Kamis, 10 September 2009
Rabu, 09 September 2009
Where Does the Corporate Art Go?
From coast to coast, millions of dollars of corporate art that once hung in the offices of well-known banks including Lehman Brothers, Washington Mutual, Wachovia and more, has become entangled in the fallout from the financial crisis.
The fate of that artwork is still being sorted out, along with the assets involved in many of the unprecedented bank failures and resulting mergers that took place last year. Some of the surviving financial institutions appear to be holding onto the valuable artwork for their own collections, despite the chance to cushion their coffers with its sale. Others are selling the art or donating it to local museums and nonprofits.
A very interesting article on the subject online at Portfolio.com
Selasa, 01 September 2009
Street Art x Google Maps
Graf writers + the power of the internet = streetartlocator.com.
Find street art in your city by perusing this Google Maps mashup, or if you’re feeling generous, you can make the internet just a little better and submit work you find in your neighborhood so everyone can enjoy that Banksy you’re been keeping to yourself.
Rabu, 26 Agustus 2009
Mountain Dew Green Label Art Volume 3
Green Label Art are set to drop their volume 3 collection of artist-designed aluminium Mountain Dew bottles. The roster of artists this time around include an eclectic mix of talented creatives including Pushead, Nathan Cabrera, Jeff McMillan, Stephen Bliss, UPSO and Claw Money. The Mountain Dew Green Label Art Volume 3 collection hits stores on September 7th. Head over to Green Label Art for artist profiles and more artwork. Keep an eye out for them in the store.
Minggu, 23 Agustus 2009
UK faces file-sharing crackdown
Peter Mandelson, UK's secretary of state for business, innovation and skills, is planning a major crackdown on illegal file-sharing, according to reports over the weekend.
The issue of copyrighted material being shared online is already the subject of an official, post-Digital Britain consultation, which is due to close on September 15. However, Stephen Timms — the successor to Digital Britain author Lord Carter — told the Financial Times on Friday that the issue was a "live area" and proposals to tackle copyright violations should perhaps be brought forward.
Digital Britain recommended a year-long trial period where ISPs send letters to suspected file-sharers. At the end of that year, if fewer than 70 percent of the recipients stopped sharing copyrighted material, the report suggested the imposition of technical measures to restrict bandwidth or block certain protocols. It is that year-long period that could now be shortened.
"The measures in the Digital Britain report may evolve slightly," a spokesperson for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) told ZDNet UK on Monday. "What we've heard from people [during the initial stages of the consultation period] was a lot of criticism that those tech measures wouldn't be introduced for a number of years, until 2012."
BIS's spokesperson denied reports that Mandelson had decided to become more involved in the issue after dining with music mogul David Geffen in Corfu last week.
"[Mandelson] has been very close to [Digital Britain] the whole time," the spokesperson said. "Carter was brought in to do the job, but, at the implementation stage, it's only natural that Lord Mandelson will take more of an interest."
This article was originally posted on ZDNet UK.
Jumat, 21 Agustus 2009
Third Man Records and Novelties opens in Los Angeles for limited time!
Third Man Records is overjoyed to announce the opening of Third Man Records and Novelties West FOR THREE DAYS ONLY in downtown Los Angeles, California. The store will be located at 448 S. Main Street and opening day is Wednesday, August 26th, at 10 AM.
Come see us for all Third Man releases and miscellany from The Dead Weather, The White Stripes, and The Raconteurs to all Third Man 45s, T-shirts and loads of surprises exclusive to this temporary location.
We will be open 3 days only, store hours are as follows:
Third Man Records and Novelties West
448 S. Main Street Los Angeles, CA 90013
Wednesday AUG. 26: 10 am to 8 pm
Thursday AUG. 27: 12 pm to 8 pm
Friday AUG. 28: 12 pm to 8 pm
Selasa, 18 Agustus 2009
Burlesque Design Mystery Grab Bag
God only knows what they will put in it.
MYSTERY GRAB BAG
Have you ever seen our office? It's filled with all sorts of magical, amazing things. Send us ten dollars and we'll send you a generous sampling of some of the stickers, doodles, flyers, magazines, CDs, and other weird crap we have up here. By ordering the Mystery Grab Bag, you agree to accept whatever we send you. No complaints, no returns.
All the way down at the bottom of the page http://burlesquedesign.com/storeshirts.htm
Minggu, 16 Agustus 2009
Four Tits poster SFW
Something for the nature lovers.
