Apartamento, the magazine of “everyday life interiors,” is pretty damn cool. They photograph the homes of unique people of interest. The places don’t have to be perfect, they don’t have to be huge, they don’t even have to be that clean, they don’t have to be anything really. It is more about capturing the connection between the subject and their space. The magazine is kind of like a perfect little super stylish peephole into a generally hidden reality!
Track one down, you’ll be way into it.
From the late 70s to early 80s, Fiorucci was about as cool as you could get. The Italian New Wave brand had a flagship boutique on 59th St. in Manhattan that was essentially the epicenter of all things hip. At night there was Studio 54, but during the day the party was at Fiorucci.
“Customers such as Marc Jacobs, Cher, andTerence Conran would rub shoulders with Jackie Onassis and Lauren Bacall, you might see drag queen Joey Arias serving the King of Spain, author Douglas Coupland absorbing the store’s pop culture, or Calvin Klein and Gloria Vanderbilt buying some jeans. In the early 1980s the Fiorucci art director was jewelry designer Maripol, known for creating Madonna’s look at the time. Other employees included Madonna’s brother Christopher Ciccone, Terry Jones of i-D magazine fame, Oliviero Toscani, who shot many of the famous Benetton ads, and famed interior designer Jim Walrod.” -Wikipedia
By the late 80s the party was over, though. Some blame it on poor management, but Betsey Johnson has suggested “Fiorucci was the most happening place. It never stopped being happening — it just left New York City, because I don’t think New York City was happening enough by the mid-80′s.” It’s a loss either way. Though the company and clothes are still around today, Fiorucci has never been the same.
There is graffiti, and then there is street art. While the line between the two is sometimes drawn thin, the Wynwood Walls arguably define the latter end of the spectrum. Thanks to Jeffrey Deitch and his Deitch Projects, and Goldman Sachs, the walls of the warehouses in Miami’s Wynwood Arts District are covered with murals by the best of the best. From Barry McGee and Kenny Scharf, to Os Gemeos and Shepard Fairey, these are some good looking walls …
Nunca, Ryan McGinness, Stelios Faitakis
Space Invader, Futura
Aiko
Clare Rojas
Ron English
Shepard Fairey
Os Gemeos
Kenny Scharf
Barry McGee
El Mac, Retna
David Bowie might have started the whole spaceman rockstar oddity, but Klaus Nomi actually believed and sounded like he was from another universe.
Nomi was a classically trained opera singer, who managed to artfully partner new wave music with his wide vocal range to create synth-driven interpretations of classical music and covers of 60s pop standards. It was a completely unique sound, like no other before it, or after …
The German immigrant’s strange stage persona coupled with his trademark costumes and hairstyle made for utterly magical live performances.
In the late 1970s while performing at Club 57, The Mudd Club, The Pyramid Club, and other venues, Nomi assembled a group of up-and-coming models, singers, artists, and musicians to perform live with him, which at times included Joey Arias, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, John Sex and Kenny Scharf, and became a fixture in the downtown arts scene. From there his bizarre star continued to rise, with live performances on TV stations around the world, record deals, and even singing back up for David Bowie on SNL.
Nomi passed away in August 6, 1983. He was one of the first celebrities to die of complications from AIDS. His life was all too short, but its impact is still felt today. In 2004 Andrew Horn made a feature documentary about Nomi’s life, The Nomi Song. See it!
If you have ever wanted the chance to collaborate with Kenny Scharf (and who wouldn’t), August 10th is your chance. The only catch, you have to be a teenager (even better!).
On Wednesday, August 10th, from 1 – 3, teens are invited to get their hands dirty and express themselves while helping to create a collaborative mural at The DETAILS Guild Wall celebrating theWhitney’s future home in the Meatpacking District. Artist Kenny Scharf will provide some helpful hints and facilitate this interactive, hands-on project along the way. This opportunity is free, and there is no registration necessary which means SHOW UP EARLY!
First came the graffiti, then came the Art in the Streets show, and now follows a whole lot more graffiti all over the streets of Los Angeles. But these are not your standard throw ups, or tags; instead the West Hollywood Library is currently undergoing a deluxe facelift thanks to the work of three supremely talented street artists curated by MOCA: Kenny Scharf, Shepard Fairey and RETNA.
RETNA
RETNA
RETNA
Kenny Scharf
Kenny Scharf
Kenny Scharf
Shepard Fairey
Shepard Fairey
Shepard Fairey
If you are in L.A. drive by and check it out, Shepard Fairey is still out there working on his piece. Pretty rad!
As street art has taught us all, one man’s gate is another man’s canvas. This is just the case with Kenny Scharf’s most recent endeavor – to canvas more than a hundred roll-down security gates throughout the Lower East Side. It’s fittingly called the Gates Project, and the graffiti is being painted in conjunction with Anonymous Gallery.
Pretty rad. So far Scharf has hit 2 Delancey and 132 Orchard Street, have you seen any others?!
