The first Ipod
A 1958 Braun T3 pocket radio designed by Dieter Rams
12.22.2010
12.14.2010
12.07.2010
Seeing is figuring out
Liz Larner, Two or Three or Something, 1998–99. Steel, paper, and watercolor, 101 × 84 × 64 1/4 in. (256.5 × 213.4 × 163.2 cm). Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; purchase with funds from the Contemporary Painting and Sculpture Committee 2001.31
12.02.2010
12.01.2010
Mark Fox
from the exhibition Magna Carta- Art/Paper @ Caine Shulte
San Francisco: Nov 17, 2010 - Jan 18, 2011
Berlin: March 18, 2011 - Apr 30, 2011
11.30.2010
11.25.2010
11.08.2010
11.07.2010
Skate or Die!
There were a few skateboards that I bought multiple copies of: each to replace one I had previously broken. One of those decks is the Dogtown Eric Dressen model. While my first skateboard was a Vision Mark Gonzales (and I rode seven of them), the Dressen was my favorite. I rode 9 different Dressen models.
I started skating in 1984, while the industry was still fledgling and largely d.i.y. Doing tricks off of launch ramps was popular then, and ultimately resulted in most of the breakage that warranted a deck replacement. I should also admit that several decks were shattered during adolescent fits of rage. Paint pens, possibly a top 100 amongst greatest twentieth century inventions, personalized the decks with design and text.
Here is another example of American junk culture: skateboarding. When 24th century anthropologists look back at 20th century american culture, do they lump it all together into one largely consumer culture? Or, do they seperate us into sects, where consumer interests define our groups? There is no doubt that skateboarding and music defined much of my person, as well as who I dated and who I hung around with.
11.04.2010
Painted Bronze
Consider this an introduction to one part of a series of works that encompasses the idea of junk culture: specifically American junk culture. While many artists currently embrace American folk culture in their work, they subsequently ignore the honest source of folk culture. This is not a matter of aesthetically picking out objects, but realizing the cultural entities that define regional groups of Americans; or that define a majority of Americans. Budweiser is an American iconic product.It is not uncommon to walk into a country gas station or pool hall in South Carolina to buy some brews and find Bud as the only option. A good ol' boy drinks Budweiser- plain and simple. My first beer in 9th grade: Budweiser in a can. The first beer I ever puked: you got it, Budweiser. Want to hang out in a country/western bar and fit in despite your Vans shoes or hippie haircut: hold a Bud. Budweiser is no doubt the common choice for the common southern American.
The Budweiser can of beer is my personal reference to Jasper Johns and American Pop Art. In a sense, Pop Art is/was often an early reference to American folk culture. In 1960, we just hadn't experienced the media and consumer environment long enough to determine how it fit into the larger context of American culture. Johns, in particular, is important to me because of his connection to South Carolina and the University of South Carolina where I earned my BFA in Studio Art. My interest in Johns and his work is what brought me here. What's also interesting with Johns' Painted Bronze, is that no literature considers the possibility that Ballantine may be a reference to his place of birth. Maybe it is, maybe it is not. The fact remains, Johns never revealed any meaning in the work and Ballantine is a town near where Johns grew up.
The Budweiser can of beer is my personal reference to Jasper Johns and American Pop Art. In a sense, Pop Art is/was often an early reference to American folk culture. In 1960, we just hadn't experienced the media and consumer environment long enough to determine how it fit into the larger context of American culture. Johns, in particular, is important to me because of his connection to South Carolina and the University of South Carolina where I earned my BFA in Studio Art. My interest in Johns and his work is what brought me here. What's also interesting with Johns' Painted Bronze, is that no literature considers the possibility that Ballantine may be a reference to his place of birth. Maybe it is, maybe it is not. The fact remains, Johns never revealed any meaning in the work and Ballantine is a town near where Johns grew up.
Jasper Johns. Painted Bronze. 1960. Oil on bronze
Overall: 5 1/2 x 8 x 4 3/4" (14 x 20.3 x 12 cm)
11.01.2010
10.25.2010
I MET THE WALRUS
In 1969, a 14-year-old Beatle fanatic named Jerry Levitan snuck into John Lennon's hotel room in Toronto and convinced him to do an interview. 38 years later, Levitan, director Josh Raskin and illustrators James Braithwaite and Alex Kurina have collaborated to create an animated short film using the original interview recording as the soundtrack. A spellbinding vessel for Lennon's boundless wit and timeless message, I Met the Walrus was nominated for the 2008 Academy Award for Animated Short and won the 2009 Emmy for 'New Approaches' (making it the first film to win an Emmy on behalf of the internet).
9.30.2010
9.19.2010
Chappaqua
Chappaqua, an independent film directed by Conrad Rooker. It was originally released in 1966. The film featured Jean-Louis Barrault, Conrad Rooker, William S. Burroughs, Alan Ginsberg, Ravi Shankar, Swami Satchidananda, Moondog, and Ornette Coleman. While most credit the Beatles' George Harrison for introducing Ravi Shankar to the west, this film actually predates their recordings while also bringing the first Swami onto American soil. Chappaqua provided an early look at what would ultimately become a foresight to a "trippy" generation. This film was completely funded by Rooker with no outside investors.
9.12.2010
9.11.2010
Junk Culture
Tobacco - Fucked Up Friends DVD from strmlnd on Vimeo.
In 2008, Tobacco (Member of Black Moth Super Rainbow) released a soundtrack for a movie by Beta Carnage. This soundtrack ultimately became the album Fucked Up Friends. The movie contains a collection of cultural junk from television and movies. A truly brilliant production, Fucked Up Friends, is the first of now two productions under the Tobacco moniker.9.10.2010
H.R. Giger
Swedish surrealist, H.R. Giger, may be most known for his creation of the "Alien" creature. However, he is also known for his famous Dead Kennedys album cover for "Frankenchrist." The image titled Work 219: Landscape XX, but also known as Penis Lanscape, put the band in court for violating the California Penal Code in the distribution of harmful matter to minors.
Dead Kennedys
When asked what their favorite punk band could be, people are going to have a wide range of answers. Often, this answer is parallel to the generation in which one grew up. For me, it is undeniable- Dead Kennedys are by-and-large the greatest and most influential. Jello Biafra, East Bay Ray, Klaus Flouride, and 6025 made up the original lineup. Their lyrics were strewn with social and political commentary that set the tone for my most formidable years growing up in socially and politically conservative South Carolina.
9.08.2010
8.30.2010
Dinosaur Jr
Dinosaur Jr - Little Fury Things
Uploaded by jesus_lizard. - See the latest featured music videos.
One of the Greatest band ever. Hands down. Amazing.
8.29.2010
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