Lost AT E Minor

Matthew Smith

Vivid technicolor dreamscapes emerge from Brooklyn-based illustrator Matthew Smith’s clever imagination. Always expect the unexpected in his bright, unique, and colourful world, which he builds with detailed line work and bold powerful marker strokes. Yes, I said marker strokes, which is his medium of choice. This allows him to finish his lush pieces with whimsical speed and passion, leaving behind him a stack of imaginative work. His fresh approach and voice are both inspiring and well-appreciated in a world where everyone is trying to be like everyone else. Read more

Fernanda Cohen’s New York portfolio class

The brilliant New York illustrator, Fernanda Cohen — who just happens to live down the road from me in Brooklyn — is teaching a portfolio class at Third Ward starting this coming Tuesday. The course, Illustration Portfolio, ‘helps students build a professional portfolio strong enough for them to feel confident to show it to art directors in the illustration field, including editorial and advertising’. She will lead the class in discussions about ‘what goes into a portfolio, and how to choose your best work, and talk about art directors, who they are, and what they expect from illustrators they are looking to hire’. Visit the Third Ward website for more details.

Andrew Dregraff

Brooklyn based Illustrator Andrew Dregraff never ceases to amaze. With his bold, graphic language, Degraff has a real knack for quirky storytelling that always seems to bring something new and exciting to the page. Be sure not to miss his books section for a peek at the glorious Pink Gold (and buy a copy while you’re at it!)

Urs Fischer’s installations

New York and Zurich-based artist Urs Fischer’s entropic sculptures and installations blows apart people’s expectations of what to expect at a gallery. Last year’s installation, You, at Gavin Brown was a 38-foot-by-30-foot crater dug into the gallery floor. His huge, ambitious works seem frantic and impulsive despite the immense planning and meticulous execution they often require. His mockery of physics, and the enormous scale and shock-and-awe quality of his work suggest the god-like potency of an artist, at least within a gallery space. Read more

Paper Water Bottle

Design company BrandImage has just come out with their line of paper water bottles made out of renewable resources. The bottles themselves are recyclable, and while not as reusable as a plastic bottle, can still be reused a few times. These are cool designs, even if they still pander to our on-the-go, single-serving, throw-away culture. Their environmental friendliness is also dubious, considering most people will still choose to throw these things in the trash rather than taking the time to find a recycling bin.

Faith No More reunion

Very few band reunions get me excited, but I’ve consistently loved Faith No More since I was 13. I loved their pre-Mike Patton era, I loved King for a Day, and I even loved their track with Boo Yah Tribe on the Judgment Night soundtrack. Kerrang recently hinted that a FNM reformation is in the works for ‘09, and though bassist Billy Gould has emphatically denied the rumors, the general consensus is that the reunion is on.