Zune Valentine’s art

WE'RE SUPPORTING

Zeke Clough’s obsessively detailed drawings harken back to the mind-expanding glory days of Zap Comix. His oeuvre oozes a sense of dread, with lines snaking across the page like coiled intestines and the crosshatching of shadows growing like mold on dead flesh. Read more

WE'RE LISTENING TO

Korean-born Okkyung Lee, who has found a niche amongst the regulars at John Zorn’s The Stone, makes intricate cello improvisations based on her classical and jazz training, following a path forged by the likes of Tom Cora, but veering off into her own stranger, noisier directions.

WE'RE THINKING

I have a weak spot for the work of New York illustrator You Byun. Her pastel, Miyazaki-esque landscapes populated with their saucer eyed creatures just make me swoon. It reminds me of several other well-known illustrators working today, but I feel that she is onto something spectacular that will simply continue to evolve until we’re all just utterly blown out of the water.

WE'RE TRAVELLING TO

One of the largest contemporary construction projects in the world [it's the size of London's Hyde Park], the 220 suite Hydropolis, situated twenty metres below the surface of the Persian Gulf near Dubai, will be the first luxury underwater hotel. It’s expected to open to the public in late 2009. Read more

Sufjan Stevens creates autistic music for introverts — soft, shy, naive, full of shadows, windows, and insecurities. Yet it all sounds slightly forced, his enigmatic songwriting as comforting as it is unsettling.

WE'RE WEARING

With waiting lists and pre-orders already taking place, there’s enough competition for this label without sharing it with the world. But what the heck. A little bit of fashion karma never goes astray. So listen up ladies. If you haven’t heard of Aussie label Maurie & Eve, you need to pay attention. Because their current collection, ‘End of the Line‘ is due to sell out as soon as it drops during October. Read more

WE'RE READING

In the wake of America’s historic presidential election, nearly two years of divisive campaigning, and eight years of a controversial administration, the nation is in desperate need of healing. Beloved Internet personality Ze Frank started From 58 to 42 with Love where contributors use their webcams to post messages reaching out to the side of the country that didn’t vote for their guy. It’s saccharine at times, and there are one or two borderline nasty posts from people that don’t seem completely onboard with the project’s objective. But overall, it’s pretty effective and moving. I’ll admit I needed a couple tissues while reading it.