANY piece of artwork if they tried hard enough. But these people too would have to be innovative in doing it themselves. For a company to make money off telling the average joe how to recreate a piece of contemporary art that he likely doesn't even understand or know much about is sick.

I haven't been able to find it, but I would be interested to hear what the artists think of this! If they had to give IARTIST LONDON permission? I would imagine.... but I'm seriously disappointed to think that they might get behind such a cheap idea.

When the Momart warehouse in East London burned to the ground in 2004 and Emin's tent was lost, she refused to reproduce it even when the Saatchi gallery offered her a million pounds, saying "I had the inclination and inspiration 10 years ago to make that, I don't have that inspiration and inclination now.... My work is very personal, which people know, so I can't create that emotion again- it's impossible".

click click

xo.s

COROFLOT PORTFOLIO: DAVID DOOLEY

2009-06-30T10:38:00.000-04:00

I've touched on coroflot a bit before, but to recap, the site is an online portfolio database for artists and designers looking for work. Employers post jobs/internships and network with students and graduates, who in turn network with one another, join groups and 'likey' one another's work. Yeah, kind of like facebook for artists.

I'm on the site and am checking it often lately; although some of the portfolios are lackluster, there are plenty that are really impressive and original. And so I will blog.

Yesterday I found the page of David Dooley, footwear designer. Every piece you see above has been HANDMADE by him. I'm not sure if they're actual working models or just for looks (I'm thinking looks, but wow). I had to make a shoe model once for a project with Nike and it's the impossible feat. To SEW all the leather pieces together and get them to form the very organic shape of a foot without warping?? Not easy. This is why David Dooley is amazing.

And his shoes are gorgeous! He interned with Puma Blackstation Footwear and was a joint winner of a Manolo Blahnik award at the Royal College of Art in London.

Beauty.

click click

xo.s

I'M NOT THERE

2009-06-24T02:19:00.000-04:00

I watch 'I'm Not There' aka 'The Bob Dylan Movie' all the time while I'm doing homework and ALWAYS put the drawings aside for this scene.

xo.s

ANA KRAS

2009-06-22T14:13:00.000-04:00

A random link to link to link to link lead me to Ana Kras' site. Artist. Photographer. Designer. Charmer.

From her site's 'about':

"Ana woks on many personal and commercial freelance projects and she might be happy to work with you". And nothing more.

click click

xo.s

KHRISTIAN MENDOZA: TRANSPARENCY

2009-06-19T20:06:00.001-04:00

This is self-promotional work by graphic designer/photographer Khristian Mendoza, citing the 'need for transparency' in design. I like.

click click

xo.s

SARAH SPITLER

2009-06-19T19:58:00.001-04:00

Just found San Francisco artist Sarah Spitler on the site 20x200, where you can buy prints for as low as $20! Check out her work and have a look through 20x200, where the theory is that there are thousands of artists that want to sell their prints.... mass quantities at low prices over the internet gets their names out and helps them make a profit!

You could fill your empty walls for one or two hundred bucks, China! (told you I'd keep my eye out... xo)

click click

xo.s

HEDI SLIMANE: FASHION DIARY

2009-06-19T12:21:00.000-04:00

I love Hedi Slimane.

Educated in political science and art history, Slimane isn't your typical artist; however, he has somehow managed to have his hand in everything from superior tailoring, furniture and store design, to fashion and PHOTOGRAPHY. His photos are genius and today have me enamored.

The man behind YSL and Dior Homme has well translated his love of fashion into photography- not that it hasn't been done before- but with a significant simplicity that highlights the personalities he shoots and not just the clothes. He is known for his slim silhouette in men's fashion and for finding the newest male models; his guys are svelte, tattooed and rough around the edges. I don't want to think about how young some of them must be, but let's face it- they're beautiful. Slimane photographs women a fraction of the time and seems to prefer to dress his boys up a bit. No complaints here.

It was impossible to edit down the massive selection of photos I wanted to show from his 'fashion journal', so I didn't. I could have looked for HOURS. This is a long one.

