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October 31, 2007
Art & Design. Peter Sutherland & Buck Shots
Art & Design. Buck Shots by Peter Sutherland: Dork Mag is a long-time fan of Peter and his work. We recently got a press release regarding his latest project entitled Buck Shots due to be released in November. Be sure to check it out.
Here's a snippet from the press release: "The normal response to Peter Sutherland’s photographs of deer would probably be a feeling of sadness, or possibly regret. How is it, one might ask, that nature has become so utterly banal? How depressing that wild animals drink out of storm drains and die beside freeways. Yet deer haven’t exemplified wildness and wonder since the days of Robert Burns: one step above squirrels and raccoons, deer have long been a suburban commonplace. I think there are plenty of natural calamities worth getting riled up about and that photographs might even assist us in doing so; but a deer strapped to the top of a mini-van is not one of them, and to picture this is simply to witness another image from the human comedy."
Read more about Peter Sutherland and Buck Shots [Here]
Posted by taj at 11:35 AM
People News. Machine Guns & Stupidity
People News. Machine Guns & Stupidity: It's so easy to say something is stupid. Sometimes it may even be fun to say that. But when we look at the state of Hip Hop, and various events happening, is it just stupid or is there a deeper issue?
As usual Different Kitchen* keeps us informed, and they recently hipped us to this video by Jay Smooth. In a time where everyone has something to say about Hip Hop, we really enjoyed Jay's social commentary. His considerable analysis, compassion and humble delivery makes this video socially valuable for anyone who considers themselves a fan or participant of the culture. Watch the video after the jump.
Posted by taj at 10:04 AM
October 25, 2007
Art & Design. Japanese Packaging Numero 4
Art & Design. Japanese Packaging Numero 4: Ping has delivered several installments on the design of Japanese Packaging. We've enjoyed them all. It's all about details and balance right? At least that's what makes us happy. Don't miss their latest piece.
From Ping: "We recently introduced you to the intriguing beauty of Japanese gift packaging (yummy!). But, beloved readers, so many of you were nagging in your comments about the amount of waste produced (very true!) that we had to come up with a different approach. So PingMag proudly presents some of the most interesting objects that just nabbed one of the annual Good Design Awards for functional and eco-friendly design."
Read more from the 4th installment of Japanese Packaging [Here]
Posted by taj at 12:24 AM
October 23, 2007
Art & Design. UNIQLO Paper No3
Art & Design. Uniqlo Paper No3: The latest installment of Uniqlo's publication is entitled Ways of Seeing. The aesthetic is attractive. They've blended a simple layout with strong photography and type. The magazine mirrors all of Uniqlo's branding - think clean lines, basic colors and substance over flash.
Uni's mission & vision: "Clothing says a lot, but you can say it better. UNIQLO designs, manufactures, markets and sells casual wear that can be worn by anyone, any day. Rather than dictate a look, UNIQLO provides people everywhere with the piece they need to create their own style. And style comes from within, which is why the UNIQLO logo is nearly invisible, tucked away inside the garment. This concept, along with an unwavering focus on quality and value, has guided UNIQLO's actions since the establishment of its first store in 1984 Hiroshima, Japan. Today UNIQLO has grown to over 760 UNIQLO stores worldwide and is household name in Japan." View pics of their publication after the jump.
