*notcot - , 15:30 -

Absolut Flexible Panel Design

absolutpan1.jpg So much i want to share with you from the last week or so, and as usual having trouble catching up ~ sensory overload! Inspiration OD? So i’m just going through pictures and will share pieces with you as they get me all giddy again. Firstly, being invited out to Sweden for the Absolut Art Collection celebration is a dream come true on so many levels ~ Absolut Ads were one of my earliest obsessions of where advertising met art, the ads were on my walls, i had the books and museum/art collection cds (totally need to find that when i get home), postcards in my notebooks, i probably even discovered a few artists through them (imagine 10 year old me?)… and over the years i’ve definitely grown up following the art they’ve enabled in so many mediums as i’ve also progressed further into the tech/art/ux/online/new media worlds… It’s incredible that this weekend was celebrating 30 years of Absolut’s creative collaborations! And the talks with their global marketing heads about the history and philosophies of the brand as well as the panel discussion with artists who have worked with them in the past on “Commissioned Art - Career boost or selling out?” was inspiring and thought-provoking for sure… but before we even delve into all of that… you know i fixate on the visual… and i had to show you the brilliantly simple portable/modular panel set up they popped up inside the Lydmar Hotel Restaurant!

Basically it is a series of two layered panels ~ lots of hinges… striped, in the front, had openings to expose the pink layer behind and also served as a frame for the flat panel TV behind. The A shaped stools were close didn’t perfectly match the Absolut A, but the designer did say that it could be said it was inspired by the Absolut A (with a wink). Also adorable was that the stools also apparently make great little tables while the Absolut team had lunch perched on the audience set up of a rainbow of Starck’s Kartell Ghost chairs… Apologies for being too mesmerized and immersed in conversation to take pics while they were taking it down, but it was impressive how quickly they collapsed it all before dinner! Take a closer peek at the set up on the next page…

p.s.
aren’t the A’s a little sesame street? I kept thinking, and today is sponsored by the letter A! (and A is for Absolut?)

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*notcot - 10.31.09 , 17:58 -

Mental Togetherness by Truls Melin

mental1.jpg We could all use some “Mental Togetherness” ~ lovely sculpture by Truls Melin outside of Swedish art space Magasin 3 (A philanthropic activity by Swedish investors, Proventus - also investors of Brio, Artek, o2, Tom Dixon). Whether this sculpture is about chasing the pipe dream or creating that continuous flow between us or visualizing the paths we take… i leave that to your interpretation… all i know is that as tempting as it seems, you can not climb on it… but it is fascinating to wander into… see more pics of it on the next page!

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*notcot - 10.20.09 , 00:59 -

The Colors of Rachell Sumpter

rachellsumpter1.jpg On tabs that stay open way too long on my laptop making me realize i am more drawn to the work than i first thought, i haven’t been able to close the website of Rachell Sumpter since i found her through Kitsune Noir ~ the colors are just stunning, and once you get over that you get sucked into the level of detail, and the possible stories that exist in the technicolor dreamworlds she creates. Will someone please animate her world and set it to a dreamily inspiring soundtrack to lose ourselves in? I wonder how large her originals are? They’d be stunning as large wall sized pieces to wander up to and stare at… See more of my favorites on the next page…

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*notcot - 10.19.09 , 10:40 -

Yu Jinyoung

glassfam1.jpg The internet definitely works in cycles, if you miss something the first time around, don’t worry, the awesome stuff always loops back. So please forgive me for not having jumped on Yu Jinyoung’s A Family In Disguise at the Union Gallery one back in Dec 08, but Josh Spear seems to have resurfaced the work of Yu Jinyoung that showed at Art Basel Miami 08, and try as i may, i can’t get them out of my head, so need to save them somewhere to look back on later! First thing i thought was, Audrey Kawasaki! The dark thoughtful floating faces disappearing into their surroundings… but in sculptural PVC lifesize form! Then i kicked myself when i saw on Boing Boing that Pescovitz actually found it from Audrey who loved it too in March 09… best find? Awesome interview over at Arrested Motion with a peek into how these are made! So see more pics on the next page and join my fascination with this eerie and amazing body of work… i can only imagine how breath taking they must be in person. (They are LIFE SIZED! Mind blowing.)

