Hasta La Ideas

A gallery show explores the reaches of monochromatic art

Rounding up a smattering of 37 artists, a new exhibition at the Jeff Bailey Gallery entitled “Grey Full” takes a close look at art’s most enigmatic color. The show educates viewers on the subtleties of shade and how small variations can communicate the emotional spectrum. A personal theme for artists who grew up on graphite, the show’s artists are all long-term explorers of the color. Desaturated though it may be, we loved the concept from curator Geoffrey Young and came away with a few favorites from the show.

Using a pelt of black sheepskin, Hugh Hayden abandons his architectural roots to shave a portrait of the President of the United States. The relief accomplishes a gradient through the relative length of the hair, with the white skin beneath providing contrast for the jet black coat. What begins as shock and comedy results in a meditation on race and an exploration of African American hair culture.

The masterful graphite work of Will Duty shows incredible manual ability. His drawn gradient background is a fluid contrast to the soft abstract scratches that are overlaid. In his work, one gets a sense of the potential for monochromatic works, and how an absence of color and contrast can add to the gravity of a piece.

Audrey Stone is a master of detail. Her delicately outlined webs are hardly visible from a distance. Getting up close and personal with the work, a network of pathways and geometries emerge. Created with painstakingly set thread, ink and pencil, Stone’s work is full of motion and energy that sneakily alters how we read the flat grid of lines.

Will Yackulic‘s “Grotto” is a complex combination of cold-process dye, india ink and oil paint. The abstract representation has a chemical appearance that’s full of rich texture. Yackulic’s individual look is gained through his employment of multiple mediums, which in the past has varied from gouache to typewriter ribbon.

Another abstract work, “The Cave” by Jered Sprecher, caught our eye for its haunting qualities. Disembodied finger marks and obscure forms stand out on a scene that seems to be melting away. The work reflects Sprecher’s fascination with states of change and deterioration.

The exhibit opens with a reception tonight from 6-8pm and will run through 11 February 2012.

Jeff Bailey Gallery

625 West 27th St

New York, NY 10001

Selected American-made bags fit for everyday carry or a weekend away

Although the year’s busiest travel days are over for some, our globe-trotting schedule never seems to let up. Inspired by the thought of the next adventure on the horizon we’ve gathered up a handful of our favorite new duffel bags—each expertly crafted in the USA. From dead-stock denim to Wisconsin-grown leather, these five bags will look great slung over the shoulder of both him and her.

Will Leather Goods

Made in America with both domestic and international materials is the Oaxacan Duffel from Eugene, Oregon’s Will Leather Goods. Each unique bag incorporates hand-woven, vegetable-dyed wool rugs from the Oaxaca region in southern Mexico, and comes trimmed with American leather. With this multicultural approach, Will supports small communities through fair trade and sustainable production. Available online from Will for $495.

Rag & Bone

The latest travel piece from the New York-based label brings a subdued aesthetic with a hint of spring to guide you through the gloomy winter months. The Devere Duffel‘s thick denim bottom and canvas upper are made of 100% cotton with rich leather accents. Available online from Rag & Bone for $275.

Brown Bag Co.

As the most industrial of the group, the Alpine Duffel Bag is technically meant for the construction site. However, its heavy-duty leather duffle features supple, Milwaukee-grown oil-tanned leather that’ll last a lifetime and only look better with wear, so we couldn’t help but recognize its aesthetic appeal. Plus, the multitude of pockets—two outer, ten inner—come in handy even if you’re hauling office supplies instead of power tools. Look to Home Depot where it sells for $313.

Blue Claw Co.

Named for the nautical term for luggage taken on a voyage, the Dunnage is a slender duffel perfect for daily commutes and weekends away. The minimalist bag features one slit pocket on the outside and a zippered one the inside, providing just enough storage to keep things in order. The ballistic nylon shell sports leather accents for a classic look. Available from Blue Claw Co. for $178.

Me & Arrow

Constructed by hand in Los Angeles, the Arrow Duffel Bag features a wrapped denim body with 100% cotton lining in a hue they call “lime sorbet”, and dark brown leather straps. Like all Me & Arrow goods, each product is made with vintage, dead-stock fabrics. Both go for $234 online.

Looking back at the photographs that captured some of our greatest experiences this year

Since 2003 Cool Hunting has been about finding and sharing stories of creativity and innovation from a broad range of categories. Looking back on our photos from the year I feel very fortunate that we have had so many incredible experiences. What follows is a photographic year-in-review, highlighting some of my favorite shots.

