Johnny Cupcakes, Los Angeles
May 15, 2008 | Categories: • T-shirts / Architecture / Clothing / Design

Though I’m not a fan of t-shirts that cost more than $30, Johnny Cupcakes has always been one of those shops that comes out with a pretty consistent blend of shirts with some solid illustrations. Well it turns out that Mr. Cupcakes has decided to take his proven recipe and bring it to a new home here in Los Angeles, opening a brand new store on the oh-so-fancy Melrose Ave.

In order to get people drooling over this upcoming store he’s provided a video sneak preview of the ideas he has for the shop. The store itself is going to be right across the street from Kid Robot and Paul Frank, so he’ll be in good company. Inside the store you’ll purchase shirts at a counter that looks like a stove top, the shirts will be stored in a giant refrigerator, a wall of oven doors that hold even more t-shirts, including some doors that open randomly and shoot out steam! He’s been working with a company that creates things for Disneyland, so it seems like this is going to be an attraction all on it’s own!

The store is set to open this summer, and I’ll definitely be there when it does open with some photos and maybe some video, hopefully it turns out as good as it sounds!

Found through High Snobiety

Bobby

Time’s Design 100
May 15, 2008 | Categories: Architecture / Art / Clothing / Design / Furniture / Magazine

Time Magazine today released their list of the top 100 “most influential design,” a list that covers all aspects of design, or so they say. Reading through this list I wasn’t impressed at all. The list covers 16 different categories from all reaches of design, but I feel like overall they just wanted to make a giant list to seem “cool”, a word I’m learning to hate. It’s also a list heavy on “green” items which seems like a bunch of greenwashing to me, just trying to get some “cool” points on how in-the-know they are.

In their technology section the feature an electric lawnmower that helps save the environment… except that it’s electric, which means it has to be plugged into your home which still creates pollution. Plus the lawnmower isn’t even well designed, unless you get a boner over standard fare Sears merchandise. To offset this green trend, they feature a 6 foot by 11 foot wide television that is not only completely unnecessary, but I’m sure costs at least $100 a month to power, not to mention pollution factors. Not every category is like this though, some are better than others, but overall it seems like they pulled a bunch of things out of their asses.

The website section definitely caught my eye though, especially because Kitsune Noir was somehow not included! (C’mon, that was a joke, I had to…) But seriously, congrats to Grace over at Design*Sponge and Marcus over at Dezeen, they both totally deserved to be mentioned… but who the hell are these other blogs?! If there’s one thing I know it’s blogs and by god I’ve only heard of or read regularly Better Living Through Design. Looking at the list it seems to me like all they did was look at Design*Sponge’s link section and cut and paste them! And what’s with all the green blogs in this list? Green Home Guide is described as “A room-by-room guide for efficient, easy and stylish ways to live a green lifestyle and have a positive impact on the environment”… I’m sure it’s a very nice site and the people who run it are great, but that’s not what design is about, that is an aspect of design as a whole.

I guess if you care at all you can visit the complete list of “influential design” and see for yourself, but personally I think Time needs to stick to reporting on the news.

Bobby

Today Is the Day
May 14, 2008 | Categories: Blogs / Design / Music / Photography


Today Is the Day by Yo La Tengo

For some reason I woke up this morning with a hankering to hear a certain Yo La Tengo song, but I couldn’t remember which one it was. I finally remembered that the song was Today Is the Day, a song that was off of their album Summer Sun. But they released a Today Is the Day EP as well, and instead of putting the original version on there, they put this amazing sped up version that destroys the original. Seriously, if you don’t want your ass kicked by Yo La Tengo right now, don’t listen to this.

On a sidenote, I made that cover above because I couldn’t find a large image of the original. The background and letters are made up of images from Michael Surtees’ New York City Colour Study project. Basically he takes a picture of the sky over Manhattan every morning around 7 am every day, documenting how different the sky can look day to day. I figured since the album was titled Today Is the Day it was kind of fitting. Also, Yo La Tengo is from Hoboken, New Jersey which pretty much shares the same sky as Manhattan, so it works for me. Probably not the most creative of the covers I’ve made, but it’s very conceptual, something I don’t do often.

Also be sure to check out Michael’s blog DesignNotes, it’s a good read.

Bobby

Dan Funderburgh’s Work at Fellow Traveller
May 13, 2008 | Categories: Art / Design

I wrote in my art show round-up last week that Dan Funderburgh was having a show in Brooklyn, so he was rad enough to send me some photos of the work he had up. He had mentioned to me that he was making “40 tools” for the exhibit, but I wasn’t really sure what he meant until I got to see these photos. As you can see, the ‘gunbrella’ from The DWP was turned into a real, giant sculpture! How cool is that?!

As you can see from the photos he went crazy, making grenades, files, saws, wrenches, a staple gun, a chainsaw, a gas can, and even a boomerang! The details are also totally amazing, like I can’t believe he had the patience to make all of those. I have a bunch more photos under the cut, so be sure to check all of them out. If you’re in the Brooklyn area as well, be sure to check out the show in person, I’m sure it’s even better!

