January 8, 2009 | Architecture | by Francis Andrews 
|
US architect Teddy Cruz has long focused on what architecture can learn from informal settlements. His latest project aims to build residential areas in various parts of the US that mimic the Shantytowns of Tijuana, Mexico. He’s already pitched proposals for a site in the Hudson Valley, New York, and has now shifted focus to San Ysidro, a small community just north of the US-Mexico border. Homes will be packed together, and any leftover space to be taken up by taco stands, market stalls and meeting places.
- 3
- 0
January 8, 2009 | Art | by Zolton |
I watched the controversial documentary last night, My Child Could Paint That, which looked at the then four-year old art ‘genius’, Marla Olmstead, who was already exhibiting regularly (and selling her works for thousands), despite her age and the questions that were being repeatedly raised about the influence her rather ambitious father might have been having on her artwork. It was fascinating to watch, both for the trainweck story plots which hijacked its generally reverential tone, and for the process by which Olmstead was creating her vibrant, colourful, and exciting modern art pieces. Apart from anything else, the documentary raised important questions about what actually constitutes ‘good’ art and why some art sells for so much more than others. It’s all subjective, of course, but the outcry that greeted claims of third party interference in her paintings (a claim which has been noticeably muted over the years) suggests that it’s often less about the work itself than about the story or personality behind the artist who created it. Either way, Marla Olmstead is now eight years old, is still painting, and is selling her work for remarkable amounts. If you have a spare thirty thousand dollars or so, this piece above is apparently still available. So crack open that well fed piggy bank and get some modern art on your walls.
- 8
- 3
January 8, 2009 | Design | by Casper Johansson |
Renowned for his technically exquisite type creations, Barcelona-based illustrator and designer Alex Trochut attributes his love of typography to his grandfather, Joan Trochut, a typographer and the creator of a modular typographic and ornament system built in the 40s. Trochut’s philosophy is that ‘more is more’, and this is reflected in his commissions for The Guardian, Nike, The Rolling Stones, British Airways, Budweiser and Diesel. He’s speaking on January 15th as part of the AIGANY Small Talks at New York’s Bumble and bumble. You can register to attend via their website. Read more
- 4
- 0
January 7, 2009 | Places | 
by Gerry Mak |
I grew up hyper aware of the expectations that people might have of me based on my ethnicity and I always strived to defy them, which is why I decided to suck at math and I refused to go to the kung-fu school they make us all go to when we’re kids. When I see people reveling in their stereotypes, it just makes me feel like giving up and chowing down on a cat.
- 2
- 0
January 7, 2009 | Music | 
by Gerry Mak |
There’s not much one can say about an artist who has recorded more than 400 albums — even if you manage to listen to a large portion them, there’s a good chance you’ve missed something. Good thing, as far as I know, R. Stevie Moore is the only person who has released that many records (Daniel Johnston may come close), many of which were cassette-only or printed in limited numbers. Virtually unknown for decades, the obsessive music geekdom that has reached a fever pitch as this generation of fans has allowed Moore to keep his relentless flow of Zappa-esque weirdness, power-chord pop, tongue-in-cheek ballads, satirical new wave, and whatever else we’ve most certainly missed, gushing out into the universe.
- 2
- 0
January 7, 2009 | Video | by Gerry Mak |
The song here is a little too ‘ambient’ for me, but this ensemble of portable devices (including the Kaossilator Touchpad Synthesizer that we posted about way back when) is pretty impressive. I want to say something about monkeys and typewriters here, but I can’t think of anything except that monkeys murdered the mayor of Delhi in 2007. They’d probably make some pretty evil music with an iPhone and a stun gun.
- 1
- 0
January 7, 2009 | Eco | by Francis Andrews |
This one-stop shop for all things eco-friendly is proof that protecting the environment is becoming a popular pastime. Almost every material category that comprises our society, from design to celebrity to transport, is looked at through a green lens. They’re ranked number twenty-two on Technorati’s list of 75,000,000 blogs, and even Daryl Hannah is singing their praises. Why? Its writers, they claim, ‘have the ability to take topics that most of us snoozed our way through in school, and make them the addictive juicy, green bits that they are’.
- 2
- 0
January 7, 2009 | Products | by Casper Johansson |
Colour Vs. Context contains 24 illustrated postcards created with pens, paper, ink, computers and love by freelance illustrator, Joe Rogers, aka Colourbox. It comes in a limited edition run of just 500 books, and each one comes individually hand numbered and stamped with an official Colourbox product stamp.
