SOUNDSUITS AT THE CENTER OF THE EARTH.
Nick Cave, is a multi-talented artist who dabbles with textiles that make a ruckus. Soundsuits, born at the collision of twigs and a sewing machine are ornate costumes made of materials ranging from human hair, sisal, plastic buttons, feathers and sequins that bring to life a new sound when shakin’ and groovin’ is added to the mix. To be worn or gawked at in a gallery, these music makers are suh-weet. You can check them out in person, at the “Meet Me at the Center of the Earth” exhibit at the Fowler Museum in Los Angeles, now until May 30th.
THE ANTLERS “BEAR” DIRECTED BY EVAN OWEN DENNIS.
Guess what y’all? Besides being fieldworkers in this cultural hub-pot, we have the pleasure of working alongside the cream of the creative crop. Evan Owen Dennis, a creative director at Shilo and contributor to this WMIG ship, just dropped his latest music video for The Antlers’s ”Bear” song, found on the band’s critically acclaimed “Hospice” album from Frenchkiss Records. If you haven’t seen the video already, we have it here with some special behind-the-scene photos from the director himself. The picture is a beautiful sullen stroll into the wilderness, as the viewer uncovers the layers of this opaque musical piece. Make the jump for the moving and still visuals, and take it all in! Read on
DON’T TORTURE YOURSELF FOR NOTHING.
The San Diego Ad Club asked Shilo and WMIG to create a campaign to recruit fellow creatives to enter the 2010 ADDY competition. The ADDYs are the advertising industry’s biggest showdown and a place for trade peers to bum-rush for the title of brilliance in a Creative Director pile up. But since the event is never set in the American Gladiator arena (as one would hope), imagine a little less spandex and more a display of creative prowess. Read on
CENSUS COMMUNITY.
Be sure to check out the latest from Shilo and their friends at GlobalHue Latino. An exploration in live-action, claymation, and imagination, this broadcast spot serves as an invitation for the Latino community to partake in the 2010 Census by using quirky characters and clay as a metaphor for building a dream community. If the Census is this fun then count us in! Make the jump for some behind the scenes action. Read on
TRANSCENDENTAL FINNISH ART FASHION.
Gilles et Dada is a philosophical conundrum, trapped in a pandora’s box, wrapped with pretty knits and fancy silks. The doctrine of this nonsense art fashion house is a bit of a riddle for all the non-sophisticated Finnish kids, but the look book for the Walking Through Light collection might paint a better picture of this mantra stumper. Make the jump for transcendental looks. Read on
MYSTIC ART LACED WITH HALLUCINOGENS.
How does this picture recipe sound? One cup of Jungle cat, a sprinkle of kama sutra, a dash of Hinduistic spirituality, a quick stir around and BOOM! You’ve got a Kelsey Brookes medley of art-cum-bestiality. These colorful paintings are like bits of skittles, laced with PCP, exploding out of a half-mortal/ half-feline, after an intense session of Bikram yoga. We can’t guess what the metaphorical meaning of this banshee art could imply, but the shit looks cool. Make the jump for more of Brookes’ mystical stuff. Read on
VISUAL TALK WITH ALEXANDROS VASMOULAKIS.
Alexandros Vasmoulakis’s reason for being is to communicate (so he states on his website) and communicate he does, with elaborate doe-eyed behemoth beings gracing the buildings in Greece. The size and scope of these pieces are spectacular and speak in epic visual proportions. For examples of his grandiose lessons in conveying a perceptual message, click “read on” for more. Read on
REVISIT 1969 WITH P.S.1 MOMA.
Time-traveling is no joke, neither is art. So, if you could meld the two together, it might turn out something like P.S.1 MoMA’s 1969. From across the East River, the contemporary art center is currently presenting a collection of never-before-seen works from the likes of Lutz Mommartz, Robert Barry, Mel Bochner and John Wesley. As well as, interventions by the new kids of this generation whose work reflects this particular period in history. For your nostalgic review, the large exhibition will break down the year of 1969 through the many dialects of art, up until April 5th of next year.
