I actually posted this (from one of my black books) last year on September 14th, the sweltering day in Fort Greene when we we loaded our moving truck. Emily flew from JFK to SEA with Inez, and on September 15th at 5AM my brother Sky, Littlejeans, and I got in the Penske and drove to Chicago. The next day, we narrowly missed a hurricane and drove all the way to the godforsaken rockpile that is Gillette, Wyoming. The day after that, we hit Seattle. And here we are.Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Image of the Day
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I actually posted this (from one of my black books) last year on September 14th, the sweltering day in Fort Greene when we we loaded our moving truck. Emily flew from JFK to SEA with Inez, and on September 15th at 5AM my brother Sky, Littlejeans, and I got in the Penske and drove to Chicago. The next day, we narrowly missed a hurricane and drove all the way to the godforsaken rockpile that is Gillette, Wyoming. The day after that, we hit Seattle. And here we are.
I actually posted this (from one of my black books) last year on September 14th, the sweltering day in Fort Greene when we we loaded our moving truck. Emily flew from JFK to SEA with Inez, and on September 15th at 5AM my brother Sky, Littlejeans, and I got in the Penske and drove to Chicago. The next day, we narrowly missed a hurricane and drove all the way to the godforsaken rockpile that is Gillette, Wyoming. The day after that, we hit Seattle. And here we are.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Image of the Day
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Giovanna Battaglia and Mario Testino en route to a Chanel haute couture show in Paris.
Here we are in the middle of New York Fashion Week but I had to post these, from the street fashion blog Jak & Jil, because they both look so classic and I haven't seen anything yet this week that could beat 'em.
Giovanna Battaglia and Mario Testino en route to a Chanel haute couture show in Paris. Here we are in the middle of New York Fashion Week but I had to post these, from the street fashion blog Jak & Jil, because they both look so classic and I haven't seen anything yet this week that could beat 'em.
Check out Giovanna Battaglia's styling work at Art Department and some of Mario Testino's photography at Art Partner.
Some things I was privileged enough to work on with Mario Testino while I was at Visionaire are here and here and here.
Some things I was privileged enough to work on with Mario Testino while I was at Visionaire are here and here and here.
TBD
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I've been listening to a radio show called Too Beautiful To Live since it started up in early 2008. I always look forward to it and at this point it almost feels like the host (Luke Burbank), the producer (Jen Andrews), and the sound engineer (Sean DeTore) are a part of our family. Well, I'm happy to announce that today TBTL gets even better. Having been dropped by its radio station (KIRO, where the show always seemed like a boozy cousin Ray-Ray to the station's other programs), Too Beautiful To Live is defying its name and switching into DIY-podcast mode. They're actually broadcasting right now, as I type.
Listen live every day at 11:30AM, or download the podcasts, at TBTL.net.
I've been listening to a radio show called Too Beautiful To Live since it started up in early 2008. I always look forward to it and at this point it almost feels like the host (Luke Burbank), the producer (Jen Andrews), and the sound engineer (Sean DeTore) are a part of our family. Well, I'm happy to announce that today TBTL gets even better. Having been dropped by its radio station (KIRO, where the show always seemed like a boozy cousin Ray-Ray to the station's other programs), Too Beautiful To Live is defying its name and switching into DIY-podcast mode. They're actually broadcasting right now, as I type.Listen live every day at 11:30AM, or download the podcasts, at TBTL.net.
Last Exit to Brooklyn
So, yeah, we got back from New York last Thursday and I immediately came down with the worst cold I've had in years. Not the swine, but swine-ish. It's still pretty bad but Littlejeans is doing his best to take care of me while I slog through my projects (Emily, pictured above in all her chicness, is in Idaho for one last trip before diving head-on into school next week).
Anyway – this week I'm going to somewhat haphazardly post a selection of photos from our time in New York. Today's are from an afternoon we spent in Red Hook – something we always loved doing when we lived in Brooklyn. It continues to develop in interesting ways while maintaining its industrial flavor.
