Archive for September, 2008
With one look around the grimy, hippie and gutter punk-laden streets of San Francisco even a school librarian could tell that Supertouch's own SHEPARD FAIREY was in town by the sheer volume of ugly wrestler mugs staring down from the forest of equally unpolished buildings. The occasion (besides wanton acts of vandalism—neé "Street Art," that is?)? Shep's new anti-war solo show, "The Duality of Humanity," opening Saturday, September 13th at JUSTIN GIARLA's acclaimed WHITE WALLS GALLERY. Looking to buy? The best stuff's already gone. But the waiting list is accepting names. HAVE A LOOK: Read More
The Polish version of ALIEN pops...
It's a little-known fact that in addition to great potato wine, the Polish crank out some incredible movie posters that put their American counterparts to shame. When Western movies are released domestically in Poland, the original poster imagery goes straight out the window and a legion of unsung resident artists like Andrzev Klimowski, Jerzy Treutler, Wojciech Zamecznik, Jacek Neugebauer, Andrzej Pagowski, and Bronislaw Zelek were brought in to create incredible works of art specifically for the domestic market, proving beyond the shadow of a doubt that good design is alive and well in some part of the world. HAVE A LOOK: Read More
Lance grinding on the bike, Austin, Texas, September 2008. This officially qualifies as "Game Face"...
In an effort to quiet the rumor mill that's sprung up in the past few weeks surrounding his unannounced return to the TOUR DE LANCE FRANCE in 2009, Supertouch buddy (and serious art collector) LANCE ARMSTRONG has just confirmed to the world that he will indeed be headhunting in the hills of France next summer looking for an unprecedented 8th victory, only this time, it's not about him, the fame, OR the bike:
"I am happy to announce that after talking with my children, my family and my closest friends, I have decided to return to professional cycling in order to raise awareness of the global cancer burden. This year alone, nearly eight million people will die of cancer worldwide. Millions more will suffer in isolation, victims not only of the disease but of social stigma. After the passage of Proposition 15 in Texas, a $3 billion investment in the fight against cancer which is helping to make this disease part of the national dialogue in America, it's now time to address cancer on a global level." —Lance Armstrong
*Watch his video announcement HERE...
To add fuel to the fire, it should be noted that next year Lance will race for neither salary nor bonuses in an effort to maintain focus on the cause at hand, an epidemic that now claims more than 1,500 US citizens a day. The bionic man will discuss his cycling program and an international LIVESTRONG strategy on September 24th in New York City at the CLINTON GLOBAL INITIATIVE. To date the Lance Armstrong Foundation has raised more than $260 million for the fight against cancer.
An exclusive new VANITY FAIR interview with Lance posted today takes an in-depth look at his return to cycling. Read it online HERE.
No, those calves aren't injection-molded. Austin, Texas, September 2008...
(photos by Elizabeth Kreutz)
Street art legend and notorious shapeshifter BARRY McGEE (aka: Ray Fong) surprised San Francisco art fanatics last Friday nite when an unexpected show of his work appeared at RATIO 3 gallery credited to the artist "LYDIA FONG" (his dress-wearing alter ego). For the most part an assemblage of pieces from several recent smaller shows, "A Moment for Reflection: New Work by Lydia Fong" is an amazingly comprehensive survey of all of Barry's recent stylistic modes with a few new geometric and abstract twists thrown in for good measure (and even an installation of drawings by his gearhead father). HAVE A LOOK: Read More
Banksy's NOLA house rat flees the roost...
Following BANKSY's recent art run through NEW ORLEANS and the city's subsequent drenching from Hurricane Gustav, observant residents have begun removing the English street artist's guerilla art gifts, including the stenciled rat from the side of this Katrina-ravaged home. Other pieces have been reported missing and we await photographic confirmation. Meanwhile, we're renting a sawsall and booking a flight to the South with an eye towards early retirement. HAVE A LOOK: Read More
Art buddies Brendan Fowler (editor of ANP Quarterly) and Chris Johanson amid the color field...
