Category Archives: Pop Culture

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Timothy Goodman: Writing on the Walls

Illustration, Graphic Design, Writing on the walls at the Ace Hotel, FlexFit, Fun Decor, typographyIllustration, Graphic Design, Writing on the walls at the Ace Hotel, FlexFit, Fun Decor, typographyIllustration, Graphic Design, Writing on the walls at the Ace Hotel, FlexFit, Fun Decor, typography

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New York based Timothy Goodman is a designer, illustrator, art director and teacher. For the Ace Hotel in NYC, Goodman hand drew 99 picture frames creating a dense wall of ‘discovery’ about NYC for the common tourist staying in the room. Each frame contains a different fact/love/thing/tidbit/or place that the artist likes in the city. At roughly 120 feet, the art was drawn imprecisly to capture the spontaneity of the city, using markers and opaque black paint.

Just this past August, Goodman, in a similar style, created a wall mural for FlexFit Headwear at the Magic S.L.A.T.E. trade show in Las Vegas which he drew in real-time during the first day of the show. He came up with the idea of hand-lettering Tupac Shakur lyrics to Keep Ya Head Up on 500 sq. ft. of wall space, going round and round for about 9 hours. Apart from the great illustrated type, I’m amazed at how perfectly aligned he keeps it all. You can see a video of the FlexFit installation below:

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Exit Sign Art

Sculpture and installations that use Exit signs, Exit Signs as ArtSculpture and installations that use Exit signs, Exit Signs as ArtSculpture and installations that use Exit signs, Exit Signs as Art

Exit sign art, installations and sculpture made with exit signs, Ingo MaurerClick to enlarge

About a year and a half ago, Daniela and I popped into the Charles Bank Gallery on the Bowery and were welcomed by Allen Grubesic’s modified Exit sign reading “EXCITING”. We both found the sculpture very clever. Since that day, when perusing gallery and artists’ websites online, I’ve run into many other sculptures and installations that repurpose old exit signs or are simply influenced by them. Also, when Emma interned at a gallery the summer before last, one of the tasks assigned to her was to research inexpensive exit signs for one of their artists who was planning to use them in his work. That’s when I realized there was some sort of trend here. I started bookmarking these works as I came across them and though there are some that I’ve lost in the shuffle, this is a roundup of most of them.

From top to bottom and left to right: Nicholas Consuegra, Untitled; Allen Grubesic, Exciting; Bobbybabe, Exit; Kelly Mark, Exist;  Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Reference Flow; Cecile Colle & Ralf Nuhn, Exit Wall; Dana Depew, Exit Strategy; Ingo Maurer, Exit (and bottom); Foreign Flash, Exit Installation; Ji Lee, Exit, Word as Image; Marke Johnson, No Exit; Lowe+Partners, Axe Ad Campaign; Philip Cheater, First Emergency Fire Exit

And here’s Rafael Lozano-Hemmer’s Reference Flow in action:

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Maison Martin Margiela at H&M

Avant Garde Fashion, Trompe l'oeil design, Martin Margiela candy wrapper clutch, fishnet leggings, keyring necklace, belt jacket, H&MAvant Garde Fashion, Trompe l'oeil design, Martin Margiela candy wrapper clutch, fishnet leggings, keyring necklace, belt jacket, H&MAvant Garde Fashion, Trompe l'oeil design, Martin Margiela candy wrapper clutch, fishnet leggings, keyring necklace, belt jacket, H&M

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We don’t usually post about fashion, but Maison Martin Margiela is more than just fashion; it’s avant garde fashion that blurs lines between fashion, art, and design. Plus, Em has been a big fan for years and is the one who alerted me to the collaboration with H&M — which goes on sale tomorrow, November 15th — as well as introducing me to Margiela’s existence and work.

From H&M’s site:
Maison Martin Margiela is a French fashion house which has always followed its own path, often outside the conventional fashion framework.
Constantly questioning the norms of fashion and presenting its pieces through the technique of deconstruction and transformation, the collections reinvent volumes, modify shapes, change the original use and movement of garments and derail classic notions of fashion.

In addition, Margiela himself has maintained a very low profile throughout his career. He’s a bit of an enigma, never having had his picture taken publicly and remaining backstage after his runway shows. It has also been stated that Martin Margiela left the company in 2009 with no replacement appointed, but the company has continued and is now doing a Re-edition of previous seasons’ products for H&M.

Most of the designs are full of wit along with edginess. Many of them use trompe l’oeil effects; the strapless bra body suit and the fishnet leggings are prime examples of these, as are the plexiglass heeled shoes and boots that seem to float in mid air.

