The Simple Things at Art Basel

Speaking of diamond-encrusted objects...Of the many interesting pieces coming out of the post-Basel wrapups, I thought this video of Pharrell explaining his approach to his collaborative art piece (with Takashi Murakmi and Jacob the Jeweler was pretty fucking hilarious. The Simple Things features diamond-encrusted personal items beloved by Pharrell including a cupcake, a bag of Doritos, a bottle of Heinz ketchup, a can of Pepsi, a condom and a bottle of Johnson's baby oil. Note: the piece has already sold for $2.8 million. Thanks EatMeDaily!

iartistlondon

Some say imitation is the highest form of flattery. The folks at iartistlondon are taking the DIY asthetic to the next level promising to enable crafty folks "to make real contemporary art pieces in the comfort of your own home." With DIY artist kits that rip-off contemporary British artist's most iconic works, the company treads a thin line that brings up a lot of questions about intellectual/artistic property, hipster mentality and aesthetics and capital. Where does the value of fine art really come from? Is a fake Banksy or Damien Hirst even worth the £49.99 worth of materials this company is selling to you? Check out the kits ripping off Banksy, Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin.

Uniqlo Pac-Man Challenge finals on June 19th

So the UNIQLO PAC-MAN CHALLENGE is heading into the final round this Friday, June 19th at UNIQLO SOHO, 546 Broadway in NYC. Expect to your favorite media companies such as Complex, Giant Robot, Blacksmith, Superfuture, Vinyl Pulse East, Going, Crispy Gamer, and Fusicology competing for the top spot! The walk-in challengers will compete for their top spot within their category. There will be plenty of prizes for competitors and also for spectators courtesy of UNIQLO and Namco Networks. There will be UT PAC-MAN T-SHIRTS autographed by Mr. Toru Iwatani (creator of PAC-MAN)! UNIQLO PAC-MAN CHALLENGE will be held from 4PM-8PM at UNIQLO SOHO, 546 Broadway. All event information here.

The Bear

So this video came in a Mom email (note it's from 1988 but still making the rounds) - Hi, all: You've got to see this one!!!!!!!!!!! Fen - and I totally watched it all the way through. Sometimes I feel this way when I'm struggling in the concrete jungle...

Happy Birthday Tupac

Happy Birthday Tupac. You and your music are missed.

RECESS: The Greatest Moments of Recess History

In the spirit of offering a lifestyle alternative to the otherwise rudimentary activities that dominate and sometimes dull our urbanite senses — RECESS is an ongoing series of sports and games that redefines our shared philosophy of play by fusing healthy sportsmanship, unbridled creativity and the people responsible for that creativity.

This great concept is being launched this Saturday at NYC's historic Governor's Island with the Lawn Series (sponsored by Tretorn and Puma), a summer-long, 3-event faceoff in the classic games of Badminton (June 20), Table Tennis (August 22), and Bocce Ball (September 26). Teams from creative companies around NYC will battle to the end (of the day, that is). Even if you're not competing, come out and support, polish up your own game or grab a bite from the Le Gamin or Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Trucks. Just a quick free ferry ride from the south tip of Manhattan!

this day in history...

June 13, 1967 - Thurgood Marshall appointed to U.S. Supreme Court by President Lyndon Johnson.

It was Marshall who ended legal segregation in the United States. He won Supreme Court victories breaking the color line in housing, transportation and voting, all of which overturned the 'Separate-but-Equal' apartheid of American life in the first half of the century. It was Marshall who won the most important legal case of the century, Brown v. Board of Education, ending the legal separation of black and white children in public schools.

The BLK JKS Countdown Begins...

Your favorite South African psych-rock group (and mine) the BLK JKS announced the release date for their upcoming debut full-length, After Robots, set to drop September 8th on Bloomington, Indiana-based label Secretly Canadian. Admist the critical praise the essence of BLK JKS' music — a collision of township blues, fringe jazz and renegade dub, heard via the lens of prog — shines through. Music from Africa has never quite sounded like this, as BLK JKS bring the concept of Afro-futurism into a new century.

