If It's Hip, It's Here

Pit Bull Urban Wear by Dirtty Bones.

2009-07-06T00:00:00.000-07:00

Note: this is an update to a November 2007 post.
Silver and gold grills (or grillz) for the mouth, studded with Swarovski® Crystals. Leather and hardware harnesses and collars with gold plated moving parts. Nope, I'm not talking about new Urban Dominatrix accessories, I'm talking about gear for your Hip Hop Pit Bull from Dirtty Bones

Below is the 'about us' section from their site:

Dirtty Bones

Before you get up in arms about the following products, suggesting they are promoting an inappropriate image for the Pitt Bull or contributing to the ridiculously exaggerated 'fear' of the breed, you should know that a portion of the proceeds are donated to rescue dog organizations and the collection is really created with tongue firmly planted in cheek. You will see that as you read the interview with the owner included later in this post.

In no way am I, or anyone associated with If It's Hip, It's Here, endorsing the wearing of muzzles or dogfighting. The grillz on the muzzles are simply unusual- and frankly, funny. The harnesses and leads are beautifully made and not promoting the false stereotype of the breed.

Below are photos of the collection shown in white with gold plated hardware, white leather with silver hardware, black leather with silver hardware and black leather with gold hardware.

The muzzles with attached grills come in white, black or brown double-stitched leather and the grilles are available in gold with Swarovski crystals or silver.

Grill details:

Harnesses with moving gold plated (or silver) hardware and Swarovski crystal studded spinner on the chest:

Harness details:

The lead:

Close-up of lead:

Below is a 2007 interview with Dirtty Bones owner from Format Magazine
Aug 7,– The Daily Bread – by Auriane de Rudder

The interview:
Tired of rocker-inspired spike collars and studded leashes, singularly named Lascar of Dirtty Bones dog-wear has created a new line of accessories for urban pooches. Although his controversial grills, muzzles and leashes can make vilified bull breeds appear ferocious, Lascar stresses that his products are strictly about a new form of Hilton-free doggystyle, and are meant to have a sense of humor.

With an increase in media attention focusing on pitbull-related injuries and a recent celebrity animal-abuse case rooted in dogfight gambling, Lascar’s items have also brought attention to an important animal rights issue. Format got down and Dirtty with Lascar, and asked his opinion on dogfights, puppy fashion and recent Pitbull bans in a variety of cities including his current hometown, Montreal.

“Once your dog has Dirtty Bones on it and you’re walking down the street, people are going to break their necks to look at you.”

Format: Introduce yourself and your company Dirtty Bones.
Lascar: My name is Lascar, and I am the owner of Dirtty Bones, the first company doing hip-hop dog accessories in the world.

Format: Describe some of your products for our readers.
Lascar: We are really proud of introducing the first grills for dogs. Our 2007 collection features what we think are the three main styles in the hip-hop community: The camo style, the bandana style and the bling-bling style.

Format: And Dirtty Bones is a division of Lascar Inc., what does Lascar Inc. do?
Lascar: Right now we are focusing on Dirtty Bones, but Lascar has many other aspirations. We are going to focus in creative design, we want to have a major company that not only deals with dog accessories, but, also, clothing. We want to do lingerie for women and then we really want to expand, with a recording studio, perhaps a label, go into the movies, we want to be involved with everything that is hip-hop.

Format: What inspired you? Other than an interest in hip-hop, what drove you to create products for dogs?
Lascar: I own two dogs and one day I was looking for something that would fit my own personal style and my dog. All I found were accessories with studs, you know, silver studs. When I saw that, I was like, that‘s not for me, that’s for someone who’s into heavy metal or punk rock music. Not for someone who is living the hip-hop lifestyle.

Format: How do you select your materials?
Lascar: We only work with the finest materials. Our grills are metal and plated with 18k gold, and the rhinestones in the grills are Swarovski – the finest rhinestones in the world.

Format: There’s no denying your products give dogs a tough exterior – and you use a majority of bull breeds in your advertisements and product photos. Who are you marketing your product to with these images?
Lascar: We are trying to connect with the hip-hop community, to people who live a hip-hop lifestyle.

Format: Are you familiar with Falcon’s quarterback Michael Vick’s recent dog-fighting charges?
Lascar: Oh yes, yes.

Format: Vick was indicted on charges of dogfight gambling and animal rights violations including hanging, shooting, drowning, beating and even electrocuting losing fight-dogs to death. These are the dogs that you are creating products for – what is the Dirtty Bones stance on this kind of abuse?

Lascar: These fights and the reputation these dogs get, this is why they are banned in some places. Both of my dogs – Rose and Sugar – are bull terriers, and they are rescues. My youngest is a rescue straight out of dogfights. When I got her, her skin was disgusting, she was 39 pounds when she used to be 60 pounds – she was in really bad shape. I had someone tell me she needed to be rescued, so I took her. My other dog is from a rescue shelter.

As you know we are a starting company, we are trying to establish ourselves, and for now we’re not as big as some companies, but as soon as we get bigger we want to donate to dog shelters, animal rescues and go even further by putting together a show with hip-hop artists in cities where people are thinking of banning the pitbull breed. Right now, in Chi-Town, they want to ban Pitbulls. Do you know this? People put together a show, have fun, but talk about this issue. That’s what we want, with hip-hop artists, you know, when we get bigger.

Format: Have you ever been to a dog fight?
Lascar: This is something – I cannot comment.

Format: Are your products meant to appeal to people who participate in dogfight gambling?
Lascar: No. People who are into urban culture and people who want to have style with their dogs are who we’re marketing to. My products are targeted to the hip-hop community, but by asking if we are targeting the dog fighting people and at the same time talking about the hip-hop community, that’s not good, because that stereotypes this community, you know what I mean? Also, how can we be marketing to people who are interested in dogfights, when the dogs in the pictures are wearing muzzles – how can two dogs fight in muzzles? It makes no sense.

Format: So the products are more of a novelty item?
Lascar: Yes, exactly. Whether you have a dog that fights, or a friendly dog, the person who owns the dog – if he’s into hip-hop culture, by the way he dresses or else his lifestyle – now we can really put some kind of relationship between that guy and his dog. Once your dog has Dirtty Bones on it and you’re walking down the street, people are going to break their necks to look at you, but they won’t see you and your pitbull, they’ll see one element, and this element is from the street.

Also, there are some areas of Montreal that ban pitbulls, in Ontario it’s even worse. Where I grew up, there are places you need your dog to be on the leash and with a muzzle every time you go out, so it works for that, but with a street style. People want to approach your dog more with the grills and the muzzles on. It helps people learn about the dogs that in some places are banned.

Format: The grills, especially, they make a kind of joke out of banning dogs with these reputations, maybe poke a little fun at people who may think your dog is dangerous.
Lascar: Yes. People approach my dogs more when she has her muzzle, because she is safer that way and the grills, people break their necks to look.

Format: Where did you grow up?
Lascar: I’m straight from the gutter.

Format: What gutter, exactly?
Lascar: It’s all the same. Whether it’s Brazil or New York, it’s the same. When you are in the hip-hop lifestyle, whether you are in the ghetto of New York or the ghetto of Brazil, you’re in the same life, there’s no difference. When you travel, when you get in the ghetto, it’s the same sight. Things are different, sure, but it’s still the same feeling.

