Stylish Surfaces
December 30, 2010
I adore CaesarStone’s Concetto Collection.
The collection includes 19 semi-precious surfaces like:
Rose Quartz:
Hematite:
And Tiger’s Eye:
Prices start at $400 a sq foot.
LA TODAY: Hand/Made157 Event with Crafty Music
December 18, 2010
Hand/Made Craft Event at HM157
Just found out about this event (happening today) in Lincoln Heights at Historical Monument #157 via a USC friend-Emily Lacy. Check her out. She’s an amazing sound/performance artist who was featured in Noah Baumbach’s Greenberg.
Emily will be performing at 2:30pm.–and another rad band, He’s My Brother She’s My Sister , will be performing at 5pm.
WTF? Hatsune Miku-Japan’s 3D Hologram Rock Star
December 13, 2010
Hatsune Miku
When I first heard of Hatsune Miku, I immediately thought of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, one of my favorite books in the world. Shelly wrote the book when she was 18 (such a genius!)
When most people think of Frankenstein they usually think of the scary, bulky-looking, green monster. But Dr. Frankenstein is the one who ” discovers the secret to imbuing the inanimate with life” and creates said monster. A major theme in Shelley’s book is Nature vs. Technology. Frankenstein’s creature (technology) is evil. Technology overpowers nature and things go terrible awry. I won’t ruin the story for those who have not read it.
Hatsune Miku is like Frankenstein’s monster…I might be exaggerating a bit, but seriously, she is a bit scary. WTF is Hatsune Miku?
“She’s a computer-generated avatar (hologram), that struts, sings, and dances on stage. She’s accompanied by a live band. Miku, 5 feet 4 inches tall, looks like a young girl with blue pigtails wearing a version of a Japanese school-girl uniform with a short skirt. Her voice is synthesized with the help of a live actress. Miku can also be seen on home PCs, but live concerts are held for sell-out crowds who scream and wave lit batons”*
I can’t believe I just found out about her. Apparently any Hatsune Miku merchandise is worth buying, as she’s the first hologram pop-star–and therefore, she is historically important. If the hologram shows become popular, more “stars” will appear and there will be more collectors. I won’t be collecting any Hatsune Miku merchandise in the near future, but I did watch a video of one of her live performances. Watch it below. It is pretty cool-but I don’t like that machines are starting to replace live performers.
*Kovels
Beautiful Things….
November 24, 2010
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I’m so excited! It’s one of my favorite holidays. In honor of the holiday, I decided to post some beautiful Native American decorative items.
As a child, my family and I traveled to Santa Fe and Taos quite a bit. It was a short trip from Denver (where I grew up). I remember all the beautiful jewelers who lined the sidewalks selling gorgeous turquoise rings and necklaces. I remember going to the studio of a famous rug maker, where my parents bought a one-of-a-kind rug that’s sure to become a family heirloom. And most of all, I remember the colors. Slight tangent–I’m totally digging OPIs “Teal The Cows Come Home” and “Yodel Me On My Cell”
These two colors remind me of the different shades of turquoise I saw in my New Mexico travels. Jewel tone nail polish is super in right now.
Okay- back to more beautiful Native American items:
This early 20th century basket is currently on display at The Autry. There’s actually a whole Art of Native American Basketry exhibit there right now. I love it. It’s gorgeous. I want it.
Below find a few Antique Navajo rugs (I scoured the net to find some favorites–jackpot on ebay and Daltons.com):
There are so many beautiful Native American textiles. I could go on forever. Total new trend–look for those vintage navajo rugs at your favorite flea market! I mean suzanis and ikats are on their way out. It’s all about Native American design and pops of multiple bright colors. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
November 6th- A Night of Syyn…
October 31, 2010
I love these guys...Synn Lab is having a huge warehouse party on November 6th. Get tickets for the event here .(The event is happening somewhere near DTLA-address will be provided in email after registration).
I’ve mentioned Synn Lab before, as they are very active in MindShare, and helped create this rad video for OK GO:
About Syyn Labs from their website:
“Syyn Labs was formed in 2008 by a group of creative engineers who twist together art and technology. We find fun solutions to unique challenges and build interactive installations that encourage strangers to play together.
Recent projects include the “This Too Shall Pass” collaboration with Ok Go & Director James Frost, which has been viewed almost 20m times, and recently won the British VMAs for ‘Best Music Video’.We’ve also completed projects for Disney XD and DieHard, as well as recieving accolades for our DNA Sequencer installation at the Santa Monica Glow Festival.
Some of our interactive projects include ‘ArtFall‘, an interactive whiteboard; Rubens’ Tubes, sound-reactive fire sculpture, ‘Sonic Stalagmites‘, which allows people to ‘paint with sound’; and ‘CloudMirror‘, which uses augmented reality to bring your event’s badges to life. We regularly showcase new projects at our monthly Mindshare.LA event in Downtown LA.
