utensil

Diesel Jeans Window by utensil

2010-02-26T06:23:00.000-08:00

Here's a Diesel jeans window utensil created for J. Rich Clothing for Men. The two goals of this window were to be as simple as possible in order to highlight the details and craftsmanship of the denim and to create a mood that is spiritual and otherworldly. The white slab, which mimics the black slab from 2001: A Space Odyssey, grounds the scene while the jeans have a lifting effect.

jrichclothing.com

Scene from 2001: A Space Odyssey

Sneakers from Italian Brand Creative Recreation

2010-02-23T17:46:00.000-08:00

Ray Lamp Table by Usona

2010-02-21T17:49:00.000-08:00

Noteworthy Album: Charlotte Gainsbourg's IRM

2010-02-15T09:02:00.000-08:00

droog, NYC

2010-02-15T07:57:00.000-08:00

Amsterdam-based design collective droog opens outpost in US.

droog.com

A Single Man

2009-09-28T07:55:00.001-07:00

Tom Ford tries his hand at writing and directing.

Jaime Hayon teams up with Camper

2009-07-07T15:32:00.000-07:00

Camper store, London

Camper Store, Tokyo

Shoes Hayon designed for Camper

Objectified by Gary Hustwit

2009-07-06T17:04:00.001-07:00

Documentary filmmaker Gary Hustwit (Directed Helvetica) explores the way modern design and the products it's created has shaped the human experience in his new film Objectified.

Minimalist Bliss

2009-06-29T16:45:00.000-07:00

Japanese retailer Muji is known for its minimalist, no-logo approach to style. In 2007 they opened their first store in Soho, New York and have since then opened in Chelsea, Time Square, and Muji to Go at JFK. The stores are a must see for any design junkie.

The 12th Annual Avant Guardian Project by Surface Magazine

2009-06-22T17:38:00.000-07:00

SURFACE ANNOUNCES THE 12TH ANNUAL AVANT GUARDIAN PROJECT

CALL FOR ENTRIES

press release

(June 2009, New York, NY) Surface magazine announces the 12th Annual Avant Guardian Project. For more than a decade, Surface Magazine has passionately supported emerging talents in art, architecture, design and fashion, exposing the forefront of our visual culture. Originally conceived twelve years ago as a tool to seek out and celebrate budding stars in commercial photography, Surface's Avant Guardian Project serves as an unprecedented promotional outlet for American photographers. Now celebrating its 12th year, the Avant Guardian provides emerging photographic talents with the opportunity to bring their visions to life, pooling the resources of their network of studios, stylists and fashion clients to help these burgeoning photographers craft fashion editorials and gain global recognition. Surface editors and a guest panel of internationally renowned industry experts select a handful of the most promising and distinctive talents from thousands of submissions. Winners of the competition have their work featured in a blowout fashion spread – The Avant Guardian Portfolio, in Surface’s popular November Avant Guardian issue. The issue, along with the Avant Guardian Project’s most visually arresting images are celebrated and showcased in a compelling gallery-like installation at our New York City gala.

Submissions will be accepted from June 15 - July 15 at AVANT GUARDIAN PROJECT. For more information email avantguardian@surfacemag.com.

Submissions for the Avant Guardian Project are based upon the following criteria:

technical skill

innovation of approach

artistic concept

market potential

Past AVG’s have included more than 120 top photographers including, KT Autela, Clang, and Vanina. Past AVG’s have gone on to be represented by top agents from Art+Commerce to Art Partners and shoot for French, American and Italian Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, The New York Times Magazine and more. The Avant Guardian Project continues to emulate the successful balance that Surface has struck between conceptual artistry and commercial marketability. With another decade in its sights, Surface will continue to locate and give voice to the most creative American fashion photographers.

New Album by Dirty Projectors

2009-06-15T14:15:00.000-07:00

Dirty Projectors, Bitte Orca

June 18, 2009, 8 PM
Somerville Theatre
Somerville, Massachusetts

www.myspace.com/dirtyprojectors

Simon Starling: The Nanjing Particles

2009-06-15T10:23:00.000-07:00

MassMoca Dec 13, 2008–Oct 31, 2009

In his award-winning practice Simon Starling investigates the social, cultural, and material implications of object-making, examining how his own artistic processes overlap with industrial production. Engaging with MASS MoCA’s industrial past, Starling’s installation began with an 1875 photograph of a group of Chinese immigrant workers brought to North Adams to break a strike at the Sampson Shoe Company (once located on what is now MASS MoCA’s campus). Literally and figuratively mining this image, Starling extracted silver grains from the photograph and presents these particles as stainless steel forms enlarged one million times their original microscopic size. Forged and hand polished by workers in Nanjing, China, the sculptures connect the museum’s past and present to global economic conditions. The shiny forms reflect the museum’s historic architecture as well as the visitors who have replaced workers in the space.

