Kanye's Kicks For Louis Vuitton- The Styles & The Prices & ALL The pics!

Last January I let you know that Kanye West was collaborating with Louis Vuitton on a line of kicks. Well, now they are finally here and they've evolved for the better- for the most part.

The shoes are expected to 'drop' tomorrow, July 1st. The line consists of three models; The Mr. Hudson, the Jasper and the Don.

Here's a good look at all of the $700.00+ pairs of shoes:

The Mr. Hudson is a deck shoe available in various colorways. It's expected to retail at $840.00 USD:

details:




details:





The Jasper is a mid top with a velcro closure at the top. It is expected to retail at $990.00 - $1140.00 USD:











The Don is a low-mid sneaker available in several colorways. It is expected to retail at $870.00 to $960.00 USD:




















special thanks to Amaury Choay for La MJC, Louis Vuitton, Kanye West and BKRW for all the great images.

DeLonghi Artist Designed Espresso Machines Auction To Benefit Oxfam

De'Longhi has partnered with artists and designers to create the De'Longhi Artista Series line of Perfecta Super Automatic Espresso Machines. Two machines from each of De'Longhi's design partners will be featured in a week long auction.

A portion of the proceeds from each Artista Series Perfecta will go to Oxfam America. Oxfam America is an international relief and development organization working to save lives, help individuals to overcome poverty, and fight for social justice. All payments should be made through PayPal.

Once the auction has ended, the Artista Series Perfecta will be shipped to the winning bidder's requested address as soon as payment has been cleared.

Below are all the machines that will be auctioned this coming October.

Damien Correll:



John Hardy:



Jonathan Calugi:



Kelly Hoppen:



Kristina Collantes:



Maria Vittoria Benatti:



Mario Hugo:



Michele Toffalori:



Mike Perry:



Nicole Miller:






The DeLonghi site.

Cannes Grand Prix Winning Film For Philips TV; Making Of & Behind The Scenes

Created for Tribal DDB, Amsterdam, Stink Digital and Director Adam Berg delivered this interactive campaign for Philips new CINEMA 21:9 TV. The cinematic proportions of the display became the theme of this piece. Adam responded with an idea for an epic frozen moment cops and robbers shootout sequence.


The piece won the top honors at this years' Cannes Advertising Festival in the film category, causing slight controversy by proving that the Film Grand Prix Lion is no longer an honor reserved only for a traditional 'tv commercial.'

Directed by Adam Berg of Stink, London, and edited by Paul Hardcastle of Trim, London, "Carousel" winning the Grand Prix underscores that great ideas come in all shapes, forms and media.

This 2:19 film runs as an endless loop, allowing viewers to control their moves through the scene. The film also contains embedded hotspots, which, when triggered, give us a behind-the-scenes look at some of the shots.




Brief Explanation (taken directly from the entry into the Cannes festival, with additional images added):



Philips set out to own the idea of a cinematic viewing experience at home. From the start the strategy was to create a film that movie lovers would want to see. The film is hosted within a site that, through interaction, educates the audience about the three main features of Philips televisions – Ambilight, Cinema 21:9 and Picture Quality – and ties these features to the act of film making.



So, what would movie lovers want to see? We decided on a seamless tracking shot, one long take that a film loving audience could marvel at and be fascinated by. Within the ‘housing’ of a tracking shot we inserted behind the scenes glimpses where the experts could talk about their craft and the decisions they made whilst filming the shot. The DOP on lighting, the Director on the 21:9 format and VFX supervisor shows why picture quality is so important.



To allow for more interaction, we decided that a frozen time film, shot using a state of the art motion control rig, would give the audience control upon interaction allowing them to literally move the camera back and forth frame by frame. This is done intuitively through a ‘grabbing hand’ cursor when the screen is moused over.

What makes this interaction really special is the interactive cinematic score. The score, composed by Michael Fakesch, was composed as a linear piece, but was then handed over to a flash music developer to carve up and distort as the user moved back and forth through time, frame by frame – all designed to pull the audience in and hold them there longer whilst they try to unravel the mystery of how the film was made. The second main element of interaction is the way the audience is able to trigger the three behind-the-scenes educational scenes from the film’s timeline.

When the user clicks on the timeline, they reveal films within the film. The timeline unfolds and expands, the post production disappears, each expert walks in and the rigging reappears revealing that all along the actors were simply holding their position whilst a state of the art motion rig captured them in frozen time. All this was designed to be as seamless as possible with maximum visual reward ensuring the audience clicked all three of the hotspots.

In addition to the interaction within the film, the ratio of the film itself could be changed at anytime through first person interaction. This simple, but effective comparison tool really did get across the spectacle of the new Philips 21:9 TV. The other elegantly simple piece of interaction is Ambilight on and off, in the words of the DOP – “you really miss it when it’s not there.”

A final point worth noting is the dynamic title sequence. Instead of a traditional loader, we crafted a title sequence correspond to the speed of the users internet connection. The slower the connection, the longer the sequence.

To experience it, go here.

Speaking of, here are some photo stills of the shooting process (click to enlarge):














Check out the "Making Of" video!


Credits:
AGENCY

Tribal DDB, Amsterdam
Global Creative Director: Neil Dawson
CD: Chris Baylis
Senior Project Manager: John Reardon
Producer: Jeroen Jedeloo, Iwona Echt
Art Director: Mariota Essery, Andrew Ferguson
Copywriter: Carla Madden, Chris Baylis
Account Planner: Sean Chambers
Technical Lead: Jan Willem Penterman

FILM

Production Company: Stink Digital
Executive Producer: Mark Pytlik, Daniel Bergmann, Stephen Brierley
Producer: Simon Eakhurst, Stephen Brierley
Director: Adam Berg
DoP: Fredrik Backar

Service Facilities: Stillking, Prague
Stillking Line Producer: Zuzana de Pagter
1st AD: Jiri Ostry
Production Designer: Petr Kunc
Czech Production Manager : Jiri Kotlas
Stunt Co-Ordinator: Lada Lahoda @ Filmca

Editor: Paul Hardcastle @ Trim
VFX: Redrum, Stockholm
Post Production Supervisor: Richard Lyons
Music & Sound Design: Michael Fakesch
Additional Sound Design: Tim Davis
Colorist: Jean-Clement Soret @ MPC London
UK Production Manager: Jemma Daniel

INTERACTIVE
Production Company: Stink Digital
Executive Producer: Mark Pytlik
Project Manager: Christophe Taddei
Lead Developer: Ian McGregor
Key Developers: Vincent Roman, Jamie Copeland, Matt Sweetman
Additional Development: Pierre L. Thiebaut
Design: Eric Chia
Title Sequence & Trailer: Maximiliano Chanan, Odin Church


See other 2009 Cannes Advertising Winners here.

The $11,000 Gold Plated Dog Crate.

The world's coolest dog crate, the eiCrate, designed by Peter Pracilio for designGO! Brooklyn, New York has undergone a few name changes (it began as the Dog Cage), a few price changes and a few design changes. But the latest news is that you can pamper your pooch in an $11,000.00 22.5kt gilded version.

The ieCrate:


The beautifully designed modern crate is ordinarily available in black, white or silver finishes and is available with accessories like a fitted cover, a door stay and various interior pads or beds.

The Luxe 22.5kt gilded version:




Gilded 22.5k Gold eiCrate
Designed by Peter Pracilio for designGO! Brooklyn, New York

MATERIAL
Crate in powder-coated steel wire gilded in 22.5k gold-leaf. Crate mat/liner is 100% rubber

SIZE
Total height 24.5” Total width 36”, Depth 34”, Door Height 14.5”
* Breaks down into two halves for shipping/storing

PRICE
$11,000. 00USD (plus tax and shipping)

The traditional finishes, shown below, cost a more affordable $220.00 each.

The black version:


the white version:


The silver version:

To purchase any of the eiCrates, including the Gold one, go here.



Looking for unusual or modern dog crates?

Then be sure to check these out from Bow Wow House.

The Best, The Worst & The Weirdest Art Inspired By Michael Jackson

I know that thousands of people are mourning the loss of MJ, Michael Jackson, aka Jacko/ The King of Pop/ The Gloved One and are paying tribute with original artwork, most of which is amateur and simply awful. You can view many of those by simply searching on Flickr, Deviant Art and Google images.




So, let me separate the wheat from the chaff for you. Michael Jackson was immortalized by some of the truly talented and fairly well-known artists of our time from Andy Warhol to Banksy. Below are some of their art pieces inspired by the late pop star, followed by some examples of the worst and the weirdest.

Admittedly, not all of the artwork here was created with the best intent; several mock the singer or reference things his family would have us forget. But the beauty of art is that it's an expression and a reflection of the world in which we live.... and that's not always pretty.

THE BEST

The most well known, of course, are Andy Warhol's images of Michael:


above: Oil on silkscreen on canvas, 1984
Time cover, March 19, 1984
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Gift of Time magazine, NPG.86.TC14
© Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts / ARS, New York

Like all of Andy Warhol's silkscreens the image was produced in several different color variations:


Contemporary pop artist, Thierry Guetta, known as Mr. Brainwash, created his own version by combining two of Warhol's best known celebrity images:



His 15 prints of the above left image are sold out as well as the one-off shown above right.

Banksy:

details:



The piece, created in 2006, was shown in Santa's Ghetto, London and made obvious references to the allegations of child molestation of which Jacko was acquitted. On the Santa's Ghetto leaflet it reports that this painting was originally by Tom Ormond and that Banksy painted Michael Jackson over the top of it.

Another contemporary artist, known for his urban street art, prints and bronzes, Faile, created this poster:

the above piece is available for sale here. the asking price is $24,00.00 USD

...and Faile's MJ found on on the streets of london:


Jeff Koons (probably the second best known modern art likeness of Michael Jackson):

above: Jeff Koons (American, b. 1955). Michael Jackson and Bubbles, 1988. Ceramic. 42 x 70 1/2 x 32 1/2 in. (106.7 x 179.1 x 82.5 cm). Photo © Douglas M. Parker Studio, Los Angeles.
The Broad Art Foundation, Santa Monica / © Jeff Koons


above: Paul McCarthy's "Michael Jackson Fucked Up (Big Head)" (2002) serves as a critique of Jeff Koons's earlier "Michael Jackson and Bubbles" (1988). Image Courtesy of Hauser & Wirth

Melbourne sculptor Ivan Lovett's Michael made of chicken wire

See more of Ivan's chicken wire celeb sculptures here.

