July 2009 Archives

"Humble Masterpieces..." // By Paola Antonelli

Paola Antonelli has taken a bunch of banal objects and displayed the beauty of their design in her new book "Humble Masterpieces: Everyday Marvels of Design". She takes a closer look at 100 everyday objects and shows the beauty in their design. It includes objects like safety pins, condoms, and legos. If you ready for a new view, pick it up!

By Lipsticktracez, July 31, 2009 4:28 PM, Comments (0)

"Your Bright Future" // Korean Art @ LACMA

LA is so awesome because of all the great art that is around. Not only are there so many galleries, but the museums in this town have some of the best art shows around. Take for instance one of the shows at LACMA right now, "Your Bright Future". The show features twelve South Korean artists that grew up in Korea during hard political times that shaped their views on life and art. There is such a great range of mediums in this show as well, ranging from video displays to installation art to photographs and drawings. If you'll be on that side of town I would definitely go and check it out!

Press Release Courtesy of LACMA

June 28th - September 20th

This exhibition presents the work of twelve artists from South Korea who were born between 1957 and 1972. Coming of age amid political turmoil and increased freedom, they are keenly aware of their position as citizens of an increasingly prosperous but divided country in a rapidly globalizing cultural and economic environment. By focusing, often humorously, on the ephemerality of life and identity as well as the limitations of communication across languages, cultures, and generations they make presence, absence, and change the center of their work.

Note: In conjunction with the exhibition Your Bright Future, LACMA commissioned YOUNG-HAE CHANG HEAVY INDUSTRIES to create a series of new artworks for presentation on the web. These six works can be viewed here. Two more commissioned works by YHCHI are in the exhibition.

In East Asia, family names are written first, followed by the given name. Sometimes names are written as two separate words; other times they run together. Some of the artists in Your Bright Future follow East Asian conventions. Two also run their last and first names together. Others adopt Western conventions when they show their work in the West. We have capitalized the family name of each artist at the beginning of the section about his or her work.

By Lipsticktracez, July 30, 2009 11:47 AM, Comments (0)

Annenberg Beach House // Beach party// rent this chair

The Annenberg Community Beach House, (formerly Marion Davies' palacial private home), is the place to sunbath this summer with activities like yoga and beach tennis, and affordable pool passes available for everyone. Head over on a Monday and get a pool pass for $1! Open from 8:30am to 8:30pm (the pool is open from 10-6) this is the place to be to get some rays. Head on over and beat the heat!

Courtesy of Annenberg Beach House:

THE BEACH HOUSE STORY

The Annenberg Community Beach House at Santa Monica State Beach is a new public facility located on 5 acres of oceanfront property. The Beach House story is one of evolution from private to public, starting with the development of the property at 415 Pacific Coast Highway as an opulent private estate in the 1920s.

Past

The 5-acre oceanfront site upon which the Annenberg Community Beach House now sits was originally developed during the Gold Coast era of the 1920s by William Randolph Hearst for actress Marion Davies. The Davies estate featured a mansion of 100-plus rooms and an ornate marble swimming pool. As with many Hearst projects, the vision of architect Julia Morgan provided a cohesive grace to the rambling estate. The Beach House was a hot spot on Santa Monica's Gold Coast, with Hearst and Davies entertaining luminaries from the Hollywood set, such as Charlie Chaplin, Louis B. Mayer, Samuel Goldwyn, Greta Garbo, Clark Gable and other stars of the day.

In 1947, Joseph Drown purchased the property from Davies and converted into Oceanhouse, "America's Most Beautiful Hotel," along with the Sand & Sea Club, a limited-membership beach club. After the Oceanhouse venture ended, the main mansion was demolished in 1956. The popular sand & Sea Club continued to operate.

Present

The property was sold to the State of California in 1959, continuing to operate as the ever-popular Sand & Sea Club under a concession agreement. In the 1990s, the City of Santa Monica ran the facility, known as '415 PCH,' until the 1994 Northridge Earthquake severely damaged all structures on site.

In recovering from the earthquake, the City embarked on an extensive public input process to re-envision the role of 415 PCH as an important public gathering space. Although a reuse plan was adopted in 1998, the project sat on hold while the City tried to secure funding. Wallis Annenberg of the Annenberg Foundation, held fond memories of visiting the Sand & Sea Club. When she learned of the City's struggle to identify funding to realize its vision for a year-round public beach facility, she enthusiastically offered to help. The Annenberg Foundation provided a $27.5 million grant that paved the way for the site's rehabilitation.

