Ben Wolf at SPRING 2011 ART + ARCHITECTURE SHOW

Ben Wolf (b. 1983, Nashville) is a Brooklyn-based sculptor whose abstract assemblages and installations express the “decadence of abandonment” in architectural materials including rotten boards, rusted stair wells, peeling paint and other found and salvaged objects. Wolf often works on a large scale, taking over and reconfiguring entire lost buildings and towns. He received a B.F.A. from Pratt Institute in 2005 and in 2008 received a Brooklyn Arts Council grant for public art works and a residency with the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC). In 2010 Wolf participated in a Power House Productions group residency in Detroit, constructing a massive sculptural work from the remnants of forgotten homes. An avid traveler, Wolf has produced and exhibited projects in Australia, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland, as well as throughout the U.S. You can see more of Ben’s work on his website.

Art + Architecture 2011 at the Gowanus Ballroom
55 9th Street Building 61, Brooklyn, NY 11215 April 8th – April 17th

Hipstamatic, GQ Taiwan & 3rd Ward...mmmm

The Chunky Lens World Release & Gallery Show
Presented by Hipstamatic, GQ Taiwan & 3rd Ward
Thursday, February 10, 2011, 7-9pm
195 Morgan Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
FREE Admission includes Chunky app, gallery show, live music & drinks

At this interactive gallery show, experience what Chunky and his lens are all about. Meet Chunky himself and view Chunky's GQ Taiwan fashion spread with Taylor Fuchs (shot entirely on the iPhone). If you’re a fashion-type, art enthusiast, app-buying addict, or just looking for a fun Thursday night, stop by. Music by DJ Travis Kavovit, free drinks...With support from ILFORD.

GQ Taiwan

Harper's Bazaar China here.

RSVPs are required at www.3rdward.com/rsvp

*FREE beer provided by Brooklyn Brewery!

Blvck America + Bidoun present Vintage Short Films

This Sunday join Blvck America and the folks at Bidoun to check out some awesome vintage short films from the Middle East. This is the last of the Liberty Hall screenings at the Ace Hotel for January. Not only is the screening free, but they'll have DJs spinning and a drink special for folks who get there early.

Sunday, January 30th
7PM
Liberty Hall at the Ace Hotel

WNYC x Just Food

Hosted at WNYC's Jerome L Greene space, check out this three-part series on Local Food and sustainability. Buy tickets here!

NY Art Book Fair

Of course all my favorite things in life are bulky and heavy. Books being on the top of my list. This weekend is a great opportunity to add to my ever expanding collection at the fifth annual NY Art Book Fair. Sponsored by Printed Matter, the fair is FREE! hosts over 200 international presses, booksellers, antiquarian dealers, artists and publishers from twenty countries, offering the best in contemporary art book publishing. Check it out at PS1 starting Friday and take a stroll around the corner to grab some buffet Indian eats at Five Star. Not bad for a day's work!

VOTE VOTE VOTE or die!

Please vote tomorrow!! A lovely reminder from my friend Peter is below. Thanks Matt Damon!

Hello friends and family in NY --

Tomorrow is election day, and I'm excited. Prospects may look dim nationally, but here in New York, we have an opportunity to win a huge progressive victory. We have the Working Families Party.

Tomorrow, I'm going to vote for my all favorite candidates, including Eric Schneiderman for Attorney General, on the Working Families Party line. I hope you will join me. If you don't know where to vote, find out here: http://gis.nyc.gov/vote/ps/index.htm

Voting on the WFP line (row E on the ballot) counts just as much as voting on the Democratic line. But it has the extra benefit of sending a powerful message to Albany -- that I stand with working people, not party bosses. That I support the WFP's fight for a cleaner environment, for raising wages, for clean energy jobs, for education funding, and all the other good progressive policies they champion. I know the folks at the WFP pretty well, and they say that to pass critical legislation next year, they need every vote they can get tomorrow.

If you don't believe me, ask Matt Damon. Yep, the actor Matt Damon. He recorded this (pretty frickin' funny) video for the WFP:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24m1PZ9iZoY

Basically, no matter what happens nationally, here in New York you can't afford to stay home and not vote. Don't get last-minute-lazy, don't pretend your vote doesn't matter, and don't give up your democratic rights. Trust me, I know how easy it is to get distracted and overwhelmed. But millions of Americans fought -- and some died -- for the right to vote. Don't take it for granted.

Plus, if you don't vote, everyone will know. By law, anyone can get a copy of the NYS voter file and look you up. (They can't tell how you voted, just if you voted.) It would be embarrassing for your friends to know you shirked your civic duty, right? :)

SO GO VOTE!!