The text art of Ralph Ueltzhoeffer



above: Ralph Ueltzhoeffer's text portraits of Michael Jackson (click on them to enlarge)

Photographer Matthew Rolston, who always shoots beautiful film, shot Michael for Ebony's cover and inside editorial:

See all the shots and behind the scenes ones here.

The other best photographs of Michael I've ever seen are those by Annie Leibovitz for Vanity Fair. She shot Michael twice, once for the December 1986 issue of Vanity Fair, and again in 1994 for the Nightmare at Neverland Ranch story but I cannot find them, so here's the cover shot from the December 1986 issue and one editorial shot from the January 1994 issue:



Artist Maria E. Pineres' Rogues Gallery is a collection of needlepoint versions of celebrity mugshots. Here's her one of Michael:

To see more of Maria's celebrity needlepoint mugshots, go here.

Muralist Kent Twitchell completed, but never installed, a 100-foot-tall, 60-foot-wide portrait of Michael Jackson, created in the early 1990s for the side of the former Barker Bros. building in Hollywood, now the El Capitan Theater:



above: Los Angeles muralist Kent Twitchell poses in his studio with a portion of his a mural showing the hand of the music icon, at his new studio downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, March 24, 2009.

above: Kent Twitchell sits among panels for his Michael Jackson mural that was never installed. Part of the Jackson mural will be displayed at LOOK Gallery.
Take a look at some of Kent's amazing murals here.

THE WORST

I know, I know, you'd love to see some of the worst art of Michael Jackson. For that, you should check out his own items intended for auction, much of the worst and creepiest by artist David Nordahl.




above: 3 paintings by American born artist David Nordahl, all which feature Michael, and were to be a part of the auction.


Above: Paul Bedard's "Portrait of famous figures wearing glasses" (1985) was owned by Michael Jackson and was to be auctioned in the exhaustive auction with Julien's Auctions that was eventually canceled. Image Courtesy of Julien's Auctions


above: A quilted image of MJ amongst 'friends' made for him by a fan


above: Statue of Michael Jackson in Eindhoven, the Netherlands

I happen to like some of UK sculptor James Butler's work, but this one is hideous:

above: James Butler's "Statue of Michael Jackson" at one point overlooked Piccadilly Circus in London Image Courtesy the Courtauld Institute of Art


and of course, the gold bust shown above from Michael's own collection.

Note: there are links to more bad MJ art at the end of this post.

THE WEIRDEST


above: the Michael Jackson baby sculpture is part of an installation from the John Waters Show at the Marianne Boesky Gallery

Three busts of Michael Jackson, including two with forearms and hands, making faces. Each is mounted to a black wooden base on plexiglass sheet:

above: The masks were created for the effects sequences in Jackson's 1997 short film Ghosts. They can be seen during the closing credits as Jackson undergoes his special effects makeup application in his trailer

Fashion designer Jean-charles de Castelbajac's Michael Jackson Dress:


above: A model presents a creation by French fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac for his Fall-Winter 2009-2010 ready-to-wear collection, Tuesday, March 10, 2009 in Paris. The face of singer Michael Jackson is seen printed on the fabric.

Michael Jackson body painting:




above: Colombian artist Anubis Vrussh paints on the body of a model the face of US pop star Michael Jackson in Cali, department of Valle del Cauca, Colombia, on June 27, 2009. (photos courtesy of Getty images)

Michael Jackson Sand Sculpture:

above: A sand sculpture by artist Sudersan Pattnaik in tribute to the famous performer is seen at the Golden Sea beach in Puri, about 65 kms away from Bhubaneswar, on June 26, 2009.

LINKS
Here are some links to the most abominable art belonging to and of the pop star:


The site "Michael Jackson Art" has some of the most hideous works you'll ever see and some good ones, too.
More amateur fan artwork
Michael Jackson art on Deviant Art


The Neverland Ranch Auction Items:
The press preview images
The Guardian's Michael Jackson Auction Items Part 1.
The Guardian's Michael Jackson Auction Items Part 2
CNBC 's Treasures from Neverland slideshow

Now I'm just waiting for the Shepard Fairey poster......

Pia Wallen's Special Edition UltraSilencer Vacuum For Electrolux

Watch this video about her inspiration:


Where can you get it?
Unfortunately it's only available at select dealers in the UK, Norway and Finland. To see exactly which dealers and to learn more, go here.

Dwell On Design Also Happening This Weekend

In addition to the 6th annual CA Boom design show in Los Angeles, Dwell On Design is also happening this weekend. Lots to do!

The West Coast's Largest Modern Design Event.
Friday 26, Saturday 27, Sunday 28 June. Los Angeles Convention Center.


ON STAGE Design conference, continuing education classes for design pros, round-the-clock seminars for design seeking consumers.



EXHIBITION Prefab Homes, Outdoor, Food + Wine, Kitchen + Bath, Furniture + Accessories, Energy + Solar, Design Materials, Modern Family, Modern Lifestyle, Design Technology.

HOME TOURS Tour some of LA’s most modern and livable homes.

SPECIAL EVENTS Restaurant Design Awards, Film screenings.

learn more about it here.

CA Boom Show in New Venue This Year

CA Boom Design Show #6 - 2009

The CA Boom Show (www.caboomshow.com) 2009 takes place Friday, June 26 through Sunday, June 28 in the former Robinsons flagship department store on the corner of Wilshire and Santa Monica Boulevards in Beverly Hills, Calif.

A mix of contemporary & modern design incubating companies and products making their debuts, the show draws both the design trade and design savvy consumer. CA Boom combines everything relating to modern design under one roof, includes shuttle tours to never-before seen, stunning architecture in the Los Angeles area.

Exhibit Admission is $20 per day in advance or $25 at the door, which includes panel discussions. Sunday’s “The Homes of the Hollywood Hills” tour costs $75 and includes exhibit hall admission.

A Stahl House Fundraising tour includes special twilight tours of the famous Stahl House (Case Study House #22), and takes place on Friday and Saturday from the exhibit hall for $65. Each ticket contributes to the historic home’s preservation.


above: Julius Shulman's famous photo of the Stahl house

Sunday’s “Homes of Beverly Hills” tour costs $75 and includes exhibit hall admission. Special twilight tours of the famous Stahl House (Case Study House #22), and takes place on Friday and Saturday from the exhibit hall for $65, which includes a $25 contribution to the historic home’s preservation.

The Stahl House by Pierre Koenig:



Other homes on tour at CA Boom:




New Venue: Former Robinsons Flagship Department Store - Beverly Hills, CA (9900 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210)

2009 Dates: Friday June 26 to June 28

The show has grown exponentially in its complexity and “hipness,” combining everything relating to modern design under one roof, including shuttle tours to never-before seen, stunning architecture in the Los Angeles area. This season’s impressive line-up will feature domestic and international designers, furniture and home manufacturers and architects.

Who attends CA Boom?
* 58% Design Trade / 42% Design Savvy Consumers
* Architects, Interior Designers & Hospitality Designers
* Residential & Commercial Developers
* Contemporary Gift & Furnishing Retailers
* Lifestyle & Design Trade Media
* Entrepreneurs
* Savvy Design Consumers

Mr. Jones Watches: Telling Time With 'Tude.

We expect watches to tell us the time, but to tell us whether to say 'yes' or 'no'?

Whether or not we are loved and whether or not we are blessed?

These witty wristwatches from mr. jones (aka Crispin Jones) do exactly that and more.



My personal favorite is the "Accurate" (special edition shown above) which holds no punches by reminding us with every glance at the face that time is running out.




Mr. Jones Watches is the new cult watch brand from London with all the designs by Crispin Jones. The watches (and the packaging) are designed with modern looking graphics and fun uses of color without being 'too novelty'. The combination of clever kinetic movements or sayings on the face and hands, stainless steel cases and contrast stitched leather bands (often in 2 colors) make them unique to any other brand. They are genuine indie products entirely conceived and executed following a singular vision. The watches are witty, sassy and silly... and affordable at average price of $130.00 USD

The full line includes two 'special edition' watches, three 'limited edition' watches (numbered to 100 each) and a permanent collection of five styles:

Special Editions

The Accurate:

The New Decider:


Limited Editions


Loves Me, Loves Me Not (words alternate between reading 'loves me' and 'loves me not' each second):

The Watcher (eyes on either side of the face move left and right):

The Future: (words in windows read 'is' and then 'now' alternating with every second)


Permanent Collection


The Accurate:

The Average Day:

The Mantra: (positive reads "you're blessed" and negative reads "no chance" which alternates every second)

Decider (the white words on red say 'yes' and on the black say 'no')

The New Decider: (word in bubble alternates between yes in green and no in red with every tick of the secondhand)


The Packaging

The packaging below features either artwork by illustrator Nadine Faye James:

or by illustrator Kate Street



Mr. Jones himself, Crispin Jones:


"today everyone has a mobile phone to do the really functional timekeeping, this means that the wristwatch is free to do something a bit different. the watches i design reflect and comment on society, both on the role that time plays in all our lives and also on the social impact of technology. of course because i would like people to wear these watches, i also work very hard to make them beautiful objects in their own right." - Crispin Jones about the design of his watches.

You can purchase all the mr. jones watches directly from the site. And yes, they ship worldwide!

Lego® Replicas Of Eames, Corbusier and Michelle Kaufmann Homes

above: left, the homes recreated in Legos; right, the original homes


The following amazing replicas of modern homes are not Lego® kits but the creations of various Lego® builders - artists, really. Very impressive in their detail, I wanted to show you the images compared with the original homes. Each of the originals (and the Lego® recreations) were designed and built by different individuals.

First off, the Charles and Ray Eames Case Study House #8, situated in the Pacific Palisades in Southern California built from 1945 to 1949:


above photo by Julius Shulman





Now, in Legos:
The Eames Case Study House #8 as recreated in Legos® by Stacy Sterling:




Interior details:



see more of Stacy Sterling's amazing Lego® creations here.

The Villa Savoye was designed by by Le Corbusier, is located in Poissy, France, and was constructed from 1928 to 1929:







above photos courtesy of greatbuildings.com

Now, in Legos:
From Brick Architect Matija Grguric, comes this great Lego® version:






interior and details:



see more of Matija Grguric's Lego® creations here.

Contemporary architect Michelle Kaufmann who specializes in pre-configured, pre fab and custom home designs created the mkSolaire®. "The Greenest Home in Chicago" was on display at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago as part of the exhibit "The Smart Home: Green + Wired".

The mkSolaire®:






see more and learn more about the mkSolaire® here.

Now, in Legos:
The Lego replica of Michelle Kaufmann's "Green" Solaire home was designed for the Smart Home: Green and Wired exhibit. This tiny replica is surprisingly true to the original, with it’s cement board and Ipe wood siding, glass doored garage, and even green roof.

