Working with his own photographs and a pair of good ol’ fashioned scissors, Roeloffs’ three dimensional visual montages each depict an aspect of Berlin’s history and social landscape. For Versace, the artist created a total of twelve original works that were completed as recently as January this year.Here are some of Tim's three dimensional collages that he created for the collection:
Supplied with reference books by Versace, Roeloffs fused images from old ad campaigns with his trademark scenes of Berlin. The results range from people waiting for the tram dressed in Versace outfits from the 1980s, and figures lounging in a palatial interior filled with the label's neo-classical furnishings and a fragmented skyline of Berlin in the background.
'Donatella wanted to do something about Berlin because Gianni loved Berlin,' Roeloffs said. Armed with a list of artists to vet, a design team from Versace was dispatched to the city, where they discovered the Berlin-based Roeloffs and his work.
'I’ve been wearing the same clothes for the last 20 years, and I know nothing about fashion. I think they expected to meet someone in a suit. But I was very impressed with the result as I didn’t know how they planned to put photo-montages onto clothing. They did it very well and still maintained the dimensionality that’s in my work.'
Apart from specify that he work on both pink and yellow backgrounds, Versace gave Roeloffs the freedom to create what he liked. In addition to the Versace imagery, he was also given books relating to Gianni Versace’s personal interests, such as 1960s wallpaper, which inspired the floral motif that appears prominently in all four dresses.
Fresh off the back of our ‘Artists Relations’ story in this month’s issue, the sheer unexpectedness of this collaboration is what we found the most intriguing. While Versace epitomizes Italian glamour, Roeloffs is a true modern bohemian living in Prenzlauer Berg and exhibiting his work in the Tacheles, a bomb-damaged Jewish department store that is now a gallery run by an art collective in Berlin’s Mitte district. The two could not belong to further ends of the spectrum.
When he attended last week’s Versace show in Milan, Roeloffs readily admitted, “I arrived in such a chaos by train because I brought my two dogs, three kids and my wife with me. Of course, there was a limousine to pick us up and it was really like coming from the gutter to being at their level.”
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Book Soup will be selling copies of this freshly published photo essay and Shulman and Stern will be signing copies. Refreshments will be served.
RSVP to beverlyblvd@dwr.com by February 27.
The Academy proudly offers a new edition of its commemorative poster that celebrates all 80 of the films to win the Oscar for Best Picture. Printed on 27 x 40-inch premium recycled paper, the design by Alex Swart features the key art of every one of the films to win the Academy’s Best Picture award.
80 Years of Oscar won't be printed until the 80th Best Picture is announced on the Oscar telecast on February 24, but you can order one today for $25 (includes shipping and handling in the U.S.). International orders must add $15 for shipping and handling.
To pre-order by telephone, please call 1-800-99-FILMS (option 5) during normal business hours or order online. For more information on prices, shipping and how to order, click here.
Above: Jon Stewart, this year's host (and my schoolgirl crush) at rehearsal
It's been called "the Academy statuette," "the golden trophy" and "the statue of merit." The entertainment trade paper, Weekly Variety, even attempted to popularize "the iron man." Thankfully, the term never stuck. Born in 1928, the Academy Award of Merit — which we know as simply "the Oscar" — depicts a knight holding a crusader's sword, standing on a reel of film with five spokes, signifying the original branches of the Academy: Actors, Writers, Directors, Producers and Technicians.
Weighing 8.5 pounds and standing 13.5 inches tall, the statuette was designed by MGM's chief art director Cedric Gibbons. Frederic Hope, Gibbons' assistant, created the original Belgian black marble base; artist George Stanley sculpted the design; and the California Bronze Foundry hand cast the first statuette in bronze plated with 24-karat gold.
The Origin of the Oscar Name
A popular but unsubstantiated story has been that the moniker caught on after Academy librarian and eventual executive director Margaret Herrick said that the statuette resembled her Uncle Oscar. Its first documented mention came after the sixth Awards Presentation in 1934 when Hollywood columnist Sidney Skolsky used it in reference to Katharine Hepburn's first Best Actress win. The Academy itself didn't use the nickname officially until 1939.
Oscar has changed his look on occasion. From the 1930s through the 50's, juvenile players received miniature replicas of the statuette; ventriloquist Edgar Bergen was presented with a wooden statuette with a movable mouth; and Walt Disney was honored with one full-size and seven miniature statuettes on behalf of his animated feature SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS. In support of the World War II effort between 1942 and 1944, Oscars were made of plaster, to be traded in for golden statuettes after the war. Additionally, the base was raised and changed from marble to metal in 1945. And in 1949, Academy Award statuettes began to be numbered, starting with No. 501.