The Candy Wrapper Clutch is definitely goofy fun, as are the jacket made of belts and the Keyring Necklace. All the pieces in the collection are not your everyday clothes and accessories, and especially not typical of H&M’s, even in their prices, but it should be interesting to see what happens. All I know is that Em will be there at 8am on Thursday, with or without her sister.

Photos: H&M; Refinery 29; and Sandra’s Closet
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Cao Hui: Gutsy Sculpture

Cao Hui Gutsy sculpture, Resin sculpture with human/animal innards oozing out at seamsCao Hui Gutsy sculpture, Resin sculpture with human/animal innards oozing out at seams

I can’t really say that I ‘like’ these sculptures by Chinese artist Cao Hui, but they certainly are hard to ignore and impressively executed. Cao Hui, based in Beijing, is known for his shockingly realistic sculptures of half-flayed animals. More recently he has applied this technique to the unexpected: furniture and objects. These resin and fiber sculptures, that surprisingly ooze entrails at their seams, are all part of Cao Hui’s interest in realisim, deception, and the artist’s power of control. The belief that the interior and exterior of everything possess a perfect logic is now humorously questioned by the artist. Definitely not for the squeamish.

Photos: Lin&Lin Gallery and Barefoot.

via White Rabbit Gallery

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Johanna Unzueta: Felt Industrial Sculptures

Soft sculptures made with felt of industrial objects such as pipes, faucets, hinges, and tools by Johanna Unzueta, Chilean artistSoft sculptures made with felt of industrial objects such as pipes, faucets, hinges, and tools by Johanna Unzueta, Chilean artistSoft sculptures made with felt of industrial objects such as pipes, faucets, hinges, and tools by Johanna Unzueta, Chilean artistSoft sculptures made with felt of industrial objects such as pipes, faucets, hinges, and tools by Johanna Unzueta, Chilean artist

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Chilean artist Johanna Unzueta, now living and working in New York, uses felt as a sculptural material to build structures and objects that bring attention to the history of labor. Increasingly interested in site-specific installations that engage with the space,Unzueta has been  constructing pipes that go in and out of corners, or ladders that lead to an imaginary attic. It would be fun to have that oversized felt hinge as an area rug.

Unzueta will be having a show at NYC’s Vogt Gallery this January 2013.

Photos artdaily; vogt gallery; virtualia; and la nube loca.
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NYC Culture on the Cheap: Weekend 11/9

Free & Cheap things to do in New York City 11/9 to 11/11, art, film, theater, architecture, dance, comedy, food plus ways to support Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts this weekend.

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This weekend we suggest freely supporting, in a not-so-cheap way, any of the numerous Hurricane Sandy relief efforts throughout the city. You can donate your time, money, or supplies, but we challenge you to be proactive and for every fun thing you do this weekend, do at least another charitable or supportive one for all those struggling in the aftermath of the storm. In some cases you can be supportive WHILE having fun. I’ve included links to some of these events along with regular entertainment ones. Come on NYC!

1. Food – EAT OUT!! Yes, it doesn’t have to be expensive, but support the many restaurants south of 39th Street and those in Brooklyn that lost almost a week’s business plus all their perishables. Take your pick, but do it! All weekend.

2. Volunteer/Donate – There are an impressive amount of places to drop off donations, or volunteer your time sorting supplies. Check out WNYC’s list; SandySucks; OccupySandy; Caaav in Chinatown and Rockaway Relief. If volunteering, from personal experience, I recommend calling first (if a number is provided) to find out which shifts are low on volunteers. If making donations, stick to what is requested: right now blankets, batteries, flash lights, and groceries are high on most lists. All weekend.

3. Volunteer – Nighttime shift volunteers are needed at the Park Slope Armory Shelter. Food Prep and social support for a mostly senior population from 2 nursing homes in Rockaway. All weekend.

4. Art/Benefit – Ed Osborn (previously here) Albedo Prospect. Closing Reception & Fundraiser at Bitforms. Fri 11/9 at 6pm. FREE

5. Theater – Wild With Happy at the Public Theater. All weekend and through 11/18. Tkts $25 with code STORM.

6. Art –Clintel Steed Aerial Views Sandy Relief Project Fri 11/9 from 6 to 9pm at 379 Broome and Sat 11/10 11am to 7pm.

7. Film – DOC NYC New York Documentary Festival at IFC and SVA. All weekend and through 11/15. $9 to $16.50.

8. Sweep/Beach – Rockaway Project Operation Sand Sweep: Sat 11/10 from 10am to 1pm. If you’ve enjoyed the beach now it’s time to give back! Some ride shares here.

Alternatively: Sign up to help Coney Island.

