Mod Mickeys: The Modernization of Disney's Mickey Mouse

The first and early images of Mickey Mouse:


above left: the very first Mickey Mouse in 1928's SteamBoat Willie and above right, The Mickey Mouse with which most of us grew up.

"For at least a half-century Mickey Mouse, ears and all, has served as one of the most potent icons in contemporary visual culture. The poster boy for everything from cinematic innovation to American cultural 'imperialism,' the animated rodent is freighted with a veritable encyclopedia of inference. Not surprisingly, artists the world over -- and especially Mickey's countrymen and -women -- have fixated on the simply, distinctively drawn figure. But however much that (deceptively) ingenuous face and unique silhouette turn up in Pop paintings, social-commentary cartoons, and even abstract sculpture, writers and historians have let Mickey's ubiquity pass without substantial comment. Until now. Defying the perils of post-modernist close reading, pop-culture fetishism, and the fabled wrath of Disney Corp., Holly Crawford proffers an exhaustive documentation, classification, and analysis of Mickey's many appearances in the visual art of our time. Her study fills a gap in the critical history of recent art, not to mention in Mouseology." —Peter Frank, Critic and Curator


above: Andy Warhol's Mickey Mouse was one of the first modern interpretation of Mickey that those of us born before 1980 experienced


above: Gottfried Helnwein's portraits of Marilyn Manson as Mickey

Above: Gottfried Helnwein : Midnight Mickey, 2001, 200 cm x 300 cm
oil and acrylic on canvas

The above painting is one of the modern interpretations of Disney's Mickey Mouse in Holly Crawford's book, Attached to The Mouse.


ATTACHED TO THE MOUSE, DISNEY AND CONTEMPORARY ART
Those who have used the same or multiple forms of the image many times over many years include Lichtenstein, Helnwein, Oldenburg, Pensato, Ospina, and Chagoya. The facade of Disney and America in the guise of the Mouse is one of the things that Helnwein and others present to us. Claes Oldenburg took the facade to its literal extreme when he proposed a flat Mouse's image for a facade to Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art, and produced a flat Mouse sculpture. Helnwein, Oldenburg and others are using the Mouse to make social and cultural comments about our society, in the broadest sense, but with humor. Paperback: 194 pages. University Press of America (July 28, 2006) Buy the book here.



This past summer, Disney & Wa-Qu, A Japanese Design Firm teamed up for an exhibit that incorporated Mickey into interior lifestyle elements such as wallpaper, chopsticks, lacquer dishes and more.



above: Wall coverings incorporating the famous mickey outline for Wa-Qu's Disney exhibit. The exhibit has ended but you can see some of it online here.
More Exhibit info here

Some other unusual and collectible modern interpretations of Mickey are shown below. With links to purchase.

Artist David Flores' Mickey:

above: David Flores Mickey Mouse, Vinyl Collectable Doll (VCD) by Medicom.
Stands 14 CM's tall. Due for release late December. Japan Import. pre-order/buy it here

Three new "modern" Mickeys are available, manufactured by Tomy for Disney of Japan. Released a few months ago; The Punk, Pass Da M.I.C., and Take Off sell for approximately $45 USD each:



Buy the Punk Mickey Here.
Buy Take off Mickey here.
Buy Pass DA MIC Mickey here.



The iRiver MPlayer is also known as the Mickey Mouse player. The gadget is now available for pre-order in Japan and is scheduled to ship on the November first. The MPlayer does not have display screen. It connects via USB and comes in 1GB capacity. The iRiver MPlayer will be available in five different colors for $87. Buy it here.

Runaway Brain Mickey:

Above: This version of Mickey Mouse was featured in the animated short, Runaway Brain, is a super hot collectible vinyl figure for any Mickey Mouse fan. Produced by Medicom.4 inches tall
Buy it here

Clash Mickey - a tribute to The Clash London Calling album Cover(also called Guitar Mickey):


Designed by ROEN, and produced by Medicom Toy, this is the new VCD (Vinyl Collectible Dolls) series Clash Mickey, released exclusively in Japan. Clash Mickey plays as a cool tribute to the Clash, based on their famous 'London Calling' album cover. Standing 6 inches tall, Medicom Toy's Clash Mickey also comes packed in a neat collectors window box.
Buy it here.

