SpY

LOVE the public art by Spanish artist SpY.

Here’s an excerpt of a review of his work:
His work involves the appropiation urban elements through transformation or replication, commentary on urban reality, and the interference in its communicative codes. The bulk of his production stems from the observation of the city and an appreciation of its components, not as inert elements but as a palette of materials overflowing with possibilities. His ludic spirit, careful attention to the context of each piece, and a not invasive, constructive attitude, unmistakably characterize his interventions.

…SpY’s pieces want to be a parenthesis in the automated inertia of the urbanite. They are pinches of intention, hidden in a corner for those who want to let themselves be surprised. Filled with equal parts of irony and positive humor, they appear to raise a smile, incite reflection, and to favor an enlightened conscience.

(Based on the typical bike rack found in Madrid.)

A statement from SpY on his website about taking this photo…
 I was taking the pictures of this sign, placed in a very busy street in Madrid city center, when a policeman approached and said: “Did you put it there last night?” I said no, I’m a photographer taking pictures of the city. He insisted: “are you taking pictures of the flower?” I said yes, I’ve seen it and found it funny. Then the cop says: “I think I know your face, maybe we know each other?” I then thought: fuck, this cop knows me and has figured all out. Y said no, I don’t seem to remember you. His face was partly hidden with a hat and a scarf. He went again: “I’m sure to remember you, didn’t you hang out with Suso? I think we know each other from graffiti.” Already more relaxed, I asked him what neighbourhood he was from. He was a member of Los Trece, a well-known graffiti crew from Móstoles. I recognized him and said that his looks had gotten me nervous. He laughed and said: “I saw it this morning, I thought it was probably put there last night, it’s pretty cool, I hope it stays long.” I then kept on with the pictures. When seeing me precariously try to do it from the middle of the street, he said: “Do you want me to stop the traffic so you can take the picture better?” I said, well, if you don’t mind… He then walked to the middle of the street and started stopping the traffic. I quickly took the pictures, thanked him and said goodbye, he said goodbye and I left.

August 23, 2010

Curated by:
Eliza Coleman

Section:
Arts Visuels

Labels:
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Listening To >> Dreams-Come-True-Girl


A song guaranteed to melt your heart.
If a mash-up of Ryan Adams and The Morning Benders with a little Roy Orbison thrown in there sounds like a good combo to you, check out Cass McCombs’ latest album Catacombs.

(PS- To make it even more adorable, the song is about his wife.)

August 20, 2010

Curated by:
Eliza Coleman

Section:
Listening To

Labels:


Stripes + Stripes =

photo by Rene Maltete
August 20, 2010

Curated by:
Eliza Coleman

Section:
Style Files

Labels:
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Coralie Bickford Smith's Fitzgerald Book Covers

Gorgeous Art Deco book covers by Coralie Bickford Smith.
August 20, 2010

Curated by:
Eliza Coleman

Section:
Graphic Fix

Labels:
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In God We Trust

If I were a smoker, I’d definitely need one of these cool customizable brass lighters from In God We Trust.  Just enough space to fit your initials.

August 19, 2010

Curated by:
Eliza Coleman

Section:
Style Files

Labels:
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Wonderment >> Alex MacClean

Unmarked Tennis Courts, Manchester, NH

 I just don’t get sick of aerial photography (see past posts here and here).  It’s the wonder you felt as a kid looking out of a plane window, captured in a photograph, how awesome.  Ok, I still feel that way looking out of a plane window.
I am really digging the graphic quality of these images by Alex MacClean.  I’m fairly obsessed with that top image of unmarked tennis courts– it’s just so cool that you can’t tell at all what it is until you know the title.

 Marias River Drainage and Pivot Irrigator, Loma Area, MT
I seem to like the images more the more they abstract what the subject actually is– it’s cool to see these views of very real, tangible things only for their graphic qualities.  If you visit his website you’ll see he has tons of different subjects and style, but I’m most drawn to the bold, graphic, and pattern-suggestive images.
 

Floating Daisy Docks, Chicago, IL
B-52 Bone Yards, Tuscon, AZ
Apple Trees After Spring Snowstorm, Clinton, Mass

[Alex MacClean website]

August 19, 2010

Curated by:
Eliza Coleman

Section:
Arts Visuels

Labels:
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American Bespoke >> Brooklyn Tailors

As I’ve mentioned (ad nauseum? are you sick of it yet?), I’m really enjoying men’s fashion more than women’s at the moment.  Menswear is just having this great back-to-basics, focus-on-quality-and-materials moment, and I really dig it.  Here, Brooklyn Tailors, who make custom and ready-to-wear shirting and suits for men (and one shirt for women!). 

