Funky Find Of The Week: Handmade Decorative Keyboards

Made to order from Japan come these three lovely artful but functional computer keyboards. Each is handmade and costs just under $165.00 USD.

The Nishiki:




The Usagi:




The Karakus:



Order them here.

Jona Hoad: Making Light Of Design

Jona Hoad Design of London transforms wall panels, dividers, mirrors, chandeliers and more with light. By etching or carving glass and mirrored panels, illuminating them with colored led lights and in some cases, color-changing lights, Jona transforms interiors into glowing environments. In addition to projects for interiors of bars and hotels, installations on yachts and custom creations, Hoad also creates small art sculptures, lighting fixtures and more.

Bath screen:



All the patterns are available in various colors or color changing lights.

bird:

hoops:

damask pattern:

straws:


Illumin-art, smaller table top pieces:



The Vanilla Bar interior:



The deVigne Bar in the Mandeville Hotel:



detail:

installations on the Sunseeker yacht:


Interior chandeliers and lights:



Catherine Wheel ceiling light:

celing light detail:

Simply clear collection:


wall mounted mirrors:


commercial applications (hotel room numbers):




contact info:
Jona Hoad Design
The Studio, Ashpools,
Northhall, Bucks, LU6 2HF
Tel: +44 (0) 1525 222364
Email: info@jonahoad.com

Sneak Peek: The Karl Lagerfeld Barbie & Ken Photos For The Colette Celebration

Barbie celebrates her 50th birthday at uber chic French store Colette from March 9th-28th. And I have a sneak peek for you at the products and almost all of the highly anticipated photos shot by Karl Lagerfeld of Barbie with model Baptiste Giabiconi as Ken that will be displayed and then sold as silkscreen prints! Here they are:



In swimsuit, cocktail dress or a pair of jeans, Barbie strikes a pose with model Baptiste Giabiconi as Ken. Attention collectors: each picture will be available for sale, one silkscreen print on plastic only per picture.













Also, for the occasion, a "Barbie room" will be installed on the first floor presenting Jeremy Scott’s collection of Barbie clothing (photo below) and accessories as well as the following various exclusive products.



MP3 players:


Barbie Rocks of Beverly Hills jewelry:


Stila Make-up:
,
stationery, Dylan’s Candy Bar sweets:

and also a brand new line of beauty products:


Limited edition collaborations with designers selected by colette will also be available, among them are the following:

Married to the Mob t-shirts:

a Bless hairbrush:

an Uslu Airlines 219c pink nailpolish:

a hat-bag Azumi & David, Linda Farrow glasses:

Alexis Mabille bow ties, a Goyard trunk:

a Jawbone headset:


Domestic stickers, Bruno Frisoni stilettos... Even the water-bar will be Barbie style with a special edition of dessert Le Baiser by Ladurée.

Also, if you're in France, be sure to check out Colette's Barbie and Ken windows and the high security exhibition of the very first Barbie and Ken dolls, only on March 12th.

Special thanks to Mattel, Inc. and Colette for info and some of the images.

The Essence of Klimt Compared To The Real Thing

Above left: Judith mit dem Haupt Holofernes by Gustav Klimt and right; Moises González' version

I ran across these recreations of Gustav Klimt's work on the Behance network and simply had to share them with you. As a long time fan of the Austrian painter, these fun recreations of his works captured my immediate attention. A clever group of talented folks have combined their photography, digital art, illustration, make-up, hair and styling (all found through Kattaca) to recreate some of Gustav's most famous paintings.

While other sites and blogs have shown these photos, I have placed them side by side with the originals by Klimt.


Above: The Kiss by Gustav Klimt (his most well-known painting)

Above: Moises González' version of The Kiss


Above: Adele Bloch Bauer by Gustav Klimt

Above: Moises González' version of Adele Bloch Bauer


Above: Danae by Gustav Klimt

Above: Moises González' version of Danae


Above left: Judith by Gustav Klimt and right; Moises González' version


Above left, Adam and Eve by Gustav Klimt, above right; Moises González' version


Above: Portrait of Mada Primavesi by Gustav Klimt

Above: Moises González' version of the Portrait of Mada Primavesi


Above left: the Dance by by Moises González, above right; Gustav Klimt,


Above left: Water Serpents by Gustav Klimt, above right: Moises González' version


Above: The Virgin (or The Maiden) by Gustav Klimt

Above: Moises González's version of The Virgin (or The Maiden)

credits:
Title: La esencia de Klimt
Magazine: Ae
Photographer- Moises González
Art Direction, digital art, illustrated and Styling- Kattaca
Make up artist- Yurema Villa
Hairdresser- Raul Zarco

One Small Step For Man, One Watch Collection For Mankind. The Moon Dust DNA Watch Collection

Moon Dust-DNA Watches from Maison Romaine Jerome

Authentic Moon dust, fragments of the Apollo XI and Soyuz spacecraft, as well as elements from the International Space Station (the strap is made from an astronaut's suit that has actually been on a space mission) have been integrated into the newest collection of exceptional timepieces from Maison Romain Jerome.



As part of its DNA of Famous Legends concept, featuring timepieces inspired by and created in tribute to the great legends of our times, the Maison Romain Jerome presents its second exclusive collection, entitled Moon Dust-DNA. Legitimately proud of its Titanic-DNA collection dedicated to the world's greatest maritime legend, Romain Jerome launches out into space in homage to the most fascinating human adventure of all: the conquest of space.

The models vary, including brown or black faces that have mineral and moon dust depoits, rose gold or white gold and several various bezel accents:









The design of the Moon Dust-DNA collection is inspired by and incorporates the DNA heritage of the great players and major figures in the conquest of space. The materials composing the models in this collection incorporate authentic fragments from the aerospace universe such as moon dust as well as fragments of the Apollo XI and Soyuz spacecraft and the International Space Station (ISS).


Above: creator and CEO Yvan (Ivan) Arpa

Moon Dust-DNA features
• A lunar dial based on a mineral deposit including Moon dust;
• A 46 mm steel and titanium case incorporating steel from the Apollo XI spacecraft;
• Rusted steel paws including fragments of the Soyuz spacecraft; and
• A strap composed of fibers from a spacesuit worn during the ISS mission.*


*Romain Jerome guarantees that the origin of each of these materials is duly certified by a legal document authenticated in Switzerland. Each piece in the Moon Dust-DNA collection will also be accompanied by a certificate from the Association of Space Explorers (ASE) saluting the approach of Romain Jerome and the tribute it is thereby rendering to the conquest of space.


Romain Jerome
Rue Robert Céard 8
1204 Geneva, Switzerland
T: +41 22 319 29 39
F: +41 22 319 29 30
www.romainjerome.ch

Never saw his watches made from actual pieces of the Titanic?

See those here.

Swarovski Crystal and 24k Gold Plated Bike Is The World's Most Expensive

I realize that blogging about 24 karat plated, crystal adorned bicycles during the United States present economic climate is nothing short of obnoxious. But it doesn't detract from the perverse fascination I have for these sort of luxury items. And this one is a doozy. And costs $102,418.60 USD


above: Each bike is hand built, plated with 24 carat gold and hand-adorned with more than 600 Swarovski crystals.

The limited to ten, the crystal and gold bike was created by a company named Aurumania, whose self-proclaimed purpose is to conceive of and design items with the extravagant use of gold, thereby turning familiar objects into collectible art. Their collection thus far consists of fifty 24 karat gold plated bikes, a gold plated bike rack and the special Swarovski crystal adorned 24 karat plated version. As one would expect for these prices, their products are hand delivered anywhere in the world.

the details:











These 10 limited-edition bikes represent a cornucopia of delights for any feinschmecker.



The designers have employed all the classic principles in their overall appearance, and every detail has been under careful consideration.



The handlebar grips (above) are made of hand-sewn, chocolate-brown leather and a moulded Brooks leather saddle (below) provides the right nostalgic touch.



The Aurumania logo appears stylishly and enticingly on the crossbar (below). A limited edition number is discreetly embossed with gold leaf and set into a leather badge, placed prominently on the front of the bike.




To ensure potential buyers the greatest possible degree of discretion, these gold bikes are exclusively available via www.aurumania.com and they are delivered to the buyer personally using a White Glove service, in a specially designed package that exudes extreme luxury on par with the golden bike inside.

Of course, they have a matching gold and crystal wall mountable rack for the bike:





Pricing:


The crystals a little bit too much for you? Don't fret, they've made 50 of the gold plated bikes without the Swarovski Crystal adornments. These too, have the leather Brooks saddle and hand sewn leather handles.



For more information about the gold bike, the gold and crystal bike and the gold bike rack as well as AURUMANIA, please contact CEO Bo Franch at: Tel. +45 2171 3777

Fun With Flowers: Bloom My Buddy

Bloom my Buddy
Designers Niels Van Eijk & Miriam Van der Lubbe have created these fun and fabulous flower vases. They have a reservoir in which to hold the water and various holes so you can design your 'boy' or 'girl' in infinite floral dress. Created in a large and a small size, they were initially commissioned by the Flower Council of Holland.

The two sizes in comparison:


The smaller one measures 45 cm ( or 17.75"H) , is made of rotation moulded polyethylene and has 98 holes. The larger version measures 120 cm, is made of hand laminated polyester and has 298 holes.


Take a look at some of the fun examples of how these vases can turn your flora into little characters.








Bloom My Buddy

You can purchase the small sized for $199.00 USD here.

About the designers:

Niels van Eijk and Miriam van der Lubbe

from their site:
“Our designs raise questions; we work with forms and products we all know, we add benefits to them to make it nowadays products without loosing their own characteristics. They make you change your perspective to things, and challenge you to look at another way to the world around you.”

Graduated at the Design Academy and the post graduate programme of the Sandberg Institute in Amsterdam. Started their design studio in 1998. They work individually but share one studio. Often they collaborate in projects. They focus on product, interior and exhibition design.

Work has been exhibited worldwide and purchased by many museums such as Museum Boymans van Beuningen Rotterdam, Centraal Museum Utrecht, Museum voor Moderne Kunst Arnhem, The Dutch Textile Museum Tilburg, Manchester City Art Gallery, WOCEF Korea, Museum FIT New York and Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam.

Clients include; European Ceramic Workcentre, Rosenthal, Droog Design, Habitat, Premsela Dutch Design Foundation, Dutch Textile Museum, Moooi, Flower Council of Holland. They teach product design at various academies at the Design Academy Eindhoven.