WARNING: THIS ENTRY CONTAINS HIPPIE "ARTSPEAK"
Modern abstract/experimental painter CHRIS JOHANSON's immersive new art environment "Totalities" submerged the downtown art world in a field of vibrating color and deep theory when it opened at DEITCH PROJECTS to much fanfare last week. A member in good standing of the so-called "Beautiful Losers" camp—and its resident intellectual—Johanson has created a show he describes as a “contemporary living installation” through a multi-media construction incorporating paintings, sculpture, installation, and musical performance unlike anything he’s ever attempted before. When the viewer enters the gallery space, a giant checkerboard of skin tones and natural hues dominates their field of vision, representing the colors of the world. They then pass through the artist’s so-called (no laughing now) “natural tunnel” before emerging into a (awesomely-named) “space temple,” which represents a space ship/universal time capsule. All the paintings within are representations of the past, the present and the future, expressing the artist’s thought that time goes on forever in both directions, and stressing the importance of the here and now. Yeah, that’s a lot of wild artspeak for one show, but it’s an exhibition that must be experienced in person to be truly appreciated. Of course a nice dosing prior to entry will greatly enhance the viewing and no doubt make your time spent in the “space capsule” all the more meaningful. HAVE A LOOK: Read More
Top: Mr Hirst adjusts his million dollar vision. Below: The bull that laid the golden egg...
We'll be reporting from the front row of DAMIEN HIRST's massive auction of new art, "Beautiful Inside My Head Forever," paddle in hand when the action starts at SOTHEBY'S next week. In the meantime, however, we realize that Hirst's bold move to bypass the normal gallery system by choosing to sell a staggering 223 new pieces of art to his collectors directly via auction—a move that could easily net the artist $120 million—remains a baffling event. This week, TIME magazine's RICHARD LACAYO penned a lengthy piece on the subject, demystifying the occasion that we present here to help strip away some of the impenetrable layers of the creepy, high-gloss blue chip art world. READ ON: Read More
When JIMI HENDRIX set fire to his sunburst Fender Stratocaster for the first time during a concert at the Finsbury Astoria in London in 1967, it was a momentous occasion in history of rock, and last week the same guitar set a new record when it fetched a massive $493,638 USD at a COOPER OWEN auction. Jimi played the Finsbury Astoria on the opening night of the Walker Brothers tour on March 31, 1967. While playing "Fire", he doused the guitar with lighter fluid and lit it up for the first time ever on stage before an astonished audience. When he then attempted to continue paying the instrument, he wound up in the hospital with minor hand injuries. The stunt was famously repeated after a bit more practice a few months later at the Monterey Pop Festival. After the show the guitar was stored in the office of Jimi’s press officer Tony Garland who ultimately stashed the Strat in the inauspicious hiding spot of his parent’s garage. It was forgotten about by everyone until Garland’s nephew unearthed the crispy relic on a recent cleanup mission. Today the guitar remains one of the only instruments to remain accurately setup for Jimi’s playing style and is the only fully intact burned instrument in existence. READ ON: Read More
Yes, this is the cutest post we ever do on ST, we promise...
The undeniable continuity between Supertouch & bastard stepsister-in-law, twice-removed publication STREET BONERS & TV CARNAGE is an undeniable shared appreciation for the work of legendary punk artist/visual anarchist GEE VAUCHER. Thus we couldn't help but pay great attention when head boner & Vice Mag founder GAVIN McINNES reported on Mrs Vaucher's official membership in the newly-inaugurated & highly prestigious TOM'S FANTASTIC ART CLUB in Rural Essex. HAVE A LOOK: Read More
Nick Z's legion of killer masked femmebots...
As we reported a few weeks back, Supertouch buddy & YEAH YEAH YEAHS guitarist NICK ZINNER's solo show of photography currently on display at FUSE GALLERY in NYC's East Village is a knockout. Now it seems that the venerable NY TIMES finally has an astute downtown art observer on staff in the person of ANDREW GENSLER whose taken official notice of the exhibition in the paper of record. HAVE A LOOK: Read More
