Art & Design
The essence and aesthetics of visual expression from museum walls to bathroom walls.
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The Lunar Codex, Or…
Lunacy Codified as a Dick Pic? Like any artist, notions of posterity occasionally creep into my consciousness: Will my work outlive me, or will I outlive my work? Right now, me and my work are neck and neck, though I sometimes suspect my work is killing me (though the result, I suppose, would be a…
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The Expatriate Rabbit Hole
Featuring Hemingway, Banana Republic, The Moderns and Related Mischief Come with me, Dear Reader, into this warren of personal rabbit holes whose “ambient influence” has shaped some of my development as an artist. It starts here: The Banana Republic Catalog No. 32, Summer 1987 — themed on “Expatriates.” This arrived at my parent’s home on Hill Drive…
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Vexillological Survey Says this City’s Flag Sucks
You’d be forgiven if you thought “vexillological” had anything to do with the vexy-ness of, say, Harley Quinn. As illogical and vexing as the DC comics anti-heroine may be (quite), the term actually refers to the study of flags. Ergo, vexillologists are those who study flags. Bonus round: a vexillonaire is someone who is “a…
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Pan Solo: Life-sized ‘Star Wars’ bread art
Sure, too many baked goods could make you look like Jabba the Hutt, but has it never occurred to you to consider what Jabba the Hutt would make with baked goods? Thanks to French Laundry-trained baker Hanalee Pervan, we have an answer. Meet “Pan Solo”—a life-sized tribute to Han Solo, frozen in carbonite, made entirely…
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Marketing Your Art
Self-help gurus sometimes coach artists to “stay in your own lane,” which is a wonderful affirmation of the infinite, individual pathways to success. Except, of course, it’s difficult to stay in one’s own lane when everyone else’s lanes are going to vastly better places. The “lane” for many artists is a dead end. Or at…
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Ligia Lewis’ ‘Water Will’ Premieres in LA
Critically-lauded choreographer and performer Ligia Lewis completes her trilogy of performances pieces with Water Will (In Melody) at REDCAT, CalArts’ downtown center for contemporary arts from September 12 to 15 this fall. The work is preceded by her other works minor matter (seen at REDCAT in January 2018) and Sorrow Swag for which she was awarded the Prix Jardin d’Europe in…
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Graffiti Artist ‘Scrach’ Makes Mark in Fairfax, CA
The charmingly crunchy Marin County burg of Fairfax, California, might be in the midst of birthing the next Banksy — if local telephone poles are any indication. Various sightings of “Hello My Name Is…” stickers crested with the hand-drawn wordmark “Scrach” have been spotted throughout the town. Some local art speculators are beginning to conjecture that…
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Volkswagen Unveils Revamped Logo, Signals Fresh Start
The iconic logo of one of Europe’s leading auto brands has undergone the design equivalent of cosmetic surgery. Volkswagen officially unveiled its refreshed logo at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany today. Accompanying the automaker’s “New Volkswagen” brand concept, the logo can be seen on the company’s much-anticipated new electric hatchback, the ID.3. Will…
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How the Spiral Jetty Got in the Great Salt Lake
It sounds like a cocktail or a racehorse, or perhaps an ill-fated American remake of Chris Marker’s time-traveling French flick La Jetée, but the Spiral Jetty is one of the first monumental efforts in environmental art. Next April will mark the 50th anniversary of the Spiral Jetty, Robert Smithson’s elegant, enigmatic sculpture jutting like an…