Rip the Ripper Art Show

by Mike Giles

Both curated by and featuring the visual artist and photographer Desiree Astorga, the upcoming “Rip the Ripper" art show at this year's All Sports Retailer trade expo is a celebration honoring the iconic Powell and Perelta “Ripper” logo, which has been an icon in the lives of skateboarders and artists alike for more than 30 years. As a result of its vintage, "The Ripper" logo has unofficially been ripped-off on many an occasion, often in compromising positions. Now, an official selection of over 50 artists have been invited to "Rip the Ripper," this time legitimately. Amongst those slated to rip are names like Shepard Fairey, Don Pendleton and Wes Humpston (contributions pictured below, respectively). The show also features a work by VCJ (Vernon Courtland Johnson) the man who penned the original "Ripper" logo himself (pictured above).

The show premiers at the ASR from 22 to 24 January 2009 in San Diego. But for those of you who aren’t industry insiders, the pieces will be available for purchase at a fixed price on Ebay linkable directly from the Skateone website 26 January at 12:00pm eastern time. If you miss the show and sale, a book will also be available on Skateone shortly after the event.

Shephard Fairey Obama Commemorative Plates

by Brian Fichtner

Poster boy Shephard Fairey really hit the big time when his Obama print was picked up by the Obama Presidential Campaign last year. Having subsequently designed the official Inaugural Poster for Obama, he looks well positioned to become the go-to guy for reshaping how we visualize the White House.

If posters aren't your thing, take comfort in knowing that Fairey has also dipped his feet into the presidential souvenir pool with a set of commemorative plates. Available in red or blue, and produced in a limited edition of 500 each, the plates feature Obama's visage at center with a border of slogans culled from last year's campaign. The plates can be purchased individually for $89, or as a set of two (one of each color) for $178, from The Future Perfect.

Abigail Reynolds: The Universal Now

by Jacob Resneck

British artist Abigail Reynolds makes her solo debut in London with The Universal Now — a series of collages that combines old photos, maps and other curiosities to make abstract imagery out of old-world aesthetic.

Reynolds' images include obscure landscapes as well as more familiar landmarks. In Westminster (above right), the artist superimposed images from two photos taken 37 years apart that shows the timelessness of Britain's House of Parliament. It's an interesting effect and it will hang in Seventeen Gallery in Hackney, East London for a full month beginning January 28.

The Universal Now
28 January–28 February 2009
Seventeen Gallery
17 Kingsland Road, London E2 8AA map
tel. +44 020 7729 5777

Hockey

by Doug Black

The inexplicably named Hockey is the latest band from the Pacific Northwest to stockpile praise in the press and blogosphere. Based in Portland, Oregon, the four-piece group play a brand of electo-tinged dance pop that doesn't shy away from copious handclaps and catchy '80s-style hooks. Vocalist Ben Grubin sounds something like a wordier Julian Casablancas with a penchant for vocal flourishes as he recounts highly self-referential tales on subjects like song-writing and credibility. The group's first single, "Too Fake" — which will be released on a 7-inch single 2 March 2009 — sounds something like the Rapture if they were fronted by Jamie Lidell.

The band self released the full-length Mind Chaos last year and were recently signed to Capital Records in the States and Virgin in the UK, where they've already accrued a healthy following. Check out some songs on their Myspace page.

Hockey is set to play a string of shows in New York City starting tonight at Union Hall with subsequent stops at Santos Party House, Mercury Lounge and Pianos. In February, they'll be hitting the UK.

All the Wrong People Have Self-Esteem: An Inappropriate Book for Young Ladies or, Frankly, Anybody Else

by Wendy Dembo

"All the Wrong People Have Self-Esteem: An Inappropriate Book for Young Ladies or, Frankly, Anybody Else” is the title of illustrator and author Laurie Rosenwald’s latest book and perhaps one of the best titles ever. (We wonder, has it been optioned?)

Laurie is generally known for her “hand-made-like” illustrations for magazines like the New Yorker and companies like Ikea, but she writes great books too. “All the Wrong People Have Self-Esteem” is hard to describe. Laurie has never had a teenager of her own and hasn’t been one for years. And she claims she doesn’t want to tell anyone what to think. The graphic novel is an interactive collection of in-your-face rants, witty observations, sly anecdotes, collages, lovely pictures, flirt cards, fill-in-the-blanks and non-sensical games. Chapters include The PMS Collection Agency, Really Extreme Makeover: 25,185 Days to a Better You and Superb Alternative Superlatives to Awesome and Amazing.

Laurie will be reading from her book tonight in Los Angeles, see details below. (Be sure to check out 826 LA's Echo Park Time Travel Mart next door.)

The book is available online from Amazon or Powell's.

Also on Cool Hunting: Laurie Rosenwald: And to Name but Just a Few

All the Wrong People Have Self-Esteem Book Reading and Signing
21 January 2009, 7:30pm
Stories LA
1716 West Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90026 map
tel. +1 213 413 3733