BLK JKS consists of childhood friends Lindani Buthelezi and Mpumi Mcata who grew up on the same block in Johannesburg's East Rand where they taught themselves guitar. After the band's current lineup took shape with the addition of bassist Molefi Makananise and drummer Tshepang Ramoba, both of Soweto, they embarked on a schedule of heavy touring throughout South Africa that earned them a loyal national following.

Download "Molalatladi" from After Robots HERE! (Right-click, Save-As)

Crayola: A Look Back

The Dieline Blog has a great look at the brand history of Crayola's Crayons! Next to Play-doh and Band-Aid, Crayola courts one of our earliest brand loyalties. Thanks NotCot!

Superflat First Love: Murakami x LV

SUPERFLAT FIRST LOVE by Takashi Murakami for Louis Vuitton. Celebrating six years of collaborations. Thanks Phil!

Banksy Opening 06.13.09

Posted on Banksy's site just after midnite on June 10th, the mysterious street artist opens in his hometown of Bristol on Saturday! Check his site for more details.

Northside Festival June 11-14

The Northside Festival kicks off today with over 50 music and art venues in the Williamsburg/Greenpoint area participating in this first annual festival from the good folks over at The L Magazine. Highlights from the festival include opening night party at Studio B headlined by Brightblack Morning Light (Thu), Miho Hatori at the Superglorious showcase at Glasslands (Thu), Ghostly International's 10-Year Anniversary Bash at Studio B (Fri), Zoe Kravitz's Elevator Fight and Blk Jks at Trash Bar (Fri), AsiaDog at the Gothamist Afterparty (Sat), Mira Bilotte from White Magic (Sun) and showcases from BrooklynVegan, KEXP, Ernest Jenning Records, and Brooklyn-based bands like Apollo Heights and Himalaya.

Night/Shift: a photography book

Photographer Lynn Saville has a new book out called Night/Shift, published by Random House! Saville specializes in night photography, capturing the after-hours landscapes of our favorite and unexpected neighborhoods.

Check out her book talk in Brooklyn this Friday June 12th, at 7:00 PM:
BookCourt @ 163 Court Street

From his introduction to Night/Shift Arthur C. Danto says...
"Atget recorded Paris in the early morning, before anyone was about. We feel his presence in the surrounding emptiness he has kept for the generations....Saville is his New York counterpart, the Atget of vanishing New York, prowling her city at the other end of the day, picking up pieces of the past in the present, just before it is swallowed by shadows..."

Weekender 6.5-6.7

FRIDAY
Tainted Love Opening Reception (NYC)
Bushwick Open Studios (Brooklyn)
Lee Fields My World Record release (Brooklyn)

SATURDAY
The Roots Picnic (Philly)
SVA Newfest Florent: Queen of the Meat Market (NYC)

What The Funk?! Fela vs James Brown (NYC)

SUNDAY
Loving Day (NYC)
Purple Reign: Prince Birthday Bashment (NYC)

FRIDAYLa MaMa La Galleria
6 East 1st Street, NYC
6pm-9pm

Tainted Love offers a view of activist art that questions the idea that direct action is the only effective form of politics. The exhibition takes its inspiration from political activity surrounding cultural production within the moment of AIDS activism, although the works represented are not strictly tied to AIDS.


Bushwick Open Studios is a self-organized art festival where anyone and everyone in the community is welcome to participate by presenting art work, organizing activities or helping to produce the event. The purpose is to create an open and inclusive event that benefits the entire community through the sharing of artistic projects and the encouragement of community interaction and dialogue.

BOS is an art festival centered around the open studios of local artists. Also included are myriad other platforms for exhibiting and celebrating the creative energy of Bushwick. Anyone in the community is welcome to participate by presenting artwork, organizing activities or helping to produce the event. BOS 09 will be the Festival’s 3rd year.

Our sponsors are local businesses, our staff are volunteers and we are all about Bushwick!

Lee Fields and the Expressions
LIVE! Record Release Party for My World (Truth and Soul Records)
Southpaw
125 Fifth Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11217
Dj Akalepse (T&S, Plain Jane), Young Chris (Big City), and Egon (Stones Throw) will be spinning in between live sets from the The Ghetto Brothers, Aloe Blacc, and Lee Fields & The Expressions. Doors 9:00 TICKETS $15.