EVERYTHING he photographs turns out sophisticated, simple and edgy. Even FLOWERS. No?

click click

xo.s

HENRY DARGER: IN THE REALMS OF THE UNREAL

2009-06-18T20:33:00.000-04:00

I mentioned wanting to post about Henry Darger back when I saw the work of 'Igor and Andre's Danny Roberts. I've finally been re-inspired.

The real interest behind this artist lies in his obsession, reclusion and complete creative secrecy until on his deathbed in the early 1970s. A janitor in a catholic hospital by day, he spent his nights in a tiny apartment in the Lincoln Park area of Chicago, writing and illustrating what is known to be the world's longest novel (with quite possibly the world's longest name): 'THE STORY OF THE VIVIAN GIRLS, IN WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE REALMS OF THE UNREAL, OF THE GLANDECO-ANGELINNIAN WAR STORM, CAUSED BY THE CHILD SLAVE REBELLION'.

A poor man, he turned garbage and book pages into photo enlargements for his work, often repeating the imagery to create hundreds of paintings, some over ten feet long. Freud would have a field day as to why he might be compelled to write and illustrate a 15,000 page (!!) story about little girls who fought against evil, had rudimentary penises and gutted the men who forced child slavery upon them. The artwork is surreal and twisted but also beautiful; colourful and ornate.

It wasn't until days before his death that his landlords, the Lerners, found the paintings; Nathan Lerner, a photographer for the New York times, recognized the work's significance and dedicated himself to publicizing Darger's creations. Had he not, it might have been lost......

I could go on and on because both the story of the artist and that of the work itself are fascinating, but I insist that you rent the documentary, which weaves together Darger's life and the story he writes of the Vivian Girls. Or, watch it in parts on youtube... as long as you watch it! Even the wikipedia article on Darger is great!

and yes, that's dakota fanning narrating.

click click

xo.s

DESIGNBOOM DESIGN MART 2009

2009-06-16T16:10:00.000-04:00

'Nervous System' jewelry (Jessica Rosenkrantz and Jesse Louis-Rosenberg, USA)

'Polaroid Mirror' (Colin O'Dowd, Ireland/UK)

'Imperfect' Ceramics ('Studiomake' David and Im Schaefer, USA)

'Crayon Rings' (Timothy Liles, USA)

Bowtie and Bag Collections ('Skinny Vinny' Vincent Lai, USA)

Ceramics ('Cul de Sac Design', Laura McKibbon, Canada)

Cups ('The.', Mihoko Ouchi and Sherwood Forlee, USA)

'Punch Mugs' (Karich Design, JC Karich, France/Chile)

'Inner Message' Rings (Jungyun Yoon, Korea)

'Speak-er' Speakers ('the.')

'Anti Theft' Lunch Bag ('the.')

During the ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair) in New York (may 16-19), designboom held its fifth annual 'Design Mart'.

I was there for last year's and it was the best part of the fair (that and the Umbra and Moooi exhibits).

From designboom:

"for the fifth time in New York, designboom provided an unprecedented opportunity to meet the young avant-garde and become familiar with their work. Visitors were able to buy design souvenirs and limited edition pieces directly from the designers themselves"

If I remember correctly, nothing at the mart costs more than $100. Here are some of my favourites!

xo.s

ACTIVE FURNITURE BY FERRAN LAJARA

2009-06-11T12:46:00.001-04:00

From www.ferranlajara.com

"'Active Furniture' is a collection of 3 objects which try to keep users physically active by creating new relationships (object-user-user-object). These relationships are not unidirectional anymore- relationships in which users are the ones who demand from the object and the object obeys. The pieces of furniture in this collection... force users to perform a physical action in order to make them function... keeping users active"

The lamp only turns on when vertical and must be held up at all times in order to keep it lit; the desk has the drawers on the opposite side of where the user sits, forcing him or her to get up to get things out; and the hanger is placed several meters above the floor so that one has to literally climb the mounted fixtures (much like those of indoor wall climbing) in order to reach the hanging coat!

fun.

click click

xo.s

HARDCOURE FOR BO DEM JUICE (100th post!)

2009-06-06T13:56:00.000-04:00

i love this.

do bem - Suco de Laranja 100% fruta (MPC de torradas) from Hardcuore on Vimeo.

click click

xo.s

MY PORTFOLIO......