9. Art/Graphic Design – Brooklyn Comics and Graphics Festival. Sat 11/10.  12 to 7pm. FREE

10. Donate – Two Boots in Park Slope is taking donations. See list of supplies needed and who to make checks out to. All weekend.

11. Music – Jazz & Colors in Central Park. 30 Bands. 30 Locations. Sat 11/10. 12 to 4pm. FREE

Also in Music: Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival. Fri 11/9 & Sat 11/10. $35 for an all day pass.

12. Food – Help Chinatown recover by eating at your favorite Chinatown restaurant. If they haven’t been washed away, I recommend the delicious Green Sandwiches (mustard greens on sesame roll) at a stand under the Manhattan Bridge: 75 East Broadway. $1.50! Also at Waloy Bakery. All weekend.

Alternatively in Food – East Village Meat Market will be sampling cooked/smoked meats on Sat 11/10 as part of Meat Week NYC. FREE.

13. Performance/Comedy – Rob Delaney at Skirball Center part of New York Comedy Festival. Sat 11/10 at 7:30. $35

14. Art/Drinks/Performance – Recess at MoMA PopRally.Eleven emerging artists “intervene” in MoMA’s Painting and Sculpture Galleries with objects and performances created specifically for this night. Sat 11/10 8pm to 11pm $13 in advance $16 at door 21+

15. Interactive Performance/Fun – Halloween TOO. “Killers” Haunted event — come in costume to the 107 Suffolk St. location and stay for a Halloween party. Fri 11/9 and Sat 11/10. 10pm $20.

16. Music/Drink/Food/Benefit –Fuck. Off. Sandy. Benefit for NY Cares with Heliotropes and three more bands. Sun 11/11. 3 to 7pm. 21+ $10.

17. Food –Peck Slip Pickle Festival at the New Amsterdam Market with a fundraiser for NYC residents and small businesses affected by the storm. Sun 11/11.  11am to 5pm. FREE.

18. Host/B&B – Offer any extra space/room/bed to a Sandy victim. Over 100,000 people are still stranded by Hurricane Sandy. Airbnb has partnered with the City of New York to connect those in need with people who are able to provide free housing.

Check back for possible updates throughout the weekend!

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Paul Caporn: Reconstruction Works

Contemporary Australian Art, Soft Sculptures of construction trucks, cherry picker, dump truck, tractors by paul CapornContemporary Australian Art, Soft Sculptures of construction trucks, cherry picker, dump truck, tractors by paul CapornContemporary Australian Art, Soft Sculptures of construction trucks, cherry picker, dump truck, tractors by paul Caporn

Soft sculptures of construction vehicles, contemporary Australian art, sculpture, Paul CapornClick to enlarge

Australian artist Paul Caporn (previously here) works in several mediums, but his large-scale Reconstruction Works are soft sculptures of construction vehicles some made with with polyethylene and others, more recently, with EVA foam, the rubber used to make the interlocking mats found in playgrounds. I’m sure the irony of having these construction apparati, usually associated with strength and structure, fall limp does not escape many.

Caporn’s recent show at Turner Galleries was titled Paul Caporn Works; a clever play on words.

Photos courtesy of Turner Galleries; Eva Fernandez; and Art Gallery of Western Australia
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Clet Abraham: Signage Sticker Street Art

European Street Art, pictorial stickers on street signs, graffiti, humor, Clet Abraham, contemporary art, funEuropean Street Art, pictorial stickers on street signs, graffiti, humor, Clet Abraham, contemporary art, funEuropean Street Art, pictorial stickers on street signs, graffiti, humor, Clet Abraham, contemporary art, fun

Street art in Europe, Traffic signs altered with stickers to make humorous images, Clet Abraham, GraffitiClick to enlarge

French street artist Clet Abraham, now living and working in Florence, humorously alters traffic signs throughout major cities in Europe by strategically pasting removable stickers on them. But it’s not all just to crack a smile on the faces of those who pass by.  Clet is commenting on society’s standardization and the constricting effect that rules have on us, limiting individual expression and thought. It’s no coincidence that many of his images reference religion.

If you like Clet Abraham’s work, you might also enjoy Dan Witz’s Do Not Enter Project and Roman Tyc’s Semafory.