"Over the last couple of months the topline growth [revenue for retailers] just hasn't been there," said Stephen Hoch, director of Wharton Business School's Jay H. Baker division of retailing.
"Consumers have retrenched, but I think it's been much more than retailers are telling us," Hoch said.
Even if companies aren't telling the whole story, their actions speak volumes.
Macy's, Home Depot, Sears, J.C. Penney (JCP, Fortune 500) and others recently announced they were consolidating operations and cutting jobs to curb costs to offset weakening sales.
What's more, Hoch and others are betting on more tell-tale signs from companies in the days ahead that will show just how tapped out American consumers really are.
Here's what they're looking for.
Turmoil at home.
The home improvement market has taken it on the chin over the past year as both Home Depot's and Lowe's business has been badly hurt by the housing slump.
Moreover, the weakening economy has dented demand for new appliances, which typically are a higher-margin category for both retailers.
Home Depot is expected to report a 13% drop in fourth-quarter profit and an 11% sales decline for the period. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial also expect Lowe's profit to tumble 37% with just a marginal 2% rise in quarterly revenue.
Stevan Buxbaum, with the Buxbaum Group consulting firm, said he's watching for weakness in both retailers' contracting business. "This will show if people are afraid to commit dollars in the spring and summer months," he said.
Two other factors - slowing store traffic and a drop in average amount of money shoppers spent - would signal further sales contraction ahead.
One analyst feels differently, however.
Craig Johnson, president of Customer Growth Partners, is forecasting a rebound for the sector. He said much higher home heating bills stumped consumers over the winter and further eroded household budgets.
"As it gets warmer, we could get a decent rebound in home-related purchases even though it won't turn things overnight for the sector," Johnson said.
Discount distress.
Although both Wal-Mart and Target operate in the same discount space, Wal-Mart's sales have outperformed its rival's over the past few months.
That's because Wal-Mart's prices are cheaper than Target's, and Wal-Mart sells more of everyday consumables such as milk and groceries. Target is expected to log a 5% drop in quarterly profit and a 2% increase in sales.
Morningstar analyst Joseph Beaulieu will be watching for announcements from Target about price cuts and changes in the product mix to include more consumables.
"Target typically doesn't announce big price cuts the way Wal-Mart does," he said. "If they do, it will mark a major strategy change for the company in a difficult environment."
Bigger the box, bigger the problem.
Macy's is already in crisis mode, according to Wharton's Hoch. "It's hard to look good to consumers or investors when you're closing stores and laying off people," he said.
Macy's is expected to report a 4% profit decline and a 6% drop in its fourth-quarter sales. Macy's problems are three-fold. First, sales at anchor stores such as Macy's are suffering from overall declining mall traffic as shoppers increasingly opt to shop closer to home.
Second, spending on clothing, shoes, jewelry and home-related goods - all discretionary items that fill up department stores - typically gets slashed first when consumers rein in their spending.
Third, Hoch said Macy's just has too much retail space chasing fewer shoppers.
Johnson said Macy's has no choice but to resort to its old strategy of weekly promotions. The retailer has tried to scale back on coupons and discounts, only to see its customer counts drop.
Luxury isn't immune to a downturn.
This is especially true of the "aspirational" luxury brands - such as Coach, Tiffany and Nordstrom - whose clientele comprise of a mix of mid and high-income shoppers.
Nordstrom's profit is forecast to dip 1% amid a 4% decline in quarterly sales.
Hoch expects margins at Nordstrom to decline, especially after the retailer was forced to cut prices in order to clear inventory over the holiday shopping season.
"Nordstrom still has a strong balance sheet. Its business is holding steady for now," Hoch said.
Still, given that its business evolves around discretionary purchases, Hoch said he's keen to hear what the retailer says about its inventory heading into spring and customer traffic trends.
Nordstrom's biggest challenge is in the top three U.S. luxury markets of New York, Florida and California, where the housing slump and energy costs have stymied retail spending, Johnson said."Aspirational customers aren't super-rich. These are consumers who've been badly hurt by declining equity in their homes, higher heating bills and gas prices," he said.
Let's start with Bugatti Bling.... Bugatti Diamonds, designed by Dieter Sieger:
How about a Bugatti pen by Ferrari Da Varese?
The Bugatti 370 Watch by luxury horologist Parmigiani Fleurier
is worth a post all its own.
Or a sterling silver and rock crystal Bugatti Treasure box:
Okay, well that ought to be enough items for you to spend your disposable income upon.