The Mighty Gowanus – miniature Duwamish of Brooklyn
Hope & Anchor was full-up so we had lunch at this new place, Fort Defiance. Emily had a tomato, mozarella, and basil sandwich, and I had a banh mi, and both were delicious. They also have Six Point Apollo Wheat on tap and their cold-brewed iced coffee is maybe the best I've ever had...no small thing, being from Seattle.More NY pics coming soon, and you are welcome to have a look at my Flickr sets for old ones if you like.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Statement for the Season
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Posters on Orchard Street near The Sound Library, NYC
Today, as New York Fashion Week moves toward top speed, the YSL street team is on street corners in NYC and Paris passing out limited edition tote bags, each housing a copy of the label's Fall/Winter 2009 Manifesto.
Last season's package (pictured above and below) included a fold-out poster and a heart-shaped YSL flash drive on a string.
The bags are not, you know, the highest quality, but don't look a gift horse in the mouth – they are functional for light travel, and the silk screened prints are always interesting.
The Spring/Summer lookbook featured Claudia Schiffer under the Hollywood sign, photographed by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin. Some of the images were die-cut peel-off stickers:
They really spare no expense, so it's no wonder the Manifestos are so sought-afte. If you find yourself in New York or Paris this afternoon, make it your mission to find one.
If, however, those cities seem a million miles away right about now, don't fret too hard – you really don't need more stuff, and you can preview the Manifesto here:
Check out the whole thing, as well as past Manifestos, at yslmanifesto.com.
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Posters on Orchard Street near The Sound Library, NYCToday, as New York Fashion Week moves toward top speed, the YSL street team is on street corners in NYC and Paris passing out limited edition tote bags, each housing a copy of the label's Fall/Winter 2009 Manifesto.
Last season's package (pictured above and below) included a fold-out poster and a heart-shaped YSL flash drive on a string.
The bags are not, you know, the highest quality, but don't look a gift horse in the mouth – they are functional for light travel, and the silk screened prints are always interesting.
The Spring/Summer lookbook featured Claudia Schiffer under the Hollywood sign, photographed by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin. Some of the images were die-cut peel-off stickers:
They really spare no expense, so it's no wonder the Manifestos are so sought-afte. If you find yourself in New York or Paris this afternoon, make it your mission to find one.
If, however, those cities seem a million miles away right about now, don't fret too hard – you really don't need more stuff, and you can preview the Manifesto here:Check out the whole thing, as well as past Manifestos, at yslmanifesto.com.
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Friday, September 11, 2009
When I'm Gone
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Conversations Regarding The Future of Architecture, a vinyl record pressed by the Reynolds Metal Company in 1956, featuring interviews with Mies van der Rohe, Walter Gropius, Eero Saarinen, Richard Neutra, Philip Johnson, and others.
I narrowly missed out on acquiring this while we were in New York. Emily and I were having a beer and some snackies at The Magician on Rivington Street last Friday evening before joining our friends and family at Arrow Bar, as is our way. At 6:58PM Eastern Daylight Time the weekly e-mail from Seattle's Wall of Sound Records came across my crackleberry. I immediately went outside to call the store and see if they could save it for me if I paid by credit card right then and there. Alas, by the time I called, three other people had already done the same and it was gone.
It has been added to the want list. Some day it will be mine.
For now I am consoling myself with sounds from the Vivian Girls' new LP Everything Goes Wrong. You should do the same. Here's a sample (via GvB). Play it loud:
Vivian Girls When I'm Gone mp3
And here's another nice take on it, from They Shoot Music:
More info on Vivian Girls here.
...
Update: Oh, sweet internet. You can download both side one and side two of Conversations Regarding the Future of Architecture for free at Record Brother. Mies van der Rohe: "I don't want to be interesting. I want to be good."