- 1
- 0
January 7, 2009 | Photography | by Francis Andrews |
I acquired a new camera for Christmas, and with it a renewed appreciation of the skill — and difficulty — of good photography. This unnamed experimenter blew soap bubbles into the air on a freezing night and caught the beautiful patterns with a deft click of the shutter.
- 3
- 0
January 7, 2009 | Illustration | by Ilana Kohn |
My little heart just about stopped when I stumbled across the intensely colorful work of Copenhagen illustration duo, Sofie Hannibal and Nan Na Hvass. I’m already a predisposed sucker for busy, vibrant work but Hannibal and Hvass’ illustrations just send me into an overexcited tizzy. There are just so many fantastic shapes and layers to soak up! I’ve yet to come across a piece on their website (and there’s a whole lot there) that doesn’t make me want to get up and dance around the room in circles. Read more
- 4
- 1
January 7, 2009 | Events | by Yuko Shimizu |
My ex-roommate, better known as the young genius art star James Jean, has his first big solo show opening at the Jonathan LeVine Gallery in Manhattan this weekend. The opening may get crazy packed with all the fans, but I’m sure it will worth a visit. Read more
- 5
- 0
January 7, 2009 | Trends | by Gerry Mak |
Crop to Cup is a great coffee company that buys directly from farmers in Uganda at twenty percent above market price with ten percent of company profits and five percent of every purchase going directly into their communities. Though not certified organic or fair trade yet (the company is still too small to afford those distinctions), they’re still doing something admirable. Full disclosure: I’m friends with Taylor Mork, one of the two main guys behind C2C, but I know how much of a coffee geek he is, and I dig their product and what they stand for. Read more
- 2
- 0
January 7, 2009 | Film | by Xavier Toby |
Over the past twenty years, Woody Allen has churned out mediocre efforts, especially compared to his early work. Vicky Cristina Barcelona, though, is a standout riddled with social satire and excellent comic timing. It follows Vicky and Cristina, two young American friends who share similar interests but opposite morals. They spend the summer in Barcelona, and the cast, including an in-form Penelope Cruz, Javier Bordem and Scarlett Johansson, all revel in a script that boasts some of Allen’s best lines. For years Allen doggedly stuck to his beloved New York, a city he shot with care and consideration, and that same touch has been brought to Barcelona. He takes us to the villas, islands and other standout tourist locations, the setting for each scene a different postcard. Most the major landmarks are represented, along with picturesque villas, restaurants and streets, although none of it is overdone and provides the ideal background to this meditation on love that is insightful, but still manages to keep the light, playful tone of a holiday romance.
- 3
- 0
January 5, 2009 | Websites | by Casper Johansson |
The Merriam Webster defines ‘aphorism’ as being ‘a concise statement of a principle’ or a ‘terse formulation of a truth or sentiment’. Whatever. The Daily Aphorism email just happens to be a hell of a way to start the morning: a simple truth with which to navigate the endless hustle of the New York subway system.
- 2
- 0
January 5, 2009 | Fashion | by Laura McWhinnie |
When I first stumbled upon local label, MUSE by Good Mixer, in Bangkok, I knew I’d found something special. In an industry plagued by copycat designers struggling to find their own identity, you’ve got to admire the ones who have carved an original signature style. By taking unlikely inspiration from American football and mixing it with Eastern influences, the latest collection by designer Chaichon Savantrat plays masculine sportswear against exotic evening wear. Teaming structured shoulder silhouettes with free flowing fabrics, Savantrat uses a palette of black, white and red to showcase intricate embroidery. And with pieces for both men and women, he’s got both teams covered. Read more
- 2
- 0
Well, it seems I’ve been in a vacuum of art since the spring. And now, its just a week or so out from the upcoming Young Blood exhibit, which features my paintings and opens at the Opera Gallery in New York. I find myself feeling both excited and nervous at the thought that this show is just around the corner. These past few months have seemed like one of the great feats of my lifetime. I have been working for five months on these two upcoming shows, immersed deeply in the studio, being on a complete mission to create what will be my debut show in Manhattan alongside a handful of other rising international artists. I would wake at once at 4:30 in the morning, to a strict regimen of coffee by five, and paint through the sunny summer days into late in the evening to complete these works. Read more
The work of Ho Chi Mnh-based, French illustrator, Nadège David, is stunning: intricate patterns woven deep amongst gently rolling, and pleasantly muted, colours. Read more
We asked some of New York’s more creative residents where they like to hang out in the city, and got a mixed bag of responses back. We’ll be running their insider tips over the next few weeks. This is illustrator Marcos Chin on his favorite arcade bar, aptly named … wait for it … Barcade: ‘Barcade is a time-warp into the 1980s when going to the arcade was the major past time for many of my friends and I. Lined throughout the space are a series of classic 25 cent video arcade games, like Q-bert, Donkey Kong, Arkanoid and Tetris. There’s also a pool table near the back of the space, and a terrific selection of beers to choose from. And yes, you can drink-and-play. It’s located near the Lorimer stop on the L train, at 388 Union Avenue, in Williamsburg’. Read more
Austin band The Low Lows are one of my most prized finds of the year so far. It’s introspective music — staggered harmonies delivered by a distant, agonised voice that filters through a wall of tranquil guitar distortion and measured drumming. Every instrument carries a powerful emotion, sometimes keeping their distance from one another, floating up and around the airwaves, and other times colliding and crashing back to earth.