A celebration of the humble tit. A favorite British garden bird.
A2 (594 X 420mm) edition of 85. Carbon black ink on 'Bright White Colorplan Smooth paper, 270gsm. Blind embossed for authenticity. £40.
Four Tits poster on sale here
Sabtu, 15 Agustus 2009
Chris Boardman’s Theft-proof & Puncture-free Bicycle
Olympic cyclist Chris Boardman thinks that his beautiful Tron-like dream bicycle will never get stolen—even if it looks so cool that nobody would be able to resist. Fortunately, he says that they will be common in 20 years.
The new bike design has a built-in locking system that can only be activated and opened by the owner's fingerprint. The computer-equipped machine can also monitor the amount of calories burned. Made of carbon fiber, it will even have a battery that will assist you when going up a steep hill, as well as puncture-proof, self-inflating tires.
Unfortunately, for now it is just a concept, even while Boardman believes "it could be built now if there was a will. All the technologies are already there, it's just that nobody's put them all together before."Jumat, 14 Agustus 2009
WOODSTOCK EXPERIENCE BOX SET
THE OFFICIAL LIMITED EDITION 2 VOLUME BOXED SET PRODUCED WITH WOODSTOCK ORGANIZER MICHAEL LANG
| Available now: limited to 1,000 numbered and signed copies. The historic contents will be of fascination for years to come and first class craftsmanship ensures longevity. Over 65 artists and luminaries are taking part in this endorsed publication. Volume 1 presents 176 pages of stories illustrated with behind-the-scenes photography, including the work of Woodstock's official photographer, Henry Diltz. In Volume 2, be prepared to experience Woodstock through the eyes of a stunned 17-year old who shot | the entire festival on a press-pass from Michael Lang. Such is the incredible legacy of the late Dan Garson. A hundred and six pages of consummate photographs are reproduced for the reader to study and enjoy for the first time. A pull-out drawer contains loose-leaf additions: a 7"-vinyl pressing, original fine art prints, specially written essays, Michael Lang's own hand-drawn site map, reproduced in facsimile. And your admission into the 'experience'? An authentic, vintage Woodstock ticket is included in every set. | Your ticket to ride, a genuine event pass is included - preserved since 1969 and still unused (top). The ticket is provided by Michael Lang who has given unprecedented access to original artist correspondence, contracts, memos and maps, to tell the complete story. Arlo Guthrie has written a preface and both Arlo and Michael Lang have hand-signed every copy in the edition. |
Only £395 plus p&p
www.genesis-publications.com
Kamis, 13 Agustus 2009
American Artifact DVD Limited Release
More information about American Artifact
Movie screening and rock poster art show, featuring Detroit poster artist Mark Arminski. Q & A with director Merle Becker, and Detroit rock poster artists Mark Arminski & Gary Grimshaw afterwards. Doors open 6p, theater seating starts 6:45p. 18 and older only.
Movie screening / art event including work by EMEK, featuring Q&A with the director and surprise guest. More details coming soon.
This ground breaking film festival is being held in conjunction with Mission Point Resort on Mackinac Island, October 8-10, 2009. The Festival's mission is to provide a venue for filmmakers to showcase their work and to foster a collaborative network that results in the creation of a new motion pictures. The 2.5 day event spotlights independent filmmakers.
Incubate independent music and arts festival, featuring music and poster art from around the world, and home to Z-Stock, Europe's version of America's poster fest, Flatstock. Special guests TBA.
See:
Flatstock Europe is presented by American Poster Institute and the Reeperbahn Festival
Rabu, 12 Agustus 2009
The Faded Line will be selling the EMEK Rothbury poster at 2pm est.
Each silkscreen comes with a free offset 11”x17” version which were sold at the festival for $40 ea.
Senin, 10 Agustus 2009
GigPosters.com Fundraiser
From Clay who runs gigposters.com
Hey Folks,
Due to an increase in server costs, and a couple bad business transactions .. I, once again, need to call upon the support of this community to raise some funds.
Here is what you can do to help:
Buy the book! - if you haven't got your copy of the Gig Posters: Volume 1 book, please consider ordering it. (they make great gifts too)
Buy Merch! - coloring books, decks of cards, clothing, posters etc. There are a bunch of amazing items from so many great designers.
Go Premium! - get yourself extra site features and support this site.
And .. if none of this interests you, and you still would like to help, there is a donate button on the front page.
