Visual Acoustics

Two documentary film promos in a row here. This one about the late, great Julius Shulman can’t be missed. Worth it just to hear him talk about the amazing L.A. dream home known as Case Study House #22. You know the one.

In theaters by early October.

Case Study House #22. Photo by Julius Shulman.

 

Coming soon.

From Doug Pray, the director of Scratch. Can’t get enough of the O.G., George Lois.

 

adidas FANATIC 2009

For those of you that’ll be in the NYC area tomorrow, you should come by Chelsea Waterside Park at W 23rd and 11th ave. Adidas is holding their 8th Fanatic event. If you haven’t been before it’s a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon whether or not you’re a big soccer fan. The games are great and the atmosphere is usually pretty charged.

Look for a little photo studio in the NW corner of the field. You’ll find me there shooting portraits of every team and player. That’s 24 teams and 144 players. It’ll be intense, but be sure to say hi!

Big thanks and love to Oliver and Chrissa at Adidas.

 

DASH SNOW R.I.P.

Earlier this week, Dash Snow died at the age of 27. I didn’t know Mr. Snow personally and I wasn’t a fan of all of his work, but I was deeply saddened by this news. My thoughts go out to his friends and family.

http://tinyvices.com/dash_snow.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/15/arts/15snow.html?ref=obituaries

 

Max Air, Mean Streets, and a big nose blog

I was recently in Sandusky, Ohio at the Cedar Point amusement park helping my cousin’s kid celebrate her 13th birthday. She packed a group of her friend’s into her Uncle Mike’s SUV and peeled off with them once we got to the park. The rejects who were both too old (father, uncle, and me) and too young (little brother and friend) spent twelve body-aching hours riding eight roller coasters (some twice), eating corporate food products, and waiting around. We saw the birthday girl once that whole day.

But, here’s some G10 video of a ride called the maXair (I don’t think it was built by Nike). Crazy fun.

done

Back in NYC, I hit up Will Steacy’s show at the Gulf & Western Gallery at NYU’s Tisch last week. I’m a little tired of seeing photography that knocks me on my ass. Heck of a show. See for yourself.

Finally (and I’m very late on this one), my supremely original and talented friend Amber Gray has a blog! Check out “with a big nose who knows” and learn something new.

 

It’s been a minute…

Or three. Ok, maybe a month since I’ve hit my own blog up. Life and work interrupted my already fragmented stream of musings. But, I’m back to share some of the nearly sublime things I’ve seen and done since my last post.

I recently sat down with an original and haunting vampire flick from Sweden called Let The Right One In. For those of you who haven’t put this in your Netflix queue or picked it up at Alan’s Alley yet, get on it. Directed by Tomas Alfredson and beautifully photographed by Hoyte Van Hoytema, it’s a coming of age story like no other.

I also had the amazing pleasure of checking out Francis and The Lights live at Santos Party House. My friend Oliver turned me on these guys a while back. Check out how this lofty and lo-fi video directed by Jake Schreier perfectly frames the outsized on-stage personality of Francis Starlite. The ending is exquisite.

I also stumbled onto Zwelethu Mthethwa terrific show at the Jack Shainman Gallery. Do not miss. Here.

 

Does your Barbie have a tumor?

In today’s Science section of the New York Times, you’ll find a great piece on an artist-turned-medical-student-turned-mad-scientist who uses a CT scanner to create very striking images of some beloved cultural icons as well as personal memorabilia.

A former teacher at the School of Visual Arts, Satre Stuelke started his Radiology Art project in 2007. His website states that the project is “dedicated to the deeper visualization of various objects that hold unique cultural importance in modern society, this project intends to plant a seed of scientific creativity in the minds of all those inclined to participate.”

Check out the NYTimes article here and definitely check out the Radiology Art website. There’s even 360 degree quicktime movies which make the Chicken McNuggets look like living microbial organisms. It’s a thing of beauty and revulsion.

Christmas Barbie

Hungry Man Dinner

Rubber Duck

All images via www.radiologyart.com

 

Hip Whiskers

If you’re in the NYC area this weekend and have nothing better to do, you might want to check out the NYC Beard and Mustache Championships at Public Assembly tomorrow. nycbmc.com

If you happened to shave recently (as I did), there’s still plenty of time to nurture your chops for the World Beard and Mustache Championships in Anchorage, Alaska.

In case you need further inspiration, check out this large-livin’ guy.

 

Gomorrah

I was fortunate enough to catch this amazing film this week. Based on the book of the same name by the investigative journalist Roberto Saviano, the work is a devastating observation of life under the Neopolitan Mafia. Anthony Lane of The New Yorker called it “A hell of a film, if you can take the hell.” I recommend you take any opportunity to see this movie at a theater near you. You may find yourselves able to relate all too well to being supremely vulnerable to the callousness of fate.

 

Like lyrics for eternal sunshine.

At the start of this week, most of the Northeast was socked with the biggest snowstorm of the winter, setting free millions of kids here in New York City with the city’s public schools shuttered for the first snow day since 2004. No doubt a good number of them headed for the nearest hills at the city parks with some cheap, flat anything under their butts ready to go careening into some unaware schmuck with a dog or worse, the closest avenue filled with union-driven city plows.

I could’ve been thrilled, except that I’ve been out of school for a good number of years now. Instead, I find myself sick (literally), tired of boots and hoods, and yearning for another place and time. A place like southern California during the mid-70s and seized mid-trick by the photographer Hugh Holland. If Mr. Holland’s stills of shirtless skaters ripping up asphalt ditches and empty swimming pools don’t warm you up like a cup of hot chocolate, then you might love Siberia and you should go there.

I’m not sure how I stumbled upon Hugh Holland’s work. Most of the skate photographs of this era in southern Cali are associated with the great Glen E. Friedman. Where Mr. Friedman’s work documented a rebellious subculture as much as a young and curious sport, Mr. Holland seems to have been taken by the remarkable intersection where brilliant, golden light and hard asphalt meets agile bodies and the youthful disposition of always being in the moment.

Below are a few images to remind us that there was once a paradise somewhere. All images are courtesy of the M+B Gallery. If your flight was canceled because of the weather and you had to park yourself under the pay phones at the terminal for the night, you’ll need more. Go here.

All images are copyright of Hugh Holland.