Renowned throughout the global Funk community, Lee Fields has poured his grunts and screams over a legacy of funk and soul hits from the early seventies, including such 45 rpm classics as She’s a Lovemaker, The Bullis Coming, and The Funky Screw, not to mention his well sought after Let’s Talk It Over LP. This LP draws four digit bids from collectors worldwide. His recordings with the hard funk purists at TRUTH & SOUL, Desco, and Daptone Records in recent years has solidified his place as the King of contemporary funk music as well.

SATURDAY
The Roots launch The 2nd Annual ROOTS PICNIC!
Starring The Roots, TV on the Radio, The Black Keys, Santigold, Kid Cudi, Asher Roth & more.

Featuring a special performance by Public Enemy, who will perform
It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back, backed by Antibalas and The Roots.

Saturday, June 6th, 2pm
@ The Festival Pier, Penns Landing, Philadelphia

Florent: Queen of the Meat Market
Catch the film at the SVA NEWFEST, New York LGBT Film Festival, taking place June 4-11.
5:30PM
SVA Theater
23rd Street between 8th and 9th Ave, NYC

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.

What The Funk?!
Fela Kuti vs James Brown Tribute

With Rich Medina and DJ Spinna
Love
40 W 8th St, NYC

Spinning Funky JAMES BROWN Exclusives, Covers, JB Samples & Funky-Soulful Hits Of JBs` God Children & The Afro Funk Pioneer FELA ANIKULAPO KUTI`s Entire Music Catalog, Afro House, Afro Soul and more!

Tribute To The GodFather Of Soul JAMES BROWN & To The AfroBeat Pioneer FELA ANIKULAPO KUTI

SUNDAY
LOVING DAY
Come celebrate the anniversary of Loving v. Virginia, the Supreme Court case that legalized interracial marriage in the US.
FREE BBQ: all day long
FREE BEER: for the first hour
GET IN FREE: rain or shine
MULTICULTURAL: family friendly

Featuring:
DJ DHUNDEE, Sugarcuts Music
DJ TYLER ASKEW, Rude/MFT

Sunday, June 7th from 3-7pm at Solar 1
East River at 23rd St. NYC

The House of Rumpschpringa presents...

PURPLE REIGN
Prince's Bday Bashment!!!

With DJs:
Lord Easy
Lloydski
+ sTERRYo

Featuring LIVE Prince Covers by…
Sylvia G. (Kudu)
Biclops & Printz
+ Carrie Wilds

Erotic City Polaroids by IHMDJ

$5 Cover/FREE with RSVP to rumpschpringa@gmail.com

$7 Ella Cocktails All Night!!!

Plus... exclusive photographic coverage by Midnight Socialite!!

Ella
9 Avenue A (btwn 1st and 2nd St) NYC
10 PM till…

NYC Food Film Festival

2009 NYC Food Film Festival Trailer from George Motz on Vimeo.

This year's NYC Food Film Festival goes down June 13 – June 19, 2009 in New York City with screenings at the Water Taxi Beach in Long Island City, The Astor Center, Manhattan, and at the new South Street Seaport Water Taxi location. Featuring over over 25 short films about food, the festival is where "filmgoers are able to watch food films then sample the food portrayed in those films." Thanks EatMeDaily!

Includes the 42 minute film The Power of the Peep, a documentary about Peeps. And yes, they'll be serving Peeps, 8,650 of them.

Go See: Blind Carbon Copy at Commonspace

BLIND CARBON COPY
Common Space presents a 5-day group exhibition with artists
Andrew Kuo
Sebastian Kim
Jon Santos
Milano Chow
Deanne Cheuk
Saiman Chow
Masayo Kishi
Yuh-Shioh Wong
Confetti System.

