If It's Hip, It's Here (Archives)

The Impressive Body Art of Michael Rosner and Eye Level Studios.

While I had seen a few of these stunning images under the category of photography (by Tim Engle), the true artist here is body painter Michael Rosner.

Having begun his craft with an airbrush, Michael eventually perfected a technique using found objects as a masking element to impose architectural and geometric shapes upon the organic contours of the human body.

Painted upon live models, each can take between 16 and 20 hours of laborious handiwork. No computer enhancement is used and all props such as skulls, leaves, horns, masks and headpieces are real.

The result is a combination of humanity and machinery - a steampunk like underworld of mythological gods and goddesses, of devils and robots.

above photo by Allan Barnes Photography

"Transforming an organic object using paint fills me with a sense of accomplishment and integrity and is the creative vehicle that carries me toward the translation of my inner vision to a reality that can be shared." -- Michael Rosner of Eye Level Studios.

About Body painter Michael Rosner:

above: Artist Michael Rosner at work

Michael Rosner is an American artist born in Chicago, Illinois. After attending Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia in 1996 he relocated to Sacramento, California and worked as a painter, sculptor and carpenter before beginning the series of body paintings in 2006.

Eye Level Studio, founded by Rosner in 2001, is what he calls a 'collective of talented artists' which has grown to include an elite group of the industries top professional photographers, stylists, make up artists and models who have become the creative force that has helped to realize Rosner's unique vision of body painting. In addition to live models, Rosner is known for painting on 'unconventional' surfaces including elaborate paintings on real leaves with hand selected species collected each fall throughout California.

Real People. Real Paint. Unreal Art. Available for paid shoots and live painting shows all over the world. Model Submission and Booking info email: Info@eyelevelstudio.com

Prints of some of the photographs shown in this post are available in his online store here.

photos in this post by David Geuringer, Allan Barnes and Tim Engle and courtesy of Eye Level Studios.

Fenway Boots! LL Bean Gives Away 50 Made-To-Order Boots Created With Fenway Park Rain Tarp.

Outdoor retailer L.L.Bean has revealed the most innovative version of its signature product: the Fenway Bean Boot. Made of upcycled Fenway Park tarp from the 2012 season, the one-of-a-kind boots will be made-to-order for a select number of lucky Red Sox fans who engage with L.L.Bean on Facebook and other channels.

The opportunity to win has already begun. When fans can visit Facebook.com/llbean to share their favorite Red Sox moment, they are entered for a chance to own a piece of baseball history. Submissions will be received through Sunday, October 20, 2013.

Company founder Leon Leonwood (“L.L.”) Bean believed in the reuse of materials long before the concept of “upcycling” came into vogue. The one-of-a-kind Bean Boots put the rain delay tarp that covered the Fenway Park infield in 2012 – the 100th anniversary year for both Fenway Park and L.L.Bean – to great use as the upper material of the weatherproof rubber soled boots.

“This project brings together two of L.L.’s favorite things: Bean Boots and baseball,” said Steve Fuller, Chief Marketing Officer for L.L.Bean. “As a season ticket holder, L.L. loved the Red Sox and he would be delighted to see the Fenway tarp put to use in a way that fans can enjoy.”

above: The LL Bean logo is at the center of the tarp that protects the field at Fenway Park during its 100th season.

above: The 100th anniversary L.L.Bean rain tarp photo via @mdanubio4 on Twitter.

Originally named the Maine Hunting Shoe, the popular Bean Boot has seen a variety of style changes since its introduction in 1912, all remaining true to the original and still handcrafted in Maine. Early versions had a red brick sole, reintroduced for the 100th anniversary of L.L.Bean, and today’s collection includes an assortment of styles for women and men such as waxed canvas and shearling-lined leather.

Each of the 100 limited-edition Fenway Bean Boots will be custom made for lucky recipients at L.L.Bean’s manufacturing facility in Brunswick, ME.

“These unique boots are just one of the many ways L.L.Bean has demonstrated their innovative spirit throughout our partnership,” said Troup Parkinson, Red Sox Senior Vice President. “From the 100th anniversary tote bags, to The One Fund Boston Tote, to these Fenway Bean Boots, they continue to highlight new ways of bringing our two New England brands closer.”

Last month, L.L.Bean announced a contribution of $114,000 to The One Fund Boston following the sale of 3,500 limited edition totes also made from the 2012 Fenway Park tarp (shown above). The One Fund Boston totes sold out in just over a day with 100% percent of profits benefitting the cause.

Share your favorite Fenway Park moment with L.L. Bean to enter to win one of 50 pairs of made-to-order Fenway Bean Boots, handcrafted from the 2012 100th anniversary Fenway rain tarp.

