Sunday, February 28, 2010

(click to enlarge)

SIDEWALK FINDINGS: 
PARIS EDITION

I realized that I haven't written a Sidewalk Findings post in quite some time. I'm sure it's due to the fact that NYC has transformed into a frozen tundra, and I simply haven't had it in me to saunter the streets, looking for inspiration.

So, I had to dig deep into my memory (and photo archives) to uncover this image that was beginning to fade from memory.

I found the above poster plastered on the side of a building in a narrow Paris street back in 2005. If you click to enlarge the image, you'll find that that there are countless tiny illustrations that make up the portrait. Skulls and wine bottles, cottages and stars, wild birds and forests....

Quite simply and quietly, it's beautiful. 

Here in the states, its hard to come by a poster that isn't an advertisement for a movie, an upcoming album release, a new condominium building...something.

That's why I love this. Art for art's sake (or l'art pour l'art). 
What a refreshing idea.


Saturday, February 27, 2010

Picasso's Light Drawing

Triple Exposure of Picasso Drawing With Light


Running Man

Picasso Begins a Light Drawing


GJON MILI + PABLO PICASSO

Check out Gjon Mili's photos from a series done in 1949 of Picasso drawing with light. They were done using a small flashlight in a very dark room with a very long exposure.

So interesting...the image disappears before it gets a chance to live for just one moment...but his motions are captured for eternity.

For insight on how to try this yourself, here are step-by-step instructions

As for Gjon Mili, he seemed to have quite a knack for capturing motion. Here's a piece that I love.

And here's a short film from 1944 that he directed, called Jammin' The Blues. Perfect for a night like tonight...


Friday, February 26, 2010


I VOGLIONO I SUOI CAPELLI

An illustration of the Italian composer, Pietro Mascagni by the Italian artist Umberto Brunelleschi. And I just love that big Italian hair.

Interesting factoid: Brunelleschi is well-known for his design costumes for Josephine Baker. And also for his erotica.

Read more about his life here.



Thursday, February 25, 2010



(during installation)

(during installation)

(during installation)


FLUENT STEPS

If you happen to live in Tacoma, Washington, boooy are you lucky (and how often do you hear that?)

Martin Blank Studios has created something wonderful that they call Fluent Steps. It's a hand-sculpted glass installation at the Museum of Glass, and it's utterly, undeniably beautiful. Installed in an actual fountain, it's meant to abstractly mirror the shapes and 
properties of water. 

Stunning, no?

Wednesday, February 24, 2010






ABC...OMG

Apologies for disappearing for a few days, folks. What can I say? 
Life happens.

What I'm about to share is by no means a secret hidden gem of NYC. If you reside in the city, are anywhere from 15-65 years of age, and spend any time at all around Union Square, this is quite frankly, old news. 
BUT, I simply can't refrain from gushing.

Over the weekend, I passed by my FAVORITE FAVORITE FAVORITE store in all of New York, ABC Home. Unfortunately, it was late at night and the store was closed, but being the insistent shopper that I am, I was able to get a glimpse of its breathtaking interior, by shoving my face through the metal grates. Natural imported wood furniture, luscious gem-toned textiles, ornate (but never gaudy) home accessories, all lit by incredibly gorgeous chandeliers (of all colors) tucked between panels of raw silk and other tapestries. Rustic, yet immensely rich. 

It's not everyone's aesthetic...if you're faint at heart or a fan of Scandinavian design (clean lines, modern), then this place is not for you (you might want to check out a certain little known Swedish store nestled in Red Hook).

Literally, when I step inside ABC, I can't suppress the desire to touch and smell all of it. All of my senses are awakened, and I want to buy it all. 
And realizing that stuff is not all that affordable always make me want to cry a little.

See for yourself. I promise you'll love it as much as I do.

Top photo courtesy of jubella.com.



Sunday, February 21, 2010


doesn't. get. better.

