Walk the Walk
May 28th, 2010
Nancy Sinatra convinced us that boots were made for walkin’, but French bootmaker Palladium takes things to a whole new level with their innovative video walking tours.
Full of Wonder
May 25th, 2010
Wonderwood by Comme Des Garcons
Directed by the Brothers Quay
This enchanting film for Comme des Garcons’ newest scent, Wonderwood, comes to us courtesy of legendary stop-motion animators the Brothers Quay.
Hanging With the Wild Bunch
May 21st, 2010
Buffalo Stance by Buraka Som Sistema
Directed by Anthony Burrill
In Issue 21 of The Block, we told you all about how as part of Dr. Martens’ 50-year anniversary celebrations, the footwear brand commissioned a bevy of musicians to produce videos of classic tracks. Here’s one of those vids: Buraka Som Sistema’s cover of Neneh Cherry’s “Buffalo Stance,” directed by Anthony Burrill. We think it’s smokin’ (not cokin’).
Interview: Serena Cole
May 19th, 2010
Fashion loves art, no question. But the functional canvases of YSL, Marc Jacobs, or Alexander McQueen aren’t frequently seen as a painter’s muse. However, we like to think the line between art and fashion is a little blurry, so discovering California artist Serena Cole’s fashion-fantasy paintings was a bit of a revelation. A life-long worshipper of fashion, Cole questions our veneration of pop culture by melding images from fashion ads with traditionally saintly symbols (think halos and haunted eyes). Her goal is to create iconic faces that explore “the strange double-edged sword of being wanted.”
Knit to Thrill
May 14th, 2010
With a collection self-described as “dark urban hippie,” Lars Andersson hasn’t completely forgotten his Swedish roots: “It’s a minimal environment, really old, dark and mysterious,” says Andersson. “It’s raw and unfinished, but still beautiful.” And we can’t help but be mesmerized by Evaan Kheraj’s film of Andersson’s F/W 2010 collection. Inspired by Norwegian figurative painter Odd Nerdrum, there’s a sense of ethereal romance evoked throughout the knitwear collection. If only fall came sooner.
Art Book Extravaganza
May 12th, 2010
Just as there’s a flurry of emerging artists out there producing amazing works in basements and tiny loft studios, there’s a clutch of small publishers rushing to capture their pieces in limited-run art books, chapbooks, and magazines.
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In The Area
May 10th, 2010
Cubebot by David Weeks
Our apartments would be a total yawnfest if it wasn’t for New York-based design shop Areaware, and we’re pretty excited that our favourite source of objets d’art is celebrating its five-year birthday during the celebrations for New York Design Week.
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Tanlines
April 29th, 2010
In the traditional sense of the word, Tanlines – the musical duo that is Jesse Cohen and Eric Emm – is not exactly a band. They certainly do make music: Emm is a veteran guitarist, formerly for the bands Storm & Stress and Don Caballero; Cohen was raised on the drums and keyboard (most recently playing for the band Professor Murder); and Tanlines’ debut EP, Settings (True Panther), thumps with electrifyingly diverse instrumentation – bongos and steel drums convene with airy guitars, hooky synth riffs, and thumping bass lines to create a sort of tropical disco dance party. But Cohen and Emm barely play any actual instruments on the album. Like a growing number of young experimental DIY pop musicians, they translate their musical ideas from their brains straight to their super high-tech computers. “For us, the writing and the recording process are the same,” says Emm. “I think the evolution of our band is kind of the opposite of the historical evolution of a band. With a band, you start out writing music in a practice space and then go to a studio. We go to the studio first.
High on Halston
April 27th, 2010
Hot on the heels of successful high-fashion docs like Valentino: The Last Emperor and Lagerfeld Confidential, director Whitney Sudler-Smith debuts his disco decade homage to famed designer Halston at this Friday’s Tribeca Film Festival. Ultrasuede: In Search of Halston shows how Roy Halston Frowick, known simply as Halston, owned the 70s fashion scene.
Interview: Will Broome
April 22nd, 2010
What do pandas, superheroes, and The Smurfs have in common? Not much, except a little attention from artist Will Broome. Eyeless cartoon pandas and Speedo-clad superheroes are just some of the illustrations you’ll find in the Londoner’s portfolio. Notably, Broome is most recognized for creating Miss Marc, the playful and hip little girl plastered across the Miss Marc by Marc Jacobs collection. And The Block was fortunate enough to catch up with the busy illustrator and talk about his love for 80s cartoons, days at St. Martins, current and past projects, and an encounter with Naomi Campbell.
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THE BLOCK MIXTAPE
by Canyons
Canyons Mixtape
Our summer mix tape is from Canyons, whose LP of synth-happy dance music will be released by Modular early next year.
www.myspace.com/thecanyonsinfo
01. Dorothy Ashby - For Some We Loved
02. D.R. Hooker - Forge Your Own Chains
03. Nevidljive Terazije - Smak
04. Ofege - Nobody Fails
05. Urban Jazz Ritual - Car Crazy
06. Peter Gordon and Love of Life Orchestra - Another Heartache/Don't Don't Redux
07. Jared Wilson - This Love
08. MARRS – Anitina
09. Bill Wyman - Peanut Butter Time
(Severed Heads Interlude)
10. POND - Cloud City
Download