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*notcot - 10.14.09 , 09:12 -

Dyson’s 20 Uses For The Old Buffeting Blade

dysonbook0.jpg So that sudden redeye from SF to NY (you know, the one that left my poor new carnivorous plants hanging out in my car in SFO somewhere) it is for the Dyson Air Multiplier Fan launch ~ and just between you and i, it took everything inside me not to get all fan girl while meeting James Dyson, and he was so incredibly nice (smart too of course!). But while i have lots of pics of the launch as well as the fans themselves… first things first ~ how adorable is the press kit? Stunning, sleek little brushed stainless usb key on a wire keychain attached to a book describing how not to waste those OLD fan blades that are now being rendered obsolete? (nearly?) ~ So, had to share with you “The demise of the buffetting blade: 20 Uses for the old buffetting blade” and adorably cheeky little book, my quick hotel shots may not fully do it justice, but you’ll get the idea, and perhaps a quick giggle too. So flip through the details with me on the next page…

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*notcot - 10.09.09 , 10:30 -

Beyond Eden Sneak Peek

beyondeden00.jpg Sometimes there are moments where it feels like the universe is against you and you’re torn between too many awesome opportunities ~ those are definitely the moments where you just have to step back and find less obvious solutions? In this case, i double booked myself. Months ago i agreed to be a media sponsor for Beyond Eden (AMAZING collection of my favorite LA galleries coming together for a HUGE show in the gorgeous Barnsdall Park LA Municipal Art Gallery) which has the VIP opening tonight, and runs through the weekend… i also got committed to join the lovely ladies of the Broad Summit up in wine country (hence my currently being up in SF!).

None the less, i think somehow this has worked out perfectly thanks to the quick thinking of Andrew (of the fabulous Thinkspace Gallery and co-founder of the event) ~ because he let me go sneak in early before i drove up to SF, and get some exclusive sneak peek pics to tease you with! And it was SUCH a fun challenge! I promised not to show you and full pictures… so i got a chance to shoot some amazing close ups and details as well as a few overview shots to give you a feel for the massssssssive space! I dare you to figure out where all the details came from… and there are so many pieces i’m dying to share with you fully soon too! But Angelenos, you HAVE to go check this out ~ especially if you love art, gorgeous parks, and stunning views of LA (you can see downtown skylines, hollywood sign, and griffith park observatory to name a few from the grassy goodness right outside the gallery perched upon the hill!). So first things first ~ go peek at what you’ll find at the show.

And no joke. AMAZING show lined up over at Beyond Eden this weekend! Go check it out!!!

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*notcot - 10.07.09 , 08:27 -

Neiman Marcus + Yulia Brodskaya

xmasbook.jpg Neiman Marcus Christmas Book. Yes. I do believe it is the first week of October. Isn’t that a bit early for holiday festivities and shopping to be kicking in? If i’m sick of Christmas before halloween, that’s just sad? Also a little disappointed nothing in the book got me too excited this year, but the front and back COVERS are another story. So excited that they got awesome paper artist, Yulia Brodskaya to do her thing with santa’s beard and hat… see close ups on the next page…

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*notcot - 10.05.09 , 09:30 -

BMW Jump For Joy

jumpforjoy.jpgOh, BMW. Haha. Nothing like a hilarious new video from BMW, for BMW.tv, which manages to poke fun at Audi while simultaneously making you giggle and inspire you to want to leap into your car as you take off for work this monday morning. While their first Jump For Joy video launched two days ago ~ its the twist that got added in this latest version that will really make you gasp… then giggle. Watch it on the next page!

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*notcot - 09.27.09 , 11:55 -

La Confusion Des Sens

senses0.jpg Firstly, who WOULDN’T want essentially a “mood wall” ~ a thermochromatic wall of sorts ~ sure you’ll have to clean it regularly, never know who’s been rubbing up against it or licking and kissing and breathing on it… painting with their heat… I know part of me has been dreaming up ideas and places and colors to do something like this since…

But back to the subject at hand! While swinging back through Paris with Veuve Clicquot after adventures with harvesting in Reims, we had a chance to take a look at the Espace Culturel Louis Vuitton in the penthouse above the Champs Elysees Louis Vuitton store. It totes stunning views of the city, with a nice wood planked walkway around the perimeter, and a beautiful gallery space. Freshly launched is “La Confusion Des Sens”. You arrive in the space after experiencing full sensory deprivation in their completely dark silent elevator ride up (a permanent part of their collection) ~ only to emerge to a large open space looking out over all of Paris… and surrounded by fascinating artworks focused on throwing your instinctual sensory reactions for a loop at every twist and turn… whether it’s tactile, auditory, visual, or a combination of senses, it’s an incredible show! Take a look at a few of my favorites on the next page…

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*notcot - 09.25.09 , 09:29 -

Waste Yourself in London

streetshore.jpg Sometimes you find inspiration in the most random of places… like stuck on the side of a cross walk button machine with a cucumber on top of it. This graphic from Waste Yourself was too cool not to share… found out in the East end of London when checking out Tent Design and wandering about. See it bigger and a few other silly little discoveries as well on the next page…

