Photographer Michael Cogliantry: Furverts

by CH Contributor, 3 July 2009

by Russ Lowe

We recently sat down over a tall boy with photographer Michael Cogliantry to chat about his latest book project "Furverts," chopping wood and his first case of hate mail.

The Brooklynite-turned-Portlander, whose work spans hi-fi advertorial shoots for top brands to portraits of Alaskan gold-miners, made the cross-country trek west via caravan last summer. The first Pacific Northwest winter is a traditionally bitter pill for most new arrivals, but by the look of it, it was anything but for Cogliantry. An assortment of hand-callousing man chores, coastal excursions and investigation into Portland's pocketed food and music underbelly have clearly kept him warm and dry.

The catalyst of Michael's first encounter with real-life hate mail originated years ago as a benignly satyrical photo interpretation of the Kama Sutra performed by Furries, a numerous and diverse subculture comprised of people obsessed with anthropomorphic animals.

Many Furries dress in costumes that personify their inner critter and gather for annual conventions which are typically closed to outsiders, stirring the sort of speculation that originally inspired Cogliantry's "ex-faux-sé. Discussion boards within the Fur community have been lively in response to the work, plenty of which are aimed back at the artist himself.

Portland's Nemo Design hosted a showcase of the artwork from a Las Vegas shoot of Furries last season and the new hardcover photo book published by Chronicle Books is hot off the press.

Colgliantry's latest labor of love, along with the rest of his work, is better viewed than narrated.

Furverts is available from Amazon and Powell's.

Cirque Berzerk: Beneath

by CH Contributor, 3 July 2009

by Julie Wolfson

Naughty burlesque dancers, daring trampoline stunts, scary clowns and steamy duets fill the Cirque Berzerk big top. "Beneath" is a definitely-not-for-kids show, celebrating the dark side of the circus world. Originating at Burning Man, the show since evolved into a full-fledged spectacle, housed in a beautiful new tent custom-built in Italy.

Co-founders Suzanne Bernel and Kevin Bourque created a world that mixes a neo-goth aesthetic with steampunk, vintage and contempory elements.

After each performance the audience is invited to the Cirque Berzerk Lounge to meet the entire troupe and hear live music by Vaud and The Villains.

Images via LAist photographer Tom Andrews

Tickets are $25-$80.

Cirque Berzerk
Through 26 July 2009
Los Angeles State Historic Park
1245 North Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012 map

More images after the jump.

Domecage Prisons

by CH Contributor, 3 July 2009

by Richard Dewitt

"I like to call them Sportdomes, not cages," says prison architect Willem Van der Sluis. Indeed, his unusual 2007 project in the Zaandam industrial zone in the Netherlands consists of conjoined geodesic domes that don't look like cages at all. But, these spaces, designed for playing sports, prevent soccer or basketball players from escaping; the users are inmates.

Starting with the question, "How does one design a space for a user who does not really want to be there," Van der Sluis' major contribution here is the view. Instead of regular prison yards with walls that only afford a view upwards, within the domes prisoners experience the horizon.

Pierced with small holes at the white domes' base creating a contrast not unlike Venetian blinds, the upshot is that from within the prisoners can look outside but don't have to worry about being viewed by passersby. Higher up the holes get bigger, allowing more daylight in. "I tried to give it the feel of light falling through trees in a forest," Van der Sluis explains.

The structure consists of no more than 15 triangles that form the whole dome. It's a design that can as easily be constructed as dismantled. While it may not be necessary for both the locations where the Dutch ministry of Justice uses the domes, boats house the detention centre in Zaandam. If the boats relocate after five years, the domes will move with them.

See more images after the jump.

Quiksilver Diamond Dobby Boardshort

by Karen Day, 3 July 2009

Quicksilver's new Diamond Dobby boardshort infuses the latest in fabric technology with their classic design and quirky color schemes, making for a rash-free summer of fun and surf.

By using an embossed, diamond-patterned material, the Diamond Dobby technology decreases fabric to skin contact by 30 percent which eliminates chafing and rashes.

In addition, horizontal stretch and fabric memory keep the shorts in shape while adding ultimate comfort—ideal for challenging waves from the North Shore to the Gold Coast.

The trunks even shine out of the water; the weightless material dries twice as fast as the average boardshort.

Available for purchase from the Quicksilver website, Diamond Bobbies run $60.

Campanas x Lacoste Polo Shirts

by Brian Fichtner, 3 July 2009

What happens when designers known for making furniture from trash take on one of the most preppy clothing brands? Brazilian brothers Fernando and Humberto Campana ditch French restraint to riff on Lacoste's signature crocodile for a series of limited edition shirts due out this holiday season, the fourth such collaboration for the label.

The project also references the designers' own ouevre, playing on a version of their iconic Banquette chair made from stuffed alligators by clustering eight crocs on the breast of Lacoste's classic polo. An explicit reference to their Alligator Chair, it's limited to an edition of 20,000.

Far more exclusive, the collaboration also introduces two other special designs. The first, 125 units each for men and women, takes its inspiration from nature. The men's polo mimics the small fluvial islands on the Amazon, while the women's borrows from the Lianas vines that grow amidst rainforest trees.

Comprised entirely of embroidered crocodiles, the second series references the traditional lacework found in Northern Brazil in an edition of 12 made-to-order shirts for each gender.

See more images after the jump.

via Dezeen

Paracord Dog Collars

by Nathan Suberi, 3 July 2009

Outdoor adventurers and dog enthusiasts can blend their passions by purchasing Paracord Survival Strap Dog Collars.

Composed of knotted paracord, these durable collars quickly unravel for lashing together a shelter, suspending gear from bears or even saving strangers from drowning in pits of quicksand. While these situations may only sporadically present themselves, the collars are also stylish in their own right, available in nearly 900 two tone color combinations.

Survival Straps also produces a variety of other paracord accessories, including bracelets, anklets and belts; the collars are available for $28 through Survival Straps.

A portion of all proceeds are donated to the Wounded Warrior Project, assisting men and women severely injured in the line of duty.

Alastair Callender's Soliloquy Super Green Superyacht

by Karen Day, 2 July 2009

Keeping luxury afloat, Alastair Callender's eco-friendly Soliloquy yacht proves that future pleasure vessels can maintain opulence without damaging the earth.

At 58 meters long, wind, solar and hybrid marine technologies power the rigid wing yacht, resulting in zero emissions capabilitity, lower fuel costs and a quieter journey.

Originally intended for the environmentally conscious crowd, the Soliloquy is attracting attention worldwide not only from activists but also designers and sailing enthusiasts for its innovative use of a rigid wing rig of three solar sails, which can collect enough energy during 12 hours of sun to allow the Soliloquy to run fuel-free at nearly eight knots.

The entire yacht features careful construction, keeping both sustainability and splendor in mind. Using renewable materials, the state-of-the-art, ever-evolving superstructure creates the option for converting indoor space into outdoor socializing areas or alfresco living spaces. The on-board gym offers both guests and the ship an energizing opportunity—in-use equipment recharges the vessel's main batteries.

Combining Solar Sailor's proven technology with Alastair Callender's yacht design knowledge, the Soliloquy pushes the boundaries of both clean living and luxury yachts of the future.

See more images after the jump.

via Luxury Culture