Art + Architecture + Design
Archive for February, 2007
New Condos on the Coasts; NYC, Seattle
Feb 26th
Two new project in the works at the same time, 3000 miles apart.
First, in Seattle, the P-I is reporting that the new owners of the Smith Tower have filed papers to convert the landmark building into condos:
"Ninety-three years after Pioneer Square’s Smith Tower was built as an elegant business address, its new owner hopes to turn the 38-story landmark into residential condominiums.
Chicago-based Walton Street Capital filed papers with the city Wednesday to begin what could be a months-long process of getting approval to redo the tower as housing."
We think this is a fantastic idea, and echo urbnlivn’s sentiment that the move could add some despereately needed vitality to the Pioneer Square district.
Second, in Brooklyn, The Center for Architecture is reporting that a new 30-story condo building is slated for construction in the new BAM district:
"Forté, a 30-story residential condo designed by FXFOWLE Architects, will be constructed in the new BAM Cultural District. Containing 108 residences, from studios to three-bedroom apartments, the streamlined glass ribbon façade will house four homes per floor and include gourmet kitchens and luxury amenities."
Two more examples of the rebirth of urban living. Invest now you Capinalist Pigs!
Seattle Viaduct Propoganda
Feb 26th
Viaduct propoganda is everywhere in Seattle these days, so we thought we’d join the fray…
Item #1: We found this on SLOG and thought that if this picture was posted EVERYWHERE, a viaduct rebuild would never have a chance:
Item #2: Also from the boys and girls of SLOG a preview of a new commercial that is to begin airing in Seattle this week from noviaduct.com:
Here is the video…
Feral Dogs Sniff out Pollution; Robots Rule!
Feb 26th
Now this is the kind of school project that would have held my interest back in school. Did YOU ever get to do something like this?
From Inhabitat:
"Remember those trendy robotic dog toys from a couple years back? Aibo and Poo-chi and the like? Well, sadly, after 6-year-olds tire of the novelty of electronic pets who can fetch balls, bark the national anthem and do silly little dances, there is not much left in the life of a toy robotic dog. Thats why we love Natalie Jeremijenko’s awesome eco / educational / engineering / art project which teaches students how to refurbish old toy robotic dogs and give them new life – turning them into lean green pollution-sniffing machines. For the Feral Dogs project Jeremijenko has worked with numerous student groups to create packs of roving robo-dogs, which are “released” en masse into a community space to sniff out harmful VOCs, ozone, and other environmental toxins. The ‘packs’ of feral robotic dogs are designed to “patrol” sites of public interest like schools, parks, and industrial sites, in order to generate community and media attention on the issue on contaminants in the environment. Clever, cute, and fun – is this the coolest project ever or what?"
more at Inhabitiat
Matt Stiger’s Tesla Coil: Off The Hook!
Feb 23rd
Here is a 4 minute video of my friend, artist Matt Stiger’s 24 inch Tesla Coil. This dude knows his stuff! 28800 volts at aprox 25 kva…Crazy…
Oh, and check out his site HERE
Yoshihiko Satoh and the Uncanny
Feb 23rd
Check out this fantastic sculptural work by Yoshihiko Satoh. Reminds me of one of my favorite quotes recently:
"Today, there is an almost uncanny resemblance between the discourses around the status of contemporary painting and rock music. The techno-factions in both art and music have repeatedly buried the canvas and the guitar for good, and time and again both have risen from the grave, claiming that their time had not yet come, that there was still something substantial to say with and about them." –Jorg Heiser in “The Odd Couple”
Yoshihiko Satoh artworks – [via] Link.
thanks MAKE Magazine
Cartographic ephemera @ Strange Maps
Feb 23rd
Cartographic ephemera and more at Strange Maps. I’ve just spent the last hour poking around and discovered that there is a little-known East German (yes, East) island off the coast of Cuba. Fantastic!
Pic to the left is of Sannikov Land, an Arctic Phantom Island. From Strange Maps:
"In 1811, the Russian merchant and explorer Yakov Sannikov reported seeing a ‘bluish fog’ to the northeast of the New Siberian Islands. In 1886 and 1893, fellow Russian explorer Eduard Toll also sighted what many by then presumed to be an as yet undiscovered island, provisionally named ‘Sannikov Land’. Intensive searches couldn’t locate it, but Sannikov Land appeared on maps well into the first half of the 20th century."
Read about this and more, here.
Thanks to Your Daily Awesome for pointing this out.
Nietzsche on Laughter
Feb 23rd
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– Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche [photo: zachris_decolte ] |
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Roger Dickies [aka Heavyhandz] @ The Vanguard, Hollywood. 2/28/07
Feb 23rd
For all the information about the event, visit Headinghome Recordings:
Goes from 9.30pm – 2.30am The Vanguard – 6021 Hollywood Bl., Hollywood RSVP to a $5.00 list to this address headinghomersvp@yahoo.com The $5.00 list closes at 11pm, so get there early!
One of our favorite LA artists, director of the GCC Art Gallery, and kick-ass DJ, Roger Dickies–aka Heavyhandz–is throwing a bash to celebrate the release of his new 12" vinyl EP "Classique Roq Returns" Get samples here.
The Melancholy Fit Shall Fall
Feb 23rd
I’ve been in a cello mood lately. Perhaps it’s the weather forcast. Perhaps the cold that’s going around. Or maybe the fact that I’ve come to terms with not going to NYC for the Armory party [sorry Stac]. Poor me…
"“But when the melancholy fit shall fall / Sudden from heaven like a weeping cloud, / That fosters the droop-headed flowers all, / And hides the green hill in an April shroud; / Then glut thy sorrow on a morning rose." — John Keats
Regardless, here is the lovely and talented Jacqueline Du Pré performing the 1st movement of the Elgar Cello Concerto. Enjoy…
Lita Albuquerque and Andy Moses @ Peter Blake
Feb 22nd
(Left) Andy Moses, “Siren Song” (detail), 2005, Acrylic on Concave Canvas, 45 x 92 x 4.75 inches.
(Right) Lita Albuquerque, “Auric Field Gold with Blue,” 2006, Pigment and Gold Leaf, 18 x 18 inches.
The fabulous Lita Albuquerque is showing next month at Peter Blake Gallery along with artist Andy Moses. Albuquerque’s new show comes on the heels of the group show she participated in, "Grey Matter", also at Peter Blake, which included favs like Daniel Mendel-Black and James Hayward. If you find yourself in LA next month, don’t miss it!
From the press release:
LITA ALBUQUERQUE AND ANDY MOSES
March 1 – 29, 2007
Opening Reception: Sunday, March 4, 4 – 7pm, Lecture by Lita Albuquerque at 4pm
Peter Blake Gallery
326 North Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Contact: Peter Blake
(949) 376-9994, fax (949) 376-3471
Email: peterblakegallery@mac.com
Website: http://www.peterblakegallery.com
Hours: Sunday – Wednesday, 11am – 4pm; Thursday – Saturday, 11am – 7pm
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