Format: On a lighter note, it’s refreshing to see a company take a step in the opposite direction of Hilton-inspired doggy wear. Your designs are edgy, and geared toward large dogs. Do you plan to design for smaller animals?
Lascar: We are working on this now, but it is a process because production for animals in very different from production for humans. To make things safe – there’s a more technical aspect. The person who does the patterns, she has more than 25 years of experience, but it’s like really a challenge for her to do it, just to cut the pieces.

Format: Do you have any high profile clientele?
Lascar: We are in the works with some pretty high profile people you may know, but we can’t name drop just yet.

Format: One more thing, Lascar, tell us the truth – what are dog fights like?
Lascar: They’re, they’re – there’s a lot of blood.

all images courtesy of Dirtty Bones

*NOTEs FROM THE EDITOR:
•The article above is to show you "what's hip" and is in no way an endorsement. The fabric 'bandana' and 'camo' muzzles that are shown in the photos in the above post that cover the nose as well as the mouth are no longer being made or offered as part of the Dirtty Bones Collection. Personally, I am not comfortable endorsing the use of these muzzles on dogs since I have never seen one in action and am unaware of their effect on the dog.

•In addition, please know that this blog -and anyone associated with it- is strongly against dog fighting in any shape or form.

Buy Dirtty Bones muzzles, collars and leads (wholesalers only) for your lovable Pit here.

Dirtty Bones myspace page

links in support and love of Pit bulls:
the Real Pit bull (education and awareness)
Positively Pit bull (rescue, adoption and advocacy).
Pitbull Lovers site
Pit Bull rescues
Save Our Pit bulls online petition

Make That iPhone 3G and 3GS Even Better

2009-07-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for a good looking and protective case for your new iPhone, you don't have to look any further than Ultra Case. Whatever look, feel or color you are into, they have it -and at an affordable price.

High-tech, neon, leather, reptilian, disco, preppy, traditional, striped, animal print, glitzy, and more. And they are affordable, ranging from 19.99 to $34.99

Each of their styles is available in various colors, shown in in alphabetical order:

They ship world-wide, offer free shipping, take Paypal and offer wholesale sales as well.
Buy them here.

None of those ring your bell? Then choose from
over 100 various iPhone cases from Amazon here.

Happy 4th Of July! A Patriotic Promotion From DWR

2009-07-04T08:10:00.000-07:00

To remind potential buyers of their holiday promotion (free shipping through July 4th) Design Within Reach e-mailed out this patriotic email to their customers and subscribers that features the American flag made up of modern chairs. This is the second year in a row they've created their 'modern' version of Old Glory.

This year, 2009, they used the Eames shell chair with Eiffel tower base, the Bubble Club outdoor chair and the Bantam Armchair to make up the flag:

The three chairs used in the above art are all available for purchase from DWR:

above: Eames® Molded Plastic Side Chair, available here.
above: Bubble Club Armchair by Philipe Starck, available here.
above: the Bantam Armchair, available here.

Last year's version (2008) featured the Panton chair in blue, the Arne Jacobsen Swan chair in red and the molded Eames Chair in white:

And once again, the chairs from the 2008 DWR flag are all available for purchase:

above: Eames® Molded Plastic Side Chair, available here.
above: Panton chair, available here
above: Arne Jacobsen Swan Chair, available here

I just love them and thought they'd be the perfect way to wish you all a happy Fourth of July!

Shop Design Within Reach and take advantage of their free shipping offer through July 4th now.

Accidental Drug Overdoses Equal High Auction Prices

2009-07-04T00:00:00.000-07:00

It's all in the timing, as they say.

Julien's Auction House of Beverly Hills just held their 'summer sale' on Friday June 26 and Saturday, June 27, 2009 at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Given that the auction sale was hot on the heels of the news of MJ's passing, it's no surprise that the King of Pop's items went for some serious coin.

Michael's death, now suspected but not confirmed of being the result of a fatal mix of prescription drugs, has reinvigorated interest in two other Hollywood legends whose untimely passings were also caused by accidental prescription drug overdoses; Elvis and Marilyn.

Not surprisingly, the highlights (which means the items that went for the most money) went to these three deceased Hollywood legends. Clearly, premature death is a good thing for auction houses.

The most paid for item in the auction was Marilyn Monroe's short white terry cloth hooded bathrobe she wore during a beach photo shoot with photographer George Barris. Supposedly, it was the last item she ever wore and that garnered the highest winning bid at $120,000.00 USD.

above: Marilyn sporting the bathrobe that fetched $120,000.00

The Julien’s 2009 Summer Sale included over 900 unique items from legendary Hollywood celebrities and productions – with approximately 150 items from the personal and professional life of Marilyn Monroe and items from the collection of Elvis’ personal physician Dr. George Nichopoulos. Also offered for sale were a collection of never before auctioned wardrobe books and test photographs from early MGM productions and items from the estate of Ann Miller.

Below are the images of the top selling items from the auction catalog for Michael, Elvis and Marilyn, along with the final selling prices.

MICHAEL JACKSON ITEMS

The 4 items of Michael Jackson's that fetched the highest prices:

above: Michael Jackson's Victory Tour Costume Shirt sold for $52,500.00

above: a signed Jackson Five record album went for $34,560.00

Michael Jackson's own original drawing and painting shown above went for $20,480.00 and $25,000.00 respectively.

ELVIS ITEMS

Below are the items of Elvis' from the auction that received the highest bids.

Above: Elvis' Gifted TCB diamond and gold necklace was the item of the King of Rock n Roll's that went for the most at $117,000.

above: the concert shirt worn by Elvis went for $38,750.00

above: Elvis' gold and diamond ring set with a large lapis stone went for $33,750

above: The Doctor's bag belonging to Elvis' personal physician, Dr. George Nichopoulos sold for$16,000.00

Also, just because it's bizarre and macabre, I had to show you that although they did not fetch the highest prices, each of his prescription bottles shown below sold for over $1,000.00:

MARILYN'S ITEMS

It's no surprise that Marilyn Monroe's items still generate great interest and sales given the public's continued fascination with the breathy starlet. Her items actually made the most money for the auction house whose total haul from the sale was $2,146,744.95

above: the most paid for item in the auction was the above bathrobe of Marilyn's at $120,000.00

above: Marilyn's fur stole, in which she was often seen fetched $69,000.00

above: Marilyn's necklace shown above fetched $63,000.00

above: her prompt book for the film The Misfits went for $36, 250.00

above: Miss Monroe's black and white checkered pants (shown above on her in a photo with her then husband, Joe DiMaggio) went for $33,280.00

above: the signed photo of Marilyn on an elephant sold for $19,200.00

above: Marilyn's umbrella, seen in the photos by Andre de Dienes, went for $16,640.00

Apparently dying prematurely of a prescription drug overdose means good business for auction sales.

There were many other items in the double digits but these were the 'highlights'. Special thanks to Julien's for all the photos and the info. Julien's makes it easy to bid on their auctions- you can do so online, by proxy, on the phone or in person. To learn more about their auctions, go here.