"This Dildo shoe is a womens shoe, based on a ballet last, hand made. The inspiration for the shoe, is the sex industry, and sex toys. As you can see, from the heel, it is based on of course a dildo, or anal toy. It was inspired also from the late 2007 trend of 'fetish'.
The straps upon the forefoot, are made from black patent leather, and egg shell finish cream. to create a stunning contrast. The spikes are in two lengths, and can be interchanged, with just screwing them off and changing them.
The selfmade heel is in high quality resin. So if need be... the heel can be used..."
LAUNCH OF US$1 MILLION COLLECTION OF FIVE LUXURY SPIRITS BOTTLES
In an extraordinary travel retail launch, Bombay Sapphire is to unveil Revelation - five handmade crystal bottles individually decorated with diamonds and sapphires, and priced at US$200,000 each.
Bombay Sapphire, owned by Bacardi, is the fastest-growing gin in the world. Three leading names in luxury and design – Baccarat, Garrard and Karim Rashid – have joined forces with the brand to create its new luxury project.
Above: The launch at London jeweler Garrard's.
Bombay Sapphire unveiled Revelation, the first of a five piece collection of handmade crystal bottles individually decorated with sapphires and diamonds. Inspired by Bombay Sapphire, three leading names in luxury and design - Garrard, Baccarat and Karim Rashid – collaborated to create the Revelation crystal bottles, priced at US$200,000 each.
Above: designer Karim Rashid
Created by one of the hottest designers in the world today, Karim Rashid, each of the five Revelation bottles has been handcrafted in France by Baccarat, the pre-eminent creator of the world’s finest luxury crystal. The bottle has been cut into the shape of a giant gemstone with 10 principal facets, representing the 10 botanical ingredients used to create the complex and refined taste of Bombay Sapphire. Each Revelation bottle is truly unique with its own individually designed stopper decorated with sapphires and diamonds set by the oldest jewellery house in the world, Garrard.
The limited edition Revelation bottles will be launched at five major international airport locations – starting with London Heathrow Airport (via World Duty Free) around 27 March to coincide with the opening of the new Terminal 5 and subsequently New York JFK Terminal 4 (DFS Group), Dubai International (Dubai Duty Free), Singapore Changi (DFS Group) and Sydney (The Nuance Group).
One Revelation bottle will be exhibited at each of the five international airports for two to three months before being securely transported to its new owner anywhere in the world
Above: Artists' rendering of the Nuance Group's display at the Sydney Airport In Australia.
Profits from Revelation will benefit the travel retail industry’s chosen charity, The Smile Train, which provides life-enhancing cleft surgery to children in poor countries.
Last week the final stone on the breakwater for The World was placed and reclamation work was completed – exactly to schedule. With reclamation completed on time, Nakheel will be moving onto phase 2 of the development of The World. Islands are being handed over to individual developers who will shortly begin construction work on the individual islands. These islands are sold by invitation every year to carefully picked developers who will bring creative experiences to the island destination.
The World will become one of the most exclusive tourist destinations on the planet. From 2010 more than 40 luxury resorts will start to open. Different world class brands and names will offer fine dining, spas and luxury boutiques, idyllic vacation homes, spectacular marina, yacht and beach clubs and scuba diving, snorkeling and dive centres.
FACT SHEET
* The World involves the creation of over 300 man made islands that are designed to represent the world map
* The vision for The World project was provided by His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister and was officially released on September 21, 2003
* The islands will be built in the shape of the world map and consist of four protective breakwaters on the outer perimeters to provide shelter from long and cross-shore waves. The inner breakwaters will be a submerged reef and the outer breakwaters will be above water
* Located just off the coast of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, The World is located 4km off shore from a point halfway between Port Rashid and The Palm, Jumeirah
* Construction of The World commenced in September 2003, after many years of research. The project is scheduled to be completely raised from the sea in 2008.
* Investors will have the freedom to create their own personal vision on the islands for private or commercial use, whether it is for leisure, residential or tourist developments. The 300 islands will be offered for sale on a freehold basis to selected investors only
* Nakheel will hand over the islands to the investors once the land has been reclaimed in 2008.
* The World will measure approximately 9km in length and 7km in width. It will cover over 9,340,000 square metres, and will add 232 kilometres of beachfront to Dubai’s coastline.
* All of the islands will range from 150,000 sq feet to 450,000 sq feet in size, with the average island measuring approximately 300,000 square feet
* 326 million cubic metres of sand will be used to form the islands
* 32 million tons of rock will be used to construct the breakwater
* The islands prices range from US$ 10 million - 45 million
* The average distance between islands is 50-100 metres, with an average depth of water in the navigation channels of at least 5 metres
* The World will be a sophisticated network of islands - Nakheel will integrate a series of waterways, canals and lakes to enhance the overall design
* All 300 islands will only be accessible by marine or air transport, with world-class marinas to berth boats, yachts and cruise liners. 2 mainland marinas will service The World. 4 hub islands in The World will service the islands.