Read Uniqlo Paper No 3 [Here]
Posted by taj at 01:00 AM
October 18, 2007
Link Heavy. Pro Nails
Link Heavy. Pro Nails: We watched the BET Hip Hop Awards last night. Kanye opened up and didn't disappoint. He also finished up a video shoot with Kid Sister for her single, Pro Nails (an office fave). Pitchfork has the deets:
"Kid Sister found a Chicago MC as stylish and internet-friendly as she is to join her on her new single and video Pro Nails: none other than Kanye West. Six degrees of A-Trak, anyone? Director Ruben Fleischer (M.I.A., Dizzee Rascal, Wiley) shot the video to promote the single, which is out today on Fool's Gold. The single comes in 12" vinyl and digital formats and features two extra tracks: a remix with a Kanye verse and the DJ Gant-Man-produced "Switch Board". *Edit* Don't forget to download Kanye's latest mixtape by Mick Boogie [Here]
Read more about Kanye and Pro Nails [Here]
Posted by james at 03:21 PM
People News. Triple Crown Needs Your Help
People News. Triple Crown Needs Your Help: We've been longtime patrons of Triple Crown. The place has a nice vibe and Myles, Kit, and Pops are some of the nicest bar owners in NY. When I got an email from Myles, detailing all of the problems they've had over the last few years, I was floored. They've been battling with the neighborhood over noise and now it seems like the neighborhood is trying to run them out of business. They are having a petition party October 28 from 1pm-9pm. Please come out and show your support. Here's some more info on the matter:
"Almost immediately after they started booking DJs there they received complaints about the sound from the neighbors. Soon the cops started stopping in and they realized that they needed to completely change their sound system and increase the amount of soundproofing they had in the space. They spent about $40,000 more dollars to improve the sound issues, cleared the improvements according to the DEP decibel standards in all of the adjacent apartments and for a while that seemed to appease the neighbors. They even offered to put a couple of the neighbors up in hotels while they soundproof their individual units (they all declined the offer). Then the cops started showing up again. The neighbors were complaining that there were too many people standing outside the bar (smokers). They hired a door man who would send the smokers across the street and off of the property but even then that wasn't enough.
Realizing that they were in over their heads they decided to sell the business. They found that they couldn't make the neighbors happy and it was becoming a stressful situation for everyone. They found a buyer, a reputable business man who owns a few other local businesses. He wanted to open a cafe in the space that would close earlier than Triple Crown does. The sale of the bar and the transfer of the liquor license is heavily influenced by the community board (the state liquor authority makes the ultimate decision but usually they go with the community board's vote) and the guys attended the meeting to see the outcome of the vote. To their surprise one woman (who doesn't live in the community but whose father lives next door to the bar) had rallied up a petition and a large number of people in the neighborhood to fight against the sale of the bar. They even made up "no Triple Crown" t-shirts. Before they could even vote on the sale, the buyer who was very afraid of making these people angry at him due to his other businesses in the neighborhood pulled out of the sale publicly in the middle of the meeting.
A few months later they found another buyer and the same thing is happening again. They have been under contract and just about everything has been approved for 8 months. They met Wednesday (10/10) night to vote on this point and denied the sale. They said they would maybe re-vote next month if the new buyer agrees to some terms they have. About a week ago there was a story in the local Williamsburg paper (The Williamsburg Courier) about this issue. They interviewed a member of the community board and she openly admitted that they want to drive these boys out of business out of spite. She admitted to knowing that the first buyer had a good reputation in the neighborhood-but because of the bar's loud "hip hop music" and the owners being unwilling to quiet down-his association with them made the sale "dubious." They have known about this pending sale for months now and if they had any terms for this new buyer they most certainly could have made them clear before this month's meeting. This was a cleanly run business by very very good people who stand to lose EVERYTHING. It's not a matter of starting over if this sale doesn't go through, it's a matter of digging ourselves out of a massive hole due to this harassment from the community. I come to you because this was a small business that supported music and DJs in the city and made the mistake of choosing the wrong location.
As of now to again appease the neighborhood the bar is closed with the exception of one or two nights a month to help pay the rent. The people of the community have been telling wild stories of "lots of brothers" listening to "loud hip hop music", wild fights and even heroine use at the bar. I am just confused as to how denying the sale and driving these guys out of business and setting them back years financially is the answer to a noisy bar issue. If they were unhappy with the noise then it would seem that they would approve of the sale and everyone could move on with their lives. We are scratching our heads here trying to find the logic in all this..."
You can contact Triple Crown and find more info [Here]
Posted by james at 02:00 PM
October 17, 2007
People News. CMJ Music & Qtip
People News. CMJ Music & Qtip: Qtip is making a run for it! We wore out our copy of Kamaal the Abstract and we're looking forward to the renaissance. If that's not enough, his string of crushing tour dates with Common and the pending supergroup promise a good looking future for the tipster.