The LegoSolaire:

The King Of Pop Moonwalks Out Of Our Lives

Michael Jackson has passed away at the young age of 50. I cannot do justice to his incredible career like the numerous newscasts. So for now, I will simply say the world has lost a huge musical talent. And maybe he can play for Farrah in heaven.

Get Michael Jackson Music & Books Here


above photo courtesy of ABC.

I had written about the intended auction of Michael's things last February. To see many of his collectible and unusual items form Neverland Ranch, go here.



To learn more about his death and see photos from his life, go here.

To see a gallery of the best, the worst and the weirdest artwork inspired by MJ, go here.

The Earth Has Lost An Angel

Farrah Fawcett, 1947-2009

Farrah has finally lost her battle with cancer. You can read about it here as well as see some photos from her life
May she rest in peace.



In January of 2008, I wrote a post about artist Keith Edmier and his unusual relationship with Farrah as well as his work inspired by her and their artistic collaboration as well as their sculptures of one another.


Read about their work together, their book and see their sculptures of one another here.

Farah Fawcett Posters, Magazines & More

Farrah Fawcett Movies and more

People, Places & Things As Seen By Photographer Cormac Hanley

With a great range of subjects, as well as moods, Cormac Hanley has photographed people, places and things with a unique eye.

From beautiful to disturbing, his work is fitting as editorial, commercial or simply as art. His combining of unexpected subjects like dolls with burning cigarettes or pistols with candy coating are both aesthetically compelling and thought-provoking. Still lives to narratives, close-ups to diptychs, his work is worth sharing. Below are a few of his beautiful photographs.




















About the artist/ photographer (from his own site):


Cormac William Hanley was born in Ireland in 1970. Drawn to the clean hyper-realistic styles of artists such as Michael English and Robert Ballagh, Cormac began his visual career as an Airbrush illustrator. This quickly evolved into an early profession in graphic design and in creative direction. In his photography he has returned to capturing and constructing images which fit into his vision of the world, its contents and inhabitants.

His earlier compositional grounding is evident in his strong graphical approach to image making. Cormac finds stimulation in the contrast between meticulous studio work and the world that waits outside.Asked of how he works he maintains one guiding belief: "In pursuing perfection; when you take away all the flaws, there is not a lot left that matters".

Cormac lives with his family in both Ireland and France and travels extensively.



Cormac William Hanley

Represented by Gunda Patzke and Taffetas

You can purchase many of his photos, such as the ones in this post, as prints at the Bear and Breakfast Gallery

Alba Matters: Artist Enhanced Clocks For Furni

Devin Barrette and Mike Giles began Furni began as a “custom” furniture operation in 2005. Making short run hand-crafted furnishings, they've become best known for their modern clocks.

One of the most fun things they do is ask artists to decorate their clocks and then auction them off or sell them. In this case, the alba matters show artists to decorate the "ALBA", their smaller square clock.


Several artists decorated the ALBA clock in their own style and each sells for $150.00 USD. About half of them have already been sold, but several are still available for purchase. Before I show you all of the clocks in the show, here's a little ALBA background:

The ALBA:

The standard ALBA clock has:
• a hand made solid wood casing
• 5/8” beech wood construction w/rounded corners
• natural wood or rich “dark brown mahogany” wood stain
• white acrylic face w/faux speaker pattern
• old-school red LED clock w/alarm functions
• comes complete with wall transformer
• dimensions: 6” x 6” x 2.5”

Now, alba matters: the ALBA by various artists: (click on each image to enlarge)











Shop the available artist decorated ALBA clocks here.


Furni
215- 5445 De Gaspe
Montreal,Quebec
H2T 3B3
CANADA


Dig Clocks? check these out:

Modern Nixie Clocks

Modern Cuckoo Clocks

Architect Zaha Hadid Kicks Up Her Heels, Or Lack Thereof- Again.

Architect Zaha Hadid has collaborated with Lacoste for a new line of shoes for men and women. Not her first foray into shoes, she collaborated with Melissa of Brazil to bring us her version of molded plastic shoes in September of 2008.

Her shoes for French iconic brand Lacoste are leather, unisex and have Hadid's recognizable twisting structure. The women's are available in purple or black and the men's in black or navy.




In addition, a special limited edition (850 pairs) of boots for women, shown below, will be available at select boutiques like Colette in France, beginning July 20th.




press release:
Lacoste presents a collection of shoes by architect Zaha Hadid. Born from a digital interpretation of the iconic logo of the brand, the shoes are crafted from Italian calf leather and printed in relief realized by heated metal plates. “Wrapped around the foot, these shoes adapt in an ergonomic way to the shapes of the body" explains Zaha Hadid.



ZAHA HADID FOR LACOSTE


The Zaha Hadid for Lacoste footwear collaboration began with a digitized interpretation of the iconic crocodile logo. Hadid’s research team then used this as a basis to explore a series of surfaces with repeated patterns. ‘The design expression behind the collaboration with Lacoste footwear allows the evolution of dynamic fluid grids,’ explains Hadid. ‘When wrapped around the shape of a foot, these expand and contract to negotiate and adapt to the body ergonomically. In doing so a landscape emerges, undulating and radiating as it merges seamlessly with the body.’



To achieve this tactile landscape effect, Zaha’s team designed a series of metal plates depicting the desired wave pattern. These plates were subsequently utilised to apply a combination of heat embossing and debossing techniques to the calf leather, thus rendering the topography in relief. The effect is visible on the uppers, curving around the top of the toe, and on the exterior fascia of each shoe. A similar pattern is replicated on the sole of the shoe, crafted of moulded rubber, which is designed to reflect points at which the foot naturally exerts pressure. The heel itself is the minimum depth possible in footwear construction, emphasizing the slender and streamlined profile of the design.




The shoes also feature the unique Zaha Hadid for Lacoste logo, visibly wrapped around the side of the heel and on the in-sock. The sleek and sophisticated black box which packages the product also bears an embossed version of the same logo. The shoes are unisex in design; the women’s are available in black and purple, whilst the men’s come in black and navy. A limited-edition boot version of the Zaha Hadid for LACOSTE shoe will be available exclusively at such high-end boutiques as Colette in Paris, Dover Street Market in London and 10 Corso Como in Milan in July 2009 as a preview. The main shoe line will be appearing in stores worldwide from September 2009. This exclusive collaboration will be highlighted in store by a suite of bespoke material designed to compliment and enhance the themes and colours of the project.

the above images are courtesy of Lacoste.

This is not the first time Zaha Hadid has designed shoes, in her signature style, she created a collection for the Brazil brand of plastic shoes, Melissa:



above images courtesy of dezeen.

Read all about Melissa shoes here.

Not the only Architect to get into the shoe game, United Nude is an unusual brand of shoes by architect Rem D. Koolhaas and partner, Galahad JD Clark. learn about them here.


above: the Ultra Mobius, another shoe designed by an architect.

Save Your Logo & Help Save Animals & Plants!

The principle of Save Your Logo is simple:

Save Your Logo creates an opportunity for companies represented by a plant or animal in their logo to contribute to the conservation of that species. Preserving the planet and its biodiversity is essential in the survival of the human species.

Save Your Logo is an innovative global initiative in the field of biodiversity that involves public and private funding, with supports like the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), the World Bank, the International Union for Nature Conservation and the Endowment Fund for Biodiversity.



above: Lacoste is the first major brand to join this program.

How it works:

The funds from the private sector will be invested in the Endowment Fund for Biodiversity and will then be distributed to organizations that specialize in biodiversity and local conservation projects.

The selection and follow up on these grants will be managed by a steering committee of representatives from the World Bank, the IUCN, the GEF and the Endowment Fund for Biodiversity.

Part of the private sector funding will be used to finance the creation of an Emergency Fund for the conservation of for lesser known species that are found on the IUCN Red List.

All these efforts will be overseen by independent auditors and the court of auditors.

To learn more about the tax laws and implications of the program, go here.

This public-private partnership will engage new partners from the corporate sector in the conservation community and complement existing conservation efforts. A robust education outreach campaign will engage the general public to participate in this effort.

The status of all conservation projects will be updated on a daily basis on the website.


Save Your Logo will create the first global observatory for biodiversity using a multimedia platform to communicate about it programs, creating a community of people interested in plant and animal biodiversity and the health of the planet.


If your company or one you know of has a plant or animal in their logo, turn them onto this!

Designers Type Dirty: 450 Typographical Tart Cards

A different form of 'sexting', if you will, is this fabulous project between Wallpaper magazine, St. Bride Library and Type in the "Sex Issue" of wallpaper magazine.




They asked over 400 designers to create their version of Tart Cards (the biz cards that London prostitutes use to advertise their wares) by finding the 'sex' in typefaces. The 450 cards designed vary in cleverness, style and of course, fonts. Some use the font as a graphic or a sexual image, others use the name of the font as a double entendre or a pun. In any case, they are fun to look at, but will be NSFW in some industries and definitely not for those under 18 years of age.

Here are a few of my personal favorites:













and although I'm not a fan of the design, I had to include this one for obvious reasons:

Along with a selection in Wallpaper Magazine's Sex Issue, all 450 cards can be viewed on their site here.


Wallpaper Magazine's Sex Issue: Type Tart Cards

About the project:
Tart cards are the means by which many London prostitutes advertise their services. Step into almost any central London phone box and you can contemplate up to 80 cards inviting you to be tied, teased, spanked or massaged. Even if a police crackdown, the internet and the increasing use of mobile phones suggest their days are numbered, tart cards are still so pervasive they are now regarded as items of accidental art and have something of a cult following. Once on the periphery of design, tart cards have influenced the work of many mainstream artists such as Royal Academician Tom Phillips and Sex Pistols designer Ray and Nils Stevenson. In conjunction with St Bride Library and Type, Wallpaper asked designers – from students to superstars – to find the tart hiding in every type and create their own graphic numbers. The cards will also be on show at KK Outlet*, London, from 22 June. The over 400 cards will include designs by Erik Kessels, Anthony Burrill, Neville Brody, NB:Studio, Spin, Value and Service, Fernando Gutiérrez, Ian Wright and Noma Bar.