Photos courtesy of the artist; Paul nine-o; nijule; edoardo80; walls of milano; surreyblonde; metella merlo; kriebel; and lartefact.

via studio magazine

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Shelley Miller: Sand Sculpture Handbags

handbags, purses, pocketbooks made from sand on the beach by Shelley Miller

handbags, purses, pocketbooks sand sculptures on beach by Shelley Miller

Handbags, purses, pocketbooks made out of sand on the beach by Shelley Miller, summer collection

Sure, you’ve seen plenty of sand castles, but what about sand handbags? Shelley Miller (previously here) created a series of sand sculptures of designer bags, purses, and clutches during a residency in Brazil a few years back. Much in the way that her Icing Graffiti works disappear in less time than it took to make them, so too these accurate pocketbook replicas that wash away with the tide.

From Miller’s website:
The mirage-like nature of these objects, physical in form, yet never fully tangible, is a reference to the desirable objects one sees flipping through a fashion magazine while laying on the beach.

The photo documentation of these temporal sculptures were then used to produce the “Summer Collection” booklet, a mock fashion catalogue that returns these objects to their fashion industry inspiration.

If it were up to me, next year Miller would be one of the artists invited to participate in the Creative Time Sand Sculpture Competition in Rockaway.

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Katherine Bernhardt: Swatch Watch Paintings

large acrylic painting of Swatch watches by Katherine Bernhardt. Fun contemporary art.

large acrylic painting of Swatch watches by Katherine Bernhardt. Fun contemporary art.

large acrylic painting of Swatch watches by Katherine Bernhardt. Fun contemporary art.Katherine Bernhardt, originally from Missouri but now based in Brooklyn, paints large expressionistic portraits of women from glossy magazines as well as easily recognizable consumer objects. She has worked on store installations and magazine covers using this same style of acrylic paintings. I particularly like her paintings of Swatches.

Photos: Carbon Gallery; artnet; and Galeria Marta Cevera

via Carbon Gallery

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Shelley Miller: Cake Icing Graffiti

Icing Graffiti, Street Art, Icing tags, Throw-Up, Nuit Blanche Toronto, Shelley Miller, Cake Icing artIcing Graffiti, Street Art, Icing tags, Throw-Up, Nuit Blanche Toronto, Shelley Miller, Cake Icing artIcing Graffiti, Street Art, Icing tags, Throw-Up, Nuit Blanche Toronto, Shelley Miller, Cake Icing artIcing Graffiti, Street Art, Icing tags, Throw-Up, Nuit Blanche Toronto, Shelley Miller, Cake Icing art

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The other night I attended a talk at the New Museum about the future of Nuit Blanche in NYC. One of the panelists was an organizer of the Nuit Blanche in Toronto and she spoke about an artist included in this year’s event that instantly intrigued me: Shelley Miller a street artist who creates her work with cake icing and presented an interactive piece titled Throw-Up.

Shelley Miller is a Montreal-based artist whose installations, sculptures and public works have been exhibited across Canada as well as India and Brazil. Much of her work is created using sugar and cake icing. Her murals and street art tags made with these cake-decorating techniques reference history and other cultures. Some examples are her murals depicting the history of sugar, linking the port of Montreal into the global network of sugar’s history and the slave trade that supported this industry. Miller’s graffiti tags, also made with icing, at closer look recall the decorative scrolls of arabesques and calligraphy from ancient mosques, temples and pottery spanning the history of decorative arts.

The ephemeral aspect of this work adds another interesting dimension when it begins to melt, causing a dripping effect. All around impressively done!

Photos courtesy of the artist.
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NYC Culture on the Cheap: HalloWeekend

Free and Cheap things to do in NYC 10/26, 10/27 & 10/28, Halloween Weekend events, Free & Cheap Art, Music, Dance, Film, Food, Theater, Performance, Food & General Fun in NYC

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This weekend! Free and cheap things to do 10/26 to 10/28 in NYC. Cultural events in art, architecture, music, film, dance, theater, design, food and general fun. This week’s listings include a smattering of spooky Halloween-related events.

1. Design/Architecture/Talks – Designers & Books Fair 2012 is a live New York City event at the intersection where design, architecture, and books meet. All weekend at FIT. Tickets range from $25 to $50. See schedule.

2. Architecture – The brand spankin’ new FDR Four Freedoms Park is now open to the public (see post). All weekend. 9am to 5pm. FREE

3. Art/Technology/Science – ReGeneration: an exhibition that explores the connection of cultural vitality to immigration, urbanization and sustainability through art, technology & science. All weekend (starting Sat 10/27 through 1/13). $11 Adult $8 Kids & Students. FREE Fridays, 2-5 pm; Sundays, 10-11 am

4. Architecture/Art – Past Futures, Present, Futures presents 101 unrealized proposals for New York City. 2nd Part of the exhibit (Present Futures) opens Fri 10/26 with reenactments. 7pm. Through 11/4. FREE

5. Film/Discussion – Encore screening of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night. Fri 10/26, 7pm. $25.

6. Theater – How to Break at Here Theater. All weekend. Check schedule for times. $10 in advance. $18 less than 24-prior. Students with ID FREE.

