We’ve been super swamped leading up to and during fashion week. Stay tuned for more posts. Work Hard Party Hard.
The Ramones “Baby, I Love You”
Download: The Ramones, “Baby, I Love You”
The Ramones are one of America’s greatest 70′s punk bands – an iconic band which brings amazing imagery of hanging at the beach in NYC and walking through the East Village and Queens.
Their 5th record was recorded with Phil Spector.
Here’s a quote from Dee Dee…
Early in the sessions, Spector reportedly held the Ramones hostage at gunpoint. According to Dee Dee, when Spector took Joey away for a three-hour private meeting somewhere in his mansion where the album was to be recorded, Dee Dee went looking for them. “The next thing I knew Phil appeared at the top of the staircase, shouting and waving a pistol,” Dee Dee later wrote:
“ “Phil,” I challenged him, “I don’t know what your fucking problem is, waving that pistol around and all that stuff…. I’ve had it. I’m going back to the Tropicana.”…
“You’re not going anywhere, Dee Dee,” Phil said.
He leveled his gun at my heart and then motioned for me and the rest of the band to get back in the piano room…. He only holstered his pistol when he felt secure that his bodyguards could take over. Then he sat down at his black concert piano and made us listen to him play and sing “Baby, I Love You” until well after 4:30 in the morning.
”
Hobo Nickels
We just discovered the amazing art of Nickel carving. These nickels are called Hobo Nickels and were popularized in the early 20th century. Here’s some more info regarding Hobo Nickels.
“The sudden scarcity of jobs in the early 1930s forced a huge number of men to hit the road. Certainly some coins were carved to fill the idle hours. More importantly, a ‘knight of the road,’ with no regular source of income, could take one of these plentiful coins and turn it into a folk art piece, which could in turn be sold or traded for small favors such as a meal or shelter for a night.
The nickel was an ideal coin from which to fashion such a token. The large profile of the Indian on one side and the classic image of the very wide American bison that complemented it on the reverse side provided an adequately sized canvas for the wandering hobo artist to use. It was portable, and the nickel (a copper-nickel alloy) is the hardest U.S. coin in circulation, ideal for carving.
hobo nickels
In a community of generally anonymous drifters, two carvers rose to prominence among hobo nickel creators. Bertram ‘Bert’ Wiegand was born in 1880 and carved from 1913 to 1949. He signed his coins by removing L I and Y from L I B E R T Y, leaving only B E R T. He tutored the man coin collectors consider the giant of hobo nickel carving: George Washington ‘Bo’ Hughes (born between 1895 and 1900 in Theo, Mississippi). Bert met the young teenager in a jungle, or hobo camp, along the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio railroad line, and Bo’s first nickels appeared two years later, in 1915. Bo carved till about 1980, when he was last seen by his friend of 40 years, Williard Chisolm, in a Florida camp.
Life as a hobo took its toll: the rigorous manual labor Bo undertook to survive during the money-tight, poverty-ridden 30s rendered his hands stiff and permanently damaged. Frequent beatings by ruthless detectives prowling railroads (where many hobos resided) in search of freeloaders and thieves compounded his dexterity impairment.
Nevertheless, devoted to his craft, Bo worked through the pain and frustrating impediments throughout the 1940s and into the 1950s, but in 1957, while he was working on a nickel, his chisel suddenly slipped and struck his hand. The injury forced the once-great hobo nickel engraver to resort to a haphazard punching method. Bo continued his work, but with less frequency and diminished quality, and as America moved into the post-war era genuine hobo nickels became a thing of the past.
The U.S. Mint ceased striking Buffalo nickels in 1938. – appalachianhistory.net
Chacho Puebla and His Sister Lula Share Some Modern Advice For Everyone
Check out these clever and fun portraits by Chacho and Lula. Here is a quote from the artist.
“For a long time I´ve been wanting to do something with one of my sisters, my great-aunt and typography. Not all together, but it just turned out that way.
As my son gets older and I get more grey hair, I wonder what kind of advice will I give to my grandkids. My three grandmothers where always giving me sermons instead of tips. “Be carfeul with your money”. “Don´get invloved with that girl”, “Save”, “Get a haircut, you look like a hippie”, and all those classic parent, grandparent comments.
When you´re younger you think you´ll never fall into that same kind of discourse, until you find yourself talking about stupid (cliché) stuff with your kid, about how important school is and if you don´t have a degree you´re nobody. I hope I can give better advice some day. In the meantime, here are some tips my grandmother should have given me.
The photo is of my great-aunt. The photographer one of my sisters, Lula.”- Chacho Puebla
Ron van der Ende Makes Graphic Pieces of Art Out of Bas-Relief in Salvaged Wood.
Ron van der Ende is a sculptor living in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. He specializes in wall mounted bas-reliefs constructed from found wood. The original color and texture of the wood is utilized to form a gripping and realistic mosaic. The realism is further enhanced by the perspective built into the relief. Van der Ende uses his method to conjure up dark industrial and space age imagery. If you like to know a bit more you might want to read this interview on Diskursdisko.de
KINGS OF LEON “RADIOACTIVE”
DOWNLOAD: Kings of Leon – Radioactive
These guys are one of my favorite bands. When Kings of Leon were just starting we used to take them around town whenever they were in NYC. Good times, good dudes.
