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Eamon O'Kane's The Architect's House - Now At Rare Gallery

above: Eames psychedelic seasons remix (painted whilst listening to Forever Changes by Love), oil on canvas, 9ft x 9ft, 2008

I'm a fan of mid-century modern architecture as well as contemporary, surreal and pop art. So, it's no surprise that Eamon O'Kane's paintings were an exciting find for me. They embody elements all of the aforementioned harmoniously and remind me of two of my favorite artists, Alex Katz and David Hockney, in their flat but whimsical, colorful treatment.

To mark his US debut, Belfast-born Eamon O’Kane presents new, large-scale oil paintings depicting “recombinant” Modernist architectural masterpieces set in idyllic landscapes and the subversive yet subtle forces undermining the utopian ideal they evoke.

The Architect’s House
Rare Gallery, New York, USA
November 15 - December 20, 2008

above: Installation view RARE Gallery, New York, 2008

The Architect’s House
(from the press release and pdf of the exhibit):

In his first New York solo exhibition, entitled The Architect’s House, Eamon O’Kane presents new large-scale oil paintings that explore his fascination with architecture and landscape. Created during his residency at the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris from April to June 2008, these works recombine elements of Modernist masterpieces and set them in idyllic landscapes to give voice to a contemporary utopian ideal. At the same time, O’Kane’s paintings reference the more subversive aspects of literature, cinema and design to demonstrate the impossibility of achieving this ideal.

above: Casa Bo Bardy Midday Sunset Mix With Shining Carpet, 84" x 60", oil on canvas, 2008

above: Lloyd Wright's Dream (painted whilst listening to Nevermind by Nirvana), oil on canvas, 9ft x 12ft, 2008

In Lloyd Wright’s Dream (2008), we are presented with an interior of a building by Frank Lloyd Wright that recently was completed, many years after his death. From the window of the room one can see the isolated, precariously perched “Vandamm House” from Hitchcock’s North by Northwest, which was a fictional building imagined by the film’s set designers but based on Wright’s architectural style. Cinematic allusions continue through the exhibition in works such as Casa Bo Bardi Midday Sunset Mix with Shining Carpet (2008). Here O’Kane draws a parallel between the Overlook Hotel in Stanley Kubrick’s movie The Shining, a structure which was built on a Native American burial ground and consumes its main character in the film, and the house that plays such a vital role in Edgar Allan Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher. Hints of Poe’s imagery also appear in Wright, Le Corbusier, Mondrian Mix with Plants from Edgar Allan Poe's Garden (2008), where creepy tendrils begin their choking crawl up the side of a hybridized Modernist structure.

O’Kane recognizes the dichotomy in his own paintings where he seems to offer the possibilities of hope, optimism and redemption with one hand while snatching them away with the other through his surreal, foreboding, and threatening allusions. According to the artist, “Society . . . traps us with our desires.

above: Philip Johnson night and day remix (painted whilst listening to Gershwin's Rhapsody in blue), oil on canvas, 5ft x 7ft, 2008

Philip Johnson’s ‘Glass House’ is like a cage while at the same time being a wonderful piece of architecture.” So for O’Kane, a home is not just a home, and green rolling hills are not just green rolling hills -- they become symbols of a precarious scenario where utopia apparently is within reach but actually is on the verge of being obliterated by a disturbing presence that seems to be lurking just beneath the surface.

above: Wright, Le Corbusier, Mondrian Mix with Plants from Edgar Allan Poe's Garden, 2008, oil on canvas, 84" x 60"

above: Fallingwater seasons remix (painted whilst listening to In Utero by Nirvana), oil on canvas, 9ft x 9ft, 2008

above: Studio 1 evening southwest view, oil on canvas, 5ft x 7ft, 2008

above: ideal studio complex III (after Bates Maher), oil on canvas, 120 x 120cm (47.2 x 47.2 inches), 2008

above: pool west view morning (after Aalto), oil on canvas, 120 x 150cm (47.2 x 59.1 inches), 2008

above: tower east view midday, oil on canvas, 100 x 100cm (39.4 x 39.4 inches), 2008

November 15 – December 20, 2008
RARE, 521 West 26th Street, NYC

For additional information, please contact Pete Surace at 212.268.1520 or raregallery@earthlink.net.

See more of Eamon O'Kanes work at his site.

If you like Eamon's work, you may also be a fan of Danny Heller's wonderful paintings of eichler homes, Read all about those here.

Newest Architectural Jewel To Join Lower Mill Estates Is A $382,000. Doghouse

Yep, it's true. The modern dog palace has been commissioned by an unidentified female surgeon, for her pampered pooches, two Great Danes, at the exclusive 550-acre Lower Mill Estate on the Cotswolds Water Park, near Cirencester.

Lower Mill Estates (above) is a collection of landmark homes designed by various architects and includes the unusual and amazing Orchid House, Watermark House, Sundance Villa and more.

Now, a $382,469.oo USD dog house will join these.

architect Andy Ramus
Andy Ramus Design Studio

It has been designed by leading British architect Andy Ramus and will be built from materials such as zinc, glass and limestone. When completed, it will be a quarter of the size of the main three-bed house.

Inside, the dogs will sleep on sheepskin-lined, temperature-controlled beds, soothe their aches in a specially built spa, howl along to a state-of-the-art sound system and watch dog-friendly programs on a 52-inch plasma TV.

Automatic dispensers will ensure that chilled, filtered water and deluxe dry food are always available.

The two dogs will each have a bedroom with large windows which overlook their own private playground.

'Dog-vision' webcams allow their owner to monitor their activity 24 hours a day, while climate control ensures they are kept warm.