De Raadstraat 28K
5666 EA Geldrop
The Netherlands
Phone *31 (0) 40-2868636
www.ons-adres.nl

They Can Blog About The Oscars, I'm Blogging About Sexy Virgin Marys

Blasphemy Or Freedom of Expression?
Ricardo Oyarzún's Controversial Fashion Show Featuring Christ and Virgin Marys





Yes, The Oscars were wonderful. Well-produced, tasteful, Hugh Jackman? Surprisingly good. It was a great year for movies and there were lots of deserving winners. But you can read all about that everywhere else. Instead, I'm gonna show you what's been causing some controversy in Chile.

Fashion blogs and sites have been publishing reports about Chilean Fashion designer, Ricardo Oyarzún's latest controversial collection, but they've hardly touched on the actual show at all, simply focusing on one or two images of cleavage-baring models. The show actually had a crucified Christ, who descended from the cross with the help of a scantily clad Mary, models dressed as nuns and more. And I've got all the photos and info for you here.

Certainly not the first time religion has been referenced in fashion, and some of Ricardo's pieces remind me of Gaultier's religiously-inspired collection in Spring Summer of 2007.

Please be aware that the following text has been translated and therefore is not word for word and may contain some errors.



translated from La nacion.cl:

Chilean designer Ricardo Oyarzún, celebrated his 15 year career with the controversial parade of models in his "Virgin Fashion Show" at the disco Bunker.

Dressed as a priest, the notorious creator of fashion apparel began the controversial show that various Catholic groups, promoted by the organization "Move Chile" attempted to prevent, but failed.



Models Monica Aguirre, Carla Ochoa and Barabara Vos, and others such as Anita Alvarado (Known as the "Chilean Geisha") represented Oyarzún's Virgin Marys as they paraded down the runway clutching rosaries and helping 'Christ' descend from the cross.

"From now on, young artists will have the freedom to express themselves and do whatever they want with respect to content, and without fear of censorship. It set a precedent in Chile in relation to freedom of artistic expression. So I I feel very happy and satisfied for having done what I did, "said the designer after the show.

One of the events that most captured public attention (and the cameras) was when model and singer Barbara Vos interpreted the lyrical version of Ave Maria.

Referring to the criticism he received before Ricardo Oyarzún exhibited his work, the designer said that "there is something you can not argue about freedom of expression that exists in this country, I found it painful for the country rather than religion or whatever, to inhibit an artist like myself and many others that can launch a book. "

He added: "I feel afraid for artists such as myself, that tomorrow could be censored. Today was a parade, tomorrow it could be a movie, and before we realize, we end up in a dictatorship. Then you must be very careful. "



















above: the designer, Oyarzún, at the show's finale.

special thanks to Esteban Garay for some of the above photos.

Also translated from La nacion.cl:

The Santiago Court of Appeals yesterday rejected an order put forward by the NGO "Move Chile", which sought to cancel the controversial parade "Virgin Fashion Show, organized by designer Ricardo Oyarzún.

The team of lawyers from the Catholic organization, despite not being able to prevent the event, looked forward to the higher court rule on the merits of the lawsuit.

The NGO described the portrayal of women wearing provocative costumes emulating the figure of the Virgin Mary as "blasphemous".

On learning of the resolution, Oyarzún was happy, because this has become a "precedent for any Chilean artist. Now you may never again be able to censor what they say and think artistically."

But he regretted that a section of the population has been a bit archaic and medieval concerning religiosity, "he said.

Monseñor Contreras indicated that he did not intend to "censor" the parade of models, but to assert their right of expression.

A "questionable artistic expression" the auxiliary bishop of Santiago, secretary general of the Episcopal Conference, Bishop Cristián Contreras Villarroel, called the controversial "Virgin Fashion Show," noting that it was a "lack of respect for the reverence that millions of Chileans profess for the Virgin Mary. "

Monseñor Contreras also emphasized that his goal is not to censor, but to express our rejection of this act as offensive to Catholics, who make up the majority of Chileans (...) we condemn the use of the Virgin Mary, that is a provocation to which we are accustomed. "

This is not the first time that a provocative Virgin Mary has caused a stir in Chile. The cover shot on a recent issue of Playboy, shown below, was clearly referencing the the religious icon and caused a similar uproar.





You can see videos of the show here at the designer's site.

Electrolux Design Lab - Call For Entries for 2009

Electrolux Design Lab
Design Lab is an annual global design competition open to undergraduate and graduate industrial design students who are invited to present innovative ideas for household appliances of the future.

The brief for this year's competition: Designs for the next 90 years


Electrolux Design Lab 2009 invites undergraduate and graduate industrial design students around the world to create home appliances that will shape how people prepare and store food, wash clothes, and do dishes over the next nine decades.

The design ideas should address key consumer insights such as being adaptive to time and space, provide learning and allow for individualization.

Deadline: May 31, 2009
Finals: London, September 24, 2009
Prizes:
•1st prize 5,000 Euro and a six-month paid internship at one of the Electrolux global design centers
•2nd prize 3,000 Euro
•3rd prize 2,000 Euro

Need some inspiration?
Here's last year's winning design, The Flatshare:


above: Stefan Buchberger, from the University of Applied Arts, Vienna, Austria, was chosen winner of the Electrolux Design Lab 2008 competition for inventing Flatshare.

Register for the competition here

Sneak Peek at Edward van Vliet's Sushi Collection For Moroso

Not yet on the market, Moroso's newest collection of seating, pouffes and rugs is named the Sushi Collection. This special combination of different elements is indeed the key characteristic of this collection, which unites simple, clean lines with exquisite patchwork embroidery, evocative of Japanese or Moroccan moods, and embroidered, ultra-modern geometric patterns.

The pieces, as well as the fabrics in the collection have been designed by Edward van Vliet.


Above: Dutch designer Edward van Vliet

Edward van Vliet is a Dutch interior designer who started off as a fabric designer before moving into interior design and large-scale furnishing projects, including Derlon Hotel and NL Hotel in Amsterdam.



He worked with Patrizia Moroso on this collection (shown above). She describes her perception of the creativity of a designer she has known for years: "Edward has a very light, free and easy approach to designing, and he also has a talent for amalgamating very different elements. The contrast highlights their differences and, as in life, it becomes the most attractive and interesting side of things".



The Sushi collection is a sophisticated wrapping concept inspired by universal layers, found also in nature and architecture.



The Karmacoma from this collection is a sofa with a hard shell, medium firmness support pillows and comfortable pillows on the surface. Each layer distinguished by a different sort of upholstery:




The donut pouffe incorporates some of the same geometric fabrics:




The Sushi seat





The Juju seat





Lighting
The large and small geospere Rontonton lamps are three dimensional geometric bodies made out of plastic and aluminum perforated sandwich sheet. The light radiates through the perforated sheets adding an additional layer onto all other designs.





Rugs
The Spirocube rug is another interpretation of modernistic folklore. It shows a two dimensional pattern of geometric spiral figures.



The Sushi light carpet for Moroso incorporates the Carp design seen on their sushi seat:




The full Sushi Collection will be previewed in the Moroso showrooms in Amsterdam on the 23rd of February, in Milan on the 25th of February and in Miami on the 5th of March.

Moroso Spa
Via Nazionale 60
33010 Udine
Italy
Phone +39-0432-577111
Fax +39-0432-570761

www.moroso.it
images of the collection courtesy of Moroso and Edward van Vliet

A Peek At Weird Beauty: Fashion Photography Now

This exhibition, organized by Carol Squiers and Vince Aletti, presents the most innovative fashion photography of the last few years, from photographers who draw on a range of influences, including art, sexuality, narrative, digital media, and youth culture. It also considers the impact of graphic design on the way that fashion photography is presented. Along with original photographic prints, the exhibition features hundreds of tear sheets and magazine covers from both mainstream and independent publications.

Showing from January 16th through May 3rd at the International Center of Photography (ICP) Museum in New York.

Address:
1133 Avenue of the Americas at 43rd Street
New York, NY 10036

Some pieces from the show:






Represented in the international group of photographers are the photographers listed at the end of this post. I have found some of their work from the referenced collections in the exhibit and included them here, however, these exact pieces may not be in the show:

Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, a London-based collaborative team that produces haunting stories with a strong emphasis on polished and flawless beauty. In the 44-page story I’m A Marionette (Pop Magazine S/S 2007), the duo designed an eerie set of women-cum-marionettes gazing lifelessly into the distance;
Here are 2 examples from that story:



American photographer Steven Klein, whose Le Gôut des Robes (Vogue Paris, October 2007) depicts manicured housewives roaming the colorful aisles of the local supermarket, as they oscillate between moments of utter boredom and despair;
And here are two shots from that shoot:



Cindy Sherman, who employs her iconic method of costuming in a series of photographs produced for Vogue Paris (Merci Cindy!, August 2007) in order to promote Balenciaga clothing items;
Here are two shots from that editorial:



Sølve Sundsbø, based in London, whose Batty Boy (Arena Homme, Summer–Autumn 2007) introduces a ghostly male figure wearing an oversized square coat and heavy black makeup, as he stands motionless in a dim environment;
Two of the Batty Boy shots:



Juergen Teller, who expands his advertising campaign for Marc Jacobs into a fashion story in Purple Fashion Magazine (Summer 2007), as he captures his models— William Eggleston, Dakota Fanning and Charlotte Rampling— in an array of awkward and brutally honest predicaments;
A 2004 shot of Charlotte Rampling by Juergen Teller:

and one of his 2007 shots of Dakota Fanning:


British photographer Tim Walker, who looks to the memorable Horst P. Horst photograph of Dalí costumes (1939) as inspiration for his story A Magic World (Vogue Italia, January 2008).
Here are two shots from that editorial:



Also featured in Weird Beauty are several photographers not commonly associated with fashion, including Nan Goldin, who contributes regularly to the German children's fashion magazine Kid's Wear, and Collier Schorr, who shoots for fashion publications such as Doingbird, i-D, and Numéro Homme.
Below are 2 of Nan Goldin's rare fashion shots from a French Vogue editorial:




The exhibition is organized by ICP curator Carol Squiers and ICP adjunct curator Vince Aletti.
This exhibition is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

Participating Photographers :
Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
Miles Aldridge
John Baldessari
Coppi Barbieri
Laurie Bartley
Richard Burbridge
Jessica Craig-Martin
Philip-Lorca diCorcia
Marcus Gaab
Nan Goldin
Mikael Jansson
Krisanne Johnson
Greg Kadel
Steven Klein
Nick Knight
Karl Lagerfeld
Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin
Peter Lindbergh
Craig McDean
Alasdair McLellan
Steven Meisel
Sarah Moon
Günter Parth
Richard Prince
Terry Richardson
Paolo Roversi
Lise Sarfati
Collier Schorr
Cindy Sherman
David Sims
Hedi Slimane
Mario Sorrenti
Sølve Sundsbø
Juergen Teller
Mario Testino
Michael Thompson
Deborah Turbeville
Magnus Unnar
Sara VanDerBeek
Matthias Vriens
Tim Walker
Bruce Weber

Rocking The Runway. Literally. Chanel's Acoustic Guitar And Quilted Case.

