Cool Hunting
| 23 February 2007view entries from: this week | this month | view previous day | view next day |
NYC Art Fairs 2007
by Tim Yu
After hitting the Armory, Scope and Pulse art fairs, Team CH has put together a selection of artworks from the major shows taking place in NYC this weekend. The Armory show seemed bigger and better than ever this year, consolidated into the lower level of Pier 94 for a more accessible layout. Scope's new digs in tents at Lincoln center lent the affair a more polished feel without losing the madcap performative edge of previous years. Pulse assembled a great lineup of smaller galleries.
Occupying its own booth at the Armory Germaine Kruip's mechanized sculpture "Counter Composition" (pictured above right) sets simple geometric shapes in motion for a mesmerizing effect. The rotating pieces endlessly disrupt and reform into a diamond shape and the reflective stainless steel surface throws slivers of light onto walls, floors and viewers.—Josh Rubin
Glenn Kaino's installation (left) "Learn to win or you will take losing for granted," presented by The Project Gallery is an eye catching 7 3/4' x 7 3/4' chess board made of wood and wood crates. Playing with the classic theme of good vs. evil, the pieces are cast bronze depicting different hand gestures with both negative or positive connotations, depending on which "team" you are on. Click on image for a detailed view.—Tim Yu
The first piece I saw walking into the Armory remains one of my favorites. Giusseppe Gabellone at the Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin in Paris exhibited a vertical structure made of cut mirrors affixed to a wooden structure (above right, click for detail). Untitled, the work measures 102"x62"x62." Looking at the structure transforms and divides the space offering a kaleidoscope-like view while maintaining an aggressive stance.—TY
From a series called "Sneak Like a Panther," Nina Braun's knit and felt sneakers (pictured above left), exhibited at Scope with Helium Cowboy, are hard to resist. Emulating various brands—from Nike to Etnies—the shoes look goofy and lopsided in their new form. —Ami Kealoha
Of the many porcelain and hard clay sculptures at this year's Armory, one of our favorites is this porcelain piece by Chinese artists Liu Jianhua presented by Arario Gallery from Seoul, South Korea. The well-dressed ladies recline in such natural and relaxed positions—yet they are headless. Adding to the mystery of the piece, it's presented on an antique oriental plate.—TY
Zadok Ben-David's stainless steel sculptures, called "Autumn Reflections," are finely detailed representations of trees and their shadows in miniature—each tree is about 4" tall. Shown with Seoul's Janet Oh Gallery at Scope, each tree is an elegant construction made from a single piece of metal.—AK
Hyper-real and tiny (this piece, pictured above left, measures just 6"x4"), Mike Bayne's oil paintings depict mundane portraits of American domestic architecture, most often the single-family home. —Jonah Samson
My favorite piece in the Armory, Daniel Zeller's meticulously rendered works (pictured, above right) reference topographical maps, satellite images and undefined organic forms. The resulting otherworldly landscapes are far, far better seen in person. —JR
Fox Fury Headlamps
by Tim Yu
Long the standard for industrial use, Fox Fury is now making some products geared towards personal use. The Fox Fury headlamps featuring 24 LEDs in a variety of colors, besting other recreational headlamps with a mere three or four by a lot. Cleverly designed, the face of the unit has a unique curve acting as a bumper to help prevent breaking LEDs while also serving to protect your head during work and play. It runs on 4 AA batteries and has an illuminating distance of up to 150 ft (45m), equal to 480 candles. They also exhibit peripheral lighting features up to 60 feet, dimming sensors and some models are waterproof. Be sure to check out the forensic, tactical and scuba headlamp models as well as the first 1000 lumen LED flashlight available on the market.
They are available at Fox Fury starting at $110
Ser-vice
by SummerSeventySix
Gabriel from Ser-vice in Virginia got in touch to let us know about their range of tees, sweats and cushions, and to my mind, they're well worth letting you know about them. Clean, simple design spans the range, printed on a savvy choice of pastel colors ready for Spring. My personal favorites are above. Enough talking—have a look.
Oestudio Sneakers
by Ami Kealoha
Over the course of São Paulo's recent fashion week the name Oestudio kept showing up on t-shirt tags, runways and at Surface To Air's new store. The boutique carries Oestudio's hi- and lo-tops that all balance a youthful look with stylish detailing and a distinctly Brazilian flair. Well thought out design, like thin round laces and nearly double the amount of eyelets on most kicks, offset exaggerated features like extra-long tongues and wide toe caps that would otherwise look clownish. Available in canvas and suede, Oestudio shoes cost about R$200 and come in a range of colors, of which you can see more here.
