Pooping just seems to be the theme of the day. First there's the Kung Fu constipation collection, and in case you were still hungry, the Village Voice is willing to go all Pink Flamingos on you with a giant picture of feces smack dab on page 14.
But because David Lynch's doppelganger, Andres Serrano, is doing something, this warrants as news. Even if all the Piss Christ artist is producing nowadays is giant doo-doos, and taking pictures of them, Lynn Yaeger knows that by writing a 1,200-word piece on Serrano's show in glowing terms, she can get almost-scandal going in the Voice reader mailbox (and stir up some interest for her column to boot).
It's all very Duchamp and his urinal, which is to say, this has been done before. Oh, and so have all the "shit-show" puns, of which Yaeger's article has a shit-ton of.
Shepard Fairey is known for his nonsensical, DIY street art OBEY (which originated with the "Andre the Giant has a Posse" stickers) of the late 90's. Now, the once anti-establishment skateboarder is making posters for the Showtime's new season of Dexter and has become the unofficial artist of Barack Obama's Hope campaign. Much like Godard in his Maoist period, Fairey's decision to make his return to the limelight a political statement gives a new sort of street cred to the artist's work.
Though let's not pretend that Fairey is only motivated by change: CONTINUED »
You're looking at the loneliest Prada store ever built. Its big opening was in 2005, but there was no party, and Miuccia Prada did not show up. Though behind the glass walls you will find shoes priced in the high three-figures, no money has ever changed hands here. Not a single swipe of an American Express card. That's because this Prada store — Prada Marfa, located in Marfa, Texas, on an empty stretch of Highway 90 — is not a Prada store at all. CONTINUED »
There are treasure troves of art and there are castles full of priceless antiques…and then there’s The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
We’re not telling you anything new, of course. Taking up more than one city block, holding court on 79th street, above Central Park, and featured in countless media, almost everyone in the Western world has caught wind of the Met. We were a little surprised, then, that the venerable institution held an after-hours party exclusively for the gays, complete with top shelf booze, Britney Spears remixes and loads of attractive young gents. And, as the pink icing, they managed to wrangle out City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, around whom a flurry of security and lackeys swooned. So, what gives?
Performance "artist" Charlie Todd, founder of Improv Everywhere, which carries the slogan "We Cause Scenes," is famous for those "freeze crowds," where a group of participators suddenly freeze for a minute or two in a public place while everybody around them wonders what's going on. It's the new flash mob and, like its Internet-organized cousin, will grow tiresome very quickly. But alas, here we are plugging Todd's latest antics, at a Taco Bell opening in Flushing.
Our favorite audience member? This fella: "I think we should probably cut this guy. 'Cause this guy isn't moving."
Except at the end of the video, you'll notice a corporate plug: Head in to any participating Taco Bell for a free Frutista Freeze. Get it? Freeze? Is this evidence that Todd, who pulled off the very entertaining Grand Central Terminal freeze, has finally sold his art to corporate?
A new series of portraits by conceptual photographer Sam Taylor-Wood features some of Hollywood’s most sought after leading men – Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, Daniel Craig, etc – in tears. According to Taylor-Wood, the idea’s pretty simple: “It’s about the idea of taking these big, masculine men and showing a different side.” Yay, straightforward, unpretentious art.
Some designer labels are concerned about copyrightinfringement in online ads. Some designer labels are worried about rip-offs being sold off the backs of trucks. But perhaps designer labels should be worried about their trademarks being used on arms.
The artist Peter Gronquist has turned assault rifles into Burberry bling, chainsaws into Fendi power tools, and grenades into Pac-Man trinkets. And at auction, where his works start at $2,500, they're selling like hot cakes. Nevermind that Gronquist wants to refocus his efforts. On painting. CONTINUED »
Like a mutating beast, New York’s ever-evolving. And the art scene’s no different.
