DESIGN::THE GREAT ESCAPE

Fashion stylist Scott Newkirk is featured in the latest issue of NY Magazine (the one with the daunting cover of Eliot Spitzer).
The article discusses Newkirk’s innate fashion sense, not just for clothing, but also for interior design and his architectural innovation.
A home located in Yulan, New York where “There’s no electricity or running water, no TV, no computer. Mr.Newkirk, can slow down, sleep late, and take his daily bath in the nearby brook (weather permitting).” He spends every weekend there in an effort to escape the bustling and more than often, hectic NYC life.
A dream for some and possibly a nightmare for others, it is a segregated home away from home that is completely up my alley!

Personally, I absolutely love being out in the woods! I agree that it’s not for everyone, but by the look of his chic design, I’ll assume most wouldn’t mind this great escape.
A fave detail: Newkirk’s builder used aged hickory planks to fashion the ladder-like steps that lead up to his bedroom (rawr).

NY MAG::UNPLUGGED

BJORK::SHE'S BAAAAAAACK!

Apparently, Bjork just couldn't get enough of her fans. The iconoclastic songtress will be returning to NYC for yet another amazing show.
I was fortunate enough to see her last show at Webster Hall and it was one of the most incredible shows I have ever seen (apart from seeing her play in Coney Island back in '03...I sound like a nostalgic gereatric)
Anyhow, I think I'm just going to have to see her again! You should too!

MORE INFO::BJORK
EVENT DATE::9/24/2007::
WHERE::Madison Square Garden-New York,NY
PRESALE::7/18/2007, 10:00:00 AM

TO DO::DAZED & CONFUSED, MCCARREN SUMMER SCREEN

Tomorrow night, July 17th, Summer Screen will be playing the cult classic film Dazed & Confused! It's a free event and well worth the trip if you don't live in the 'Burg. So bring out your high-wasted jeans and favorite hippie beads (which actually, I really hope you don't REALLY own...) and come join the doobie fest (on the DL)


MORE INFO::SUMMER SCREEN::DAZED&CONFUSED
Time: 7:00pm
Location: McCarren Pool, Lorimer St. Wburg (btw Driggs and Bayard)
Cost: Free

MODEL DIARIES::Natalia Vodianova

Style.com has a great new addition to their already wonderful website. Model Diaries is a short snippet with a model that also features photographs of their best work with some of the best photograhers of our generation. I love to see that over the past couple years, models are coming back as big players in the fashion industry. In a very (rare) Sex & the City moment, I have to pull a Carrie B. and say that I-love-models! They are tall,beautiful and some are even graceful!
Style.com's second model featured is Natalia Vodianova, following Doutzen Kroes.
Short but sweet read.

STYLE.COM::MODEL DIARIES

PHOTOGRAPHY::Denis Darzacq

When initially spotting Denis Darzacq’s latest work, one doesn’t necessarily see any political meaning behind it.
But it is in fact Darzacq’s intention to capture Parisian political activists as a generation without limits. The photo’s act as a metaphor for the issues at hand. (read review below via MoCo Loco).
Believe it or not, these photos are completely organic—no Photoshop and only a manual camera. Oh yes, and some very talented models.

"Denis Darzacq’s series La Chute depicts a view of Paris after the riots of 2005, where one has to learn to be in control of the trajectory. Darzacq captures a demographic in freefall, to represent a generation that is either ignored or worthy of the wrong sort of attention. To find the young people he needed for his shots, set against the shuttered ground floors of what could be so many European suburbs, the photographer became a regular at hip-hop and break-dancing shows on the streets of Paris. The Fall won this year’s World Press Photo prize in the category of arts and entertainment." -MoCo Loco


MORE ON THE ARTIST::GUARDIAN UNLIMITED

SOUND::NPR FEAT. GRIZZLY BEAR::

NPR has recently interviewed Brooklyn based band, Grizzly Bear. Through out the show, you will hear haunted songs from their new 'Yellow House' album. The harmonizing and soft melodies are mesmerizing. I haven't been able to stop listening to 'Yellow House' and for those who haven't heard it, I highly suggest you should.

For live Podcast, via NPR::GRIZZLY BEAR LIVE

TO DO::PS1-WARM UP

This past Saturday I was feeling rather spontaneous. So, at 4pm I gathered the energy to trek to Queens-- out of all places! (Thank-God for the G train)
My final destination was PS1, a contemporary art center and affiliate of The Museum of Modern Art, better known as MOMA.

When I arrived, there was already a line around the block. I thought to myself “Wow, there must be a great exhibit!” Yes, there was a great exhibit, however the real reason for the eager gallery goer’s was that it turned out to be the second Saturday of Warm Up.

