Thursday, December 31, 2009



"FELIZ 1984"

As seen on the streets of LavapiĆ©s, Madrid.

48 new surveillance cameras have been installed recently in this corner of town, and this is what Luzinterruptus had to say about it. 
The Spanish designers placed this birthday candlelit object in the three locations in town that have maximum surveillance.

If you haven't yet read Orwell's classic, you're already living it.

Check out more of Luzinterruptus's work here.

Photos by Gustavo Sanabria.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009





TO BEAT A DEAD HORSE...

I'm back...and it feels good! I've been in hyper-holiday mode, and am just now getting back to normal daily life. 

I'm not one to dwell on things, but I'd be remiss in not commenting on Dan Cross's FANTASTIC holiday window displays at Bergdorf's this year. They never miss a beat when it comes to these amazing annual creations, but this year they really blew me away. 

As I tried to snap some pics amongst the crowd of tourists attempting to do the same, I was thankful for my lack of height as it allowed me to sneak through to the front, underneath the countless raised arms holding flashing cameras.

One window display was entirely made of paper...another glittered and shone like a glass menagerie. Fantasy-filled, luxurious and utterly stunning! The creativity level is really something to aspire to.

Above are some of my favorite details, but you should really stop by and see them for yourself before they're taken down. Make sure you go at night though, to view them in their full glory.

Goodbye 2009, hello 2010!

"That's all I have to say about that." – Forrest Gump


Thursday, December 24, 2009

Tuesday, December 22, 2009


HOW I'D LOVE TO 
CALL YOU MINE...

As seen in this month's Real Simple (my latest obsession).

I'm positive that I'll be dreaming about that light fixture tonight.


Monday, December 21, 2009

(click to enlarge)
By Vladimir Dubossarsky and Alexander Vinogradov

(click to enlarge)
By Peter Liversidge

(click to enlarge)
Sculpture by Nick Cave

(click to enlarge)
Doug Aitken, 2009
LED lit lightbox

ART BASEL MIAMI: A RECAP


Including work from over 2,000 artists and 250 art galleries from all over the world, Art Basel Miami Beach is a sister event to Art Basel Switzerland, the world's premiere art show that has been occurring for the past 40 years.


Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make it, but a good friend of mine, Naja, made it down there, and L-O-V-E-D it. I asked her to report back to me, and here's what she had to say:


++++++++++++++


A couple of weeks back, I had the pleasure of heading down to warm Miami Beach for the spectacular gathering of Art Basel. I didn’t know what to expect, since I’ve never been to Art Basel before. I’ve also never been to Miami. 


I must say, Miami was sort of what I had imagined. Art Deco, neon signs, palmtrees, beautiful beaches, Cubans, Italians, Bentleys and Rolls Royces. 80s style, Miami Vice and Don Johnsons. So I must admit it might all have affected my Art Basel experience, but oh, how I loved it. 


Art everywhere! 


Paintings, sculptures, light installations! From underground, raw art spaces to million dollar events, big hotels and fancy hairdos. Another funny thing was that lots of New Yorkers were there in Miami, so it was almost like a big New York party but just located under the sunny blue sky and pastel coloured streets...


A lot of people dressed the part and were walking art pieces, but most people were just wearing their fanciest gear, dressed to impress at one of the many parties. I was excited to walk through the Convention Center to see all the different colours, shapes and inventions. 


I thought a lot about what goes through people's minds when they come up with all these far-out things. On the first day, I took a little break on the beach, and I looked out to the water and there was a little floating house... I realized later it was a part of an art piece, but in the moment I just thought South Beach was quite a special place. 


I especially loved the Design District, and the more ‘”raw” streets, where the walls where covered with paintings...and with heart and soul. I shall return to Art Basel again! And Miami and its Art Deco, is quite a sight in itself.


– Naja Rosa


++++++++++++++


Thanks Naja, for being my first official oyster-sauce reporter! You've convinced me...I'm definitely heading down next year.


P.S. Naja Rosa is a musician, photographer and an amazingly creative spirit. Check out her music here.


Saturday, December 19, 2009




Simply. Marvelous.

Photographs by John Huba(My favorites are in his Travel and Projects section.)


Friday, December 18, 2009





HITACHINO BEER

So, here's the thing.