January 2011, Burlington, VT. Finally got to meet and interview the man who created an industry, Jake Burton. More Burton

January 2011, New York, NY. Sat down with the hailed portrait photographer, Albert Watson, and even got to take his portrait. Albert Watson for The Macallan

February 2011, Iznik, Turkey. Learned the centuries-old secret of Turkey’s Iznik ceramics. Cool Hunting Video Presents: Iznik Tiles

February 2011, Long Beach, CA. Saw the unveiling of JR’s Inside Out Project at TED and got to use his oversized photo booth. Inside Out

March 2011, Near Reykjavic, Iceland. Made friends with this Icelandic horse. Nature-Inspired Accessories

May 2011, New York, NY. Witnessed Olek’s brilliant crocheted bodysuits at the Festival of Ideas in NYC.

May 2011, Santa Fe, NM. Moved by Colette Hosmer’s ancient modern Japanese sculpture.

June 2011, Los Angeles, CA. Created the Gap’s Fall ad campaign focused around their denim design studio in downtown LA. The Pico Creative Loft

June 2011, Halewood, England. Visited the assembly line for the Range Rover Evoque to learn how design gets built. Cool Hunting Video Presents: Making the Evoque

June 2011, New York, NY. Met Scott Morrison and took our denim lust to all new levels.3×1

June 2011, Crewe, England. Learned the truly bespoke nature of creating a Bentley motorcar. Cool Hunting Video Presents: Bentley

July 2011, France. Followed the journey of the Grey Goose wheat all over France to learn how their vodka is made.

July 2011, Maranello, Italy. Ferrari’s V8 assembly line is as impressive as the cars it creates. Ferrari Campus Visit

August 2011, Pebble Beach, CA. Witnessed the epitome of passion and dedication among the car owners presenting their vehicles at the Concours D’Elegance. Vintage Automobiles at Pebble Beach 2011

August 2011, Salinas, CA. Watched vintage Jaguar X-Types race on the Laguna Seca Speedway. Vintage Automobiles at Pebble Beach 2011

August 2011, Flushing, NY. Joined Olympus for a photo safari at the US Open and got to take pictures from all the best spots in the stadium. Olympus E-P3

September 2011, Los Angeles, CA. Attended the unveiling of the most anticipated shoe in history, the Nike Mag. Nike Mag

September 2011, Romeo, MI. Spent a day on Aston Martin’s Performance Driving Course pushing a Rapide and Vantage V12 to their limits. Aston Martin Performance Driving Course

November 2011, Le Marche, Italy. Harvested and pressed olives to make oil with Nudo during a full immersion of the region’s community and culture. Le Marche

November 2011, Mexico City, Mexico. When celebrated architect Luis Barragán designed a house for you he spec’d everything, including the pots.

November 2011, Paris, France. Met and interviewed the fashion industry icon, Karl Lagerfeld. CH Capsule Video: Printemps Holiday Windows by Karl Lagerfeld

November 2011, Carlsbad, CA. Discovered the truest form of luxury travel on the road and in the air with Mercedes Benz. Four Innovations in the 2012 Mercedes Benz SL

December 2011, Miami Beach, FL. Bathed in copious amounts of art during Art Basel and the surrounding fairs. Art + Design in Miami: Tricks On The Eye

December 2011, Mutianyu, China. Jeralyn Gerber, co-founder of FathomAway.com, gets in the noodle pulling groove at The Schoolhouse, near China’s Great Wall.

December 2011, Hong Kong. Discovered Hong Kong’s Fungus Workshop, a small classroom and atelier that offers leather-working classes and sells items that people have made there.

December 2011, Hong Kong. This cured meat vendor in the Wan Chai market, Hong Kong was very friendly and happy to speak about her products.

A new show curated by Sarah Schmerler sheds light on the luster of four artists’ work

In the forthcoming group show “Gʉilty / (NOT) Guilty,” art critic and curator Sarah Schmerler brings together four talented artists for a cohesive display of works surrounding the play on words that the title implies. Turning guilt instead into a word synonymous with a gold surface, the exhibition explores the luster of an artist’s work in economic downtime and questions what makes a piece of art attractive in the eyes of society. Or, as Schmerler explains in her curatorial statement for the show, “I think of this show as my own kind of illustrated ‘Fuck U’.”

Originally debuting in May 2011 on Schmerler’s virtual exhibition space 45projects (which she curates with the industrious design director Paulius Nosokas), the physical manifestation of “Gʉilty” on view at Brooklyn’s Norte Maar will keep the same foursome on roster, a group of established yet emerging artists Schmerler says have been “hiding in plain sight.” The lineup includes Ellen Letcher, Francesco Masci, Alfred Steiner and Pablo Tauler, who will each show the works included in the online version as well as new pieces.

In his spare time, copyright lawyer Alfred Steiner creates works that Schmerler considers “visually arresting” in their own right, but at the same time reflect a fascinating narrative. Steiner beautifully entwines various body parts like eyeballs, noses and even muscle tissue to create impeccably rendered silhouettes that transform the sum of its parts into an incredible whole.