Find out more about the contest and learn how L.L.Bean upcycled the Fenway Park infield rain tarp here

Fifty winners will be selected at random and notified on October 21. Additional ways to win – including on campus at select Northeast colleges – will be announced. Follow @LLBean for more details.

*All contest entries are moderated and will appear in the gallery within 24 hours of submission*

Jeff Koons' Cover For Lady Gaga's Album ARTPOP Is Unveiled Via Social Media & Outdoor.

above: close up of Koons sculpture of Lady Gaga that graces the cover of her fourth album release, ARTPOP.

Available November 11, ARTPOP is Gaga’s fourth studio album with an album cover by legendary artist Jeff Koons. “Having Jeff create something for ARTPOP was a dream come true, and a very emotional experience. He has given me the greatest gift and we are excited to be sharing it with you,” said Lady Gaga.

Using social media to her promotional advantage (as always), the cover artwork for her new album, ARTPOP , was revealed for the first time, in a piece by piece unveiling on Clear Channel Outdoor digital billboards and screens in 18 major cities across the globe on Monday of this week (October 7th). And starting at 1pm ET that day, the cover was also revealed in sections over 30 minutes via Lady Gaga's Twitter account, unlocked by tweets using #iHeartARTPOP

above: Gaga exposed her highly anticipated album’s artwork simultaneously in 18 cities across the globe while also streaming the live reveal at www.ladygaga.com, direct from Clear Channel Outdoor’s Spectacolor billboard in Times Square, New York.

above: tweeted by Lady Gaga, the album cover was revealed in pieces on Monday, Oct. unlocked by tweets using #iHeartARTPOP

According to a post on her Facebook page, the Koons sculpture of her that is the center image of the musical artist's new album cover will be exhibited the day before the album's release as part of what is being calling artRAVE. The event will also feature new works by Jeff Koons, Marina Abramovic, Robert Wilson and directors/photographers Inez & Vinoodh to show that the artist is at the heart of society, “in control of the icon”.

above: Lady Gaga in "Binary Chair 01" (created by BRC Designs) and photographed by Inez & Vinoodh for the November 10th ArtRAVE.

The ARTPOP app

Lady Gaga reports on littlemonsters.com: "I'm excited to tell you all that ARTPOP is going to be a multimedia experience that comes in different forms. The most major way to fully immerse yourself in ARTPOP is through the APP. ARTPOP will be released as an IPAD, iPhone, mobile and computer compatible application (WORLD) that is completely interactive with chats, films for every song, extra music, content, gaga inspired games, fashion updates, magazines, and more still in the works! I will also be able to upload new things to the APP all the time, the same way i upload to twitter and LM.com. You inspired me to create something that communicated with images, because YOU do, YOU communicate with me and each other with .gifs and pictures, and artwork, graphics ALL DAY 24/7/ YOU'RE an ARTPOP generation. Im hoping you will all continue to grow together and stay connected through your creativity. much love. --love, gaga"

The video for Applause, the first single release off the upcoming album, was shot by Inez and Vinoodh and references Venus' Boticelli as does the new album cover by Koons:

According to soletron, ArtPop's downloadable app designed by Gaga’s devout technology team, TechHAUS and portrays the “rush” of fame via virtual simulation. Lady Gaga’s personal creative team, The HAUS of GAGA planned the “Art Rave” event that will tae place the day before the album's November 11 release.

See these other posts about artist Jeff Koons:
• Jeff Koons Exhibit at Versailles
•Kiehls X Jeff Koons
•Jeff Koons X Lisa Perry's Clothing Collection
•Jeff Koons BMW Art Car
•Jeff Koons Cannonball Edition Watches for Ikepod

Elie Saab Designs a Lacy Limited Edition Evian Bottle for 2014

evian announces its collaboration with fashion designer Elie Saab, to create a limited edition glass bottle that is a joint celebration of both brands' pursuit of purity in design. The partnership between evian and Elie SAAB is the latest to follow six years of evian associating itself with international fashion brands. Previous collaborative designer bottles include those by Diane von Furstenberg(for 2013), Courreges (for 2012), Issey Miyake (for 2011), Paul Smith (for 2010), Jean Paul Gaultier and Christian Lacroix (for 2009 and 2008)

And a special collection of 5 crystal evian bottles by Jean Paul Gaultier for Baccarat in 2008:

This year, the two brands unite with the common theme of purity. The bottle is decorated with a signature Elie Saab lace pattern that recalls the feminine and elegant designs featured so prominently in the brand's collections.

The delicate white lace has been applied with architectural accuracy, bringing added refinement to the clean lines of the bottles silhouette. The final creations symbolize the immaculate craftsmanship, and mutual sophistication that both Elie Saab and evian are renowned for.