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Conversations Regarding The Future of Architecture, a vinyl record pressed by the Reynolds Metal Company in 1956, featuring interviews with Mies van der Rohe, Walter Gropius, Eero Saarinen, Richard Neutra, Philip Johnson, and others.I narrowly missed out on acquiring this while we were in New York. Emily and I were having a beer and some snackies at The Magician on Rivington Street last Friday evening before joining our friends and family at Arrow Bar, as is our way. At 6:58PM Eastern Daylight Time the weekly e-mail from Seattle's Wall of Sound Records came across my crackleberry. I immediately went outside to call the store and see if they could save it for me if I paid by credit card right then and there. Alas, by the time I called, three other people had already done the same and it was gone.
It has been added to the want list. Some day it will be mine.
For now I am consoling myself with sounds from the Vivian Girls' new LP Everything Goes Wrong. You should do the same. Here's a sample (via GvB). Play it loud:
Vivian Girls When I'm Gone mp3
And here's another nice take on it, from They Shoot Music:
More info on Vivian Girls here.
...
Update: Oh, sweet internet. You can download both side one and side two of Conversations Regarding the Future of Architecture for free at Record Brother. Mies van der Rohe: "I don't want to be interesting. I want to be good."
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Image of the Day
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Artwork by Milton Glaser, September 2001
[More on Milton Glaser, above in a photo by Eric Johnson, coming soon.]
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Artwork by Milton Glaser, September 2001
[More on Milton Glaser, above in a photo by Eric Johnson, coming soon.].
Your Weekly Mr. Littlejeans
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Emily and me with Jeans in our apartment on Union Street between Smith and Hoyt, Brooklyn, Spring 2001
Emily and me with Jeans in our apartment on Union Street between Smith and Hoyt, Brooklyn, Spring 2001Thursday, September 10, 2009
Good Enough, Smart Enough
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This is impressive – it's sort of the political/historical equivalent of Picasso drawing a horse starting with the tail, or something.
Okay, so the Olympic Peninsula is not quite that big compared to the rest of Washington State, but it feels like it when you're out there.
[Via A Special Way of Being Afraid]
This is impressive – it's sort of the political/historical equivalent of Picasso drawing a horse starting with the tail, or something.
Okay, so the Olympic Peninsula is not quite that big compared to the rest of Washington State, but it feels like it when you're out there.
[Via A Special Way of Being Afraid]
Image of the Day
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Crosby Street, last Thursday afternoon.
More photos from our NYC trip coming soon.
Crosby Street, last Thursday afternoon.More photos from our NYC trip coming soon.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Image of the Day
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Roman Ondák Measuring the Universe (detail), 2007, at MoMA.
Click here for more info and images.
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone with SprintSpeed
Roman Ondák Measuring the Universe (detail), 2007, at MoMA. Click here for more info and images.
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone with SprintSpeed
Rated X By An All-White Jury
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We're not in Seattle right now, but if we were, bet your sweet ass we would be heading over to Northwest Film Forum for a screening of Confessionsofa Ex-Doofus-Itchyfooted Mutha. The film's 75-year-old director, Melvin Van Peebles (pictured above in a spread from Wax Poetics Anthology Volume 2) will be in attendance to introduce the film and answer questions. Click here for info; the film screens through September 14th if you can't make it tonight.
Here's a classic from his most well-known work of, well, genius: the theme from Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song, written by Van Peebles and performed by a then-unknown Earth Wind & Fire.
Earth Wind & Fire Sweetback's Theme mp3
We're not in Seattle right now, but if we were, bet your sweet ass we would be heading over to Northwest Film Forum for a screening of Confessionsofa Ex-Doofus-Itchyfooted Mutha. The film's 75-year-old director, Melvin Van Peebles (pictured above in a spread from Wax Poetics Anthology Volume 2) will be in attendance to introduce the film and answer questions. Click here for info; the film screens through September 14th if you can't make it tonight.Here's a classic from his most well-known work of, well, genius: the theme from Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song, written by Van Peebles and performed by a then-unknown Earth Wind & Fire.
