Inspirational Imagery

Hans Belmer

2015-05-08T09:07:00.000-04:00

Hans Bellmer (1902-1975) was a surrealist sculptor/photographer. He's known for his dolls, which he started constructing in 1932.

I think we can all tell who was seriously inspired by Hans Belmer – Devo!!

The Clash at Bond's, 1981

2015-05-07T13:09:00.001-04:00

This poster is for when the Clash did a residency at Bond's International Casino (now Bond 45, a restaurant) in Times Square in 1981. They played 17 shows in three weeks to support "Sandinista", which, by the way, is one of my favorite albums of all eternity; so as you can guess, I would just about die to be around at that time!!!! And to top it off, the opening bands included the Fall, the Slits, the Dead Kennedys, Bad Brains, and Bush Tetras – all the goods.

It's worth mentioning that all the shows were sold out and they caused fire hazards, riots, police intervention, etc.

For VERY extensive details about the residency, check out this site. It has scans of all associated news articles, set lists, photos, and a timeline of events.

Steven Miesel, "Red Alert", Italian Vogue 2004

2014-07-08T10:59:00.000-04:00

With models Missy Rayder, Jessica Stam, Karen Elson, and Elise Combez

Franco Matticchio

2014-07-07T15:27:00.000-04:00

Franco Matticchio is an Italian illustrator and painter. His works are so funny and strange, and they make me giggle a bit when I see them.

David Armstrong

2014-07-04T15:10:00.000-04:00

David Armstrong is a New York-based photographer. The images below are from his late 70's-early 80's color series (with a book of the same name) called Night & Day.

In addition to his fine art photography, he has shot commercial photography for Zegna, Rene Lezard, Kenneth Cole, Burburry, Puma, and Barbara Bui.

Claudia on Bench at Dusk, Asbury Park, Fall 1979

(title missing)

Danny Rosen, Mudd Club, 1979

French Chris and Bruce, Truro, 1979

Patti Astor (title missing)

Luc and Lisa, New Years Eve, 1979

George Sowden

2014-07-02T03:00:00.000-04:00

George J. Sowden is an English designer who was a participant (with Ettore Sottsass and others) in the 1980's Memphis art and design movement. In 1981 he started Sowden Design, through which he has collaborated with Alessi, Bodum, Steelcase, Swatch, et al.

I like his drawings/plans; the cities are especially of interest to me because they remind me of some of the drawings I would make as a child. I guess it's kind of funny, but I liked to draw a series of pastel post-modern Memphis-style strip malls. Of course I knew nothing of the academic aspect of Memphis style (or even what it was called) but I was certainly able to recognize it, and I was enamored even then.

The Coolest Girls

2014-06-30T02:00:00.000-04:00

WOWZ!!

Clockwise from left: Chrissy Hynde, Debbie Harry, Viv Albertine, Siouxsie Sioux, Pauline Black, Poly Styrene.

Shot by Michael Putland in August 1980 for New Musical News (or probably NME)

Fendi Heels, Spring 2014

2014-06-27T05:00:00.000-04:00

I have been holding on to these shots for a while, not realizing that I haven't posted them yet! I'm not sure if they're still in stores or not, but if they are, I'm sure it's getting pretty close to clearance time.

Anyway, I definitely got really excited when I saw them, because I am always overwhelmingly attracted to materials like lucite, rubber, plastic, PVC, and lacquer in fluorescent/transparent colors. I also love the architecture of the heels and of course the double straps. I just know that when Fendi sent these out, they were seeking out and expecting my approval. I just know it.

See them without feet after the jump

The lone pair of flats. Still cool!

Miscellaneous Babes

2014-06-26T11:44:00.000-04:00

Beverly Johnson

Naomi Campbell as featured on the cover of Time in the "Totem Pole" Dress from Isaac Mizrahi's Fall 1991 collection.

Lara Stone by Peter Lindbergh, Vogue China, January 2012

Chris Roer by Albert Elgort, US Vogue, August 1975

Gisele Zelauy for Moschino, est. late 80's

Nedege du Bospertus in Valention, est. early 90's

Anjelica Huston for Dior Cosmetics, 1973. Shot by Sarah Moon

Psychedelic Furs

2014-05-06T09:17:00.000-04:00

Man, the Psych Furs have had some really hot covers over the years. I'm sure that it's because their early releases were designed by my all-time fave graphic designer, Barney Bubbles. There are many more covers to be seen, so feel free to take a look around Discogs.