Keep reading Dan Funderburgh’s Work at Fellow Traveller…

Photos From Kevin Lyons’ Show, Your Mom’s In My Business
May 12, 2008 | Categories: Art / Design / Illustration

Last Friday I popped over to the Kevin Lyons show over at HVW8 on Melrose and it was a good time. The show is called Your Mom’s In My Business and was made up of drawings and doodles that Kevin made while he was riding the train 4 hours a day back and forth to work. The work isn’t deep and full of meaning, but it has a good sense of humor and is sharp as a tack. It’s not even all his own work, some things are pulled from magazines and who knows where, but it’s rad nonetheless. The show’s gonna be up until June 15th, so be sure to stop by if you’re in the area.

To see a bunch more photos of the show check out my Flickr Set!

Bobby

The New A Bathing Ape Store in Los Angeles
May 12, 2008 | Categories: Architecture / Clothing / Design

A couple weeks ago I was driving down Melrose heading toward the Beverly Center when I was shocked to see a pink, neon glow that I hadn’t seen before. Bear in mind I’m driving at dusk, a little after the sun had set, so this was BRIGHT. As I get closer I realize that this has to be the brand new A Bathing Ape store that has been in the process of opening forever.

For the five you who’ve never heard of A Bathing Ape, it’s basically this cult clothing brand in Japan, mostly because of it’s limited edition t-shirts and sneakers. Is it really all that exciting? I personally don’t think so, but Nigo, the man behind A Bathing Ape, is pretty smart and has come up with some great designs over the years. So while you won’t see me shopping there any time soon, it was still exciting to come upon.

The store was created by one of the best architecture/design firms companies out there, Wonderwall. I’ve been a huge fan of Wonderwall’s work for years now, so it’s exciting to have something of theirs here in Los Angeles. It’s a lot like the other BAPE stores out there, a lot of glass and patterns and neon, but it’s pretty cool in person. While I was taking photos there was a couple taking Facebook photos from the reflected neon light, so I thought that was funny.

Check under the cut for a bunch more photos!

Keep reading The New A Bathing Ape Store in Los Angeles…

Narrow Stairs by Death Cab for Cutie
May 9, 2008 | Categories: Design


You Can Do Better Than Me by Death Cab for Cutie


Bixby Canyon Bridge by Death Cab for Cutie

I’m happy to admit that I’m that guy who says he only likes a band’s “older stuff”, but I think there’s a validity to that. If a band has a life of 10 years or so, obviously their sound can change. And if anything, I get sad when my favorite bands release records that I don’t like, I don’t care about how cool they are I just want an awesome record. Upon hearing the first single from Death Cab for Cutie’s new album, Narrow Stairs, I was totally mortified. I Will Possess Your Heart is and 8 and half minute guitar jam that ends with some horrible vocal arrangements. Don’t get me wrong, I love guitar jams, Blue Line Swinger by Yo La Tengo is one of my all time favorite songs and that sucker comes in at over 9 minutes, but this new single was quite disheartening.

Nonetheless, my curiosity got the best of me and I had to listen to the new album. And well, it’s pretty dang good. The album starts out extremely strongly with Bixby Canyon Bridge, starting out crisp like DCFC songs usually do, and then the guitars kick in and things get serious. Gone is the pussyfooting around of the last album, and back to the more raw and lo-fi sound that they used to have. Skipping past I Will Possess Your Heart leads to No Sunlight, a poppy tune with slightly cheeseball lyrics, but the piano in the background makes me love it.

Then there’s Cath…, a song that feels much more like old DCFC. What really stands out on this track is the drums, much more creative and up front, something they used to do a lot more in their older stuff (think of A Movie Script Ending). Talking Bird is more of a mellow somber song, that then leads into the one of the best damn songs on this album, You Can Do Better Than Me. This song is possibly one of the best songs they’ve ever written, with Beach Boys-esque drums, piano melody and an organ providing a good backing. The song lyrically is not happy, nor is the title, but the music itself will make you instantly happy, I guarantee it.

Grapevine Fires is another gem on the album with some great backing vocals and a nice drum beat to it. The song talks about the fires here in Los Angeles along the Grapevine, a stretch of freeway that connects the Los Angeles area to the northern part of California (for those who aren’t from around here). Your New Twin Sized Bed is a good song, but I think it’s weird that he had Brothers on a Hotel Bed and now this… c’mon Ben, there’s lots of things to write about. Long Division is another really great song on the album, sounding like it could have been off of The Photo Album almost. Pity and Fear is not one of my favorites, it’s slightly electronic with a sort of Conga beat to it, I’m just not feeling it at all. But the album ends with The Ice Is Getting Thinner, a somber little ballad that ends how I think a DCFC album should end. It kind of reminds me of Coney Island.

Overall this album gets 7 or 8 out of 10, if I was to give it any sort of rating. It’s not perfect, nor is it the best album of the year, but it’s a really great step in a good direction, and something definitely worth taking a listen to. Now DCFC needs to call Modest Mouse and tell them to get their shit together and I’ll be REALLY happy.

