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Thursday, February 26, 2009

Inspiration: Herb and Dorothy

You don't have to be Rockefeller to collect art. Call me out of the loop but I just learned of Herb&Dorothy and I am so inspired.This darling couple has successfully managed to build an unparalleled art collection with a rather modest income. Their passion and commitment to art is inspiring. Check out the documentary trailer and story:
Dorothy, a 73-year-old retired librarian, and her husband Herb, an 85-year-old retired postal clerk started buying minimal and conceptual art in New York in the early 1960s, living on Dorothy’s salary and spending Herb’s on art. Thirty years later, the Vogels had managed to accumulate over 4,000 pieces, filling every corner of their living space from the bathroom to the kitchen. “Not even a toothpick could be squeezed into the apartment,” recalls Dorothy. Their apartment was near collapse, holding way over its limit - something had to be done.

In 1992, the Vogels made headlines that shocked the art world: their entire collection was moved to the National Gallery of Art, the vast majority of it as an outright gift to the institution. Many of the works they acquired at modest prices appreciated so significantly that their collection became worth several million dollars, yet the Vogels never sold a single piece to breakdown the collection. Herb and Dorothy still live in the same apartment today- with 19 turtles, lots of fish, one cat -once completely emptied, now refilled again with piles of artworks.

I really want to start putting some money aside to slowly build my art collection. When I recently visited Gallery Diet to see the Daniel Milewski show I was impressed with their selection of artists and surprisingly affordable original pieces. Here are a few that caught my eye and I'm tempted to pick up.
Maria Jose Aronja, Origami Rabbit 2008; edition of 356; $100
Or one of these modern quilts by
Andrew Mowbray:
The holes 2006; tyvek and thread; 19x19; $800
The Victorian 2006; tyvek and thread; 19x19; $800

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

if I had a time machine...

I'd stop by 1910 to meet this little one:
In 1910, on the first airplane flight across the English Channel to carry a passenger, American aviator John Moisant flew from Paris to London accompanied by both his mechanic and his cat, named either Mademoiselle Fifi or Paree, depending on which newspaper you believe. Later that year Moisant died in a crash near New Orleans. via Shorpy
Simen Johan, Until the kingdom comes; 2004-2006

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

death by mouse cardigan

[5+Fam,+OFW.jpg]
Thanks Denoto for posting photos from the Fam Irvoll show from Oslo fashion week. This mouse cardi just murdered me.

I love: Hendrick's

A few reasons why I love Henrick's Gin: It doesn't taste like Christmas trees (like most gin does), it's made of Bulgarian rose and cucumber, the old timey art and aesthetic branding is awesome (monty python much?), Originality, the bottle looks like a vintage medicine vessel, they host croquete challenges and are trying to reinstate it as an Olympic sport, and they have dedicated a website to The Unusual.




Check out their gin limericks: Excuse me bartender, there's a poem in my gin.
Gin and the Bore

“A gin is a gin is a gin
swore the bore
nothing odd can be.”

But if that gin should win eleven botanicals in
oh, then what a gin it would be.

So we tricked him in bed,
gave him Hendrick’s instead
then fully sober, he shouted with glee

“this gin is not gin like others that be
yet it tastes even more like gin to me.”

*When I'm thinking of cocktails at 2 in the afternoon I know it's time to look for a new job.
** Update: It's almost 6 and I'm going home to have hendricks, st.germain and cukes. Yay me!

my job...


is killing my creativity.

Monday, February 23, 2009

needle&craft

I don't know why but I've always really loved looking at vintage sewing patterns and craft catalogs. I can't tell you how many dusty and dogeared 25 cent sewing patterns I have at my parent's house. (I swore I would make those rompers and swing skirts every time.)
These scanned images from a 1971 fall/winter Ladie's Home Journal needle&craft magazine are making my 5 o'clock.


Constructed Narratives

I love this still life series by Thomas Gustainis.
(Boston based photographer and my former SMFA professor.)

Friday, February 20, 2009

balloon chandelier

I'm officially freaking out. How sweet is this balloon cluster light from the mina-perhonen shirokanedai shop? I obviously couldn't have this in my 600 sq foot south beach apartment but I love it.

When I googled balloon chandelier I was bombarded by lameness:

The closest thing I came across was this LED balloon lamp via design boom.
Does anyone know anything about the mina-perhonen chandelier?

Happy Friday

The best fortune cookie fortune I ever received.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

pop up porno

Although I love me a good limited edition artist book, I have to admit that my childish pervness is what initially drew me to Pop Up Porn. If you're going to make something tongue in cheek it needs to be flawlessly executed. Sometime Books seems to have done a marvelous job on this handmade edition of 25 book.

I came across this via Book By It's Cover- a refreshing and diverse book resource.

great show: Animalania

I want to go see this show Animalania at Fuse Gallery in NYC. What's better than floating kitties?
Derek Watson (my new obsession)
Nick Zinner
Tim Barber (i've spotted these in Vice a few times)Ricky Powell

YSL

Saint Laurent with a team of models showcasing looks from his fall 1972 collection (I'll have what each one of them is wearing pls.)

Saint Laurent’s bedroom desk, with found-object Y’s alongside his trademark spectacles.

Check out a nice VF slide show of his home and treasures.
I would love to attend the Christie's YSL auction next monday.

so sweet


I just spotted this image on auburn & ivory via once wed and now my morning is slightly less glum.
<3

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

I love the internet

A few images stored in my awesome folder at the moment:

uchu-country hair hats



Olly Moss

Alexander McQueen Wedding dress


Dead Horse Australian Fires ( I know it's horrible but he's so beautiful)

The Larry King ShO's,cereal art Ryan Alexiev

recycle icon folch studio

Ryan Robinson