Earth Wind & Fire Sweetback's Theme mp3
Monday, September 7, 2009
Image of the Day
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Sunny's Bar in Red Hook, Brooklyn
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone with SprintSpeed
Sunny's Bar in Red Hook, BrooklynSent from my BlackBerry® smartphone with SprintSpeed
New Style
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Mika Tajima The Double, 2008, The Kitchen, New York
I have been posting (here, here, and here) about the Spring/Summer 2010 lookbook shoot for Sunshine & Shadow, and here's the next installment – the styling. Mika Tajima is a highly accomplished artist represented by Elizabeth Dee Gallery in New York; she was featured in last year's Whitney Biennial (remember?) with New Humans, her ongoing sound collaboration with Howie Chen and Eric Tsai (and past co-conspirators Vito Acconci, C. Spencer Yeh, José León Cerrillo, among others). In addition to all of that, she handles occasional styling duties for the Sunshine & Shadow shoots, bringing a totally unique eye to the normal conventions of that duty.
Mika Tajima Deal or No Deal, 2008, Kevin Bruk Gallery, Miami
Here Mika is discussing an installation last year at the Honolulu Academy of Arts. (As a side note, I think some of the ideas she brings up would be of special interest to anyone who has been thinking about the themes of Target Practice, Painting Under Attack 1949–78, the current show at the Seattle Art Museum.)
Photos via Elizabeth Dee Gallery – click for more info and images on Mika Tajima/New Humans.
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Mika Tajima The Double, 2008, The Kitchen, New YorkI have been posting (here, here, and here) about the Spring/Summer 2010 lookbook shoot for Sunshine & Shadow, and here's the next installment – the styling. Mika Tajima is a highly accomplished artist represented by Elizabeth Dee Gallery in New York; she was featured in last year's Whitney Biennial (remember?) with New Humans, her ongoing sound collaboration with Howie Chen and Eric Tsai (and past co-conspirators Vito Acconci, C. Spencer Yeh, José León Cerrillo, among others). In addition to all of that, she handles occasional styling duties for the Sunshine & Shadow shoots, bringing a totally unique eye to the normal conventions of that duty.
Mika Tajima Deal or No Deal, 2008, Kevin Bruk Gallery, MiamiHere Mika is discussing an installation last year at the Honolulu Academy of Arts. (As a side note, I think some of the ideas she brings up would be of special interest to anyone who has been thinking about the themes of Target Practice, Painting Under Attack 1949–78, the current show at the Seattle Art Museum.)
Photos via Elizabeth Dee Gallery – click for more info and images on Mika Tajima/New Humans.
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Sunday, September 6, 2009
Image of the Day
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The Highline from our room at (where else) The Standard.
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone with SprintSpeed
The Highline from our room at (where else) The Standard.Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone with SprintSpeed
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
Dear Everyone in NYC who reads this blog,
We're in the city for a quick weekend (it's Emily's and my 12th wedding anniversary, can you believe it?). Tonight we're going to Arrow (Avenue A between 5th and 6th) to listen to the sweet sounds of Jason Crombie on the 1+2's. My brother and Daniela are tending bar. You should come join us, we'll be there at 9:30. This is not a wedding anniversary celebration, it's just a night at a bar. Our anniversary is Sunday.Okay bye bye.
Strath
Words & Verbs
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I've been reading these books off and on over the last few months and I'm planning to finish them this weekend:
I can't recommend Photography After Frank highly enough. Philip Gefter was a photography critic at The New York Times for many years and was also the art director responsible for picking the main front-page image for the paper everyday; he has an extraordinary knowledge of photography from a multitude of angles. I've been plodding along slowly with this book because I'm trying to write down the name of every photographer he mentions and research the ones I don't know. Read a good review at The Year In Pictures and buy it directly from Aperture.
Susan Sontag's On Photography is kind of the classic in the field and I'm just now getting around to reading it. It's a little stinging in parts because she makes some sharp psychological observations about this desire/need that certain people (ahem) have to, uh, document everything. That she was writing long before cell phones, digital photography, and the web makes them all the more true now. Still, I'm finding that it makes me look at photography in different ways and I appreciate that.
I wonder if all art directors secretly want to be photographers.