The lace pattern, an ELIE SAAB signature, recalls the feminine and elegant designs featured so prominently in the brand's collections:

above top: bottle close up and below; actual lace used in Elie Saab fashions

The creation symbolizes the immaculate craftsmanship and the mutual sophistication that both ELIE SAAB and evian® are renowned for.

The 2014 Limited Edition bottle by ELIE SAAB will be available for purchase at shop.evian.us, and at select restaurants and hotels, including Sofitel Luxury Hotels nationwide beginning October 2013.

About the evian® Limited Edition Collection
The evian Limited Edition Collection first launched in 1992 with the Olympic Games Limited Edition bottle. evian has since partnered with the world's most esteemed designers, including Issey Miyake, Paul Smith, Jean Paul Gaultier, Christian Lacroix and Courreges, Diane von Furstenberg, and now Elie Saab. From bold and innovative designs to international fashion designer collaborations, each Limited Edition bottle design celebrates the perfectly pure water inside, evian Natural Spring Water, and maintains the evian Live young spirit: "Youth is not a matter of age, it is an attitude".

A Promotion For The Upcoming Release of "Carrie" Scares The Pants Off Of West Village Coffee Shop Patrons.

To promote the new adaptation of Carrie, an impressive stunt was pulled off in 'sNice Cafe, an unsuspecting West Village coffee shop. A young woman, feigning a fit over coffee spilled on her keyboard, uses telekentic powers to express her anger, freaking out the folks inside. A fake wall rigged to move a man, spring loaded books and pictures and moving tables seamlessly reacted to the young ladies' outburst, eliciting fabulously fearful reactions. See for yourself:

The video was the creation of Thinkmodo, the New York-based viral video marketing company and stars actress Andrea Morales. Thinkmodo co-founder Michael Krivicka told Yahoo Movies via email that it took an entire day to prepare for the stunt at the 'sNice Cafe in the West Village. Krivicka said, "The stunt team had to build a fake wall and rehearse the wall stunt. A separate crew was installing the hidden cameras and setting up a control room downstairs. A third crew was in charge of the props: spring loaded books, motorized tables & chairs, and spring-loaded picture frames. People screamed, they ran, and some were simply stunned and frozen - trying to process what they just saw," Krivicka said. "In other words, we basically scared the living hell out of people." Thinkmodo then compiled the best reactions into their viral video montage.

The new adaptation of Brian de Palma's classic horror film stars Chloe Maretz and Julianne Moore and is directed by Kimberly Peirce. Carrie is based on Stephen King's 1974 novel and hits theaters October 18.

The official movie trailer:

You can also create your own Carrie prom scene with the official free Carrie Buckets of Blood app, now available in the iTunes App Store! http://bit.ly/CarrieBucketsOfBlood

About Carrie:
A reimagining of the classic horror tale about Carrie White (Chloë Grace Moretz), a shy girl outcast by her peers and sheltered by her deeply religious mother (Julianne Moore), who unleashes telekinetic terror on her small town after being pushed too far at her senior prom. Based on the best-selling novel by Stephen King, Carrie is directed by Kimberly Peirce with a screenplay by Lawrence D. Cohen and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. Produced by Kevin Misher, it stars Chloë Grace Moretz, Judy Greer, Portia Doubleday, Alex Russell, Gabriella Wilde, Ansel Elgort and Julianne Moore

above: Sissy Spacek as Carrie in 1976

May I also recommend the first movie adaptation of the book? Directed by Brian de Palma in 1976 and starring Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, Amy Irving and John Travolta, it's definitely worth a look.

Brain de Palma's Carrie

House Industries and Hugo Guinness Goodies From Chronicle Books.

Chronicle Books has just released two terrific collections for lovers of typography and contemporary art. Affordable, functional notecards, notebooks, postcards and journals.

In case you missed it - whether on purpose or by accident, Miley Cyrus' hosting gig on SNL certainly had its moments, the best of which was when Miley and the cast parodied her own song, "We Can't Stop" by giving it a political twist.

Cyrus dressed as Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann with Taran Killam as House Speaker John Boehner suggestively danced and vamped to the new lyrics, which presented a raunchy Republican celebration of the government shutdown.

The full video:

"Cause we came to shut it all down now, no government around now, if you're not ready for healthcare, can I get a 'hell no,'" Cyrus sang while dressed as Bachmann, spanking Uncle Sam, licking Killam as Boehner, and holding and licking an Abraham Lincoln doll. "Government workers on a furlough, even though you're already paid low ... everyone in line for early child care, anyone who planned to see a grizzly bear, we are so shut down yeah."

Some of the best moments: