Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Winnipeg, Welcome Back To The NHL!

Because seriously, why does Atlanta need a hockey team?

Battles Perform At Paris' City Hall


Battles | Wall Street | A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

The art rockers perform in as lush lounge in Paris' City Hall in this latest episode from La Blogotheque.

The Neon Boneyard


The Neon Boneyard originated from storage lots owned by major sign manufacturers like YESCO. These ‘boneyards’ would house discarded signage to be used for their source parts or “bones” in the creation of newer, updated signage. As projects grew in scale, the sign makers could no longer house the volume of leftover signs and they began shipping used marquees straight to the dump. An outraged public, the Nevada Arts Council and YESCO stepped in to preserve the neon markers of Vegas past.
The boneyard resides in a large industrial backlot that holds a meandering path through over 150 signs from the 1930s to present day.
This winding, dirt path reveals a visual history of Las Vegas and early America. What becomes evident on exploring these typographic sculptures is that they are so much more than just leftover facades. The boneyard is a tangible history of technology, industry, style, entertainment, pop culture, and most of all: design. See more here.



Sunday, May 22, 2011

Jellyfish Lake


JELLYFISH LAKE, PALAU from Sarosh Jacob on Vimeo.


Jellyfish Lake is located on Eli Malk Island in The Republic of Palau. Twelve thousand years ago these jellyfish became trapped in a natural basin on the island when the ocean receded. With no predators amongst them for thousands of years, they evolved into a new species that lost most of their stinging ability as they no longer had to protect themselves. They are pretty much harmless to humans although some people with very sensitive skin may get a minor irritation from them.
These fascinating creatures survive by sharing a symbiotic relationship with algae that live inside of them. At night, the jellyfish go down to the depths of the lake where the algae feed on nutrients. During the day, the jellyfish come back to the surface and follow the sun across the lake in a massive migration. The algae convert the energy of the sun via photosynthesis into a sugar that feeds the jellyfish.
It is not possible to scuba dive in this lake because the nutrient rich layer at around 50 feet and below contains hydrogen sulphide which is highly toxic to humans. If a scuba diver was to swim in that layer, the toxins would enter the body through the skin and that exposure could be fatal. Snorkeling however, is perfectly safe and if you ever find yourself in Palau one day, you should make your way to this special place. The experience of swimming through millions of jellyfish is quite surreal and Palau is the only place in the world where you can do just that!

Friday, May 20, 2011

Auction For Skateistan


Skateistan is a school in Kabul where about 400 kids, boys and girls, “rich” and poor – skate on a daily basis and learn things like photography, carpentry, drama, English and much much more.
The school was established in 2008 and built a professional indoor skateboard park in 2009 – with the help of the fundraisers in Denmark.
Now in 2011 we are collecting money so that Skateistan can expand and build an outdoor facility for the kids so they can skate even when the school is not open.
ALL income from this auction goes directly to Skateistan in Kabul – all fees and commissions also (Donated by the auction house Lauritz.com) Skateistan Denmark is run 100% volunter, we have no paid staff, skateboards and shipping is sponsored by BLIND skateboards and Blue Water Shipping – so if you spend 1000 Dollars on one of theese works of art – 1000 Dollars will go to Skateistan.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Fully Flared, Fully Girl



Spike Jonze making big moves over at Girl/Lakai.

Altered Focus: Burma


Altered Focus: Burma from Hot Knees Media on Vimeo.

This is a nice look at three filmmakers and skateboarders as they make their way through Burma. As they travel from town to town they make friends with the locals and spread the gospel of skateboarding.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Death Cab For Cutie + Shepard Fairey



From the Obey Clothing Blog:


I have been a fan of Death Cab for years so I was excited to hear from bassist Nick Harmer about his idea to collaborate on a video piece for their song Home Is A Fire. I love the democracy of music and I’m always excited to bundle visual art with great music. Nick sent me the lyrics to Home Is A Fire and they evoked the duality of “home” both as a place you inhabit, and also as a place that inhabits or traps you. One’s relationship with home might be complicated, but ultimately it can be a two-way dialogue, of which we can at least affect one-way. The city can be an impersonal place, imposing, simultaneously anonymous and claustrophobic. However, there are opportunities for us to affect the city(and life) experience rather than accepting things as passive voyeurs. We all have fears and insecurities about ourselves and our circumstances, but if we have the courage to take risks and participate we can adapt and embrace the flux, rather than fear it. This video is about illustrating these ideas and the multiple dimensions of the city experience by taking the viewer on a journey to encounter the Home Is A Fire  lyrics as street art.  Street art appeals  because it makes the landscape a little less dreary for the viewer, and it is a bureaucracy free creative outlet for the participants. I would say that a street art call to action is “if you don’t like your home… reshape it”. The power of street art is in its intrigue and authenticity , so it was crucial to actually put all the lyrics and images up on the streets. We wanted the viewer to experience the urban environment in a very real and intimate way that celebrates that one person’s wart is another’s beauty mark. Some of the art was put up prior to the video shoot in places that seemed appropriate to the lyrical themes, while other pieces were put up during the shoot. We filmed the preparation of materials as well to demonstrate the energy and process involved in becoming pro-active. Some of the street art was cleaned within a day. Street art, like everything, is ephemeral but I hope that in watching this video and listening to the song, people see a little magic and potential in the unappreciated details of the landscape of their lives, no matter how fleeting they may be.
Thank you to all the people who helped make this video happen.
-Shepard Fairey

NASH (The Documentary)



There are not a lot of athletes out there that I would be interested to see a documentary about. Steve Nash seems different than your average jock. The guy spends his off season living in Manhattan, has a love of skateboarding and soccer and seems to be a grounded guy.

