My Directorial Debut

At last I have a moment to tell you what I've been working on for the past few months. I'll likely do that over two posts because a few projects have been in development. For this entry I wanna tell you about my directorial debut!

Back in December, the fine folks at Manifesto Community Projects asked Well and Good a grassroots arts organization that I work with, if we wanted to be involved in the city of Toronto's 175th Anniversary celebrations. We submitted a proposal and it was accepted. 

The basis of the proposal was a curated day-long retrospective exhibition of Toronto-based graffiti and street artists who work in a variety of mediums: murals, photography, postering, stickers, wheatpastes, drawings, sculptures etc. Knowing that the art show could only be up for the day March 6, we felt compelled to create something that would have 'legs' and would have more impact over time. So I hatched the idea to create a web specific documentary featuring some of the more prolific artists this city has seen over the past 15 years talking about their work and their individual journey in Toronto. 

With a great deal of work, a super teeny budget, some drama and the trust of each of the artists, it premiered March 6, 2009 in Committee Room 2 at Toronto City Hall. The exhibition and the public dialogue that came with it was incredibly positive. The only complaint seemed to be from one of the staffers at City Hall who lamented "I wish this room would always have this vitality!"

 

Originally we posted the webumentary here. But then, thanks to a 5000% hike in bandwidth over one day (an expensive lesson to learn) we put it here too.

Mad respect to each and every one of the artists involved:

Dethrock

Elicser

Fauxreel

Lease

Mediah

Mine

Skam

Pat Fleisher

UPDATE: Now you can watch the individual chapters on YouTube or Vimeo.

Radar: Super Dope Leather Moleskine® Covers

Been a little time-poor these days with development of a couple great projects (I'll have some goodies to share with y'all shortly) and so I haven't been able to post. As I balance my work flow, aka procrastinate a bit, I felt compelled to share this with you courtesy of 12oz Prophet: The incredible Dan Funderburgh has created these laser etched leather Moleskine® covers for engraveyourbook. $60 US and available by mail order.

Read about why engraveyourbook had to change their manufacturing process from directly onto the PVC Moleskines® themselves.

What Does Your Home or Office Reveal About You?

I just discovered a very neat-o site that feeds my lust for all things anthropological: The Selby. Perfect for voyeurs and curious types alike, the site features delicious photos and videos of fashionably interesting and creative people in their homes and offices-most of which are in New York.

Although unrelated, this site brings to mind a book called  Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You by Sam Gosling, Ph.D.

Rumour: Alexander McQueen Designing For Target?

I know, I know! Its just a crazy rumour at this point but not one but two (!) reputable sources today have said that "whispers" are flying that fashion heavy weight Alexander McQueen is aboard to design a capsule collection for Target under their women's 'Go International' label. Past designers for apparel have included Jovovich Hawk, Rogan, Paul & Joe and coming in October Jonathan Saunders! Subversive did a line of jewelry in the spring and Botkier currently has a line of handbags in the stores.

Radar: Super Fertile

Super Fertile is a stunning line of jewelry by Kali Arulpragasam, M.I.A 's older sister. And its perfect for those of you are politically minded and like your accessories to speak for you. Her summer collection called Tourism (Terrorism affects Tourism) features over size gold and silver plate necklaces (chestplates actually) and earrings that depict imagery of  nine war torn countries: Iraq, Afghanistan, Columbia, Haiti, Lebanon, Central African Republic, Sudan, Sri Lanka and Israel. "I wanted to create a positive tourism poster for the most dangerous countries we cannot visit" explains Arulpragasam. "It was a duty and a mission to design a necklace showing the precious beauty of these nations...a proud identity. These necklaces are to be cherished as are these nations." Each piece is made by hand. Some of the necklaces take three weeks to make and run about $900.

Michelle Williams Is Perfect For Boy

Band of Outsiders is probably one of the best men's clothing line that you have never heard of. Designed by Scott Sternberg, a former CAA agent with no fashion background, the label has a cult-like following particularly in Japan. His aesthetic has been described by Tim Blanks as full of "Nantucket nostalgia" with design details that border on "fetishistic specificity". Think short, slim shirts and jackets, tailored silhouttes and quality construction. Totally something Jason Schwartzman would wear. 

Lucky for us ladies, he has introduced a full collection for A/W 08 of preppy basics called Boy.The designer asked Michelle Williams to star in his look book because "Michelle is beautiful, cool, low maintenance, funny, sweet, talented, smart and curious". Check out the complete collection here. Oh and the shoes featured in the picture above? A collaboration between the designer and Manolo Blahnik.

Cancer Is A Fungus

I haven't made it a habit to post things like this here before, but this is a subject that is close to my heart and I think, is worth your time to watch. In this clip via Know The Cause, Italian oncologist Tullio Simoncini, M.D. talks with Doug Kaufman about the results of his research into the causes of cancer and successful treatments using only sodium bicarbonate.

Radar: Nat-2 Shoes-Two Pairs In One!