Below is the invite to the show:


In among this plethora of brilliant, witty graphic designs we would like to highlight the serious issue that lies at the heart of the world of tart cards – the plight of trafficked women in the sex industry. It is a subject touched eloquently on by Mike Dempsey of Studio Dempsey, who is a volunteer at the Helen Bamber Foundation which helps rebuild lives broken by human rights violations. While our exhibition is an ode to the graphic qualities of the tart card phenomena, Dempsey's design is a pertinent reminder of the sinister world that lies beneath every card.
--Wallpaper Magazine

*KKOutlet is a shop, gallery and communications agency. It specializes in making, presenting and selling innovative communication solutions. It is the London office of Amsterdam communications agency, KesselsKramer. The exhibition runs from 22- 29 June 2009

See all 450 cards here.

A Bald Artist Uses His Head As A Canvas: Meet James Kuhn

above: James Kuhn as Mr. T (note the doll's arm stuck up his nose)

Self-described artist, drag queen, former nudist, born again Christian, average 46 year old guy (hardly!) James Kuhn likes to paint his face. And I'm not just talking about a little gloss and guyliner. I'm talking complete transformations! In some cases he even adds doll parts, paper extensions and more. But there's no sense in trying to describe it, you simply have to see his self-portraits.


above: just a few of his hundreds of transformations, also available as a poster.

The following are a few of my favorites from his extensive sets on flickr. They are high res, so they may take awhile to download. Click on them to enlarge and see the details.

Conan (note the one 'shared eye'):

Cat with mouse:

Donkey:

Bluto and Popeye:

Woody the Woodpecker:

Polar Bear and Eskimo:

The Marx Brothers (he's upside down):

Bathing Beauty (her breasts are his nostrils):

Baby Doll (with plastic body glued to his head-he's upside down):

Pretzel Lion (yes, the mane is made of pretzels):

Flying Monkey (from the Wizard of Oz)

Pluto:

Stripper:

The Lollipop Guild (from the Wizard of Oz):


Check him out as a Gremlin, A moving Gremlin!


from his flickr profile:

I am not a photographer, but i take alot of photo's! My camera is a Canon Powershot A610 5.0 Mega Pixels, and i love it!!! I am an artist, drag queen, former nudist, born again Christian, average 46 year old guy...well maybe not exactly average! I love to paint on anything, including flesh! Mostly i paint images from the bible in a style i call "Paint Mosaic" a collage style made up of painted watercolor paper, cut up and assembled onto canvas.

Currently i am having fun making photographic self portrait's, involving face painting. Face paint is the most exciting thing that has happened to me in a long while! I believe it may have magical powers! My "normal" painting has taken a back seat to my face work lately.

For my face paints, i use Kryolan Aqua Color, Snazaroo, and Paradise by Mehron. I attended Burning Man in Nevada three years in a row and it was amazing!!! I believe it completely changed the way i think about art and perhaps the purpose for which i even make art. Art should never be a product. It should be a gift of love and a prayer. Art is silly, and fun, and can be powerful and sacred.

I do show in galleries, but selling should never be your motivation for creating art. Check out my websites www.bibleartwork.com and www.myspace.com/jameskuhngallery. I attend a gay affirming church and its great! Jesus died for EVERYONE! I am not a gay Christian, i am a Christian [ in progress! Gods not finished with me yet! ] who happens to be gay.

I'm Male and Single.
http://www.myspace.com/hawhawjamesworld

See tons more of James Kunh's transformations on flickr here.


If you'd like to purchase one of his books, or posters or more, you can do so at his Qoop store here.

If you're into body painting, don't miss these amazing artists:

Guido Daniele


Emma Hack


Temptu

Be Your Own Banksy, Hirst, Quinn, Whithead, Emin or Eggleston!

The brainchild of Naroa Lizar Redrado, iArtist of London, sells 'Do-It-Yourself' kit versions of famous art pieces by contemporary artists Damien Hirst, Banksy, Marc Quinn, Tracy Emin, Rachel Whiteread and various photographers such as William Eggleston.



iArtist London is self-described on their site as:
a cool new brand that enables you to make real contemporary pieces of art from the comfort of your home. All those pieces that you always wanted to have but couldn´t afford. We believe art should be for everyone. Our boxes contain all the necessary elements so you only have to concentrate on creating. In no time you will have a masterpiece created by yourself. It couldn’t be easier!

A cute and clever idea, you can now make your own version of Damien Hirst's For The Love Of God, (a diamond encrusted skull only with crystals, of course... consider it the Bedazzler version), paint with Banky's famous street art stencils, create your version of Marc Quinn's "self" (a sculpted head filled with the artist's own blood), make your own tracy emin tent, yur own version of Rachel Whitehead's hot water bottle or turn photography into easy art.

Below are images of the original art upon which the DIY kits are based and descriptions of each kit, along with included content.

The iHIRST:

above: Damien Hirst's For The Love Of God

For the Love of God is a sculpture by Damien Hirst that consists of a platinum cast of a human skull encrusted with 8,601 fine white diamonds, including the centerpece, a massive pear-shaped stone on the forehead. It cost 14 million pounds to produce and sold for $100 million US dollars.





Now, with iHIRST you will be able to create your very own replica. The kit includes a human size plastic skull, all 8,601 crystals, the glue and even the tweezers. You can choose to customize your design by adding crystals of different colorsor alter it however you'd like. It's up to you whether or not you want to replicate the original or create your own.

CONTENTS: PLASTIC HUMAN SIZE SKULL, CRYSTAL BEADS (8,601 PIECES), GLUE, PAINTBRUSH, TWEEZERS, SILVER PAINT, INSTRUCTIONS.

The iQUINN:

above: Marc Quinn's Self (1991)

Marc Quinn's Self (1991) is a sculpture made out of the artist´s own blood that had been collected over a year and that the National Portrait gallery has been fighting to acquire. With IQUINN you will get the directions to make your own sculpture using your own blood and a cast of your head or any of your loved ones' heads.





*Children under 18 years old, pregnant women, elderly or those who suffer from any serious illness should not use this product. Contact your doctor before proceeding with the sculpture or call our hotline for more information.

CONTENTS: PVC BLOOD BAG, ALGINATE, PLASTER BANDAGES, COTTON, FACE CREAM, DISPOSABLE GLOVES, SILICON SWIMMING HAT, BAND-AID, INSTRUCTIONS

The iEMIN:


above: Tracy Emin's The Tent, exterior and interior

Tracy Emin's Everyone I have Ever Slept With 1963-1995 (also known as the tent) is a piece of contemporary British art created in 1995. The work consists of a blue tent with the names of everyone the artist had slept with during that period of time, sewn in various fabrics.





iEMIN is a complete package of all the elements to create your own version. Just cut letters out from the colorful fabrics provided and sew them onto the blue tent. The original was destroyed in a fire in 2004

CONTENT: CAMPING TENT FOR 2 PEOPLE, SEWING KIT, COLORFUL THREADS, ASSORTED FABRICS, INSTRUCTIONS.

The iWHITEHEAD:

Above: Rachel Whiteread's Untitled (Pink Torso) 1991, Courtesy the artist
PHOTO CREDIT: Mike Bruce at Gate Studios, London

Pink Torso is a sculpture made using simply a hot water bottle and alginate (dental plaster) created by Turner Prize winner Rachel Whiteread. Now you can do it yourself: fill the empty space and create a new and interesting sculpture. Kids love it, it is designed to stimulate their creativity and development and has been tested and approved by the toughest of children.





CONTENTS: HOT WATER BOTTLE (2 LITRE), ALGINATE, INSTRUCTIONS.

The iBANSY:

above: montage of Banksy street art images courtsy of weburbanist

Now you can create your own Banksy graffiti for just thanks to our IBANKSY boxes and machines located in the key areas of London*. Each box contains one spray can and a A4 stencil with one of the famous Banksy designs. Choose between one of our 6 designs and collect them all. The stencils are totally reusable. *Check the website to find the vending points.

CONTENTS: SPRAY PAINT, STENCIL, INSTRUCTIONS.




The iPHOTOGRAPHER:

above: William Eggleston photo

The iPHOTOGRAPHER kit allows you to get personalized versions of master photographs on photographic paper using a traditional enlarger that you can then customize. No knowledge of photo developing is required.

Send iartist the image of your choice, choose between their 3 levels of difficulty: amateur, photographer or master (the more difficult, the more layers, colors and detail); and you will get a package containing the stencils and a diagram with the instructions. Simply put the stencils on top of the paper and choose the corresponding numbers and time in the enlarger.

It's like painting by numbers only you will be painting with light. You can create a cool image to put on your wall and the stencils are totally reusable so you can explore, change your colors and try endless options.

This is the perfect gift. Send your favorite images. Their 3 different sizes are perfectly adapted to suit the standard paper sizes.



Below is a sample of an Eggleston print with iPHOTOGRAPHER:




Shop at iartist London here.

If Apple Made Sex Toys - Jimmyjane's The Usual Suspects

Design-centric erotic product company Jimmyjane, a brand founded on the belief that life is better with a sexy twist and best known for their little chroma vibrators, has adopted some of the most iconic sex toys and 'curated' them to become modern designer versions of the traditional originals. Now they look like they belong perfectly in the Mac family of white iPods, earbuds, iPhones , iMice and the like.

The collection is called The Usual Suspects but with pale grey text and accents on all white versions, they should be referred to iConic rather than Iconic items.




ICONIC RABBIT AKA "TWICE AS NICE"


The rabbit that started it all:




A little vibrator history for you, courtesy of Jimmyjane:

Perhaps the best known vibrator ever made, this “Rabbit Habit” is the original that inspired hundreds of derivative products. Created in Japan over 25 years ago, it was the first to offer simultaneous internal and external stimulation. This configuration was so successful that it launched an entire category of products, now known in the industry as “Twice As Nice” vibrators. The popularity of this design is telling. Conservative estimates indicate that over 5 million “Twice As Nice” vibrators are made each year, and production levels are still growing. Adding to the momentum, several celebrities have spoken openly of their affinity for the product. No stranger to the limelight, it has made appearances on numerous TV shows – most memorably, its cameo on Sex and the City in 1998. The curious appearance of the vibrator is functionally derived, but culturally embellished.

The Rabbit Habit features a stylized rabbit attached to the base of a shaft, which, upon closer examination, is detailed to resemble a woman, complete with a caricature face, necklace, and bob haircut. In Japan there is a long-standing taboo surrounding the depiction of genitalia. As a result, in sexual implements dating back millennia, faces and other details were often sculpted onto otherwise phallic forms to soften their visual impact and disguise (albeit only slightly) their functional intent. Some of the more elaborate designs even included swords, kimonos, and other details to represent samurai and geisha characters. Today, an entire menagerie of Twice As Nice vibrators is available, featuring animals ranging from dolphins to seahorses, monkeys to birds

.

detailed images:


details:
• All materials are body-safe, including hygienic, non-porous, phthalate-free, latex-free elastomer.
• Individually controlled dual motors in the shaft and tickler.
• Features tracked pearls and is bendable above the shaft.
• Thick, supple elastomer adds a soft touch.
• Replaceable batteries for extended life.
• One year limited warranty.