Lagerfeld laughingly has said: “Coco Chanel had an affair with Stravinsky, mine was with a guitar."



The 2009 Spring Summer Guitar By Chanel: Debuted at the Paris Spring 2009 Fashion Week, the guitar is a black acoustic instrument, with Chanel discretely spelled out across the top of the neck and the classic double CCs can be seen in the guitar's resonant cavity.




The strap is striped in brown, white and black with intertwining C’s embossed in leather where the strap attaches. The most elegant piece of all is the guitar’s case, in Chanel’s signature quilted pattern and in stylish white.






Price? $4,030.00 USD
For stockists call 020 7493 5040

Justice Boden: Leather Goods That Are Great.

It's rare that I see something in person (as opposed to online) where I simply must stop and find more information about it. The Justice Bodan Steelshell Messenger Bag was one such item. I saw the bag upon the shoulder of a co-worker and was mesmerized by the craftsmanship, style and details. When he set the bag down, I sneakily inspected it to find the words Justice Bodan embossed in the leather. (I have since confessed to the owner, Joe Shands, that I was peeking into his bag. Yes, he forgave me).



This led me to the stunning work of Los Angeles sculptor/designer David Grieco, the man behind the Justice Bodan label and his belts, bags, small leather goods, and jewelry.


above: elipse and fleur-de-lys bronze sculptures by David Grieco

An artist who has been sculpting for over 15 years, he created the fictional name and character, Justice Bodan, as a front for his jewelry and leather goods.


Above: The Steelshell in black or brown leather with cast bronze buckle (also shown as a belt)

His belt buckles are amazing. Artful, textural, and organic. Handmade and hand cast in bronze, they are heavy and substantial, not to mention beautiful. Many are available in white bronze or sterling silver as well. Here are just a few from his large collection.








He has a small selection of handbags and wallets for women, too.




And makes sterling silver bracelets, rings, pendants, cuff links money clips and more with the same organic shapes that appear on his other pieces:




Small leather portfolios and photo albums are amongst his gift offerings:



THE JUSTICE BODAN COLLECTION (as taken from his site):



The Justice Bodan Collection was created by Los Angeles-based artist David Grieco. David has been a fine-art sculptor for over 15 years with bronze being his chosen medium. His mastery of the craft guarantees that each design will be artfully unique.


Above: the sculptor at work

The collection initially launched with a line of belts and has recently expanded to include bags, jewelry and gift items.



Justice Bodan is a fictional character who travels the world, journaling his experiences. He travels from country to country, continent to continent, searching for nothing. He is only seeking to have experiences that will enable him to feel more connected to everyone and everything. Each destination helps him relate a little more closely to himself and to the human experience.



above: david working with molten bronze in his studio

Each buckle in the Justice Bodan Collection has a name with a message that correlates to the moment and destination that inspired its creation…allowing each meaningful thought and experience to blossom into a beautiful three-dimensional object. To protect the integrity and authenticity of the collection, David uses the lost-wax process, pulling each piece from a mold and then pouring it into bronze. In addition, each buckle is an original that is numbered and embossed by David personally.

All of the leather is imported from a tannery in Italy and is of the highest quality. David individually inspects each hide to insure it compliments the accompanying metal. Every piece of jewelry in the collection is made of sterling silver.

Each design in the Justice Bodan Collection is wearable art. Wear them with pride, and live life with love.

Shop for the above items here.

JUSTICE BODAN
1130 South Flower Street, #401
Los Angeles, CA 90015

email: info@justicebodan.com

For wholesale inquiries:
NEXUS Showroom
39 West 56th Street Third Floor
New York, NY 10019
tel. 212.265.0856
fax. 212 265 0898
email: info@nexusshowroom.com

Like David Hockney? Then Meet Michael Pfleghaar.

Above: Pfleghaar's Red and Green

above: Pfleghaar's Royal Melbourne facade

Now, it's true, Michael Pfleghaar's work is similar to that of David Hockney in both style and color as well as subject matter. But, given that the majority of art-lovers out there cannot afford an original Hockney, Pfleghaar's original works are a great alternative.

Of course his work is not an actual substitute for a Hockney; his craft is not as mature, his style not as diverse, his technique for more naive, but Michael is a lot younger than David and far more accessible to the masses. His work is very appealing, growing in popularity and critical acclaim. Throughout the post, I've included several of Hockney's pieces with that of Pfleghaar's, so be sure to read the captions.

And for those who can't afford his original art, he sells his prints at Imagekind and in his Etsy store you can buy greeting cards that feature his work like the one shown below.


Above: Michael sells greeting cards with his images, like the one above, at his etsy store.

An illustrator, painter and ceramicist, Michael has several different series of works. All of them have amazing energy, use of color and whether exteriors or interiors, a modernist sensibility.

One of his series consists of several famous icons of modern architecture like the Pierre Keonig Stahl residence and the Philip Johnson Glass home.

The Pierre Koenig-Stahl residence:

The Philip Johnson Glass home:


Michae's series of Palm Springs modern homes include renderings of the Albert Frey home, Wexler homes and the famous Neutra Kauffman home amongst others.

A study of the Albert Frey Palm Springs home:

Edris House study:

the Kaufmann Residence in Palm Springs by Richard Neutra:

The Wentworth home in Palm Springs:

Wexler home in Palm Springs:

Wexler Steel House3:

Hockney's "A Bigger Splash":

Pfleghaar's View Of Cielo Drive:

Hockney's Cactus Garden:


His interiors, also like Hockney's, are in skewed perspective and often feature classically modern design elements like eames chairs and bullet planters:

Pfleghaar's Potted Jade in modern planter:

Hockney's Potted Jade, 1988:

Pfleghaar's Animated Eames Chairs:

Pfleghaar's Modern Mantel still life:

Hockney's Mt. Fuji and Orchid:

Michael Pfleghaar's Sunlight and orchid:


Speaking of plants, this post would not be complete without sharing his adorable ceramic "little buds" with you as well:




And both Hockney and Pfleghaar share a love of dogs.


above: Hockney's Dog painting 17

Above: Michael Pfleghaar's Dog On Sheep's Clothes

above: Pfleghaar's Madison In The Studio

represented by:
Dezart One Gallery in Palm Springs
the Nines Gallery in Michigan

About the artist:


Since his childhood, Michael Pfleghaar has had a deeply personal & inspired relationship with the arts.

Born in 1965 in Toledo, Ohio, Pfleghaar found himself participating in his first art class as a child in the Toledo Artist’s Club. His love of art eventually led him to Kendall College of Art and Design and Grand Valley State University where he received his BFA in painting.

In the summer of 1988, Pfleghaar attended the Ecole des Beaux Arts, Aix en Provence, France where he focused his studies on the French landscape. Soon after, Michael Pfleghaar apprenticed with the internationally recognized Michigan artist Stephen Duren.

His Studio
His etsy store
His own site

Update: More of JackO's auction item images

(click on the photo to enlarge)
As an addendum to my post on the Neverland Ranch Auction items, more images have been released by Julien's Auction House. Read about the items above here.

Fun Faucets From Bongio: Just Add Water.

bongio of italy makes water faucets (or taps), showers, showerheads and basins for the bath and kitchen. They have a wonderful collection of unique designs ranging from angular faucets to waterfall faucets --all functional and fun. Some echo Mondrian, others are inscribed with writing and their two latest lines are crafted of hand blown Murano glass.

One Evolution:

Riva:

Grip:

Miro:

Riva ht:

Riva art:

Hommage to Mondrian:

Parole:

Aquaviva:

Moon:



They have just debuted two lines of Murano Glass faucets, basins, and showerheads; the Soffi Optical Collection made of black and white murano glass in graphic combinations and the Soffi Gold Fever Collection, made of opaque or polished murano glass with gold accents.

The Soffi Optical Collection:






And the Soffi Gold Fever Collection:





contact info:

Visit their site to see their full lines here.

From His Glove to His Limo: The King Of Pop's Neverland Ranch Auction

I don't know if I find this sad, creepy, interesting or exciting (frankly, all of the aforementioned), but The Gloved One's items from his now Notorious Neverland Ranch are being auctioned off in a little over a month and I've got the lowdown for you, from the auction catalog covers to some of the actual auction items and their estimated prices.



The Michael Jackson Auction
More than 2,000 items of fine and decorative arts, furniture, memorabilia, arcade games, Disneyana, and garden statuary from Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch will be auctioned off at Julien's in Beverly Hills on April 22-25th.


photo courtesy of terrastories.com/bearings/inside-neverland-ranch

The immense collection represents the personal property and contents of Michael Jackson’s private amusement park and family residence to be sold during a live auction, televised and real-time online auction broadcast by Auction Network to be held at 9900 Wilshire Blvd adjacent to the Beverly Hilton Hotel from April 22nd through April 25th, 2009.




Iconic memorabilia from Jackson's career is featured alongside his luxurious home furnishings and profuse amusements in this once-in-a-lifetime auction of Neverland Ranch.



King of Pop: A once in a lifetime Auction Featuring The Personal Property of Michael Jackson with a Portion of the Proceeds Benefiting MusiCares®

Exhibition:
9900 Wilshire Blvd in Beverly Hills, California 90210
Adjacent to The Beverly Hilton
April 14th – April 21st (10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Daily)
$20.00 per person for Exhibition and Auction

The Auction catalogs:


above: The boxed set of the five auction catalogs (shown individually below) is available for purchase here, either signed or unsigned.


April 22nd: Session I: Garden Statuary and Outdoor Furniture

Session II: Furniture and Decorative Arts
April 23rd: Session III: Furniture and Decorative Arts

Session IV: Antiques, Paintings and Fine Decorative Art

April 24th: Session V: Amusements, Arcade Games and Disneyana
Session VI: Amusements, Arcade Games and Disneyana

April 25th: Session VII: Memorabilia From the Life and Career of Michael Jackson
Session VIII: Memorabilia From the Life and Career of Michael

above photos courtesy of Julien's Auction House.