The new 'Fundraiser Status' bar will remain on the front page until we get it up to 100%. I will try and update it as often as I can.
Thank you so much. With your help, we should be back on track in no time.
There are also auctions on ebay for some cool Rob Jones test prints check out the thread HERE
Some artists are helping also HERE.
Look in the forums you will find more every day.
Also on Expresso Beans there is a thread were people are selling things HERE.
Sabtu, 08 Agustus 2009
“Upper Fecal San Playground Francisco Face” – Win A Trip to San Francisco from Upper Playground and Fecal Face
San Francisco from Upper Playground and Fecal Face
San Francisco, CA – Bay Area art purveyors Upper Playground and Fecal Face have gotten together to offer art lovers the trip of a lifetime to San Francisco. One lucky winner and their guest will have the chance to visit San Francisco, have dinner with artist Jeremy Fish and get a personal tour of the city with the founders of Fecal Face - all while staying at Upper Playground’s FIFTY24SF Artist Studios. Details of the trip include:
• Round trip to SFO for winner +1;
• 5 night stay at Upper Playground’s FIFTY24SF Artist Studios;
• Dinner and a historic Barbary Coast mini tour with Jeremy Fish;
• Meet artist Mel Kadel at her show opening on 9.10 at Fecal Face’s Dot Gallery;
• Personal tour of San Francisco with Fecal Face founders, John and Jessica Trippe.
The “Upper Fecal San Playground Francisco Face” trip is scheduled for Wednesday, September 9th to Monday, September 14th. The contest is open from August 3 - August 31, 2009, and to enter all you have to do is fill out a registration form online. Good luck!
Contest Registration Form:
http://www.newsletter.
Contest Official Rules: http://www.newsletter.
About Upper Playground
Based in San Francisco, CA, Upper Playground is the leader in today’s progressive art movement with its innovative apparel and accessories line and art galleries. Since 1999, Upper Playground has been recognized as a catalyst for the fusion of fashion with fine art. UP apparel and accessories are designed by local and international artists including Sam Flores, Jeremy Fish, Estevan Oriol, David Choe, and Alex Pardee. The Upper Playground collection is sold in over 300 boutiques worldwide and online. In addition, Upper Playground has stores and galleries in San Francisco, Berkeley, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, New York, Mexico City and London.
http://www.upperplayground.com
About Fecal Face
Fecal Face is a content-rich, comprehensive, multidisciplinary art and culture website supporting the art scene in San Francisco and beyond since 2000. The site greets between 11,000-13,000 visitors a day, occupying a unique niche online and in the "real world," by chronicling and shaping the contemporary arts scene in the SF Bay Area and beyond. Visitors to Fecal Face find photo rich features including artist interviews, studio visits, blogs by prominent artists and personalities, an hourly updated news section and coverage of current art openings. Additionally the site supports a forum board with over 2000 users, a comprehensive creative jobs database and an events calendar offering some of the more obscure attractions in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York. It's helped launch the careers of many a creative, and catalyzed a community of artists working in various mediums from around the globe.
http://www.fecalface.com/
About Jeremy Fish
Jeremy Fish is a prolific artist who has an extensive history working with Upper Playground. He began his career as the art director for Think Skateboards. Over the years, Fish has contributed numerous graphics for Upper Playground’s apparel line in addition to releasing three popular art books. Fish’s book credits include I’m With Stupid, featuring some notable selections from the Big Stupid series that ran in SLAP magazine and The Next Best Thing, a collaboration with hip-hop artist Aesop Rock that featured a storybook accompanied by a 7” picture disk. Jeremy has also developed his own line, superFishal. He continues to be a highly respected illustrator and designer, and has collaborated with a number of corporations including Nike, Microsoft, and Adidas.
http://www.sillypinkbunnies.
Selasa, 04 Agustus 2009
Obama Joker Poster (Obama Socialist Poster)
Obama Joker Poster?
Probably you've heard or seen one of these Obama Joker Posters. They're all over Los Angeles and in Atlanta. Obama Joker Posters show President Barack Obama as Joker Heath Ledger style. In the pictures or posters there's the caption "Socialism".