Girls, keep your boyfriend/brother/whatever looking classy and get him one for his birthday.  Guys, one of those shirts above, a pair of jeans or khakis, and a pair of sneakers or dessert boots and you’re set. 
They’ve been suiting up men in New York for a while, but now they are also available to those further afield through Etsy.
August 19, 2010

Curated by:
Eliza Coleman

Section:
Style Files

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Airstream Love

My sister and I have a fascination (obsession?) with well-designed trailers, starting and ending with the Airstream.  They are the holy grail of trailers, with their brilliant trademark aluminum siding that makes them forever the coolest and most-recognizable trailer.
You can’t get much more Americana.
We’ve discussed using them for everything from actual tours around the states to stand-alone hotel rooms clustered on a piece of land to inspiration for packaging for… well.. I can’t actually tell you because you might like the idea so much you’d take it. 

Much to our delight, Airstream continues to turn out new models that have that retro appeal without getting too kitschy about it.  Through collaborations with everyone from Design Within Reach to Victorinox, I’m pretty sure there’s an Airstream out there for everyone.   (The one above was retro-fitted by Ralph Lauren.)
Click through for the latest and greatest from Airstream…

From largest to smallest…
Above, the enormous Panamerica, in which you’re essentially towing a hotel suite plus your own garage behind you (it has 11 feet reserved for motorcycles, atvs, etc), below, the more compact and tricked out Victorinox Swiss Army special edition.
And finally, the cute little Basecamp, below, even has a pop-out tent, in case you were feeling a little guilty about pretend-camping in a trailer. 

There’s also a pretty cool version for the Mini Clubman that I posted back here
And here is the DWR version.
Airstream website here.
August 18, 2010

Curated by:
Eliza Coleman

Section:
Classics

Labels:
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Interiors >> J. Crew Bridal Boutique

 Oh right, it has pretty wedding dresses, blah blah blah, who cares!  It’s the interiors of the new J. Crew Bridal Boutique that have me swooning.

My favorite interiors aren’t generally overly feminine, but the new J. Crew Bridal Boutique is just. so. elegant.  
And actually, it’s not overly feminine.  It’s a perfect dose of feminine.  I muse a lot about how I feel like menswear and masculine interiors are so on it right now, but that not many people are nailing a classic, yet interesting, feminine look (see: J. Crew Men’s Store vs J. Crew Women’s Store), but this just does it for me.  
The balance of delicate brass with soft greys, curved lines (in the seating) with straight lines (tables), the strong contrast of the black frames on the white walls, oh la la.  Going on the lustlist are that desk and the nail-head trimmed screen.

And think about it, if you said the main colors of a room were going to be brass, grey, black, and white, you could imagine something quite masculine.  But instead the use of brass is light and elegant, the greys are in soft velvets and wools, and the stark black and white is balanced with plush textures (rug, dresses everywhere), flowers, and a chandelier.  It feels very feminine, and yet, it’s not filled with girly colors and there are no floral patterns, or even patterns at all, in sight.

Ok and allow me to just draw your attention to the floors for a moment: I love the herringbone floors, obviously, that’s one of my favorite kinds of flooring ev-er, but are they completely unstained?  Or is it just a super light stain?  I wish they were a little darker, do you?  Also, thoughts on the marble baseboards?!?  Now I love marble, and the idea of marble baseboards sounds oh-so-luxe, but next to the unfinished-looking floors, it seems a little off to me.  Too picky?

Also, this is just too weird– the image below is a compass rose my sister and I painted on the floor of her summer house a couple of weeks ago, that she’d been dying to do forever, and check out the image at top!  Apparently J. Crew was feeling floor-stars as well.

August 18, 2010

Curated by:
Eliza Coleman

Section:
Interiors

Labels:
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Must See >> A Single Man

After seeing these awesome posters and the stills below, I’m convinced I need to see A Single Man, if only for the art direction and cinematography.

August 17, 2010

Curated by:
Eliza Coleman

Section:
Must See

Labels:


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