From the New York Times: "We got to have a fever for somethin’!' Q-Tip exhorted the crowd on Tuesday night at the Blender Theatre at Gramercy. He was kicking off a sold-out show — and by extension the CMJ Music Marathon — which had ramped up all over the city earlier in the evening. His call to passion felt right, and met with a consensus of approval." pic by circa81*
Read more about the CMJ Music Marathon [Here]
Posted by taj at 11:27 PM
Link Heavy. Studio Visit with Brendan Monroe
Link Heavy. Studio Visit with Brendan Monroe: This inside-look at Brendan Monroe's studio is way too fresh. We really enjoyed this feature by FF. If you've been a fan of Brendan's work, you'll surely enjoy this photographic piece.
From FF: "On October 4th, 2007 I got in the truck and headed over the Bay Bridge to the studio of Brendan Monroe and Evah Fan which sits behind Evah's apartment in a quite Berkeley neighborhood. The small garage has been converted into a perfect sized studio with plenty of room to accomodate the two. Just outside the door sits a healthy little garden where the two grow tomatoes and other veggies... While shooting photos the breeze made its way in and out the open windows. A small black cat meowed at the door wishing to be petted. And the warm smells of plant life made its way in while Berkeley's great radio station KALX played in the background. This may have to be the best studio I've ever been to, and it suits these two just fine as they mentioned they hardly leave it."
Dork recommends FF. Check out their Brendan Monroe piece [Here]
Posted by taj at 11:08 PM
Event. My Favorite Things
Event. My Favorite Things: Our friends Tyler and company are at it again. Tomorrow night MFT goes down with the usual good times, people and atmosphere. Don't miss it.
About the event: "PUMA and rude. join forces once again as MFT returns this week to APT — and our brand new Thursday night home. To celebrate we’ve imported one of the best selectors in the ‘deep’ south, Kai Alce. Kai is from Atlanta via Detroit, and is known internationally as a DJ and producer, working with labels like Kenny Dixon Jr’s (Moodymann) Mahogoni and Brett Dancer’s Track Mode. He is also a rude veteran having played one of the original sessions. Joining him will be residents Tyler Askew and Big Bang." More details after the jump.
Upstairs, as part of our Artists in Residence series, we invite you to rock to the sounds of design supremo Billions McMillions & Friends.
Music begins at 10pm.
APT 419 West 13 Street NYC (212) 414 4245
Visit MFT online [Here]
Posted by taj at 11:00 PM
Habitat. PaperClip Lamp
Habitat. Paperclip Lamp: Right now we're reading The 10 Faces of Innovation. It's a good book that poses a few interesting business perspectives. Positive thinking, audacious brainstorming and forgetting the devil's advocate - they all ring well with us. But, the book's golden nugget comes when it states "...it's best to look at those non-obvious, completely outside your realm of work, areas for inspiration. That's where creativity lives." The best innovations derive by seeing something effective in another genre or business and applying that same thinking within your realm of work. Teague's Paperclip lamp reminds us of this.
The paperclip is a beautiful example of form and function - one sinlge wire graceful bent into a simple shape for functionality. Moco Loco highlights the lamp: "When is a paperclip not a paperclip? When it’s a LED lamp by Teague, of course. As the ubiquitous paperclip lends itself to being picked up and bent, the designers of this lamp, Ben Collette and David Wykes, applied the same tactile approach to the structure of the lamp. See the lamp flat on a table, why not bend it into shape?"
Visit Moco Loco for more pictures of the stunning Paperclip lamp [Here]
Posted by taj at 09:59 PM
October 16, 2007
People News. Wu-Tang, Trouble In Paradise?
People News. Wu-Tang, Trouble In Paradise?: News like this is heartbreaking. Apparently, The Wu may be headed for a breakup. Well, it's more like the clan's most enjoyable member is thinking about leaving the group. As reported by MTV and Pitchfork, Ghost is quite disgruntled, because the group's latest album, 8 Diagrams is set to drop the same day as his solo LP, Big Dough Rehab. I don't know, it sounds like a win-win, but Starks is a bit heated. Here are some choice quotes from the man himself (courtesy MTV):
"I'm not [mad at] all the members. It's not based on the members, but the hierarchy at Wu-Tang Clan is on some bullsh--. They trying to f--- around and make me push my album back and doing all this. But n---as ain't f---ing around or give us money when we did them Wu-Tang tours. The first one, they paid us after a while, but this last one, n---as is holding onto a lot of money. And [they're] upset based on that. It's a battle right now." Geez. Here's what he had to say about 8 Diagrams: "I got on some of them [tracks]. A few of them.... n---as better pay my f----ing money. Matter of fact, they can keep the money-- just get me out of their life right now. They can keep that money, it's all good now. I don't even wanna talk about it no more." With that quote, Ghostface just ended my childhood. *UPDATE* RZA has pushed back the release - YES!