Staff from the Foundation and the City worked with Frederick Fisher Partners, Architects; Charles Pankow Builders; Historic Resources Group; Mia Lehrer & Associates; and Roy McMakin to form the new Beach House. The project involved rehabilitation of the historic Marion Davies Guest House and pool, as well as construction of new recreation and event spaces. The Beach House is another step forward in the City of Santa Monica's commitment to sustainability - it is a green facility expected to be awarded a Silver LEED Rating from the US Green Building Council, at a minimum.

By Lipsticktracez, July 30, 2009 9:17 AM, Comments (0)

Play with this....Lego makes Taj Mahal

Legos aren't just for kids anymore, especially when you can build a Taj Mahal in your living room. Check out this awesome rendition of the massive building, available now for purchase at Lego's online store. (Beware, it has over 59,000 pieces!) Bond with your kids, or have a quiet evening at home building yourself a wonder.

By Lipsticktracez, July 30, 2009 8:50 AM, Comments (0)

Artists collab with MAC cosmetics//Kalman, Minter, Phillips

Marilyn Minter, Maira Kalman, and Richard Phillips collab with MAC cosmetics. They gave the three their fall collection and told them to create some work based on that collection of makeup. The results were amazing! The shots will be used in the MAC fall campaign.

By Lipsticktracez, July 25, 2009 4:38 PM, Comments (0)

LA fashion bloom at Taylor De Cordoba

Influencial curator and gallerist Heather Taylor has transformed her gallery into a temporary fashion boutique. I love that the current economic climate has encouraged an informal attitude to bridge the gap between art and fashion. Anything goes and people are enjoying that. Up through August 8, they are featuring the work of five LA-based designers - Clare Vivier, Annie Costello Brown, Gregory Parkinson, Jesse Kamm and Wren. A portion of all proceeds go to P.S. Arts, a local non-profit dedicated to restoring the arts in public schools.

I love this hip little gallery and Taylor has always embraced the edgier fashion world in a conceptual art context. So get your shop on and support the arts. Check it out.

By Lipsticktracez, July 24, 2009 11:44 AM, Comments (0)

Vibe goes under

First Blender, now VIBE. What a bummer that all these mags are done. Vibe was founded in the early 90's by Quincy Jones and started out with Jonathan Van Meter (VOGUE) as the editor in chief. Jonathan is a good friend and amazing writer. Chances are if you read the cover stories in Vogue on beautiful leading actresses he was written them. He recently wrote an obit for VIBE in Ny magazine about his struggle with Quincy not to put Michael Jackson on the cover. At the time, the latter was in his "wacko jacko" phase. Now he has been martyred so it would have seemed appropirate. Oh well. I didn't really read it at the end because I wasn't that into the editorial vision, but as a photographer I am always sad to see another publication close. I'm just dredding the day when Rolling Stone shutters its doors.

Courtesy of PDN:

The entire VIBE Media Group is shutting down effective Tuesday, according to a memo from CEO Steve Aaron. The staff had been in the process of editing a tribute issue of the magazine commemorating Michael Jackson.

The company was unable to secure financial backing, or to restructure a "huge debt," Aaron wrote. Declines in the music industry and in advertising worked against the business. "It's also unfortunate that in a recession many companies reduce the multi-cultural campaigns," Aaron added.

By Lipsticktracez, July 24, 2009 11:34 AM, Comments (0)

Human Zoo // A Daring Film by Rie Rasmussen

I would definitely recommend taking some time to take a look at the film "Human Zoo" by Rie Rasmussen. Every once in awhile a film comes along that makes you take a good hard look at society and our norms making you realize that the world is a complicated place, and "Human Zoo" is one of them. Set in Serbia and Kosovo in the beginning and then in France, the story follows the main character from a life filled with war and violence to a life of being an illegal immigrant in a mob-style environment. Check it out!

