Broken Fingaz -Graffiti Stop Motion from Broken Fingaz on Vimeo.
29 April 2010
28 April 2010
Environmental Graffiti
Environmental Graffiti is the online website that is based in the UK and provides a range that is nothing short of stupendous, with posts on everything from bamboo architecture and the most psychedelic river on Earth (located in Colombia’s Sierra de la Macarena) to the long history of gunpowder weaponry and how the CIA caused mass insanity in a French town by spiking bread with LSD. Eye-catching photo galleries and videos supplement fascinating lists, such as the 35 greatest works of reverse graffiti (amazing!) and the world’s most terrifying spiral staircases.
You can apply for an account to write stories, but anyone can read them! So, browse the site and follow Environmental Graffiti on Twitter. Woo!
27 April 2010
eardrum pick-me-up.
Sometimes it’s two o’clock in the morning, like it is right now in London, and your eardrums need a pick-me-up.
...Or a sucker punch. Check out PowerSolo, a Danish rockabilly punk duo that sounds kind of like Green Day might if they didn’t get old and start writing Broadway musicals. Also, like all good punk rockers, the boys aren’t afraid to get naked for the sake of an album cover.
...Or have a listen to Nigerian-born, Germany-based rising soul star Nneka who crosses continents musically as easily as she does physically. Mixing the emotional transparency of Lauryn Hill with her African influences, Nneka makes music that presents her as both a fresh voice and a positive political force. Catch a show...she'll be in London tomorrow - April 28 - at Scala.
Goodnight.
26 April 2010
Shazam for Art
You already know Shazam—you hold up your phone to "hear" a song, and the phone tells you what song it is. This does that, but for art—take a picture of a painting, sculpture or carefully constructed doodle with your phone, and it shows you the details behind it.
Now you'll finally know the Old Master behind Dogs Playing Poker.
Start snapping HERE
Now you'll finally know the Old Master behind Dogs Playing Poker.
Start snapping HERE
16 April 2010
Earth from Above
Launching soon in Bryant Park is a month-long exhibition called Earth From Above by French environmentalist and photographer, Yann Arthus-Bertrand, that coincides with the global Earth Day celebration. 120 large-scale aerial photos will be displayed vertically along the park’s walkways in not-so-subtle reference to The Gates, the public art installation by Christo and Jeanne-Claude that hit Manhattan in 2005. Arthus-Bertrand, a UN Environmental Program Goodwill Ambassador, aims to “illuminate” Earth’s beauty while inspiring audiences to care for the planet’s natural resources. Also, his colorful, abstract prints are really, really pretty.
Though the Bryant Park exhibition has been postponed from its original April 2 start date, the exhibition is intended for wide view, and Arthus-Bertrand envisions his images traveling throughout other US cities in 2010 to launch the first US Tour of Earth From Above. Since its Paris premiere in 2000, Earth From Above has been seen on every populated continent by more than 130 million visitors in over 120 cities including London, Tokyo, Berlin, Seoul, Beirut, Moscow, Sydney, Mexico City, Montreal, Stockholm, and Reykjavik. Each photo is accompanied by captions that link the image to the environmental and social issues at stake, “inviting the onlooker to consider sustainable development as the solution to the challenges brought into focus.” On the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, this April 22, Arthus-Bertrand’s imagery presents a compelling argument for sustaining the planet as we know it. If you're in New York, check it out...it's free, day and night, rain or shine!
Earth From Above is coming to New York City from Picture Earth on Vimeo.
13 April 2010
The Quotable Douchebag
We've all said things we regret.
Not you, of course. Every word from your mouth is like a pearl of wisdom inside a shell of... even more wisdom.
The same cannot be said for Gene Simmons.
Which takes me to The Quotable Douchebag, a fine collection of bons mots from some of the world's douchiest people, online now.
Let me be clear: this is a ramshackle collection of the most haughty, self-important quotes of all time. (Why yes, John Mayer is quoted at length.)
Suffice it to say, these are quotes from some of the brightest minds of our time. To wit: "Osama bin Laden is the only one who knows exactly what I'm going through." (R. Kelly, of course.) "I know who I am. No one else knows who I am. If I was a giraffe and somebody said I was a snake, I'd think, 'No, actually I'm a giraffe.'" (Richard Gere.) And, perhaps, the best (by which I mean worst): "There are many dying children out there whose last wish is to meet me."
Stay classy, Hasselhoff.