Observer Music Monthly has obtained this world exclusive preview of some of the items going under the hammer, and here are some of the more interesting ones:



above: Portrait of Michael Jackson dressed as a King, oil on canvas, signed and dated 1995. Housed in an elaborate gold frame. Norman Oak (American, B. 20th Century) Guide price: $4,000 - $6,000.


above: An orange spandex glove covered with orange Swarovski Loch Rosen crystals and rectangular mirrored beads. Guide price $1,000-$1,500



above: A pair of Michael Jackson's Triumph-era socks with uppers covered in rhinestone banding. They date back to his 1981 Triumph tour with the Jacksons. Guide price $600-$800


above: A full-length red velvet cape with detachable faux ermine collar with gold rope trim, gold metal cross brooch with faux cabachon gems and satin lining. Guide price $300-$500


above: An electric cart featuring an image of Jackson as Peter Pan on the bonnet and Peter Pan cushions. Guide price $4,000-$6,000


above: A robotic Michael Jackson head featured at the climax of his 1988 film Moonwalker, when he transforms into a robot and defeats Joe Pesci's evil character, Mr Big. Guide price $2,000-$3,000

The robotic head lights up as each piece of the face pushes out and expands before retracting back into the shape of Jackson's face. It still animates at the push of a button


above: Jackson's MTV Video Music award for Best Group Video USA For Africa 1984-1985. Guide price $6,000-$8,000


above: A Brevetti Gaggia espresso and cappuccino machine. Two tone metal featuring polished chrome with bands of repouss&ecute; and reticulated brass. Tank bears a Neverland plaque, is flanked by decorative Turkish tea vessels and is crested by an eagle finial. Guide price $1,000-$2,000


above: Accessory pieces from Jackson's Moonwalker costume including: a black leather and gold metal belt, a gold metal necklace with matching purple and blue stones and matching bracelet and rectangular epaulets. The belt can be seen in the opening sequence of the film Moonwalker. Guide price $1,000-$1,500


above: The prop 'scissorhand' gloves that Johnny Depp wore in Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands. Stan Winston, the visual effects artist for the film, worked with Jackson on the 1997 short film Ghosts. Guide price $4,000-$6,000


above: A Sega flight simulation arcade game with safety barrier and attendant station. Guide price $4,000-$6,000


above: A larger-than-life figure of Superman. Guide price $1,000-$1,500


above: A marble chess table supported by four parcel gilt horses on marble pillars. Guide price $2,000-$3,000


above: A fire engine tea kettle with moving wheels. Guide price $100-$200


above: A Katherine Baumann crown-shaped minaudiere with red, green and gold jewels. Guide price $800-$1,200


above: A Victory tour jacket worn by Jackson at the Kansas City opening of the 1984 tour with the Jackson. It is currently on exhibit at the Los Angeles Grammy Museum. Guide price $2,000-$4,000


above: A coin-operated Grandmother Predictions fortune teller in wooden cabinet. Guide price $1,500-$2,500



above: Jackson's Rolls Royce with interior designed by himself. Guide price $140,000 - $160,000

And, these new items whose photos were just released.

The sale also includes vintage video game machines, as well as Jackson's collection of 18th- and 19th-century art. There are books about Disney, the Three Stooges, Peter Pan and Alfred Hitchcock, as well as a collection of black history books, including the autobiography of Malcolm X. Then there is a selection of his own stage costumes, dating back from the days of the Jackson 5 through to the present. There is one of the fedoras he wore in the video for Billie Jean; a pair of trousers so studded with diamanté that they feel as heavy as chain mail; there are customized military jackets, featuring insignia surely acquired on his global travels - including badges from the Royal Air Force and the Thai Narcotics Bureau.

All Photographs Courtesy of Shaan Kokin/Julien's Auctions

About the ranch:
The ranch opened as a private amusement park in 1988, with its own zoo and Ferris wheel, roller coaster and bumper cars. It was named after Peter Pan's fantasy island where children never grow up, and for years children would arrive by the busload, invited to play freely in its grounds. But following the 2005 child molestation trial - which saw Jackson acquitted of all charges - the singer never returned to the 2,800-acre property in the Santa Ynez Valley, 130 miles west of Los Angeles. The ranch has recently been renamed Sycamore Valley Ranch.


photo courtesy of terrastories.com/bearings/inside-neverland-ranch


Wanna watch the auction live online?
Auction Network will broadcast live streaming video of the auction and provide viewers with real-time, interactive bidding during the auction.

Wanna Bid?
Register to bid here.

Check out the updated post on Julien's summer auction of MJ's items here.

And check out the best, weirdest and worst art inspired by Michael Jackson here.

Buy Michael Jackson Music and Books on Amazon

The Impossible Project: Reinventing Polaroid Instant Film

As you have heard by now, Polaroid stopped production of their instant film in June, 2008. But do not fear, thanks to The Impossible Project, they are attempting to bring it back, however slightly redesigned. They have bought the old equipment, have acquired a ten year lease on the old factory in the Netherlands, and hired a team of "integral film' experts.

The Impossible Project aims to re-start production of analog Integral Film for vintage Polaroid cameras in 2010. They have acquired Polaroid's old equipment, factory and are seeking your support.

The Mission:

Polaroid is transforming itself from an analog Instant Film Production Company to a global Consumer Electronics and Digital Imaging company.

Production of analog Instant Film stopped in June 2008, closing the factories in Mexico (Instant Packfilm production) and the Netherlands (Instant Integral production).

Here are some fab vintage photos of the old Netherlands Polaroid factory they have now leased:

The Impossible mission is NOT to re-build Polaroid Integral film but (with the help of strategic partners) to develop a new product with new characteristics, consisting of new optimized components, produced with a streamlined modern setup. An innovative and fresh analog material, sold under a new brand name that perfectly will match the global re-positioning of Integral Films.

And some vintage photos of the old equipment they've purchased as well as the 7420 square foot space :

Ranging from simple screwdrivers via special spare parts up to 10 giant Integral Film assembly machines, all machinery and tools needed to develop and produce up to 100 million new Integral Instant films per year are present in Building North. Impossible b.v. has purchased the complete production setup in working order (which produced film up to the middle of the year) from Polaroid. All machines are still fully connected and operational. The original total costs of this unique and highly specialized setup today is approx. 100 million EUR.

The Impossible Project

WHO THEY ARE:
Impossible b.v.
Overcinge 41 7608 AJ Almelo Niederlande
iban: NL73INGB068244139
bic: INGBNL2A bank: ING Bank NV Head Office


FRIENDS:
savepolaroid.com
polanoid.net
polastyle.com

Michael Loves Jonathan Adler And They Both Love Barbie.

above: (left) Michael Williams, (right) Jonathan Adler and Mattel icon, Barbie


Photographer Michael Williams loves Barbie. And clearly, designer Jonathan Adler. In a stunning tribute to both, this Brooklyn based graphic designer/photographer has created amazing dioramas using miniatures from RE-MENT and MegaHouse as the props to recreat Adler-esque interiors for Barbie, Ken and their friends.


the above image features Michael's version of Ken as Jonathan Adler.
Dining & Living Room Furniture by Randall Craig Home; Cream-colored custom sofa cushions by Karen Kolkman of Kolkman Kreations

in Michael's own words:
"This presentation gets its name from my September 2007 HAUTE DOLL Magazine feature on diorama dollhouse furnishings, and it serves as a laudatory hommage to Bravo TOP DESIGN guru Jonathan Adler (age 41), who first fell in love with ceramics at age 12 in summer camp, but took a brief detour in the movie business before launching his initial line of pottery at Barney's in 1994. The line was an instant success, and in 1998 he opened his first store in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood, which has since been followed by several boutiques across the country, as he expanded his line into a glamorous new furniture collection, along with bedding, towels, and pillows (some of which are licensed and carried by Bed, Bath and Beyond and department stores). He even redesigned the Le Parker Meridien Hotel in Palm Springs, now a hot resort vacation destination."



Whether or not the fact that Jonathan Adler is actually designing a line of furniture for Barbie in celebration of her 50th Anniversary is a coincidence or not, I'm not certain. (Yes, it turns out he did design some furniture an accessories- editor)


above: Adler sketch for upcoming Barbie collection, courtesy of Mattel.

The Mattel icon, Barbie, who turns 50 years-old this year, is moving to Malibu and none other than Top Design judge Jonathan Adler is shaping the interiors. The interior design star will be updating Barbie’s bedroom, living room, and, of course, her drool-worthy closet, in an actual Malibu beach house, which will serve as the backdrop to the doll’s 50th blowout bash on March 9. And for those of us who still love playing house, Barbie and Adler will be launching a “Jonathan Adler Loves Barbie” collection in the fall of 2009, including designer pottery, pillows, decorative objects. Don’t forget the Jonathan Adler-designed Barbie that comes with her own matching furniture.


Above: designer Jonathan Adler

from the press release:
Partners marketing Barbie-branded products for the anniversary tapped Adler to design items for Barbie's Malibu Dream House where the partners will unveil a reinterpretation of the 1959 doll on Barbie's birthday and throw a “celebrity pink carpet party.”

Since we have yet to see any actual pieces from Adler's collection for Barbie, feast your eyes on Michael's amazing Barbie/Adler dioramas:
















Michael a photographer and graphic designer whose personal work focuses on collectible 1:6 scale fashion dolls, including Barbie, Ken, Fashion Royalty, FR Nippon Misaki and R&D Susie, as well as dioramas and dollhouses, who hordes RE-MENT and MegaHouse miniatures as props for my photos.

See more of Michael's work at his site here.
And on HauteDoll.com for whom he shoots.

Barbie's 50th celebration has been an ongoing funfest.



From the Bloomies Barbie in-store displays and items (and Robert Best signing) to life sized Barbie's clad in designer fashions on the runway at the Mercedes Benz Fashion week in NY to co-branded items Like Stila Loves Barbie cosmetics and more upcoming collaborations, the fashion fun never ends.



Celebrate 50 Years Of Barbie here


Update:
The Jonathan Adler Barbie doll has been released:

buy it here.

and some of his furniture for Barbie:

buy the Jonathan Adler barbie accessories here.

