If Cy Twombly or Jackson Pollock grew up brandishing spray paint cans under the cloak of night, their work would probably look a lot like José Parlá’s. Inspired largely by his roots in Miami’s graffiti scene and travels around the world, Parlá’s work is a contemporary take on abstract expressionism. Highly personal, emotive, intricate and labour intensive, his trademark style and subject matter bring out the history and beauty of decaying city walls. We caught up with the Brooklyn-based artist as he was preparing to unveil his latest body of work, titled Walls, Diaries, and Paintings, at Bryce Wolkowitz Gallery in New York City.
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Agyness Deyn and Fiona Byrne of Naag.com
Ask any gatekeeper of cool how they can tell what passes muster and you get the same response: they just know. A boring answer, maybe, but good taste is something we just can’t resist. Few people embody this innate sense of “cool” better than Brit model Agyness Deyn and wordsmith bestie Fiona Byrne. The two collaborate on Naag, an online mag devoted to all their favourite things, from In-N-Out burger to Proenza Schouler and Coco Rocha. The site’s chatty tone and democratic combo of high and low is the secret to its success – you feel like you’re being let in on a gal-pal gab sesh with the creators themselves. Editor-in-Chief Fiona Byrne fills The Block in on being struck by creative lightning, the site’s collage-punk approach to art, and her contagious enthusiasm for Naag’s future projects.
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Thursday, March 3rd, 2011
Ivo Bisignano for Prada S/S 2011
In their S/S 2011 eyewear campaign art-crazy design house Prada shares the spotlight with cartoon birds. From runway to paper, Prada has flipped the creative process on its head, turning to fashion illustrators to translate their signature sunnies into art.
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Tags: Prada
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Sang A Im-Propp
After collaborating with artist Daren Newman for a charity event in February of last year, luxury handbag designer Sang A Im-Propp found an aesthetic connection with the illustrator she needed to pursue. Excited by Newman’s “Hold Me” clutch that resulted from this project, Sang A decided to expand this collaboration into a collection of five unforgettable clutches. Previously named one of Korea’s most promising celebrities, the talented designer now makes a name for herself by infusing daring textures and colors into every collection of handbags. Sang A Im–Propp took the time to talk to the block about her newest line of clutches with Daren Newman that will be launched early this spring. (more…)
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Thursday, February 24th, 2011
Rodarte - photo by Autumn de Wilde
This March, the Museum of Contemporary Art is showcasing the meticulous construction and talented designs of Kate and Laura Mulleavy in an exhibition entitled “Rodarte: States of Matter”. Samples of the Mulleavy sisters’ fall 2008, fall 2010 and spring 2010 collections, as well as the costumes they designed for Black Swan, will be displayed in the museum’s West Hollywood space at the Pacific Design Center. (more…)
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Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011
Fuego Argentino by Greg Swales, 2011
Vancouver ex-pat Greg Swales is making a name for himself with high-style editorial photography, but he’s caught our eye with his wet and wild paintings. His colourful paintings, a marriage of paint, pencil, and collage, are personal and intimate, inspired by those closest to him. Swales chatted with us about his Cuban heritage, his muse, and showing a little skin. (more…)
Tags: Greg Swales
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Friday, February 4th, 2011
The Powder Room, a short film directed by Zoe Cassavetes for Miu Miu. Set in Claridges Hotel and starring Audrey Marnay, the film is part of a series commissioned by the fashion house, all from female directors.
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Monday, January 31st, 2011
You don’t often catch a glimpse of Big Foot at Paris Fashion Week. But thanks to Adam Kimmel’s F/W 2011 menswear collection, the Twin Peaks-inspired trappings of the Pacific Northwest stole the show. Spurred on by a creative communion with “mystical motorcycle punk” (Kimmel’s description) artist Dan Attoe, Kimmel brought to life the final frontier of the American imagination – a highway winding through the deep dark woods.
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Tuesday, January 25th, 2011
Gaspar Noe’s Enter the Void is an intoxicating visual spectacle bound to be the drug-movie of choice for every art school kid this year. But the daring French director’s third film is more than just eye candy.
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Monday, January 24th, 2011
Kate Moss vamps it up as a lady of the night in Jamie Harley’s video for Evan Voytas’ “Tomorrow Night We’ll Go Anywhere,” part of the Editing Kate series shot by Nick Knight for SHOWstudio.
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THE BLOCK MIXTAPE
by Young Empires
Mixtape: Young Empires
Toronto's Young Empires send us straight to the dancefloor with this mixtape for The Block.
www.myspace.com/youngempires
01. Sabali (Vitalic Remix) - Amadou & Miriam
02. Lies (Herve Remix) - Fenech-Soler
03. Hour of the Wolf (Lifelike Remix) - Adam Kesher
04. Dance the Way I Feel (Armand Van Helden Remix) - Ou Est Le Swimming Pool
05. Snake Charmer - Bag Raiders
06. Wait & See - Holy Ghost!
07. All Night (Azari & III Remix) - Voltage
08. You Know I Know It - Tensnake
09. La Mezcla - Michel Cleis
10. Rain of Gold (French Horn Rebellion Remix) - Young Empires
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