Reminiscent of the soles on Chuck Taylors, these patented 2-in-1 kicks from Nat-2 of Munich are a travelers best friend. After four years in development and with the flick of a zip, the upper of the shoes are easily removed revealing a pair of sandals beneath. The uppers can be stowed in your purse or pocket. Available in a variety of styles (there's even a deck shoe) and fabrications (vinyl, cotton, leather) Nat-2 will be at Pool trade show in Las Vegas later this month, so expect to see them in a store near you soon. In the meantime you can get them  here with international shipping!

UPDATE: These innovative shoes have 'inspired' legions of fans like Raf Simons who released a shoe suspiciously similar for A/W 08 the blog Shoetonguez reports. 

'Light Footprint' Shoe Manufacturer & Award Winning Architect Collab

Architect Zaha Hadid is trying her hand at shoes with Brazilian manufacturer Melissa. Today's British Vogue and New York Magazine Blog The Cut reports that these sculptural plastic shoes will come in eight colours and be available come September exclusively at Dover Street Market in London. Hadid will join the likes of former collaborators Judy Blame, Vivienne Westwood and Alexandre Herchcovitch. Check out the S/S and F/W 2008 collections.

Radar: Curated by Arkitip Series Launches

And we're back! Check this gorgeousity out: Incase the California based outfit that makes protective sleeves, cases and folios for iPod, iPhone and MacBooks in conjunction with L.A based magazine Arkitip and Krink a.k.a drip styles graf artist KR a.k.a Craig Costello have just released a first ever limited edition protective sleeve for the MacBook. Get your 13" or 15" Krink sleeve online for $79.95. Check out the genesis of the project here.

Radar: Nagi Noda

I have been known to come late to the party once or twice and this may be the case with the discovery of the beautiful Nagi Noda (thank you Yankodesign.com). Director, multi disciplinary designer and artist, the Tokyo born Nagi came to much of the world's attention with her video called "Ex Fat Girl"-which if you haven't seen yet you really owe it to yourself, especially if you like big poodles. What I wanted to tell you about though is her Hair Hats: small animals sculpted out of hair. They are very well crafted and although the website doesn't give any specific details about them, the photo featured on her website is dated 2005-which means that I am not the only one arriving late...

Radar: Huile Prodigieuse

I wasn't really sure, when the big beauty makeover happened over at Shopper's Drug Mart a few years ago, that I would actually shop there by choice. I mean, I've never had a knowledgeable customer service experience there except when I was buying insulin needles for my cat. Plus its expensive. If I had the money and needed beauty products, I'd rather go to Sephora because their product line is more sophisticated and their staff are trained. But now I am not so sure. 

Because it was at Shopper's that I discovered Huile Prodigieuse by Nuxe. Huile Prodigieuse is billed as a multi usage dry oil for face, body and hair. I am not even joking when I say that this product lives up to its billing. And at $25 for 50ml, its a great little hard working product. Use it on your face, hair, dry cuticles, chapped skin, after sun exposure and as a bath oil. I haven't tried it yet, but they even have a shimmery version of the oil with soft golden particles: perfect for summer! 

So props to you SDM. Its taken me a while to consider your store as a beauty destination and it took a while for you to bring in the right product lines at the right stores, but you did it.

Radar: Tina Tsang

Former Central Saint Martin's student Tina Tsang is very talented. Her website undergrowthdesign.com is an amalgamate of cool goodies like this sexy Blaue Blume Tea set. Also available on the site delicately racy Nymphette Lingerie and  Art Deco meets Peter Max lust-worthy handbags. Go London!

Eye Candy

Have you seen the new Spectra Visual Newsreader from MSNBC? Wow...

How to Travel Lightly

Whether you are travelling around the world or just to the cottage, it really is possible to put everything you need in just one bag... or so says Doug Dyment whose website onebag.com is dedicated to the art of travelling light. Dyment has two big tricks for packing a bag correctly: don't let any space go unused and wrap your clothes in bundles. To learn more read the article "How to Pack Everything" and listen to an excerpt of the NPR show "All Things Considered". Get a packing list to get you started here.

Radar: JPG Magazine

I just discovered JPG Magazine. The tagline is "Your World In Pictures" and its a photography mag unlike any other. Its collaborative and community oriented. The content-photographs and the stories behind them-are submitted by readers and then voted on by other members for inclusion in each issue. You can find photo essays like "Storm Chaser" by Ryan McGinnis or this one by Eamonn Aiken which is a poignant commentary on the footprint of industry past and present called "Brooklyn Nights". There's plenty of fun stuff like the picture above by Simon Christen too.

Radar: Freedomwig 2

Martha Rich is brave and silly. And awesome. Last year she did a painting a day called Freedomwig. This year she decided to re-visit the concept but do a painting a week. Its called Freedomwig 2 and you must check it out.

Radar: Clare Tough

From The New York Times Style Magazine Women's Fashion Spring 2008

Go here to see the online version of this article.