June 3-7
179 Canal Street, 2nd Floor
Noon- 6pm

“Blind Carbon Copy” is a sly appropriation of a day’s corporate drama. Narrativeaction item: Global media conglomerate headquartered in New York Citycommissions program bringing to the table ethnic diversity. Visionary programshall jam the culture inbox, host panel discussions, culminate with cutting edgeart exhibition in midtown corporate lobby. Month of June: the Asians. Globalconglomerate enlists core competency to brain dump Asian American artists tohang their art in beige hallways of media triumphalism. Eleventh and a half hourdivision head issues the disintermediate: Shut it down.

At the end of the day refers to what happened during the day – what got dealt,what got salvaged, what got tossed out. At the end of the day, “Blind CarbonCopy” re- shuffles the deck to communicate an elliptical difference, even as thatdifference opposes clear definable equalities. The featured works vary fromfashion photography to drawing, sculpture, graphic art and video. Much of theseartists works deploy a detachment of assimilative meaning.

Genres of ethnicity, commercial, fine art start to slope from fulfillment ofdistinction to interrelations, intricacies and contradictions of meaning, a ghostwithout a host gliding past various check points of identity

Now Open: BKLYN LADER

Folks in Prospect Heights have something to cheer about this rainy June week! The beloved pizzeria Franny's has opened up a prepared foods shop called BKLYN Larder. Check the Grubstreet review below:
In its five-year existence, Prospect Heights’s Franny’s has garnered a rabid following, but even its most faithful customers can’t subsist entirely on the restaurant’s clam pizzas, bucatini with ramps, and nettle crostini (no matter how hard we try). That’s why owners Andrew Feinberg and Francine Stephens have built Bklyn Larder, a specialty-foods shop opening tomorrow just a couple of blocks up Flatbush Avenue. The clean-lined store is putatively intended to serve the culinary needs of home cooks in search of high-end imports like Latini pasta and Italian apricot jam. That’s well and good, but not what will inspire trans-borough pilgrimages. What will do that, we’d wager, is the rotating roster of prepared foods, which can be packed to go (in biodegradable containers) or eaten on premises, if you’re able to snag one of the eight counter-height seats. This week’s starting lineup includes Greenmarket-direct veggies (a Franny’s forte) and the first-ever sandwiches with the Franny’s imprimatur.

Go See: Gagosian NYC

YAYOI KUSAMA Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity, 2009

Larry Gagosian is giving you four reasons to check out his galleries this week! 

In order of urgency:

Yayoi Kusama New Work in a bi-coastal exhibition celebrating the artist's 80th year!
Pablo Picasso: Mosqueteros Exploring the late works of the Spanish master.
Go Figure Figurative Drawings and Works
Marble Survey of Works in Marble

Bond 007: Cold as Ice

Del Monte made these Daniel Craig popsicles in blueberry, pomegranate, and cranberry flavors — less than 100 calories each! Spokesman Matt O'Connor said: "He is officially immortalised as super smooth and licensed to chill." Thanks to EatMeDaily

CTRL Pop Up Shop

RIFT presents: 40 days of CTRL in Barcelona

We are blessed to announce that CTRL is opening a pop-up store, like a candy store but better, filled with fireworks from one of the top tens in the universe. Yes, that's CTRL. The RIFT Store is conveniently located just by the nightlife and skateboarding Mecca, meaning MACBA, the Museum of Modern Art in Barcelona.

Go to Barcelona, go check it out and enjoy what life offers in the narrow streets of the Catalan pride. The Rift Store is open from 5th of June until 15th of July. 40 Days that is.

Tuesday to Saturday from 11-15:30 hrs and 16:30-20:30 hrs.
Monday from 15:30-20:30 hrs. Sundays Closed.

Gen Art Shop

Check out my girl Bijules at tomorrow's Gen Art Shop NYC! She'll be hawking her fine accessories including her classic bar rings, nail rings, hairrings and pieces from her newest line, the "Rock Collection" at reduced prices!

Wednesday, June 3
5:00pm - 6:00pm: VIP Preview Reception (Advance Tickets Only)
6:00pm - 10:00pm: Main doors open to all ticket holders

7W
7 West 34th Street, 11th Floor
(between 5th and 6th Ave)

Gen Art invites you to the shopping event of the season! Shop directly from designers featured in Gen Art runway shows as well as New York’s top emerging lines including Qi Cashmere, Whistle & Flute, Falls, DANNIJO, Bijules, Thea Grant, DRU New York and over 50 more. All while enjoying complimentary wine and beer, makeovers by DEX New York, beauty treatments, and more!