There will be a sophisticated retina scanner installed at the front door to stop any other dogs getting in - something the Great Danes may view as a bit of a party pooper.

Click on the above image to enlarge

Plans for the kennel, and for an adjoining house for the dogs' mistress, have been approved and building work is to begin at the Lower Mill Estate in the spring.

The work is expected to begin on the main three-bedroom house near Cirencester in spring. The dogs will have some unusual neighbours on the 500-acre estate in the shape of 12 beaver kits, which appeared after three pairs were successfully reintroduced more than 13 years ago.

Lower Mill's publicist Dee McCourt said today: "It's amazing. This lady obviously cares an awful lot about her dogs. We offer a bespoke service but it is the first animal request we've had.

"We've got outline planning permission and the dogs' quarters have been designed with all their needs in mind."

Estate owner Jeremy Paxton told the Gloucestershire Echo: "It's a very interesting house with fabulous architecture and unusual requirements. "Most houses are built with human specifics in mind then animals fit in around that, but this is the other way round."

The Great Dane Adoption Society said the breed was demanding and should not be left alone for more than four hours at a time.

Lower Mill is a sustainable housing complex with homes designed by 30 of the world's leading architects.

Here are some of the stand-outs:
The Orchid House (This year a mystery bidder paid £7.2 million for the Orchid House - a world record for a country home.):

The Watermark House

The Boat House

See more Lower Mill Estates Landmark Homes here.
special thanks to The UK's Mirror and Daily Mail for info and images

If they need a dog crate for their 'unruly dog friend visitors', may I suggest the modern and pricey (at $11,000.00 USD) Gilded 22.5k Gold eiCrate Designed by Peter Pracilio?

Bear Your Love Inside Your Chest: Tattoo Your Heart

I wrote a long post about the fun, viral phony product launch of the Pomegranate Phone a ways back and am still amazed at the number of people out there who think it's a real product.

Chances are, same thing will occur with this entertaining phony 'medical tattooing of the human heart service' to launch the music video of "Some People" by the pop band Vikunja.

They promise to tattoo the actual human heart, complete with staff, price list and medical procedure video... as a rouse to launch a pop band and their latest music video. Below is the clever packaging in which the DVD was sent out:

Packaging is great, site design is great and the whole concept is unique, if not a little nauseating.

By creating a company that performs the medical procedure of actually 'tattooing' the human heart, they have managed to pique the interest of the ink loving audience while simultaneously launching a music video for a fairly obscure band, Vikunja.

Above: Vikunju
visit their myspace page here

Here's their hilarious welcome letter:

True love tattoos offers you a brand new way to really express your love for that special someone.

Don’t ink your skin like everyone else, ink your heart. or as we refer to it, your soul-canvas. so, do you really love your partner as much as you say?

Here's your chance to prove it.

sincerely,
dr. valentin vikunjevski

and their phony medical 'staff':

Even their phony FAQs are fun:

Q: does the ink fade with time?
A: there are case studies indicating that falling out of love may have a slight fading effect on the ink, apart from that, this baby is for life.

Q: can i still be a heart donor?
A: yes you can. however, be aware that research suggest that the new owner of your heart tend to get an unexplainable crush on the person whose name is tattooed on the heart.

Q: how will i prove to my loved one that i hounered him or her with a true love tattoo?
A: you will recieve one (1) polaroid picture of your tattoo on place, and also a video recording of the whole procedure. by the way, this video comes with a great soundtrack from new amazing rock band vikunja.

NOTE:
Do not get a tlt if you have a weak heart, are ink intollerant or if you’re not sure you’re really in love. avoid getting a tlt if you have a newly broken heart. let it heal for at least 3 months. laser erase surgery is available but not recommended. we also supply a special divorce discount if you can prove your partner cheated on you. in some cases we recomend you cover up your old tattoo with a new one, we are especially skilled in making football team crests.

Here's a behind the scenes shot of the music video shoot:

Vikunja's music site.

And finally, here's the music video the site was created to launch:

The viral site.

Credits:
Advertising Agency: Le Bureau
Art Directors / Copywriters: Jonas Wittenmark & Tobias Carlson

The 2009 Artist Beach Towels Are Here!

It's that time of year again. And no, I don't mean Christmas, I mean the release of the latest collection of artist beach towels from the Art Production Fund and Works On Whatever.

Once again, the four limited edition beach towels will be carried by Target (online only) and also available online in two other places. Links to purchase are at the end of this post.

This year, 2009, the collection features contemporary artwork by Karen Kilimnik, Raymond Pettibon, Julian Schnabel and Ed Ruscha reproduced on large soft 100% cotton, 50" x 60" beach towels.

Karen Kilimnik:

Raymond Pettibon:

Ed Ruscha:

Julian Schnabel:

The new beach towels will be on view at the Raleigh Hotel and at the Standard Spa during Art Basel Miami Beach, Dec. 4-7, 2008.

About WOW (Works on Towels): Artist Towel Series 2009 is part of Art Production Fund's WOW (Works on Whatever) project. a unique collection of everyday items designed by artists. APF invites artists to experiment with the latest commercial materials and techniques to bring art off the walls and into homes as everyday objects. WOW introduces contemporary art to a larger community with revenues from sales supporting our non-profit mission. WOW works conceptually with APF's program of expanding art audiences and helps fund additional major civic artworks.

To see the artist towels series from 2008 and 2007, click here.

To purchase them (and they go quickly) you can buy each of the $50.00 USD towels at:
• the Standard Hotels online store here. (plus shipping)
• Or at Target online here. (free shipping now)
• Or directly from WOW -(10$ shipping) where you can find some of the others from 2007 and 2008.

100% of the profits go to support public art and they are so much fun, they make a fabulous and worthwhile gift.