Alternatively: Tim Burton Burlesque, Fri 10/26, 9pm to midnight at Bar Matchless. $5 in costume; $7 if not.

7. Film –Holy Motors at Walter Reade & Film Forum. All weekend. $13.

Alternatively: Scary Movies at Walter Reade Theater Fri 10/26 and Sun 10/28. See schedule. $13

8. Film – Friars Club Comedy Film Festival. Fri 10/26 & Sat 10/27. See schedule for films & times. $10.

9. Art/Architecture – The blps Project (see post). Spot pill-shaped stickers on and around the High Line—from smokestacks to the Standard Hotel—on surfaces that usually go unnoticed. Kind of like an Easter egg hunt without the chocolate. In conjunction with the Richard Artschwager! retrospective at the Whitney. All weekend. FREE

Alternatively — Leo Villareal’s Buckyball light installation in Madison Square Park (see post). All weekend. FREE

10. Walking Tour – Haunted Tours of NYC. All weekend. Nightly at 8pm. $20 Adults $15 Kids. 90-minute tour.

Alternatively — Walking tour of Green-Wood Cemetery: Celebrate the fall season with tales of murder, mayhem, spirits and ghosts on our annual autumn tours led by Green-Wood’s historian Jeff Richman. Includes a visit to the Catacombs, usually closed to the public. Sat 10/27 & Sun 10/28 at 1pm. $20

11. Comedy – Jos Houben: The Art of Laughter. Renowned actor from Théâtre Complicité and longtime collaborator of Peter Brook presents a hilarious comedy about comedy. Sat 10/27 at 7pm. $20 with Code FIAF20.

12. Music –  Justin Townes Earle with Low Anthem and Joe Pug at Pace. Fri 10/26 & Sat 10/27. At 7:30pm. $5 for Students. $25 and up everyone else.

13. Readings/Fun – Utilities Included: A Night of Brooklyn Writers. Six local writers kick out the jams for Halloween weekend Brooklyn-style. Sat 10/27 7pm at the Pine Box Rock Shop in Bushwick. FREE

14. Art – One of our favorites! John Baldessari Double Play at Marian Goodman. Fri 10/26 & Sat 10/27 through 11/21. FREE.

15. Tour – A Very Spooky Boat Tour of Newtown Creek. Sat 10/27 from 4:30 to 6:30pm $20 Leaves from South Street Seaport.

Alternatively – Halloween Dead Celebrity Ball: Costume Ball aboard the Jewel Yacht. Fri 10/26 at 8pm.

16. Food/Fun – 11th Annual Pickle Day will celebrate the rich history of pickle vendors of the Lower East Side and this time they are bringing back the pushcarts! Sun 10/28 on Orchard Street. 12 to 5pm. FREE

17. Food – Landhaus Farm to Sandwich Grand Opening Party at the Woods. Sun 10/28, 2 to 6pm. FREE with RSVP

18. Readings/Comedy – Bare! True Stories of Sex, Desire & Romance with John Flynn, Amy Sohn & many more. Brings together storytellers, comedians, sex educators and others to share true tales from their own experiences of sex, desire and romance. At the Bell House. 8pm $10

Art/Fun/Interactive – Bird on a Wire: a projected interactive display created for a pair of storefront windows at the corner Mercer St. and Washington Pl. By calling a number a passerby can set birds perched on telephone wires into motion. Cool! All weekend through 10/29. Opening Fri 10/26 at 8pm. FREE

AND Coming up this week – The Gay Death Halloween Variety Show, Tues, 10/20 at 8pm at The People’s Improv Theater with Scott Schachter and his Fun, Fab Weirdo Friends for a Macabre filled Sinful Night of Devilish Comedy: Nick Cobb; Skinny Bitch Jesus Meeting and more. $5

Check back for updates and take a look at our previous Culture on the Cheap posts for ongoing suggestions. Have fun!