NYC-based Chilean artist Pablo Tauler uses just a ballpoint pen for his meticulously drawn illustrations on display at Norte Maar, which turn ethereal scenes and abstract forms into bold, large-scale works of art. The airy depictions he presents for Gʉilty / (NOT) Guilty are only a small facet of his work, which spans painting, digital photography and video.

Schmerler describes Francesco Masci as a classic Renaissance artist who can really paint, but one with no misgivings about crossing boundaries. In addition to his Twitter-inspired portraiture, Masci will show his 2009 “Totem” series, comprised of images created from hundreds of digital files procured through Google searches and stacked to make a wildly emblematic statement on modern obsessions. Masci’s formal training allows him to move seamlessly between subjects and styles, executing his work with a fresh perspective for his medium.

Ellen Letcher cuts and pastes in the physical realm, arranging images pulled from periodicals and magazines into perceptive collages adhered together with paint. The slightly ominous subject matter only backs up already engrossing compositions that toe the line between fact and fiction.

Gʉilty / (NOT) Guilty opens 1st January 2012 at Norte Maar with a Champagne brunch to celebrate, and will run through the end of the month. Check out the online catalog—created by Nosokas, who will also have a few works on display concurrently at Norte Maar—for more on the show and the four New York-based artists it champions.

Norte Maar

83 Wyckoff Avenue, #1B

Brooklyn, NY

11237

+1.646.361.8512

Life lessons from legendary photographer Mick Rock on the eve of his New York exhibition

Mick Rock is probably not the first name that pops to mind if you’re thinking about seeking some career advice. Dubbed the world over as “the man who shot the Seventies,” Rock is known as much for his own rock star reputation—he claims his biggest achievement is that he’s still standing—as he is for the photographs he took of countless lead singers and wayward musicians during the indelible era of punk. While that might be the timeframe that catapulted his wild success, Rock has endured through it all and continues to be one of the most sought-after lensmen in the music industry today, shooting everyone from Lady Gaga to Tommy Lee.

However, when we caught up with the man himself to discuss the opening of his NYC exhibition at the W Downtown—aptly titled “Rocked“—the legendary photographer inadvertently shed some light on the keys to remaining so relevant over the years. Describing himself as “some leftover from a forgotten era, way before rock ‘n’ roll ever showed up,” his surprisingly humble attitude sends an even more powerful message.

One of the most valuable snippets of wisdom we gleaned from the conversation sums up the passion that Rock’s portraits exude. He sagely imparts, “Follow your obsession, because at worst you’ll build up a collection. Down the road that collection could have a value. You might make piss-all money right now, but one day you might make a bundle.” Rock’s obsession found him touring with bands like Thin Lizzy, be-friending Syd Barrett and becoming David Bowie’s official photographer. His personal relationships with the bands undoubtedly played a part in his success, but for Rock it’s as simple as this: “I like to shoot, it’s good for my psyche, it’s good for my fucking soul.”

For a fan of music in general, photographing any budding musician can still be an exciting moment, but it’s not their actual tunes that pique Rock’s curiosity. “I’m not looking for the truth, or reality, I’m interested in their aura, what the music gives off, and what their consciousness gives off as performing agents, as artists.” Despite his genuine ability to connect on a creative level, occasionally paying the bills is also a factor. Another lesson Rock offers is essentially to learn the dance but don’t sell out.

Likening himself to an “uptown prostitute” at times, he extends this insight: “As like any great hooker, if you pay her enough money she will be in love with you for a certain amount of time. Well, I can be in love with you.” The magic he seems to impart while shooting, the work he allows himself to take, all of this boils down to a man who knows his craft extremely well. Claiming his rich career was in no way built by design, he also knows you have to study your profession and be willing to compromise.

Arguably a huge part of what allows Rock to transcend time is his ability to go with the flow. He doesn’t totally even completely understand his own celebrity, but rather than become reclusive or keep his surplus of unpublished photos to himself, he rolls with the hand life continues to deal him. Slightly puzzled at the recent French Vogue feature on his oeuvre, he embraces his “ghosts of yore” and says poetically, “The past has paved the way for me to come again.”

In addition to the traveling exhibition on view at the W, for which he specifically shot Janelle Monae, Theophilus London and several other contemporary stars, Rock plans to publish a set of limited-edition books that will unearth archived photos. First will be a dedicated book on Thin Lizzy (for which he’s chosen to get the approval of Phil Lynott’s daughter Sarah before publishing), followed by a book with Lou Reed called “Believe It or Not: Transformer” and finally a book on the godfather of punk rock, the iconic Iggy Pop. In the 1970s, there wasn’t an abundance of outlets like today’s blog-fueled industry, so for Rock, this is a chance to “get all these pictures out there that people haven’t seen.”

“Rocked” will be on view through 29 December 2011 at the W Downtown before moving on to W Hotels in Washington, D.C. and Seattle.