The Psychedelic Furs (pink cover), CBS Records UK, LP, 1980

This sleeve was also released in green and orange

Sister Europe, CBS Records UK 7", 1980
Front above and back below.

Talk Talk Talk, CBS Records UK LP, 1981
Front above and back below.

Forever Now, CBS Records UK LP, 1982

Forever Now, Columbia Records US LP, 1982

This is the US release, which didn't use Barney Bubbles' original design. I still like it though.

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YouTube

Prabal Gurung, Spring 2012

2014-05-01T13:19:00.001-04:00

I suppose I must be in a sparkly purple mood lately...

Gimme those pants! I need them right away!

The shoes from this collection (by Nicholas Kirkwood) are hot stuff.
I will need them right away as well, please.

Gucci, Spring 2014

2014-04-28T10:24:00.000-04:00

I would like to wear 95% of the Gucci collection for Spring 2014 (the fringy bags account for the extra 5%.) They've done all the things I like: good colors, sparkly stuff, bold patterns, mesh, strappy shoes, and visible triangle bras. Every day, I pass by the store windows and I make a mental note of how much I like what's going on in there.

I've been into the look of visible triangle bras since I was old enough to wear that sort of thing.

I love this fabric. The color combo is so cool.

David Bowie, Be My Wife / Life on Mars?

2014-04-23T02:00:00.000-04:00

David Bowie, "Be My Wife"; from Low, RCA Victor Records, 1977

This video kind of reminds me of the "Casual Friday" version of Life on Mars.

David Bowie, "Life On Mars?"; from Hunky Dory, RCA Victor Records, 1971

Philippe Morillon Wallpaper

2014-04-15T13:21:00.000-04:00

Philippe Morillon is a French painter, photographer, and art director who has created some fantastic wallpapers illustrating his favorite art-world buddies. I am 100% in love with them; they're so funny and weird and pretty and perfect.

In the 70's, he created super-glamorous depictions of the Paris party scene (featured earlier on this blog), featuring socialites and celebrities that were part of his crew. Andy Warhol wrote the forward for his 1982 book of art, Ultra Lux.

Loulou & Pierre (Loulou de la Falaise and Pierre Bergé)

Wallpaper Diane de B. (Diane de Beauvau-Craon)

Fred & Co. (Fred Hughes)

Andy's Twist (Andy Warhol)

Wallpaper Inès de la Fressange

Wallpaper, 2013

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Philippe Morillon's wallpapers are being shown May 14 through June 07, 2014 at Galerie du Passage, 20/26, galerie Véro-Dodat 75001, Paris

Around Town: Imprisoned Parrot Statuettes

2014-04-10T16:35:00.002-04:00

Imprisoned Parrot Statuettes, Brooklyn, NY, April 2014

In the first-floor window of a private house in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Jessica Harrison

2014-04-09T12:19:00.000-04:00

These charming porcelain figurines are by British artist Jessica Harrison. On first glance they seem perfectly nice, but a closer look makes me laugh.

Grace, 2010. Detail below

Karen, 2010. Detail below.

Marilyn, 2010. Detail

Mid-Century Swedish Banknotes

2014-04-08T15:43:00.000-04:00

10 Kronor, 1963-1990 (rear side)

5 Kronor, 1965-1981 (rear side)

PIL, Live in Tokyo

2014-04-01T14:05:00.000-04:00

Public Image Ltd., Live in Tokyo, Virgin UK double LP, 1983

Robert Heinecken: Recto/Verso

2014-03-17T09:35:00.000-04:00

Below are a few selections of a late-80's portfolio of work called Recto/Verso by Robert Heinecken, which explores themes of female sexuality and media messages.

Heinecken (1931-2006) was a multi-media artist best known for his assemblage of found imagery.
Though his work appears to be done with film, he's not exactly a photo-collage artist; he used techniques that were quite a bit more analog (though I suppose film could be considered pretty analog these days!)

