Archived entries for
let’s make a deal
My favorite piece at this weekends Art Under the Bridge festival in Dumbo was (by far) Barter by the Ukrainian art collective, SOSka Group . I loooooved this.
First off, Barter was screened inside The Cardboard Gallery. The Cardboard Gallery is an alternative art space constructed from local cardboard and other reclaimed materials, designed by architect Marta Gazicka. It stands on the site where corrugated cardboard was first invented. According to the gallery’s website, it represents the “boom and bust cycle of this now gentrified warehouse district. It also questions how creative communities can forge alternative venues and collaborative opportunities in the wake of the recession.”
That in itself is pretty cool…but wait, there’s more…projected on one of the cardboard walls was the North American debut of Barter by the Ukrainian art collective, SOSka Group.
In SOSka’s video Barter (2007) the artists arrive at a local village and set up a display of artistic reproductions by Chuck Close, Cindy Sherman and others in hopes of trading them for food with the local farmers. While the video offers a playful glimpse into the perceived value of art, it also provides a telling social commentary about conditions in post-soviet Ukraine from the point of view of those who are insulated from the geo-politics of the western cannons and from the contemporary art world, including the artists themselves. The video is accompanied by a series of photographs that document of the farmers posing with their selections and interior shots of where and how they have chosen to display these works in their homes.
Thought provoking on soooo many levels…
photo via New City Art
road to somewhere
Since the ’80s, David Byrne has been riding a bicycle around New York City as his main mode of transportation (I know I’ve seen him countless times). Soon after, he began traveling to other cities with a folding bike.
Bicycle Diaries, which came out yesterday in NYC, “chronicles David’s observations and insights — what he is seeing, whom he is meeting, what he is thinking about — as he pedals through some of the world’s major cities.”
Check out David Byrne at the Union Square Barnes and Noble tonight at 7PM for a panel discussion titled Cities, Bicycles and the Future of Getting Around. He will be joined by Paul Steely White (Transportation Alternatives) Janette Sadik-Khan (NYC Dept. of Transportation) and Mitchell Joachim (Professor at Columbia and Parsons).
park(ing) day
In cities around the world today, metered parking spaces will be temporarily transformed into public parks and interactive spaces as part of an annual event called PARK (ing) Day. Click here to find a location near you…then ride your bicycle or walk on over.
There are 5 pop-up parks within 3 blocks of my house. My favorite is the Green Builders at Columbia spot where I unsuccessfully tried to toss a water balloon into a toilet. If my balloon would have gone into the toilet instead of hitting the rim, it would have burst and, subsequently, watered a potted plant which was waiting underneath. The display is meant to open discussions with passersby about the importance of waste water management. Nice idea…plus, if your plant gets watered, you get to take it home with you.
house these
This just in my email box:
House Industries Serigraph Series
All of the 27 new serigraphs are hand-pulled, air-dried and numbered by longtime House Industries collaborator David Dodde. Slow air-drying is an essential step in Dodde’s process and allows the use of richly-pigmented inks to reach the unique deep flatness that is characteristic of high quality prints.House Industries drew from its extensive library of typographical and illustrative treasures, including several letters from the Photo-Lettering collection. House also teamed up with designers Marilyn and John Neuhart to create a poster of their original logo as well as two of Marilyn’s doll illustrations.
Printed on acid-free 130# recycled cover stock. The posters are available from House Industries at $35 each for the large prints (26″ x 20″) and $18 each for small prints (8.5″ x 11″).
I just bought the small R.
cheese or font?
These are two of my favorite things…so how could I get so many wrong? This game is as addictive as a hunk of Robusto.
When you’re done, check out Steak House or Gay Bar…
Cheese or Font via serious eats
designing tasteful flags
One of the tastiest ad campaigns out there…
WHYBIN/TBWA created a cute advertising campaign for the upcoming Sydney International Food Festival 2009 using flags made out of food; each representing the native cuisine for each of the countries.
tapeheads
Atlanta based artist Brian Dettmer creates intricate sculptural skeletons using cassette tapes and heat. Wow! See more after click.
via design boom
design porn
Bibliographic, 100 Classic Graphic Design Books is a compilation of the best design books of the last 100 years. By Jason Godfrey with a foreward by Steven Heller. A must have.