Barbie Rocks The Runway At New York's Fashion Week

Models dressed in (and somewhat as) Barbie fashions rocked the runway on Saturday at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion week in New York. As part of the 50th Anniversary celebration of Mattel's iconic Doll, fifty different fashion designers created outfits for this event that reflected the past 50 years of Barbiedom. The one constant on the runway? Fab pink Christian Louboutin high heels.

The show opened with a video montage of Barbie throughout the years along with some phrases that poked a little good clean fun at Barbie (by the way, a link to the full video is at the end of this post, but be warned it's 30 minutes long):





Songs, hairstyles and fashions were shown chronologically spanning the last 50 years. Opening with high ponytails and 50's era songs like "My Boyfriend's Back", the fashions moved through the decades as did the hairstyles, make-up and songs.




For the first half of the show there were lots of early classic Barbie-like feminine details; bows, ponytails, cat-eye glasses and wide brimmed hats. As we reached the sixties, you could see the change from the Breakfast at Tiffany's-type Audreyesque Barbie to a more mod version.

(Click on the photos to enlarge):








At about 13 minutes into the show, the curtain closed only to reopen in the next 'decade'; one punctuated by Katharine Ross-in-The-Graduate-hair, pop music, hoop earrings, floppy hats and much more revealing fashions- yet still clad in the Christian Louboutins. From chokers and vests to the Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress, clearly we'd entered the 70s and 80s.








Lots of pink fabrics, teased hair, short shorts, and butt-cheek baring dresses pranced down the runway to toe tapping music from the Gos-Gos to the Madonna. There was even a patriotic nod with a flag patterned dress and declarative tee reading "Everyone Needs A Ken".




20 minutes into the show, the curtains once again closed to reopen and introduced the 90s and beyond with techno and electronica music and futuristic fashions. This time the models sported wild eye make up, asymmetrical lines and clear plastic capes and sleeves..and yes, hot pink Christian Louboutins.








The fashion then progressed from early 'sci-fi' to far more outrageous ensembles as we rounded the end of the 50 years.





I know the quality of some of the pictures in this post are not so great, forgive me...a few are screen grabs from a video because none of the photos had yet been posted (at the time of this post) and I wanted you to see them as soon as possible.

Here are some various fashion details:






Then lastly came the finale as each of the models pranced down the runway clutching the hands of eager little Barbie-loving girls wearing Barbie Tees and tutus.





Special thanks to Mercedes-Benz and Getty Images for some of the above photos.

You can view the show in it's entirety here. (get something to eat, it's 30 minutes).

or the whole show is available to view in 3 parts on youtube thanks to Erich Ben who uploaded it in record time!

here's part 1 to whet your appetite..



A complete list of the fifty designers is available to view here.

Happy Valentine's Day

above: satin panties with embroidered "je t'aime" by 23 yr.old fashion designer simone rocha. from Dublin, Ireland. See more of her work here.

Happy St. Valentine's Day From If It's Hip, It's Here.

A New Fashionista Favorite: Designer Iris van Herpen

If you haven't yet heard the name Iris van Herpen, you soon will. The Dutch fashion designer only graduated from the ARTEZ School of Arts in Arnhem in 2006, but already her unique fashions have been much written about.

Having just shown her fourth collection at Amsterdam's International Fashion Week, it's clear that she continues to push the haute couture envelope. Her previous three collections all featured elaborately constructed fashions that resemble art.



Hardly RTW ('ready to wear' for those non-fashionistas), her designs rival Viktor & Rolf's in their irreverence and craftsmanship and Giles Deacon in imagination. And yes, like all brink designers, in some cases the ensembles are just plain creepy.


above: the designer with one of her models from her fourth collection; Mummified

Her first three collections; Fragile Futurity, Chemical Crows and Refinery Smoke, which were each shown at Amsterdam's Fashion Week, have sculptural 3D elements and intricate fringe or detailing. Below are a few images from each of those collections.

Her first collection, Fragile Futurity:






Her second collection, Chemical Crows:





Her third collection, Refinery Smoke:






from Design.nl about her latest collection, Mummified:

"Egyptians considered the 'reality' that they created for their deaths as the reality, while their daily life was an illusion". Iris van Herpen

Appearing more like exquisite art masterpieces or elaborate costumes that transcend fashion the new pieces from Iris van Herpen were a stark contrast from anything seen during this year's Amsterdam International Fashion Week. This time, the young avant garde designer let herself be inspired by mummification, one of the important traditions of ancient Egypt.

"The Egyptians tried to 'create' reality by means of their art. They considered the 'reality' that they created for their deaths as the reality, while their daily life was an illusion. In other words, don't believe everything that looks obvious, but create your own reality...This intriguing way of thinking, I have included in the collection", says Van Herpen.

The elaborateness of the creations more than compensated for the size of the collection which numbered 10 hand-made pieces in total. Mummified silhouettes are juxtaposed with unexpected materials reminiscent of industry (or bondage): eyelets, ball chains, buckles, engine chains, metal wire mesh, studs combined with delicate touches like lace or gold foil. Leather, particularly as straps, features heavily throughout. The macabre nature of the theme was balanced by the eccentric detailing finished with utmost craftsmanship while the dark palette was lifted with bronze, cream and dusty pink.

And now, her latest collection for Fall/Winter 2009; Mummified:


















Runway photos by Peter Stigter and Michael Zoeter

Photos from irisvanherpen.com credits:
Photography// Michel Zoeter Production// Roos van Der Hulst @ B creatives Hair// Jennifer Mackintosh @ View Agency Make-up//Maaike Beijer @ Angelique Hoorn Agency Models// Wilma Wakker Mgnt, SPS Mgnt, Elite Mgnt


Above: iris in her atelier


Van Herpen worked as an intern with Alexander McQueen and Claudy Jongstra before striking out on her own.



GENERAL INFO and internships//
E: info@irisvanherpen.com T: +31 (0) 6 43586806
address for correspondence: Karel van Gelderstraat 2a, 6828HN

Belvedere Vodka Goes "Street" With The Launch of IX

Belvedere Vodka is hipping up their image with their new release of Belvedere IX (pronounced "One-X"). They hired bad boy Paris artist Andre to promote the liquor and tag the bottle. And, of course, he's the star of the launch parties (the one in Los Angeles just took place on Feb. 5th ) and the New York launch took place last night at The Bowery Hotel.

Who is Andre?

Andre Saraiva (aka Andre or Mr. A) was born in Sweden and raised in Paris. At 36 years old, has his hand in several ventures; nightclub impresario, co-owner of the hip NY hotspot, the Beatrice Inn and a fashion designer who has his own boutique in Paris, the Black Block.


above: some of Andre's fashions for Black Block

Above: I love his umbrella available at his store, Black Block.

examples of Andre's work (courtesy of askart.com):


In keeping with the hip vibe, the photos of Andre for the campaign were shot by Terry Richardson:

above: French artist Andre Saraiva (aka Andre or Mr. A)

above: Andre tagging a model.


above: Andre at the Hollywood launch, tagging the wall.

More about the Vodka:





Belvedere IX micro site
The main Belvedere site.
Special thanks to Clashbabi.blogspot.com

If Vodka is your drink, you should check out:


Beautifully Designed Premium Vodka Bottles



10 Green Eco-friendly Vodkas


Dan Aykroyd's Crystal Head Vodka

GREED: All About The Faux Fragrance Bottle, Posters, & Video

GREED

Francesco Vezzoli's project 'Greed' is a faux ad campaign for an imagined perfume. The entire project consists of a video trailer, a video (faux commercial), the bottle design and print campaign. The video was directed by the notoriously-exiled director Roman Polanski and features Natalie Portman and Michelle Williams embroiled in a fierce battle over the fanciful scent. The spurious campaign attempts to isolate and imitate the hype created by the promotion of a new luxury product in the mass market.

THE BOTTLE DESIGN

Just as Marcel Duchamp created Belle Haleine: Eau de Voilette in 1921 using a Rigaud perfume bottle with an altered label Francesco Vezzoli has created a signature perfume for the contemporary moment. Greed’s label features Vezzoli in drag, photographed by Francesco Scavullo, where Duchamp appeared on his perfume bottle as Rrose Sélavy, photographed by Man Ray.

Duchamps' Faux perfume bottle and label:



Francesco Vezzoli's Greed:

above: artist Francesco Vezzoli's Greed, The Perfume That Doesn't Exist, 2009
Crystal, paper and ribbon, 15 11/16 x 10 5/8 x 5 1/8 inches (40 x 27 x 13 cm)

THE INSTALLATION:

The installation at the Gagosian Gallery in Rome features the perfume in the center of the room flanked by the 'faux movie posters' (more on those below) and the faux commercial ran on a monitor:






THE GALLERY SHOW INVITE:


THE POSTERS

The series of needlework portraits of leading female figures in art history –including Tamara de Lempicka, Eva Hesse, Leonor Fini – serve as immortalized endorsements of Vezzoli’s fragrance.

The posters for the product by Francesco Vezzoli are made of inkjet, wool, cotton, metallic embroidery and custom jewelry on brocade. Each features a different famous female and measures 70 7/8 x 51 3/16 inches (180 x 130 cm):







above bottle, posters and installation photos courtesy of Gagosian Gallery

THE VIDEO / FAUX COMMERCIAL:

stills:




still photos courtesy of Francesco Vezzoli Studio

The trailer for the video:


See the complete video here.



GREED is just the latest castle in what the Gagosian Gallery coins Vezzoli's "ongoing preoccupation with the fundamental ambiguity of truth, the seductive powers of language, and the instability of the human persona in a series of works that explore the undisputed power of contemporary media culture."

According to Vezzoli, his art is designed to hold a mirror to society which idolizes the concept of celebrity. At the same time, Vezzoli's racy art plumbs the depths of celebrity culture itself and seemingly revels in it, with devastatingly funny results. "It's all part of this kind of style of promotional deconstruction that I've been researching for a long time. I'm not so much of a moralist trying to make a statement," he said. "I'm fascinated by celebrity. It's a phenomenon, and I don't think the whole celebrity culture is silly. It invades everything: fashion, cinema. Without stars, no event is deemed worthy of the media to cover - you need that red carpet. My work is the study of media."

About the artist:

Francesco Vezzoli was born in 1971, in Brescia, Italy. He studied at the Central St. Martin’s School of Art in London from 1992 to 1995. His work has been exhibited at many institutions including: Castello di Rivoli Museo d’Arte Contemporanea, Turin (2002); Fondazione Prada, Milan (2004 and 2005); Museu Serralves, Porto (2005); Le Consortium, Dijon (2006); and the Power Plant, Toronto (2007). Vezzoli’s work has also been featured in the 26th São Paulo Biennial (2004); the 51st Venice Biennale (2005); the Whitney Biennial (2006); and the 52nd Venice Biennale (2007). He currently lives and works in Milan.

