The Adventures of Johnny Bunko

by Doug Black

Writer Daniel H. Pink took a cue from the East in creating his Johnny Bunko character. While the Japanese comic format, manga, is generally left for children and a fringe group of aficionados in America, it's omnipresent in Japan. In fact, a full 22 percent of all printed material is manga. With this in mind, Pink decided to target American adults with his manga creation, "The Adventures of Johnny Bunko: The Last Career Guide You'll Ever Need." (Click the image for more detail.)

Far from childish fluff, Johnny Bunko is a fully-formed a career advice manual played out through an illustrated narrative. Bunko himself is a nine-to-five everyman who falls into an existential crisis when he realizes his post-collegiate office job is entirely unfulfilling. He meets an unconventional career advisor, wields magical chopsticks and eventually succeeds in finding some meaning in his existence. Interspersed throughout are useful—and rather zen-like—career tips, such as "There is no Plan," and "Make Excellent Mistakes."

The book features 160 pages illustrated by manga artist Rob Ten Pas. You can buy it from the Penguin store or Amazon.

Brooks: Limited Edition Swallow Bicycle Saddle

by Doug Black

Perhaps the world's most legendary manufacturer of bicycle saddles, Brooks England has been making them by hand since 1866. They recently released a limited run of their Swallow saddles exclusively for the 8th annual Bicycle Film Festival, which hits New York on 28 May 2008.

The Swallow is a racing saddle first patented in 1936. It's normally only available in black, brown and honey (the classic Brooks pallet), but this one comes in British racing green. It goes for $246, and Brooks will donate $100 to the festival for each purchase. Limited to 100, get one while to you can at the Brooks site.

Ron Arad: Misfits

by Ami Kealoha

by Laurice Parkin

At last Summer's "Important 20th Century Design" auction at Sotheby's, Ron Arad's beautiful bronze and steel sculptural lounge entitled "After Spring" (produced in 1992) sold for a record-setting $168,000, forever attaching "Design Superstar" to his name.

Continuing to inspire, Arad's newest seating system, "Misfits" for Moroso, is promising to be one of the most highly anticipated Design Week debuts. The uneven modularity and flowing, organic shapes come together in a beautiful jigsaw puzzle. What is most striking besides the eye-catching shapes are the proportions — oversized to the eye, yet incredibly comfortable to sit. I found the curves to be enveloping and relaxing, with the give of the cushion to be perfect; creating truly functional art that is meant to be enjoyed.

The soft curvature of the collection brings to mind Olivier Mourgue's Djinn Lounge Chairs prominently showcased in Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey," but Arad is definitely working in a universe all his own.

With the varied array of pieces and shapes, the creations are endless — define your space as you like, whether it be a sinuous L-shaped sectional or a bold punch of color from the curvy topography of the ottoman.

Check out "Misfits" at the Moroso Showroom starting on Saturday, 17 May 2008, where the collection will be formally debuting with an opening reception by invitation only from 7-9pm.

Moroso
146 Greene Street
New York, NY 10012 map
tel. +1 212-334-7222

Nike Sportswear T-Shirt

by Tim Yu

This might look like just another t-shirt but with Nike Sportswear there's always an underlying innovative twist.

As with any t-shirt, it's all about the fit and fabric. Proudly brandishing the original Nike Sportwear logo, this t-shirt is double layered—Nike's high tech Dri-Fit is used on the inside to wick away sweat and odor and 100% organic cotton on the outside. Soft-hand inks that form the logo only get better with washing and the new cut provides a modified more comfortable fit.

A subtle but effective innovation, keep a look out for this new breed of t-shirt.

Street Art at Tate Modern

by Wendy Dembo

Next Friday 23 May 2008 is the opening of the Tate Modern's Long Weekend, three days and nights packed with live events and performances. Projects centering around "States of Flux," will take place in the gallery and offer spectators a chance to become participants.

I am most excited about "Street Art" at the Tate Modern which opens during the Long Weekend and runs through 25 August 2008. Six artists/art collectives from around the world are going to paint the river façade of the gallery. The artists include Blu from Bologna, Italy, NYC's Faile, JR from Paris, Nunca and Os Gemeos, representing São Paulo, Brazil and Sixeart from Barcelona.

Nunca says, "This is the most important exhibition I have done until now and it is making a lot of people out here think about the importance of the art that is done by artists that use the streets like another tool—the richness of it, the creativity of these artists and the position the institutions have. It is the first time that the Tate Modern is using the outside walls of the building to do an exhibition, and it is the first time this institution is working with "Street Art" too."

The artists are already painting up a storm. Nunca continues, “Basically I spent three days to have the walls almost finished, I already painted all the colored places on the character that is a kind of wild head hunter man drinking tea on a very English way. In the next three days I will have finished the whole painting."

After the Tate show, Os Gemeos head to NYC for their show at Deitch, "Too Close Too Far," opening 26 June 2008. Stay tuned for more info on that.

Long Weekend
23 to 25 May 2008
Tate Modern
25 Sumner Street
London SE1 9TG map
tel. 44 020 7887 8888

"Too Close Too Far"
Opens 26 June 2008
Deitch Gallery
76 Grand Street
New York, NY 10013 map
tel. 1 212 343 2954