Shephard Fairey's Original Obama Poster Auction

by Ami Kealoha

by Tamara Warren

One of three original works created for the now-iconic poster that Shepard Fairey created in support of Obama is a mixed media stencil collage on a 4 x 6 foot cotton rag paper. Fairey donated this piece to Russell Simmons’s Art for Life Auction, with proceeds going toward a different good cause, the Rush Philanthropic Art Foundation. The foundation is dedicated to creating programs for children in arts education, sponsorship and mentorship.

The live bidding for the original work is open to the top bidders from the Internet auction and takes place 19 July 2008 during the benefit held at an exclusive event in East Hampton, NY and from the looks of it will the piece will auction for well upwards of $60,000.

The posters and the original are good propaganda for a good cause, all in the name of hope.

Nina Pandolfo: Aos Nossos Olhos

by Phuong-Cac Nguyen

Little girls with glassy eyes as round as fishbowls playing in nature are the subjects of São Paulo artist Nina Pandolfo's "Aos Nossos Olhos" (To Our Eyes) show at super cutting-edge Galeria Leme.

The name Pandolfo might ring a bell. Nina is married to one of the legendary Os Gemeos graffiti twins but has been making strides on her own as a street artist since the early '90s, helping to put the São Paulo graffiti scene on the map.

Rich with detail, including actual crochet work and Swarovski crystals, her paintings and resin work impart an effect that's half imagination and half real. You could likely group her with Mark Ryden and Margaret Keane, but her art focuses explicitly on differences between children and adult realities.

Galeria Leme is a breathtakingly designed art space located on a street with prostitute transvestites near the University of São Paulo, well away from any of its peers. Don't miss this gallery if you're in town.

Aos Nossos Olhos
Through 2 August 2008
Galeria Leme
Rua Agostinho Cantu, 88
São Paulo, Brazil map
tel. + 55 (11) 3814 8184

Red Bull Illume Photography Exhibit

by Max Gold

Through this Sunday, 20 July 2008, watching Minneapolis' skyline from the Stone Arch Bridge at sunset is more than nature's daily lightshow. As the sun falls, like clockwork a row of 25 eight-foot photograph cubes illuminates. A futuristic-chill soundtrack faded up as a soothing woman's voice speaks, "Welcome to Red Bull Illume."

Illume is a first-of-it's-kind international traveling photography exhibit. Like a dark superhero, Illume only comes out at night "to reveal the most dramatic compilation of action and adventure sports imagery ever assembled."

Standing in front of life-sized illuminations of the most breathtaking extreme sports images in the world, it was hard to figure out whether the athlete or the photograph itself was more impressive. Picture, say, a giant, dread-locked man clinging upside down to the roof of a cave.

Each of the photographs were submitted by people around the world in an online contest back in 2006 under such categories as "Wings," "Energy" or "Playground". The result is a blend of photographic perfection and the raw, spontaneous energy of adventure sports.

My favorite category by far was called "Experimental," which allowed the photographer to alter their photograph beyond recognition. Many works incorporated graphic art and were more digital masterpieces than photographs, such as this one by James Holm.

Insound 20: Small Stakes Tees, Hoodies and Posters

by Doug Black

Cool Hunting is happy to announce Insound 20, a music and design project launching today. The independent online music retailer joined forces with designer Jason Munn, of Small Stakes fame, to create iconic designs for 20 of Insound's favorite bands. The images are silk-screened onto American Apparel t-shirts and hoodies, as well as limited-edition, hand-numbered posters.

This year's bands are: Beirut, Black Heart Procession, Built to Spill, Calexico, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Death Cab for Cutie, Department of Eagles, Grizzly Bear, Jose Gonzalez, Magnolia Electric Co., New Pornographers, Okkervil River, Peter Bjorn & John, She & Him, Spoon, The Constantines, The Decemberists, The Hold Steady, The National, and The Thermals.

There's also an additional design that features all of the bands with 100% of the profits of it supporting nonprofit literacy organization 826 NYC. Only 1000 t-shirts and 200 posters of each design will be made. They start accepting preorders today, which will ship in mid-August. Get more information at Insound 20, or take a look at the designs below. Insound hopes to continue the project annually, with a different designer each year.

Also on Cool Hunting: Jason Munn x Patagonia Spring 2008 Tees

Alternative Pima Scarves

by Doug Black

Alternative is making an admirable effort in the ongoing battle over basic cotton knitwear primacy. Tne particular item we're enjoying is the Pima Scarf. Rarely considered a summertime accessory, this single-layer cotton scarf is light enough to wear on balmy July evening. At 88 by 16 inches, the on-trend neck wear is extra long, too, and wider than most. Incredibly soft, it can be worn numerous ways. The Pima Scarf comes in six different colors, each costs $20.

You can also take a look at the last time we covered Alternative.