Not you, of course. Every word from your mouth is like a pearl of wisdom inside a shell of... even more wisdom.
The same cannot be said for Gene Simmons.
Which takes me to The Quotable Douchebag, a fine collection of bons mots from some of the world's douchiest people, online now.
Let me be clear: this is a ramshackle collection of the most haughty, self-important quotes of all time. (Why yes, John Mayer is quoted at length.)
Suffice it to say, these are quotes from some of the brightest minds of our time. To wit: "Osama bin Laden is the only one who knows exactly what I'm going through." (R. Kelly, of course.) "I know who I am. No one else knows who I am. If I was a giraffe and somebody said I was a snake, I'd think, 'No, actually I'm a giraffe.'" (Richard Gere.) And, perhaps, the best (by which I mean worst): "There are many dying children out there whose last wish is to meet me."
Stay classy, Hasselhoff.
12 April 2010
100 sqft.
I am participating in an exhibition in May of 100 artists called "100sqft". The concept is 100 pieces of art each of them being one foot square to be exhibited in a 10x10 grid at a gallery in North London. The Exhibition will be Early May with a Launch Party on May 16 @ the Chomley Boys Club, 68 Boleyn Road, London N16 8JG and will run for 1 week, giving a chance for the participating artsists and those interested in meeting them to get together at one of Dalstons undiscovered gems. We are inviting everyone to join us for the launch evening to meet up for a drink and enjoy the entertainment laid on by resident DJ's 'Our Friends Eclectic' !
The exhibition catalog is now available to view online and purchase. I'm on page 1, take a look! :)
The exhibition catalog is now available to view online and purchase. I'm on page 1, take a look! :)
08 April 2010
Timber Timbre
Canada has done it again. Please welcome Timber Timbre to the world of music.
This Canadian folkie sounds like a Southern Gothic Randy Newman...I know, it's an strange mix, but when you see Taylor Kirk leading his bare-bones group and realize, "Man, Randy Newman totally should've done some swampy bluesy stuff," you will understand Timber Timbre. And you will love it.
Note: they are playing in London May 17!
This Canadian folkie sounds like a Southern Gothic Randy Newman...I know, it's an strange mix, but when you see Taylor Kirk leading his bare-bones group and realize, "Man, Randy Newman totally should've done some swampy bluesy stuff," you will understand Timber Timbre. And you will love it.
Note: they are playing in London May 17!
07 April 2010
Banksy : Graffiti Deity
Street artist, situationist and public-space japester Banksy is famed for his snogging coppers, simpering apes and for debunking Israel's new West Bank barrier with graffiti. Now he takes his career of radical cheek into the cinema with a hilarious new documentary, Exit Through The Gift Shop, which was being shown in early March at the director's own pop-up cinema in an underpass in London's Waterloo before moving on to more conventional locations...
You should know up front that this isn’t a movie about Banksy. It is, however, a film about street art, and more specifically, about an enigmatic/hipster French clothing store owner in LA named Thierry Guetta. Some folks may know him as the artist Mr. Brain Wash, a very successful commercial street artist. But this predates Mr. Brain Wash, and goes back to the late 1990s, when Thierry was merely a man obsessed with capturing his entire life on video - odd, I know. But, as it turned out, his cousin was an up-and-coming street artist called Space Invader, who worked nights in France and LA, decorating the town with cute little pixel aliens...haha. So, upon spending time with Space Invader, Thierry became obsessed with street artists, eventually meeting up with the likes of Shepard Fairey and others, eventually even Banksy. So thennn, what started as a seemingly pointless endeavor for Thierry soon became something much more important: that for the first time, someone was capturing the masters of street art including in their element, operating in a legal gray area and peppering major cities with often beautiful works of art. After years of filming, Thierry put together a film to show Banksy as one of his biggest fans. In a word, it was atrocious (clearly Thierry wasn't a filmmaker no matter how hard he tried). So instead of letting that be the authoritative work on street art, Banksy decided to take Thierry’s tape and turn it into Exit Through the Gift Shop.