BIRD IS THE WORD - White Munky King exclusive by Frank Kozik. White. Vinyl. 16 inches tall. Only 50 produced. The infamous founder of Communist China sporting the symbol of America's cultural imperialism...Mickey Mouse ears?

Frank Kozik's controversial reinterpretation of Chairman Mao stands 16 inches tall in white, reminiscent of the plaster of paris busts of yesteryear but this is pure rotocast vinyl. Comes packaged in a beautiful red box with gold foil printing Buy it here.


Frank Kozik's Mao Mickey Bust also comes in limited edition colors as well as flocked.
Buy them here.

Mickey has also made some appearances in haute couture lately. Here are a few examples:

Manish Arora


Jean Charles de Castelbajac (JCDC):

see more fun JCDC collections here.

And nowadays Disney has their own couture, where you can find many wild Mickey Mouse items, including their own artsy Mickey Mouse toys like those by vinylmation shown below:



There are literally hundred of contemporary artists who have 'updated' Mickey in their own visions, too many to list. But browse or search Behance, Coroflot, Deviant Art or ebay for "Mickey Mouse" and you'll see many more.

Of course, traditional Mickey always has his appeal as well.
For traditional Mickey Mouse items, click here.

Cool Ways To Heat Up: Focus Fireplaces of France

The amount of beautifully designed fireplaces created abroad really impress me (for examples, be sure to check my side bar links to amazing fireplace and radiator designers and manufacturers).

One of them, Focus, manufactured exclusively in France, has over 50 stunning wall-mounted, freestanding and custom fireplaces, all designed by Dominique Imbert.

Imbert's designs vary. Some swivel 360 degrees, some look like they are torn from the wall, others have adjustable hoods, and still others are clad in leather.

I'm going to show you a few of my favorites from the collection, you'll have to visit the site to see the rest yourself.

Below are examples of this 'torn metal' look which I think is so interesting. Very primitive yet modern at the same time.


Above: the Eclat Giant


Above: the Omega

And then this unusual little protrusion from the wall takes up hardly any room yet is impossible to ignore:


Above: the Mio


Above: The Elliptofocus is actually covered in leather as opposed to the usual metal housing.



Their site, www.focus-creation.com has optional language choices, company history, a bio about the designer and distribution info.


Above: the designer, Dominique Imbert

Want to see more? Check them out here.

Now, if only they'd redesign that logo......

The Million Dollar Christmas Gift. Okay, So It's Actually The $950,000. Gift

Now, this is what I call the ultimate gift. Time and Travel.

You get four audaciously gem encrusted watches plus a trip for 4 to the rain forest (stay in 3 different luxury accommodations) and throw in a $30,000.00 charitable deduction to boot.

All for the price of $950,000.00 USD.


Zadora Timepieces has partnered with Robb Report Beginning November 8th 2007 until January 8th 2008 to offer the Robb Report Limited Edition Zadora Timepieces Rainforest Collection and Rendezvous.

Package Description:
The Zadora Timepieces’ Robb Report Limited Edition package begins with four bejeweled, rain forest–themed watches, continues with a rain forest eco-adventure in Costa Rica, and culminates with a $30,000 donation to the rain forest preservation organization of the purchaser’s choice.

Each of the four bespoke watches depicts a different rain forest inhabitant, cased in 18-karat gold as follows:



Zadora Frog Prince Timepiece - executed in textured 18-karat yellow gold; the body is set in pavé tsavorites studded with blue sapphire cabochons. The frog’s feet are detailed in diamonds, and its eyes are ruby cabochons.



Zadora Poppy Flower Timepiece – executed in platinum and palladium 18-karat white gold. The flower is meticulously set with pavé of pink and white diamonds, rubies, and pink sapphires, giving an ombré effect to its voluptuous petals, while the pistils are minutely textured in black patina on platinum.



Zadora Ladybug Timepiece - adorned with a micro pavé of richly colored rubies and black diamond details, and encased in 18-karat yellow gold. The ladybug’s eyes are emerald cabochons.



Zadora Snake Timepiece - made of patinated palladium and 18-karat white gold. It is covered in black and canary yellow diamond pavé. The serpent’s pear-shaped eyes are emeralds, and it clenches a baroque South Sea pearl in its mouth.

