Cool Hunting
| 30 September 2005view entries from: this week | this month | view previous day | view next day |
Arigato Gaijin
by Josh Rubin
Repetition of plastic objects seems to be a recurring theme lately. The most recent incarnation can be seen at the new show opening at Raid Projects in LA this weekend. Arigato Gaijin, which translates to thank you, foreigners, features the work of 5 young and emerging Japanese artists. Of particular interest are these two pieces from Tomoaki Sato (right) Akira Shikiya (left). Where Sato explores individuality vs. sameness, Shikiya creates originality through a compelling copy-paste-adjust approach to everyday objects.
Altoids Curiously Strong Collection at the New Musem of Contemporary Art
by Evan Orensten
Who: 22 young artists
What: A touring exhibit of their work (one per artist). Highlights include the incredibly detailed, 2" pencil drawing by Randall Sellers (above left), a luxurious watercolor by Charlene Liu (above right), and the most beautiful tree you've ever seen cut out of a McDonald's bag (after the jump), by Yuken Teruya. This year's collection has sculpture, video, paintings and drawings.
Where: The New Museum of Contemporary Art/Chelsea in New York City, through October 29th, 2005.
Why: When good things come out of marketing meetings. This is the seventh show in the Altoids series. Every year they nominate a group to curate work from emerging artists, send it around the country, and then bring it to the New Museum, where the entire collection has been donated. Props to Altoids for supporting young artists instead of Nascar.
Blanxart Chocolate Canela a la Taza
by Evan Orensten
As Autumn approaches and the temperatures drop it's time to start stocking up on hot chocolate. The first (of several we'll share with you this fall) is in bar form and is made by Bombons Blanxart, the celebrated Spanish chocolate company that has been making fine chocolate for more than 50 years.
Truly artisinal, Blanxart uses cacao from Ecuador, Brazil and Africa and complements it with local ingredients (such as marcona almonds). Unlike most chocolatiers, they roast and process the beans themselves, giving them complete quality control.
Once you remove the great graphic wrapping, you'll notice that the texture of this bar has a dry, granular consistency. The cinammon lingers on the tongue after you eat it, and helps add to the strong and pleasant finish. Though this bar can be eaten, I prefer it as a base for hot chocolate; their other bars and chocolates, especially the toffee marcona almonds are better to snack on. An organic line is new for fall.
Blanxart chocolates are available for $5 - 7 at several retailers, including Sur La Table. I haven't seen this bar available online, though several sites, including Sur La Table and Casa Oliver offer a range of Blanxart products.
Tattoo Culture
by Ami Kealoha
There are at least four tattoo shops within spitting distance in central Williamsburg. After hearing rumors about one opening a couple doors down from Oslo (my favorite local coffee spot), I noticed someone in the space on the walk to get a morning cup. I went in, introduced myself, told him about Needled and he said, "Oh, Marisa," referring to Needled's editor, "I'll be in her wedding!" It's a small tattoo world after all.
Check out the piece Marisa posted yesterday on Needled announcing Tattoo Culture's tattooist-in-residence program that hosts visiting tattoists from abroad, their award-winning resident artist Tony Styles, and the opening event this Saturday, October 1st, from 5-10pm at 129 Roebling Street.
