Justin Gibbens

by Jonah Samson

Justin Gibbens admits to having an "obsessive, unhealthy interest in all things that scamper and poke about in the thickets and undergrowth." Like most obsessive interests that are artfully managed with creativity, Gibbens has been able to channel his work as a contemporary wildlife artist into something magical.

Imitating the conventions of 18th and 19th century zoological illustration and traditional Chinese fine-line painting, Gibbens has invented a world of beautiful, quirky and unnatural beasts. His vision combines science with science fiction, and his paintings occupy a space that feels both archaic and futuristic. Did these muti-headed and muti-legged creatures once exist, but have now gone extinct, or are they a vision of nature's potential evolution?

A selection of Justin Gibbens' paintings is on view as part of the show called "Flight" (details below).

Flight
Through 18 April 2009
G. Gibson Gallery
300 South Washington Street
Seattle, WA 98104 map
tel. +1 206 587 4033

Daniel Loves Objects: At Your Command Lamps

by CH Contributor

by Laura Neilson

Art imitates life and form meets function with these adjustable, human-sized lamps by Daniel Loves Objects. Though they're not available for purchase yet, the gold-plated cast metal mannequins-turned-lamps are a whimsical reminder that even the most everyday objects can break out of their mundane archetypes to take on new appearances.

The movable mannequins come in two sizes, 1.7 meters (approximately 5.5 feet) and .80 meters (approximately 2.6 feet), and can be tilted and turned at every joint. The Singapore-based designer behind the line says that by adjusting the angles to whatever is ideal at that moment, the lamp becomes a "translation of man's inner thoughts and desires." The subsequent results might be "controversial, provoking or elegant."

A somewhat elusive individual who prefers to be recognized by his work than his full name, the designer, who also specializes in illustration and print design, conceptualizes his creations with an interactive aspect in mind. His goal is to endow the user with some form of remembrance as he or she relates with it. That said, consider these lamps unforgettable.

The lamps are not yet in mass production. For more information, visit the Daniel Loves Objects Coroflot page.

Lee Quiñones: Truth & Consequences

by Karen Day

A street art pioneer, Lee Quiñones made the move from subway cars to canvas proving that "a true art movement never goes by the script."

His first solo exhibition in Italy in nearly 30 years at the Galleria Il Trifoglio Nero entitled Truth & Consequences is a great example of Quiñones' adroit ability to integrate both street culture and art history into his work. This capability is twofold; Quiñones blends traditional media like acrylic and charcoal with spray enamel but also the subject matter speaks to today's issues—all while evoking a feeling of romanticism and historical gesture.

Quiñones has never shied away from addressing the thoughts and concerns of humankind, his infamous subway art was always full of provocative socio-political content, portraying heavy subjects like nuclear holocausts or the middle ground the Earth may provide between Heaven and Hell. Truth & Consequences is an extension of these themes, with paintings like "Heart In A Hurricane," in which a man hovers in a spectral swirl of paint strokes and drips, clutching the stem of a large rose, his face distraught—posing the question of whether he is heartbroken or destitute. The threat of disaster is imminent, reminding us of recent hurricanes and financial disasters.

Quiñones scope of work is extensive, he's collaborated with companies like Adidas, Absolute and Ford, his painting has covered canvases, subways, film and music video backdrops and he's been the subject of several documentaries.

See more of his work after the jump.

Truth & Consequences
Galleria Il Trifoglio Nero
18 April-23 May 2009
Piazza Matteotti 80r
16123 Genoa map
tel. +39 010 859 2255

Fashion Geek

by Karen Day

Part DIY, part inspiration for the future of fashion, Project Runway (and Cool Hunting Video) alum Diana Eng's recent book "Fashion Geek" is filled with creative ideas on how to tech up your wardrobe.

Our personal favorite is the digital locket, which takes the usually drab digital keychain and gives it a sparkly new purpose in five easy steps. The result is an embellished necklace that shows off your favorite photos and creative skills.

In addition to the crafty ideas that range from hoodies with built in earbuds to a purse that lights up when your mobile phone rings, Eng also provides an easy-does-it guide to basic sewing techniques. Even better is her simplified way of explaining how to work with electronics, such as stripping and soldering wire and sewing on LEDs.

It's clear Eng has a full grasp on how to work with technology, and is excited to share the endless possibilities with her readers. After playing around with fashion and technology in college, she realized her fascination with the combination that was until recently only found at high fashion runway shows and research labs.

Fashion Geek is a thoughtful book that provides great insight and detailed information on how we can make our clothing more interactive and proves how fun experimenting with fashion can be. You can purchase a copy from Amazon or Powell's.

Artist Natasha Law

by Lost At E Minor

I feel deeply for the body language in Natasha Law's ladies. Body and movement have always been an interesting subject matter to me. Body language can speak such an intimate, potent language. Using gestures of form, a person can share what lies underneath their exterior and in one small movement you have the power to make someone feel at ease or a tiny twitch can be cause for an offensive type of energy, shooing a person away.

In Law's work, I see their insecure self doubts, as well as their divine Goddess-like hopes. They speak a narrative of who we are as females and what we strive for beyond the every day expectations of life. In all her pictures, I sense these "no-faced" ladies all want something, which makes the title of her recent show at Eleven Gallery all too perfect. It's no love lost but vulnerability and strength all in one go.

Twittering the 99% Conference

by Ami Kealoha

Today officially kicks off 99%, our two-day conference exploring the art of realizing ideas. With a speaker line-up full of heavy-hitters, hosted by Behance's founder Scott Belsky and our own Josh Rubin, the day guarantees at least a few gems.

To keep tabs, follow @the99percent, see commentary by searching #the99percent or just read about it on our site the99percent.com. For our resident pundit Josh Teixeira's take, check @coolhunting.