DJ Spooky — That Subliminal Kid — is just about the deepest crate digger around, trawling the barrels of long-lost record stores for choice vinyl to spin in his wickedly dubby sets. He gave us the inside word last week on his eight favourite songs right now via our sister website, My Secret Playlist. This is what he had to say about Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry’s Panic in Babylon: ‘If there’s anything that the twenty-first century has told us, it’s that dub is the real original hip-hop. Lee Scratch even had to make it clear in 1965 by adding “Scratch” to his middle name. Take that, Grandmaster Flash!’ Read the rest of DJ Spooky’s Secret Playlist.
An intelligently told, morally complex tale with a raft of unexpected twists, Gone Baby Gone is one of the most original films of recent times. Most films give you a sense of their narrative arc and it is easy to recognise the major plot points. Read more
I’m super hyped about the Australian Summer lurking around the corner, so I’ve been on the lookout for some new protective sunnies for driving. Surprisingly, I found some uber-lovely Le Specs that look funky yet designer-esque due to the stylish sides. Read more
WE'RE RESPECTING
WE'RE POSTING / SOME OF THE BEST
Freelance designer Alex Trochut uses typography, illustration and a solid idea to create works that communicate to each brief. He states that he doesn’t want to choose a particular style but instead enjoys ‘expressing himself and communicating though the needs of every project’. And his formula has worked: his clients include The Guardian G2, Nike Football, and my pencil-case favourite, Faber and Faber.
Pictures taken at just the right time
You don’t have to be a skilled photographer to take the best snaps: some just appear out of absolutely nowhere. This site has collected together some of the funniest, cruelest, most alarming — yet completely spontaneous — photos circulating the web. Thank god for other people’s suffering! Read more
Barack sweats it out on Election Night
While the rest of the world spent election night biting fingernails whilst glued to the TV set, it’s kinda nice to know that President Elect, Barack Obama, was doing exactly the same thing, as these wonderfully low-key insider snaps from David Katz reveals. Read more
Fashion blogger Tavi is biting, witty, articulate, and stylish for any age. The fact that she’s only twelve makes her kind of over-the-top amazing. Already an accomplished photographer and astute critic of all things wearable, the sarcastic pre-teen is probably sick of being described as precocious, but she’s the very definition of the word.
I acquired a new camera for Christmas, and with it a renewed appreciation of the skill — and difficulty — of good photography. This unnamed experimenter blew soap bubbles into the air on a freezing night and caught the beautiful patterns with a deft click of the shutter.
From afar, Jesus stares serenely at those surrounding you. But up close, Islamic crescents cluster together in abstract patterns. Created by fashion label, the-affair, this tee is printed on beautifully soft American Apparel in a limited edition of 200. Purchase now. Read more
We have a stack of CDs and DVDs to give away to a lucky new subscriber who signs up to receive our free weekly email publication between now and January 9. There’s 50 new CDs in the pile, along with a handful of DVDs. So sign up now and leave a message here telling us what album you hope will be in the pile!
Discuss
- Zolton on "Will you guys check out my site?"
- Zolton on "Give away"
- Seadog on "Give away"
- murphian446 on "Will you guys check out my site?"
- shanerich on "How to make a post suggestion to Bunnylicious.org"
- amarie on "How to sell more on microstock? The right way is good keywording."
- Andy on "London"
- Francis on "London"
Recently
- Stateside shantytown Francis Andrews
- Marla Olmstead, an eight year old art prodigy Zolton
- Alex Trochut to speak at AIGANY Casper Johansson
- Russion National Fun Gerry Mak