Zadora Timepieces' precious quartet is a fine complement to the travel portion of this rain forest rendezvous package - a six-night, seven-day adventure for a family of four that includes:

Round-trip transportation on a Gulfstream V and all land transfers & ground transportation



One night in a Master Suite at the Costa Rica Marriott Resort (breakfast included)



Private visit to the Rain Forest Aerial Tram & Adventure Canopy Tour



Two nights in a deluxe ocean view bungalow at Lapa Rios Rain Forest Lodge with:
Three extraordinary meals daily-
Three guided tours: Rain Forest Waterfalls Hike; Horseback Riding; and the Osa Trail Jungle Walk



Three nights in a premium at the Four Seasons Papagayo Resort with: -Three extraordinary meals daily
-Round of golf
-Spa Therapy

Click here to download the actual itinerary.

For more Information and details of purchasing package please go to Robb Report by clicking here.

Smart Fortwo Arrives in the US in January

Daimler Chairman Dieter Zetsche confirmed today that the Smart Fortwo will go on sale in the U.S. starting in January.

He also said he could "well imagine a large-scale project in cooperation with a partner city in the U.S. to test the electrically powered Smart Fortwo, similar to the project that is currently running in London," according to a statement by Daimler.

Previously, Smart had only said that the Fortwo would arrive in U.S. showrooms in the first quarter of 2008.

Zetsche formally introduced the Fortwo to the U.S. market at a press briefing in washington D.C. earlier today. The minicar makes its debut with a three-cylinder 1.0-liter gasoline engine. "Other engine types and sizes, including Brabus modifications, may become available in the next few years, though no specific timeline has been outlined," according to the Smart USA Web site.



A Few Smart Facts:
•DIMENSIONS The smart fortwo that will be available in the United States will be:
8.8 feet long
5.1 feet tall
5.1 feet wide

•TOP SPEED The top speed of the smart fortwo is 90 mph (Electronically limited).

•GAS MILEAGE Engineering and testing continues to take place on the vehicle that will be produced for the United States. The vehicle is designed to achieve 40 plus mpg under normal driving conditions and current standards. The gas tank of the smart fortwo is 8.7 gallons.

•SAFETY The safety management system of the smart fortwo will set new standards in its class, and is designed to achieve a 4-star crash rating in the USA.



The highlight of the safety management system is the tridion safety cell. The safety cell is made from steel, half of which is high-strength material, especially in highly stressed areas. The cell is designed to keep occupants protected. The reinforced steel and the design of the car allow for the displacement of impact and redistribution of crash energy. Because of the size of the vehicle, most crashes will also involve one of the wheel bases which also displaces energy.

Both doors are also designed for easy access during rescue.

The smart fortwo, which will be for sale in the United States in 2008, will come standard with four airbags (two full-sized front and two side for head and thorax protection). Other safety features such as esp® (electronic stability program) and ABS brakes are also standard.

•STORAGE The smart fortwo has a rear storage area that can accommodate active lifestyles. Surprisingly, the fortwo has 8 cubic feet of storage space – 12 feet if you load up to the roof line. This area can easily fit numerous bags of groceries, gymbags and other items that are commonly transported every day, including golf clubs! The rear storage area can also accommodate many sizes of luggage making trips to the airport convenient.

The front passenger seat also folds down creating additional space for other items such as skis.<

•PRICE The smart fortwo pure will start at $11,590, the smart fortwo passion couple will start at $13,590 and the smart fortwo passion cabriolet will start at $16,590.

Go here to learn more about Smart.

Go For The Gold: Gold Editions of Just About Everything.

Gold version. Gold edition. Gold plated. Awash in Gold. Gold: limited, exclusive, special. Whatever you want to call it, it's very hot.

Whether it's actual real gold plating (like many of the small hand-held electronics now sold on luxury sites) or merely a 'gold' version, objects that have the gilded shine are everywhere. On the road or in the bathroom, there's now a gold version of just about everything. Some are outrageously priced, while others could be stocking stuffers. So take a look.

Here's a few "gold" versions for you with links to purchase.

Jabra's bluetooth JX 10 has now been introduced in a 24kt brushed gold version (in addition to the stainless steel), designed by Jacob Jensen.