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Umbrellas vs. Flash Mob

Pink Umbrellas for Cancer Awareness in Bulgaria; Coppafeel's Boob Flash Mob in London, Cancer Awareness Month EventsPink Umbrellas for Cancer Awareness in Bulgaria; Coppafeel's Boob Flash Mob in London, Cancer Awareness Month EventsPink Umbrellas for Cancer Awareness in Bulgaria; Coppafeel's Boob Flash Mob in London, Cancer Awareness Month Events

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and it seems that people have moved on from simply sporting a pink ribbon on their jacket lapel. Two, very different, creative approaches to raising awareness took place this past week, among many others I suspect. One, though bright pink and hard to miss, was a little more subdued and consisted of an installation created with 400 pink umbrellas forming a canopy over the street (much like an Ingo Maurer installation) in Sofia, Bulgaria. The other, a bit more of an in-your-face and slightly controversial approach, was a “bouncing boobie” flashmob in central London supporting the breast cancer charity Coppafeel!. From the mouths of Coppafeel!: “The whole point of Coppafeel! is that we go about awareness in different and engaging ways – we like causing a bit of a stir.” And cause a stir they did.

Photos: Reuters; Снимка © Булфото; Coppafeel!; National Pictures; Rex Features; Habermonitor.

via voa and onenews

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Freya Jobbins: Dollfaces

cool and freaky sculptures made with dolls, sculptural busts made with dolls and toys, Freya Jobbins, Contemporary Australian artcool and freaky sculptures made with dolls, sculptural busts made with dolls and toys, Freya Jobbins, Contemporary Australian artcool and freaky sculptures made with dolls, sculptural busts made with dolls and toys, Freya Jobbins, Contemporary Australian art

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I’m not going to deny that these are a little disturbing, but they’re also pretty incredible. Australian artist Freya Jobbins takes her inspiration from artists such as Guiseppe Archimboldo’s and his fruit & veggie paintings, Ron Mueck’s oversized humans, and Gunther Von Hagen’s plastinated corpses. Add to that her interest in the relationship between consumerist fetishism and the emerging recycling culture within the visual arts and the result are her humanoid faces and busts made of pre-used dolls and toys.

This puts a whole new spin on the term dollface.

via junkculture and THEmag

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NYC Culture on the Cheap: Weekend 10/19

Free and cheap things to do in NYC weekend of 10/19/12. Affordable art, music, theater, film, dance, architecture, food, talks, walks, and general fun in New York City.

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Free and cheap things to do this weekend (10/19 to 10/21) in NYC. Cultural events in art, architecture, music, film, dance, theater, design, food and fun.

1. Design/Technology/Workshop – Making Things Possible: hands-on workshops and demos in 3D Printing (Makerbot plus more), metal lathes, and scrap-metal constructions at Story in Chelsea in conjunction with GEGarages. All weekend, check schedule for workshops and times. FREE

2. Architecture – Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park exhibition opening (see post), Fri 10/19 at AIA Center from 6 to 8pm. FREE

3. Walking Tours/Design – WalkaboutNYC’s Tour of Creative Agencies, Fri 10/19, 12 to 6pm. FREE with RSVP. Check schedule. Some are sold out others still available.

4. Art – Alina Szapocznikow: Sculpture Undone at MoMA through 1/28, nbd that we’re related to, and big fans of, one of the people who worked on the exhibit. Free Fridays 4 to 8pm.

5. Music – John Wesley Harding’s Cabinet of Wonders, Stephin Merritt, Aaron Neville, Nick Hornby, just to name a few. Fri 10/19 at 8pm. $25 to $35. Just a few seats left, last I checked, so hurry.

6. Architecture/Design/Film – The Architecture & Design Film Festival at Tribeca Cinemas. All weekend. Check schedule for films and times. Tkts $14/$11 for AIA members.

7. Music – Ponderosa and Neighbors Live, Fri 10/19, 6pm & 8pm, respectively at the Apple Soho Store. FREE

8. Art/Improv/Comedy – ARTPROV is a unique hilarious and entertaining show that brings together different artistic mediums to inspire each other and create new works of art together. Fri 10/19 at 9:30pm at The Tank. $7 to $20.

9. Art/Fun – BYOB (see post) at The Autumn Bowl, Fri 10/19. Artists bring their own laptops or slide projector of work. $5 before 10pm. $10 after. Free with beamer.

10. Theater – Doubt at Gloria Maddox Theater W. 26th St., Fri 10/19 & Sat 10/20, through 11/18. Check for times: $20

11. Music – CMJ Party Day at Pianos, Sat 10/20, 12pm. Bands include The Orwells, Born Ruffians, Ava Luna and more. $3 Bloody Marys. FREE entry. 21+

12. Food/Fun – Social Soup Experiment at the High Line. Communal style meal on the High Line. Last year was lots of fun! Gave tickets away this year for a visit to my daughters, which beats soup any day. Sold out online, but last year there were tickets available at the event. Sat 10/20, 12pm at the 14th St. $7.

13. Theater/Reading – R.A.W. Reading Series and the presentation of Lindsay Joy-Murphy’s Rise, Fall by LabRats Theater Co. Sat 10/20, 8pm in Ft. Greene. $5.