“Warm Up is P.S.1's critically acclaimed music series and has become one of the most anticipated summer events. The series is housed within the architectural installation created by the winner of the annual P.S.1 and MoMA organized Young Architects Program . Together, the music, architecture and exhibition program provide a unique multi-sensory experience for music fans, artists, and families alike.”

ANYHOW, although this has been around for years, this was my first time actually going to a Warm Up event, without even the intention of doing so. But I’m absolutely giddy I fell upon it, because it was great. The energy was infectious and everywhere you looked, people were bouncing and dancing to the tribal-like drum set that was playing, which I’m currently researching because it was so good.

I’ll admit that at first, it was a little too much to bear, so I headed on inside (stay tuned for future post about exhibit) But when getting back out, I was amazed at how filled up the space was.

So, for anyone who is like me (living under a rock apparently) and has not visited Warm Up, here is the summer schedule so you can get your oblivious ass out there.


July 14: agnes b. presents . . .
Poni Hoax:The Penelopes:Frustration,Morpheus:JB Wiz:Ex Nihilo Crew:Plus Marina Rosenfeld and Zeena Parkins

July 21
Objektivity hosts with:Dennis Ferrer:The Martinez Brothers:Plus Eric Singer’s LEMUR (League of Electronic Musical Urban Robots)

July 28
Tummy Touch brings you:DJ's: Ursula 1000:Tim "Love" Lee:Ramon Santana:Wunmi and Unicornicopia

August 4
TBA

August 11
Trouble Man Unlimited/Italians Do It Better bring you:Glass Candy (live):Mike Simonetti + a special guest DJ:plus Elliot Sharp (live)

August 18
Rong Music host:DJ Spun:Ben Cook (aka Stranger):Eric Duncan (Rub n Tug):Woolfy Projections (live):plus Dewanatron (Leon and Brian Dewan, live) & Ray Sweeten and Zach Layton (live)

August 25
Escort (live):Felix Dickinson (Cynic, Urban Myth, Bastedos; London, England)
plus LoVid (live)and David Linton (live)

MORE INFO::PS1

BOOKS::Jeff Koons

"This exhaustive monograph begins with a biographical essay by Interview magazine editor-in-chief Ingrid Sischy that puts his work into context and tells his personal story, as well as a text by Eckhard Schneider’s analyzing Koons from a European perspective. Arranged in chronological chapters by work groups, the main body of the book features art historian and critic Katy Siegel’s detailed analyses alongside hundreds of large-format images tracing Koons’s career from 1979 to today. Rounding off the book are an extended bibliography and a lavishly illustrated biography. Fans of Jeff Koons’s work will find in this publication not only a sumptuous book-object, but also the most comprehensive study of the artist’s work ever published." -Taschen

BUY::TASCHEN $1000-

DESIGN::KATE MOSS AND HER FONT

So, you may or may have not heard that pretty gal K.Moss has her own font now.
The iconoclastic fashionista has really marketed herself (or someone has done it for her) to the uttermost extreme. Like a line with Top Shop wasn't enough, she is now entering our Word Office world with her quirky yet stylish font-- very representative of ...herself.

GRIZZLY BEAR::KNIFE;ACAPELLA VERS.

I love it when musicians don't take themselves too seriously and come up with something on the spot and are still able to create something amazing. As Grizzly Bear did in this video, spotted via youtube (ugh.I hate that I keep using it more and more often)
Anyhow, this is a lovely version of their song Knife, which I have previously posted a video for. I adore both versions. You decide.

BAND SITE::GRIZZLY BEAR

DESIGN::Graffiti Luminescent::

Donna Brady’s unique Hi-Light pendant is a sort of homage to her Brooklyn neighborhood. She incorporated the boroughs rapidly moving scene of graffiti art into her own designs by creating graffiti imprinted lampshades. The outcome is innovative and the perfect way to add some character to a bland room.
The lamps are retailing at a pretty price of $130-via Rare Device

Ben Ib directs Ali Love "Secret Sunday Lover"

Give it a couple minutes before it get's good. Towards the end, it's an outlandish dance-orama vid. with Barbarella-like visuals.

Director: Ben Ib
Prod.Co: Colonel Blimp

::Michel Gondry for HP::

Director Olivier Gondry directs brother Michel (yes, first name basis) in this spot for HP.
So far, the brand has had commercials featuring writers (Paulo Cuello),athletes(Sean White),designers(Vera Wang),musicians(Jay-Z), and now directors(Michel Gondry). I really am enjoying where our commercial generation is going by putting such talented people like Michel in ad's that have mass appeal.

Enjoy!

Director:Olivier Gondry
Prod.Co: Partizan

MV::Director, Dougal Wilson!!

Client: Bat For Lashes
Title: What's A Girl To Do?
Agency: EMI Records (UK)
Production Company: Colonel Blimp, London
Director: Dougal Wilson

TASCHEN::SALE!!!