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*notcot - 09.24.09 , 08:36 -

La Comete - Veuve Clicquot + Tom Dixon

comet1.jpg “Inspired by the comet logo and created by Design Research Studio under the creative direction of Tom Dixon, Veuve Clicquot presents The Comet. The Comet is a natural evolution of Tom’s original creation the Comet Lamp.” (Which we gave away to a luck reader earlier!) I’ve always loved geodesic structures, and to have this large igloo like cave of a space in that vibrant Veuve yellow ~ and filled with perfectly stacked bottles of champagne… it was just a delightful space! Also unmissable from afar as you wonder what the bizarre yellow structures are as you enter from the bridge…

I suppose i shouldn’t be too surprised to find myself coming from the history and source of Veuve Clicquot having just participated in harvest, only to be mesmerized and inspired once again by their design collaborations… on random thoughts, these comet structures would make for a very cool fort if i was still a kid… or maybe a sanctuary or work space? tree house? Unfortunately there weren’t really any kids at the VIP event, but i bet they would have made for some adorable pictures! See lots of pics of the structures and some other Veuve details on the next page!

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*notcot - 09.23.09 , 23:35 -

The DOCK: Curated by Tom Dixon

dock00.jpg Freshly back from the party at The DOCK, described as “An emporium of creative talent instigated by Tom Dixon and sponsored by Derwent London.” ~ and before i even show you what’s inside, coming back to the hotel and browsing the pics, the way the space photographs as the sun set was just so fun! So take a look ~ the lighting was certainly one of my favorite things about tonight!

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*notcot - 09.14.09 , 09:50 -

Made Of Japan (TAB Excl Edition) by Onitsuka Tiger

tiger0.jpgsamsung netbooks On fun packaging that has recently shown up ~ how awesome is this Made Of Japan (TAB Exclusive Boxed Edition) by Onitsuka Tiger ~ the packaging is stunning with a laser cut tiger motif on the cardboard sleeve that i’m just itching to spray paint as a stencil to see how it would look… From the TAB site: “Exclusive to TAB: the book comes in a box with a laser-cut Tiger sleeve. Limited to 250 boxes! Onitsuka Tiger is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year - an event of major significance in Japan. Made of Japan is the beautiful result of a journey into taste: 260 pages presenting the brands’ original sports heritage, its vision and evolution, and its influence as a style icon amongst fashion leaders, artists, athletes and sports fans around the world.” Take a peek on the next page of the awesome packaging (the sleeve and box are gorgeous ~ and the binding style as well!) + some of my favorite pics from within!

p.s.
Huge thanks to Limited Hype for sending this my way!

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*notcot - , 00:31 -

LeBasse Projects Ushiro/Ryuichi Dinner

ushiro1.jpg On unique experiences, i was invited to a lovely intimate dinner at the LeBasse Projects gallery in Culver City prior to the opening of their Edwin Ushiro “Softly Encompassing the Womb” and Ryuichi Ogino “Idealistically Hypocritical 3” shows this weekend ~ where they essentially set up a dining table in the midst of all the artwork, and invited a few of us to dine with the artists and gallery owners and discuss everything from the art, to the mythologies and stories behind the paintings, to twitter/facebook/luddites, to hypocrisy, to ghosts, and so much more. I also couldn’t help but get constantly distracted at the stunning pieces on all sides to stare at… gorgeous body of work from Edwin Ushiro as always. And having a chance to really spend time with the pieces up close was great, the larger pieces are just breath taking, and so beautifully layered with such evocative palettes. Take a peek at the scene, and some of the pieces up close on the next page!

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*notcot - 09.08.09 , 12:20 -

Inside the Incase Studio

incasestud0.jpg While in SF, between the madness i simply had to make time to stop by and visit the folks behind the incredible products and packaging of Incase! If you haven’t noticed over the years, i’m a bit of an Incase junkie ~ their design aesthetic, product concepts and details, and their understated hyper-functional stunning packaging skills are just irresistible. The user experience of their products from the time you see an image of them, or spot it on the street or in a store… to the time it’s in your hands being unboxed and being put to good use ~ is just so well thought out. No wonder their tagline is “A better experience through good design.”

Well, i’m honored they let me take a peek into their SF studio space, and it was just as inspiring and minimalist as you’d imagine. Clean black and whites ~ turn tables, couches, and a bathroom waiting for your doodles…. wiped clean weekly, and re/decorated by everyone that visits… check out some of their boxes i had yet to see in person… and the patterns that magically transform into those bags we love… and perhaps most interesting, what inspires THEM! A fantastic mix of goodies discovered while shopping in japan interspersed with their products greet you in their gallery space… on to the pics on the next page!

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