Photo by John French, 1963

See more photos by French here.

Saturday, February 20, 2010





EUGENE ANDOLSEK

All untitled, ink on graph paper

I'm sooo happy these images found me this morning. Mesmerizing, entrancing and seductive...the patterns coupled with the colors...

Breathtaking. I can't stop glaring at them.

They were created by 89-year-old Eugene Andolsek by using a compass and straight edge. Interestingly, he never considered himself to be an artist, and this work was merely a hobby for him. Once each piece was completed, he'd stow it away and forget about it. When a caregiver at a retirement home discovered his talent, Pittsburgh's Andy Warhol Museum was contacted and Eugene was given the opportunity to exhibit his work for the first time.

Make sure to click on each image to enlarge them. You MUST view them in their full glory.

See more of Eugene's work here.


Thursday, February 18, 2010





OceanScope

AnL Studio, based in Korea, has created this super-cool structure in Songdo New City in South Korea.

Dubbed OceanScope, its made of repurposed commercial shipping containers, and is intended to be an observatory.

I am so taken with the pastel-y lighting and the effect they have on the various interiors. The cylinders look like they're in the process of toppling to the ground, and I love that.

Top three photos by Park So-Young and Chang Gil-Hwang, and taken from dezeen.

See more here:

Wednesday, February 17, 2010



NICK VAN WOERT

Top to bottom:
Eclipse 3
Eclipse 2
Eclipse 4
Eclipse 7

I love (70%) / hate (30%) these. Eh, well maybe 80/20...exactly how I feel about kiwi and Beyonce.

Check out more from this Brooklyn-based sculptor here.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010







A PERFECT NIGHT 
FOR COLTRANE

Tonight, on a whim, I decided to check out a show at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center called Art of the Jazz Soloist. 

Jazz frankly intrigues me – and I think it's because I don't really understand it. Like... At. All. That being said, no other music genre has a way of moving me the way that it does. Its emotional charge is impossible to resist.

The film showed solo performances from the likes of John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong and Charlie Parker, just to name a few. These performances, mostly taped in Europe from the 50s–70s, were never before made available to an American audience. Until now.

And can you believe that the show was FREE?? I'm all about free these days. Check out part two (also free) of the series on April 13, The Great Jazz Singers. It will feature Billie Holiday, Nina Simone and Ella Fitzgerald, among others.

Get more details about the show here.

And so, I leave you with some old Coltrane covers (how fantastic is that Cannonball & Coltrane one??), and one of my favorite songs that he recorded in 1962, featuring Mr. Ellington, here.

You're welcome. :)


Monday, February 15, 2010





MIA CULLIN

Flake (Curtain), 2006

Dreeeeammmy....

Swedish designer, Mia Cullin has created this origami-inspired curtain with a material called Tyvek, which is more commonly used to create priority envelopes. It's lightweight and SUPER durable. That stuff is pretty close to indestructible, so it's quite a feat that she was able to create such intricate and delicate shapes with it.

I want one.

Check out more origami-inspired designs by Mia here.

Sunday, February 14, 2010


AND WE LIVED BENEATH 
THE WAVES....

...in our yellow submarine.

By Interesni Kazki, (Waone and AE, collectively.)
Kiev, 2008

Check out more from these fish-lovers:
Here and here.

Saturday, February 13, 2010


Uh...are you there, God?

It's me, Christina.

Please, please send me this kitchen. Tower of muffins included.

Amen.


Friday, February 12, 2010



(click to enlarge)

(detail)

(detail)


PETER CRNOKRAK

Information design + data analysis = snoozefest.

Meet the exception to the rule.

The above graphic maps the 85+ recorded covers of 1979's Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division.

The covers are mapped relative to the original recordings by the band (i.e. time since original recording, artist, release name, record 
label, etc.)

Beyond all that, the mass of lines and dots looks super cool.

Bloody clever, huh?

See more from the London-based designer here.