baroque but needs no fixing

editors at the University of Pittsburgh’s Pitt News got a little crafty for the cover of their anual sex edition. very sexy indeed.

Photo by Vaughn Wallace

of those humorists: david shrigley

david shrigley does dry, odd humor (my kind of humor) right. i can look at his drawings for hours and still be amused. i will leave you with a few of his drawings, so you can begin your appreciation as well. i do sincerely hope you enjoy them, otherwise…

fantastic, huh?

tim gunn re: anne truitt

 

one of the perks of being a crafty college kid in dc is seeing all the crafty grown-ups that swing into town.  enter: tim gunn and his surprisingly stoic comrade martin puryear. the hirshhorn museum and sculpture garden just opened an exhibition on anne truitt, a contemporary artist whose floating columns of color completely changed the landscape of minimalism.  so influential and charming was she that a group of her pupils (gunn), friends (puryear) and scholars (curator kristin hileman) gathered to discuss everything right and wonderful with truitt.mr. gunn was just as charming, engaging and diplomatic as you see on the television box.  job well done. 

 

check  out anne truitt.  

i want what she ordered, kudasai.

So you’re in a foreign country, and you can’t say anything but “beer” and “bathroom.” Okay, we forgive you, maybe you just had to take a weekend train to Hungary to see some fabulous Finnish band, and sleeping with the Hungarian-English dictionary under your pillow didn’t cut it. Too late.

So this time you accidentally ended up in Japan—specifically, at the café in the Urban Design Center Kashiwanoha. You’re thirsty! So, like this blogger, you order an orange juice. But you get an “Appletizer” and ice cream! What is this? Another example of failed language skills, right? No! Because suddenly, the Japanese person behind you gets your orange juice, damn it! What’s going on?

a studded leather slap to the face.

It’s equal parts filthy and flashy – useless and sublime.  The party photography featured on Driven by Boredom is rich with vile excess.  It’s a studded-leather-gloved slap to the face of anything conventional. 

Nate Smith (known by his friends and followers as “Igor”) is the photographer/provocateur-in-chief.  When the über-hip or ultra-tranny contingents of NYC venture out to be seen, it’s Igor’s camera lens that sees them.  What this creates is a kind of accidental art – a still frame of pure energy that encapsulates the moments of those late nights that often end up forgotten through drunken delirium.

These are the kinds of chic-destroying shots that augur a fashion movement – they are the white-hot transitory images that advertising campaigns are built upon.  If nothing else, they are at least proof that somewhere in the sordid sanctuary of the Big Apple – this is actually happening. 

Party Picasso.

The Wadsworth Antheneum throws this chic little event every month called Art After Hours where the museum hosts music, a special lecturer and drinks/free nibbles. The first time I went I was intrigued but not overly impressed. When I heard my favorite HPSU gentlemen were hosting the bands for October’s shindig I promptly put it on my calendar. Suffice to say, the boys put on a good show. The event was held in the courtroom and it was decked with silver tables, paper lanterns and a few Picassos. Not bad.

The crowd was quite interesting as it represented a huge dichotomy between the well-to-do older crowd round Hartford and the well-dressed youth. Lucky for us, the music broke the divide.

Roman Wolf and Tanlines performed and while they were both interesting/appealing I have to say, I am a newly inducted mega-fan into the Tanlines posse. Self-described as visual/experiment/pop, Jesse and Eric put on a damn good show. What was once a stuffy, tension filled room erupted in pure movement. Perhaps it was the several strong drinks I had in me circa 7:30 PM but I remember saying, “This is the best, best dance party I have EVER been to.” Perhaps not completely true but indeed, the only time I will be able to dance with women 40 years my senior among Picassos. Not bad for a Thursday night.

guest drop: brittany levine on indie philanthropy

 

Who knew “inter-galactic indie domination” would be headquartered in Canada?

The founders of the Yellow Bird Project, two recent college grads from Montreal, did.

The Project creates and sells indie band t-shirts—think New Pornographers and Devendra Banhart– and gives the proceeds to charities. They call it indie philanthropy.

Their newest venture: a coloring book.

Illustrator Andy Miller channeled the bands’ music as he doodled black and white cartoons for the Indie Rock Coloring Book.

Bon Iver’s page features a cabin in the woods, snow-capped mountains and magic water. MGMT gets a playground with a slide, ladder and periscope that stretch out like tongues doing yoga poses.

Matt Berninger, lead singer of Brooklyn band The National, is a fan of the book.

“This is the greatest coloring book since coloring was invented,” he said according to the YBP Web site. “I’ve decided to have kids just so I’ll have somebody to give this book to.”

misguided attempts.

recent alumnus of maryland institute college of art, casey reed johnson is a budding simplistic sculptor. he takes basic ideas, images and objects melds them with bright elementary colors and voila, a masterpiece is born. when i caught johnson’s latest piece (a collision of misguided attempts) being featured at the connor contemporary art gallery in DC i couldn’t help but stare at it endlessly and ultimately select it to tile my desk top. art is a beautiful, flawless thing and i feel quite fortunate that johnson’s work has graced my hard drive and my heart.

p.s. you know we don’t pull any punches here so obviously i facebook messaged him immediately requesting more photos/info. will keep you updated when this art genius (cross your fingers) responds.

Oh Alexander McQueen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alexander may be my fashion God. Who else could come up with a knuckle clutch complete with skull rings or turn a hub cap into a chic headband as seen in his fall/winter 09 collection, “Everything but the Kitchen Sink.” This collection is as good as it gets from hounds tooth suits to Pollock inspired gowns. Every time I re-watch the show I fall more and more in love. And as much as I hate to admit it, I can’t stop think about how my life would be complete with an Alexander, haute couture masterpiece.

E-Gads!

because i haven’t raved about theselby enough. australian photographer jonathan zawada compiled this poster from the many interior shots on the website. limited run of 275 posters all signed and numbered will be on sale on the website starting tomorrow. zawada’s practically giving these away ($25) so you can bet my bum will be parked in front of a computer, credit card in hand.