2009-06-06T13:26:00.000-04:00

..... is up on COROFLOT!!

yay. click click

xo.s

RONAN AND ERWAN BOUROULLEC

2009-06-06T12:46:00.000-04:00

Dubbed "the genius brothers" by yours truly, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec are two of Europe's most innovative and inspired designers, having worked for numerous notable manufacturers (Vitra, Kvadrat, Magis, Kartell, Ligne Roset, Issey Miyake and Cappellini to name a few).

I came across a video of their 'clouds' and had to post it, as well as some old work. From their site, http://www.bouroullec.com: "their collaboration is a permanent dialogue nourished by their differing personalities and shared perfectionism".

This attention to detail is apparent in 'clouds' as well as in a number of their furniture pieces, especially the 'facett' line for ligne roset; "It's an incredibly precise pattern that creates a faceted shape- a bit like the geometry of a diamond- made up of lots of triangles that have to meet each other perfectly" (http://www.metropolismag.com)

The video of 'clouds' from wallpaper's site is much better but it's massive, so youtube will have to do. I can't even begin to explain how much I love this piece. Enjoy!

click click

xo.s

WHAT THE-?

2009-06-02T22:17:00.001-04:00

Just made a beautiful new header. See it? Me either. Blogger is whack sometimes. Will I ever get this thing to work? Honestly.

BLANKET MAGAZINE

2009-06-02T15:55:00.001-04:00

Blanket is an online PDF magazine that uncovers art, design, and photography "from the talented people who create it"

From blanketmagazine.com:

"Blanket is run by Bec Brown and her talented team of Blanketeers who, each issue, inspire their readers with informative interviews, cheeky and humorous stories, and, of course, beautiful art, design and photography"

The issues are simple, mostly a picture book of images, and back issues are available to download on their site. If you are an artist, photographer or designer, have a look at the 'contribute' tab- they make it super easy by letting you know the theme of the next issue in advance so you can get your work in, with simple instructions on how to be seen!

click click

xo.s

FABRICA EXQUISITE CLOCK

2009-06-02T11:49:00.000-04:00

From exquisiteclock.org:

"Exquisite clock is an ongoing collection of time fragments- hours, minutes, and seconds that populate everyday life. The project consists of a participatory website that feeds data to different clocks as installations, designed products and urbanscreens.

Users are invited to upload images of numbers that can be found with different contexts surrounding them- objects, surfaces, bodies that form shapes of numbers.... all uploads then become part of an ever-growing internet database"

The platform then allows variations of screen clocks to be constructed, based on different themes. You can download the screensaver from the site, or just check it from time to time- it's always different. Some of the numbers are tough to make out; I just spent a few minutes trying to figure out how on earth a certain configuration of peppers was supposed to look like a 4, but I was charmed nonetheless.

This image is tough to see, but click for a better look. I took the screenshot at exactly 11:57:39. See?

I seem to have a thing for clocks lately.

click click clock

xo.s

LINDSTROM AND PRINS THOMAS

2009-06-02T10:39:00.001-04:00

'II' is the very recent release from Oslo duo Hans-Peter Lindstrom and Thomas Moen Hermansen (aka Prins Thomas).... and it's wicked.

(via bloglounge)

Pitchfork says:

"Mellow, smooth, relaxing: In traditional pop music lingo, these are euphemisms for "boring as hell". But traditional pop music lingo never got around to anticipating the downtempo, prog-infused strain of house music that eventually became generally known as space disco..... You can kind of imagine the ingredients for this album coming from a number of different sources-- prog rock, krautrock, disco, funk, MOR pop, maybe even some folk here and there-- but at this point there's just so much potential influence it's hard not to hear the whole instead. And it's a hell of a lot of whole too: it's mellow and smooth and relaxing, sure, but it's also unpredictable and full of little revelations and turns of sound that make it one of space disco's crowning recent achievements"

Promise me you'll listen. And the cover art? Relevant.

click click

xo.s

THE SELBY COVERS THE SALONE

2009-05-30T20:06:00.001-04:00

Just signed into bloglovin' and am crying tears of joy! Todd Selby of 'the selby' was just featured in the New York Times magazine covering the Salone del Mobile!!

What?! I've raved about the selby AND the entire reason I blog is my love of industrial design, namely furniture. My life would be complete if I ever showed at the salone. (one day!)