Love,
Peter

Farm School NYC

Just Food and an alliance of local horticultural and food justice organizations are pleased to announce the official launch of Farm School NYC: The New York City School of Urban Agriculture. The school will offer a unique, community-based certificate program with enrollment beginning in January 2011. The mission of the school is to provide comprehensive professional training in urban agriculture, while spurring positive local action on issues of food access and social, economic and racial justice. AWESOMEEEEEEE!!!!

Duck Sauce, "Barbra Streisand"

Armand van Helden and A-Trak's collaboration on Fool's Gold is heavy on the club banger tip but this video by So-Me is amazing. The Babs impersonator is awesome and so New York. The art direction is great and he really captures the energy and vibrance of NYC. Even the cameo's by Kanye, Pharell, Ryan Leslie, Buckshot, Smif-n-Wessun, DJ Premier, Diplo, ?uestlove, and Santigold are fun and natural. A great antidote to Chris Cunningham's downer of a video for Gil Scott-Heron...yeah, im still thinking about it.

The HUMP @ subMercer

Its no secret that the subMercer has become a NYC-nightlife destination dedicated to that rare combination of great music, beautiful people, and DANCING. Join me this Wednesday as I host first subMercer edition of The HUMP, DJ Lindsey and DJ Myles' amazing throwback dance party playing your favorite old skool jams from 88-98. Get your fade tight, pull out your high-waisted pants, and dust off your dancing shoes...it's going DOWWWWNNNNN!!! Check out Gabby's rundown of the history of the party. Shes one of the founders of the jam!!

Gil Scott Heron's New York is Killing Me

Heres the actual video for Gil Scott-Heron's New York is Killing Me, directed by Chris Cunningham that premiered on Sunday at MoMA. Although I thought the video was beautiful, I wish it was directed by an actual NY-based director. Some of the shots seemed a little cliche (subway, bridges, back alleys) and I felt like the video took away from the haunting poetry of the song itself. Check out the previous post here.

RECESS:: Bocce + BBQ @ Governor's Island

This Saturday at Governor's Island witness the showdown of the summer -- RECESS pt 2 :: Bocce Ball on Colonel's Row! Watch creative agencies battle it out, take a spin around the picturesque island courtesy of Linus Bikes, and grub on some delicious Texas-style smoked brisket courtesy of HNH BBQ! Sweet Jewels' red velvet cakeballs will be dishing delicious sweets as well!

Upstate Labor Day

Sissy Bounce @ PS1

Long Island City's PS1 Warm-Up series has been a summer institution. Young architects get the whole run of the front courtyard to design into an adult playland for NYC party people and DJs and obscure art bands get to play a museum (not necessarily a museum crowd.) This coming Saturday, the Queen of New Orleans bounce, Big Freedia and her sidekick DJ Rusty Lazer bring a little bit of the Third Coast to the East Coast. They recently tore it down at a party with Ninjasonik in BK but I got put onto the subgenre, "sissy bounce" from a recent NYTimes article. The sound is familiar from growing up hearing underground beats in Houston but this bubbling culture is gender-bending, female-centric, fast, and LIVE! I might brave the crowds this weekend to check it out! Read more from the Times article below.

If “gay rapper” is an oxymoron where you come from, how to get your head around the notion of a gay rapper performing in a sports bar? What in most cities might seem plausible only as some sort of Sacha Baron Cohen-style provocation is just another weeknight in the cultural Galapagos that is New Orleans. Sometime after midnight on the sweltering Thursday before Memorial Day, the giant plasma-screen TVs at the Sports Vue bar (which “proudly airs all major Pay Per View events from the world of Boxing and Ultimate Fighting”) were all switched off, and the bar’s backroom turned into a low-lit, low-ceilinged dance club, where more than 300 people awaited a return engagement by Big Freedia, who by day runs an interior-decoration business and who is, to fans of the New Orleans variant of hip-hop music known as “bounce,” a superstar.

