Olivier Blanckart

Shown here are sculptural "covers" of famous photographs made with adhesive tapes, cardboard, kraft paper, etc. They are done by the French artist Olivier Blanckart. He also produced a series of self-portraits reenacting other famous portraits. Lots of his work can be found here and here.

From top to bottom: The remix Saïgon (d'après Eddie Adams), 1997; Assanuma (d'après Yasushi Nagao, Tokyo 1960), 1998; E Che Homo (d'après Freddy Alborta, 1967), 1999; Andy (d'après R. Avedon), 2002; All image, property of Galerie Loevenbruck.

Dan Kennedy

Recent paintings by Canadian artist Dan Kennedy. More here.

From top to bottom: Natural History, 2007; Welcome, 2007; Emma and Darwin and the Great Geologic Event, 2007; Return of the Yankee Peddler (Land Ho!) 2006.

Ryan Taylor

Here is an ongoing series of work by the brilliant-ideas-machine and betterfier-of-life-at-large, Ryan Taylor. They are self-portraits.

The idea of having multiple self-portraits in a single shot is not new but what Taylor has achieved—that I find original—is that this is him doing everyday life activities (except for bashing himself with a shovel). Working on his art, exercising, watching television, all regular and banal activities, shown in this way makes the abnormal—multiples of himself together at the same time—feel, normal. See more of Ryan's work here.

From top to bottom: Untitled (Sofa 3), 2005; Untitled (Sofa 2), 2005; Run, 2006; Impulse, 2006.

Just Launched

Just launched: Cindy Blazevic's website. This way to the magic.

À l'écoute

Matt Pond PA, The Freeep (mattpondpa.com)
A nice rough record from a very polished music maker. And it's free (thus the title). A rare instrumental track called #3 will sell you if I fall short. Get it here. I advise you don't stop there, keep going through his catalogue. MPPA's music is a staple around here.



Zoot Woman, Living In A Magazine (Wall Of Sound)
This record is fantastic. Mixing 80's synth-rock, 90's power-pop and a British savoir faire. I was introduced to their material by a friend in Europe who's never wrong about music. Take his advice! Go here to sample.

Mad Shoppers In Zurich

I took these shots in a Zara store in downtown Zurich. Cindy and I were there visiting last fall.

Dan Flavin

I was asked to come up with signage ideas for a friend's shop in Yorkville. While researching creative ways of using fluorescent light and neon, I spent time looking at The Master of Light Tubing's work—Dan Flavin. Here's some of the gems I found.

From top to bottom: Pink Out of A Corner (to Jasper Johns), 1963, photo: Billy Jim, Courtesy Dia Art Foundation; 'Monument' for V. Tatlin, 1969; Untitled (to Jan and Ron Greenberg) 1972–73, Photo: David Heald; Installation at Richmond Hall, 1996.

The Dear Leader

Cindy sent me this link to a short film by photographer Christopher Morris entitled The Dear Leader. Morris spent eight years covering George W. Bush for VII and various media outlets. While doing so he took a series of short videos letting us into Bush's very tight security circle.

From top to bottom: video stills from The Dear Leader, 2007.

Work In Progress v5.2

Voiçi les photos de la murale terminée. It took approx. 20 hours of labour, five gallons of latex paint, two rolls of masking tape and a bit more than 25 cans of aerosol paint. Thanks Philip!