HOW AWESOME IS STEPHEN WILTSHIRE?!
Stephen Wiltshire is the current blower of fine art minds at the Pratt Institute and pretty much everyone else in existence. With a quick fly-by via helicopter for a view of New York’s skyline, Mr. Wiltshire is recreating the cityscape from memory on a 20-foot panoramic mural. Born with autism and limited communicative skills, his amazing photographic memory and knack for drawing shows a tremendous insight on the capabilities of the human mind. Catch him create his masterpiece in person at the Pratt Institute or via web cam, before this week ends.
CHIHARU SHIOTA GETS HER WEAVE ON.
Yup, there’s a table and a chair in that cluster mix. Nope, this isn’t a picture someone decided to scribble over. This is actually a sampling of Chiharu Shiota’s weave-a-rific installation art. Like a giant arachnid left to it’s own devices, Shiota’s work is incredible in shape and form, consuming an open space and everything within it. Just don’t try to get that pen out of the drawer. Read on
WILD THINGS DOWN UNDER.
If you haven’t seen Where the Wild Things Are (we haven’t), then pick up the new issue of Interview Magazine to see some super duper sweeeeeeeeeet photos from our neighbor, Ari Marcopoulos. He flew to the land of OZ to shoot some photos of Spike, and some monsters, while on the set of one of the most hyped movies of all time. Not sure if James Gandolfini was hiding in the monster costume or what the deal was but you can check it out HERE.
PIG FLU NOT WELCOME AT THE ART HOLE.
It’s inappropriate, but hilarious. Childlike, but grown. Like David Shrigley, but with color. Rob White’s forté for making satirical art at its most primal and ridiculous degree can be found in his ongoing project the Art Hole. Since 2002, a growing collection of exactly 907 drawings and 5 pieces of animation have been stockpiled, investigating politics, humor, and the unconventional. Check his stuff here.
WMIG TRAVEL LOG: THE KINFOLK LOUNGE.
On our recent journey to Japan, we visited our friends at the Kinfolk Lounge, located in a trendy and very fashion-centric area of Tokyo called Nakameguro. From the street, you can view a chalkboard sign and a few Kinfolk bikes hanging upstairs, while the speakeasy sits on the second floor above another cafe. Inside, you’ll see killer Kinfolk Keirin frames of a rainbow assortment suspended from the wooden rafters. The decor is described as vintage Japanese meets modern day safehouse, perfect for meeting locals and travelers of all kinds. Kinfolk isn’t your everyday cycle company; their bikes are classic, lugged-steel Keirin beauties, hand-made in Japan. At the lounge, we hung out with our good friends John and Ryan and had some great times drinking biiru (beer in Japanese) and shootin’ the unchi ’til daybreak. Not only do these guys make beautiful frames, but the drinks are pretty enchanting as well. So, the next time you’re in Tokyo, stop by and tell the guys hello from WMIG. Now we just need to get these bikes here in NYC!
HOKUSAI ON ROIDS.
DISCLAIMER: This photographic image of the “Foretoken” must not be mistaken for Hokusai’s The Great Wave of Kanagawa. It’s almost better. Ikeda Manabu, is a Tokyo based artist armed with an imagination and talent for crafting details and prowess, bestowed from the art gods themselves. Within the tight confinement of his canvases, each square inch of space tells unique miniature narratives weaved together for a much broader epic story. To get a better idea of these fabled details, make the jump for close ups of this awe-inspiring piece. Read on
24 HOUR GHOST CHAIR.
Phillipe Starck, famed creator of the Ghost Chair, has collaborated with Soundwalk to craft a 24 hour mix application that is available for free on iTunes. The mix operates on a full day’s cycle, syncing with your time zone to play music appropriate for what normal people are doing throughout the day. This means that if you’re usually horking lines Chevy Chase style at 2am, then it’s possible the music might not be completely up your alley. Then again, Phillipe is about as French as they come, so he may have planned a special, early morning surprise.
From Kitsune Noir