We have presented our work at numerous corporate and social events and can create custom installations to suit your venue or public space.”
This warehouse party is going to be super. There’s going to be amazing art and video installations, as well as really smart, fun, cool people…. oh yeah, and an open bar.
21 “31″ Favors on My Birthday
October 17, 2010
I’m pretty sure this past birthday was the best birthday of my life (my 7th birthday at Toddy’s cooking school and my 13th–Karaoke at a Country Club were close runners-up).
One of my friends described my 31st birthday as “perfect”, and went on to tell me how cinematic it was. By the time my cake arrived,the cast of characters were all in the right places, hitting their marks as if the party was directed. But, it was not. It was totally unplanned. It was amazing.
The only thing I did plan out were the favors. The night before my birthday, I got this crazy idea to make a bunch of aceo-size envelopes for the favors–gift certificates to Baskin Robbins. I spent about three hours creating 21 miniature art pieces to be given to my guests. Each collage had a “31″ somewhere in it.
Here are some photos of the envelopes. I tried to capture all 21 of them, but a few of the photos turned out blurry and I was in a real hurry.
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The favors were a great success! I’m sorry that everyone didn’t get one–as more people showed up than I anticipated!
Here’s a few photos from the party:
When I first got to Swill Automatic Wine Bar (a wonderful new venue that’s great for parties), I learned my boss had called from NY earlier that day and ordered a bottle of champagne for me to start the party. I provided cigarettes for my guests, as many of my friends smoke. I don’t smoke–but I learned about the small gesture from my boss (he seriously throws some of the best parties in the entire world–they’re photographed for magazines and such). People were super happy I supplied the top-shelf ciggies.
We were seated outside until our table was ready. We finally made it inside.
So the automatic spurts weren’t working on opening night (the same day as my party), but the Swill staff did a great job getting everyone what they wanted.
(Oh yeah-there was food too–I really liked the cheese plate and the mussels).
I asked my friends to make hand-made cards for me if they wanted to bring something. Here is one of my faves-
And although I told people not to bring gifts, a few of my friends got together and bought me this book–which I do think was super thoughtful, and quite appropriate:
Here’s to the best year of my life and the friends and family who helped me celebrate. I love you all. True story.
*Special thanks to Poppi Monroe (manager of Swill) and RB for organizing. Another special thanks to CD.BUKOWSKI IS HERE!
October 11, 2010
I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday present. Okay, there are still a few things on the list I’d love…..But,there’s a BUKOWSKI exhibit going on right now in Pasadena at The Huntington Gardens/Library/Museum.
From the website:
This fall, The Huntington presents a much-anticipated exhibition on the life and works of Charles Bukowski, drawn from the archive of his papers donated to The Huntington by his wife, Linda Lee Bukowski, in 2006. “Charles Bukowski: Poet on the Edge” opens Oct. 9 in the West Hall of the Library and continues through Feb. 14, 2011.
Among the rare items on view in the exhibition; will be first editions of his works; corrected typescripts of poems and novels; original drawings by Bukowski; correspondence and fan mail; large-format printings of his poems produced by the Black Sparrow Press and other fine printing houses.
In addition, Linda Lee Bukowski is graciously lending a number of iconic items, including Bukowski’s manual typewriter, an original oil portrait by John Register, and very scarce early books.
I love that Bukowski lived a few blocks from my loft. His writing was heavily influenced by downtown Los Angeles.
When I read his poems I imagine which building he was writing from. I know he worked at the Terminal Annex Post Office down the street, and frequented downtown bars like Crabby Joe’s. If you’re really interested in Bukowski’s LA life (like me), you can take Esotouric’s awesome Tour: Haunts of a Dirty Old Man: Charles Bukowski’s Los Angeles. One day–I’m going to do it. But for now, I think I’ll head to The Huntington Gardens on the first Thursday of the Month (as admission is free and that’s how Bukowski would do it).
Party with Vitalic-The French “Pleasure Provider”
September 30, 2010
“Why waste money on psychotherapy when you can listen to the B Minor Mass?” ~M.Torke
Some of my favorite experiences have involved French people. They love to party. They know how to do things right.
If you want to hang with the French King of partying aka “the metal disco warrior” and you live in LA, this Saturday Oct 2nd is your lucky night. The El Rey is hosting Vitalic and his amazing LED light show (one of the most talked about video shows in electronic music).
I was watching clips from some of Vitalic’s previous shows on youtube, and found this strange/creative/rad video–he even makes a cameo.
Tickets for Vitalic’s upcoming show at the El Rey Theatre are $22.50 each and are available now via Blasthaus. Click here for tickets.
My super hip friends invited me to this show. Unfortunately, I’ll be hosting a work party. But, don’t fret….other cool people are going to this event. I heard Apple’s Steve Jobs is going to be there.
Photos from the Beach
September 20, 2010