You can read the rest at Pitchfork [Here]
Posted by james at 05:00 PM
Film. I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With
Film. I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With: There's a reason why single guys pay higher insurance premiums: going it alone is hard. Worse, pity has never eased the pain of loneliness (I apologize if this reads like a big downer - I'm listening to Radiohead). Finding the right person is hard enough, but try being an overweight, unemployed actor, who lives with his mother - a Sisyphean task if ever there was one.
I guess it's true then, that great comedy comes from great pain, because Jeff Garlin's I Want Someone To Eat Cheese With is, at times, a great comedy. The film's protagonist doesn't want much: someone to love him, a great part, and to lose weight. Watching him try (pathetically) to get these things is where the comedy lies. The movie isn't perfect, the third act dragged on a bit, but when it works, it is hilarious.
We recommend I Want Someone To Eat Cheese With [Trailer]
Posted by james at 02:42 PM
People. Junot Díaz
People. Junot Díaz: Michiko Kakutani (NYT) described Junot Diaz's debut novel, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao as "Mario Vargas Llosa meets Star Trek meets David Foster Wallace meets Kanye West." Díaz deserves the high praise - his work is inventive, funny and original. Wondrous Life, a story told through the eyes of a second-generation Dominican geek, gives Díaz an opportunity to explore the relationship between identity and ethnicity in an assimilative society.
We got hip to Díaz after reading Wildwood, a short story about a Dominican girl in Paterson, New Jersey and her controlling mother. The characters in his stories have an authentic streetwise tone and use English and Spanglish interchangeably. Junot Díaz was born in the Dominican Republic and grew up in New Jersey. He's the recipient of an American Academy of Arts and Letters Rome Fellowship in Literature. If you aren't already a fan, you will be. (Miramax has acquired the screen rights to his book - sweet!)
Purchase a copy of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao [Here]
Posted by james at 01:40 PM
October 15, 2007
People News. Cultureserve
People News. Cultureserve: Diana McClure, writer and photographer, presents her latest project entitled Cultureserve. We've been reading it over the past few months and have enjoyed its ability to collect a diverse grouping of perspectives within the art realm. The editorial direction is strong and the photography is captivating.
More about the site: "Cultureserve provides progressive news bytes on global art and culture. Designed to inform, inspire and stimulate further investigation, Cultureserve.net is a platform and information portal where multiple projects in art and culture can gain visibility simultaneously, and in turn, share their work with a network of diverse individuals."
Dork recommends Cultureserve. Check them out [Here]
Posted by taj at 12:12 PM
Art & Design. Beautiful Decay Relaunch
Art & Design. Beautiful Decay Relaunch: Our friends at BD have relaunched their website. The styling - matched with loads of information - make this site a daily read. Be sure to check them out often.
More info: "Beautiful/Decay is proud to announce a completely revitalized and re-designed website (www.beautifuldecay.com). Positioned to become an unsurpassed art and design web portal, the new site is the perfect resource for anyone who wants to be in the know about all things creative. Visitors will now have greater interactivity with the site: they can post their own events in our Event Section to promote their creative happenings—whether it be gallery openings, concerts, lectures, symposiums, fashion shows, and so on. B/D Feed, our creative daily blog where readers can stay current with the latest art shows, up-and-coming artists and design work, has also been enlarged to include richer, higher resolution images. Of course, Beautiful/Decay continues to provide the popular Public Feed, a forum in which readers can post their own content."
