Nathan Fox designed a custom 10 x 40 foot installation for a vehicle display at the Horton Plaza Mall during Comic-Con in collaboration with WIRED and Subaru. Says Lindsay Speros, Senior Integrated Marketing Manager at WIRED and WIRED.COM, “The display at the Horton Plaza Mall was a HUGE success and attracted thousands of people.” WIRED also hosted the VIP WIRED Cafe in the Omni Palm Terrace that featured Nathan’s custom mural and a contest to win an original 16 x 20″ Nathan Fox work of art. Fox signed posters of his mural for guests and fans at the VIP WIRED cafe.
Fox also had a table in artist’s alley, debuting the new Fluorescent Black graphic novel through Heavy Metal magazine. He signed copies at his booth as well as Heavy Metal’s. An exclusive hardcover version was available through pre-order that sold out quickly. This is Fox’s 3rd year exhibiting at Comic Con. Says Fox, “It’s always a pleasure to meet fans and critics alike and this year there were more than ever so I am glad for the great turnout.”
Gary Baseman, Jeremyville (pictured), and Thunderdog Studios were among the 100 artists chosen to participate in The Vader Project. Artists were given a 1:1 scale replica of the Darth Vader Helmet used in George Lucas’ Star Wars films to re-imagine and customize. The villainous Darth Vader’s helmet is instantly recognizable in pop culture; in the hands of artists the helmet takes on a new life.
The project premiered in 2007, starting in Los Angeles and then making its way through Europe and Japan before ending at the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The helmets are now on display at Freeman’s Auctioneers and Appraisers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania until they are auctioned on July 10, 2010.
For those of you who were in Toronto June 10-20th, we hope you had a chance to experience the magical world of FriendsWithYou’s “Wish Come True Festival”. Commissioned by the Luminato Festival of the Arts, FriendsWithYou spread their message of “Magic, Luck, and Friendship” throughout the city. Queens Park in downtown Toronto was converted into Rainbow City, a colorful alternative dimension of gigantic totems, magical mushrooms, oversize bounce houses, and inflatable characters that came to life. Appearing in Rainbow City and around Toronto was the Rainbow King, Wish Come True Festival’s very own ambassador. Rainbow King was present at the ribbon-cutting ceremony of Rainbow City, opened the Canadian Stock Exchange, walked the red carpet at the Prima Donna opening night, and more. A walking piece of art, the Rainbow King thoroughly enchanted all the people of Toronto to join in the magic that was stationed in many parts of the city. The Wish Come True Festival was a complete transformation of the city into a beautiful place where dreams and magic became reality!
Kai & Sunny’s “Return to the Wild” show at Stolen Space Gallery opens today in London. As a follow-up to the “What A Wonderful World” show in 2009, “Return to the Wild” explores the feelings that nature can project from an emotional point of view that aims to hit the viewer on a visceral level.
Preconceived notions are challenged as Kai & Sunny ask “Should [seeing] birds in flight always give us an uplifting feeling? Does the sun always dance magically on the water?” The duo challenges the viewer to answer these questions with their intricate and geometric style.
FriendsWithYou brings color and festivities to Toronto for the Wish Come True Festival in what will be their largest interactive installation to date. The Luminato Festival of Arts and Creativity has commissioned FriendsWithYou to spread their universal message of magic, love, and friendship throughout the city. During June 10th – 20th, 2010 visitors can enjoy larger-than-life inflatable installations, a gallery show, several pop-up shops, community events, speaking engagements, and more. The highlight of the 10-day event is Rainbow City at Queen’s Park. The Luminato 2010’s festival Mascot Rainbow King leads a host of celestial characters in transforming Queen’s Park with larger-than-life dimensions of giant totems, bounce houses, and inflatable friends.
Esther Pearl Watson releases the second volume of Unlovable, an illustrated series based on the 1980’s era diary that Watson found in a gas station bathroom written by a high school girl. Says The Seattle Weekly, “Watson’s graphic style and messily scrawled confessions read like a genuine diary, filled with humor and despair. Unlovable makes me grateful to be past that painful stage.”
If you are in Los Angeles, join Watson for the book release at Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Avenue on Wednesday, May 12th from 7:30-9:30pm.
Jeffrey Deitch closes Deitch Projects with Shepard Fairey’s solo exhibition “May Day.” The show opens on May 1st, 2010 and runs until May 29th, 2010. The title refers to the multiple meanings of May Day, known as a celebration of spring, International Worker’s Day, or a distress call used by pilots, police, and firefighters in emergencies. Fairey’s new work includes portraits of artists, musicians, and political activists that he admires.