ICONIC RING AKA "VIBRATING RING"


Only recently introduced to the market, Vibrating Rings have immediately become a favorite. The first hands-free vibrators to become widely available, they’re an easy way for couples to share sensation.

Unlike the disposable products that are most common on the market, the ICONIC RING features replaceable batteries for an extended life. It’s also one of the most versatile products of its kind, featuring a unique touch-sensitive vibration mode and shower-friendly water resistance.

Embraced by many for their ease of use and no-nonsense design, Vibrating Rings are enjoyed by first-time vibrator users and experienced enthusiasts alike.

Details:
• All materials are body-safe, including hygienic, non-porous, phthalate-free, latex-free elastomer.
• The vibrator is water resistant and shower-friendly.
• Unlike similar products on the market, the ICONIC RING has replaceable LR1130 batteries.
• The dual vibration modes include both pressure sensitive and constant vibration.
• One Year Limited Warranty.

ICONIC POCKET AKA "POCKET VIBRATOR"



Pleasure to go.

Pocket Vibrators were first produced in Japan over 25 years ago. Their compact all-in-one design made them the most portable vibrators available at the time other mini vibrators were wired to a separate battery pack, and were clumsy by comparison. Pocket Vibrators were also among the first waterproof vibrators in wide circulation, ensuring that they immediately made a splash.

While Pocket Vibrators were designed to be compact, they were also engineered to be powerful. The four hemispheres on the tip of the vibrator help intensify sensation by varying the contact pressure as they are moved across the body. The versatility and innocuous appearance of the Pocket Vibrator, combined with its usefulness for non-sexual massage, has given everyone a reason and an excuse to keep one handy.

Details:
• All materials are body-safe, including hygienic, non-porous, phthalate-free, ABS plastic.
• The vibrator is waterproof and bath-friendly.
• Travel-ready, the ICONIC POCKET is compact and good to go.
• One Year Limited Warranty.

all images and description copy courtesy of Jimmyjane.
Jimmyjane site
Buy each of The Usual Suspects or buy the complete set of all three here.

Celebrating Hairy Men; A Beautiful Book And A Backlash To Waxed Men Everywhere

Hairy, Photographs by: Robert Greene


This latest book is categorized by powerHouse books as "Gay Interest/Nudity" but it's so much more than that. At a time when waxed chests and smooth bodies are all the rage (note my previous post on Gillette's manscaping site, Norelco's Bodygroom Manalogues and the Mangroomer), I am so pleased to see someone celebrating the masculinity of a hairy body. All hail the hirsute!

Not that I want a fur rug to spoon with, or that a hairy hiney turns me on, but because the natural beauty of a testosterone-laden male form is far preferable to me than that of a man who looks and feels like a dolphin- or a 12 year old. Or whose legs are smoother than mine. I even had some exes who were handsomely hirsute and went to the trouble to painfully wax themselves. Yuck.

That said, let me introduce you to the latest book of photographs by artist Robert Greene, Hairy which will be followed by a gallery of Hairy Hotties.

images from the book:



The following text is courtesy of powerHouse books:

Painterly rhythms have seeped their way into Robert Greene’s world of photography in Hairy, a collection of Greene’s images taken over many years, in many places, of many dogs, and many hairy men. An undercurrent of über-masculinity and its sexiness is revealed, yet not in the familiar form of muscular, hard-jawed, clean-cut youth. Instead, Greene celebrates a more restrained and naturalistic virility.

Greene’s photographic eye is full of adoration for his subjects and their environments. There is a very intimate, personal feeling here; one not posed, but observed and captured. Greene shifts from long-range portraiture, to close-up shots where specific textures, shapes, and tones become the subject of the image. This abstraction weaves a visual spell, such that even those without a predilection for hirsute men will be enthralled. The photographs provide the space for longing, imagination, and adventure. Hairy is an unusually quintessential book—portraying an incredibly focused and fleshed-out vision of a very beautiful, hairy world where man, dog, and nature swirl together.

Images from the book:



Hairy will be released in conjunction with an exhibition at Robert Miller Gallery in New York City. Pssst... if you pre-order it from amazon as shown below it will cost you less.


Hardcover, 9.25 x 12 inches, 96 pages, 85 tritone photographs
ISBN: 978-1-57687-527-8


About the artist/author:
Robert Greene was born in New York City in 1953. He attended Syracuse University, College of Visual and Performing Arts, before receiving his Bachelor of Industrial Design degree from Pratt Institute in 1976. Greene is both a fine-art photographer and painter, and is currently represented by Robert Miller Gallery in New York City. His painting was included in the 1987 Whitney Biennial, and his work is in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art. He currently lives and works in Los Angeles, California.


Be sure to see Robert's work at the Robert Miller Gallery online here.

See Robert Greene on Artnet here.

Some Hairy Hotties For You:

above: Clive Owen

above: Jon Hamm

above: Peter Saarsgard

above: English rugby star Ben Cohen

above: Paul Rudd

above: Matt Lauer

above: Simon Cowell

above: Sam Elliott

above: Alec Baldwin

above: Hugh Jackman

above: Sean Connery

above images of Shawn Christian courtesy of squarehippies.com

above: Tom Selleck

I'm not alone in my predilection for hairy men, there are tons of sites that feature hirsute men or focus on hairy chests:
Square Hippies has a great gallery of chests both hairy and smooth (A shirtless vault) and a Guess This Chest game.
Bearotic
The Hairy Chest Celebrity Pool on flickr
Hairy Chests of The Rich and Famous
The Return Of the Chest Hair (gallery) on Daily Beast.

and check this out...

above: the shirt reproduces his actual chest hair in a stretch fit t-shirt. The work, entitled “Finally Chest Hair” was created in 1997, but it was recently featured in an exhibition entitled “Vreemde Dingen” (Strange Things) at the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen.

Amazon's Guide to Famous Hairy Chests

Obleeek Objects- Modern Concrete Planters For Indoor & Outdoor

Obleeek Object’s concrete planters began in an art studio. Created with specific thoughtful consideration in terms of their symmetry, finish, and visual impact. Crafted as a solution for seamlessly integrating nature and architecture.




The idea has been simple from the start; to present nature as a fundamental element within architecture. Using simple forms that have become icons of an international design vocabulary designer Leo Estevez found a pedestal that presents nature as a seamless element within a contemporary landscape.




The planters are available in several sizes and in three color options; stone, ivory or black. They are made of a custom blend of concrete that is 40% lighter in weight than standard concrete and is polished to a satin finish. The planters can be ordered with or without drainage holes.




The Concrete and Glass series includes a hand blown glass insert that is available in blue for the planters.

Glass Series Planter, blue:


In addition to their planter collection, they have a stunning birdbath and a vase:

Glass Series Vase, white:

Birdbath:


They also recently introduced end tables (with or without a bamboo top), a coffee table with bamboo top.

End table:

end table with bamboo top:

Coffee Table (bamboo top):

All of their items are 100% produced in California and all of their manufacturing is done in-house with designers and fabricators working together to produce the highest levels of quality and efficiency.

all images and information courtesy of obleeek

Obleeek Objects
230 Madison St
Oakland, CA 94610
www.obleeek.com

Cirque Bezerk - Don't Expect Dogs In Tutus

It’s been called everything from “a circus on acid,” to “French burlesque meets Sweeney Todd,” and most appropriately, “P.T. Barnum’s worst nightmare." Cirque Berzerk’s unique flavor of adult psychedelic vaudevillian tomfoolery returns to the Los Angeles State Historic Park for an exclusive engagement.

Performances are set to begin today Thursday, June 18th through Sunday, July 5th.




Since its debut at Burning Man in 2005, Cirque Berzerk has been entertaining audiences - large and small - with their signature spin on contemporary circus theater, blending hardcore circus choreography with the sexy and comedic undercurrents of cabaret and vaudeville.

Cirque Berzerk’s show, “Beneath,” will tickle your innards with a psychotically-tinged sultry show filled with sinewy, breathtaking acrobatics, sensual aerialists, gothic stilt walkers, fetishy burlesque dancers, voluptuous contortionists and a host of punk rock clowns, none of whom know how to make cute balloon animals for the kiddies. "Wholesome family fun" it ain't.



Last year, Cirque Berzerk co-founders (and husband and wife) Suzanne Bernel and Kevin Bourque rolled the dice and invested their entire life’s savings into the show. Just on great word-of-mouth and a tremendous PR effort alone, Cirque Berzerk came out of nowhere to sell out last summer’s entire run. Critics and fans raved about it. The Los Angeles Times named it one of “L.A.’s 10 weirdest events of 2008.



This year, they’re back with an even more twisted big top experience that takes place under an even bigger big top-a massive tent imported from Italy that holds over 1,500 spellbound guests with theater seating.


above: their new bigger big-top

Before & After The Show
To get into the spirit of the evening, revelers are encouraged to arrive early before the show to drink and dine picnic-style around the big top; you can bring your own or purchase dinner and drinks on site while enjoying interactive carnival-themed attractions before entering into the big top.

And after the show, the audience is invited to party with the entire Cirque Berzerk circus troupe and enjoy a live performance by house band Vaud & The Villains at the nightly post-show party held in the “The Berzerk Lounge,” a club- like atmosphere adjacent to the big top that will enable guests to continue their Cirque Berzerk experience well into the night.

Even the owners get into the act. Literally. Owners Kevin Bourque and Suzanne Bernel are actually the guy with the top-hat on the "death" card and Suzanne is an aerialist who works with silks in the show.


above: circus owner and performer, Kevin Bourque

above: circus owner and performer, Sue Bernel rehearsing

With that said, and without further adieu, welcome and enjoy the show. The various Circus Acts are indicated by the wonderfully designed 'tarot' cards shown below.

CIRCUS ACTS
Click on each card below to be taken to more info about that particular act:





Berzerk Buzz:
"The sort of phantasmagoric spectacle Tim Burton would dream up if he quit filmmaking to join the circus." -Los Angeles Times
"They gave us Sexy, Scary, Funny and Absinthe...What else does one need, really?" -LA City Beat
"This is no Barnum and Bailey's." -- Metromix



VIDEOS:
The videos to promote the circus are fabulous. Take a look at "Fire Breather" and "Trampoline"





Lots of talented people deserve credit for the wonderful graphics, site design and tv commercials and promos.

