This is one of my favorite songs by Girls, an amazing group from San Francisco. The video is just as wonderful. I love the close ups of beautiful people and wide cityscape shots. Perfect.
“Hellhole Ratrace” by Girls
Be sure to check them out on tour!
For more:
GIRLS on MySpace
GIRLS on Matador
I really like Godard’s work. I’m going to be honest with you…Sometimes I literally get lost in his films, and by that, I mean I don’t understand the plot at all. He’s heavy on existentialism, and I’m lucky if I can get through 30 minutes of a philosophy class. Basically, I take pleasure in the pretty faces, unique cinematography and creative typographic sequences. There’s nothing wrong with that, right?
Godard and New Wave Cinema have been great influences on my own work. I’m infatuated with Godard’s style though, and I hope to continue exploring his work.
My own work entitled L’Hommage à Godard (Film Sequence 1). It appears to be a rip-off, but trust me it’s appropriated imagery based on admiration. I like to think of it as a new narrative. My good friend, Kendra, posed for this shoot. In fact, she posed for a lot of my stuff. Thanks, Kendra! haha
Credit to I Love Hot Dogs for these fabulous stills.
For more:
Jean-Luc Godard on IMDB
Godard on Wikipedia
Here’s the video for Vampire Weekend’s new track entitled “Cousins.” The jittery guitar riffs and bouncing Chris Baio bring me great joy. I’m definitely looking forward to the release of Contra on January 12, 2010. Okay, I’ll stop the pimpage.
Be sure to check out the Contra website for bonus material. The Roll Call video is hilarious.
For more:
I Think Ur A Contra
Vampire Weekend Online
It has been almost a month since I last updated, and I actually feel horrible for not doing so. I’ve hit a bump in the road. Grad school has consumed every facet of my life and tortures the inner recesses of my brain making it hard for me to even form coherent sentences at the end of the day. I haven’t been very productive art wise and that has obviously spilled over into this blog. I’m going to develop some sort of schedule soon. No worries.
With that being said, I thought I’d share this series of ads for Levi’s. I’m sure they started airing back in July, but whenever I see them on TV my inner patriotic soul is stirred. Who would have thought jeans could do that? Actually, I think it has more to do with the recording of “O Pioneers.” Sadly, I don’t want to go out and buy jeans. I’d much rather run in vast wheat fields or gather my belongings and head West.
The photos for the circulating ads are by Ryan McGinley. I haven’t posted about him before, because I feel like enough people do that for me. He is definitely an amazing photographer, but to truly appreciate his work you have to see it in person. I feel like you see them in print or on album covers too much. They’ve become hipster folly. That aside, he does capture some pretty dynamic images.
Of course, full credit should go to the agency Wieden + Kennedy. They’re the obvious brain power behind this campaign and to them I say WELL DONE! Well done, indeed.
For more:
Wieden + Kennedy
Ryan McGinley
Apologies in advance for the lack of updating. I’ve been at a loss for words lately. I never run out of inspiration. It’s really the fact that I don’t want to post something with “Oooo!” & “Ahhhh!.” I’m trying to add a little class to the web. Not that it matters. ha!
Anyway, the other day I was going through my favorites on Flickr and I was amused at how my brain works. Or maybe how my eyes work. Hmmm.
See a progression? I kind of like when that happens.
What are some of your favorite forms?
p.s. – your regularly scheduled posting will resume soon.
I came across the work of Valeria Picerno through Olimpia Zagnoli’s portfolio (who needs an entry dedicated to her illustration work and it’s coming, I promise). I saw the main photo and immediately fell in love with Valeria’s style. The tones and contrasts of her shots are vibrant, and each subject takes on a certainly personality. The way she composes her shots greatly contributes to that as well. Stunning!
For more:
Valeria Picerno’s Portfolio
The Black Swan Archives
If I had been perceptive I would have noticed this video and posted it with the other Wild Beasts’ one HOWEVER this one deserves its own post. After listening to the album on repeat while making a three hour trek back home, I fell in love with this song. It’s the most beautiful thing I have ever heard. If you don’t enjoy it, something is clearly wrong with you.
With that being said…
Dear Wild Beasts,
Please make a return to the US of A soon. I dream of nothing but your sweet melodies filling my ears whilst I dance around drunk off my own lust.
Yours sincerely,
-Hayley
Yeah, I just went there.
For more:
Wild Beasts on MySpace
Wild Beasts’ Website
These are the kind of photos where you think, “Mannnn, I wish I would have thought of that!” I’m sure Maren’s photos would trump my efforts though. I love how clever and playful they are and the tones are just exquisite. They make the photos even more perfect.
Be sure to check out the collaborative effort she is also part of called Cashmere Club.
For more:
Maren’s Flickr
Maren’s work @ Cashmere Club
“Hooting & Howling” by Wild Beasts
Wild Beasts always manage to find the most creative folks to produce their music videos. This one for “Hooting & Howling” is stunning! I’m partial to underwater shots though so you be the judge.
For more:
Wild Beasts on MySpace
Wild Beasts Website
After receiving my Nineteenth-Century European Art textbook the other day, I started flipping through it and stopped on this work by Gustave Caillebotte. It’s one of my absolute favorite paintings of all time. Take a look at that lighting as it dances across the floor and over the backs of the floor workers. The strong diagonals of the floor and the paneling of the walls create this mesmerizing composition. It’s almost too perfect. I read somewhere that photography greatly influenced Caillebotte’s work. I can see that now. His work is wonderful.
