ABC Twins

What We Wear 4

2013-07-05T10:00:00.003-04:00

Grey Vermont

Becky/Alex

Becky:

Clogs - Sven

Alex:

Shirt - Grey Ant

Movie Still Series: collaborative paintings

2012-11-28T22:00:00.000-05:00

A collaborative series that we have been working on since August 2011.

Watercolor and collage.

(click on image for larger view)

Food Series: collaborative paintings

2012-11-28T01:48:00.000-05:00

Our collaborative work from 2011.

Selected works from the Food Series, watercolor and collage.

What We Wear 3

2012-08-21T12:45:00.000-04:00

These are a few photos we took before we left for Vermont (where we have been for the last ten days). The day was cloudy but still bright - perfect for a bit of picture taking. We dressed up to go to a local Korean bakery just a few blocks away.

Alex:

Becky:

Alex:

H&M tee worn backwards

Thrifted pencil skirt

Fogal schmatta (shmatta: a yiddish word for rag. we use it in reference to an article of clothing that is useless i.e. it does not have any other purpose than to decorate an outfit)

Thrifted Valentino shoes worn with socks

Becky:

Black slip worn as a skirt

Thrifted shirt

Black headband

Urban Outfitters clog-sandal-platforms

Signing off.

What We Wear 2

2012-08-08T01:26:00.000-04:00

Below are what Becky and I refer to as the "Woody Allen Outfits". Let me explain. A few weeks ago we went to see To Rome With Love directed by Woody Allen. Well, we did go to see it, but we didn't actually get to the theatre that day. Instead, we saw Mr.Allen in the flesh! It was one of those days which you plan to do something, and never really get to it. Imagine if we had actually gone to see the movie that day - we wouldn't have spotted The Woody outside of the very cafe in which we were having tea (for, like, the fourth time that day. and yes, we do drink tea in the summer time. hot tea. if you don't believe us see this post). Anyway, being the shy people we are, we never asked for his autograph. But being the creepy people we are, we sat and spied on him eating dinner at the restaurant across the street for...um...~~three~~ hours. So there. That's why these outfits are dubbed the "Woody Allen Outfits".

Alex:

The "is that you, Woody?" pose.

Becky:

The "I'm drowning" pose. very popular.

I think we gave Soon Yi a run for her money, eh?

Alex:
Muji scarf/cardigan/shirt
Patafisic skirt
Second hand Campbell shoes
Antique pin

Becky:
Joe Fresh shirt
Benetton skirt
Trash and Vaudeville sale Campbell shoes

Signing off.

Twice Cookedies: Biscotti

2012-08-05T13:27:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago we made these chocolate biscotti. We used a recipe from David Lebovitz's blog. The recipe can be found here. These brought us right back to Florence. We slightly under cooked them to leave them the tiniest bit soft (like real Italian biscotti). I don't know why in America biscotti have to be as hard as little rocks. They are really rich and chocolaty, but not too sweet. These are great with a glass of milk - although this confirms the stereotype of the wholesome milk-drinking morning-jogging american.

We warn you: once you add the dry ingredients to the wet, the mixture is a little hard to mix. But there is no reason to worry about over mixing - so kneed away!

A tip: the recipe says to let the once - cooked log cool for 15 minutes. But this made it hard to cut, as the chocolate chips were still a little melty and therefore stuck to the knife. The batter was also a little too warm and soft and therefore the crispy outside cracked and made the biscotti slightly misshapen. We made these again a week later. This time we let the log cool for 15 or 20 minutes in the fridge. This tightened up the batter and allowed the biscotti to keep its shape. the slices were a lot more sharp and elegant looking as well.

All lined up like little soldiers. The smell of these cookies filled the apartment. Our parents were walking back and forth making yummy noises. They even tried to eat the 'cotti before the bis' was added!

Remember, you have to eat these in a white night gown while watching Star Trek (the classic 1960s series to go with classic biscotti). They can be enjoyed no other way.

Signing off.

What We Wear 1

2012-07-16T14:36:00.001-04:00

We're bringing our fashion posts back! It took a lot to convince ourselves to step up (onto a tiny stool) and pose in front of a camera. Each week we'll try to post a few "What We Wear" pictures.
Today we both happened to go for monochromatic minimalist looks.