Visit Beautiful Decay's comprehensive new site [Here]
Posted by taj at 11:48 AM
October 12, 2007
Event. Make It Real at GR2
Event. Make It Real at GR2: Giant Robot is an inspiration. Tomorrow night they're hosting another great event featuring Souther Salazar. Souther lives and works in Los Angeles. His artwork reinterprets the world making it a mythical place of carnivals, lost cities, giant insects, dinosaurs, and a variety of other animals. Souther mixes media, adding layers upon layers of storytelling making his work something to explore for hours. Souther Salazar graduated with a BFA from Art Center in Pasadena.
Tomorrow's show Make It Real was inspired by a long drive and wandering mind. Souther imagined stories, scenes, places, and things that made him feel positive and constructive. These thoughts are manifested in six large paintings: five 30" x 48" landscapes and one 48” x 48” square. Be sure to check out the show. It begins tomorrow and will end on October 31, allowing key works to appear at a Giant Robot-curated art show at the Japanese American National Museum. More details are listed after the jump.
An opening reception for Salazar will take place from 6:30 - 10:00 on Saturday, October 13.
GR2
2062 Sawtelle Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90025
gr2.net
(310) 445-9276
Posted by taj at 12:23 PM
October 11, 2007
Fashion. Lace Me Up
Fashion. Lace Me Up: When you're into something it seems real to you. Obviously, or you wouldn't be into it. So when the thing that you're into becomes a big mainstream trend it's hard not to take it personally. That's when you have to take a step back and realize there's a whole world out there that's way bigger than you. If you're into kicks the way we are, try not to get worked up by this article in the times. It's so not a big deal:
"SO: You’re in love with the 1980s revival but don’t know where to start? It’s a reasonable quandary. No one wants to update his T-shirt drawer in one fell swoop, from faded pastels to neon colors that could injure your cornea. Then you need the right ’80s pants (and the right ’80s hair) to go with. If it all seems, like the ’80s, to be too much, you might just dip a toe into the day when Duran Duran roamed the earth. And for that, you’re in luck. If sneaker makers can do one thing, it’s spot a trend, and this year they’ve come out with shoes that manage to tie up almost every ’80s symbol in a single pair. Memphis. Transformers. The Human League. Pac-Man."
Read more from the Lace Me Up article [Here]
Posted by james at 04:45 PM
Habitat. Cardboard Furniture
Habitat. Cardboard Furniture: During our hiatus my life was pretty much internet-free. I spent most of my time brooding about the minutia that is my daily life. I came close to becoming one of those "I don't go online" people who look at you cross-eyed when you mention anything internet related. Then I stumbled on the ingenious website, Foldschool and my faith was restored. Here's some more info (courtesy NYT):
"Looking for that perfect accent for your design-conscious toddler’s room but don’t have the budget for a set of junior Panton chairs? The Swiss designer Nicola Enrico Stäubli has just the solution: his Web site, www.foldschool.com, provides downloadable patterns for a stool, a chair and a rocker, all of his own design — for free. The easy-to-follow instructions guide you through the cutting out, scoring, gluing and assembly. With a knack for crafts and a free afternoon (or two or three), you can put together the crystalline Frank Gehry-esque seating. Eco-friendly (corrugated cardboard is reusable and recyclable), not to mention crayon-friendly (you can actually encourage drawing on the furniture), it’s just the kind of conversation starter your child needs for her next play date."
Read more about Cardboard Furniture [Here]
Posted by james at 04:19 PM
People. Tyler Askew is Blogging.
People. Tyler Askew is Blogging: We're big fans of Tyler. The guy has pizazz. Obviously, we're stoked about his new blog. His insights on design are enlightening. So far he has blogged about everything from New York City's new logo to the art direction for Wes Anderson's film The Darjeeling Limited. He balances content you'd expect with optimistic posts like this:
"As many of you know, we're preparing for our Presidential election next year, and there couldn't be a more important time to make a positive change in our country and the world. One of the candidates who is pushing for this change is the Illinois Senator Barack Obama. I was fortunate enough to hear him speak last night to 25,000 people in NYC's Washington Square Park. He is an inspirational guy who truly makes you believe that there is something we can all do to make a difference in the world. Let's hope he can keep building momentum as we approach the elections."