Credits:
The Famous Group, Los Angeles
Executive Creative Director: Greg Harvey
Creative Director/Copywriter: Greg Collins
Creative Director/Art Director: Josh Weltman
Creative Director/Interactive: Joel Lava, Michael Marina, Patrick Tran
Producer: Kay Lynn Dutcher
Interactive Art Director: Jennifer Puno
Designer: Zak Iddings
Web Designers: Chris Chernoff, Brandon Fisch
Visual Effects Artist: Ryan Kaplan
Director of Photography: Connor O'Brien
Viral Director: Joel Lava



TICKETS
Starts Tonight!
Buy tickets here

Emeco Chair Collaborations & Their First Ever Sale In History

I found out via their press release that Emeco, the manufacturer of those cool industrial looking aluminum chairs, is going to have their first ever SALE beginning June 18, 2009 (that's tomorrow!).

I thought this was a perfect opportunity for me to show you the many famous designers with whom they've collaborated and their many collections. In doing a little research I was happy to find that Emeco has a deep, informative site from which I could pull some wonderful quotes and sketches for you in addition to product shots. So, check them out.



Emeco, The Aluminum Chair Company, announces its first sale in 65 years. Every product at the Emeco site, will be marked down 15% and standard shipping is free in North America. The sale includes designs and options that are only available from Emeco. The sale will start on June 18 and run though July 9 2009. Many products will ship within two weeks.

Emeco makes all aluminum chairs, kitchen stools and barstools of 80% recycled material, and they are considered a green product according to the LEED criteria. Many chairs and stools stack - saving space, and most can be used outdoors. Seat pads are available on most chairs and stools, and Emeco recently reissued a Navy chair with a solid wood seat, first built in the 1950's. All products are made in Hanover Pennsylvania.

About Emeco:


Emeco was founded in 1944 to make all-aluminum chairs for the US Navy. These indestructible chairs can be found in applications from prisons and submarines to restaurants, hotels and even kitchens. Gregg Buchbinder purchased the company in 1998 and began a friendship and association with the renowned French architect, Philippe Starck (who made the drawing of his Hudson chair, shown below, for Greg) , creating a series of products that united Emeco's historic manufacturing capabilities with Starck's classic designs for a new century.


The Collaborations:


With Philippe Starck:
"Working with Emeco has allowed me to use a recycled material and transform it into something that never needs to be discarded - a tireless and unbreakable chair to use and enjoy for a lifetime. It is a chair you never own, you just use it for a while until it is the next persons turn. A great chair never should have to be recycled. This is good consideration of nature and man kind." - Philippe Starck

Starck sketches and chairs for Emeco:




above: Philippe Starck with his Icon chair for Emeco

In 2000, Starck's Hudson chair for Emeco won the GOOD DESIGN Award and was inducted into the permanent design collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

With Frank Gehry:
In 2004, Emeco collaborated with the American architect Frank Gehry on Superlight, a chair that utilizes aluminum's ability to be both strong and flexible.

"I wanted three things in this chair: comfort, light weight, and strength. Aluminum was the obvious choice and Emeco was the only company that could make it. It’s been a fun project, and amazingly quick – just 11 months from the first meeting with Gregg to the Milan introduction. Gio Ponti’s Superleggera chair was the inspiration – and I’ve always wanted to design a super lightweight chair. I tried to extract the essence – structure and skin, where engineering and design are one thing. SUPERLIGHT is a chair that moves to accommodate all body types- the sitter activates the chair. And we got it down to 6 ½ pounds, and that makes it easier for a lot more people to use and move around." - Frank Gehry

Gehry's sketches and chairs for Emeco:



above: Gehry discussing the Superlight chair with Emeco owner Gregg Buchbinder

Gehry's chair won another GOOD DESIGN award in 2004 and was included in collections at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Pinakothek der Modern in Munich.

With Norman Foster (Foster & Partners):
In 2007 Emeco's collaboration with Norman Foster "20-06" debuted at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile and won another GOOD DESIGN award, as well as a 2007 Spark Design Award.

"I appreciate the anonymous character of the new chair – it meshes seamlessly with our vision for interior space. The new “20-06” is the result of a genuine collaboration between the Foster Studio and the Emeco Team and will contribute to Emeco's remarkable history. We attempted to fuse modernist form with established craft. The Foster + Partners Studio combined advanced technology, inventive geometry, attention to detail, and sensitivity to ecological considerations with Emeco’s unique manufacturing process to make a wholly new design. A Foster building and an Emeco chair are both modern in character, yet demonstrate a great respect for the past." - Norman Foster

Foster & Partners' sketches and chairs for Emeco:



above: Norman Foster and his chair for Emeco.

With Ettore Sottsass:
In 2008, Emeco launched the Nine-O collection by Ettore Sottsass - the last design by Mr. Sottsass who died in 2007 at the age of 90.

"A chair must be really important as an object, because my mother always told me to offer my chair to a lady" - Ettore Sottsass

Mr. Sottsass' collaboration with Emeco began in Chicago eight years ago when Gregg Buchbinder, Emeco's Chariman, met him at the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art. "The minute we met, Ettore told me he was an admirer of the Navy chair and in fact wished he had designed it. And we agreed, why not re- design it," remembers Mr. Buchbinder. "I had seen Sottsass' projects in Domus magazine over the years – Esprit, the Amazon Express yacht - in which he had used our chair. Ettore was the first designer who took our chairs out of their typical environments -navy ships prisons, hospitals- and to use them in contemporary interior design projects. Through him Sir Terence Conran, Frank Gehry and Philippe Starck discovered the Emeco chair creating resurgence in the 1990's. It was only right to commission him to celebrate Emeco's resurrection with a new collection."

Ettore Sottsass sketches and chairs for Emeco:




above: the late Ettore Sottsass with Emeco owner, Buchbinder

With Andrée Putnam:
In January of this year, Emeco launched Morgans, a chair by Andrée Putman designed for the restoration of the Morgans Hotel NYC. Emeco is part of the tradition of American mid-century modern manufacturers including Knoll and Herman Miller.

Gregg Buchbinder, remembers the first project meeting, Andrée arrived in the 6 inch stilettos - she is the most stylish woman I have ever known. She told me she wanted to do with the Emeco chair what her friend Coco Channel did with the "little black dress" – create a simple, smart, sexy chair that never goes out of style.”

Andrée Putman's Morgans Chair:


With Adrian Van Hooydonk (BMW Designworks):
The new 1951 chair is an update of an original Emeco chair made for Navy hospitals from 1951. The lower cost chairs and stools have durable ABS seats and backs in five colors and a brushed/ anodized frame that stacks six high. White and silver chairs and stools can be used indoors or out.

"Emeco planned a re-issue of an old chair from 1951, but we quickly agreed that Emeco should create a version of ‘1951’ that retained Emeco's DNA, yet looked forward, Gregg instinctively knows what is good for Emeco and we agreed that the modernization of the original chair would be 100 % Classic Emeco - simple, utilitarian and masculine. Lines and surfaces were discussed at length, as well as the "Stance" of the new ‘1951’, which is a lot more dynamic than the original. The design phase that followed was one of the most collaborative and rewarding experiences of my life. I had dealt with similar issues designing modern cars for the Mini and BMW brands, and I have incorporated these ideas. ‘1951’ is the first Emeco product that combines new materials for the seat and back - technically molded ABS plastic, with classic aluminum construction. This will allow customers to add color and simplifies manufacturing - reducing cost. As in good car-design, these added functional elements create a clean, simple and dynamic look that will appeal to costumers on an emotional level while projecting strength." - Adrian Van Hooydonk

Van Hooydonk of BMW Designworks sketches and chair:




above: Andre Hooydonk of BMW Designworks USA

From a workforce of 15 craftsmen in 1999, Emeco has grown five times and recently instated a second manufacturing shift for the first time in 25 years. Emeco has made over 1,000,000 1006 Navy® chairs since 1944 and now sells its all-aluminum furniture in 50 countries.


Shop for these and tons of other wonderful aluminum chairs on sale, marked down 15% beginning June 18th here at the Emeco site.

All images and info courtesy of emeco.net

From Collar Stays To Cufflinks (Ties, too!) : The Hippest Wearable Gifts For The Stylish Dad

It's pretty darn traditional to get dad a tie, cufflinks or collar stays for Father's Day. But not these ones! The following are products from companies and designers who've taken the traditional and turned it into fashionable and hip without sacrificing design, quality or materials. In addition to the images, there are links to purchase. Father's Day is this coming Sunday, June 21st... better get on it!



Collar stays by Collar Ink are fun tattoo inspired designs (dragon, flaming skulls, tribal) on functional collar stays. Adorably packaged and reasonably priced, they come in either plastic or metal (plastic collar stays are $12.65 for 7 pairs and the metal collar stays are $16.95 a pair):



Shop Collar Ink here.

TIES:
Hip and nicely made ties. These are far from 'novelty ties'. With beautiful graphic and modern designs on fine fabrics, any of these ties would be a great gift for your stylish forebearer.






Cyberoptix tie labs are modern and stunning silk ties in tons (and I mean tons) of hip designs. And for an additional fee, any from their huge selection can come in this beautiful wood box:


With everything from guns and skulls to plants, animals and water towers, Bethany Shorb's line of silk ties will blow you away.
Shop Cyberoptix Tie Lab here.



A little preppier and slightly less edgy than Cyberoptix, are the beautiful silk ties of Josh Bach. You've seen them in museum stores and fine boutiques. With a large collection (valet trays and boxers, too), you can find any nice tie for dad that illustrates his interest.



In addition to subway maps and baseball stadiums, there's everything from paint by numbers, space invaders, paper airplanes and tons more! Must go see them all.


Shop Josh Bach here.

Naked and Angry only has 5 ties, but they are beautifully made, 100% silk and ensconced in award-winning packaging.




Shop Naked & Angry here

Soverign Beck


Ryan Sovereign and William Beck, both graduates of The Rhode Island School of Design in Industrial Design & Sculpture respectively, formed Sovereign Beck in 2005, drawing upon both the traditional and the classically abstract ideals of tie design.



Shop Sovereign Beck ties here.

CUFFLINKS

Jan Leslie's Aristocratic Rock n' Roll Cufflink Collection contains everything from skulls, pin up girls (or trucker girls), devils and angels and shark teeth. They are sterling silver and there are many more to look at than simply the ones I've shown you below.


Buy Jan Leslie cufflinks here

Bad Ass Jewelry also has their own version of the "trucker girl" cufflinks in sterling silver with 18k gold accents as well as their sterling silver Colt .45 Peacemaker cufflinks:


Shop Bad Ass Jewelry here.