The "R rated" Ballpoint Pen Drawings of Juan Francisco Casas

2009-07-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine brought the amazing ballpoint pen drawings of Juan Francisco Casas (actual full name is Juan Francisco Casas Ruiz) to my attention via his tweet, which sent me to this article in the UK's Daily Mail. Only since it was published over a year ago, I was able to do a little research and find his more recent and compelling works.

Clearly more scandalous and edgy, his 2009 illustrations reek with homoeroticism and a "fuck you" attitude toward art - and are certainly more interesting than those shown in the Daily Mail article.

The following images are NSFW and should not be viewed by those under 18 (I have to write that... I'm a responsible blogger).

Clearly not for conservative publications, his latest drawings are impressive in both their detail and scale, like all of Juan's work. Using up to 14 bic ballpoint pens per image, his canvases reach up to 10 feet in height:

the drawings above are all from 2008 and 2009 and are courtesy of the artist.

Above: in this February 2009 exhibit, you can see the impressive size of his pieces.

Much of this work as well as some of his paintings are available for purchase from the Galerie Fernando Pradilla.

The artist:

The text below is from his own myspace page:
About me:
I am an artist born in La Carolina (Andalusia, Spain). I paint large size oil canvases and ballpen (sic) drawings where I reproduce images I take with my camera, youthful and spontaneous domestic photographs of fleeting moments of nighttime fun. I have a degree in Arts (BA), two postdegree masters (MA) and I am finishing my doctorate (PhD). I also was a teacher of the University of Granada during 4 years.

In 2005 I participated, together with important artists such as Damien Hirst, Neo Rauch or Maurizio Cattelan, at the International Biennial of Contemporary Art "Prague Biennale 2" (Prague, Czech Republic) arranged by the Flash Art Magazine and curated by Giancarlo Politi. I was choosen to represent my country and was the only one Spaniard artist invited to that event. In 2006 I participated in "The Sock Strategy" exhibition at the 2nd International Biennial of Contemporary Art of Seville curated by Okwui Enwezor. I also have won the very prestigious ABC Prize of Art in 2004 and the First National Honours Degree Prize of Universitary Studies of the Ministry of Education and Culture of Spain in 2000. I have exhibited at some of the most important galleries in Spain including the Luis Adelantado Gallery (Valencia-Miami), Metta Gallery (Madrid), Ferrán Cano Gallery (Barcelona) Sandunga Gallery (Granada).

I also have collaborated with El Museo Gallery (Bogotá) and since 2002 I am represented by the Fernando Pradilla Gallery (Madrid-Bogotá) and exhibiting at the international art fairs of Chicago, Miami, Palm Beach, México, Bogotá, Caracas and Madrid. My work can be found in important collections and museums like the ABC Collection of Art or the ARTIUM (Basque Museum of Contemporary Art) where I have participated in the collective exhibition "Catharsis", with such important artists as Miquel Barceló, Antoni Tapies, Jorge Oteiza, Jaume Plensa, Antoni Muntadas and Antonio Saura.

I have also written and participaed in many books, like "Arte Seriado. Exploración y Análisis" and "El Arte como Dicha"; the next of them, "A y otros poemas de relleno" and "The Summer Haikus" are already on bookshops. This year, I have been awarded with the very prestigious award of the Royal Academy of Spain in Rome (Real Academia de España en Roma), where I will reside during 2007 and 2008.

If you are interested in my work, you can contact me at: juanfra10@hotmail.com

Visit his blog (in Spanish only) here.
Visit his website here.
Visit his myspace page here.

Traveler's Insurance "Prized Possession" Paws at Your Heartstrings

2009-07-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

I caught this television commercial during the Wimbeldon highlights two nights ago and couldn't get it out of my mind. The message, the music and certainly the dog, made quite an impact. No surprise that it comes from the creative and respected Minneapolis ad agency Fallon, but I was surprised (and pleased) to learn that its' furry star, Chopper, was a rescue dog turned canine celeb.

In this latest spot from Travelers, directed by Danny Kleinman and featuring music by Ray LaMontagne, we follow along as a worried dog searches for and ultimately finds the safest place to put his most prized-possession.

It's one of those spots where the music, the direction and certainly, the casting, all combine for an effective and entertaining result.

from The Hartford Courant:

The expressive Chopper, who was rescued from a shelter and professionally trained, stars in a one-minute drama of high anxiety about his bone. He goes to great and amusing lengths to protect that bone, just as Travelers wants to be seen as working hard to keep its customers safe with its insurance.

The commercial was developed by Fallon, a Minnesota-based advertising firm, and was a hit when previewed at Travelers' June 4 Investor Day conference. Analyst Larry Greenberg, co-manager of Langen McAlenney in Hartford, who attended the event, wrote a note to investors about it headlined, "The Dog Steals the Show, But Management a Close Second."

Rather than advertise specific products, the commercial is part of Travelers' corporate branding campaign that started last year and highlights the famous red umbrella logo, said company spokeswoman Jennifer Wislocki.

"The message of this ad," she said, "is a reminder that Travelers protects the things you care about."

As Chopper seeks to hide his bone from other dogs, the Ray LaMontagne song "Trouble" provides the soundtrack with apt lyrics such as ""Trouble has been doggin' my soul since the day I was born."

above: Chopper worries about his bone in the latest Fallon spot for Traveler's Insurance.

The mutt tries concealing his bone in a laundry basket, his owner's chair and a hole he digs in the yard. Still worried, he rides a bus to place the bone in a bank safety deposit box. After tossing and turning in his sleep, Chopper retrieves the bone and takes it home. The camera pans to the bone in his food bowl with the iconic Travelers red umbrella over it.

The voice-over says, "When it comes to things you care about, leave nothing to chance. Travelers: insurance for auto, home and business."

Travelers CEO Jay Fishman gushed over the mutt at the investor conference: "That dog is smarter than a lot of people I know. ... You could be friends with that dog. It's great. Don't want to get carried away here. But it was neat."

You can see their latest tv spots here.

Ad agency: Fallon

Super Sleek, Limited Edition, Sexy Carbon Fiber Kayak From Wave Sport

2009-07-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

The Project 54cx Limited Edition from Wave Sport.

A sleek carbon fiber kayak, hand-crafted, individually numbered, and with only a limited number of 50 issued worldwide. It's not just super sexy and sleek-looking, the Kayak has received great reviews from Outside Magazine and Colorado Kayak.

Priced at $2500 a piece and they've already sold several, so get yours here now!

Specifications
Length: 6' 2" / 188 cm
Width: 25" / 64 cm
Boat Weight: 20 lbs / 9 kg
Cockpit: 33? x 19? / 84 x 48 cm
Volume: 54 gal / 205 L
Weight Range: 120-200 lbs / 54-91 kg
Deck Height: 13.25" / 34 cm

Features
* Lightweight Carbon Kevlar Hull
* Lightweight Carbon Fiberglass Adjustable Seat
* Lightweight Carbon Fiberglass Adjustable Leg Lifter
* Improved Thigh Brace and Hip Pads
* Adjustable Backband

Outfitting
* Special, lightweight carbon fiberglass composite, adjustable seat system with easily adjustable leg lifters and backband
* New thigh brace system for added comfort and control for a wider range of paddler sizes.

