Scope Miami 2006

by Ami Kealoha

Now in its third year, Scope is one of the more established of the many art fairs held last week in Miami, but still feels like the alternative to the alternative—a looser, more kinetic little sister to both Nada and Basel counterparts. Having graduated from their old digs in the Thompson Hotel, Scope now has a tent of its own. But, walking through it is not unlike walking through a labyrinth of galleries, all spilling over with artworks that are only rivaled by the multitudes of gallerists and collectors. What follows are the artists that stood out from the crowd, from Joachim Schulz' deceptively minimalist photos of theater curtains to Ian Wright's meta-pop art.

Long-Bin Chen
Using a universally near-obsolete publication as her medium, Taiwan-born artist Long-Bin Chen sculpts phonebooks into Buddha heads and other busts. (Pictured right, click for detail.) Many of the works Chen exhibited at Scope (with Frederieke Taylor, her NYC gallery), appeared to use books corresponding to the specific country of the Buddha head she chose to make.

Omar Chacon
New York-based painter Omar Chacon layers acrylics to create mesmerizing canvasses with a high-gloss finish. (Pictured above left, click for detail.) His technique of applying dried paint drips yields dense multi-colored fields thae take on sculptural dimension. When Chacon limits his pallette, he often chooses the colors of a national flag and fills the piece with concentric oval shapes.

Edgar Cobián
Guadalajara artist Edgar Cobián cuts delicate valleys and fissures into stacks of white paper creating topographical maps of imaginary geographies. (Pictured above right, click for detail.) His line drawings of skulls and more austere sculptures are worth checking out as well.

Daniel Jackson
Far more stunning in person, Daniel Jackson's radiating line prints have the kind of precision only attainable by a computer. (Pictured above left, click for detail.) He uses an inkjet printer and computer programs to "draw" the images in a series, each slightly different but based on the same code.

Ryan Carr Johnson
The amorphous Lava lamp—like shapes of Ryan Carr Johnson's paintings are the result of layering and sanding latex house paint on wood. (Pictured above right.) Sometimes including upwards of 75 layers, the Washington D.C.-based artist's work mixes an industrial aesthetic with psychedelic imagery.

Joachim Schulz
On first glance, Joachim Schulz' panaromic photos look like blurry impressionist pastels. (Pictured above left, click for detail.) From a series called "lichtspiele" (literally, light-plays), they are in fact images of theater curtains lit in candy-colored hues from different angles. At times the patterns the lights throw on the folds of the curtain look like a graphic equalizer. Touching on theater and performance, the project also addresses the process of taking photography itself.

Ian Wright
Playing on Chuck Close's dot-based works, Ian Wright makes similarly large-scale portraits but uses the 1" pin as his medium. Here Wright pays homage to the master (pictured above right, click for detail), but other works feature appropriate pop icons like Hendrix, Dylan and Warhol, who also fit the form.

ITP Winter Show 2006

by Ami Kealoha

With winter in New York comes a fresh crop of the tech-based creativity coming out of NYU's ITP (Interactive Telecommunications Program). CH's looking forward to attending the ITP Winter Show 2006 to check out the wildly inventive projects like Kyung-Mi Kim's synaesthesia-based AV Brush, a device that interfaces with your body to help you relax by Sandra Villareal and Bio Manhattan, a group project that proposes covering Manhattan with genetically-modified Ferns. The show opens this Sunday, 17 December 2006, and will be up through Monday, 18 December 2006.

Wooster on Spring

by Wendy Dembo

If you've ever spent anytime in New York's NoLita neighborhood, you may have noticed a giant deserted-looking building on the corner of Elizabeth and Spring. The building stands out because it's covered in ever-changing street art—from good old fashioned graffiti to paper paste-ups and milk crate-based sculptures. For almost 20 years it has been a place for writers to make their mark, as the unoccupied building was left virtually untouched by buffers or paint. When the news got out earlier this year that the building was sold, it seemed like the end of an era. Instead, in a unique turn of events, it has become an opportunity for something new. Recognizing 11 Spring Street’s place in the community, the new developers of the building contacted the Wooster Collective. Together they are celebrating the building and its history by having more than 45 street and graffiti artists paint directly onto the 30,000 square-feet of interior walls space and the exterior walls—no art can be taken away. Artists, who have made the leap from the street to the galleries like Daze, Swoon, Doze Green, BAST, Che Jen (pictured above left, click either image for more detail), FAILE are doing their thing, as well as lesser-known artists like, Diego, Elisita Balbontin and Borf. Also, the Wooster Collective invited old school writers like Lady Pink, John Fekner, MUCK and Cycle to give them their props. After Sunday the walls will be covered in sheet rock, preserving the pieces underneath like a time capsule, and the art on the exterior walls power washed. See more installation images here.