At 1 a.m., though, Freedia (pronounced “FREE-da”) was still a mile or so away, fulfilling a paid celebrity-hosting gig at Club Fabulous. The fabulousness of Club Fabulous, on this night at least, seemed a function mainly of its Mardi Gras-themed décor, conceived and executed by Freedia herself. Otherwise the crowd was sparse, largely straight and listless. Freedia looked weary as she leaned back against the bar with her dyed, diagonally cut bangs over one eye, holding a cordless microphone. (Freedia, who is about 6 foot 2 and very powerful-looking and dresses in a fashionable but recognizably masculine style, is genetically a man; but neither she nor anyone who knows her uses masculine pronouns to refer to her.) When “Rock Around the Clock,” one of her signature songs, came on the sound system, a few women walked over to Freedia and stood with their backs to her, but the atmosphere wasn’t quite electric enough for them to really start dancing, and the men just continued playing pool. After a while, Freedia’s D.J. and de facto manager, who goes by the name Rusty Lazer — a whippetlike 39-year-old white man with a salt-and-pepper beard — let Freedia know that it was time to move on to the next show.

NY State of Mind

I cant stop thinking about this amazing spread in Elle's September issue. Thanks Sai!! For full spread check here.

Timeless in the Park

The lovely folks from Mochilla are taking over Saint Nicholas Park tomorrow night for a screening and jam fest with Bobbito, Jazzy Jay and Lean Rock! J. Rocc is flying in to do a "Timeless" Video Mix. In case you missed out, Timeless was an unforgettable orchestral concert series that brought together composers like Mulatu of Ethiopia, Arthur Verocai and J. Dilla (RIP) with a 15-piece orchestra interpreting their classic work during the Spring of 2009. This is a really unique way to experience the shows and enjoy the end of summer! Buy the boxed set here!

NYC Premiere: Downtown Calling

FINALLY!! This Wednesday my good friend Ben Velez's film, Downtown Calling, is making its NYC hometown debut. Chronicling the underground art, music and culture scene of New York during the late 70's and narrated by Deborah Harry, this film is an important document of the people and creative energy that birthed an undeniable NYC youth culture. The icons of Punk, Hip Hop, DJ and Downtown culture continue to influence the way we see and think about the world around us today! Buy tickets here and support the film at the NY International Latino Film Festival!

Rest in Power RAMMΣLLZΣΣ

Its with great sadness that we say goodbye to one of the most influential philosophers, visual artists and MCs of his generation, Rammellzee. He was a prolific artist who's visual style influenced graffiti writers around the world and his flow influenced everyone from the Beastie Boys to Cypress Hill. His collaged sculptures and large scale paintings always reminded me of how infinite the universe is and the power of combining the mundane into something profound and beautiful.

Florent: Queen of the Meat Market at NYFFF

This week marks the opening of the 4th annual New York Food Film Festival. On Thursday, for one night only, join Florent Morellet to taste a selection of original menu items from Restaurant Florent and watch the World Premiere of David Sigal's "FLORENT: Queen of the Meat Market", a heartwarming film about the man behind the legendary restaurant. In June of 2008 cherished New York restaurant Florent closed its doors forever, marking the end of an era. Florent Morellet, the openly HIV-positive restaurateur turned his namesake diner in the Meatpacking District into a hotbed of activism and a community that welcomed one and all. These are the extraordinary stories and times of Florent, the staff, patrons, and celebrities who made up an extensive family. With appearances by Julianne Moore, Isaac Mizrahi, and Christo and Jean-Claude. This feature-length documentary chronicles the ups and downs of the French bistro's 23 glorious years. All proceeds for this special night go to the Food Bank of New York City! Get Tickets Here!

Small Is Beautiful

I have a special place in my heart for all things diorama. The magic of transforming garage-sale throwaways --shoe boxes, fishtanks, cardboard-- into a spectacular miniature world is always exciting and wondrous. I cant wait to see the amazing works unveiled at tomorrow's show!

*************
Small Is Beautiful

An exhibition of dioramas curated by Theme magazine and Scion, featuring work by

Jeremy Mora
Lori Nix
Tracey Snelling
Dan Funderburgh
Ji Lee

& wall vignettes by
Josh Cochran

Wednesday, May 12
6 – 9PM
Murphy and Dine Gallery
520 West 27th Street, Ground Floor (10th/11th)

RSVP to receive the premiere volume of Theme's "Pocket" Book series featuring Wooster Collective's ephemera collection. Theme Pocket Books are produced in limited runs and are all individually numbered.

Music by DJ Monchan

Beer by PBR and Whiskey by Old Grand Dad
Wine and Snacks Served

This Weekend: Hester Street Fair

Yay! Its finally here! Suchin Pak's Hester Street Fair is finally touching down this weekend in the LES/Chinatown. An Choi, Frank's Chop Shop, Sigmund Pretzels and more will be dishing out snacks while the folks behind Gargyle, Devotte and my besties will be slingin' vintage finds. Come by and support the ladies of ADA&IVY!!!