Gagosian Gallery, Via Francesco Crispi 16, Rome.

Baccarat & Jean Paul Gaultier's 5 Haute Couture Evian Bottles

Hermes Creative Director and fashion forward designer, Jean-Paul Gaultier has created both a limited edition ‘Prêt-à-porter’ bottle for Evian water and an ‘Haute Couture’ version (a collaboration with french crystal Baccarat) that yielded 5 exclusive bottles, each named after a major city.

The Evian Pret-a-Porter, or ready-to-wear, Bottle by Jean Paul Gaultier possesses a style that is: “classic, yet modern all at once”. Adorned with a pattern of interlocking snowflakes, the bottle recalls the crisp, icy mountain tops of the French Alps from which Evian Natural Spring Water is derived. Magnified by a unique colour so much known to Gaultier, the majestic blue of the oversized logo and the understated print of the designer's name offers a subtle reminder of a stylish mariner, a mariner that could so easily be found on the shores of Lake Geneva, which the town of Evian borders.


above: the pret-a-porter bottles by Jean Gaultier are available through the shop evian site or at a number of retailers.

After the pure lines of the 'Prêt-a-Porter' 2009 limited edition bottle designed by Jean Paul Gaultier, Evian invites you to discover the Haute Couture collection that the fashion designer has created exclusively for them.

Below are the five bottles (please click on the images to enlarge).

The London Bottle comes complete with crystal tray and goblets:


The magic of crystal comes into its own with each new creation. This exquisite element seems to transform beneath our very eyes: delicate sparkling droplets, a precious undulating pool, light airy bubbles …. Each offers its own subtle and joyful tribute to the purity and exquisiteness of Evian natural spring water.

The Moscow Bottle has crystal 'drops' cascading down the side creating a crystal puddle:




These 5 unique works of art designed by Jean Paul Gaultier have been crafted at the prestigious House of Baccarat, where the know-how perfected over three centuries of craftsmanship experience has been devoted to these exceptional pieces.

The New York Bottle has crystal bubbles gathering at the top and base:



The Melbourne bottle has drips gathering at the top, cascading down the sides and clustered at the base:



The Tokyo Bottle (note the mirrored reflection of the logo in the crystal puddle):




All 5 bottles haute collection bottles will tour the world making appearances at high end stores and then will be auctioned off .

They will return home to France in March to be sold during a special charity auction to raise money for the RAMSAR convention whose work to preserve wetlands around the world has been supported by Evian for the past 10 years.

This is not the first time that special limited edition bottles have been created by designers for Evian. In 2008, Christian Lacroix's bottles for Evian last year also consisted of a pret-a-porter version:


... and a haute couture version (below) , that when auctioned off, remains the priciest bottle of water ever sold, $23,000.00 USD.




Press Release:

Evian Unveils Haute Couture Collection by Jean Paul Gaultier

Friday, 06 February 2009
Atlanta -- Fashion designers know that the key to a good collection combines the reinvention of ideas with underlying signature qualities, and Evian Natural Spring Water is keeping to these same ideals with the release of the newest addition to its designer collection. Remaining true to tradition, Evian has partnered with internationally acclaimed French designer Jean Paul Gaultier to produce five unique and exclusive creations for 2009, the Evian Haute Couture Bottles by Jean Paul Gaultier.

Following the pure yet bold design of the Evian Pret-a-Porter, or ready-to-wear, Bottle by Jean Paul Gaultier, the Haute Couture Bottles celebrate the essential through an astonishing and sublime collection by the famous French designer. Expertly crafted at the prestigious House of Baccarat, only five of the Haute Couture Bottles will be released worldwide, with these few exclusive carafes travelling to capital cities around the globe to be exhibited at select locations. To this end, the collection of cylindrical masterpieces will be returned to France in March, where they will be auctioned off to raise money for the RAMSAR convention, whose work to preserve wetlands around the world has been supported by Evian for the past 10 years.

"Jean Paul Gaultier has consistently pushed the boundaries of fashion. He is revolutionary in his craft, yet always maintains an air of elegance and class in his designs," said Lauren Kinelski, Public Relations Manager for Evian North America. "In this regard, Gaultier was the perfect fit for Evian. Gaultier has transcended the runways of France to become a household name worldwide, much in the same way that Evian has expanded its presence throughout the globe, ascending from a natural spring water in the French Alps enjoyed by the locals to being one of most favored drinking waters on earth."

Both the Evian Pret-a-Porter Bottle and the Evian Haute Couture Bottle by Jean Paul Gaultier made their global debut to the world in Paris, France during one of the world's most glamorous events, Paris Fashion Week. Expertly crafted at the esteemed House of Baccarat, only five of the Haute Couture Bottles will be released worldwide.

Just in time for New York's Fashion Week this February, the Haute Couture "Bubble" Bottle will begin its tour through the most elite of Manhattan's restaurants, hotels, and retailers. The luxury retailer Bergdorf Goodman will be the first U.S. location to showcase one of these objet d'art for public viewing. Following the debut at Bergdorf Goodman, the bottle will travel to selected upscale hotels and restaurants in Manhattan throughout the month of February, including the Soho Grand Hotel, Buddha Bar and Bagatelle Restaurants.

The Gaultier-designed bottles mark the second annual release of high-fashion creations from Evian. In late 2007, the world's most luxurious natural spring water similarly launched the Limited Edition Evian Bottle by Christian Lacroix, which quickly became a favored item with the trendsetting crowd. Christian Lacroix also created a series of Haute Couture Bottles to auction off for charity, with the highest bidder going down in the Guinness Books for the most expensive bottle of water ever sold.

Copyright (C) 2009 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved

Evian.com
shop evian

Artist Federico Uribe Creates Critters From Kicks, Paintings from Pencils And More.

Colombian born artist Federico Uribe must have a great deal of patience, in addition to his obvious load of talent. He began his career as a painter and then evolved to using found objects and industrial items in his work, creating assemblages that simply demand your rapt attention.

In his Torso series screws, coins, keyboard keys, dominoes, padlocks, paperclips and more form to create human torsos. Items like shoelaces and colored pencils are expertly assembled to create what look like paintings from afar, when what they really are is sculpture. This artisan, who now lives and works in Miami, creates pieces for private and public collections as well as commercial and personal applications.

Be prepared to marvel (and click to enlarge the images).

His Torso Series consists of sculptural torsos made from such items as fruit, pencils, fur, computer keys, nails. clothespins, rubber lips and more.

coins:

computer keys:

padlocks:


Made entirely of colored shoelaces, his Shoelace paintings are extraordinary:





His Pencil paintings (assemblage of actual pencils):





He has crafted several different series, as shown by the above examples, but he doesn't stop there. Below are images from his incredible 2006 installation called Human Nature made of PUMA shoes and shoelaces.




Now look at the individual animals closely, they are crafted from leather kicks and laces and are amazing:




















Federico Uribe's site.

Federico Uribe is represented by Annina Nosei Gallery in New York and Italy, Galerie Patrice Trigano in France, Galeria Angel Romero in Spain and Jacob Karpio Gallery in Latin America and Miami.

2009 Grammys. Good Tunes But God-awful Garb.

Today, my Grammy coverage is really going to focus on the fashions. Why? because if you missed the music, you can buy the albums or download the songs. And nowadays you can basically view on the performances on youtube, and get lots of great musical reviews available for you on other sites from critics far more versed in music than me. You can even see the acceptance speeches here. And because ...well... it's my blog.



Yes, Radiohead rocked (they should have opened the show, sorry Bono) and Coldplay was as entertaining as expected. Some fab duets and lots of rappin' added to the entertainment. Utter respect for Sir Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder as the Bonus Jonas abounded.


above: Justin teams up with Al Green as they did at last years' grammys.

Above: Stevie Wonder as the Bonus Jonas

Extra drama? MIA was due to give birth that night (I waited for her water to break as she pranced around onstage in that godawful get up) and the Rihanna/ Chris Brown saga added some dark reality.


above: M.I.A. performing the very day she was due to give birth.

Kid Rock cleaned up nice, lil' Wayne didn't clean himself up at all and it was great to see Neil, Smokey, Stevie, Paul, Robert Plant and other music legends.


above:Lil' Wayne could take a lesson from Justin when it comes to dressing for an awards show.

Although she was one of the few well-dressed women, there were some questions about Whitney's strange enunciation (was she wasted or trying extra hard not to be?).



Suffice it to say, the nominated songs were all pretty wonderful and the winners were not much of a surprise. The show had some really fabulous duets (justin had two) and wonderful tributes, but the fashions....well, they were less than harmonious, to say the least.

Apparently Jennifer Hudson's dinner napkin got stuck to her chest...


but she redeemed herself in her black sequin number in which she performed (and rightly received a standing O) later in the show:


Is Natalie Cole bound in chains to keep her from engaging in substance abuse?


Mama M.I.A!
True, M.I.A was due to give birth that very night, but that is no excuse for these ensembles, I don't care how bad her hormones were raging:




and the outfit in which she performed onstage? Yikes.



While I love Coldplay (who doesn't?), Thank G-d they acknowledged, and apologized to Sir Paul for, their bad version of the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper jackets.




Okay, for those young uns, here's the original Sgt. Pepper jackets:


And although I thought Estelle's American Boy duet with Kanye was one of the best of the night, her alien garb was simply Jestons gone bad.




And frankly, (I may get pummeled for this one) Kanye loooked like Michael Jackson with the glitter blazer and gloves, yech:



Rapper T.I. was somewhere in between well dressed and not dressed up, but still looked better than Kanye:


Oh Paula....


Singers will.i.am (left) and rapper T-Pain looked really smart ... NOT:


A bit of an Ed Hardy Overdose:


Katy Perry may be bi-adorable, but her live performance of "I Kissed a Girl" pretty much sucked and lacked any subtlety as she emerged in a phallic banana and pranced around onstage channeling Carmen Miranda:

By the way, ever notice how much she resembles actress Jenny McCarthy??