Does Dad still play with toys? Ravi Ratan's cuff links include everything from skateboards, wii remotes, nintendo and turntables (and a ball and chain to boot):



Ravi Ratan has many many different cufflinks to choose from. You can find over 200 different designs.
Shop Ravi Ratan cufflinks here.

Armrevolution


And of course, the hippest cuff links of them all (and the priciest), Arm Revolution's architectural ones made of japanese stainless steel come in 8 different modern designs:


Shop Arm Revolution here.

Gillette's Hilarious Manscaping Animations and Site

Gillette and Procter & Gamble clearly have a good sense of humor in addition to marketing savvy. Their latest micro site for male shaving products and needs is a foray into body shaving fun.



Gillette.com has a series of 'why' and 'how to' videos on their website for men who want to trim or shave their body hair, whether it's their head, back, chest, head, groin or armpits.



The site is nicely designed, easy to navigate and thoroughly entertaining complete with cheesy music and fun little factoids. Fun and informative, Gillette matches their products with your manscaping needs in an entertaining and engaging way.



The site design features fun video intros to tell you why and animated video demonstrations (embedded in the post) to tell you how.

SHAVING YOUR HEAD
the why:

the how:

the video:

SHAVING YOUR CHEST
the why:

the how:

the video:

SHAVING YOUR BACK
the why:

the how:

the video:

SHAVING YOUR GROIN
the why:

the how:

the video:


SHAVING YOUR PITS
the why:

the how:

the video:


In addition to the grooming section, the site is very developed. Albeit there's a lot of average work in the entertainment section, some styling videos are quite funny and they have gaming tournaments, young guns promotions and a Gillette tv channel.

Another fun interactive device on the site is the Gillette Styler , a 'try on the look' section. You can upload a photo to see what you'd look like various facial hair such as a goatee, a chinstrap, sideburns and more:


You can visit the site here.

Like this kind of thing?
Check out RSFU's 'Shave The Pussy ' Or Stefane Monzon's Pubic Hair Couture Fashion Show.


But I LIKE hairy men!
Now, for those who like a hairy man, be sure to check back later this week for a post all about them including a great new book, Hairy by artist and photographer Robert Greene!

LAST MINUTE UPDATE:
it has been brought to my attention by reader Anne Adelson that Philips Norelco also has a microsite with funny manscaping videos, The BODYGROOM MANALOGUES:




Check out their Bodygroom Manalogues here.

The Bau-Bike, A Stunning Two-Wheeled Homage to Bauhaus Design

The BauBike Designed by Michael Ubbesen Jakobsen



In the words of the designer "The BauBike is inspired by Bauhaus design. It is constructed around the geometric shape of the square and the equilateral triangle. The design is stripped down to clean lines and raw material."

The open-end piece above the back wheel, offers the possibility to customize the function of the bike to whatever need you may have. The different accessories (all shown later in this post) can be placed in the tube (shown below on the right) and can easily be changed if needed.



The design follows a set of formal rules, limiting the geometry to straight lines in a pattern of 60 and 90 degree angles in proportions following the principle of the golden section.


above: diagram of the Golden Section




By limiting the form with a fixed set of design rules and stepping away from the traditional function-oriented approach to the design process, this project transcends the border between design and art, raising fundamental questions about the nature of the bike as design and as a lifestyle accessory and introducing a much needed playfulness on the bicycle scene.





Leather-wrapped handlebars (so maybe they're not as comfortable as cylindrical bars, but they look damn cool, don't they?):



a good look at the Brooks leather seat:



The available accessories include an additional seat with handlebars, a bag and or a rack:





To purchase one of these modernist beauties, contact designer Michael Ubbesen Jakobsen of Kolding, Denmark. or call him at +45 26171867


all images and info courtesy of the designer.

If you like unusual bikes, check these out:
•Electra Bikes
•Swarovski Crystal and 24k gold bikeby Auramania.
•Chanel bicycle
•Gucci limited edition bike

Gimme Shelter: Guggenheim & Google's Virtual Design Competition

On the occasion of Frank Lloyd Wright’s birthday, June 8, the Guggenheim Museum and Google launched Design It: Shelter Competition, a global, online initiative that invites the public to use Google Earth and Google SketchUp to create and submit designs for virtual 3-D shelters for a location of their choice anywhere on Earth.


above: Ironwood, designed by Chad Cornette, 2000. Taliesin West, Scottsdale, Arizona. Model courtesy the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture

The competition takes its inspiration from Learning By Doing, an exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum’s Sackler Center for Arts Education, which features plans, photographs, and models of shelters built by students at the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture (like those shown below).


above: Victor Sidy Shelter, 1999. Taliesin West, Scottsdale, Arizona. Photo: Victor Sidy


above: more shelter design examples created by students from the FLW School of Architecture

So..to celebrate the ideas and teaching of Frank Lloyd Wright, the Museum has invited you to create your own virtual shelters, located anywhere on Earth.

Then you can share your design on the Guggenheim’s Web site by first modeling your shelter with Google SketchUp, then placing your model on Google Earth.

Go ahead, give it a try! Here's a tip: When designing your shelter, consider Frank Lloyd Wright’s interest in the connection between architecture and its location. How can your shelter respond to the specific natural and built environments that surround it?

Project Specs
Location: You can build your shelter anywhere on Earth: from city to desert, hill to valley. You cannot remove any existing buildings, but you can add on to existing structures.
Size: Keep your shelter small—it can be no larger than 100 square feet (9.3 square meters), and no taller than 12 feet (3.6 meters).
Amenitites: Your shelter must offer protection from the elements and provide a space for one person to study and sleep. Keep it simple—no water, gas or electricity allowed.

Recent Submissions:

Baobab Tree Shelter:

And its proposed location on earth (image from google earth):

The above submission is from Madrid, Spain and was designed by Angel Delgado. Shelter location: Madagascar, Date submitted: June 11, 2009

Greenegg Shelter:

And its proposed location on earth (image from google earth):

The above submission was designed by Jevgenijs Busins from Riga, Finland. Shelter location: India Date submitted: June 9, 2009

Prizes:
People's prize:
Trip for two to New York City (includes airfare and hotel accommodations for two nights)
Behind-the-scenes tour of the Guggenheim Museum and the Google Offices
Free admission to other NYC museums
Google SketchUp Pro license (USD$495 value)

Juried prize:
$1000 cash prize
Trip for two to New York City (includes airfare and hotel accommodations for two nights)
Behind-the-scenes tour of the Guggenheim Museum and the Google Offices
Free admission to other NYC museums
Google SketchUp Pro license (USD$495 value)

Note: In the event that the same shelter design is chosen by those voting for the People’s Prize and by the experts determining the winner of the Juried Prize, the People’s Prize will be awarded to the entrant who receives the second highest number of votes for the People’s Prize.

How to Enter - To participate in the contest, follow these steps:

• Download Google SketchUp and Google Earth for free. Both are available for both Windows and Macintosh computers.
• Use Google SketchUp to design a shelter for a particular location on the planet. Give your model a precise geographic location with Google Earth. (View the SketchUp tutorial page for instructions.)
• Upload your geographically-located SketchUp shelter to the Google 3D Warehouse.
• Export at least one (and as many as four) views of your model as JPEG images and upload them when you're submitting your entry. (JPEGs should be at least 235 pixels wide but no larger than 720 pixels wide.)
• Export an animation of your shelter as a video and upload it to YouTube. (The animation is optional. Keep in mind, though, that in Google Earth, viewers will only be able to see the outside of the shelter—an animation is a great way to present a more detailed view of your design.)
• Write a description (in English) of your shelter and how it integrates into the location where you placed it (limited to 70 words).
• Fill out the submission form on the Guggenheim Web site.
  

For more detailed instructions on how to prepare and submit your shelter, please download the submission guide (PDF).

Different Form Of Street Art - Beaded Graffiti By The Oeps Crew.

The Eops Crew of Copenhagen are two anonymous girls who've made their presence known with a new form of street art. Their 'beaded' graffiti (art literally made of small colored plastic beads) has marked the urban streets of London. Berlin, New York, Copenhagen and more.

Here are just a few examples:














Visit the Oeps Crew site here.
To see more, check out the Oeps Crew photo sets on flickr here.

Paul Graves' Newest Work - Balloon Expletives & More

above: detail of Paul Graves' balloon beauty


The last time I showed the balloon series photography of Paul Graves, there was a great deal of interest in his unusual work. Now, he has personally just sent me the latest of his continued balloon sculptures and photography series which was just published in the art fashion magazine spring/summer 09 of "booklet" which just hit the news stands in Europe.

No one can describe their photos better than the photographer themselves and in Paul's own words to me, he wrote:

This entire project is about exploring the non-expected side of the material of balloons.

With more and more "balloon images" being made these days from advertisement to fashion editorial the material has taken on a very strong cultural reality that already needs to be transformed to the next level.

Im not saying I accomplish that goal with this work but I try to push the viewer to question and explore.

Also this work has more of a free spirit then some of the last balloon projects I have done. I wanted to be free from the "art of twisting balloons" and still make an image full of emotion and ideas.

The fact that the work was published in Booklet is because the publishers asked me for an "art project" to translate my idea of "hells angles", the theme of this issue.

Moving away from selling products and more towards images that stand alone and have a life outside the commercial photography world.

above: The opening spread for the editorial in Booklet #10

And here's a good look at the photos (they are nice and big, please click to enlarge)

Balloon Beauty:

Fuck:

Headache:

Pussy Party:

Shit:

Whip It:


The May issue of Booklet Magazine in which the photos are shown:

www.booklet.ws


If you didn't see my first post on Paul's balloon Sculpture Photography, take a look at it here.


Paul has lots of terrific product photography in his portfolio, such as his shot for Nina Peter shown above, so be sure to look at all of Paul's wonderful work at his site here

Re-Bound Designs: Handbags Made From Hardbacks For Fashionista Bookworms

Caitlin Phillips of Washington DC is promoting literacy. Okay, well.. the appearance of literacy. Rather than reading that text book or classic novel, she's suggesting you use it to hold some cash and perhaps a lipstick or two.




By taking vintage hardback books, removing the interior pages while keeping the cover intact, adding fabric, handles, hardware and a cute little label, she's made a handbag for Fashionista Bookworms.