VIP ticketholders get first picks of designer merchandise and will take home a SHOP NYC fashion and beauty gift bags. There are a limited number of VIP tickets available, so reserve yours before they sell out!

Don't miss this opportunity to find great deals, meet fellow fashion enthusiasts, and enjoy pampering and cocktails - just in time for summer!

Herb & Dorothy

You don't have to be a Rockefeller to collect art...
Megumi Sasaki's inspiring documentary opens Friday, June 5 in New York at the Beekman Theatre and Cinema Village. HERB & DOROTHY tells the incredible true story of a postal worker and a librarian who built an enormous collection of contemporary art with modest means. In 1992, Herb and Dorothy Vogel donated over 4,000 works of art (amazingly crammed into their tiny Upper East Side apartment) to the National Gallery of Art. Vogel 50/50, the initiative to apportion the overflow of artworks among the fifty states, also kicks off this year. An Arthouse Films release.

David Byrne Office Tour

Here are the first two parts of a three part series from The FADER where multi-creative/Talking Heads guru David Byrne gives a tour of his studio! rad!

In our current issue, along with all of its other David Byrne-related wonder, you can see regular FADER contributor Jason Nocito's intimate photos of Byrne in his massive office at the Todo Mundo headquarters. Because of the natural constraints of paper magazines, we were neither able to fit every photo in the issue nor have Byrne explain what you were looking at. Fortunately, we have the internet, and Byrne was generous enough to record this guided audio tour of all the peculiar objects and ephemera photographed by Nocito that otherwise would've never been seen. We had so much material, and Byrne had so much to say, we've decided to split it into three parts.

Weekender 5.29-5.31

FRIDAY
Belongings Opening (Brooklyn)
New York Tropical 6 (Brooklyn)

SATURDAY
Maluca Debut at A+R (London)
Carmina Soul (Brooklyn)
Black Star Reunion Concert (NYC)

SUNDAY
Galaxie (Brooklyn)

FRIDAY
Belongings: A Visual Poetry Experience
With photos by Luke Abiol and poetry by Marina Garcia-Vasquez

+KRIS GRAVES PROJECTS
111 Front St. #224, Brooklyn
Opening Night catered by Mexican eatery La Superior and sponsored by Milagro tequila and Jarritos. Afterparty at B.East!

New York it’s time to get tropical again. This time Uproot Andy and Matt Shadetek will be joined by The Fader’s own Eddie Stats, Lamin Fofana of Recession Rap fame will be making his DJ debut early and DA extended family 77Klash will be live on-stage bringing that BK heat. Those who know me definitely know Klash from our songs together “Brooklyn Anthem” with Jahdan Blakkamoore, “Mad Again (Whoa!)” featuring Johnny Osbourne and the newest “Pressure” which you can download below.

Glasslands Gallery
289 Kent Ave.
BROOKLYN
10PM - 4AM

$5 b4 11PM, $7 after

DJs:
Uproot Andy
Matt Shadetek
Eddie Stats (The Fader / Ghetto Palms)
Lamin Fofana

Special live guest:
77Klash (Klashcity Records)

SATURDAY
MALUCA's London Debut

with
Martelo
Isa GT
Work It Girls

CARGO
83 Rivington Street
Shoreditch, London

AplusR is the newest adventure by the people who brought you the groundbreaking parties NYC/LDN and MAP, i.e the same people who brought to the UK the likes of BLK JKS and Theophilus London for the very first time.

It is with this same spirit of discovery, the most recently signed Maluca of Mad Decent Records comes over from NYC for the hottest party at Cargo. Maluca draws inspiration form her Nuyorican roots but makes uncompromising dance music aimed squarely at the dance floor. Following in the footsteps of Buraka Som Sistema or M.I.A., Maluca embraces the rhythms and a melody ingrained in her cultural heritage and adds an unhealthy dose of BASS to create an intoxicating musical cocktail that is both heavy and refreshing at the same time. Already singled out by the Midas-like Diplo, who will be producing her first 12" on Mad Decent, Maluca only has one way to go: UP; and if you happen to cross her path here is only one thing to do: SHAKE IT!

