The Single Most Brilliant Single Web Page in Recent Memory
Artist David Horvitz has a load of really great things on site site. Really do go and have a poke about it’s great.
The best bit is a page of things called FOR YOU…
It’s a list by the artist of “THINGS FOR SALE THAT I WILL MAIL YOU”
For example:
If you give me $10 I will take a photograph of the sky just for you. That means I will go outside, shoot a photograph of the sky, print it as a 8.5″ x 11″ full color laser jet print, write the date on it, fold it into an envelope, and mail it to you. Oh, and I will also delete the file so that you will have the only existing copy of that photograph. It’s just for you.
Or:
If you give me $630 I will give it to my landlord for the month’s rent. I won’t work for one month and I’ll send you an email everyday of what I did and why it was important (unless I am away from a computer). Actually, I am going to need some more money for food and utilities. I am going to raise this to $1000. (NOTE: this is one person a month, if you buy this you will be given a specific month). I will also print out the emails I sent you everyday and mail it to you as a small edition of one artist book.
Honestly it might sound a bit odd, but go and have a look at the list. It’s really compelling. The values that he’s given to things and hist notion of ownership and limited-editionness are really interesting.
You can also subscribe to get a picture of the sky every day for a year sent by email. Which seems to be part of his project to take a picture of the sky every day for the rest of his life.
Thank you Ze Frank for the link!
If you’ve not seen Ze Frank’s ColorWars - you really should. It’s incredible.
Oh My Good Lord
Sophie’s brother introduced me to the work of Larry Carlson yesterday. Half of me wishes he hadn’t.
It’s like a portal into a strange dimension that makes you feel kind of odd. But you can’t help sticking around to see what happens next.
The flash animations on his site are absolutely amazing.
Not sure how safe they are if you’ve got a susceptibility to flashing things - pretty dangerous I’d imagine.
Oh and he’s got other sites too like Medijate which are just as odd/amazing.
He’s obviously been around a while and well covered in some places. But I just had to share it.
Techno Viking in Oil - Painting Internet Memes
This guy paints scenes from Internet memes. He used to paint scenes from video games. But he’s moved on. You can buy them at Etsy. Unfortunately Techno Viking has sold out, or else it would be mine right now.
Thanks Jonathan for the tip-off.
Exactitudes
I’d spotted this exhibition in the press and then stumbled on it totally by accident in Selfridges basement this evening. It’s amazing. It’s a series of photographs of style tribes.
They say:
Rotterdam-based photographer Ari Versluis and stylist Ellie Uyttenbroek have worked together since October 1994. Inspired by a shared interest in the striking dress codes of various social groups, they have systematically documented numerous identities over the last 13 years.
As well as the exhibit they’re scouting for and photographing people in the basement of Selfridges. There were a few big guys with beards in there getting photographed when I was in, which added to the whole affair.
You can see most of the photos on the website: http://www.exactitudes.com
There’s also a lovely book that you can buy with all the photos in it. There’s a copy here on Amazon.
Here’s ‘The Gabbers’
Pop in and have a look, it’s well good.
EDIT: I’ve just realised I’m behind the curve on this one. PSFK and Herd have both talked about it. But I guess I’ve actually seen it so I’m allowed to blog it ;-p
24 hour clock
24 hour art installation…
Scratch Stickers
Superb.
Temporary stickers that make your bike or car look like it’s an old rustbucket to deter thieves. I spotted these in SCP the other day.
Availible online from http://dominicwilcox.com
Facebook Add To Friends QR Code
This is bloody great.
Facebook app + QR code. Sounds like someone playing ‘cool shit mashup’. But here something’s been made that is much greater than the sum of its parts.
It’s really simple. You add the Facebook app. Click ‘make my tshirt’. And you’re pretty much done. A custom QR code t-shirt is generated that you can buy immediately.
(If you’re still not getting it, basically if someone takes a photo of the funny thing on the front of your t-shirt you’ll be added to their friends on Facebook).
Whether you’d actually buy or wear one, that’s not the point. It’s just one of those really simple ideas that makes me go: “Yeah, that’s cool, I’m a bit jealous”.
Add to friends Moo stickers - I think that’s what I want… In fact they shouldn’t be too hard to hack together - provided that the stickers are big enough and hi-res enough to capture the required detail for a QR code… Hmmmm
Via: The ever excellent Random Culture
The Art of Sneaker Cleaning and Sneaker Cleaning Products
I’ve veered into silliness with trainers a few times, going out of my way to find them, spending too much money on them and hoarding them badly. I’ve always known that I wasn’t a real sneakerhead though. And I had that confirmed to me when I checked this article oncleaning your kicks @ Sneaker Freaker. If you’ve got dirty old shoes that you’d like to bring back to life there’s some good tips in there.
But what really made me realise what an amateur I am in the sneaker world was the Jason Markk site. Jason apparently makes the ultimate sneaker cleaning fluid - well someone has to. And I like the fact that it’s being done by someone that’s so single minded.
From their about us page:
We make premium goods and accessories for the sneaker boutique market. Our goal is to fulfill the needs and wants of today’s sneaker consumer by offering innovative, high-quality products and accessories. Our mission is to become the most widely recognized and trusted sneaker product and accessory brand in the world.
I’d hazard a guess that anyone who loves their sneakers will love someone who has made it their mission to create the ultimate sneaker products. Would you rather buy a product from someone who really seems to get how important your shoes are? Or Unilever?
Obviously post-sale the product has to be totally excellent too. The product is being put on shoes that are worth way more than money to their owners - just one story of a pair of 1 of 20 AF1s heading south could ruin the reputation of the brand in such a small niche market.
At first I scoffed about their limited edition cleaning sets. They look great and they’re definitely embedded in trainer culture. But then I thought about the kind of people they’re aiming at - and perhaps more importantly where the product is going to get sold. It’s not going to be in a local hardware store is it? If you’re paying $20 for a plain bottle, or much more for a fancy limited edition set you’re only going to see it in boutiques and high-end trainer stores. Where the packaging and legend around the product become super important.
This kit is limited to 1 of 600.
Now all I need to do is find a UK outlet 
Scrabble Seating
I really like this ’seating installation’ at the Bloomberg offices. Designed by Stephen Reed - see more at his site.
Food Fight
I found this movie damn impressive, but the sound’s a tiny bit oppressive…
Food Fight is an abridged history of war, from World War II to present day, told through the foods of the countries in conflict. Watch as traditional comestibles slug it out for world domination in this chronologically re-enacted smorgasbord of aggression.
The movie site is here.
via: ThreeMinds