* Construction on The World is round-the-clock, 24 hours a day, seven days a week
* The main Contractors for The World are Van Oord ACZ Marine Contractors Gulf FZE - Dubai who are responsible for land reclamation, dredging works and the breakwaters. This is the largest project Van Oord has undertaken in the region
* The jumbo trailers being used to build The World can handle 20-25 thousand cubic metres of sand at any one time and require a water depth of at least 12 metres to operate.
Salt and Pepper in One by Munire Kirmaci, 2006
Sharing the same housing this holds both your salt and your pepper in one simple modern object. Tilt one end to dispense salt and the other for pepper. Made of stainless steel and rubber plugs.
Available in the male for or female form, these classical busts called ART relic's are coated in a chalkboard finish so you can graffiti them as you like! Made by Seletti, they come in a limited number and arrive in a crate, just like a real relic. I LOVE them! Buy the Art relic busts here.
Only 600 bottles have been brewed and in a very short time the expensive brew has become a hot topic among international beer connoisseurs and journalists alike.
Vintage No.1 has, as the only contemporary beer, been matured in J.C. Jacobsen's original crypt-like cellar from 1847, for six months in new Swedish and new French oak barrels. "The project started as a wild idea and a wish to create a new type of beer that had never been seen before. During the aging process in new barrels, lots of chemical processes take place. Not all reactions are known but they taste wonderful", says Jens Eiken, Head Brewer at Jacobsen.
The beer will be sold mainly through three up-scale restaurants in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Above: each label is a hand stilled litho depicting Danish Fables
Each bottle of Jacobsen Vintage No. 1 is labeled with an original hand stilled lithographic print made by the Danish artist Frans Kannik. The prints depict fables of Sif. Sif was married to the Nordic god Thor, who was often used by Carls Jacobsen as a symbol of strength.
Think Cupid is Stupid? You're not alone.
Valentine's Day isn't all hearts and candy for everyone. With the single population higher than ever, divorce rates increasing and those whose hearts are on the mend, here are some products for those who'd rather celebrate the St. Valentine's Day Massacre than the holiday.
From "Go Intercourse Yourself" lip balm to the Unwedding Ring, the dejected, dumped, divorced and dysfunctional deserve to get a gift on feb. 14th too.
Just click on the image below and you'll be taken to the place of purchase.
Hagia Bassinet
Dimensions: 33”L x 25”W x 55”H
Albert Art Easel
Dimensions: 30”L x 26”W x 45”H
I don't know the name or the dimensions of the above 'rocker'. Sorry.
Manufacturer:
Argington Furniture:
Email: info@argington.com
Phone: 800-482-0522
Designers:
Eran Chen
Christian Bailey
Charles Brill
The Southern California-based hot tub company is manufacturing only 100 of these "Walker Signature Series" Amoré Bay spas, created by the company's award-winning designer, Vic Walker.
Contestants can enter online between now and February 29, 2008, at www.d1spas.com to try and win the sexy, candy apple-red backyard retreat.
See my over 80 picks (and links to purchase) Fancy Friggen Flooring & Radical Rugs here.
Gucci NY opened a new flagship store at 9 am this morning. In conjunction with the opening, they are having a Gucci Loves NY photo sweepstakes where the winner receives a limited edition Gucci (hearts) NY purse!
To salute the city it loves, 100% of the proceeds from the limited edition Gucci Loves NY bag will benefit the Playground Partners of the Central Park Conservancy. This donation will go towards the maintenance and operation of the 21 children's playgrounds in Central Park. For more information on the Conservancy, visit www.centralparknyc.org. To purchase the bag, please visit our new Flagship store at 725 Fifth Avenue.
Bringing new meaning to "the enjoyment of art", Jimmyjane has adorned its award-winning LITTLE SOMETHING vibrators with intricate etchings of acclaimed artist Jamie Hewlett's characters to create a limited edition of 1,500 sequentially numbered vibrators and a boxed collector's set. Buy them here.
However, Gareth Williams, a senior specialist in urban art at Bonhams, says its outsider status – with many of its practitioners, such as Banksy, anonymous – only adds kudos, and value. “Everyone loves a rebel, and their mystique only adds to the attraction.”