DJ Martelo will be turning up more Heat at Cargo, having just toured with Toddla-T & Oneman, He also has worked/Produced/Remixed for the likes of Santogold, Riva Starr, Mumdance or Hervé and that’s just naming a few. Martelo has a proven record as a Bassline specialist of the highest order, and his sets flow seamlessly from dancehall to b-more to fidget via Hip Hop and Dubstep and anything else in between. Dope ish!!

Isa GT is a Colombian born member of Girlcore, the all-girl DJ collective that has been destroying London's East End with their riotous mashup parties. A budding producer, Isa GT has been championing the Funketa sound, a fierce mix of the Colombian dance Champeta and Brazil's percussion heavy Baile Funk. Her first release - Pela'o - has been remixed by Crookers, and she is now working on a track with the Zombie Disco Squad so she clearly knows what she's doing!

Last but not least, the in-demand Work It! DJs will be warming hips and toes from the DJ booth with their Boom-Bap-a-licious 90's hip hop selections that have earned them coveted invitations to play at Q-Tip's after-party and to host their own Bloc Party at the ICA and not to mention the Shoreditch is Shit Vs PLAIN JANES night at 333. Boom Bap yo!

AplusR is powered by PEGGY UNLTD in proud association with the PLAIN JANES Collective.
Carmina Soul
with DJ Spinna
11PM - 4AM
Old American Can Factory
232 3rd Street
btwn 3rd + 4th Ave Brooklyn

Residents Chris Annibell and percussionist Amon welcome Brooklyns own favorite son, DJ SPINNA to the stage. Together, they will infuse Brooklyn's dance community with West London Broken Beats, Latin Grooves, Global House, Philly Soul, Jazz and African Polyrhythms; a night geared towards honoring the cultural landscape of Gowanus, Brooklyn and to transcend the confines of traditional clubs.


SUNDAY
Join us to celebrate the dawn of a new GALAXIE. Akin to its sister party, Donuts (founded by DJ Pickpocket & video artist Alison Childs), GALAXIE welcomes bands, DJs, sound and video artists, filmmakers, designers and artists of all kinds who break through intergalactic boundaries of art, sound, space, synths, technology and visual perception to perform together in one space while providing fun dance-party entertainment to the local community.

GALAXIE PRESENTS............
SOFT CIRCLE live (PPM, BOADRUM-ambassador)
DJ DANCEPARTY featuring
LOVEFINGERS (Black Disco, RVNG)
JUSTIN MILLER (DFA)
JACQUES RENAULT (Runaway)
Video Installation by AC (DONUTS, The Juan MacLean)
GALAXIE OPENING PREMIERE PARTY!
All Nite Space Disco Dance Party!!

Plus FREE VEGAN SPACECAKES!

Doors 9PM
$5

Befriend us on myspace and hear an exclusive Soft Circle track remixed by Eric Broucek!

Suite Orchard x Gargyle Sample Sale

Suite Orchard & Gargyle invite you to shop!

Also Featuring:
Andrea Brueckner
Bliss Lau
Elissa Dunlop
H Fredriksson
Saya Hibino
Yegang Yoo


May 28, 29, 30
Thurs, Fri, Sat: 12 - 7pm

Suite Orchard
145a Orchard Street
(corner of Rivington Street)
Lower Level

Cash and Credit Card (Visa, MC, Amex) only

Ashkahn does BBBOOORRRIIINNNGGG

My good friend, the illustrator/evil genius behind shopA and the artwork for Ubiquity Records launched a great new product today, the BORING sticker. Perfect for telling the world what you really think, the sticker measures 1x4 and can be bought directly from his online store here! See some more of Ashkahn's amazing work here!