Above: the Jabra JX10 Cara.
Buy it here.


Above: Philippe Starck's Gnome stools, available in gold versions.
Buy them here.


Above: Louis Vuitton's Gold Metallic Handbag from their Miroir Collection, 2007.
I have not been able to find the gold Miroir purses anywhere (not even on eluxury) but for sale at here at www.ioffer.com seem to be many 'replicas'. Pssst......Go ahead, buy one, I won't tell anyone they're not authentic.


But if it must be LV and it must be Gold, then the Lockit MM is the one for you (shown above).
Buy it here.

Even funky porcelain products previously sold in white or colored, have now emerged in gold.

Above: Tank U's limited edition Gold version.
Buy it here.

Above: Phillipe Starck's Iconic Salif Juicer. In Gold for the 10th anniversary.
Buy it here.


Above: Fluke Collective's Ghost Antlers, now in gold.
Buy it here.


Above: Nike Air Classic. In Gold. Were available in a limited number from Jacks Surfboards but are sold out.


Above: She Umera's 24k gold plated eyelash curler, with case of course.
Buy it here.

Goldplated Macbook Pro by Computer Choppers:



Shop for the above and other gold-plated Mac products here.


above: The 24k gold plated ipod.

Zip-Ang makes a gold plated keyboard:

Buy it here.

Bill Amberg's Golden Pappoose is another limited exclusive luxury edition.
But this one' s for the little one:

Limited edition of 10. A golden porter for a priceless ride. Lined in plush natural fibers. Adjustable straps and shearling shoulder pads make a comfortable ride for parents, too. Accommodates infants to 10 months or 22 lbs. Gold.
Buy it here.

And to go with their new "pappoose", here's a classic dumbbell baby rattle, only it's plated in 14kt gold overlay:

Above: the Gold Barbell Rattle by Areaware.
Buy it here

This platter is awash in hand-painted 18k gold over porcelain. Use as a centerpiece or hang on the wall.

Buy The Bel Air Platter here.

Gold dishes just sit there. So, how about a gold-plated massager/vibrator?

The LELO YVA Gold-Plated Massager is a high-class, luxury vibrator for those who won't settle for less when it comes to their sexual satisfaction. The YVA is an 18k Gold-Plated vibe that has a small, yet quietly powerful motor and a deep resounding sensation for those that use it.
Buy it here.

Unfortunately the fabulous Yamaha R1 Gold Edition shown below is merely a protoype:



And if you're gonna have a gold, ride...well, you'd better have gold goggles too:


Above: Bogner's Space Frames. Gold Goggles with anti-scratch and -fog polycarbonate lens. 100% UV protection with multi-layer mirror coating. Detachable elastic headband for goggle or sunglass fit. Gold. 6" x 2" goggles with 21" adjustable headband.
Buy them here.

Even the iconic "rubber ducky' gets gilded. Although this one's actually a piggy bank:

Buy it here.

Below: The LH-C643 home theatre system By LG features a 71-inch plasma display and 24K gold-plated body. At about US$ 82,500.00 and a limited production (only 1,000 units), you’d be hard pressed to find one.



And for the tool loving friend in your life, how about this limited edition 22k gold plated Craftsman ratchet from Sears?

Buy the Gold Sears Craftsman ratchet here.

And the Krystal ELS™, Ondine’s limited edition Krystal Electronic Light Shower™ (ELS) in Polished Gold finish (should have been on my swarovski list as well!)


Buy it here.

Axis Gold wheels will certainly make your car the envy of ballers everywhere.

Buy them here.

You can even get Jonathan Adler's piggy bank in gold:

Buy it here.


Above: At Goldstriker, you can get just about anything for your car from exhaust pipes to grilles, badging and more plated in 24k gold.

And that's just the tip of the goldberg, if you will. Don't forget my recent post on Lantic's gold remote control.

Wanna plate your ipod, iphone, laptop or cell phone in the precious metal of your choice? Then use the plating services here.

12 Artist Designed Magis Puppies Up For Auction Thru Jan. 6

12 designers and artists from different disciplines have each dressed up a Magis Puppy for a charity auction in support of ASD (Action for Singapore Dogs).