Narrow Stairs comes out on May 13th through Atlantic Records.

Bobby

Penguin Books Releasing New James Bond Covers
May 9, 2008 | Categories: Books / Design / Illustration

I never thought I’d be posting another Penguin Books story, but they’ve totally upped their game as of late! Following on the heels of their Shepard Fairey redesigned covers they’ve decided to redesign the covers of all the James Bond books in honor of (what would have been) Ian Fleming’s 100th birthday. The covers were created by illustrator Michael Gillette and feature beautiful women, a well-known vice of James Bond, with beautiful type artfully placed over their body.

The covers themselves are great, perfectly minimal, but they’ve also thought about the spines as well, adorning them with silhouettes of women and a good numbering system to keep your collection in order. I think this redesign is so successful, it works on so many levels. These are going to be released in hardback on May 29th, and you may just want to pick up the entire set just to have the hottest bookshelf ever.

Bobby

Art Shows This Weekend
May 8, 2008 | Categories: Art / Design / Illustration

There are a ton of good art shows this weekend, too many for me to post about individually, so I thought I’d do more of a round-up and sum things up better. Most of the shows take place around L.A., but one is in San Francisco and one is in Brooklyn, but all of them are awesome.

Thursday, May 8th 2008

Fellow Traveler - 8 pm
Featuring Justin Fines, Dan Funderburgh, and Kevin Devine

Fellow Traveler is new work by three Brooklyn artists originally from the American midwest. Like many immigrants, they celebrate their shared origins, but are also interested in where their individual paths diverge. Fellow Traveler are not adherents to a school or aesthetic, they are sympathetic allies with a shared perspective that refuse to be limited or defined by geography.

Click here for more info.

Friday, May 9th 2008

Your Mom’s In My Business - 6 to 10 pm
Featuring Kevin Lyons

Kevin Lyons was one of my favorite designers back in the day, seeing how he was the brains behind Urban Outfitters back then, and his hand drawn fonts were like a dream. Since then he’s been working I’m sure, but I haven’t heard of anything from him a while. So it’s exciting to see that he’s having a new show with all sorts of new work. Some guy named Dj Susreshot is gonna be there as well, so it should be a good time.

Click here for more info.

ARTribe - 7 to 10 pm
Featuring a bunch of young artists

The ARTribe organization is made up of Los Angeles high school students dedicated to raising money for a worthy cause by promoting artwork created by fellow high school students at the Santa Monica Art Studios. Our event will showcase the work of talented local teenagers determined to make a difference in the world through their creativity. Photography, sculpture, film, drawings, and paintings selected by a panel of artists and jurors will be on exhibition. The art will be on display in the generous space afforded by Studio 1. Artwork will be made available for sale at the event and 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the S.P.I.R.A.L Foundation.

Click here for more info.

Forever and Never - 6 to 9 pm
Featuring Michael Sieben and Nat Swope

An ongoing collaborative print project between Michael Sieben and Nat Swope exhibiting 20 - 12″ x 12″ prints.
Framed and unframed prints will be for sale. $30 - $100

How could you pass up a show like that?

Click here for more info.

Saturday, May 10th 2008

Scion Art Tour 4 - 8 to 10 pm
Featuring Andrew Pommier, Andy Mueller, Angela Boatwright, Blaine Fontana, Blek LeRat, Books llll, Caia Koopman, Chris Yormick, Cody Hudson, Dalek, David Choe, Eye One, Francesco LoCastro, Freddi C, J. Shea, James Jean, Jeff Soto, Joshua Krause, Kelsey Brookes, Kenton Parker, Kofie, Mel Kadel, Michael Sieben, Mike Giant, Rammellzee, RETNA, R. Grimes, Ron English, Sam Flores, Sage Vaughn, Skwerm, Tim McCormick, Travis Millard, and The London Police

Scion’s Installation 4, “It’s A Beautiful World,” will open in
Los Angeles, the last of nine cities on the national tour, on May 10. The innovative Scion
Installation Art Tour launched its fourth installment last July and features a diverse array of
artists from around the world. The theme, “It’s a Beautiful World,” was interpreted by each
artist, in one of four mediums— painting, photography, sculpture, and collage. The culmination of the tour is accompanied by a live auction where all of the artwork will be auctioned off to the public, and 100 percent of the proceeds will go toward art related charities.

Click here for more info.

Bobby

Photos from Banksy’s Show at The Cans Festival
May 8, 2008 | Categories: Art / Design / Photography

Photos have popped up from The Cans Festival, an old grunge-y tunnel filled with amazing art and graffiti including none other than the king of witty street art, Banksy. It looks like it was quite a show, with art covering nearly every inch of the tunnel. It even looks like anyone could come in and stencil certain parts of the show, making it interactive as well.

Banksy’s section is pretty epic, with giant stencils, overturned cars (even though Barry McGee did it first) and even his statue of David with a bullet proof vest. Definitely check out Romanywg’s Flickr Set to see a ton of good looking photos from the event.

Bobby