Mare139: B-Line B-Boy Drawings and Sculpture

by CH Contributor

by Tamara Warren

With a discerning eye Carlos “Mare139” Rodriguez deconstructs the kinesthetic of the b-boy in a new series of work on display at the 58 Gallery in New Jersey through this month. (See details below.)

The show is a play on contrasts, featuring striking array of stark black-and-white drawings and sharp-edged metallic sculptures that interplay to create a dynamic dialogue. Each piece has the quixotic language of Joan Miró and the sinuous influence of the concrete urban environment—a conversation of body in motion. The subtle homage paid to dance greats such as Ken Swift is particularly inspiring for lovers of hip-hop's paradigm. Mare139 shows the dichotomy between the spectator and the act. It's the work a cultural ambassador with an original perspective.

A New Yorker who grew up against the landscape of hip-hop in its evolution, Mare was initially drawn to the spray paint art of the subway trains. Taking that influence and going on to work in various mediums, his work analyzes the role of text as it relates to the physical nature of his subject. This exhibition of drawings and sculptures makes his process readily apparent.

This is not his first foray into the landscape of urban dance as a theme. He also designed the B-Boy SPY Award for the Rock Steady Crew. He also created the 2005 and 2007 Red Beat Battle Awards and the BET Award.

See more images after the jump.

B-Line B-Boy Drawings and Sculpture
The 58 Gallery
58 Coles Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302 map
tel. +1 917 349 1693

Objectified

by Karen Day

Director Gary Hustwit (of the acclaimed film Helvetica) is probing another sector of the design world in his new buzzed about documentary "Objectified," hitting theaters in major cities today.

Pondering the intricacies of industrial design and the people who create it, the film tours the globe as Hustwit interviews a lineup of design superstars, who discuss designing everything from a toothbrush and a computer to a piece of furniture.

We had the pleasure of screening the film last month, followed by a lively Q and A with Hustwit and the design-infused audience, which raised the concern that the film only covered the major players in the product design industry, such as Marc Newson, Dieter Rams, Naoto Fukasawa and Jonathan Ive.

While the critique may be valid, the film as a whole suggests just how broad the spectrum of the industrial design field really is, pointing out how little attention average people give to the fact that someone thought about, planned out and designed most everything surrounding us.

The film's cinematography is as stunning as the objects it portrays, all supported by valuable insight from the designers and commentary by a range of respected critics.

Watch the trailer here or read more about the New York screening at Fast Company.

Madness Spring/Summer 2009

by CH Contributor

by Ezra Natalia

Casting a spell on the fashion world, Madness is a project that combines three designers based in Jakarta, Indonesia, who are mad about culture. Ajeng Dewi Swastiari, Bonnie Natasha Arif and Vannie Astecat, the trio behind Madness, use their alter egos to create artistic modern pieces based on their own heritage.

The young label collects traditional Indonesian fabric and materials to gracefully assemble them into funky jewelry and accessories.

The Madness Spring/Summer 2009 collection is a magical accumulation of jewelry and accessories, inspired by witchcraft and tradition. Using snakeskin and faux leather with a touch of sequins for embellishment, the dark but dreamy collection is sure to be a standout among the pastels and bright colors of spring and summer. We particularly love the gladiator sandals (pictured below) for their romantic yet rock 'n' roll attitude.

Each of the 100 handmade pieces is one of a kind, and bound to make a resounding statement. For those fortunate enough to be in Jakarta, you can pick up one of their exclusive accessories at Alun Alun Indonesia or email the intriguing trio at theprojectmadness [at] gmail [dot] com.

Peter Sutherland: Hot Coals Only

by Wendy Dembo

Following the wild success of his first NYC solo show earlier this year, photographer Peter Sutherland is doing what he does best and hitting the road for an encore solo show opening at the Hope Gallery in L.A. this weekend.

Sutherland, who's also a documentary filmmaker, is as interesting himself as the subjects he chooses. A Chameleon-like style—though his lumber jack beard is consistent—and vivid personality affords him intimate access to different people and places, resulting in candidly spontaneous narrative photographs.

According to Sutherland, the show has a kind of “post-Apocalyptic” feel to it. The lo-tech mixed media display includes numerous photos, a video of what would seem to be a snake charmer (in reality it's just a hand with a knife), and a variety of items paying homage to his Western roots, such as a Colorado flag in Rasta colors.

A testament to the artist's rambling ways, of the 100-plus photos in the show, Sutherland doesn't include any taken in his home base of Manhattan. He found the cast of kids, other big-bearded men and odd characters in his photos, as well as images like graffiti-covered rocks in the wilderness, while driving across the States.

For the exhibit, rather than framing the images, Sutherland instead just mounted them to the wall, encouraging viewers to get close to experience the photos. Like a Jack Kerouac of photography, Sutherland's work makes you want to hit the road.

In conjunction with the show, Seems will be publishing a complete catalog of Sutherland's work, which will be released at the opening reception barbecue on Sunday. See details below.

Hot Coals Only
Opening BBQ: 10 May 2009, 1-4pm
10 May-10 June 2009
Hope Gallery
1547 Echo Park Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90026 map
tel. +1 310 488 3732

Leucos at Euroluce

by CH Contributor

by Tisha Leung

If you visited Euroluce during Milan Design Week 2009, you may have spied Leucos' 30 new lighting options. The nearly half-century old Italian consortium created an unusual exhibit to unveil their new Moai floor light. Designed by young Turkish designer Defne Koz, Moai was part of a major communication event involving showrooms in major cities around the globe. At precisely noon local time, on 22 April 2009, live cameras broadcasted images back-and-forth in real time, linking designers, showrooms and media around this one common moment of light. Below are a few product highlights from the entire collection.

Moai from Leucos
Inspired by Polynesian sculptures and shapes gleaned from nature, Moai works as a table or floor lamp. The two large hand-blown diffusers are white satin, with one smaller than the other. The lamp's base, made from compact glossy resin, is available in white, black or mocha. Its organic shape meshes seamlessly in any decor and the double dimmer switch allows for matching any mood.

Ether from FDV
Designed by Patrick Jouin for FDV Collection, Ether features a brilliant cascade of glass droplets. Both delicate yet substantial, four spotlights and a multicolor changing LED light the chandelier's strings of blown glass bubbles from above. The pendant lamp is available in three sizes with a polished steel frame.

Katana by Itre
Modeled after the instruments of the ancient Samurai, the inspiration for Itre's Katana collection is immediately obvious but unknown to most—its distinct and dramatic look actually comes from extensive research on the use of carbon fiber. The lightweight, cutting-edge material provides excellent stability despite complex constructs.