Jonathan LeVine Presents Doze Green and Blek le Rat

by CH Contributor

by Ariston Anderson

Gallerist Jonathan LeVine's concurrent upcoming shows highlight two prominent street artists from opposite sides of the planet, Brooklyn's Doze Green and Blek le Rat from Paris. While the two might not seem to have a lot in common, they're linked by the way they both transform graffiti.

Doze Green hails from the school of hip hop graffiti, an original member of the Rock Steady Crew coming up on the streets and subways of New York in the late '70s and early '80s. Since, his work has evolved into a form of cubist painting, incorporating both figurative abstraction and letter forms.

With his new show, he presents a series of charcoal drawings and mixed media paintings that pay homage to both his Afro-Caribbean and graffiti roots. The addition of collage to his work adds a new level of consciousness — overall a show not to be missed.

Meanwhile, Blek le Rat (aka Xavier Prou) is one of the first artists to use stencils on the street. He gained fame from spray-painting rats all over Paris in the early '80s. This new show offers several political works, from a laughing man driving a gasoline tank, pointing a finger at our energy crisis, to a painting that reads "BANKSY?" next to a portrait of the invisible man, poking fun at the media frenzy surrounding his identity.

Blek's work is often confused with Banksy's, and he is listed as a major influence to the British artist. There's also plenty of signature work in the new show, his startling black-and-white figures which complement the classical architecture of Europe. The artist's new monograph, "Blek le Rat: Getting Through the Walls" is available on Amazon and Powell's.

N.O.O.N and Paris-New York, New York-Paris
Opening reception: 18 October 2008, 7-9pm
18 October-15 November 2008

Jonathan LeVine Gallery
529 West 20th Street, 9E
New York, NY 10011 map
tel. +1 212 243 3822

NYC Apple Day

by Karen Day

Nothing says autumn like hot apple cider. If you love it as much as we do, this Sunday is your opportunity to kick-start the season with NYC Apple Day, an apple-frenzy street festival held in conjunction with the launch of Go Green LES. You can sample your favorites like apple pie or try more curious dishes like apple sausages, all the while learning tips on how to lead a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle.

Click flyer for more details.

NYC Apple Day
19 October 2008, 11am-4:30pm
Orchard Street between Broome and Grand Streets
New York, NY 10002 map

Barton Perreira Eyewear

by Lost At E Minor

Barton Perreira is a different kind of eye wear label. Unlike other luxury goods that have been getting a bad rap lately (and for good reason) the Los Angeles-based brand keeps it discreet. Now I don't know how you roll, but we don't know many people who enjoy covering themselves head-to-toe in someone else's initials. Yet for some reason designers think that diamante logos and monogrammed tapestries are the best mediums to communicate their brand.

So it's just as well LA based eyewear label Barton Perreira doesn't play by the rules. Starting out less than a year ago, you won't find their designs getting over-excited by insignia. Instead, these guys hand make their frames in Japan to rely on precision, fit and design. And that's the way it should be.

New York Dolls: Photographs

by CH Contributor

by Ariston Anderson

Before the Sex Pistols and before the Ramones, there was the New York Dolls, one of the first boy bands that wasn't afraid to dress like women. Renowned rock photographer Bob Gruen's new book, "New York Dolls: Photographs," is not quite your average coffee table book. Unless you like your living room reading to be a reminder of just how quickly the rock 'n' roll lifestyle can age you.

Wrapped in a pink satin cover, it contains over 200 intimate images of the Dolls, the first collection of the band that redefined hard rock for the glam crowd. With text by "Please Kill Me" author Legs McNeil and an afterword by Morrissey, Gruen's unfettered access to the band tells a story of pure indulgence, a path paved by the band way before it was de riguer.

The book is available for purchase at the International Center for Photography and Amazon.

Nau Relaunch

by Karen Day

For those of you still heartbroken over the disappearance of environmentally and performance-driven clothiers Nau, grab your Seventh Generation tissues and dry your tears because Nau is back. Armed with even more beautiful sustainable fabrics, the 2008 Fall/Holiday collection will bring about a positive change, both environmentally and in terms of how we view eco-friendly fashion.

Some highlights from the collection include the Nau classic, the Shroud of Purrin Trench (below left), a water and wind resistant jacket comprised of recycled polyester with a sleek silhouette sure to please any urbanite. There's also the Dualist Jacket (below right), a slim-fitting, merino wool windbreaker with a button-up collar to keep the chill off your neck.

Nau officially relaunches to the public (they've already granted sneak peeks to select old-school customers) 21 October 2008 and you can shop online or stop by the Connect showroom in Chicago. The socially responsible retailer will house the entire Nau collection and offer the choice to take your goods home with you or have them delivered by bike messenger if you live in town.

Casey Ruble: Except in Struggle

by Jonah Samson

Casey Ruble's first solo show in New York depicts one of the prettiest battle scenes I've ever seen. Each of her colorful and delicate paintings depicts a superficial struggle between warriors, but just below the surface, a deeper struggle between colors, Eastern and Western influences, as well as between abstraction and pictorialism, plays out.

Her visually dense images manage to find harmony between conflicting shapes, patterns, colors and different visual traditions. Meticulously cut out from the paper on which they were painted, the paintings look as if the battles are occurring while floating on a cloud.

You can find more information on Casey Ruble on her website. Her current show "Except in Struggle" is on view at Foley Gallery, see details below.

Except in Struggle
Through 15 November 2008
Foley Gallery
547 W 27th Street, 5th floor
New York, NY 10001
tel +1 212 244 9081

Bholu Housewares and Toys

by Karen Day

With a mission to help impoverished women in India, Australian designer Jodie Fried's line of designer housewares and children's toys has finally reached the United States. The whimsical designs are embroidered by underprivileged skilled artisans, keeping alive their traditional technique and simultaneously offering them a sustainable income. All of the handmade wool products are Fair Trade and range from kids toys to rugs.

Fried's Australian company Bholu borrows its name from a Gujarati term for endearment and expression of artistic naiveté.

Building on Fried's many years in India, Bholu's wares are manufactured by women artisans in India under a fair trade arrangement that offers working class women a living wage.

Of particular interest are Bholu's handcrafted rugs. Made from 100 percent New Zealand wool, they are available in a number of sizes, colors and designs.

And yes, customers may now order online.