Who could be responsible for these Obama Joker Posters or the Obama Socialist joker Posters? That's unknown. If you know who is doing the posters drop me a line. Figured my buddy Jerry would enjoy this story
Minggu, 02 Agustus 2009
SSDD (Same Shit Different Day) Zine by Erik Brunetti
Following his often seen “Same Shit Different Day” campaign, Fuct owner/designer Erik Brunetti presents his SSDD Zine, consisting of Brunetti’s inspirational/reference material including xeroxes, drawings, and photos behind the creative process for his SSDD clothing line. The zine is limited to an edition of 60, each signed by the man himself and published by Heavy Mental Press. For those interested in acquiring further editions of the zine, head over to Fuct.
Rabu, 29 Juli 2009
Senin, 27 Juli 2009
Time Magazine: Top 10 Guerrilla Artists
Who says street art has no cred with the mainstream? Kinda saying a lot when one of the most respected publications in the world takes the time to break out a “Top Ten” list of the top “Guerrilla Artists.” The usual suspects - Jean-Michel Basquiat, Shepard Fairey and Banksy are there. But, we’re surprised that Kaws and his infamous phone booth/bus stop “Ad-Disruptions” didn’t make the list. Check out who did and didn’t made the cut here.
Nine Ways to Lose Money in the Art Market
Artnet has published this insightful piece by Richard Polsky, and while even novice collectors may find some of these tips fairly obvious, there are several worthwhile insights here. Besides, even a refresher in these uncertain times can’t hurt.
For those who like Polsky’s market analysis, listen to his recent three-part audio interview with ArtTactic’s Podcast here, here and here, and check out his forthcoming book, I Sold Andy Warhol (too soon), out in September from Other Press.
NINE WAYS TO LOSE MONEY IN THE ART MARKET
by Richard Polsky via Artnet
With collectors being more selective than ever, it stands to reason that anyone left in the game is watching his or her cash more carefully than ever. While no one is certain how to make money in this environment, I guarantee the following examples are nine sure-fire ways to lose money.
1. Buy a mediocre painting instead of a great print. Or for that matter buy a mediocre painting rather than a great drawing. Too often collectors get caught up in art’s snob appeal. The objective is always to buy the best within your budget, regardless of medium. As wonderful a draughtsman as Jasper Johns is, not all of his drawings are up to snuff. It’s much better, from an investment standpoint, to buy one of his great prints, such as Ale Cans. There’s no doubt that it will appreciate at a faster rate than one of Johns’ murky ink-on-vellum drawings.
Read on for the rest.
2. Let the auction houses talk down your reserve. From the auction house’s perspective, it’s all about convincing consignors to accept the lowest reserve possible. If, for instance, you put a painting up for auction and agree to a presale estimate of $600,000-$800,000, and a reserve of $600,000, you can expect a call a few days before the sale that will go something like this: “Look, we think your picture will do well, but given the economy, let’s be on the safe side and lower the reserve to $500,000.”
Don’t do it. If your painting passes at $600,000, the auction house will field offers for it after the sale. Chances are the bidding stalled at $550,000, which means a potential after-sale buyer is likely to offer $500,000 (or less). If your reserve is already down to $500,000, you’ll probably be offered $400,000 (or less). The bottom line is that if you have a good painting, someone will pay up. If not, you shouldn’t have put it up for auction in the first place.
3. Accept a mere 10 percent discount from a gallery. For the purchase of works by contemporary art gods such as Brice Marden, Ellsworth Kelly and a handful of others, a buyer would be lucky to receive a 10 percent discount on any purchase from their galleries. But superstars aside, accepting a standard 10 percent off on even a successful mid-career artist is a mistake.
Galleries generally work on a 50-50 split with artists they represent. This means you should be able to get at least 20 percent off with a little negotiating. Right now, not only are galleries hurting, but so are their artists, who got used to flush times. From a dealer’s perspective, few things are worse than having an artist bug him or her for money. If for no other reason than that, galleries are likely to accept your 20 percent discount request. Try it.
4. Buy with your ears rather than your eyes. Here’s a great way to be taken to the cleaners. I’ll never forget the time the Los Angeles painter Chuck Arnoldi told me how he was at a party when Eli Broad, the country’s richest collector, came over to say hello and ended their discussion by saying, “See you at your studio.”
The merely rich collector Douglas Cramer overheard this snippet of conversation and immediately approached Arnoldi requesting to do the same. In this case, Arnoldi was merciful enough to tell Cramer that “nothing was afoot with his career,” after which Cramer promptly canceled his studio visit. You get the idea.
5. Buy an atypical work. Another sucker bet. There always seems to be one artwork in any given show where the subject matter veers off into the ozone. If you’re buying a Wayne Thiebaud, you obviously want to buy “sugar.” Even though Thiebaud is a first-rate portrait painter, the art market could care less.