Changing the Art on the White House Walls

Alma Thomas Evening Glow, 1972

By AMY CHOZICK and KELLY CROW

The Obamas are sending ripples through the art world as they put the call out to museums, galleries and private collectors that they’d like to borrow modern art by African-American, Asian, Hispanic and female artists for the White House. In a sharp departure from the 19th-century still lifes, pastorals and portraits that dominate the White House’s public rooms, they are choosing bold, abstract art works.

The overhaul is an important event for the art market. The Obamas’ art choices could affect the market values of the works and artists they decide to display. Museums and collectors have been moving quickly to offer up works for inclusion in the iconic space.

Last week the first family installed seven works on loan from the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington in the White House’s private residence, including “Sky Light” and “Watusi (Hard Edge),” a pair of blue and yellow abstracts by lesser-known African-American abstract artist Alma Thomas, acclaimed for her post-war paintings of geometric shapes in cheery colors.

The National Gallery of Art has loaned the family at least five works this year, including “Numerals, 0 through 9,” a lead relief sculpture by Jasper Johns, “Berkeley No. 52,” a splashy large-scale painting by Richard Diebenkorn, and a blood-red Edward Ruscha canvas featuring the words, “I think maybe I’ll…,” fitting for a president known for lengthy bouts of contemplation. The Jasper Johns sculpture was installed in the residence on Inauguration Day, along with modern works by Robert Rauschenberg and Louise Nevelson, also on loan from the National Gallery.

Collectors say the art picks by the Obamas will likely affect the artists’ market values—or at least raise their profiles. After George W. Bush displayed El Paso, Texas-born artist Tom Lea’s “Rio Grande,” a photorealistic view of a cactus set against gray clouds, in the Oval Office, the price of the artist’s paintings shot up roughly 300%, says Adair Margo, owner of an El Paso gallery that sells Mr. Lea’s work. (Mr. Lea passed away in 2001, which also boosted the value of his work.)

The Obamas’ interest in modern art began before they moved to Washington. The couple’s Hyde Park home featured modern art and black-and-white photographs, according to several Chicago friends. On one of their first dates, Mr. Obama took Michelle Robinson to the Art Institute of Chicago.

Read the full article from the Wall Street Journal.

Major Lazer f/Baby Cham (Dave Kelly Hold The Line Remix)

Another killer remix from the Mad Decent guys for Major Lazer (Diplo and Switch's new future dancehall collab). What could be better than Baby Cham and Santigold rhyming over horses neigh-ing, phone rings and a wikked beat. The LP drops June 16th with a full North American tour. Check it here! (Right Click-DL Linked File As)

Tour Dates:
6/13/09 NEW YORK, NY SOBs
6/18/09 BOSTON, MA HOUSE OF BLUES
6/19/09 PHILADELPHIA, PA ELECTRIC FACTORY
6/20/09 WASHINGTON, DC ROCK AND ROLL HOTEL
6/24/09 VANCOUVER, BC COMMODORE BALLROOM
6/25/09 SEATTLE, WA NEUMOS
6/26/09 SAN FRANCISCO, CA THE GRAND BALLROOM @ REGENCY
6/27/09 LOS ANGELES, CA LA MEMORIAL COLISEUM & EXPO
7/10/09 AUSTIN, TX STUBB'S
7/11/09 DALLAS, TX HOUSE OF BLUES
8/07/09 CHICAGO, IL CONGRESS THEATER
10/31/09 INGLEWOOD, CA THE FORUM

Slum Village x Paradjanov

Edited scenes from the Armenian-Russian director Sergei Paradjanov's film, Sayat Nova (Color of Pomegranates) set to Slum Village's "Climax (Girl Sh$%)!" If you're unfamiliar with Paradjanov's work, you've gotta check Sayat Nova or Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors. Bananas.

Party like it's 1999...

That's right, you read that correctly. BLACK STAR is getting back together for a one-night, two-performance reunion show that will be sure to bring out the backpackers and head nodders to the newly greened Times Square Nokia Theater this Saturday. I did some behind the scenes handshaking and connected good people Peter Oasis from LiveNDirect and the homies from Rocksmith to create a limited edition tee for this reunion concert, 10 years in the making.

Cop tickets from the evil Ticketmaster but don't sleep...it'll sell out soon!