PRESS RELEASE

http://www.massmoca.org/

Legos as High Art

2009-06-08T18:17:00.000-07:00

18 year-old Galahad J, a London-based fashion blogger, wearing Lego bowtie. Below: German artist Jan Vormann repairs the wounds from WWII and urban decay in the artist's installation Dispatchwork.

Movie Home For Auction

2009-05-31T13:00:00.000-07:00

The Chicago house used in the 1986 John Hughes film Ferris Bueller's Day Off (home to Ferris's fictional friend Cameron Frye) is being auctioned off by Sotheby's. The House was designed by A. James Speyer and David Haid, both former students of Mies Van der Rohe.

Super Eyewear

2009-05-27T15:02:00.000-07:00

You don't have to spend $300-$400 to get quality sunglasses. Italian eyewear maker SUPER makes stylish Coke bottles for your eyes that are timeless in design and cost around $135

www.retrosuperfuture.com

Hot Couture in Marfa, Texas

2009-05-25T21:12:00.000-07:00

Situated in the high desert of western Texas, the city of Marfa has become a mecca for modern art aficiandos. The city is home to the Chinati and Judd Foundations which promote the work and principles of their founder Donald Judd.

Pictured below: Built on a desolate stretch of highway leading into Marfa by German artists Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset, Prada Marfa leaves viewers perpetually window shopping, gazing through the windows into a store that will never open.

www.chinati.org
www.juddfoundation.org

Spotlight: Tom Dixon

2009-05-25T20:46:00.000-07:00

Celebrating Sprouse

2009-05-25T15:47:00.000-07:00

80's art and fashion icon Stephen Sprouse challenged conventional notions of style by being one of the first American designers to infuse graffiti art and punk aesthetics with high fashion. His untimely death in 2004 spawned an outpouring of tributes and retrospectives including this early 2009 release of a monograph commemorating his work, The Stephen Sprouse Book.

Less or More: Dieter Rams

2009-05-19T17:06:00.000-07:00

Yep, that's right! Braun used to make kickin' stereo systems along with your dad's first electric razor. The man responsible for this was a man by the name of Dieter Rams. He made audio equipment look like works of art and less like, well, equipment. He revolutionize the way we interact with our gadgets and we thank him for that. Thanks Rams. It's hard to look at today's iPods and Macs and not see Rams's stamp on them. Now, available for the first time in the US, a comprehensive book of this audiophiles work. Less or More: The Design Ethos of Dieter Rams.

$95, exclusively available at www.cooperhewittshop.org

Save Khaki "Best New Designers 2009"

2009-05-18T12:39:00.000-07:00

Designer David Mullen (pictured second, left) is a real down to earth kinda guy who can frequently be spotted in his two New York shops. His clothes are easy to wear because they're based on classic styles (think blue oxford) but with contemporary narrow cuts.

www.savekhaki.com

Cotton Belts

2009-05-18T12:24:00.000-07:00

Styling belts for the summer like these from Lacoste.

www.lacoste.com

James Perse Beach Cruiser

2009-05-17T21:31:00.001-07:00

LA-based fashion designer James Perse has taken his minimalist style to the world of cycling with this limited edition beach cruiser.

www.jamesperse.com

Aesop shop Sydney, Australia

2009-05-17T21:20:00.000-07:00

Posterizing the Modern GOP

2007-12-30T14:05:00.000-08:00

The progressive blog Huffington Post invited multiple-award-winning ad exec Rich Silverstein to share some of his ideas on helping the Democratic Party in '08. The result is three powerful posters that simply but graphically capture the lunacy of the modern GOP.

B&B Italia

2007-12-11T19:36:00.000-08:00

Italians have always been on the cutting-edge of modern furniture design and B&B Italia is one company that has its roots in that tradition but also at the vangard of furniture design of the future.