Read more from Tyler's Blog [Here]
Posted by james at 03:14 PM
Art & Design. Kozyndan v. Sony
Art & Design. Kozyndan v. Sony: Creative minds are bound to collide. Whether they're inspired by the same things or they subconsciously pull from one another, imitation is bound to occur. That's the innocent side. Then there's the other side. The classic unimaginative entity stealing from the imaginative. All in all it can be tough to call. Especially when corporate america and independent artists enter the frey.
Recently, Kozyndan and Sony created work that looks shockingly similiar. We could write about this at length, but Bobby H does a killer job of laying it all out. From the Hundreds, "So a couple days back, I posted the third installment of the celebrated Sony Bravia commercials, but it wasn’t long before my inbox was flooded with irate email from readers who forwarded me onto this (Dan's Blog). Apparently, Dan (1/2 of art collective Kozyndan) is suggesting that Sony and more specifically, Passion Pictures, unapologetically pirated the idea for their rainbow bunny film from his paintings."
Read more about Kozydan v. Sony (Passion Pictures) [Here]
Posted by taj at 02:33 PM
Fashion. WeAretheSuperlativeConspiracy
Fashion. WeAretheSuperlativeConspiracy: Last week we stopped by The Vanguard/Museum Group to check out WeSC's latest and greatest. Not only is the brand soooooo thorough, but the folks who rep them are especially knowledgeable and kind. In our nascent existence we've found the fashion world a bit unfriendly at times - you know the ole too cool for school M.O. But not these guys. They are top shelf - super professional and infectiously excited about the work they're doing.
Sorry if this reads like an open letter. These folks deserve it. Guys, thanks for all the good information, and 90's flashbacks. Much success to your establishment and WeSC. Massive props to Dan, Brian, Leah and Ari. We appreciated your time and effort. Keep it going.
Read more about the most definitively fresh WeSC [Here]
Posted by taj at 12:12 AM
October 10, 2007
Link Heavy. Riottt Relaunch
Link Heavy. Riottt Relaunch: Boasting one of the largest blog rolls from the art-music-streetwear-producer community, Riottt relaunches a comprehensive site. Sky and Ricky have been working hard to bring this concept to fruition. Be sure to check them out.
Here's more about them: "Riottt is an open platform for expression. Contributors come to create, collaborate, and share their best content - videos, music, stories, art, photos, blogs, podcasts - with like minded individuals." Web 2.0 is here and it's penetrating. Cold check it.
Dork recommends Riottt dot com. Visit them [Here]
Posted by taj at 11:52 PM
October 09, 2007
Art & Design. Swiss Graph Application
Art & Design. Swiss Graph Application: Ping Mag published another great design piece. Hazuki Sekine writes about the commonplace creativity found in Switzerland. Coming from Japan - home of ridiculous commonplace design - his perspective is most interesting. Overall, it's a good read.
From Ping Mag: "In Japan, we associate Switzerland usually with Heidi, Girl of the Alps, majestic mountain ranges, fabulous cheese and internationally renowned designers. However, since recently moving from Japan to Switzerland, I have been looking at the design of commonplace items that the Swiss get to see every day – and discovered how cute and colourful even the most ordinary objects are! Today, seen through the eyes of a Japanese, PingMag introduces a variety of unique designs from Switzerland…"
Read more about Swiss Graph Application [Here]
Posted by taj at 02:56 PM
Media. The Real
Media. The Real: After a brief hiatus we're back. The inboxes are kind of full and we're taking a hard run at getting info back into the feed. First up is The Real. We apologize in advance for no citation. We bookmarked this link and have been laughing ever since but we can't remember who sent it. If you sent this our way, please give us a shout so we can give you your props. The dork office laugh-o-meter has jumped significantly since we've been watching these shorts.
Our favorite skit is Bring it Back that old Ringtone Rap. From their site: "Ayo, tired of using technology? How could you be in this day and age, when you can make your Nokia cry out with T-Pain? We suggest you go into your spam folder and download whatever pop song (disguised as hip-hop) that the kidz are listening to. You'll be the coolest faux-thug on your block! Until, you know, next week's hot ringtone comes out. Regardless, get ready to party like it's $1.99."
Watch The Real and prepare for laughter [Here]
Posted by taj at 02:45 PM