Sizes vary as does the purse's capacity. The wider the spine of the book, the more the purse will hold. She pays distinct attention to the colors and rarely uses the fabric more than once, making each creation truly one-of-a-kind. Her collection includes everything from reference books, textbooks, classics and teen novellas to how-to books. She even makes an effort for the fabric interiors to play off the titles or content of the book as in the case of her Do-it-yourself Encylopedia purse and the Singer Sewing Book purse (shown later in this post).

Here are a few examples:

Janson's History of Art:


China: Lands And Peoples:


Nancy Drew. The Mystery Of The Fire Dragon:


Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire:


Ulysses:

War and Peace:


Jane Eyre:


Stories from Dickens:


Do-It-Yourself Encyclopedia:

The Singer Book Of Sewing:


Caitlin makes all the books herself by hand and has no guilt about cutting apart old books. She says that most of the ones she uses have been previously damaged in some way. She sells her books at her Etsy store as well as directly from her website. Prices vary.


See what stock Caitlin presently has for sale here.
Or shop her Etsy store here.

Bauhaus Mini-modernist Doll Houses Promote Karen Walker Paints For Resene

Resene, a New Zealand professional paint company, chose to showcase their latest range of Karen Walker color paints for the home, by using mini- modernist Bauhaus inspired architectural models of homes crafted by Auckland sculptor Gidon Bing and styled by Katie Lockhart.

Bing crafted the approximately 50 cm x 50 cm models of plywood. Their painstaking work took months before it was ready for to capture.


above: Auckland based painter and sculptor Gidon Bing in his workshop. Photo by Babiche Martens

Karen Walker’s new paint range for Resene follows the best-selling ranges she developed with the company in 2001 and 2004. This time, Walker wanted the range to have a different feel. “I was searching for a worn sort of mood,” she says. “I like colours that have a muted, burnished sort of quality, as if they were thoughtfully painted on walls decades ago and have faded to perfection in the following years.”

Here are various photos of the architectural models and the accompanying Karen Walker paint collections from the promotional brochure with photos by Matthew Williams:














The following photos of the same models from slightly different angles are from Gidon Bing's profile on the Saatchi Online Gallery:








Resene
karen walker
Katie Lockhart
Gidon Bing's Saatchi Gallery

I have a thing for mini modern architectural models.


If you do, too, be sure to see Peter Tucker's roomboxes and

Mark Turpin's Pine Island.

And Kathy Osborn's Bauhaus Dollhouse

I have also compiled a list of modern dollhouses available for purchase you can visit here.

Most Overhyped Art Project - Simple Things by Pharell Williams, Murakami and Jacob & Co.

Above: 'Simple Things' as displayed at Art Basel

I'd never have blogged about this collaborative 'art' project shown at this year's Art Basel except that it's receiving lots of blogger and news buzz.

While I'm a fan of much of the work of Pharell Williams, Takashi Murakami and Jacob & Co. (often referred to as Jacob the Jeweler and who was arrested last year for money laundering, found guilty and sentenced to 2.5 years in a federal prison), their combined project shown via the Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin at Art Basel titled "Simple Things" is not new or innovative.

We have seen many an artist glorify 'everyday items'. Both Tobais Wong and Big Game made a statement on commercialism with their gold editions of mundane items. Damien Hirsts' diamond encrusted skull and Koons' balloon dogs are also taking the simple and turning them into the magnificent. Even Jemal Wright's crystal encrusted toilet seats, albeit not with real diamonds, are more interesting.

This series of typical every day items (hence the name 'Simple Things'); a Pepsi can, a condom wrapper, a Heinz ketchup bottle, a bag of Doritos, a bottle of lotion, an athletic shoe and cupcake... all encrusted with diamonds and placed in a giant fiberglass, steel and acrylic psychedelic version of Murakami's Mr. DOB's head, is one of the most ridiculously overrated art projects I've ever seen.



The sculpture is based on Murakami’s signature “DOB” character and features an onyx fiberglass husk with a pearlescent glow to compliment the vibrant rainbow colors which Murakami is known for. In the mouth of sculpture are diamond emblazoned products mentioned earlier and shown in detailed photos further down in this post.



Apparently, this 'masterpiece collaboration' took over 2 years to complete and was subject of a furious bidding war at the preview and fetched a reported $2.8 Million. (there are many more pics of the piece later in this post).


above: music producer, clothing designer and entrepreneur Pharell Williams with a chair he designed

In this interview with Ute Thon (Art Magazin), Pharrell Williams talks about how collaboration with Takashi Murakami came about, the idea behind the sculpture, his interest in art and design, the artists and designers he admires, and his own design works.



With so much amazing art at Art Basel (both in Miami and Switzerland), it blows my mind that this is what many of the respected trend and art bloggers have opted to feature.

Now, of course you are thinking to yourself... "So, why feature it on your blog?"

Well, as the title of my blog suggests, I try to bring you what's 'hip' at the moment and not necessarily things that are always to my own liking. That said, take a look at the images and you can decide for yourself whether or not you feel it's an impressive art project.










Admittedly, I like the Murakami head much better than the objects within it. If you are a fan of Murakami's work, there will be an upcoming exhibit of his work from 12/09/2009 - Octobre 2009 at Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin, 76 rue de Turenne 75003 Paris.


above: two Murakami sculptures at the Guggenheim Bilbao, 2009

above: Murakami's Flower wall at Art Basel Miami

related links:
Pharell Williams
Takashi Murakami
Jacob & Co.
Art Basel
Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin

The Nodus Project: 60 Fair Trade Designer Rugs & That New Carpet Smell

Nodus is a craft workshop of experimentation with a cultural plan. Reviving the oldest wisdom and knowledge in the art of carpet design, Nodus reinterprets the area rug by using the vision of the most innovate designers and architects, producing only unique pieces.


above: detail of Dark Flower, designed by Massimo Gardone


above: detail of Carpet Ali, designed by Italo Rota e Alessandro Pedretti

For the Nodus Project, the Italian interior design company, Il Piccolo, selected the best carpet manufacturers from six countries of the world (Nepal, Pakistan, India, Turkmenistan, China and Turkey) visiting them one by one, verifying material, technique, expert craftsmen and ethical production. Each carpet from Nodus is a unique piece, made by hand every step of the way.



These unique works of art were exhibited in the Il Piccolo showroom during the “Salone del mobile” in Milan last April. The Nodus carpets were to be admired for 3 weeks with a menu that changed weekly.

The Nodus Project gathered the enthusiasm and support from some of the most respected and well-known Italian and foreign designers. Among them: Bartoli Design - Fabio Bortolani, Italo Rota and Alessandro Pedretti, Alberto Artesiani, Matteo Thun e Antonio Rodriguez, Luca Nichetto, Massimo Gardone, Palomba and Serafini Associati, Donata Paruccini, Antonella Negri, Massimo Iosa Ghini, Matilde Alessandra , Pietro De Rossi, Enrico Franzolini, Francesco Lucchese, Gianfranco Fenizia, Peter Rankin, Smanks Design and James Irvine.

The result is a collection of 60 carpets that outline a new horizon of shapes and colors, that unhinges borders and go beyond simple functionality. The unusual collection of carpets incorporate dynamic and organic forms, various plays on old patterns and colors, and inspiration from contemporary and everyday products such as fabrics, tablecloths, books and maps.

All 60 are fabulous, but here are a few of my favorites:


above: designed by Peter Rankin

above: designed by Francesco Lucchese

above: designed by Matteo Thun e Antonio Rodriguez

above: designed by Antonella Negri

above: designed by Bartoli Design

above: designed by James Irvine

above: designed by Alberto Artesani

above: designed by Matteo Thun e Antonio Rodriguez

The ones below are different carpets that actually "tie" together:

detail of how the small carpets above tie to one another:

above: designed by Luca Nichetto

above: designed by Pietro Derossi

above: designed by Antonella Negri

above: designed by Alberto Artesani

above: designed by Matteo Thun e Antonio Rodriguez

The carpet below is designed to have a portion leaning up against the wall:

above: designed by Luca Nichetto

above: designed by Antonella Negri

above: City Up Milano by Peter Rankin

Most of the 60 rugs are available to customize and purchase. The site's customization process is so much fun, you may just want to play on it. Simply choose from their styles, then a screen like the one shown below appears. On the right is a line art drawing of the chosen rug and on the left is a color palette upon which you can click to see that style rug in your color choice:

above: rug shown in customization screen is City Up Milano

Next, you choose the shape, the size and finally whether or not you want 100% wool, 100% silk or a combination of the two. Note: For obvious reasons, some of the shapes and colors can not be customized.

FAIR TRADE:

Whether you purchase or only appreciate the quality of a piece from Nodus, you can be assured that the carpet has been produced with the utmost respect, first and foremost for human rights, and the right to good working conditions and fair compensation.

Their partner in Nepal for the carpets weaving adheres to the “RUGMARK” association. This way, they are sure and can reassure their clients and customers that their products are made with the utmost respect of human rights and a complete transparency of the productive chain.

The guarantee is from Rugmark, the international foundation that for 14 years has been working to end the exploitation of child labor, and rigorously inspects the manufacturing process every 3 months. For more information visit www.rugmark.org

That New Carpet Smell:
A weird co-branded item? Maybe, but Nodus also has a fragrance. And no, it doesn't smell like new carpet... read on.



In their words:
Nodus as sensory experience. We have created carpets that are recognized without being seen and remember the good feelings by creating a relaxing atmosphere.

"Nothing in the world of great has been done without passion" --Hegel

Olfactory Notes
Composition and fresh aromas spiked with touches of eucalyptus and cypress in the note head. The sparkling agreement of juniper berries that characterizes the note body, evokes the scents of the Mediterranean scrub. The ground slightly amber induces a relaxing atmosphere.

Symbology
Pagan culture in the juniper was considered a protective element, and then to transfer the element of home and of living in harmony with your space. Even in the north to go east to Russia and south in the Middle East it was believed that juniper had magical and protective properties for the home.
Buy the Nodus Scent here.


Purchase or see all 60 rugs here.
Choose your rug and start customizing it here.

Jonathan Adler Spices Things Up With His New Salt & Pepper Shakers

Interior decorator, designer, TV personality and author Jonathan Adler has just introduced a bunch of new salt and pepper shakers inspired by his well known pottery lines.


above: Jonathan with one of his pieces

Made of high-fired stoneware, with matte white and black glazes, each set is adorably boxed and consists of various animals, themes and modern organic shapes from his various lines of ceramics. Each pair costs $48.00 and is available to purchase at the online store. Take a look.

Garden of Eden (serpent and apple):


Lantern (organic shapes based on his lantern collection):


Penguins:


Whales:


Fish:


Birds:

Cats:

Mr. and Mrs. Muse:



Each boxed pair shown above costs $48.00.