Books

FASHIONISTA///AN HOMAGE TO CONSUMERISM: STEPHEN SPROUSE REMEMBERED IN PRODUCT

January 10th, 2009

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On the heels of the epic celebration of the life of designer & artist STEPHEN SPROUSE that is “Rock on Mars” at NYC’s DEITCH PROJECTS, a barrage of new product is hitting the shelves commemorating the pioneering punk fashionista. Most crucial of these releases are two new retrospective books: The “Le Book” is a three-volume edition featuring rare snapshots and sketches (available in March), while the crucial “Stephen Sprouse” (Rizzoli Press) chronicles the artist’s life and creative career in exquisite detail with enough ’80s day-glo ink to burn your retinas out (available in February). Of course, a special-edition Sprouse graffiti covered edition is available exclusively at Louis Vuitton stores for a limited time. Which brings us to the high end of Sprouse’s product explosion in the form of a revamped collection of Sprouse designs for the Parisian luxury goods brand that single-handedly revitalized Sprouse’s career back in 2001 when LV designer Marc Jacobs tapped him to create a signature graffiti patter overprint that would prove to be a marketing coup for the company. Rolling out a host of Sprouse pieces, from classic Speedy bags to ballerina flats in new day-glo colorways (”You’re either going to love it or hate it. I’m fine with either reaction,” says Jacobs) LV presents a second installment of a must-have collection at an unfortunately precarious economic moment. Says Daniel Lalonde, president and chief executive officer of Louis Vuitton North America of the seemingly risky move: “I think we’ll be lucky if we have any stock left in the next month and a half.” The most pricey and coveted of LV’s offerings is a Stephen Sprouse graffiti skateboard housed a hard case LV monogram skateboard trunk in an edition of three at $8,250 each. Fittingly, the economic blow is softened by news that all proceeds will benefit Free Arts NYC, which provides underserved children throughout New York City with special arts programs. Vuitton is also making an undisclosed donation to the Sprouse Estate, as well as the Stephen Sprouse Memorial Scholarship Fund at the National Academy for Design. Meanwhile, crack open that LV wallet and HAVE A LOOK: Read the rest of this entry »

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LA///ART & COMMERCE///MARK RYDEN’S “SWEET WISHES” SPECIAL EDITION CHILDREN’S BOOK RELEASED TODAY…

July 22nd, 2008

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Today marks the debut of visionary painter MARK RYDEN ’s first official children’s book, “Sweet Wishes,” created in collaboration with fellow painter and partner in crime MARION PECK and based on their short film of the same name. Drawing on their extensive collections of vintage children’s toys and ephemera, the artists cast some of their favorite dolls as the story’s protagonists and photographed them in lush fantasy sets to illustrate the short story of Dolly, Baby, and Bear and what happens when they are granted a wish from a magical fairy. The book is available now as both a normal hardcover ($20) and a boxed Special Edition (250 copies, $300) that includes the signed and numbered copy of the original picture book, a DVD of the “Sweet Wishes” movie and a Sweet Wishes bookmark, all housed in a two-pieced pink satin box. Like all Mark Ryden merch, this set will surely disappear instantly, so move fast or be forever sad. HAVE A LOOK: Read the rest of this entry »

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BOOKSMART///INSIDE PETER BESTE’S “TRUE NORWEIGAN BLACK METAL”…

July 17th, 2008

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Ah, the rebellious vigor of Norweigan Viking youth…

For those scratching their heads at the sight of the following images, in the last two decades a bizarre and violent musical subculture called Black Metal has emerged in Norway. It has its roots in a heady blend of splatter movies, heavy metal music, Satanism, Pagan mythology and adolescent angst. In the early-mid 1990’s, members of this extremist underground committed murder, burned down medieval wooden churches, and desecrated graveyards. What started as juvenile frenzy came to symbolize the start of a war against Christianity, a return to the worship of the ancient Norse gods, and the complete rejection of mainstream society. American documentary photographer PETER BESTE has spent the last eight years working in the milieu of this insulated and secretive community. Beste’s access and insight has been absolutely without precedent, resulting in an amazing photographic journey as he earned the respect and trust of this impenetrable, suspicious and often elitist community. With each visit Beste saw more, photographed more and eventually accumulated enough material for his new book “True Norwegian Black Metal,” ($60, Vice Books) a stunning visual testimonial to this subculture. In it, Beste and editor Johan Kugelberg have created a unique photographic narrative that explores black metal from a truly visceral perspective that offers an in-depth look at the amazingly-named key players and bands in the scene including Nocturno Culto and Fenriz of Darkthrone, Necrobutcher, Hellhammer, Blasphemer, and Maniac of Mayhem, Samoth of Emperor, Frost of Satryicon, Enslaved, Abbath of Immortal, Gaahl, Infernus, King, and Kvitrafn of Gorgoroth, Nattefrost of Carpathian Forest, 1349, Dimmu Borgir, Ildjarn, Aura Noir, and many more. Fas can keep their eyes peeled for shows of Beste’s black metal photos in Exhibitions in London, Stockholm, Oslo, Berlin, Los Angeles through 2009. HAVE A LOOK: Read the rest of this entry »

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Exclusive

Features

NEWS///OPENING NITE: SHEPARD FAIREY’S “SUPPLY & DEMAND” AT CINCINNATI CAC BREAKS ATTENDANCE RECORD

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Friday was a big nite in the Midwest when SHEPARD FAIREY’s Ohio installment of his traveling retrospective “Supply & Demand” opened at the CINCINNATI CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER and shattered the institution’s all-time attendance record.

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NYC///ART HYPE///MR BRAINWASH PERFECTS THE ART OF TURD POLISHING WITH THE OPENING OF “ICONS”

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What has to be the final nail in the “Street Art” coffin was driven in last weekend by none other than MR. BRAINWASH (aka: “The Christian Audigier of Street Art”) when he opened his massive, self-produced “Icons” show in a rented space (which, ironically, was once a real art gallery, pre-recession) in the heart of Chelsea. As the subject of Brit Street Art king Banksy’s recent docu-parody film, “Exit Through The Gift Shop,” MBW has been the focus of much hype and speculation as his presence finally seeps into the fairly muddy stream of mainstream consciousness. Last week’s Wall Street Journal article articulated this particularly well:

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FASHION///R.I.P./// DESIGNER ALEXANDER McQUEEN COMMITS SUICIDE IN LONDON

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One of the fashion world’s foremost visionary designers ALEXANDER McQUEEN was found dead today in his London apartment, an apparent suicide just days after the death of his mother, and the suicide of one of his close friends Isabella Blow, who discovered the young designer and helped forge his early career:

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MOCA’S “COLLECTION: THE FIRST THIRTY YEARS” PROVES THE MUSEUM SHOULD BE AROUND FOR 30 MORE

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Despite MOCA’s financial woes of late and near collapse last year amid the chaos of the economic holocaust, the veritable Southland institution seems on to a bright future now, having secured ST buddy JEFFREY DEITCH as its new director (starting June 1) and financial security (for the moment). If ever there was a time to celebrate, it is now. HAVE A LOOK:

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FEATURE///IN THE STUDIO WITH SHEPARD FAIREY AS HE PREPARES FOR DEITCH GALLERY’S CLOSING SHOW

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By now it’s no secret that JEFFREY DEITCH is closing shop in downtown NYC to head West for the sunnier confines of the MoCA Director’s office, starting June 1st. That leaves SHEPARD FAIREY’s upcoming portrait show as the farewell exhibition at one of the city’s most legendary and influential commercial art institutions in the city’s history.

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