Thursday, May 12, 2011

The Cube - Eco Home


A tour of the Cube from Mike Page on Vimeo.


With overpopulation and energy concerns could the Eco Cube be the future?

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Hong Kong Airlines Flight Attendants Are Trained In Wing Chun



There is no way that terrorists are taking over a plane full of badass Kung Fu babes.

Obi-Wan Kenobi Is Dead


CORUSCANT — Obi-Wan Kenobi, the mastermind of some of the most devastating attacks on the Galactic Empire and the most hunted man in the galaxy, was killed in a firefight with Imperial forces near Alderaan, Darth Vader announced on Sunday.
In a late-night appearance in the East Room of the Imperial Palace, Lord Vader declared that “justice has been done” as he disclosed that agents of the Imperial Army and stormtroopers of the 501st Legion had finally cornered Kenobi, one of the leaders of the Jedi rebellion, who had eluded the Empire for nearly two decades. Imperial officials said Kenobi resisted and was cut down by Lord Vader’s own lightsaber. He was later dumped out of an airlock
Read more over at The Galactic Empire Times.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

High Tech Soul: The Creation Of Techno Music


High tech soul : the creation of techno music from SocialClub on Vimeo.



HIGH TECH SOUL is the first documentary to tackle the deep roots of techno music alongside the cultural history of Detroit, its birthplace. From the race riots of 1967 to the underground party scene of the late 1980s, Detroit’s economic downturn didn’t stop the invention of a new kind of music that brought international attention to its producers and their hometown.
Featuring in-depth interviews with many of the world’s best exponents of the artform, High Tech Soul focuses on the creators of the genre — Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson — and looks at the relationships and personal struggles behind the music. Artists like Richie Hawtin, Jeff Mills, Carl Craig, Eddie Fowlkes and a host of others explain why techno, with its abrasive tones and resonating basslines, could not have come from anywhere but Detroit.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

The Most Expensive Piece Of Comic Art In The World

Sure those Golden Age issues of comics with the first appearance of a soon to be icon sell for tons of money but that is to be expected. However, the most expensive piece of actual comic art ever sold is this piece by Frank Miller that went for $448,125. It is a image of Batman and Robin (actually the first female Robin) from a series Miller did in the 1980's. 

Femen: Ukraine's New Generation Of Feminist Protesters

Inna Shevchenko, 20, a student from Kiev, is a “Topless Fighter,” as activists with the women’s rights group Femen call themselves. For two years, the organization has been fighting against sex tourism and prostitution in Ukraine, a country that even Google automatically associates with “dating agencies” and “women.” The advertisements to the right of a Google search for “Ukraine” are for “Single Ukrainian Ladies,” “Women From Ukraine,” or “Partner Search Ukraine.” Although the group has only a few dozen activists like Inna and around 300 supporters, the topless protests have established a global reputation for Femen. Read more here.






Friday, May 6, 2011

The Design For China's Comic And Animation Museum



How awesome would it be if this design by the Dutch firm MVRDV got built.

Osama Bin Laden Circa 1971

It's hard to wrap your head around this dorky kid (second from right) becoming the worlds most wanted terrorist.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

On The Way To Woodstock (The ipad App)




On The Way To Woodstock is an immersive, interactive timeline that explores the phenomenon of how a generation evolved from sock hops to Woodstock. Enjoy over 100 hours of narrative, photography, videos and music from the 1950′s, the 1960′s and each of the artists that performed at the 1969 Woodstock Art & Music Fair.
Your iPad comes alive with over 100 rare color photos of Woodstock from award-winning photographer, Barry Levine. You will find little-known facts about the performers and the events of the festival as you browse this stunning gallery.
In this app you will:
- Effortlessly experience the essence of life in the 50′s and 60′s featuring family life, social changes, politics, music and culture.
- Dive deep into the topics and personalities of the time with videos and thoughtful narratives.
- Immerse yourself in artists from Buddy Holly to Jimi Hendrix, each featured in individual sections filled photos, videos, even essential songs and albums.
- Enjoy over 100 rare photos from one of the only Woodstock photographers who managed to have color film at the festival
- Explore the characters and artists that chose not to play the festival
- AirPlay support for videos so you can stream audio directly to your Hi-Fi speakers or audio/video to your Apple TV
- Over 45 hours of video content diligently categorized and organized for your viewing pleasure
- The ScreenSaver that allows your app to behave like the perfect coffee table book

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

The Boom Box Project




On the heels of the graffiti renaissance comes a vibrant look at an old-school icon that figured prominently in the hip-hop, rock & roll, and punk movements of the 1970s and 80s. The Boombox Project features contemporary fine art portraits of an array of vintage boomboxes, as well as scores of documentary photographs of the people who brought the boombox movement to life back in the day.
The book is more than just a collection of images, though; it’s also an oral history of the early days of hip-hop, featuring memories from Fab 5 Freddy, Bob Gruen, Rosie Perez, Kool Moe Dee, LL Cool J, Lisa Lisa, DJ Spooky, and Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys, among others, on the role this once ubiquitous machine played.
Part pop cultural history and part “gadget porn,” this lively and highly stylish volume is one of the cool books of the season.

Casualties Of War

Remember those little green army men you played with when you were a kid? Well things didn't turn out well for them once the war was over. Stricken with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder they have turned to alcohol, drugs, domestic abuse and eventually suicide. See more here.