WAREHOUSE SALE June 21–23, 2007

Thousands of slightly damaged and display copies from TASCHEN on sale at bargain basement prices, 50-75% off.

Thursday June 21st, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday June 22th, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday June 23rd, 11 to 8 p.m.

TASCHEN Store New York
107 Greene Street, NY 10012

MV::FEIST

Okay, so I think I'm a little dance music video'd out! The idea is as played out as up close shots of the barrel of a gun. But...I must admit, there is something about director Patrick Daughters execution in his dance-orama video's that comes off sublimely original.
In this video for artist Feist, feels the beat,beat,beat go through her body that makes her get her dance on...in...an airport. Survey says, not bad.

Director: Patrick Daughters
Prod.Company: The Directors Bureau
Artist:Feist
Song: My Moon My Man

Travel:Stay....with me.

It's in the name. It's chic and it's basic. This minimal home away from home, is situated in Barcelona.
They name their rooms by clothing size: XL, L and M. In all of them you'll find a LED light system, a TFT screen, internet access, or a common zone with a computer wired to the net. I find the design and coloring, reminiscent of Dario Argento's 1977 gory classic "Suspria". You be the judge.

RESERVATIONS::CHIC&BASIC

Exhibit::David LaChapelle

Tony Shafrazi Gallery
February 24 - July 14, 2007
544 West 26th Street NY NY 10001
Tel 212 274 9300 Fax 212 334 9499
Open Tue-Sat 10

Photography::MI-ZO

About::"The creative photographer unit of Zoren Gold and Minori started their collaboration in 2000. Zoren and Minori (aka:MI-ZO) explore the free form of photographic expression. Their shared curiousity of 'how to push the boundary of photography' as an image creation, has lead them to start mixing photography with other mediums such as drawings,collage,hand-made props and computer graphics"


SITE::MI-ZO

Books::Regina José Galindo

It’s without notice, that it’s a remarkable feat for a woman to challenge political corruption, for countries that may vie against each other in the war for equality and human rights.
But there is one woman in particular, that has taken on the undeniable issue of political injustice head on and in ways that some may think of as “extreme”.
Her name is Regina Jose Galindo. She is a performance artist and a Guatemalan native of small stature. However, the issues she challenges are without a doubt of gargantuan proportions.
“It’s Regina José Galindo’s own body that is put at risk in Himenoplastia, cut up, gaping, stitched up raw and without anaesthetic.
The subject is very topical. This surgical procedure aimed at reconstructing the hymen so that it gets back its “virginal” condition, which affects a large number of women all over the world. A sign of masculine domination, this act establishes the lie as an authorized practice.”
Regina has released her very first book that is available through the Italian publishing company, Vanilla Edizioni.
The book features graphic details as well as political context of her performances.
I am incredibly proud to have this amazing woman as a cousin. She is inspiring and absolutely unstoppable in her cause, which helps me and hopefully other women alike to pursue and persevere with courage.

BUY::VANILLAEDIZIONI-Regina José Galindo

Books::STREETWEAR

Love it,love it,love it! This is exactly the book that i've been waiting for! Steven Vogel throws it together with the must-haves and must-knows of the street style scene. This "coffee table trophy" includes interviews with Japan's hugely influential Hiroshi Fujiwara among others.

BUY::AMAZON (UK)$33.50

BUY::THAMESHUDSON

The Tale Of The SPLASHER!

There is a stir amongst the street art scene of New York! There is phantom menace (aka: The Splasher) on the loose and he or she has something to prove. What exactly? We’re not too sure of. It could be the attempted demise of the bourgeoisie culture or maybe there is no purpose at all. Radicalism at best, this vandalism on vandalism article has been published in NY Mag last week, with a story that has no end.

::Find out what exactly the damage is here, via NY MAG::

DVD::VIVA PEDRO

This is an absolute must-buy! Pedro Almodovar box set with all of my favorite films. The collection is titled "Viva Pedro" and features eight fantastic films, which are: Talk to Her/ Bad Education/ All about My Mother/ Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown/ Live Flesh/ Flower of My Secret / Matador / Law of Desire!

AMAZON::Buy used, $46.99 & up

::Blogfest::

It's been near impossible for me to update PLATFORM as much as i'd like to. The season is bringing on the workload and it's non-stop.
In the meantime, here is an invite to a design party i'll be attending! (go,go,go,go,go,go!)

Magz::ACNE Paper

I just got my (free for first issue) Spring '07 copy of director/designer/ad agency collective, ACNE, current magazine issue.
The visuals/articles are great & superbly edgy!
Love how it begins...it opens with four pages of boldy blank colors of (tissue-like) paper.

ACNE PARER"is a bi-annual publication about personal stories and the essence behind the creative process".

SUBSCRIBE::ACNE