Is it just me, or is John Mayer coming off creepier than ever these days?



and it's true, Carrie Underwood did have awesome legs:


and Kid Rock cleaned up nice as he channeled G-d by opening with Amen, closing with Rock n' Roll Jesus and giving a tribute to the recently deceased member of Lynryd Skynyrd in between:



the few saving graces included the always well dressed Gwinnie (who is also the wife of Coldplay's Chris Martin), but what was with that hair?:



And kudos go to Sheryl Crow, Kate Beckinsdale, Queen Latifah, Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift for dressing appropriately. (I know I am forgetting others, but it's easier to remember the horrendous clothes).

Other shockers: Morgan Freeman and Kenny Chesney are best buds? Paul McCartney is playing at Coachella? apparently, yep.



A complete list of all the winners, courtesy of the Telegraph, can be found here.

Here's a list of all the nominees, the winners have a grammy icon to the left of their name.

The LA Times has a list by category (this one is the easiest to read of them all) of the nominees and winners, where the winners are in bold italics here.



Official Grammy site here.

Love or Hate Valentine's Day, I've Got The Gifts For You

Love Valentine's Day?

I'm bummed at all the crap people are posting on social shopping sites for V-day gifts. Just because it's red or heart-shaped doesn't mean it's a great gift! Here are some gifts that truly are unique, memorable, hip or collectible.

From love spells and naming a star to customized rings made from your profile and sexy bed sheets. My 'Seriously Good Valentine's Gifts' list contains over 80 hip items, in a wide price range, for the one you cherish. No crappy gold-filled jewelry or heart soaps on here. Just the good stuff.

Click on each image below for details and place to purchase.

See more of my Seriously Good Valentine's Gifts list at ThisNext.

Hate Valentine's Day?

So... what if you're single, spurned, bitter or just plain against the commercialization of Valentine's Day? Well then I have gifts for you, too.

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.

click on the images above for details and place of purchase.

See more of my I Hate Valentine's Day list at ThisNext.

Betony Vernon's Luxe Erotic Jewelry & Jewel Tools

Above: Betony Vernon makes as nice a model as she does jewelry

Looking for something special this Valentine's day? A litle naughty but still luxe?

Well, American born jeweler Betony Vernon's erotic collection of jewel tools may be just the thing. Sprinkle in a little sadomasochism along with streamlined design, superb craftsmanship and upscale materials and you get things like a mahogany and sterling silver spanker for $1,700.00 USD.

Here are a few different products from her new 'Paradise Found' fine erotic jewel tool collection, now available for purchase at Coco de Mer. The Paradise Found online shop will be opening soon.



Her collection of rings includes massaging rings, petting rings, puffs and more:







nipple clamps:


with chains (for a nipple necklace, if you will):

A silver and mahogany wood 'spanker':

The Sado Chic collar:


whip attachment:


buy the above products here.



Betony Vernon is a designer specializing in limited editions and custom made one-of-a kind jewels for private collectors, exclusive boutiques and fine department stores internationally since 1988. She personally creates all of the prototypes for her designs. The limited edition production is crafted by skilled Italian goldsmiths and masters of old world techniques. Betony's vision is immune to trends and her highly individual style maintains a long-standing philosophy of quality through craftsmanship. The timeless quality of her works makes them as relevant and as coveted today as when they were first introduced.


Betony's philosophy:

Her works are inspired by human science and spirituality fused with lust for the finer things in life.

Fruit of the designer's mission in sexual well being which began in the later half of the 1990's, Paradise Found Fine Erotic Jewel Tools represent an articulated interface for the exploration of the sensual realm. They promote and celebrate sexual vitality and glorify the innate human instinct to attract.

By re-evaluating the "aesthetics" of desire Betony brings a new dimension to the world of fine Jewelry by discretely enriching the classical function of body ornament with sensorial power.

Many of the "Jewel Tools" covet their functions within their form and may be worn discreetly beyond the boudoir.

All of Betony's designs are handcrafted in Italy by master artisans in noble materials.

About the designer:
Betony Vernon is an American-born jewellery designer who lives and works between Milan and Paris. Her aesthetic is formed by her explorations in spirituality, sex, sensuality and the erotic body realm. She studied art history and metalsmithing at Virginia Commonwealth University and has a Masters degree in Industrial Design from Domus Academy, Milan. She opened her first atelier in Florence in 1990 to create one-of-a-kind objects.

She has created jewellery for a number of design houses, including Missoni, Gianfranco Ferre, Fornasetti and shoe designer Alain Tondowski. in 2001 Vernon presented her ‘Paradise Found’ collection of fine erotic jewels and jewel tools, culminating in the Boudoir Box, a limited edition custom-made luxury travel case containing 21+ objects from the ‘Paradise Found’ collection. Vernon founded ‘Paradise Found’ members-only salon and showroom in Paris in October 2004, followed by its extension ‘Eden’ in 2008. Vernon has conducted jewellery seminars for bodies including the European Institute of Design and the Domus Academy, Milan, and her work has been included in a number of international exhibitions.In 2007 she conducted “Le Boudoir” a cammeo in “Loveline” - MTV Italy. She is completing her first book, ‘Paradise Found’, due for publication in December 2008.

Betony's non erotic jewelry site
Betony's Myspace page


Don't miss:

They're Erotic. They're Art. They're Sexy Gifts For Designers.

It's Fast. It's Furious. It's Earth Friendly. The New Mission One EV Sport Bike.

This past Wednesday, Feb 4th, Mission One's EV Sport Bike, the world's fastest electric motorcycle, designed in conjunction with Yves Behar and his Fuse Project, was unveiled at the TED 2009 Conference. It's mean, it's green and I wish I had the 70k to buy one.


above: designer Yves Behar

Forrest North of Mission Motors and his two co-founders, Edward West and Mason Cabot, have assembled a real dream team with incredible depth and experience and whose resumés list companies like Tesla Motors, Ducati and Google. The first 50 bikes produced will be a special Limited Edition model delivered in 2010 with a $68,995 price tag, while a standard, more affordable Mission One model will be announced this summer.





The Batteries:
Mission motorcycles use the most energy dense lithium-ion batteries available on the market. That makes them different from most other electric vehicle companies. Most vehicle manufacturers opt for lower energy cells that are simpler to manage, but result in vehicles with limited performance and limited range. The high-energy lithium-ion cells in a Mission Motorcycle get the 150 miles of range that riders expect when on a sport bike. And their patented battery cooling and management technologies allow the bikes to safely draw more power from these cells, giving them the acceleration of a race bike.



The Electric Motor:
Mission motorcycles' induction motor provides over 100 foot-pounds of torque. Unlike an engine, however, the torque curve on their electric is completely flat. The rider feels 100 foot-pounds of torque at a standstill, at 60 mph, and everywhere in between. Gasoline motorcycle require multiple gears in order to provide power at different speeds. The torque curve on our electric motor means that a Mission motorcycle can achieve gasoline sport bike performance with no gears. And all that power comes in a package about the size of a soccer ball.



Wireless Technology:
On a Mission Motorcycle, the on board computer does more than run the bike. It comes fully equipped with data acquisition system and wireless communication capabilities. On a Mission Motorcycle, riders can capture ride data in real time and wirelessly download that data to a computer to share with friends. Gone are the days of tuning your engine with a wrench, you tune your ride in minutes with your laptop computer.



Top Line Components
We have complimented our groundbreaking powertrain with the best components money can buy. The Mission One is a superbike in all aspects of the word. The 2010 model comes equipped with: Ohlins inverted front forks, 43mm TiN coated tubes, Ohlins fully adjustable shock, Brembo 4 piston monobloc calipers, Marchesini wheels, and race compound tires.

Regenerative Braking
The Mission One recaptures the kinetic energy of the motorcycle during braking and turns it into electrical energy stored in the batteries. By recapturing energy, the Mission One goes further on a single charge. The Mission One also allows riders to tune their regenerative braking to fit with their riding style.

Recharge Anywhere
The Mission One's onboard charger allows riders to recharge from any standard wall socket. Recharging from empty to full takes 2.5 hours off of a 220V outlet (8 hours off of a 110V). In California, which has the 11th highest electricity prices in the US, "filling up" your bike only costs you $1.96.

Real Time Data Acquisition
The Mission One's data acquisition feature allows riders to capture ride data in real time. Riders can record ride data, such as speed, location, or lean angle; or bike data, such as motor current, battery voltage, or efficiency. Riders can take that data to their computer to analyze their performance, brag to other riders, or prepare for their next ride.


SPECS:


P O W E R T R A I N
Battery Pack High Energy Lithium-Ion with Integrated Safety
Motor Liquid-cooled, 3 phase AC Induction
Torque 100 lb-ft @ Zero RPM
Transmission Single speed, #525 O-ring chain
C H A S S I S
Front Suspension Ohlins, 43mm inverted fork, fully adjustable
Rear Suspension Ohlins, single schock w/piggyback reservoir
Front Brakes Brembo forged 4 piston calipers.
Rear Brakes Brembo, 220mm disc; single-piston caliper
Wheels/Tires/Front Marchesini forged Al 3.5"x17", 120/70Z
Wheels/Tires/Rear Marchesini forged Al 6.0"x17", 190/55

T A R G E T P E R F O R M A N C E
Top speed 150mph
Range 150 miles per charge (Est. under EPA drive cycle)
Recharge Under 2 hours @ 240V (8 hours @ 120V)
Features: Adjustable regenerative braking,
Intuitive/adjustable data acquisition system

Reserve yours now here!

PRESS RELEASE

America's Newest Motorcycle Company, Mission Motors, Launches at TED2009
Mission One, World's Fastest Production Electric Sportbike
Design by Yves Béhar & fuseproject

LONG BEACH, CA - February 4, 2009 –Today, Mission Motors unveils a revolutionary vehicle, the Mission One, the world's fastest production all-electric motorcycle, at TED2009. Mission Motors CEO, Forrest North, along with lead designer Yves Béhar, founder of fuseproject, will present the vehicle in development onstage to the TED audience on February 4. Mission Motors will exhibit the vehicle throughout the conference at the Kohler LivingHome at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center, and will be on hand to discuss the company's vision for a radically new brand of motorcycles. The company will also provide attendees the opportunity to see inside the product development process through the installation of a motorcycle design studio inside the Kohler LivingHome.

"The Great Unveiling," the TED2009 theme, makes a fitting platform for the launch of Mission Motors' first vehicle, the Mission One. It is the first production electric sportbike that features uncompromised performance and an iconic new design created by world-renowned designers Yves Béhar and fuseproject. With a top speed of 150 MPH and an estimated range of 150 miles, the Mission One rivals gasoline sportbikes while dwarfing the performance of any other electric motorcycle on the market. The electric drivetrain creates a riding experience unlike anything currently available on a production vehicle. The electric motor's linear torque curve provides peak torque at zero rpm, a feature gasoline engines cannot match. The motor delivers faster acceleration than most gasoline sportbikes without ever having to shift gears.