Go check it out!! Here's the UK trailer below:
You should know up front that this isn’t a movie about Banksy. It is, however, a film about street art, and more specifically, about an enigmatic/hipster French clothing store owner in LA named Thierry Guetta. Some folks may know him as the artist Mr. Brain Wash, a very successful commercial street artist. But this predates Mr. Brain Wash, and goes back to the late 1990s, when Thierry was merely a man obsessed with capturing his entire life on video - odd, I know. But, as it turned out, his cousin was an up-and-coming street artist called Space Invader, who worked nights in France and LA, decorating the town with cute little pixel aliens...haha. So, upon spending time with Space Invader, Thierry became obsessed with street artists, eventually meeting up with the likes of Shepard Fairey and others, eventually even Banksy. So thennn, what started as a seemingly pointless endeavor for Thierry soon became something much more important: that for the first time, someone was capturing the masters of street art including in their element, operating in a legal gray area and peppering major cities with often beautiful works of art. After years of filming, Thierry put together a film to show Banksy as one of his biggest fans. In a word, it was atrocious (clearly Thierry wasn't a filmmaker no matter how hard he tried). So instead of letting that be the authoritative work on street art, Banksy decided to take Thierry’s tape and turn it into Exit Through the Gift Shop.
Go check it out!! Here's the UK trailer below:
06 April 2010
Free Energy
I have fallen in love with these Philly-based boys and their band, "Free Energy." James Murphy may have produced their debut album, but they don't sound like most DFA bands (don't get me wrong, I love the DFA artists, but these guys are different -- they're guitar-based and lack turntables, for one). Still, the spirit is the same: JUBILANT! It's awesome! Their lead-in single is the band's namesake ("Free Energy"), which is usually a warning sign, but their album, Stuck on Nothing, proved that the guys have plenty of equally rad material!
Note: they will be in London May 17 at Monto Water Rats.
Note: they will be in London May 17 at Monto Water Rats.
05 April 2010
Kapoor vs. Eifel
Designs for what will be Britain's biggest piece of public art, a 120 metres tall looping tower by the artist Anish Kapoor that people will be able to climb, giving spectacular views of London, were unveiled by Boris Johnson, mayor of London.
Kapoor's Orbit, a vast, snaking steel structure, will dominate the 2012 Olympic park. It is being hailed as London's answer to the Eiffel tower and is part of an ambition to make the Olympics site a permanent visitor attraction.
Kapoor won the commission from a shortlist of bidders believed to include only the greatest artists such as Antony Gormley and the architects Caruso St John. Johnson said of Kapoor: "He has taken the idea of a tower and transformed it into a piece of modern British art. It would have boggled the minds of the Romans. It would have boggled Gustave Eiffel."
The structure will cost about £19.1m. Johnson said: "Of course some people will say we are nuts – in the depths of a recession – to be building Britain's biggest ever piece of public art. But both Tessa Jowell [Olympics minister] and I are certain that this is the right thing for the Stratford site, in games time and beyond."
Kapoor has collaborated on the project with his friend Cecil Balmond, one of the world's leading structural engineers. Approximately 1,400 tonnes of steel will be used. The plan is for work to begin soon with a completion date of December 2011.
Kapoor said one of his references was the Tower of Babel. "There is a kind of medieval sense to it of reaching up to the sky, building the impossible. A procession, if you like. It's a long winding spiral: a folly that aspires to go even above the clouds and has something mythic about it."
via Guardian
04 April 2010
5 second films
Firstly, apologies to my email subscribers for yesterday's email, as a second post from a few weeks ago about a Philips de Pury auction that I had edited was accidently included.
On another note, I have found 5 Second Films: a hilariously fast-paced, daily online video series that injects off-the-wall humor into micro-shorts! It is updated every weekday and the selection of clips really ranges from profanity-laced action to bizarre skits. My possible ADD is cured, and it's all thanks to the founder, Brian Firenzi, and his taste for the absurd. The rules are simple: 2 seconds of opening title, five seconds of action on film, and one second of end credits... and he said that "if you take umbrage with these 5sfs running at an actual length of 8 seconds, we can only assume you're no fun at dinner parties."
Enjoy.
On another note, I have found 5 Second Films: a hilariously fast-paced, daily online video series that injects off-the-wall humor into micro-shorts! It is updated every weekday and the selection of clips really ranges from profanity-laced action to bizarre skits. My possible ADD is cured, and it's all thanks to the founder, Brian Firenzi, and his taste for the absurd. The rules are simple: 2 seconds of opening title, five seconds of action on film, and one second of end credits... and he said that "if you take umbrage with these 5sfs running at an actual length of 8 seconds, we can only assume you're no fun at dinner parties."
Enjoy.
03 April 2010
Danger Swimming
Phoebe, my little sister and President of Danger Camp, and I saw this fantastic clip on TV after a long drive to the mountains yesterday. It's hilarious and genius : a must-watch, indeed.
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