THE CHINESE STARS “LISTEN TO YOUR LEFT BRAIN” MUSIC VIDEO
In 2006 I loved these guys. Truth be told, I still do. The Chinese Stars were formed with ex members of Noise legends, Arab on Radar. We actually had these guys play a party we used to throw called Shindig.
MARK LAITA PHOTOGRAPHS DYES
Mark Laita was born in 1960. This series was created by dropping dye into vessels of water and then photographed. The forms photographed have a very graphic form and showcase beautiful colored abstractions.
Pantone Christmas Orniments
Glass PANTONE Christmas Balls / 10 Colours
Concept / Graphic Design / Photo Studio Badini Createam as proud member of Selab for SELETTI / PANTONE UNIVERSE™. Launched at MACEF, Milan and Maison & Objet, Paris, September 2011
KELLEY STOLTZ – PRANK CALLS, a song for old lovers who, “ain’t getting none.”
Kelley Stoltz writes a laidback, twangy track with some bite and clever lyrics. Check it.
DOWNLOAD: KELLEY STOLTZ – Prank-Calls
Brooklyn Artist Nick van Woert Sculpts
Nick Van Woert makes some incredible sculptures of busts with poppy colors and textures that create a truly modern feel.
JUSTICE AUDIO VIDEO DISCO
So it took us a minute to have time to listen to this album, but Justice’s Audio Video Disco is a great record. Have a listen and download it as it can be listened to on repeat. Check this tune from the duo.
“How to Hate” a Musical Composition by Lil Wayne & T-Pain
So it’s raining today -Boo Hoo! Here’s a song that should lift your spirits.
DOWNLOAD: Lil Wayne & T Pain : How To Hate
HONG CHUN ZHANG DRAWS HAIR BETTER THAN YOU
“Born and raised in the People’s Republic of China, I grew up in an academic environment. Both my parents are retired art professors and my two sisters are also painters. When I was 15, my twin-sister and I won the National Competition to attend the high school attached to the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. From there, I began my professional art training.
Over the last twelve years, I have studied under both Chinese and American fine arts educational systems, and I believe I have discovered a balance between the two cultures and artistic styles. In China, I developed a solid foundation in painting, but the content was restricted. In 1996, I came to America to expand my education in fine arts. Graduate school in the US has provided me with the freedom to develop new concepts for my work. This unique experience has been recognized with a Skowhegan Artist Residency Scholarship (2003) and a Dedalus Foundation MFA Fellowship (2004) and Pollock Krasner Foundation grant (2006). I have exhibited my work nationally and internationally since 2000. I am now represented by Gallery Imperato in Baltimore.
I currently reside in Lawrence, Kansas with my husband John and daughter Rose. I plan to embark on a new project that is inspired by my Chinese heritage and my Kansas home.” – HONG CHUN ZHANG
A Walk in Through Time with Mr. Pringles
Here is a collection of Pringles logos from 1968 till 2011. The 1st logo was used from 1968 till 1979, the 2nd logo was used from 1978 till 1986, the 3rd logo was used from 1986 till 1996, the 4th logo was used from 1996 till 2002, the 5th logo was used from 2002 till 2009, and the 6th logo is currently being used. Now that’s food for thought -but please don’t actually eat this kind of garbage, it’s not really food.
Sean Augustine March’s “Invanity” to be installed at the Rivington Design House Gallery.
Sean Augustine March, or as he was formally know “Sean Fightcats,” has been preparing for his debut show at the Rivington Design House Gallery for the last couple of months. Today, all around good guy and super close friend Cyril Foiret posted about the show on Trendland.net. Thanks a lot guys, you’re the best.
Help fund the project HERE.
The show will be opening on December 8th and will be a really fun time. We’ll of course be making our Jalapeño Margaritas. Check out our temporary gallery site HERE.
Carly Waito Photo-Realistic Crystal Oil Paintings.
“In these works, diminutive specimens of semi-precious gems and minerals are rendered in meticulous detail, exposing the beauty and logic of their structural minutiae. Yet, beyond simple imitation, Carly Waito’s reproductions imbue further worth to objects that are naturally perfect: where each specimen inherently exudes an aura, Waito has both reiterated and enhanced it. The result is a reverent homage to nature’s marvel, the faculty of humankind and the unconditional value of their synergy.
Through curating minerals, photographing them in macroscopic detail and rendering them in oil paints, Waito employs a layered process highlighting the ties between mimesis and levels of value. From the seemingly limitless depths of Smoky Quartz to the chromatic, reflective facets of Sphalerite, the geometry and beauty of each painted specimen speaks to the incredible complexities of nature’s design as well as Waito’s own facility. Each painting expands the infinitesimal traits of the artist’s tiny subjects, rendering them as detailed maps of an otherwise invisible geological universe.”
Big Sean ft Nicki Minaj – Dance (A$$) Remix
So I’d say this is a pretty good club slammer for anyone looking to stir up a decent party in the next couple of weeks. Enjoy this track from Big Sean and Nicki Manaj.
Download: Big Sean ft Nicki Minaj – Dance
DEV HARLAN
Check out this amazing video / sculptural work from Dev Harlan. This is amazing.
“Dev Harlan is a multidisciplinary artist whose hybrid practice combines the physical and the virtual with the use of sculpture, light and projection. As a self educated Artist, Designer and CG Director, Dev’s uniquely identifiable aesthetic language and reductionist approach place his work at the forefront of a new mode of media arts practice.”
- Dev Harlan