I've been reading these books off and on over the last few months and I'm planning to finish them this weekend:
I can't recommend Photography After Frank highly enough. Philip Gefter was a photography critic at The New York Times for many years and was also the art director responsible for picking the main front-page image for the paper everyday; he has an extraordinary knowledge of photography from a multitude of angles. I've been plodding along slowly with this book because I'm trying to write down the name of every photographer he mentions and research the ones I don't know. Read a good review at The Year In Pictures and buy it directly from Aperture.
Susan Sontag's On Photography is kind of the classic in the field and I'm just now getting around to reading it. It's a little stinging in parts because she makes some sharp psychological observations about this desire/need that certain people (ahem) have to, uh, document everything. That she was writing long before cell phones, digital photography, and the web makes them all the more true now. Still, I'm finding that it makes me look at photography in different ways and I appreciate that.I wonder if all art directors secretly want to be photographers.
What I Have to Offer
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I used to listen to this song all the time when it came out and for whatever reason it's back in my head this morning. The sound in this crummy video doesn't do it much justice, but download it from somewhere and flip that mega bass switch on your Walkman – the Mantronix bassline and drums are quite swass.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
But This Got Made In The Day, It Was Bright
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Brendan Fowler, aka BARR, in a short film by Dash Snow and Jade Berreau for Purple.
Brendan Fowler had a good show at Rivington Arms last year which I briefly mentioned (it's fun to look back at those old posts...), but never elaborated on. On which I never elaborated. Take your pick, U.S. Americans, such as.
Here's probably the best known and my favorite BARR song, "The Song Is The Single," from Kill Rock Stars:
Purple Fashion no.12 is on newstands now, scoop it up and save it forever. More on BARR here.
Brendan Fowler, aka BARR, in a short film by Dash Snow and Jade Berreau for Purple.
Brendan Fowler had a good show at Rivington Arms last year which I briefly mentioned (it's fun to look back at those old posts...), but never elaborated on. On which I never elaborated. Take your pick, U.S. Americans, such as.
Here's probably the best known and my favorite BARR song, "The Song Is The Single," from Kill Rock Stars:
Purple Fashion no.12 is on newstands now, scoop it up and save it forever. More on BARR here.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Image of the Day
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Lenore Tawney, a master weaver and early innovator in fiber arts, in 1959 (Photo by Yousuf Karsh). Tawney died in 2007 at the age of 100; Holland Cotter's obituary at The New York Times is an interesting read.
I have no particular reason for posting this, other than that I think it's a really cool photo, and my mom was a weaver for many years, so I have some extra interest. It's on the wall in the office.
Lenore Tawney, a master weaver and early innovator in fiber arts, in 1959 (Photo by Yousuf Karsh). Tawney died in 2007 at the age of 100; Holland Cotter's obituary at The New York Times is an interesting read.I have no particular reason for posting this, other than that I think it's a really cool photo, and my mom was a weaver for many years, so I have some extra interest. It's on the wall in the office.
Class, for Clunkers
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Another old car I walk by and, well, admire is not quite the right word…maybe appreciate. I can pretty much guarantee that at least a few readers of our blog know this exact car and its seemingly eternal resting place.
Back in the day, the attainable yet luxurious spaciousness of a car like this made a certain segment of Americans (e.g., grandparents) feel important. "Let's go for a ride" meant tripping around the town on a mobile davenport in your own personal Texas.
They just don't make 'em like they used to.
Another old car I walk by and, well, admire is not quite the right word…maybe appreciate. I can pretty much guarantee that at least a few readers of our blog know this exact car and its seemingly eternal resting place.
Back in the day, the attainable yet luxurious spaciousness of a car like this made a certain segment of Americans (e.g., grandparents) feel important. "Let's go for a ride" meant tripping around the town on a mobile davenport in your own personal Texas.
They just don't make 'em like they used to.
The Naming of Things
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A spread from the Textile Brand Names Dictionary (1947), posted by Steven Heller at Design Observer along with a short essay entitled A Good Trademark: A Historical Perspective. It might sound boring but if you're the least bit interested in the process of naming a brand (Denicron, Glritone, Glossitwist, Ma-Tex, Perma-Fluff, Perma glaze, Permaglo, Permaset, Permoflex...), check it out.