14. Dance – Monica Bill Barnes & Company at Skirball Center with Ira Glass. Sat 10/20 at 8pm & Sun 10/21 at 3pm.  $26

15. Comedy – Comedy Outliers: Stand-up Comedy Show, Sat 10/20 at 7pm. Lilly O’Briens. Murray St. FREE (Get there early for seats!)

16. Art/Lecture/Food/Music/Performance – Fall Open House and Sunday Sessions, Sun 10/21, 12 to 6pm at PS1 in LIC. $10.

17. Graphic Design/Lecture – The Public Side of Paula Scher the Pentagram partner talks about her 18 yr collaboration with the Public Theater‬ Sun 10/21, 2:30pm at the Public. Call 212-967-7555 for tkts. FREE

18. Food – 3rd Annual Havemeyer Sugar Sweets Festival, Sun 10/21, 10am to 4pm in Williamsburg to benefit the City Requilary. FREE

Check back for updates and take a look at our previous Culture on the Cheap posts for ongoing suggestions. Have fun!

UPDATES:

Art – High Line Open Studios Chelsea, All weekend, 12pm to 6pm. FREE

Food – The Brooklyn Curry Experiment: Sample around 20 of the best curry dishes Brooklyn has to offer plus every ticket entitles you to one free Brooklyn Brewery beer. Sun 10/21, 1 to 4pm at Public Assembly in Williamsburg. $15.

Readings – Drinking Diaries: Women Serve Their Stories. Sun 10/21 at 7pm. FREE

Music – The Sea and Cake / Matthew Friedberger. Sun 10/21 at doors at 7:30, show 8:30. $15 to $18. 21+

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The Journey of Sebastien Errazuriz

Humorous and political art installations and design by Chilean artist/designer Sebastien Errazuriz, contemporary industrial design, product design with witHumorous and political art installations and design by Chilean artist/designer Sebastien Errazuriz, contemporary industrial design, product design with witHumorous and political art installations and design by Chilean artist/designer Sebastien Errazuriz, contemporary industrial design, product design with wit

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Chilean born, New York based, Sebastien Errazuriz (previously here) is both artist and designer, often blurring the lines between the two. His work is always smart, innovative and humorous, as well as often political. It ranges from public urban art installations to sculpture and furniture/product design. He even has a few outrageous fashion items. His obsession with the dichotomies of life and death is expressed through his various series on death and religion, and his criticism of Wall Street comes into play in his street installations, amazing Drowning in Debt salt & pepper shakers as well as his Occupy Chairs.

There’s plenty more to see on his website and you can watch the interview below for even more. A book on his work was published last month by Gestalten and available here.

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NYC Culture on the Cheap: Weekend 10/12

Free and Cheap things to do in New York the weekend of 10/12 to 10/14 2012. Cheap & Free events in art, architecture, music, theater, film, dance, performance, festivals, fun in NYC

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Our picks for free and cheap things to do this weekend (10/12 to 10/14) in NYC. Cultural events in art, architecture, music, dance, theater, design, food and fun.

1. Music – It’s a little soon to think about the holidays but if you want to get tickets for Sufjan Stevens concert SurfJohn Stevens Christmas Sing-a-Long on 12/21 and 12/22 tickets were scheduled to go on sale Fri 10/12 at 12pm for $20 here. (Not sure this is still the case, but worth checking.)

2. Art/Photography – Faking It: Manipulated Photography before Photoshop at the Metropolitan Museum. All weekend and through 1/27.  Pay-what-you-wish.

3. Art – Alexandra Spaulding’s percOlating sculptures downstairs and Jenna Mazza’s wonderful paintings of books upstairs at Stephan Stoyanov Gallery on Orchard St. All weekend. Noon to 6pm. FREE

Also in Art – Brian Tolle’s (previously here) timely exhibit Commander in Chief at CRB Gallery in Chelsea. Fri 10/12 and Sat 10/13 through 11/10. FREE

4. Film – Debut screening of “Sheer,” directed by Ruben Mazzoleni at reBar in Dumbo. Fri 10/12, 6:45 or 9:30. $9. Tkts here.

5. Talk/Film – Meet the filmmaker of “Hyde Park on Hudson” Fri 10/12 at the Apple Store Soho. 6pm FREE

Also at the Apple Store: Coheed and Cambria. Sat 10/14 at 7pm. FREE

6. Talk/Science/Performance –Splendors and Miseries of (Un)conscious thoughts: A story of psychology, neuroscience and live performance. French neuroscientist Lionel Naccache at New York Live Arts. Fri 10/12 at 7:30pm. FREE with RSVP.