Buy the Limited Edition Wave Sport Project 54 CX kayak here.

Kanye's Kicks For Louis Vuitton- The Styles & The Prices & ALL The pics!

2009-06-30T11:58:00.000-07:00

Last January I let you know that Kanye West was collaborating with Louis Vuitton on a line of kicks. Well, now they are finally here and they've evolved for the better- for the most part.

The shoes are expected to 'drop' tomorrow, July 1st. The line consists of three models; The Mr. Hudson, the Jasper and the Don.

Here's a good look at all of the $700.00+ pairs of shoes:

The Mr. Hudson is a deck shoe available in various colorways. It's expected to retail at $840.00 USD:

details:

details:

The Jasper is a mid top with a velcro closure at the top. It is expected to retail at $990.00 - $1140.00 USD:

The Don is a low-mid sneaker available in several colorways. It is expected to retail at $870.00 to $960.00 USD:

special thanks to Amaury Choay for La MJC, Louis Vuitton, Kanye West and BKRW for all the great images.

DeLonghi Artist Designed Espresso Machines Auction To Benefit Oxfam

2009-06-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

De'Longhi has partnered with artists and designers to create the De'Longhi Artista Series line of Perfecta Super Automatic Espresso Machines. Two machines from each of De'Longhi's design partners will be featured in a week long auction.

A portion of the proceeds from each Artista Series Perfecta will go to Oxfam America. Oxfam America is an international relief and development organization working to save lives, help individuals to overcome poverty, and fight for social justice. All payments should be made through PayPal.

Once the auction has ended, the Artista Series Perfecta will be shipped to the winning bidder's requested address as soon as payment has been cleared.

Below are all the machines that will be auctioned this coming October.

Damien Correll:

John Hardy:

Jonathan Calugi:

Kelly Hoppen:

Kristina Collantes:

Maria Vittoria Benatti:

Mario Hugo:

Michele Toffalori:

Mike Perry:

Nicole Miller:

The DeLonghi site.

Cannes Grand Prix Winning Film For Philips TV; Making Of & Behind The Scenes

2009-06-29T09:34:00.000-07:00

Created for Tribal DDB, Amsterdam, Stink Digital and Director Adam Berg delivered this interactive campaign for Philips new CINEMA 21:9 TV. The cinematic proportions of the display became the theme of this piece. Adam responded with an idea for an epic frozen moment cops and robbers shootout sequence.

The piece won the top honors at this years' Cannes Advertising Festival in the film category, causing slight controversy by proving that the Film Grand Prix Lion is no longer an honor reserved only for a traditional 'tv commercial.'

Directed by Adam Berg of Stink, London, and edited by Paul Hardcastle of Trim, London, "Carousel" winning the Grand Prix underscores that great ideas come in all shapes, forms and media.

This 2:19 film runs as an endless loop, allowing viewers to control their moves through the scene. The film also contains embedded hotspots, which, when triggered, give us a behind-the-scenes look at some of the shots.

Brief Explanation (taken directly from the entry into the Cannes festival, with additional images added):

Philips set out to own the idea of a cinematic viewing experience at home. From the start the strategy was to create a film that movie lovers would want to see. The film is hosted within a site that, through interaction, educates the audience about the three main features of Philips televisions – Ambilight, Cinema 21:9 and Picture Quality – and ties these features to the act of film making.

So, what would movie lovers want to see? We decided on a seamless tracking shot, one long take that a film loving audience could marvel at and be fascinated by. Within the ‘housing’ of a tracking shot we inserted behind the scenes glimpses where the experts could talk about their craft and the decisions they made whilst filming the shot. The DOP on lighting, the Director on the 21:9 format and VFX supervisor shows why picture quality is so important.

To allow for more interaction, we decided that a frozen time film, shot using a state of the art motion control rig, would give the audience control upon interaction allowing them to literally move the camera back and forth frame by frame. This is done intuitively through a ‘grabbing hand’ cursor when the screen is moused over.

What makes this interaction really special is the interactive cinematic score. The score, composed by Michael Fakesch, was composed as a linear piece, but was then handed over to a flash music developer to carve up and distort as the user moved back and forth through time, frame by frame – all designed to pull the audience in and hold them there longer whilst they try to unravel the mystery of how the film was made. The second main element of interaction is the way the audience is able to trigger the three behind-the-scenes educational scenes from the film’s timeline.

When the user clicks on the timeline, they reveal films within the film. The timeline unfolds and expands, the post production disappears, each expert walks in and the rigging reappears revealing that all along the actors were simply holding their position whilst a state of the art motion rig captured them in frozen time. All this was designed to be as seamless as possible with maximum visual reward ensuring the audience clicked all three of the hotspots.

In addition to the interaction within the film, the ratio of the film itself could be changed at anytime through first person interaction. This simple, but effective comparison tool really did get across the spectacle of the new Philips 21:9 TV. The other elegantly simple piece of interaction is Ambilight on and off, in the words of the DOP – “you really miss it when it’s not there.”

A final point worth noting is the dynamic title sequence. Instead of a traditional loader, we crafted a title sequence correspond to the speed of the users internet connection. The slower the connection, the longer the sequence.

To experience it, go here.

Speaking of, here are some photo stills of the shooting process (click to enlarge):

Check out the "Making Of" video!

Credits:
AGENCY

Tribal DDB, Amsterdam
Global Creative Director: Neil Dawson
CD: Chris Baylis
Senior Project Manager: John Reardon
Producer: Jeroen Jedeloo, Iwona Echt
Art Director: Mariota Essery, Andrew Ferguson
Copywriter: Carla Madden, Chris Baylis
Account Planner: Sean Chambers
Technical Lead: Jan Willem Penterman

FILM

Production Company: Stink Digital
Executive Producer: Mark Pytlik, Daniel Bergmann, Stephen Brierley
Producer: Simon Eakhurst, Stephen Brierley
Director: Adam Berg
DoP: Fredrik Backar

Service Facilities: Stillking, Prague
Stillking Line Producer: Zuzana de Pagter
1st AD: Jiri Ostry
Production Designer: Petr Kunc
Czech Production Manager : Jiri Kotlas
Stunt Co-Ordinator: Lada Lahoda @ Filmca

Editor: Paul Hardcastle @ Trim
VFX: Redrum, Stockholm
Post Production Supervisor: Richard Lyons
Music & Sound Design: Michael Fakesch
Additional Sound Design: Tim Davis
Colorist: Jean-Clement Soret @ MPC London
UK Production Manager: Jemma Daniel

INTERACTIVE
Production Company: Stink Digital
Executive Producer: Mark Pytlik
Project Manager: Christophe Taddei
Lead Developer: Ian McGregor
Key Developers: Vincent Roman, Jamie Copeland, Matt Sweetman
Additional Development: Pierre L. Thiebaut
Design: Eric Chia
Title Sequence & Trailer: Maximiliano Chanan, Odin Church

See other 2009 Cannes Advertising Winners here.

The $11,000 Gold Plated Dog Crate.

2009-06-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

The world's coolest dog crate, the eiCrate, designed by Peter Pracilio for designGO! Brooklyn, New York has undergone a few name changes (it began as the Dog Cage), a few price changes and a few design changes. But the latest news is that you can pamper your pooch in an $11,000.00 22.5kt gilded version.