No matter how tempting one of his figurative paintings may be, or how attractive its price, treat it like drugs and just say “no.” You may even decide that you genuinely like the painting regardless of market forces. But if you acquire it, when the time comes to sell, you will come to despise your “inspired” purchase when you see how difficult it is to unload at any price.
6. Buy a work from a blue-chip gallery without being properly introduced. I once dealt with a wannabe collector named Paul S. who always bragged to me about his buying trips to New York. He waxed poetic about how “Ileana” (Sonnabend) rolled out the red carpet for him and how fortunate he was to buy a Peter Halley from her.
The only problem was that it was a weak painting that had already been rejected by Sonnabend’s better customers. The point of the story is that if you want to play with the big boys (Gagosian, PaceWildenstein, Marks, etc.), you had better be damn sure that one of their top collectors recommends you. Otherwise, you’ll receive the “Paul S.” treatment.
7. Buy a work by an artist who’s “in play.” If you decide that you want to buy a Richard Prince “Nurse” painting, you might as well put your money into California boutique wine futures and watch them go down — at least you can drink the wine. Richard Prince “Nurses,” originally offered at Gladstone in the mid-2000s, for around $85,000 to members of the “club,” climbed to over $8 million in 2007 (they’ve since dropped back to under $3 million).
Regardless, the speculator gang that ran up his prices at auction are like an elite fraternity house that you can’t join because you aren’t cool enough (in this case substitute “rich enough”) — so don’t even bother trying. Now that Prince has run his course, the next artist “in play” appears to be Peter Doig. Ditto for staying away from his work and market. Better to be an independent thinker and put your money into an artist who’s poised for slow and steady growth — like Fred Tomaselli, Philip Taaffe or Christopher Brown.
8. Buy a work right after an artist has died. One of the biggest myths in the art market is that an artist’s work shoots up in value right after his or her death. Wrong (with the exception of Warhol). Most actually go down in value. The reason is that his market usually becomes flooded, thanks to family members struggling to pay estate taxes and dealers and collectors looking to cash in. Better to wait a year or two and let the dust settle, even if you end up having to pay a bit more.
9. Buy works of unusually large scale. The late Los Angeles dealer Paul Kanter once told me, “Never buy a painting that you can’t lift.” He was right. There’s nothing harder to resell than a painting that’s larger than eight feet in any dimension. Even seven feet is cutting it close. Oversize paintings become white elephants in the marketplace.
Only a small pool of potential buyers have the wall space to handle these often ego-driven paintings. If you have a substantial wall that cries out for a massive work that makes a statement, you’re better off buying two smaller works to fill the void.
RICHARD POLSKY is the author of the forthcoming, I Sold Andy Warhol (too soon), out in September from Other Press.
Sabtu, 25 Juli 2009
BAILOUT EVERY GRAFFITI WRITER IN NEW YORK
Graffiti is a crime. It is also a powerful form of communication and activism and one of the few truly American art forms, brought-up in the streets of New York City and Philadelphia. These days, graffiti has become a part of mainstream culture, from the MoMA to MTV. Graffiti writers, and those who have been inspired by graffiti, hold down good jobs in creative industries like the arts and advertising, fashion, design, education and almost every other walk of life. From clothing labels and street life-style brands to artists like Banksy and Swoon, it's undeniable that graffiti has made a valuable and accepted economic and cultural impact in our contemporary lives. Then why are graffiti writers currently facing jail terms in NYC for up to seven years for writing their names on walls, when most of their art could be cleaned up with a fresh coat of paint? Vandalism should not be legal, but graffiti artists should not be in prison, at the cost of millions of dollars per year to the taxpayers of New York, when they could otherwise could make a valuable contribution to society. The punishment does not fit the crime. Furthermore, the NYPD and New York City politicians target minorities and individuals from low-income families in order to meet vandalism conviction quotas and create quality-of-life distractions. By bailing-out a graffiti writer and helping them find a network of legal support you enable them to better understand their rights and build a fair legal defense. Do you like graffiti and street art in NYC? Are you a writer who has made a few dimes and wants to give back? Are you a company that has profited from styles that originated in the street? Do you want to support the creative arts or a fair legal justice system? If the answer is "YES", please give them your support and send the criminal justice system a message. Together we can bail out every graffiti writer in NYC.
Graffiti Jail Break