A spread from the Textile Brand Names Dictionary (1947), posted by Steven Heller at Design Observer along with a short essay entitled A Good Trademark: A Historical Perspective. It might sound boring but if you're the least bit interested in the process of naming a brand (Denicron, Glritone, Glossitwist, Ma-Tex, Perma-Fluff, Perma glaze, Permaglo, Permaset, Permoflex...), check it out.Tuesday, September 1, 2009
I Had a Very Very Calm Day Until This, and a Bump in the Road Comes, and She Be's Sarcastic.
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[A clip from "Wife Swap," precisely what I need when I'm working late for the nine hundredth day in a row – via TBTL]
[A clip from "Wife Swap," precisely what I need when I'm working late for the nine hundredth day in a row – via TBTL]
Image of the Day
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The Ace of Spades. The Ace of Spades.
(In the window of a costume/wedding shop on Pike Street, about four blocks down from my office.)
The Ace of Spades. The Ace of Spades. (In the window of a costume/wedding shop on Pike Street, about four blocks down from my office.)
Playin' Free
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If you find yourself in Portland during the month of September, or have a way and means to get yourself there, check out the exhibition of Kyle Johnson's medium-format photos of that fair city on view all month at Cellar Door. I've posted about Kyle a few times in the past – he's one of the Northwest's top photographers and I'd recommend him highly to photo editors and art directors in need.
See more images at Kyle's blog, Flickr stream, and website, and click the image above for details on the show.
...
Tangentially related:
If you find yourself in Portland during the month of September, or have a way and means to get yourself there, check out the exhibition of Kyle Johnson's medium-format photos of that fair city on view all month at Cellar Door. I've posted about Kyle a few times in the past – he's one of the Northwest's top photographers and I'd recommend him highly to photo editors and art directors in need.See more images at Kyle's blog, Flickr stream, and website, and click the image above for details on the show.
...
Tangentially related:
September Song
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James Brown September Song mp3 (pardon the scratches), from Soul On Top, a jazz-fueled 1969 collaboration between the Godfather and Maceo Parker with the Louie Bellson Orchestra, conducted by Oliver Nelson. Listen to NPR's review of the album on the occasion of its 2004 reissue here, and buy the CD here.
James Brown September Song mp3 (pardon the scratches), from Soul On Top, a jazz-fueled 1969 collaboration between the Godfather and Maceo Parker with the Louie Bellson Orchestra, conducted by Oliver Nelson. Listen to NPR's review of the album on the occasion of its 2004 reissue here, and buy the CD here.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Image of the Day
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Yesterday Emily and I went out to West Seattle for a little 2-hour trip with Alki Kayak Tours. I used to lead kayak trips in the San Juan Islands in the early '90s, but I haven't done much since then, save for a trip up in Maine and a short one off of Orcas Island a few years ago. Alki was a great re-introduction and a different way to see the city – I would recommend it to just about anyone, no experience or athletic ability necessary whatsoever. Above is a big old barge near the mouth of the Duwamish River (Gowanus of the Northwest). You can see the Space Needle way in the background if you click to enlarge.
Bonus image of the day: Emily fits her PFD and spray skirt. Mark my words, Miuccia will be copying this look next season.
Yesterday Emily and I went out to West Seattle for a little 2-hour trip with Alki Kayak Tours. I used to lead kayak trips in the San Juan Islands in the early '90s, but I haven't done much since then, save for a trip up in Maine and a short one off of Orcas Island a few years ago. Alki was a great re-introduction and a different way to see the city – I would recommend it to just about anyone, no experience or athletic ability necessary whatsoever. Above is a big old barge near the mouth of the Duwamish River (Gowanus of the Northwest). You can see the Space Needle way in the background if you click to enlarge. 
Bonus image of the day: Emily fits her PFD and spray skirt. Mark my words, Miuccia will be copying this look next season.
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