Barneys threw a book party for the release of The Selby’s debut monograph, “The Selby is in Your Place” last Thursday, April 15th, 2010. The Selby is known for the intimate look that he gets into his subjects by studying their home environment, taking snapshots of their personal belongings, collections, pets, furniture, and more that describe and reflect each individual. What started out as a personal project to document the cool spaces of creative and quirky friends and their friends of friends in 2008 is now a published book by Abrams that features people such as Karl Lagerfeld, Erin Wasson, Christian Louboutin, Helena Christenson, Terence Koh, and more. Each photo session is followed by a signature hand-written interview by The Selby and a watercolor portrait of each subject. Bonus: the book comes with stickers!
On the closing night of the international ANDY Awards, a charity art auction was held with all of the proceeds benefiting Brad Pitt’s Make it Right foundation. The foundation is dedicated to rebuilding lives and homes in New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward with sustainable means. Bernstein & Andriulli artists generously donated many fine pieces of art for the auction.
What’s better than The Selby being in your place? Being in Selby’s place! Technically, The Selby is living in the window of Colette, but roles will be reversed as onlookers peer into a day in the life of Todd Selby. In the first week of March Todd Selby will be spending time in an installation that is decorated to look like an eclectic mix of all of the apartments that The Selby has documented. His debut book The Selby is in Your Place goes on sale April 1st.
FriendsWithYou has been very busy bringing magic to life. They paired up with US Sydney to produce the latest animated spot for Match.com. It’s never too late to find your match! “Better Together” tells the animated tale of a pea and a carrot destined to find one another. From strawberries and cream, fork and knife, to rabbit and hat, watch beloved duos connect in Friends With You’s delightful universe.
The Society of Illustrators was founded in 1901 to promote the art of illustration and to hold exhibitions. Today it continues to uphold this mission, honoring illustrators and showcasing their work in the Society of Illustrators museum and gallery.
On February 5th, 2010, the Society of Illustrators will be hosting an awards presentation and gala for winners in Illustrator 52: Book and Editorial. Josh Cochran will be honored for his “Sleepwalker” illustration in Medical Marvels, written by George Edward Stanley and published by Sterling.
On and around 12/12/2009, photographers around the world such as Stephen Wilkes donated their time, equipment, and expertise to take pictures of people who otherwise would not have the finances for professional portraits. Founded by Jeremy Cowart, 2009 was the debut year of the “Help-Portrait” movement.
Initially faced with cynics, Cowart counters on the Help-Portrait website: ”I love seeing a 53-year-old man dance in front of the camera because he’s never had his photo taken. I love taking the very first photo of a 5-year-old child and being able to give that to his mother. Lastly, I love knowing that photographers are getting to experience all of these moments themselves.”
Help-Portrait is an open movement where anyone can become involved. In New York, Heart Art co-founders Celeste Holt-Waters and Audrie Lawrence spearheaded ten city-wide events. The duo reached out to numerous photographers, producers, photo assistants, studios, equipment rental houses and charitable organizations to ensure that Help-Portrait reached as many people as possible. ”[Help-Portrait] is meant to unite and benefit the community by joining people together in the spirit of giving back to the community and a love of photography,” said Holt-Waters.
The Soho Partnership has been helping the homeless in New York since 1992. The “Project Stay” program boasts a 72% success rate of people who remain employed for two years or longer. We invite you to shop at the store, where all proceeds of designer clothes such as PHI will go to The Soho Partnership. Have some drinks, peruse the selection of clothing, and check out the new store window designed by Am I Collective and styled by Joseph Delate. Please join us for a party for a cause tomorrow!
UseYourHead (Party for A Cause)
6:00pm – 8:00pm
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
262 Mott St. New York, NY 10012
(212) 334-6755
www.useyourheadnyc.com
RSVP: rsvp2useyourhead@gmail.com
Last night amidst flashing neon billboards, Shepard Fairey set up shop in the middle of Times Square to perform a live installation for the Obey x Levi’s Fall/Winter 2009 collection. A crowd gathered to watch him wheat paste his signature posters onto a fabricated wall in the center of the busy intersection as dozens of cameras flashed and recorded to document his work in action. The event was a far cry from his beginnings as a street artist on the run from authorities. Free from persecution, Fairey seemed relaxed as he would turn to his assistants and ponder aloud which piece to paste next. He joked, “I’m not using to having this much time.”
After the installation was finished, Fairey was at the Levi’s Times Square store to sign limited-edition posters for fans who had been queuing up on the sidewalk along store. Four beautifully produced posters were given to customers who purchased any item from the Obey x Levi’s collaboration line.
