Ryan McGinley

Something brought my attention again to the photos of Ryan McGinley. Although I had seen them many times before they really struck me this time. I spent a good part of last night reading everything I could find on him. Now I don't even know where to begin! I might just have to pass the links along. I think these photos are so mesmerizingly beautiful. In one of the reviews I read someone mentioned that the photos completely lack irony, boredom and angst - very much in opposition to most contemporary art. Maybe that is what makes his work seem so refreshing and special...

...Ryan McGinley personal site...
...At Team Gallery and some press articles you can download and read...
...At tinyvices...
...At Saatchi Gallery...
...Some commerical work at AFG (which for some reason surprised me to find...) including some videos...
...A feature in the New York Times...
...an article and more images on artnet...
...A book of photographs from 2002...
...a very kind of cheesy video on Fashion TV but really interesting to see the young, unpolished artist a bit wild-eyed with success...
...a recorded interview at badatsports.com which I haven't listened to yet...
...A short article written after his Whitney solo in 2003...
...An ArtCal Zine feature...
...Brief article at the guardian.co.uk...
...Here and here at Shane Lavalette journal...

Alright. That has got to be it!! Maybe you should come back to this post on a rainy Sunday...

Happy weekend!

Tadanori Yokoo

(...a few more posters over here...)

I am so so so inspired by the posters and other graphic work of Tadanori Yokoo. That one poster with the floating heads really reminds me of my print Three Ladies in Space...

Here is everything good I could find on him...

...Tadanori Yokko Official Site...
...A too short Wiki entry...
...Three animations: KISS KISS KISS, Kachi Kachi Yama, Tokuten Eizou Anthology No. 1...
...Some more film and movie posters...
...Here at the Art Directors Club...
...An article, Q&A, and another article...
...His monograph...

Wednesday, Wednesday - with luck I will be back on Thursday...

KIOSK - How Did I Miss This?

KIOSK is such a great idea. I can't believe I didn't figure it out before. I remember Hoping for Happy Accidents mentioning this project/shop before but I must not have taken my time with their website. It is such a cool idea and something I am very interested in. From their website:

"We opened the store to offer an antidote to over-design. We consider the objects we stock to be humble, straightforward and beautiful for their simplicity and directness. Often they are traditional goods that have developed over generations or anonymous design found in general stores, DIYs and kiosks, products created by not one personality but things that are the result of local aesthetics and needs. Their beauty is sometimes hard to see in today’s market; our motivation to start Kiosk was to shed some light on these anonymous objects."

They also describe the products they curate and sell as making a "rough portrait" of their travels. I think this is so great on so many levels: letting people appreciate products that have survived fashion and generational changes, support of small businesses, highlighting the beauty in products that are used on a practical day-to-day basis and creating a counter-point to the booming business of selling overpriced luxury-elite-fetish objects (for example, the designer handbag).

Not only that but I really like the simple, functional design of their website and the sharp and witty descriptions of each product. It really made me want to go through the whole site and check out everything. I need to visit the store! Maybe next weekend if I can get the chance. They are also doing a project starting next week where they are exchanging and recycling plastic bags which seems really interesting (hello - eco!). Here, here and here are some examples of the magic they can create out of your corner-store bag...

Messing Around

I found this little mirror the other day - it is kind of green and purple at the same time. I feel like I am making my own mini Olafur Eliasson pieces...

Do you feel like some links? I think it has been awhile...

...I really like this blog - MAFIA-HUNT...
...I thought this was a great idea for polariods - did I mention this before? Sorry if I did. And these are some really nice posters too...
...I thought this was a really interesting booth at the Renegade Craft Fair: CONFETTI SYSTEM - there are only a few things on their website but it gives you an idea and I really like the way they styled their photos...to me it had a real Montreal feeling for some strange reason because I don't think they are from there...
...Also the wonderful Dear Birthday booth was a big favorite! Here is a nice photo of her booth...
...Q&A with David Shrigley, Elein Fleiss, Thurston Moore and Peter Saville (plus others!)...
...the Pattern Foundry...
...this is funny and fun: Donald Judd or Cheap Furniture? I only scored 75% - shows you how much I know...
...Magazines, magazines everywhere! NEWWORK MAGAZINE...
...little zine pattern - good in a pinch!...

Well. That is about as much energy I can muster up on this beautiful summer Friday! Hope you have a nice weekend. Don't get burnt and try to go swimming...

Book Bags Taille Petite (Size Small)

I wish I took a picture of the stack I had. They are all around 5.5" x 9.5" (to fit my A Book), handstiched (no machine!) in contrasting thread (most of the time) and have sequins sewn on them - they are really cute! I mailed all of them off yesterday so now I will have to make some more...

I actually meant to send of A Book last November - can you believe it? I just haven't had a chance to catch my breath until these last couple of months...in any case I am glad they are all off to good homes...

Kazunari Hattori and Nakako Hayashi

(images from here, here, here, here, here, here and here...)

Wow. I really really love the design work of Kazunari Hattori. I don't even really know where to start. It feels so open, airy and...new or something. Very contemporary. All those links under the images take you to pages with a little more info - I couldn't find that much out there on the internet. I will have to buy this issue of idea magazine to get my fill I suppose...

I am also really impressed with Nakako Hayashi's magazine Here and There, which is art directed by Kazunari Hattori. I haven't bought one yet, but it seems like such a great idea - purposefully intimate. Here and here are two good interviews with her and here are a few more glimpses of the inside spreads...