Don’t Shoot the Puppy

WE'RE SUPPORTING

Working out of the Netherlands, Margriet Smulders’ Endless Garlands of Flowers series features ‘huge mirrors, elaborate glass vases, rich draperies, fruit and cut blooms’. Of these photo-paintings, she says: ‘I love this sensual state. To lose myself, to deliver myself as in a love affair. Reality doesn’t matter. When making photos, I get lost in the scenes, as if the flowers were caressing me in the gulfs of the sea’. Read more

WE'RE LISTENING TO

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.

WE'RE THINKING

Sauerkids is Mark Moget and Taco Sipma, an artist team working out of Rotterdam, Netherlands. Their illustration work is ‘a combination of innocent childhood imagery and the mental confusion of everyday life’.

WE'RE TRAVELLING TO

While the Belizean Islands are some of the most beautiful and tranquil in the world, Belize City is one of those uninspiring places that most people travel in and out of very quickly. However, if you do find yourself stranded there, as I did, the city does have one redeeming attraction. Approximately twenty kilometres west of the centre, you’ll find the Belize Zoo — which the founders call the ‘best little zoo in the world’. It relies on charitable donations and has gained huge respect for housing native Belizean wildlife, such as jaguars, howler monkeys, tapirs, ocelots and toucans, in natural, tropical surroundings. If you’re there on the first Friday in April, you can even join hundreds of visitors in celebrating the birthday of the zoo’s resident tapir, April. The zoo has an awesome rasta-vibe, and the hand-written information posts are guaranteed to make you giggle.

The very talented Jess Snow, the first video artist to be featured by Female Persuasion — the original site for provocative and political female artists — has created this ethereal short video for Lost At E Minor. We feel it. We love it. [see also the promo video Lifelongfriendshipsociety created for us]

WE'RE WEARING

Amanda Yoakum is the creative whirlwind behind YoaKustoms, customised sneakers which stand as ‘an artistic expression rather than just a factory look’. We dig these kicks like we haven’t dug kicks in a long, long time. Read more

WE'RE READING

You’ll notice a new addition on the site, a brand spanking new job board, packed to the brim with creative positions in New York City. So if you’re looking for a new challenge, a new city perhaps, and you’re in a creative industry, check in regularly to see the latest jobs going.