Alex (left):
white tee
thrifted skirt
thrifted shoes (versace)

Becky (r):
black tee
benetton skirt
thrifted boots (bcbg)

Solaris

2012-07-14T16:21:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago we made some more resin sculptures. For these pieces we used the resin as both a glaze and a cast. The pieces are not fully complete, they are really just an exploration in the clear resin material. The process and the resulting sculptures reminded us of imagery from Stanislaw Lem's Solaris. Shown below are the materials we used: a clear casting epoxy and a semi-permanent mold, plastic cups, and a small (adorable) whisk.

Below, Gropius meets Solaris in these pieces made of paper and glazed with resin:

Gropius Structure I, paper and resin, 1" x 1"

Gropius Structure II, paper and resin, 1" x 1"

We made the "doll head" a few years ago. As with all of the heads we make, they never seem to receive a body (maybe we are subconsciously worried about them walking away).

(yes. that is a lid from a take out soy sauce container. looks shnazzy eh?)

As with the lion head, we made a cast of a bear head originally made in polymer clay. In this video Alex removes the cast of the bear head from the mold.

Hand Printed Business Cards

2012-06-29T09:47:00.000-04:00

One side is digitally printed and the other side is a hand printed lino cut.

Artwork (still) in Progress: Rear Window

2012-06-27T13:00:00.000-04:00

Quasi finished:

Artwork in progress: Rear Window

2012-06-19T23:43:00.000-04:00

This is a piece we are working on using a still from Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window, part of our movie stills series. This series looks at color, framing, and fragmentation.

Alex and Becky Chipkin

Watercolor on paper

Clearly Reproduced

2012-06-17T01:08:00.000-04:00

We decided to test out ways to reproduce our small sculptures. We started with this sculpture by Alex, made from polymer clay with wire and foil frame. We used an instant semi-permanent mold and cast it in clear epoxy. This is the result:

Java and Robots

2011-11-20T14:51:00.001-05:00

We recently went to the department store: La Rinascente in Florence. We usually go there when we are desperate for open spaces, flat ground, and little to no mental stimulation - except, of course, for when we find...

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

Alessi espresso maker, well Italians would consider it not an espresso maker but a "Moka" - making - you guessed it - moka!! (espresso would be what comes out of exhibit A: Electrolux)

We bought Mr.medium size for our parental units at home. Don't worry mams and paps - we're such good children that we've already started the "seasoning" process.

And then there are these little fellas. We believe there is no further explanation required.

Outfit o' the Day: In the Local Record Store

2011-10-26T06:14:00.000-04:00

Floating Weightless Calling, Calling Home

2011-10-13T19:22:00.000-04:00

Earth below us drifting, falling

(if you don't get the reference, you are living in oblivion!!)

Click here if you want to get into our heads.

New haircut. Also new lighting. It makes me look like I'm in some 80s music video (which is my dream). It also made the picture blurry, because my camera is crap. Correction. was crap. It has since been replaced.

Also new shoes. yes, they're rubber - because I want to keep dry. Also because they are reminiscent of Vivianne Westwood shoes. And because they are shiny and have no seams! I also quite enjoy the studs in a triangular formation (something that our italian friends do not appreciate as much as they should).

I also fancied my outfit very Yves Saint Laurent (circa 2008). The shiny shoes, straight hair, oversized boxy pants and jacket...you get the gist.

Ok. That's it for me. click....clack...

Green with envy.

You might think that I look like a lampshade in me long dress, well think again...

I'm a table! Ya know - tables have legs....oh never mind.

Does this really need an intro?

New haircuts, Surprising aren't they?

2011-10-08T05:35:00.000-04:00

....just like the day I first set eyes on you

Cascading Curls in a Classic Café

2011-10-02T11:24:00.000-04:00

We were having a lazy Saturday afternoon, and decided to document our travels - as we realized that we have never shown you where we walk around, spend our time, spy on lovers, etc.

So here are a few places we went to do errands/have a lazy day.
First stop La Farmacia:

Alex has chosen a toothbrush that is to her liking.

If you have not already noticed, Alex has stolen some curls from an italian.