A note from the publisher of the collection about Heinecken's method: "The Recto/Verso photograms were made without the use of camera or film. A single page from a mass-circulation magazine was placed in direct contact with color photographic paper and exposed to light. The resulting image superimposes the visual and verbal information from the front and back of the magazine page. No collage, manipulation, or other handwork was employed."

The Recto/Verso portfolio is available through Vincent Borrelli, in case you happen to see it on my Christmas wish list.

I've been a fan of double-negative imagery ever since I had a faulty camera as a child. I received a pleasant surprise when my shots came back from the developer looking totally psychedelic.

(This post was originally posted on 04-20-11. I republished it because the MoMA is presenting a Heinecken exhibition right now, through September 07, 2014, titled Object Matter)

See Eyewear

2014-03-05T11:04:00.002-05:00

I had wanted to get a pair of mirrored sunglasses for the longest time, but I wasn't having an easy time finding any that thrilled me. I'm not sure why it hadn't occurred to me earlier that I could get regular frames made with mirrored lenses at the optometrist, but I'm glad it eventually did.

I recently had these guys custom made at See Eyewear. They have so many unusual frames to choose from (in EVERY color), so deciding which pair to insert shiny mirrored lenses into took me forever! I was there for at least a couple hours.

Multi-Generational Synth Rarities (?)

2014-02-25T12:04:00.001-05:00

Having to define musical genres can be so annoying!
Is it post-punk? Cold-Wave? Proto-Industrial? Electro? New Wave? Who knows, who cares?

Guerre Froide, "Ersatz", from Untitled, Stechak Records 12", France 1981

Wikipedia / Official Website / Discogs

Tokow Boys, "Swinging Pool", from Petite Rockette, Virgin France S.A. 12" Maxi, France 1980

Discogs

Police des Moeurs, "La Politique de la Division"

This Montreal, Canada band formed in 2010.

Bandcamp / Discogs / Soundcloud

Circa Tapes, "Adam and Eve", from Adam and Eve, Romance Moderne digital EP, US 2013

Chicago musician Adam Killing (a.k.a. Adam Sieczka, also from Kill Memory Crash) records under the name Circa Tapes, whose EP was released in 2013.

Soundcloud / Bandcamp / Discogs

Modèle Mécanique, "Dark of the Moon" ca. 2010

Soundcloud / Facebook

Oppenheimer Analysis, "The Devil's Dancers", from Oppenheimer Analysis, Minimal Wave Records 12" remastered EP, US 2005. (Originally released on a 1982 cassette (ed. of 200) entitled New Mexico)

Official Website / Discogs

Around Town: Libertine at Bergdorf Goodman

2014-02-10T11:40:00.000-05:00

Libertine at Bergdorf Goodman, NYC, February 04, 2014

Check out this smashing jacket on the runway, after the jump.

Cynthia Rowley - Spring 2014

2014-02-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

I'm a big fan of Cynthia Rowley. Her clothes are super cute and always a little funky.

When I was a child, I somehow happened to visit some surf stores in my town...not that my family (or town, for that matter) had anything to do with surfing. The wetsuits that they sold were a HUGE inspiration in my life - the colors, the techy modern materials, skin-tight silhouette. So, I am completely in love with her bonded neoprene clothes and swimwear. The pants are my jam (especially in the Polar Vortex!)

Rowley's seasonal presentations are equally cool. Spring 2014 looks like the conclusion of an adult prom. So fun!

Kitchen & the Plastic Spoons - Ice Cream to God

2014-02-04T09:41:00.000-05:00

Kitchen & The Plastic Spoons, Ice Cream to God; Castor Records, Sweden, Flexi 7", 1981; edition of 1000

Front

Rear

Details of this release on Discogs

Daniel Horowitz

2014-02-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

Daniel Horowitz is an mixed media artist whose surrealist illustrations are used in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, GQ, as well as texts published by Random House and Knopf. He also illustrates the covers for The American Reader.

All "Drawing of the Day" illustrations below come from Horowitz's book 365 Drawing, which chronicles the year with one drawing per day, and printed in an edition of 365.

Drawing of the Day 282

Drawing of the Day 361

Drawing of the Day 152

Drawing of the Day 158

Drawing of the Day 275

Umbrella

Drawing of the Day 310