Macro | Sea Dumpster Pools

by Karen Day

Transforming a dumpster into a pool in a mere twelve days, the creative developers behind Macro | Sea are quickly changing sections of Brooklyn's urban landscape from an industrial wasteland to a pool party.

The pool project is a subsidiary of NY-based Macro | Sea's larger mission to transform defunct strip malls into pleasant community spaces where people can congregate. The concept was a success for residents of São Paulo several years ago and they have completed redevelopment projects in Paris, France, Salamanca, Spain, and Dublin, Ireland.

Proving that it's possible to creatively reuse objects like dumpsters, Macro | Sea's pools are a welcome addition to the hot summers in the city.

More images after the jump. For more info and images visit ReadyMade.

Off Bowery for Altamont Clothing Line

by Nathan Suberi

Alternative clothing promoters Altamont present their first collaboration with Off Bowery Production's infamous A-Ron (aka Aaron Bondaroff, NYC's downtown impresario and personality). A-Ron epitomizes Altamont's "Cut From A Different Cloth..." mentality, willing to go the weird or outlandish route to produce something with the right blend of aggro attitude and aesthetic. Boiling down the OBP line to a single theme is impossible with items like a rainbow-hued belt titled Friendship, a bad-ass sleeveless leather vest titled Gang Bang and a variety of items adorned with a hand flipping the bird capped with a peace sign. Check out Altamont's video interviews with A-Ron for more insight into his enigmatic style.

The Off Bowery Productions Line will be available for purchase through Altamont for Fall 2009.

Bemodern: Interview with Paul Darragh

by Fiona Killackey

He may well have worked for some huge commercial names, but for New Zealand-born, New Yorker Bemodern (aka Paul Darragh) success results from freely creating art for yourself. Graphic designer by day and artist by night this 20-something is making heads turn at galleries from Melbourne to Manhattan. CH caught up with the man behind the name to talk art, design and all that lies between.

What's with the name bemodern?
It's a fabulous name! It started out when I was living in Wellington, NZ. I used to go to the library and photocopy pictures from '60s encyclopedias and make collages. From doing that I got that sense of, "Hey, just be modern, it's a new vacuum cleaner" but that grew into something more. Being modern is never the future or never retro, it's right now, right here, all the time. Isn't that great? It also talks about an aesthetic that I'm very fond of: Brazilian architecture and Le Corbusier.

Where, when and why did you start out creating art?
Day one, because I had to. We are all put on this earth with a purpose. For some, it takes time to find that purpose. For some, you never find that purpose. For me, I knew instantly I had to create. It's as rudimentary as eating or breathing.

Would you consider yourself an artist or a graphic designer? Which is better for you to be known as?
I am an artist.

See more images and the rest of our interview after the jump.

Kiwi & Pom: Marks & Spencer Kitchen

by Mike Giles

Designed by London-based firm Kiwi & Pom, Marks & Spencer Kitchen is a bespoke, stand alone cafè, located at the entrance to Marks & Spencer's new flagship store in Westfield London.

The distinctive 3D form created from over 350 unique triangles of Corian serves as a meeting place and functional cafè, resulting in a sculptural design people can utilize both within and outside of it.

Kiwi & Pom's cafè design will be featured in multiple other Marks & Spencer locations throughout the U.K. and Ireland, a level of success not unusual for the young studio.

Other notable accomplishments by the design duo include their work with for Hulger , creating the first-ever wooden Skype phone using sustainable materials that would withstand any software update. Their sleek Party Box for the upscale karaoke venue Lucky Voice, allows users to turn any computer into the ultimate karaoke machine with its microphone mixer that plugs into any PC.

Believing in strong, well-thought-out ideas and priding themselves in delivering concepts without compromise, Kiwi & Pom aim to create beautiful, functional and accessible designs that may be unexpected and unconventional, but always relevant and innovative.

Salon We-Are-Familia

by Phuong-Cac Nguyen

The exploration of the non-literal sense of space and family will be the thrust of the Salon We-Are-Familia exhibit at Open Space Gallery , in New York art town Beacon.

Headed by creative director Jennifer Garcia (of SEEE tee fame), We-Are-Familia comprises a collective of 50 artists spread across many disciplines focused on the concept of family.

Artists including Holly Stevenson, Yoh Nagao, Jesse Brown and Peter Kienzle for Superette will show their multimedia pieces, an eclectic mix of work that ranges from photographs to furniture. The highlight of the show is "Keepsake Box No. 5," a motley mix of found furniture pieces and 37 artworks assembled together, including a video screen showing movies by director Olivier Babinet and video artist Rashaad Newsome, plus digital prints by Geneviève Gauckler and Rockers NYC.

For those in the New York area who would like to attend the event, there is a $45 pass available which includes round-trip transportation on a school bus from NYC to Beacon, a BBQ dinner at the gallery and a tour of D.I.A. Beacon. For more information or to reserve a spot, send an email to rsvp [at] we-are-familia [dot] com.

Salon We-Are-Familia
Opening 11 July 2009 from 6-9pm
11 July-6 September 2009
Open Space Gallery
510 Main Street
Beacon, New York 12508 map
tel. +1 845 765 0731