The ieCrate:

The beautifully designed modern crate is ordinarily available in black, white or silver finishes and is available with accessories like a fitted cover, a door stay and various interior pads or beds.

The Luxe 22.5kt gilded version:

Gilded 22.5k Gold eiCrate
Designed by Peter Pracilio for designGO! Brooklyn, New York

MATERIAL
Crate in powder-coated steel wire gilded in 22.5k gold-leaf. Crate mat/liner is 100% rubber

SIZE
Total height 24.5” Total width 36”, Depth 34”, Door Height 14.5”
* Breaks down into two halves for shipping/storing

PRICE
$11,000. 00USD (plus tax and shipping)

The traditional finishes, shown below, cost a more affordable $220.00 each.

The black version:

the white version:

The silver version:

To purchase any of the eiCrates, including the Gold one, go here.

Looking for unusual or modern dog crates?

Then be sure to check these out from Bow Wow House.

The Best, The Worst & The Weirdest Art Inspired By Michael Jackson

2009-06-28T16:00:00.000-07:00

I know that thousands of people are mourning the loss of MJ, Michael Jackson, aka Jacko/ The King of Pop/ The Gloved One and are paying tribute with original artwork, most of which is amateur and simply awful. You can view many of those by simply searching on Flickr, Deviant Art and Google images.

So, let me separate the wheat from the chaff for you. Michael Jackson was immortalized by some of the truly talented and fairly well-known artists of our time from Andy Warhol to Banksy. Below are some of their art pieces inspired by the late pop star, followed by some examples of the worst and the weirdest.

Admittedly, not all of the artwork here was created with the best intent; several mock the singer or reference things his family would have us forget. But the beauty of art is that it's an expression and a reflection of the world in which we live.... and that's not always pretty.

THE BEST

The most well known, of course, are Andy Warhol's images of Michael:

above: Oil on silkscreen on canvas, 1984
Time cover, March 19, 1984
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Gift of Time magazine, NPG.86.TC14
© Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts / ARS, New York

Like all of Andy Warhol's silkscreens the image was produced in several different color variations:

Contemporary pop artist, Thierry Guetta, known as Mr. Brainwash, created his own version by combining two of Warhol's best known celebrity images:

His 15 prints of the above left image are sold out as well as the one-off shown above right.

Banksy:

details:

The piece, created in 2006, was shown in Santa's Ghetto, London and made obvious references to the allegations of child molestation of which Jacko was acquitted. On the Santa's Ghetto leaflet it reports that this painting was originally by Tom Ormond and that Banksy painted Michael Jackson over the top of it.

Another contemporary artist, known for his urban street art, prints and bronzes, Faile, created this poster:

the above piece is available for sale here. the asking price is $24,00.00 USD

...and Faile's MJ found on on the streets of london:

Jeff Koons (probably the second best known modern art likeness of Michael Jackson):

above: Jeff Koons (American, b. 1955). Michael Jackson and Bubbles, 1988. Ceramic. 42 x 70 1/2 x 32 1/2 in. (106.7 x 179.1 x 82.5 cm). Photo © Douglas M. Parker Studio, Los Angeles.
The Broad Art Foundation, Santa Monica / © Jeff Koons

above: Paul McCarthy's "Michael Jackson Fucked Up (Big Head)" (2002) serves as a critique of Jeff Koons's earlier "Michael Jackson and Bubbles" (1988). Image Courtesy of Hauser & Wirth

Melbourne sculptor Ivan Lovett's Michael made of chicken wire

See more of Ivan's chicken wire celeb sculptures here.

The text art of Ralph Ueltzhoeffer

above: Ralph Ueltzhoeffer's text portraits of Michael Jackson (click on them to enlarge)

Photographer Matthew Rolston, who always shoots beautiful film, shot Michael for Ebony's cover and inside editorial:

See all the shots and behind the scenes ones here.

The other best photographs of Michael I've ever seen are those by Annie Leibovitz for Vanity Fair. She shot Michael twice, once for the December 1986 issue of Vanity Fair, and again in 1994 for the Nightmare at Neverland Ranch story but I cannot find them, so here's the cover shot from the Decemebr 1986 issue and one editorial shot from the January 1994 issue:

Artist Maria E. Pineres' Rogues Gallery is a collection of needlepoint versions of celebrity mugshots. Here's her one of Michael:

To see more of Maria's celebrity needlepoint mugshots, go here.

Muralist Kent Twitchell completed, but never installed, a 100-foot-tall, 60-foot-wide portrait of Michael Jackson, created in the early 1990s for the side of the former Barker Bros. building in Hollywood, now the El Capitan Theater:

above: Los Angeles muralist Kent Twitchell poses in his studio with a portion of his a mural showing the hand of the music icon, at his new studio downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, March 24, 2009.

above: Kent Twitchell sits among panels for his Michael Jackson mural that was never installed. Part of the Jackson mural will be displayed at LOOK Gallery.

Take a look at some of Kent's amazing murals here.

THE WORST

I know, I know, you'd love to see some of the worst art of Michael Jackson. For that, you should check out his own items intended for auction, much of the worst and creepiest by artist David Nordahl.

above: 3 paintings by American born artist David Nordahl, all which feature Michael, and were to be a part of the auction.

Above: Paul Bedard's "Portrait of famous figures wearing glasses" (1985) was owned by Michael Jackson and was to be auctioned in the exhaustive auction with Julien's Auctions that was eventually canceled. Image Courtesy of Julien's Auctions

above: A quilted image of MJ amongst 'friends' made for him by a fan

above: Statue of Michael Jackson in Eindhoven, the Netherlands

I happen to like some of UK sculptor James Butler's work, but this one is hideous:

above: James Butler's "Statue of Michael Jackson" at one point overlooked Piccadilly Circus in London Image Courtesy the Courtauld Institute of Art

and of course, the gold bust shown above from Michael's own collection.

Note: there are links to more bad MJ art at the end of this post.

THE WEIRDEST

above: the Michael Jackson baby sculpture is part of an installation from the John Waters Show at the Marianne Boesky Gallery

above: Three busts of Michael Jackson, including two with forearms and hands, making faces. Each is mounted to a black wooden base on plexiglass sheet. The masks were created for the effects sequences in Jackson's 1997 short film Ghosts. They can be seen during the closing credits as Jackson undergoes his special effects makeup application in his trailer

Fashion designer Jean-charles de Castelbajac's Michael Jackson Dress:

above: A model presents a creation by French fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac for his Fall-Winter 2009-2010 ready-to-wear collection, Tuesday, March 10, 2009 in Paris. The face of singer Michael Jackson is seen printed on the fabric.

Michael Jackson body painting:

above: Colombian artist Anubis Vrussh paints on the body of a model the face of US pop star Michael Jackson in Cali, department of Valle del Cauca, Colombia, on June 27, 2009. (photos courtesy of Getty images)

Michael Jackson Sand Sculpture

above: A sand sculpture by artist Sudersan Pattnaik in tribute to the famous performer is seen at the Golden Sea beach in Puri, about 65 kms away from Bhubaneswar, on June 26, 2009.