With the opening of the new New Museum on the Bowery, our Lower East Side’s again becoming an epicenter for urban artistic activity. Gallerists Dennis Christie and Ken Tyburski couldn’t resist the pull and recently unveiled their DCKT Contemporary’s new location just down the famed road from the Museum.
We know, we know, we're a bit late in bringing you Intern Anastasia's latest "Here Is New York," but we've got a great explanation - um, well… Okay, we don't have any explanation, so, without further ado, here's Anastasia's take on Ryan McGinley's latest pictorial exploration, I Know Where The Summer Goes” at Team Gallery.
New York: where things happen! And not just sometimes, but every week! In “Here Is New York,” Intern Anastasia tells you about one of those things. Apologies to E.B. White.
This week: The Chinatown Garbage Tour.
She's a brave, brave girl - and most likely caught an infectious disease.
CONTINUED »
Art enthusiasts will be able to buy paintings that may or may not be fakes, now that fairytale author James Frey is backing a Lower East Side gallery. (Maybe this Observer illustration will be for sale?) Partnering with designer Andy Spade and Bill Powers, their 350-square-foot space will focus on "emerging artists." Sort of like Oprah tried to do with Frey, only to get her reputation shat on. So think twice before one of those red dots on the wall is yours. [WWD]
Last night, we braved the brisk autumn air for a downtown jaunt to Skylight (Hudson, between Broome and Spring) where we mingled with pretentious artsy types who feigned interest in everything from the high-ceilinged loft space to the delectable hors d'eouvres in order to give the (false) impression that they were there for some reason other than to pick up their complimentary Microsoft Zune.
And despite the fact that (a) most of the event's attendees looked like extras from the set of "Rent," (b) we overheard someone in line for the bar complain, "My stylist told me I have a small forehead!" and (c) a girl wearing a tin-foil colored hat had the audacity to audibly ridicule our plus-one's rather innocuous ballet flats, we actually managed to have ourselves a pretty good time.
Are you selfish? Uncaring? Not interested in boring topics like "Darfur," "Mahmoud Ahmadinejad" or "anything not involving you?" Well, why not take a break out of your daily ritual of unfettered self-indulgence to bid on a lovely pencil drawing of a nubile young male?
Not because the proceeds are going to a worthy cause (a non-profit dedicated towards raising AIDS awareness, YAWN!) but because the drawing's pretty fucking cool. And because, let's face it, if anyone out there deserves a little pick-me-up, it's you. [Queerty]
• Lane Garrison gets killed off on Prison Break, takes it out on a civilian.
• If you're going to say nasty things about former Fox Interactive chief Ross Levinsohn, he'd appreciate it if you at least used a better photo.
• Stephen Colbert takes home I Want Media's Man of the Year award, for all the reasons you'd expect.
• Even without Paris Hilton or Britney Spears, apparently a show can go on.
• Pulitzer Prize-winning photog finally indentified.
• Katie Couric is doing some stuff right. Meanwhile, so are Nightline and This Week With George Stephanopoulos.
• The holidays are for lawsuits.
• A user's guide for Art Basel Miami Beach, which you're interested in for the artworks, of course.
• Thank the media for blowing up Borat. [Post I.T.]
• Outdoor advertising firms are lining up to sue the city over unfair restrictions on where they can place semi-nude Calvin Klein models. [AdAge]
• The only time Frank Rich got flack for his stance on the Iraq war on his book tour, he was in Manhattan. [Radar]
• Sometimes a reporter looking for sources is just a reporter looking for sources. [DI]
• Kate Moss' drug habit is blowing up Colombian children. Or something like that. [Queerty]
• Even if Steve Wynn couldn't unload that Picaso, a new record artwork sale goes down, courtesy David Geffen. LAT acquisitions war chest grows deeper. [NYT]
• NBC's turmoil has the vultures circling. [TVNewser]
• Starbucks ain't the only shop adept at pushing products outside its core offerings. [NYT]
(Image: Curbed)
Editorial Director
