NewCityMovement

Come Together Right Now

The Salt Lake Gallery Stroll continues to morph and energize the city each month. This is a photo of my bow-tie wearing drunk ass from last Fridays event at FICE, which like the other shops around the 2nd South & Broadway block were brimming with youthful energy. A wonderful sight indeed.

Pricey Flashy Objects

The Times reports on Zaha Hadid's commissioned work for British private club House & Home which had some people feeling very uncomfortable, even angry (see the comments section of NYtimes article). All the fuss resulted in this statement from the Zaha Hadid architectural team, which I love:

Translation of Architecture gibberish:
1.“We wanted to create an environment where the bar completely dominates the space…” WE WANTED TO MAKE A HUMONGOUS PRICEY FLASHY OBJECT.
2.”Using a dynamic vertical gesture of fluidity, we were able generate an exciting dichotomy with the Cartesian arrangement of the Georgian space…” SO WE STUCK A ROUND BAR IN A RECTANGULAR ROOM
3.”As with our architecture, where have created inhabited structure, members and guests occupy the bar at Home House instead of simply standing in front of it…”UNLIKE THE GODDAMN DRUNKS AT YOUR LOCAL BAR, THESE PEOPLE DO MINGLE.
4.”They become part of the experience.” PRETENTIOUS PEOPLE AT PRETENTIOUS BAR. PERFECT MATCH.

(Thanks Rodney)

Rise Of The Airbrush

Overspray is the conclusive account of the rise of airbrush art, and of the equally bright and glossy Los Angeles culture alongside which it came to prominence in the 1970s. Inspired by surf graphics, psychedelia and the slick shine of Hollywood, a generation of young artists began to make every lip and palm tree glisten, and every record cover shine. Fueled by a combination of intense demand, sleepless nights and brutal competition, the four men at the center of L.A.’s airbrush art market–Charles E. White III, Peter Palombi, Dave Willardson and Peter Lloyd–embarked on careers encompassing work for Playboy, Levi’s, the Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart and major studio films including American Graffiti and Tron.

Together, their work came to define the look of illustrative graphics for a generation of viewers. This book tells the story of these four artists for the first time through hundreds of images of the artists’ best and best-known work, unseen production roughs, documentary photographs and other ephemera.

Viewed now, their surreal, funny and utterly slick imagery seems all the more fantastic–combining technical precision with wild flights of imagination that bring to mind the work of some of today’s top artists. Essay by Mike Salisbury, acclaimed designer of everything from Disney logos to Jurassic Park ad campaigns to Sassy magazine.

Conceived, edited and designed by Norman Hathaway. Official site here. [Thanks Stewf]

Vulgar Picture

An illustrated discography of The Smiths and Morrissey including high quality scans and a pleasing interface. [TMN]

Grrranimals

Cute letterpress poster with animals by InkAndWit.com

This is one possible outcome of letting musicians design their own album artwork.

Controlled Chaos

Local artist David Ruhlman has some lovely new pieces added to his website.

A lovely collection of North Korea propaganda posters. [TMN]

Space Saving Hobbies

Discover the world of Japanese miniature collecting at Re-ment. More photos here and here.

Chanel Mobile Art

Renowned London architect Zaha Hadid's mobile 'art pavilion' for Chanel will make a temporary landing in New York's Central Park this Fall. – NYTimes.com

The folk vocabulary or rave flyers.

Our Mountain

Enjoy Steve Harrington's cosmic "Our Mountain" European art-show extravaganza. Then buy his new book!

Dada Factory presents The 337 Project Film

Afterimage: The Art of 337 is the new documentary film about the 337 Project. A labor of love for its creators, Alex Haworth and Davey Davis, Afterimage is the definitive record of the 337 Project. You can read an in-depth review of Afterimage here, or visit the website of Haworth and Davis to learn more.

 See the film and buy the DVD at the Salt Lake Art Center all Summer long:
Public Opening Reception: Gallery Stroll Friday, June 20 from 6 - 9 p.m.
Members Only Event: Gallery Stroll Friday, June 20 from 5 - 6 p.m.

If you miss the opening, enjoy seven more dates through Sep. 20th, free to the public listed at SLArtCenter.org.

Hot Cakes

This is everywhere but I had to post it because it's ultra cute. [Via BoingBoing]

Ambiguous Mutations

Muto is an animated graffiti movie that should leave your mouth wide open.