"As 'a product of imaginary lines around failed states' Adria tries to find her balance looking for identity as a human female while being raised and trained in the mostly male perpetuated zoo of violence. It's not her game but she can learn...well!" (Rie Rasmussen)

Human Zoo - Bande annonce Vost FR
by _Caprice_

By Lipsticktracez, July 18, 2009 10:37 AM, Comments (0)

Kohler and top lensmen team up //Colin Finlay

Kohler has launched an amazing project with their campaign to try and raise awareness for water conservation. They have enlisted the help of some of the world's leading photographers to create visuals showing just how important of an issue water conservation is. One of those photographers is Colin Finlay, (whose images of dissapearing glaciars are below) , is a renowned nature photographer. (The others photographers are William Abramowicz (landscapes and interiors) and Sebastian Copeland. You should also hop over to SaveWaterAmerica and take a quick quiz that will donate $1 to habitat for humanity to help them use water saving products in their homes. Spread the word and save some water!! Image ran in Vanity Fair magazine

By Lipsticktracez, July 15, 2009 11:23 AM, Comments (0)

Double dutch photo //Rineke Dijkstra and others on NYC

The grass is always greener on the other side, or is it? The only way to tell is to explore the new territory and see what happens. So to commemmorate the 400th anniversary of when the Dutch came over to America, (or specifically Manhattan), a show has been put together of the Dutch perspective of New York. Many Dutch artists have their work in the show, and from what I've seen it is a really interesting show as a whole. I would definitely go and see it! Below are some samples of the work:

Hendrik Kerstens

Rineke Dijkstra

Press Release Courtesy of Museum of the City New York:

Dutch Seen: New York Rediscovered

Jun 10 through Sep 13

The Museum of the City of New York and Foam_Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam presentDutch Seen: New York Rediscovered. Guest curated by Kathy Ryan, Photo Editor of The New York Times Magazine, the exhibition will mark the 400th anniversary of the Dutch arrival in Manhattan and feature the work of contemporary Dutch photographers.

Through their considered gaze, the participating Dutch photographers will give a portrait of what New York City is today. The rich diversity, energy, tolerance, and commerce the Dutch brought with them to the first settlements, along with the stunning landscape that originally attracted the Dutch to the region 400 years ago still define New York City today and will be clearly visible in the photographs on display. The concept of the exhibition is created around the theme 'portrait of the city'. The exhibition will consist of portraiture, landscapes, still lives, conceptual photographs, and documentary photography. It will be modern work, firmly rooted within the Dutch tradition.

This exhibition presents New Yorkers with some of the most exciting imagery in the photographic medium being done by the Dutch. The artists featured in the exhibition range from the legendary Rineke Dijkstra to emerging artists who are just now gaining recognition. Participating artists include: Morad Bouchakour, Misha de Ridder, Wijnanda Deroo, Rineke Dijkstra, Charlotte Dumas, Hendrik Kerstens, Arno Nollen, Erwin Olaf, Jaap Scheeren, Danielle van Ark, Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, and Hellen van Meene. The majority of the work in the exhibition will be created and premiered in this exhibition. A fully illustrated catalogue featuring work created by all of the participating photographers shall accompany the exhibition.

By Lipsticktracez, July 12, 2009 2:45 PM, Comments (0)

Bob Willoughby's iconic Hollywood portraits

I am a huge movie buff, and I am always excited to see behind the scenes photographs from when the movies were being filmed. The man who pretty much invented the common day process of photography for film stills, Bob Willoughby, is having some work put on display at the Celebrity Vault. He has captured some of the most interesting film stills from some of the coolest films ever made, mostly from the great era of film that included Judy Garland, Katherine Hepburn, and John Wayne. He also got some epic film stills from working on "The Graduate"! If you like movies, I would definitely check out his work!!

Bob Willoughby is an accomplished photographer, whose images have been seen in print and exhibitions worldwide.

His photographs are included in the collections of The National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C., The National Portrait Gallery, London. The National Media Museum, Bradford, UK. The Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris. Musee de la Photographie, Charleroi, Belgium. The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences, Beverly Hills. CA, The Museum of Modern Art, Film Department, NYC, The Tate Gallery Collection, London, & The Musee de la Photographie et de l'Image, Nice, France. He was also presented with the Lucie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Still Photography for Motion Pictures, in New York in 2004.

Celebrity Vault has worked with Mr. Willoughby to select twelve of his finest images to produce in large format (40"x30"), in editions of only 12. Each print is produced by Bayeaux Ltd. in London and hand-signed and numbered by Mr. Willoughby. This collection is unparalled, below are a few of the selections.

Please feel free to contact us for additional information or to reserve a work.

All the best,

Sarah O'Donnell

Asst. Director, Celebrity Vault
phone: 310.858.7815
email: sarah@thecelebrityvault.com

By Lipsticktracez, July 11, 2009 9:14 AM, Comments (0)

The Truth of Youth

I was standing outside The Powerhouse, a nightclub on 27th or 28th Street, when shiny black truck pulled up. Run-DMC and the Afros came out of the club, piled into the car, and pumped up the volume so everyone could dance. It was a classic summer in the city, and I was only 16. I don't even think I knew then what any of it meant, but it all seems so clear now. And that's the truth of youth: you live it to the fullest.