So to put them together like that? A marriage I can get behind, you know? How romantic.

The Salone Internazionale del Mobile is the international furniture fair held in Milan every year- the largest trade fair in the world- and is renowned as the leading exposition for new products by furniture manufacturers and designers. Selby was asked to cover the hottest new designers under 40. He even did his watercolour illustrations of each!

pictured are, from top:

Maarten De Ceulaer

Philippe Nigro (his sectional couch)

Alessandra Baldereschi

Philippe Malouin

Simon Macro and Marcus Beck, Freshwest Design

click click

(the ny times article and the selby)

xo!s

HALP

2009-05-28T09:13:00.000-04:00

Hoping someone that gets how to customize a blog page can drop some knowledge on me? I'm confused. Widen? Advertise? Etc.?

Thankyouverymuch!~

xo.s

(pic is part random grass image, part alex and chloe blog)

UFO

2009-05-28T08:33:00.000-04:00

'UFO' is an 'unidentified feeding object' by new york designer Andrea Ruggiero for the exhibition titled 'Indisposed', where designers were called to address notions of disposability in everyday products.

Among the worst of the items we throw out everyday, disposable food containers, cutlery and the like are screaming for reinvention. I've worked in restaurants for years and every single time I pack up a takeout order I cringe. Styrofoam.

This is a charming solution- a single use disposable plate that is not only biodegradable but FEEDS birds, squirrels and other park dwellers. It is made of blended bird seed, potato starch, guar gum and a seaweed-like binding agent, and thus is completely non-toxic and vegan-friendly.

Addressing usability, the plates are highly resistant to wet foods, vinegars, and sauces. Simply toss it- frisbee-like- into the bushes when finished dining, and the waste becomes rodent food!

click click

xo.s

WHEN I GROW UP BY FEVER RAY

2009-05-25T04:57:00.000-04:00

beautiful.

When I Grow Up from Fever Ray on Vimeo.

ADVERTISING TAKEOVER IN NYC

2009-05-21T11:45:00.000-04:00

Finding it difficult to find a street without obtrusive billboards, Jordan Seiler of Public Ad Campaign did some research and discovered that many of the 'buy me' signs bombarding NYC were illegal. Knowing he would never get permission to replace them with public art, he organized the 'New York Street Advertising Takeover'- and a network of citizens set out to transform the signs into personal and anti-ad artworks. Over 80 artists whitewashed and converted 126 NPA billboards on April 25. Four in the group were arrested, but are working on fighting the charges.

Most of the pieces were appropriated by the NPA within days, but the imagery and story will always be there.....

check out the flickr here

xo.s

THE PUPPET SHOW

2009-05-20T19:44:00.000-04:00

'The puppet show' is a new photographic series by Italian Studio 'Winkler and Noah', where 30 portraits of children aged 2 to 8 were taken and very subtly retouched to create the most uncanny set of 'dolls' I have ever seen. Creepy.

The project has received two international awards from American Photography and has been published in the volume '200 best photographers worldwide' by Luerzers Archive.

click click

xo.s

CLOCK CLOCK

2009-05-20T19:29:00.000-04:00

I hate that it's been so long. Hopefully i can start right where I left off? No hard feelings.....?

Remember 'Humans Since 1982' Studio that I blogged awhile back? Here's something else they've done that is worthy of some hype......

The 'clock clock' is a clock, made of clocks. Watch.

xo.s

ART/WORK

2009-05-09T09:32:00.001-04:00

it's been awhile! sorry for the lack of posts, but my grad show is this week and i've been eating and sleeping and drinking and breathing my work. still am, but i miss my blog!

busy busy, so i'll quote coolhunting. i'm ordering this book, and if you're an artist, you should too. my studio class just got a serious wakeup call from a consultancy that came to critique our final presentations last week. if you want to make money doing what you LOVE, you need to KNOW, and very few art schools teach anything about the business side of things. for shame!

"Few arts institutions teach the fundamentals of business and law for visual arts majors. Enter 'Art/Work', a new book by Heather Darcy Bhandari and Jonathan Melber. Bhandari is the director at NYC's Mixed Greens Gallery while Melber’s background includes practicing art law at a major New York firm and representing artists at Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. Together they make for a powerful combo, offering both extensive knowledge of the gallery system and the ins and outs of art law, for some well-founded tips on how to succeed in the art world.