The announcement formally debuts Mission Motors, a San Francisco-based company geared to redefine the world of performance motorcycles, which was founded in 2007 by entrepreneurs Forrest North (CEO), Edward West (President), and Mason Cabot (VP of Engineering).

Building on their backgrounds in engineering, a desire to develop clean vehicles, and a passion for motorcycles, the Mission Motors founders developed a proprietary high energy lithium ion battery pack that could provide both the range and acceleration needed for a high performance sportbike. The company (named Hum Cycles at the time) placed second in the transportation category of the 2007 California Cleantech Open, the largest cleantech business plan competition on the West Coast.

"As a motorcycle enthusiast and engineer I knew I could combine my passion for motorcycles with my passion for innovation and create a motorcycle that truly sets a new standard in the perception of electric vehicles," said Forrest North, Founder and CEO, Mission Motors. "With the Mission One, we're writing the next chapter in motorcycle design, delivering a new riding experience without sacrificing performance or design in a zero emissions vehicle."

With core engineering underway and an attractive business model, North and his co-founders turned to Yves Béhar's fuseproject to create Mission's unique brand and creative direction, as well as an iconic industrial design for the first product. The engineering team at Mission Motors and the design team at fuseproject worked in close collaboration to design the Mission One from the ground up, creating a machine that makes a bold statement about performance, technology, sustainability and design.

"This project was a dream come true: a statement about how design can make performance and sustainability come together without compromise," said Yves Béhar. "I believe Mission is an icon for a new era of efficient and exciting vehicles. Designed to express speed and efficiency in it's overall sharp lines, the Mission bike is also highly detailed with special attention to a riders needs, bringing a high level of product design and ergonomics to a new generation of performance transportation."

About Mission Motors:
Mission Motors is building the fastest production electric motorcycle in the world. Headquartered in San Francisco, California, the company combines innovative technology, iconic design, and superb performance with the freedom of a zero emissions riding experience. Mission's elite team of engineers is creating the first motorcycle company built on the innovative spirit of the Silicon Valley. The concept is simple: Redefine the world of performance motorcycles.

For more information on Mission Motors, visit www.ridemission.com.


special thanks to Mission Motors, Autoblog Green and Yves Behar for info and images.

Deadgood's LOVE Furniture For Barker And Stonehouse

In honor of Valentine's Day, I wanted to share with you a sweet furniture collection that is the result of a collaboration between Deadgood design and British furniture retailer Barker and Stonehouse.

From their own press release:

The Love Collection - an exciting new capsule furniture collection with a cunning twist - is a collaboration between Barker & Stonehouse and Newcastle-based design team Deadgood.

The collection comprises three products - a console table, Chesterfield chair and mirror - all designed to showcase the best of British craftsmanship and inspired by a passion for fabulous furniture.



“The collection is beautifully designed and made here in Britain using traditional techniques. It’s quirky without being too gimmicky and I think it might well become one of those looks that our customers just love.”



Deadgood was set up in 2004 by Dan Ziglam and Elliot Brook, graduates in 3D Design at Northumbria University. Dan is from Nottinghamshire while Elliot hails from Huddersfield, both opted to stay in Newcastle after graduating. Dan and Elliot have exhibited their work nationally and internationally from 100% Design in London to the Salone in Milan, but set up their own Newcastle-based design exhibition called Launch in 2005 to help promote local talent and boost the profile of the North East design scene.

They sell their own products through their website and individual retailers – they recently won a contract to supply Northumbria University with 250 of their Form stools – but this is the first time they have had the opportunity to work with and for a leading British retailer.

The pieces contain such sweet details as the following.


heart shaped fabric covered buttons:

heart shaped wood joinery:


Their chair graced the cover of the Feb 2008 issue of idFX:


Barker & Stonehouse has seven stores in Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Darlington, Gateshead Metro Centre, Knaresborough, Leeds and Hull.

Deadgood's site.

Jean Yves Lemoigne: Pixelated People & Pictograms In Photography

French photographer Jean Yves Lemoigne has an impressive and large portfolio of work. Having shot commercially for several impressive clients and agencies, he is clearly very talented. But two of his series in particular stand out, I Am A Pictogram and his editorial, PIXXXEL for the french magazine Amusement, a videogame and lifestyle magazine, because of their interesting interpretation of the main figure within them.

The computer has altered the way we look at things and in these two separate series of photos, the main subject is represented first as a pixelated figure and then as a pictogram-- placing virtual and cyber iconography into realistic environments.

Take a look (click on the images to enlarge):

PIXXXEL:






His Pixxxel editorial (the above shots) is a statement on the popularity of porn on the internet. According to the the photographer; 28, 2598 people click on a pornographic site on the internet every second. 35% of downloads, over a billion and a half images and videos, are pornographic and in 2006, 12% of all websites (about 4.2 million URLs) were of pornographic content. That's a lot of pornographic pixels!


Above: Amusement Magazine's 3rd issue, in which the Pixxxel editorial ran

I Am A Pictogram:







His traditional work is absolutely stunning as well. Below is one of my favorite images from his personal Urban Legends series:





His photo work is represented by Carole Lambert and his film work by Wanda

Sergio Rossi And Puma Kicks Hit The Shelves

Last year reports came out that Sergio Rossi and PUMA were collaborating on a Capsule collection due to hit various and exclusive stores this spring. Well, the images at that time that made the rounds on fashion sites and blogs showed the high-heeled shoes in leather:



Above photos courtesy of WWD.

However, now that the collection is actually available for purchase, they seem to come in satin only. Below is the description from Sergio Rossi:

"Introducing an exciting collaboration as the meeting of two internationally renowned brands have made it their mission to merge Italian luxury and Sport lifestyle together for a very special capsule collection of women's footwear which will debut at Colette in Paris in January 2009. Famed Italian brand Sergio Rossi teams up with one of the world's great global athletic labels. PUMA plays the part of unexpected suitor in lending a street-savvy dose of bravado to not one but two unique shoe designs masterminded by the creative team of Sergio Rossi.

Having made its debut back in 1973, the iconic "Clyde" sneaker was originally tailor made for all-star basketball legend Walt "Clyde" Frazier, whose apparent technique of "stealing" the ball from his opponents earned him the (Bonnie and) "Clyde" nickname. Over thirty years later, the classic continues its journey into the contemporary world of street wear in a candy-shaded array of satin-coverings as six of the season's hottest colours; "Envy" Green, "Lolita" Pink, "Bullitt "Silver", "Delovely" Lavender, "Fabulous" Bougainvillea and "Speedy" Black. Put simply, the perfect "must-have" shoe of the season is no longer a ballerina flat but a chic and comfortable urban alternative.


The collection is now available at Colette and actually consists of three styles for women. Two different models based on the "Clyde" style (one as lace ups and the other as a mary jane) and one more traditional sneaker style. Two sport immensely high heels, and all are available in multiple colors. The high heels come in three colors (one as "Colette blu" which is limited and numbered) and the sneakers come in the same three plus black. All come in satin.

Spring/summer collection 2009 - satin:









The above high heeled models, both laces and mary janes cost each $574. 20 USD a pair and can be bought here.



other colors:



The sneakers cost $191.40 USD and can be bought here.

Hey guys, don't fret.. the same two companies will be debuting a special men's collaboration collection for Fall 2009, and here's a sneak peek of the line:

This Valentine's Day, Give Them A Kiss Worth Framing

What a great way to immortalize your lips for a loved one! This Valentine's day consider making a piece of pop art from your lip print or a combination of yours and your loved ones, courtesy of the same folks who brought you the custom DNA art.





How do they do it?
They'll send you a lip-print collection kit featuring a MAC's Viva Glam Lipstick and plenty of 'Kiss image sheets' so you can capture the perfect image. You choose the combination of color, style, size and frame that suits your personality (or your décor). And they do the rest.





Every KISS Art Portrait comes printed on archival quality canvas. Give your KISS Portrait to a lover, or show your sense of self by hanging one right in your own home.

A portion of every KISS Portrait sold will go towards the M·A·C Aids fund. One KISS Portrait sale can help purchase 1000 condoms in India or 16 HIV tests in Haiti.

Additional Options:

* Combine one or two people's lips on one canvas
* Choose from a variety of sizes
* Create thousands of potential custom color combinations
* Art comes ready to hang or rolled in a tube
* Add your signature to your art piece
* Get a digital file of your art (optional) with every print purchase
* Each art piece comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by the co-founders
* 100% unconditional money back guarantee

Get yours here.

Bela's Dead: The Dark Side Of Sexy Lingerie

Bela’s Dead is a lingerie label (and the brainchild of one woman) that merges the idea of elegance and strength to form imaginative, devious and seductive underwear designs. Inspired by Nick Cave songs about murder and lost love, the art and performance of being a woman, and other musicians such as Siouxsie and the Banshees and The Jesus and Mary Chain, Bela’s Dead creates sensual pieces with dark undertones.


Above: the beautiful and talented designer, Jo Lynch

“I like the idea of putting something spooky into luxury lingerie. It adds a slightly unnerving quality to it,” says designer Jo Lynch.

Working closely with Finnish illustrator Klaus Haapaniemi, his extra-ordinary, story telling artwork features in each collection.

The latest takes inspiration from the forbidden fruit and The Garden of Eden, anatomical floral drawings and the threatening side of nature.

The pieces from the collection are about as sexy as macabre can get.

Here are some of Klaus Haapaniemi's artwork for the collection:



and as it appears on the black Fox Hunt and Skull bra:

and on the Fox Hunt Bustier:


Dead Garden Of Eden camisole and bustier:

detail:


Forbidden Fruit camisole & panties:

details:


Dead Fox and Skull on white satin bra and panties:


detail:

Silver Tear Drop camisole, bra and panties:


detail:

Limited edition Fox Hunt bra and panties:


detail:




Lingerie Design - Jo Lynch
Illustration - Klaus Haapaniemi

credits for the photos taken in studio with the grey backdrops:
Photography - Henrik Adamsen | henrikadamsen.com
Makeup & hair - Kristina Engberg | kristinaengberg.com
Model - Eugenia | divamodels.com

Where can you find them?
You can find some of these fabulous pieces