The new book American Youth by the photographers of Redux Pictures, set for release by Contrasto in July 2009, celebrates the ingenue, the coming of the new, and the beauty of the idealism. A striking and sometimes startling look into the lives of teenagers nationwide revealing the relationships between self-determination and tradition in our country today, American Youth captures the strength of rebellion alongside the inevitable vulnerability of adolescent existence in photographs that stand in both contrast and correspondence to each other. Be it Iraq War widows or debutantes at the Plaza Hotel, JROTC in Virginia or transgenders in San Francisco, this compendium of some 25 photographers provides an unvarnished glimpse into the struggle between rebellion and tradition in the newest generation of Americans, showcasing the edgy empathy that defines the Redux Pictures' collective.

By Miss Rosen, July 10, 2009 7:25 AM, Comments (0)

Three Weeks with Chanel

Coco Chanel: Three Weeks/1962, a collection of never-before-seen photographs by Douglas Kirkland set for release in September 2009 from Glitterati, provides an intimate look at the woman who transformed twentieth century fashion. No stranger to photographing some of the world's most beloved icons, including Man Ray, Marilyn Monroe, and Judy Garland, among countless others, Douglas Kirkland fixed his lens on Chanel for twenty-one days in 1962. Sent to Paris on assignment for Look magazine, Kirkland ended up living with Chanel for three weeks, catching both the public and the private moments of Chanel's daily life. This photographic collection is as staggeringly beautiful as it is an impassioned portraiture, shedding new light on one of the great stories of the modern age.

From the moment she opened her millinery shop in 1912 to the creation of her signature "little black dress" in 1926, Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel (1883-1971) epitomized smart elegance. Always cutting edge, her contributions to the fashion industry run the gamut from the popularization of costume jewelry and women's slacks to the creation of the first designer perfume, Chanel No. 5. Not just a record of Kirkland's impressions of "Mademoiselle," this book also features a compelling foreword by literary giant Judith Thurman, who poignantly contextualizes the relationship between Kirkland and Chanel, making this book every bit as incomparable as Mademoiselle herself.

By Miss Rosen, July 10, 2009 7:18 AM, Comments (0)

Richard Avedon: Photographs 1946-2004 @ SFMOMA

Industry master Richard Avedon has an iconic show at SFMOMA. Starts July 11. His work spanned over many generations and many subjects, and his photographs have definitely stood the test of time. The best part is, that we can still look at his work and see how innovative and interesting it was. If you will be up anywhere in the San Francisco area, I would highly recommend swinging by and reminding yourself of how awesome his portfolio is.

Press Release Courtesy of San Francisco MOMA

July 11 - November 29, 2009

Whether photographing politicians, artists, writers, fashion models, or movie stars, Richard Avedon revolutionized the genre of portraiture. He rejected conventional stiff-and-staid poses and instead captured both motion and emotion in the faces of his subjects, often encapsulating their intrigue in a single charged moment. SFMOMA is proud to be the only U.S. venue for this retrospective that spans the artist's remarkable career. Featuring more than 200 photographs along with a selection of vintage magazines, the exhibition presents work spanning Avedon's entire career, from his earliest street scenes to his breakthrough 1950s Paris fashion pictures and the iconic celebrity portraits that brought him world renown. This in-depth retrospective reveals Avedon's singular ability to blur the lines between photojournalism, fashion photography, and fine art.

By Lipsticktracez, July 8, 2009 8:59 AM, Comments (0)

Mike Blabac// The Art of Skateboarding photo book

Mike Blabac has one of the best new photography books out right now about the Skate scene. Check it. Published by Powerhouse Titled "Blabac Photo: The Art of Skateboarding Photography", there is a rad mish mash of subjects and styles and definitely makes you appreciate skateboarding and the people that do it for a living. A staff photog for DC, Mike has some icons in here. Here are some fun pics from his opening with Rob Dyrdek, Lance Mountain and other iconic skaters.

Press Release: DC

DC CELEBRATES LEGENDARY SKATE PHOTOGRAPHER
MIKE BLABAC'S FIRST BOOK AND SHOE RELEASE IN LOS ANGELES

On Thursday, July 2nd DC hosted an exclusive event at the DC Melrose store in Los Angeles, CA to celebrate the release of DC skate photographer, Mike Blabac's first book,BLABAC PHOTO - The Art of Skateboarding photography. Industry VIPs including DC athletes Danny Way and Rob Dyrdek, Lance Mountain, Mike O'Mealy, Aaron Meza, Atiba Jefferson, and Steve Berra came to support Blabac and view the photo gallery exhibit showcasing 20 years of Blabac's photography pulled from his extensive collection of work.