Of the many topics covered, the book includes the proper way to submit to a gallery, how to attract a curator, the importance of having a website, how to host a successful studio visit, how to edit work and install shows, how to apply for grants and much more. They give real examples of consignment agreements and even include an art fair survival guide. Packed with hundreds of quotes from artists and curators, vital advice on how to make the most of your career fills each page"

click click

xo.s

SUPERMARKET

2009-05-02T12:14:00.000-04:00

SUPERMARKET is an online store brought to you by the fine folks at brooklyn-based 'supercorp'... it's an online store and blog where designers sell their 'stuffs' for very reasonable prices. many of these talents are making their items by hand, at home, so help support them!

i'll be selling some things soon so wait for the word.... i'll need the support too :)

click click

xo.s

RANDOM iPHOTO MASHUP

2009-04-26T10:55:00.000-04:00

super busy. must blog. random radness.

pour vous.

FOODSTUFFS

2009-04-20T17:49:00.001-04:00

osko and deichmann 'sushi roller'

'glide' toaster by george watson.

yum.

xo.s

PLASTIC FANDANGOS BY COMMITTEE

2009-04-20T17:22:00.000-04:00

Fandango:

1. a lively spanish dance for two people, typically accompanied by castanets or tambourine

2. a foolish or useless act or thing

'Committee' studio is known for exploring 'anti-design'. Love the concept, hate the waste. However, as long as these 'fandangos' never go into mass production I can appreciate the idea, and even the piece itself as art. tiny plastic sculpture. But how long until it goes from being on display to the junk drawer to the garbage?

Sidetracked. I'll get back to what i LIKE about these fandangos. The nine designers were commissioned to reflect upon the use of plastic in contemporary product design, from stylistic, practical and environmental perspectives. Committee dissected (recycling good) as broad a range of plastic products as possible and recomposed them, fabricating each fandango by hand to possess absurdist functions and to mimic the finish of an industrially produced consumer product.

It's interesting to consider why products have evolved to the shapes that they have..... anything from cars to kitchen tools to musical instruments. Much of traditional styling has to do with ergonomics and mechanics, but even these elements could be much different if completely reconsidered from scratch. Inspired thinking.

These are pieces of artwork about the design process. And I think they're brilliant. Even my early thoughts have developed as I've written this.... yes, these are a bit wasteful, but they made me think about the wasteful plastic products in my place. Being aware will make all the difference when it comes to considering the purchase of yet another..... and another..... no?

no click click. they don't have a site.....

xo.s

IGOR AND ANDRE: DANNY ROBERTS

2009-04-20T12:01:00.000-04:00

This is Danny Roberts, the talent behind the illustration blog, 'Igor and Andre'.

I don't even know what to say. I saw his work posted on another blog and was completely blown away. I've been painting for years and have been in art school for almost a decade and i rarely see work that makes me STARE. There is so much intensity and emotion in not only the characters he draws, but in his line work, his choice of colour. I spent the better part of an hour adoring his work, and for the first time in a long time found myself trying to figure out what EXACTLY was so compelling about it. Why I was so drawn to it......?

I finally came across a post that showed his inspiration, which ranged from Van Gogh (i knew it!! the beautifully neurotic line work reminded me of the feeling I get when I look at his self portraits), to fashion photography, to the elegance of Marie Antoinette, to HENRY DARGER! Please look up Henry Darger- his story is fascinating!! In fact, I'm going to blog him right after this.

Anyway, please please have a look at Danny's work. There are also pictures of him in his studio, and it is clear that he works incredibly hard. He deserves all the success he's so quickly finding. At 23, he has studied both photography and fashion design, and has been featured in multiple international publications.

Many of the above images are illustrations he has done of blog personalities he has admired and met through the internet community. I'm learning myself (slowly... my blog is just a baby!) how supportive and inspirational this group of people really can be.

....... And he sometimes rocks lederhosen. Rad!