I'm not a beer fan. If I'm handed one, most likely I'm not going to drink 
it (or like it anyway). Can anyone honestly claim that beer actually 
tastes good?

Yeah. I didn't think so.

I am, however, always a fan of cute little owls, and Japanese Hitachino beer packaging has completely stolen my heart with this adorable little guy. I fell for it first time I laid eyes on one of their bottles. I love the sort of crude illustration, the playful color palette and the patterns. 

My fave is the Celebration Ale with the Japanese-style rising sun and mountain in the background. It almost makes me want to drink one. 

Almost.

Thursday, December 17, 2009


Skylight Vitrine (by day)


Skylight Vitrine (by night)


Skylight Vitrine (by night, detail)


Sphera


Sphera (detail)


Sphera (detail)


ARCHITECTURALLY @ 
HENDERSHOT GALLERY

Last weekend, I was able to check out this super-cool show at Hendershot Gallery. It was a frigid Saturday afternoon, so I was unsure as to how many people would be out and about in the gallery district. LUCKY ME, not one, but TWO of the artists that participated in this group show were there, and I got the chance to chat them up.

The above pieces were created by Austrian-born sculptor, Alois Kronschlaeger. He had just arrived from Art Basel a few days prior, where he displayed the Skylight Vitrine (above), which is an actual bed that includes a sculpted mesh "skylight" formed out of wire mesh and paint that has been dripped onto it. The result? A very organic, almost stalagtite (but way sexier) type of effect that glows day and night (there are lights embedded into the upper surface of the bed). The details are simply breathtaking.

Another piece that he has on display at Hendershot is Sphera, in which he applied the same technique. It's a large walk-in sphere made of the same materials: wire mesh and paint that he dripped onto it. Once inside, light shines through the areas of mesh that haven't been coated with paint, which makes for a very graphic display. 

What's so interesting to me is that he was able to create such a dream-like and surreal experience for the viewer by using cold, industrial materials.

In addition to Alois's sculptures, there are video pieces created by Trialogue (a group of collaborators consisting of Matthias NeumannAdi Shniderman, Ella ben Aharon and Edo Ceder) scattered throughout the corridor (which are HILARIOUS, by the way...you MUST see them), as well as other fantastic work by other artists.

DO check this show out at Hendershot. I promise, promise, promise you'll leave inspired and enlightened. 

Read details about the show here.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009





GRACIELA ITURBIDE

I first discovered Graciela's work about seven years ago, and to this day, she remains one of my favorite photographers.

Quietly haunting, but with immense gravity, the Mexican photographer's pieces are like a walk through the underworld. Each character is one who's face you'll never quite be able to erase from memory. They'll shake you to the core.

See more of her work here.


Tuesday, December 15, 2009

(Original storefront)


(Recreated storefront)


(Original storefront)


(Process)


(Recreated storefront)


(Recreated storefronts)


FAUXREEL + SPECTOR = 
A CITY RENEWAL PROJECT
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In 2008, Dan Bergeron (otherwise known as Fauxreel) collaborated with Gabriel Reese (aka Specter) in a recreation of a real city neighborhood inside a 5000 square foot Toronto warehouse. 
 
Hello? Synecdoche, anyone? I'm still getting over that movie.

Fauxreel and Specter rebuilt and reimagined actual abandoned storefronts in their indoor world, and added a dash of humor (don't get offended, ok?)

I love that they used real objects alongside photographed elements. Some pieces are black and white, others are full-color. It's like a 3D walk-in collage.

Fo real.

See more here.



Monday, December 14, 2009







LIBRARY @ UNIVERSITY OF AMSTERDAM

Check out this university library's new digs!

Studio Roelof Mulder and Bureau Ira Koers created this masterpiece of an institution, chock-full of candy colors and modern (but still friendly) furniture.

The image at top is an automated collection area for books. It's a bit eery – I can't help but compare it to the red bathroom scene from 
The Shining.

In any case, I think the New York City Public Library could take a page out of UvA's handbook, don't you? It might seem more like 
The Mondrian than a place to study...but I don't mind one bit.


Sunday, December 13, 2009






HELEN DARDIK

...makes me smile. 

Her color sensibility and humor are pretty sweet, don't you think?  
I can't stop staring at that top image....

Check out more on her site.