Available July 1st, BLABAC PHOTO is the first skateboarding book of its kind featuring 224 pages of iconic images in skateboarding in a beautifully designed, cloth-bound, large format hardcover book. Published by powerHouse Books, BLABAC PHOTO takes you on a visual journey from Blabac's humble beginnings as a kid who was intrigued by cameras to shooting some of the most legendary skateboarders of all time. Coinciding with the release ofBLABAC PHOTO is the Blabac Azure mid, the first DC signature shoe that has been made for a non-professional team member. This shoe was designed to compliment the book and pay homage to Blabac and his work with DC over the past 10 years.

Both the book and shoe will be available at http://www.dcshoes.com/blabac, DC flagship stores, select skate shops, powerHouse, and select book retailers.

Blabac's Los Angeles gallery exhibit will be available for viewing at the DC Melrose store from July 3 through August 2. BLABAC PHOTO launched in New York at the powerHouse arena in Brooklyn New York on June 30. The NY exhibit will be available for viewing at powerHouse arena from July 1 - August 2. Next stops on Blabac's tour are July 9, 2009 in Melbourne, Australia; July 12 in Tokyo, Japan, July 18 in Barcelona, Spain and the final stop will be in London, England on July 22. For more information on Blabac and the world tour visithttp://www.dcshoes.com/blabac

By Lipsticktracez, July 7, 2009 2:55 PM, Comments (0)

The Paradise Tree for hanging stuff for MAGIS

I'm sure that no child would think that hanging up their coat would be fun, but with Oiva Toikka's new "Paradise Tree", (designed for Magis), they just may find a new joy. Not only are the colors bright and playful, but the arms are in cute and quirky shapes. I wish I could have had this in my room as a kid!

By Lipsticktracez, July 7, 2009 8:35 AM, Comments (0)

Keepin It Cool // Built Tote for the Beach

If you love going to the beach but hate letting your water get warm and your pasta get warm, then this is the tote for you. The Fugu lunch tote from Built is designed to keep your drinks and food seperate and at the temperature you desire for up to four hours. It's also expandable so you can take just a little or a feast for two. Comes in red, black, and polka dot, a must have beach accessory for anyone!

INSULATES FOOD & DRINK FOR UP TO 4 HOURS DEPENDING ON EXTERNAL TEMPERATURES
TESTED FOR LEAD SAFETY - NO VINYL OR PVC USED
MADE FROM NEOPRENE (THE WETSUIT MATERIAL)
SOFT-GRIP HANDLES
STORES FLAT
STAIN RESISTANT, MACHINE WASH COLD, DRIP DRY
W 13.5" X H 12" X D 7.5"
(W 34.3cm X H 30.5cm X D 19cm)

(Courtesy of builtny.com)

By Lipsticktracez, July 6, 2009 1:22 PM, Comments (0)

Tiffany Paros line for LTR

Here are some cute sportie chic pieces from designer Tiffany Paros

By Lipsticktracez, July 6, 2009 12:40 PM, Comments (0)

Never Can Say Goodbye // An Afternoon at Neverland Ranch

So last week I hopped in my car and headed up to Los Olivos to check out the scene outside of the Neverland Ranch. Needless to say, there were some very devoted friends and fans there; one British girl paid 900 pounds for her plane ticket out to California! There were tears and sing-a-longs, and a large group of media that were waiting it out just in case anything did end up happening at the Ranch over the weekend. There was also a surprise guest; a Michael Jackson impersonator from Ireland showed up to pay his respects, and I got my first unwanted glimpse at what it is like to be a part of the paparazzi/news media. It was an experience to say the least, and by the looks of things the front gate will probably be littered with fans and goodbye notes for a long time to come.

Post By: Ashley Schaffner

By Lipsticktracez, July 6, 2009 11:03 AM, Comments (0)

Give me skin//Alexander McQueen for Samsonite Black Label

Fashion and travel have always gone hand in hand. Now you can rock some seriously slick luggage while enroute to your next fashionation. McQueen has designed an ultra-cool line of luggage for Samsonite Black Label that will make everyone want to travel in style. Not exactly low key, but pretty just the same.

Available at samsoniteblacklabel.com