Be sure to have a look at his site here

And you can buy his work on etsy here

And Danny, if you're reading this, feel free to draw me! I'm not that fancy a lady and my blog is just an infant, but maybe one day I'd be so lucky.

xo.s

BLOGLOVIN

2009-04-20T02:17:00.000-04:00

Follow my blog with bloglovin´

BMW 'GINA'

2009-04-20T00:07:00.000-04:00

Working away at the detroit apartment of my friend the car designer. This is for you, James.

I hate expensive cars. Honestly. The highest I'd go is a mini cooper. But this concept is wild.

For the dudes that read my blog, here is something for you, I guess? It's an offering anyway.... I figure after all the dresses and jewelry I've been showing lately- this being the most masculine thing I had in my roster- it's the least I could do.

Although I have my issues with car design, this BMW concept is ridiculous. Watch the video straight to the end. It blinks, forchrissakes.

FOR ANGELA: mmaris

2009-04-19T23:37:00.001-04:00

you know what it's for.

can't wait!

all images from this beautiful blog

video by camille on this beautiful blog

xo.s

SOUVENIR

2009-04-19T21:33:00.000-04:00

Ok, so here is some of my very own design work. Finally.

I'll set up my concept..... I am a Canadian student studying design in the states. So it's safe to say that I've spent the last four years being everyone's "Canadian" friend. "Say 'eh'". Say "'about'". Time to graduate- I'm not doing it anymore :)

The word 'souvenir' has the same meaning, spelling and phonetics in both French and English (Canada's national languages); defined as 'Something kept as a reminder of a person, place, or event'. Most souvenirs are tacky, non?

I thought it would be fun to change that. I enjoyed taking such a cheap, tacky product concept and infusing it the best I could with some humour.... something that mocks the traditional souvenir and celebrates it at the same time.

I could have gone on and on with ideas, so stay tuned because there will be many more.

My hope for this project was to design pieces that used well-known Canadian iconography in a modern way, giving Canadians a renewed pride in the things unique to us. After looking to the US for so long as guidance, I've found that the new generation of artists and creatives are thinking about staying home.

I'm thrilled to see how art in Canada develops over the next twenty years.

Get it?

'T. With the Queen' Tea Pot. After Queen Elizabeth's crown. Look at your quarter.

This is a hanging book shelf shaped after a map of the montreal metro. See the real map here

antlers, hockey sticks, fleur de lis, the maple leaf and the beav. inspired by all these things, and the cottage cuckoo clock

A chandelier and folding dressing chair inspired by the Canadian moose. Hang your clothes on the antlers, please :)

I couldn't leave out the traditional souvenir mug! This one is a facade.

I have been overly hesitant to post in fear that someone might pillage or borrow from it..... but guess what- it's now being manufactured. This is me taking ownership now; documented evidence. So don't try it :)

This collection is being made as I type this.... sitting in a pile of 20lb foam dust as I work on the molds for the ceramic mugs. Finally in the prototype stage. I'll post pictures when they're done!

xo.s

ps- I realize that the font is fuzzy.... my photoshop is doing strange things so I'll repost when it is fixed

PIXIE MARKET

2009-04-19T19:29:00.001-04:00

I know I said I wouldn't post.... but I'm waiting for some glue to dry and to be honest, I can't really stay away.

So, I will take this opportunity to share a site I really don't want to share because I want to keep it all for myself. Of course, I heard about it from Betty's site (who else?), and I'm completely smitten........

Pixie Market is a small boutique out of NYC that has branched to LA. The owners, whose names I haven't been able to find, have scouted out some of the best young talents around to add to their collection.

The best part??? All of these beautiful items are, on average, less than $200!!!!!!!

Every single piece for sale is stunning and so unique. There are a number of gorgeous dresses in the sale section that I'm considering ordering for my graduation.......

click click

xo!

ps- yes, that white cuff is a 'fanny pack' :)

I LOVE YOU, BUT I NEED SPACE

2009-04-15T11:02:00.000-04:00

"I am myself made entirely of flaws, stitched together with good intentions"

Augusten Burroughs

Ok. I've posted and posted and loved every second of it. But alas, it's time to get to work. I graduate in a few weeks and the stress is building to unhealthy levels. Until early May, I'm going to have to cut back on my blog.

Sob.

Lots of love,