LINKS
Here are some links to the most abominable art belonging to and of the pop star:

The site "Michael Jackson Art" has some of the most hideous works you'll ever see and some good ones, too.
More amateur fan artwork
Michael Jackson art on Deviant Art

The Neverland Ranch Auction Items:
The press preview images
The Guardian's Michael Jackson Auction Items Part 1.
The Guardian's Michael Jackson Auction Items Part 2
CNBC 's Treasures from Neverland slideshow

Now I'm just waiting for the Shepard Fairey poster......

Pia Wallen's Special Edition UltraSilencer Vacuum For Electrolux

2009-06-28T00:00:00.001-07:00

Watch this video about her inspiration:

Where can you get it?
Unfortunately it's only available at select dealers in the UK, Norway and Finland. To see exactly which dealers and to learn more, go here.

Dwell On Design Also Happening This Weekend

2009-06-27T09:47:00.000-07:00

In addition to the 6th annual CA Boom design show in Los Angeles, Dwell On Design is also happening this weekend. Lots to do!

The West Coast's Largest Modern Design Event.
Friday 26, Saturday 27, Sunday 28 June. Los Angeles Convention Center.

ON STAGE Design conference, continuing education classes for design pros, round-the-clock seminars for design seeking consumers.

EXHIBITION Prefab Homes, Outdoor, Food + Wine, Kitchen + Bath, Furniture + Accessories, Energy + Solar, Design Materials, Modern Family, Modern Lifestyle, Design Technology.

HOME TOURS Tour some of LA’s most modern and livable homes.

SPECIAL EVENTS Restaurant Design Awards, Film screenings.

learn more about it here.

CA Boom Show in New Venue This Year

2009-06-27T08:17:00.000-07:00

CA Boom Design Show #6 - 2009

The CA Boom Show (www.caboomshow.com) 2009 takes place Friday, June 26 through Sunday, June 28 in the former Robinsons flagship department store on the corner of Wilshire and Santa Monica Boulevards in Beverly Hills, Calif.

A mix of contemporary & modern design incubating companies and products making their debuts, the show draws both the design trade and design savvy consumer. CA Boom combines everything relating to modern design under one roof, includes shuttle tours to never-before seen, stunning architecture in the Los Angeles area.

Exhibit Admission is $20 per day in advance or $25 at the door, which includes panel discussions. Sunday’s “The Homes of the Hollywood Hills” tour costs $75 and includes exhibit hall admission.

A Stahl House Fundraising tour includes special twilight tours of the famous Stahl House (Case Study House #22), and takes place on Friday and Saturday from the exhibit hall for $65. Each ticket contributes to the historic home’s preservation.

above: Julius Shulman's famous photo of the Stahl house

Sunday’s “Homes of Beverly Hills” tour costs $75 and includes exhibit hall admission. Special twilight tours of the famous Stahl House (Case Study House #22), and takes place on Friday and Saturday from the exhibit hall for $65, which includes a $25 contribution to the historic home’s preservation.

The Stahl House by Pierre Koenig:

Other homes on tour at CA Boom:

New Venue: Former Robinsons Flagship Department Store - Beverly Hills, CA (9900 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210)

2009 Dates: Friday June 26 to June 28

The show has grown exponentially in its complexity and “hipness,” combining everything relating to modern design under one roof, including shuttle tours to never-before seen, stunning architecture in the Los Angeles area. This season’s impressive line-up will feature domestic and international designers, furniture and home manufacturers and architects.

Who attends CA Boom?
* 58% Design Trade / 42% Design Savvy Consumers
* Architects, Interior Designers & Hospitality Designers
* Residential & Commercial Developers
* Contemporary Gift & Furnishing Retailers
* Lifestyle & Design Trade Media
* Entrepreneurs
* Savvy Design Consumers

Mr. Jones Watches: Telling Time With 'Tude.

2009-06-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

We expect watches to tell us the time, but to tell us whether to say 'yes' or 'no'?

Whether or not we are loved and whether or not we are blessed?

These witty wristwatches from mr. jones (aka Crispin Jones) do exactly that and more.

My personal favorite is the "Accurate" (special edition shown above) which holds no punches by reminding us with every glance at the face that time is running out.

Mr. Jones Watches is the new cult watch brand from London with all the designs by Crispin Jones. The watches (and the packaging) are designed with modern looking graphics and fun uses of color without being 'too novelty'. The combination of clever kinetic movements or sayings on the face and hands, stainless steel cases and contrast stitched leather bands (often in 2 colors) make them unique to any other brand. They are genuine indie products entirely conceived and executed following a singular vision. The watches are witty, sassy and silly... and affordable at average price of $130.00 USD

The full line includes two 'special edition' watches, three 'limited edition' watches (numbered to 100 each) and a permanent collection of five styles:

Special Editions

The Accurate:

The New Decider:

Limited Editions

Loves Me, Loves Me Not (words alternate between reading 'loves me' and 'loves me not' each second):

The Watcher (eyes on either side of the face move left and right):

The Future: (words in windows read 'is' and then 'now' alternating with every second)

Permanent Collection

The Accurate:

The Average Day:

The Mantra: (positive reads "you're blessed" and negative reads "no chance" which alternates every second)

Decider (the white words on red say 'yes' and on the black say 'no')

The New Decider: (word in bubble alternates between yes in green and no in red with every tick of the secondhand)

The Packaging

The packaging below features either artwork by illustrator Nadine Faye James:

or by illustrator Kate Street

Mr. Jones himself, Crispin Jones:

"today everyone has a mobile phone to do the really functional timekeeping, this means that the wristwatch is free to do something a bit different. the watches i design reflect and comment on society, both on the role that time plays in all our lives and also on the social impact of technology. of course because i would like people to wear these watches, i also work very hard to make them beautiful objects in their own right." - Crispin Jones about the design of his watches.

You can purchase all the mr. jones watches directly from the site. And yes, they ship worldwide!

Replicas Of Eames, Corbusier and Michelle Kaufmann Homes in Legos®

2009-06-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

above: left, the homes recreated in Legos; right, the original homes

The following amazing replicas of modern homes are not Lego® kits but the creations of various Lego® builders - artists, really. Very impressive in their detail, I wanted to show you the images compared with the original homes. Each of the originals (and the Lego® recreations) were designed and built by different individuals.

First off, the Charles and Ray Eames Case Study House #8, situated in the Pacific Palisades in Southern California built from 1945 to 1949:

above photo by Julius Shulman

The Eames Case Study House #8 as recreated in Legos® by Stacy Sterling:

Interior details:

see more of Stacy Sterling's amazing Lego® creations here.

The Villa Savoye was designed by by Le Corbusier, is located in Poissy, France, and was constructed from 1928 to 1929:

above photos courtesy of greatbuildings.com

From Brick Architect Matija Grguric, comes this great Lego® version:

interior and details:

see more of Matija Grguric's Lego® creations here.

Contemporary architect Michelle Kaufmann who specializes in pre-configured, pre fab and custom home designs created the mkSolaire®. "The Greenest Home in Chicago" was on display at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago as part of the exhibit "The Smart Home: Green + Wired".