7. Music – Doveman at Le Poisson Rouge. Fri 10/12 at 7pm. $15.

8. Theater/Performance – Brooklyn Bred: Performance Art with Jennifer Miller at BAM. Fri 10/12 at 7:30pm. $20.

9. Music/Fun –Losers Lounge tribute to Dusty Springfield at Joe’s Pub. Fri 10/12 and Sat 10/13. $25

10. Art – Gowanus Open Studios at Brooklyn Art Space. Sat 10/13 and Sun 10/14. 12 to 6pm. FREE

Also in Gowanus: Warehouse of Horrors Gowanus explores the seedy underbelly of 1970’s Brooklyn at the Brooklyn Lyceum, Fri 10/12 and Sat 10/13, $20 tickets include three curated cocktails per person.

11. Art/Music/Light – Whispers at The Autumn Bowl: artists working in experimental, dance, pop, new music, and sound art with visual artists illuminating new connections and presenting vibrant explorations of sound in an intimate setting. Fri 10/12 and Sat 10/13 at 8pm. Greenpoint. $10 tickets.

12. Theater/Music/Fun/Food – Public Theater Block Party, Sat 10/13, noon to 5pm. FREE

13. Food/Talk – Chefs Mario Batali, Tom Colicchio, and Magnus Nilsson talk about the Future of Restaurants at the Bumble & Bumble Theater. Sat 10/12, 11am to 12pm. $20.

14. Art/Interactive – Stillspotting/Improv Everywhere event Audiogram. An Mp3 Audio Adventure in the Bronx. Sat 10/13 and Sun 10/14. Multiple times. Check-in at Bronx Museum of the Arts $12.

15. Fun – Fluff’s Annual NYC Big Wheel Race in Central park. Sat 10/13 from 3-5pm, FREE

16. Music/Art/Fashion – BowieBall pays homage to the definitive rock icon: David Bowie, in an anything-goes charity extravaganza bringing together the best in music, art, fashion, and entertainment. Sat 10/13 at 10:30pm. $20 in advance. $25 at door with RSVP or costume.

17. Walking Tour/Architecture – Downtown Brooklyn’s New Livability Tour. Sun 10/14 at 11am. $20

18. Music – Sunday Night Live Music Series in the lobby of the Ace Hotel. Sun 10/14 at 10pm. FREE

Also, in Architecture: Landscape Architecture Design Speed Dating (aka Portfolio Reviews) & Open House Brunch at the Van Alen Institute. Sat 10/13, 12 to 2pm. FREE with RSVP.

UPDATES:
Music – 50th Birthday Celebration of the American Symphony Orchestra. Tickets on sale now for  Friday 10/26 concert at 1962 prices of $1.50 to $7.00.

Film/Music/Food – Minor/Major: A TV on the Radio Tour Documentary, Sat 10/13 at 7pm at 3rdWard’s Moviehouse. Empanadas included. $5 suggestion. RSVP.

Film – Red Hook International Film & Video Festival, Sat 10/13 & Sun 10/14, 1 to 6pm. Schedule here. FREE

Art/Street Art – Inaugural street art auction preview/exhibit at Doyle New York (175 E. 87th St.) Sun 10/14, noon to 5pm, (even if you don’t go, check out the work online.) FREE

Food/Culture – Japan Block Fair on the UWS. Food vendors, Japanese merchants and a Ramen contest. Sun 10/14, 11am to 6pm. FREE

Check back for updates and take a look at our previous Culture on the Cheap posts for ongoing suggestions. Enjoy the weekend.

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Amir Zainorin: Postcard Series

collage of queen elizabeth made from postcards by Amir Zainorin, postcard currency portraitscollage of Mao made from postcards by Amir Zainorin, postcard currency portraitscollage of george washington made from postcards by Amir Zainorin, postcard currency portraitsClick to enlarge

Malaysian artist Amir Zainorin, who now splits his time between his country of origin and Denmark, likes to urge the viewers of his art to challenge the traditional notions of religion and identity in relation to globalization.

In his Postcard Series, Zainorin copied the images of Mao, Queen Elizabeth, and George Washington from the Chinese Yuan, the British Pound, and the U.S. Dollar, respectively. Using postcards collected from restaurants and galleries, Amir pinned these cards creating the currency portraits.

From the artist:
The postcards are pinned on to the wall while the rest are laid down on the floor. This gives the work a mortality or temporary status in which it occupies the space for only a period of time, just like a system, an empire or a person, [Mao, the Queen, and Washington]. After some time they are remembered in history books, on paper currencies, posters, stamps or on a postcard.

via saatchi