And next, COFFEE!!!

Because 1) we are addicted and can't stop thinking about coffee, cafe, cappuccino, macchiato - you name it - even for one minute ...and

2) the window display was so adorable, it seemed as if the coffee bar was just begging for us to climb inside of it and drink the liquid gold from its bountiful bowels.

If you look closely, you will find a man staring at you from inside.

What are you lookin at? Am I stealing the aura of your fruit tarts by taking pictures of them? What?

...or maybe he's just the creepy guy from...Carla Bruni's Quelqu'un m'a dit music video.

We only planned to drink the liquid gold, which happened to manifest itself as cappuccini this time. However, we were equipped with the knowledge that it is grape season - which means that all over Tuscany farmers are harvesting grapes for wine....and making all kinds of delicious thangs like this for example, called Schiacciata Con L'Uva:

(the forks were so tiny!)

They only stayed in this form for about 2 minutes, and then....

Well, let's just say it was love at first bite:

And lookie what we found, if we weren't already under the impression that we were transported to the olden days, we snatched up a couple of these vintage looking candies at the bar before leaving.

Last but not least, we stumbled upon this:

You can buy everything you need including milk, olive oil and cotoncini!

Katharine Hepburn and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Tights

2011-09-25T06:44:00.000-04:00

Hepburn:

Katharine is wearing a vintage button down/tie front blouse, black braided leather belt, H&M jeans re-fashioned as shorts, and classic black polka dot tights, with mens-inspired shoes from Reminiscence.

Elegance.

Pure Elegance.

An in-context photo for a more Sartorialist feel. I like to step off sidewalks. It makes my legs look longer:

Here's me and my boyfriend. Jimmy, oh how I love you.

Technicolor babe:

Dress is from Boboutic.

I like to look down on people - ya know, to see the top of their heads.

What's that you say?

Yes, yes I am wearing a Speedo.

Really I am - and to prove it to you I shall proceed to show you.

...I just wanted to lift up my dress because I'm an exhibitionist.

CHIPKINIZATION: the opening night, and photoshoot by Ale

2011-09-16T15:46:00.000-04:00

Chipkinization: The World According to the Chipkin Twins.
Here they are! All of them! Now you can see what we do when we're not busy taking over the world.

I know what you're thinking, no I don't usually wear blue lipstick...that would be silly.

From left to right: Alex, Andrea, Becky, Alex, Mecky (that is - Becky/Megan), Gian Luca
In the painting above: Andrea and Gian Luca (the very same flanking the two of us) who make up the video art duo ciboideale

Explainig something very important, or very unimportant, but it was probably the former.

Take this time to compare our profiles.

Trying to look casual for the test photo.

Korean beauty shot:

Thai beauty shot:

Mug shot #1 Becky:

Mug shot #2 Alex:

All photographs featured above are courtesy of the aesthetically pleasing and talented Alessandro Schneider.

And whoosh! All the people are gone. Space. Do you hear the silence?

Click on the photos to enlarge. But don't worry. We will be posting high quality images after the exhibit is over.

There's a surprise in the cereal box!!!

We might have been channeling Neo Rauch.
(and yes, we are thinking the same thing - NEO RAUCH = MMMMM)

Which one is which?

Teaser: flashback

2011-09-08T21:12:00.000-04:00

Okay, so we are finally gonna be posting regularly again - as the preparation for our show has come to an end (more about this soon). Anyhoodle-doodle, this is an in-between post...a drop to wet the tongue if you would.
These photos are from our last exhibition (about a year ago), in Stony Brook University entitled Circus of Doubles; Hall of Mirrors:

Await our next post - there will be masks and colorful tights.

Our Exhibit: CHIPKINIZATION

2011-09-02T16:54:00.000-04:00

Come to our exhibit Chipkinization on September 7th!
Ganzo, Via dei Macci 85r Firenze, Italia
Yes, it's in Florence, Italy - so make sure you get your butt over here!!!