Above: a painting by Keith Haring
Darius Grant, the collector and Wall Street hedge-funder who owns work by the 1980s New York legend Jean-Michel Basquiat, has noticed a growing interest in urban art among his peers. “If you work in this world, you probably like taking risks, but you’re still part of the Establishment – it’s quite conservative. You can’t rebel at work, but you can buy rebellious art that’s shocking or subversive.”
Above: Two examples of Banksy's "Indoor Art"
This is good news for the artists – and not just in terms of sales. Those with suitable street cred are increasingly in demand in commercial spheres. Take Inkie, who made his name on the innovative Bristol scene, along with Banksy, 3D and Nick Walker.
Above: Moona Lisa by Nick Walker
Besides his private commissions, Inkie is now head of graphics at the computer-games company Sega. He also has his own T-shirt label, Flying Eyeball. At 37, Inkie, like many on the scene, has had run-ins with the law over the years, but these days, he is based in London and no longer does anything “naughty”, as he puts it: “I’m too old, and I’ve got a job and a kid now.”
Is there a danger that commercial interest will force compromises? “It’s become a lot bigger than I imagined it would,” Inkie admits. “It does make me laugh when design agencies say they want ‘Banksy-style’ graphics.”
The urban-art ethos has always been about “reclaiming” public space, or “taking what’s ours”, as Inkie puts it – and you could argue that that’s exactly what these artists are doing now.
The Urban Art sale at Bonhams is on Tuesday; www.bonhams.co.uk
and now, some links to some cool graffitti artists:
BANKSY The king of the urban art scene and master of the guerrilla stunt. Find his work on the streets of London, Bristol and other cities around the world, most recently, Bethlehem. A Banksy-daubed wall has sold for £208,000 on eBay, with the proviso that the purchaser remove it.
PAUL INSECT A recent solo show had to be cancelled after Damien Hirst bought the lot.
FAILE New York collective – highly collectible.
ADAM NEATE Subverted the genre by painting on cardboard and canvas and hanging these in public spaces.
TAKASHI MURAKAMI Japanese artist who fuses pop and manga imagery.
3D Aka Robert del Naja of Massive Attack, represented by the same management as Banksy (www.lazinc.com).
NICK WALKER Spray painting and stencils. His Moona Lisa is in the Bonhams sale.
INKIE Early innovator and creator of wild style art nouveau, much in demand
( www.flying-eyeball.com).
BLEK LE RAT The veteran French artist has inspired Banksy, among others. His works are in the Bonhams sale.
DAN BALDWIN Prints, paintings and ceramics
RENTON, Wash., Jan. 29, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Valentine's Day is fast approaching along with thoughts of current romance, but also past loves. Classmates.com, a leading online social networking service, polled its community of more than 40 million members and found that more than 90% of respondents either thought of their first love or high school sweetheart in the last year or would like to be contacted by an old flame.
But even if that old spark has burnt out, the flame of curiosity is still strong. Fifty-six percent (56%) of poll respondents said they have used the Internet to look up an old boyfriend or girlfriend, and 65% did so because they were curious as to what their ex was doing today.
And how did they break the ice with their old flame? "It's been a while, how are you?" was the favorite opener with 48% of respondents.
Differences between men and women were revealed in their answers to the question "What would you most like to receive on Valentine's Day?" The number one answer for 23% of male respondents was "a kiss." But "flowers" was the number one answer for 16% of female respondents, followed by 15% hoping for jewelry while 10% would be content with "a kiss."
What Is It?
As described on their site:
Those of us who've been in marketing since pre-digital communications may recognize this as good old fashioned co-op targeted direct mail comprised of samples - only packaged in far hipper way.
What was in the first Matter Box?
(Which, by the way, arrived at homes just yesterday!)
The next box goes out sometime this summer.
Interested in either advertising in the next Matterbox or in receiving one?
What They Can Do:
Specs:
* Top speed of 13.5mph
* A123 Lithium-ion battery pack
* Recharge in 2 hours
* Colson Sure Grip wheels
* 11.8lbs for the pair
What They Cost:
* Price : $599
Who Designed Them:
The inventor of the iShoes, Ilya Kaganovich is from Plymouth, Minnesota. On a trip to New York, he thought of a new way to get around town: motorized shoes. With the help of his brother, Boris Kaganovich, an aerospace engineering student, they developed prototypes to test the concept. As iShoes moved forward, they are committed to excellent quality. Excellent quality is achieved by creating the best designs, using the best technologies and executing with the best craftsmanship.
I deleted the video of the ishoes here because it was causing javascript errors in my browser. To see it, please go here.
Where you buy them:
Here.
For questions or comments, please contact :
Email: info@theishoes.com
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 41833
Minneapolis, MN 55441
Phone: 612.867.5573
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