Cool Hunting
| 18 February 2008view entries from: this week | this month | view previous day | view next day |
David Kassan
by Lost At E Minor
Brooklyn-based artist David Kassan paints such lifelike portraits, they practically leap off the canvas. From his website: "As an expression of his own calculated observation and visual consumption of surrounding environment, introspective glimpses of reality imbue the art of David Kassan. By immersing himself into his subject matter, Kassan is able to infuse his painting with life and realism." (Click image for detail.)
Remote Control K.I.T.T. Car
by Josh Rubin
Watching the new "Knight Rider" TV movie over the weekend stirred up all sorts of great memories from the original show, including (of course) the deep-seated longing to own a car like K.I.T.T. ("Knight Industries Two Thousand"). While this remote control toy version might be missing a couple details (like the ability to print money), it does feature a turbo booster button, makes sound effects and most importantly says, "I am K.I.T.T., whom you may regard as the voice of the Knight 2000." Officially licensed, the mini version is an impressive replica, making it as fun to look at as to zoom around the office.
All that nostalgia is $50 from Firebox.
Two Lines Align: Drawings and Graphic Design by Ed Fella and Geoff McFetridge
by Brian Fichtner
I've always been drawn to the ambiguous nature of Geoff McFetridge's graphic design. His distinctive, and highly personal, visual language, built around "logofying ideas," reduce graphical narratives to the point where meaning is largely derived from the viewer's own imagination. Opening this Wednesday at the Redcat Gallery in downtown Los Angeles, an exhibition features his work alongside the veteran visual artist Ed Fella.
Fella's work, while stylistically different, evolved out of a similar need for self-expression. After practicing as a skilled draftsman and commercial artist in Detroit for 30 years, he abandoned the field to take up independent projects. He received his MFA from Cranbrook Academy in 1987 and is currently a faculty member at CalArts.
Intended as a timeline view of two careers, "Two Lines Align: Drawings and Graphic Design by Ed Fella and Geoff McFetridge" explores the ways in which graphic design has evolved into an acceptable (if often debated) form of individual artistic expression. There will be an accompanying color catalog, designed and co-written by Michael Worthington, the exhibition curator. (Click images for detail.)
Two Lines Align: Drawings and Graphic Design by Ed Fella and Geoff McFetridge
Opening Reception: 20 February 2008, 6-9pm
21 February-6 April 2008
Redcat Gallery
Walt Disney Concert Hall
631 West 2nd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012 map
tel. +1 213 237 2800
SISU Key Fobs
by Letizia Rossi
Each a unique piece of wearable art, designer (and CH contributor) Phuong-Cac Nguyen makes SISU key fobs from vintage trinkets combined with new metalware. She creates the one-of-a-kind baubles in her adopted home, São Paulo, Brazil, from trinkets scavenged from flea markets during her travels. Mixing ornate gewgaws, playful kitsch, religious effigies and a bad-ass rock and roll sensibility, a SISU key fob will make finding your keys in the depths of your bag a lot more fun—or attach one to the straps of your handbag for instant flair .
Available at Garimpo + Fuxique in São Paulo's Recanto Do Alto shopping center and Rodan vs. Griffth in Los Angeles.
Favorite Color
by Fiona Killackey
In a city like New York, it's virtually impossible to stand out and make your mark. Perhaps that's why the latest new motion graphics studio, Favorite Color, took their time in creating something completely unique. Located in Manhattan's Soho neighborhood and targeted toward broadcast and commercial projects, Favorite Color comprises of a team of international and local creatives, including Doug Matthews, Dave Dimmick, Casey Stelle and Lindsay Daniels.
"Our philosophy on everything from creative talent to the creative process is a bit of a break from the traditional model," says Dimmick. This credo is evident in their inaugural animation, "The Birth of Color," a vibrant, cosmic take on the act of conception.
"Our goal is to do really smart work that is rooted in conceptual thinking trends," says Daniels, who received fame recently for projects including the Emmy Award-winning main title for the "Dexter" TV series and the Emmy-nominated main title for "Path to 9/11." Since their recent arrival into the global consciousness in late 2007, Favorite Color have already completed an environmental piece for The Dream Hotel and are working on some big name projects set to impress in 2008 and beyond.