The mkSolaire®:

see more and learn more about the mkSolaire® here.

The Lego replica of Michelle Kaufmann's "Green" Solaire home was designed for the Smart Home: Green and Wired exhibit. This tiny replica is surprisingly true to the original, with it’s cement board and Ipe wood siding, glass doored garage, and even green roof.

The LegoSolaire:

The King Of Pop Moonwalks Out Of Our Lives

2009-06-25T19:09:00.000-07:00

Michael Jackson has passed away at the young age of 50. I cannot do justice to his incredible career like the numerous newscasts. So for now, I will simply say the world has lost a huge musical talent. And maybe he can play for Farrah in heaven.

Get Michael Jackson Music & Books Here

above photo courtesy of ABC.

I had written about the intended auction of Michael's things last February. To see many of his collectible and unusual items form Neverland Ranch, go here.

To learn more about his death and see photos from his life, go here.

To see a gallery of the best, the worst and the weirdest artwork inspired by MJ, go here.

The Earth Has Lost An Angel

2009-06-25T10:23:00.000-07:00

Farrah Fawcett, 1947-2009

Farrah has finally lost her battle with cancer. You can read about it here as well as see some photos from her life
May she rest in peace.

In January of 2008, I wrote a post about artist Keith Edmier and his unusual relationship with Farrah as well as his work inspired by her and their artistic collaboration as well as their sculptures of one another.

Read about their work together, their book and see their sculptures of one another here.

Farah Fawcett Posters, Magazines & More

Farrah Fawcett Movies and more

People, Places & Things As Seen By Photographer Cormac Hanley

2009-06-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

With a great range of subjects, as well as moods, Cormac Hanley has photographed people, places and things with a unique eye.

From beautiful to disturbing, his work is fitting as editorial, commercial or simply as art. His combining of unexpected subjects like dolls with burning cigarettes or pistols with candy coating are both aesthetically compelling and thought-provoking. Still lives to narratives, close-ups to diptychs, his work is worth sharing. Below are a few of his beautiful photographs.

About the artist/ photographer (from his own site):

Cormac William Hanley was born in Ireland in 1970. Drawn to the clean hyper-realistic styles of artists such as Michael English and Robert Ballagh, Cormac began his visual career as an Airbrush illustrator. This quickly evolved into an early profession in graphic design and in creative direction. In his photography he has returned to capturing and constructing images which fit into his vision of the world, its contents and inhabitants.

His earlier compositional grounding is evident in his strong graphical approach to image making. Cormac finds stimulation in the contrast between meticulous studio work and the world that waits outside.Asked of how he works he maintains one guiding belief: "In pursuing perfection; when you take away all the flaws, there is not a lot left that matters".

Cormac lives with his family in both Ireland and France and travels extensively.

Cormac William Hanley

Represented by Gunda Patzke and Taffetas

You can purchase many of his photos, such as the ones in this post, as prints at the Bear and Breakfast Gallery

Alba Matters: Artist Enhanced Clocks For Furni

2009-06-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

Devin Barrette and Mike Giles began Furni began as a “custom” furniture operation in 2005. Making short run hand-crafted furnishings, they've become best known for their modern clocks.

One of the most fun things they do is ask artists to decorate their clocks and then auction them off or sell them. In this case, the alba matters show artists to decorate the "ALBA", their smaller square clock.

Several artists decorated the ALBA clock in their own style and each sells for $150.00 USD. About half of them have already been sold, but several are still available for purchase. Before I show you all of the clocks in the show, here's a little ALBA background:

The ALBA:

The standard ALBA clock has:
• a hand made solid wood casing
• 5/8” beech wood construction w/rounded corners
• natural wood or rich “dark brown mahogany” wood stain
• white acrylic face w/faux speaker pattern
• old-school red LED clock w/alarm functions
• comes complete with wall transformer
• dimensions: 6” x 6” x 2.5”

Now, alba matters: the ALBA by various artists: (click on each image to enlarge)

Shop the available artist decorated ALBA clocks here.

Furni
215- 5445 De Gaspe
Montreal,Quebec
H2T 3B3
CANADA

Dig Clocks? check these out:

Modern Nixie Clocks

Modern Cuckoo Clocks

Architect Zaha Hadid Kicks Up Her Heels, Or Lack Thereof- Again.

2009-06-23T00:01:00.000-07:00

Architect Zaha Hadid has collaborated with Lacoste for a new line of shoes for men and women. Not her first foray into shoes, she collaborated with Melissa of Brazil to bring us her version of molded plastic shoes in September of 2008.

Her shoes for French iconic brand Lacoste are leather, unisex and have Hadid's recognizable twisting structure. The women's are available in purple or black and the men's in black or navy.

In addition, a special limited edition (850 pairs) of boots for women, shown below, will be available at select boutiques like Colette in France, beginning July 20th.

press release:
Lacoste presents a collection of shoes by architect Zaha Hadid. Born from a digital interpretation of the iconic logo of the brand, the shoes are crafted from Italian calf leather and printed in relief realized by heated metal plates. “Wrapped around the foot, these shoes adapt in an ergonomic way to the shapes of the body" explains Zaha Hadid.

ZAHA HADID FOR LACOSTE

The Zaha Hadid for Lacoste footwear collaboration began with a digitized interpretation of the iconic crocodile logo. Hadid’s research team then used this as a basis to explore a series of surfaces with repeated patterns. ‘The design expression behind the collaboration with Lacoste footwear allows the evolution of dynamic fluid grids,’ explains Hadid. ‘When wrapped around the shape of a foot, these expand and contract to negotiate and adapt to the body ergonomically. In doing so a landscape emerges, undulating and radiating as it merges seamlessly with the body.’

To achieve this tactile landscape effect, Zaha’s team designed a series of metal plates depicting the desired wave pattern. These plates were subsequently utilised to apply a combination of heat embossing and debossing techniques to the calf leather, thus rendering the topography in relief. The effect is visible on the uppers, curving around the top of the toe, and on the exterior fascia of each shoe. A similar pattern is replicated on the sole of the shoe, crafted of moulded rubber, which is designed to reflect points at which the foot naturally exerts pressure. The heel itself is the minimum depth possible in footwear construction, emphasising the slender and streamlined profile of the design.

The shoes also feature the unique Zaha Hadid for Lacoste logo, visibly wrapped around the side of the heel and on the in-sock. The sleek and sophisticated black box which packages the product also bears an embossed version of the same logo. The shoes are unisex in design; the women’s are available in black and purple, whilst the men’s come in black and navy. A limited-edition boot version of the Zaha Hadid for LACOSTE shoe will be available exclusively at such high-end boutiques as Colette in Paris, Dover Street Market in London and 10 Corso Como in Milan in July 2009 as a preview. The main shoe line will be appearing in stores worldwide from September 2009. This exclusive collaboration will be highlighted in store by a suite of bespoke material designed to compliment and enhance the themes and colours of the project.

the above images are courtesy of Lacoste.

This is not the first time Zaha Hadid has designed shoes, in her signature style, she created a collection for the Brazil brand of plastic shoes, Melissa:

above images courtesy of dezeen.

Read all about Melissa shoes here.