When Dresses become Shirts and Shirts become Pants

2011-08-26T16:23:00.000-04:00

Beckleton:

I am wearing a very festive all gray outfit. The shirt-dress is the same one seen in Black and Blue. I flopped the front of the dress over one shoulder to create a drapy shirt look, exposing the button up underneath. The shirt is a hand-me-down from my grandmother, the belt is another hand-me-down, and the shoes are vintage from Reminiscence in New York. The bag is a simple canvas tote that I got for free from my school in Florence. Legs are my own.

The belt is very long and loops around my waist twice, giving the illusion of two belts.

Don't look too closely at my legs - as Oscar Wilde once said: "Me and the mosquitos are fighting a duel to the death, one of us has to go". (fine, that isn't really a picture of Oscar Wilde and the quote isn't too accurate - but you get the gist)

The coat that will soon be mine. Muahahahaha!!!! I'm the wolf in Riding Hood's jacket, if you couldn't tell. (A.N.G.E.L.O.- vintage store in Florence)

The Allerator:

This is not a shirt. (as Magritte pointed out)

"These are pants". I explain to Godzilla

Strange and wonderful things happen when you put your legs where they're not supposed to go. Well that's what I did, one hot Thursday morning. And, well, I think it turned out pretty well!

For a winter look, you can pair these with a plaid shirt and suit jacket. It looks so...so...Scotsman-mixed-with-Dalmatian-chic.

It's just out of this world! I think David Bowie would be proud. Oh dear god(zilla)...I need some ground control.
shirt/pants are Norma Kamali, button-down is boy's Gap, suit jacket is H&M, T-shirt is Patafisic, and shoes are Payless.

Here are just a few pictures of our painting that is in progress (to show you that we're completely normal):

Good day.

25 heart BoNNy

2011-08-24T18:33:00.000-04:00

The Bexter:
Getting ready...

Rolling up the sleeves...

Pulling up the bra (although it will inevitably slip down as there is, never was, and never will be anything to hold up that strip of material)...

Striking the pose (look familiar?)...

And the elegant jump!

Okay, WOW - that did not work as planned - it looks more like I'm orbing myself forward at the camera (wo)man.

Transparent blouse is from H&M, and the bandeau is from American Apparel. The skirt is from a GREAT thrift/costume/gag store - Reminiscence - in New York. My dad used to shop there in the 80's, and now we are following (more or less - well, actually exactly) in his footsteps. Although I don't know if he would have bought himself a too-too-esque tool-skirt.

The Minimalist:

This is a simple long-sleeved H&M men's shirt. Doubtful, aren't you? Cuuuurious (said in a phony British accent while pulling glasses down over the nose), aren't you?

To make this rhomper, I turned the shirt backwards, and pinned the bottom of the shirt together between my legs (that way no one can get in!!!).

I then cut triangles at the shoulders, leaving some excess material so that it creates fun fluttery flaps.

You can also wear this piece in the lovely heat! Just stick your arms through the flashy triangles!

The sleeves hang down like a superhero cape in the back. Slits in the wrist (don't get any ideas) are optional, for an Erte look:

They can also be crossed and tied in the front for a little more shape, as seen below:

Some art we worked on today:

Above by Alex, Below by Becky

Rosie the Riveter and the Blue Collar Worker

2011-08-23T10:08:00.000-04:00

Well, we still have a ton of work to do, but we actually stepped a foot outside yesterday, to do some food shopping. A girl's gotta eat!!! (or two girls for that matter).

Rosie (Alex):

Hand-me-down shirt and goodwill pants.

A perfectly matching ascot from an antique store in the Poconos, PA. It just screams....well it just screams "aaa!"

The Worker (Becky):

Is that yet another knitted collar? Why, yes it is!!! And nothing says "get to work!" like a disco ball dangling in the middle of your chest. (It's actually an earring I found...where did the pair go?)

The subtle socks are from La Rinascente, a department store in Florence.

Look, we're even getting encouragement to work from the food products we purchased!
Okay, off to work again...We Can Do It!!!!!

CABIN FEVER! Too much painting to do.

2011-08-21T12:35:00.000-04:00

We've been inside all day yesterday and today painting for an upcoming exhibition in September.
Here's a small preview of what we've been up to:

Alex's work:

Becky's work:

And something extra - some adorable jewelry Becky has made:

You tell us if this doesn't make you quiver with joy!