Update: Our friends at Gothamist posted some great shots of the work.

Wooster on Spring
11 Spring Street New York, NY 10013 map
15-17 December 2006, 11am–5pm
On 17 December 2006 at 3pm there will be a panel discussion with many of the artists attending.

John Fluevog Capones

by Ami Kealoha

Renowned in the late 80s and early 90s, John Fluevog’s Art Deco-inspired footwear collection is experiencing a renaissance with their new 2006 winter line. The dandyish Capone ankle boot (pictured) features patent leather (a typically flamboyant choice of material) and a pink lining sobered by a grey colorway and classic brogue styling. The result is a fresh approach to the Canadian cobbler's tradition of making surprising shoes that will still delight even the most hardcore of shoe fetishists. The Capone is $259 from Fluevog.

by Daniel Cooper

3 Watches for Guys

by Evan Orensten

Looking for a watch for yourself or for a gift? Here are three watches that are at the top of my list this holiday season.

ToyWatch (above left) brings fun back to the lower end of the market. These watches are both functional and stylish and come in a range of colors and fabrications. One of my favorites is the 4005-GR, a 44mm watch featuring a black dial, green bezel and green nylon strap. Designed in Italy, it features a Miyota Quartz movement and is water resistant up to 100 feet. Best of all it retails for only $175. Buy it online from Active Endeavors and enter "coolhunting" in the discount field to get 20% off of the watch (and all of your other purchases).

Bell&Ross makes excellent watches and I'm happy with the several I own. One of my new favorites is the Type Demineur (above center), which was designed for France's bomb squad. The 39mm stainless steel watch is antimagnetic (bien sûr) and features a seven ruby ETA 955.612 quartz movement. The face is available in white or black, and is covered by an anti-glare sapphire crystal, rotating bezel, and is powered by a seven year battery. It is water resistant to 200m. The Type Demineur has a msrp of around $1,500. Check out the Bell&Ross site for authorized dealers.

Those of you who have been saving for the right watch, have a rich loved one or are expecting a Wall Street sized bonus should consider the drool-worthy new Patek Philippe Nautilus (above right). Available in a few different styles, some reissued from the 1970s, the 5980/1A features Patek's new self-winding, column-wheel-controlled caliber 28-250 C automatic chronograph movement. This model has a new 44mm case and features a chronograph with an unusual monocounter with both 12 hour and 60 minute hands at the 6 o'clock position. It has a sapphire crystal, stainless steel case and bracelet (other metals are available) and is water resistant to 120m. Of course nothing from Patek is for those on a budget, and the Nautilus 5980/1A is no exception with a MSRP of $32,500. Check out the Patek Philippe site for authorized dealers.

Cereal Bowl Light

by Letizia Rossi

As if being made of real Fruit Loops wasn't enough, touch the spoon of the Cereal Bowl Light from Wanderlust Designs and it lights up. Available in seven different bowl colors, it's guaranteed to stay crunchy in milk. Orders can be customized by contacting designer Chris Haines directly. The Cereal Bowl Light is $90 from Etsy.

Nike Air Force 1 Pop-Up Stores

by SummerSeventySix

Nike's hyping the 25th Anniversary of the classic Air Force 1 a lot at the moment, but we haven't really been impressed by the new colorways of the classic shoe. As for the new version, the Nike Air Force 25 (pictured), we at CH think it looks too similar to an Air Jordan XX, although I have to admit, it is growing on me.

However, one thing that does make us wanna slip on a pair and shoot from downtown is the news—which we think is a bit of a CH exclusive—that Nike will have pop-stores in London and New York in February 2007, and perhaps in other cities too, to mark the anniversary. Keep your eyes peeled.