Not the only Architect to get into the shoe game, United Nude is an unusual brand of shoes by architect Rem D. Koolhaas and partner, Galahad JD Clark. learn about them here.

above: the Ultra Mobius, another shoe designed by an architect.

Save Your Logo & Help Save Animals & Plants!

2009-06-23T00:00:00.001-07:00

The principle of Save Your Logo is simple:

Save Your Logo creates an opportunity for companies represented by a plant or animal in their logo to contribute to the conservation of that species. Preserving the planet and its biodiversity is essential in the survival of the human species.

Save Your Logo is an innovative global initiative in the field of biodiversity that involves public and private funding, with supports like the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), the World Bank, the International Union for Nature Conservation and the Endowment Fund for Biodiversity.

above: Lacoste is the first major brand to join this program.

How it works:

The funds from the private sector will be invested in the Endowment Fund for Biodiversity and will then be distributed to organizations that specialize in biodiversity and local conservation projects.

The selection and follow up on these grants will be managed by a steering committee of representatives from the World Bank, the IUCN, the GEF and the Endowment Fund for Biodiversity.

Part of the private sector funding will be used to finance the creation of an Emergency Fund for the conservation of for lesser known species that are found on the IUCN Red List.

All these efforts will be overseen by independent auditors and the court of auditors.

To learn more about the tax laws and implications of the program, go here.

This public-private partnership will engage new partners from the corporate sector in the conservation community and complement existing conservation efforts. A robust education outreach campaign will engage the general public to participate in this effort.

The status of all conservation projects will be updated on a daily basis on the website.

Save Your Logo will create the first global observatory for biodiversity using a multimedia platform to communicate about it programs, creating a community of people interested in plant and animal biodiversity and the health of the planet.

If your company or one you know of has a plant or animal in their logo, turn them onto this!

Designers Type Dirty: 450 Typographical Tart Cards

2009-06-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

A different form of 'sexting', if you will, is this fabulous project between Wallpaper magazine, St. Bride Library and Type in the "Sex Issue" of wallpaper magazine.

They asked over 400 designers to create their version of Tart Cards (the biz cards that London prostitutes use to advertise their wares) by finding the 'sex' in typefaces. The 450 cards designed vary in cleverness, style and of course, fonts. Some use the font as a graphic or a sexual image, others use the name of the font as a double entendre or a pun. In any case, they are fun to look at, but will be NSFW in some industries and definitely not for those under 18 years of age.

Here are a few of my personal favorites:

and although I'm not a fan of the design, I had to include this one for obvious reasons:

Along with a selection in Wallpaper Magazine's Sex Issue, all 450 cards can be viewed on their site here.

Wallpaper Magazine's Sex Issue: Type Tart Cards

About the project:
Tart cards are the means by which many London prostitutes advertise their services. Step into almost any central London phone box and you can contemplate up to 80 cards inviting you to be tied, teased, spanked or massaged. Even if a police crackdown, the internet and the increasing use of mobile phones suggest their days are numbered, tart cards are still so pervasive they are now regarded as items of accidental art and have something of a cult following. Once on the periphery of design, tart cards have influenced the work of many mainstream artists such as Royal Academician Tom Phillips and Sex Pistols designer Ray and Nils Stevenson. In conjunction with St Bride Library and Type, Wallpaper asked designers – from students to superstars – to find the tart hiding in every type and create their own graphic numbers. The cards will also be on show at KK Outlet*, London, from 22 June. The over 400 cards will include designs by Erik Kessels, Anthony Burrill, Neville Brody, NB:Studio, Spin, Value and Service, Fernando Gutiérrez, Ian Wright and Noma Bar.

Below is the invite to the show:

In among this plethora of brilliant, witty graphic designs we would like to highlight the serious issue that lies at the heart of the world of tart cards – the plight of trafficked women in the sex industry. It is a subject touched eloquently on by Mike Dempsey of Studio Dempsey, who is a volunteer at the Helen Bamber Foundation which helps rebuild lives broken by human rights violations. While our exhibition is an ode to the graphic qualities of the tart card phenomena, Dempsey's design is a pertinent reminder of the sinister world that lies beneath every card.
--Wallpaper Magazine

*KKOutlet is a shop, gallery and communications agency. It specializes in making, presenting and selling innovative communication solutions. It is the London office of Amsterdam communications agency, KesselsKramer. The exhibition runs from 22- 29 June 2009

See all 450 cards here.

A Bald Artist Uses His Head As A Canvas: Meet James Kuhn

2009-06-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

above: James Kuhn as Mr. T (note the doll's arm stuck up his nose)

Self-described artist, drag queen, former nudist, born again Christian, average 46 year old guy (hardly!) James Kuhn likes to paint his face. And I'm not just talking about a little gloss and guyliner. I'm talking complete transformations! In some cases he even adds doll parts, paper extensions and more. But there's no sense in trying to describe it, you simply have to see his self-portraits.

above: just a few of his hundreds of transformations, also available as a poster.

The following are a few of my favorites from his extensive sets on flickr. They are high res, so they may take awhile to download. Click on them to enlarge and see the details.

Conan (note the one 'shared eye'):

Cat with mouse:

Donkey:

Bluto and Popeye:

Woody the Woodpecker:

Polar Bear and Eskimo:

The Marx Brothers (he's upside down):

Bathing Beauty (her breasts are his nostrils):

Baby Doll (with plastic body glued to his head-he's upside down):

Pretzel Lion (yes, the mane is made of pretzels):

Flying Monkey (from the Wizard of Oz)

Pluto:

Stripper:

The Lollipop Guild (from the Wizard of Oz):

Check him out as a Gremlin, A moving Gremlin!

from his flickr profile:

I am not a photographer, but i take alot of photo's! My camera is a Canon Powershot A610 5.0 Mega Pixels, and i love it!!! I am an artist, drag queen, former nudist, born again Christian, average 46 year old guy...well maybe not exactly average! I love to paint on anything, including flesh! Mostly i paint images from the bible in a style i call "Paint Mosaic" a collage style made up of painted watercolor paper, cut up and assembled onto canvas.

Currently i am having fun making photographic self portrait's, involving face painting. Face paint is the most exciting thing that has happened to me in a long while! I believe it may have magical powers! My "normal" painting has taken a back seat to my face work lately.

For my face paints, i use Kryolan Aqua Color, Snazaroo, and Paradise by Mehron. I attended Burning Man in Nevada three years in a row and it was amazing!!! I believe it completely changed the way i think about art and perhaps the purpose for which i even make art. Art should never be a product. It should be a gift of love and a prayer. Art is silly, and fun, and can be powerful and sacred.

I do show in galleries, but selling should never be your motivation for creating art. Check out my websites www.bibleartwork.com and www.myspace.com/jameskuhngallery. I attend a gay affirming church and its great! Jesus died for EVERYONE! I am not a gay Christian, i am a Christian [ in progress! Gods not finished with me yet! ] who happens to be gay.

I'm Male and Single.
http://www.myspace.com/hawhawjamesworld

See tons more of James Kunh's transformations on flickr here.

If you'd like to purchase one of his books, or posters or more, you can do so at his Qoop store here.

If you're into body painting, don't miss these amazing artists:

Guido Daniele

Emma Hack

Temptu