Hasta La Ideas

Tight rope performer Philippe Petit in a gallery show

Philippe Petit, the daring performance artist who captured the world’s attention when he rigged a tight rope between the World Trade Center’s twin towers, is the focus of Clic Gallery’s current exhibition “Line Up: Rigging Knots and Glimpses of a Master Class.” Not only is Petit a incredibly skilled balancing act, but the multi-hyphenate artist is a bullfighter, street juggler, lock-picker and talented sketcher.

His pencil drawings will be on display, along with rare photos of the man-in-perpetual-motion, shot by photographer Victoria Dearing.

The intimate exhibit will show Petit exploring the rigging knots that determine his fate when he is walking in the clouds as well as reveal a more philanthropic side of Petit, who has spent much of his life since his 1974 World Trade Center stunt imparting wisdom onto his students.

Meet Petit at the opening of “Line Up” tomorrow, 16 December 2010 and the show runs through 16 January 2011.

Scorci di NY disegnati da James Gulliver Hancock.
[Via]

Dossier magazine’s creative director Skye Parrott tests the limits of autobiography in her first solo photo exhibit

In today’s hyperreal visual landscape, erasing lines between fact and fiction has become a controversial trope. “First Love, Last Rites”—photographer Skye Parrott‘s new solo show at Brooklyn’s Capricious Space—does just that, revisiting a year-and-a-half of the artist’s tumultuous teen years, beginning when she was 15 and in a relationship with her first love. Casting her real-life ex-boyfriend and a model as herself, Parrott recreated and photographed the events of her youth—defined by the couple’s drug addiction. The resulting works not only shed light on this hazy period of her life, but also provide real insight into the subjectivity of memory and the possibility of ever having a “true” experience.

After comparing notes with her then-boyfriend Alex, Parrott began to realize that what she so firmly believed to be the reality of their years together was not exactly cut and dry. “I was struck by the discrepancies between his memories and mine. The more I delved into the story, the more I had the feeling that we were both, in a way, telling the truth. We had both made choices—conscious or not—about what to remember based on what narrative we needed to tell. I found that memories are something more layered than I’d thought them to be, and that truth can be a bit more fluid.” To make these disparities explicit, she even goes so far as to deliberately change a detail in a photograph from corresponding text in the accompanying book (featuring personal artifacts like letters, photographs of Parrott herself and items discovered inside old pockets) so that the two fail to tell exactly the same story.

There’s no question that the work is deeply, almost shockingly, personal. (A sensibility not unrelated to Nan Goldin, with whom Parrott used to work.) Originally, the project was for her eyes only, so there was no limit on the details she divulged in the work she assembled. But the night before the show opened at Capricious, what she was about to do finally struck her: “It seemed kind of insane. And I think it probably is a little insane, but it’s also honest. I know that’s something I really respond to in other people’s work, so I hope this work will give someone else that feeling.”

Whatever it ultimately evokes in others, it was a cathartic experience for Parrott, whose other ongoing project is the magazine Dossier that she founded. “One of my drives in working on this originally was a real feeling of disconnect between who I was then and who I am now, and I feel like examining that history helped me to bridge that gulf. The whole experience was therapeutic in the sense that I felt, in finishing the project, like I was putting that time in my life, and that relationship, to rest.”

First Love, Last Rites is on view now through 15 January 2011 at Capricious.

Food-focused highlights from our holiday gift guide and an event in NYC

Among the food-focused items in out 2010 Holiday Gift Guide we’ve selected ten stand-outs including some highlights from the Cool Hunting for Gap Pop Up shop—where we’re having an event dedicated to this favorite topic. For those in NYC, stop by the store from 12-2pm Saturday, 4 December 2011 to snap up products launching that day—including a chocolate bar collaboration we facilitated between Brooklyn’s Mast Brothers and Berkley’s June Taylor as well the deliciously addictive Happy Goat caramel sauce infused with Macallan whisky—and meet your favorite cookbook author while sampling goods from local artisans like Brooklyn Salsa Company.

The Essential New York Times Cookbook

The The Essential New York Times Cookbook contains over 1,000 recipes compiled by former NYT columnist Amanda Hesser. Dishes span Caesar to Fava Bean Salad to a 19th-century Raspberry Granita—all fully explained in a simple format.

State-by-Food Tote Bag

Shop your local green market with the State-by-Food Tote Bag, featuring illustrations of popular foods from each of the 50 states. No matter where you go, you will always have some inspiration to draw from.

Nudo’s Quattro Stagione

Olive oil for every season, Nudo spices up any salad, sandwich or pasta with four delicious flavors, all made from 100% hand-picked olives that go straight from the grove to pressing.

Tartine Bread

Nothing beats perfectly baked bread, especially when it’s baked using a recipe from Chad Robertson’s Tartine Bread, a James Beard award-winner and arguably the best bread maker in the United States.

Sing Sing Dinner Tray

The Sing Sing Dinner Tray is a refined replica of the trays used in New York’s infamous prison. Perfect for portion control, dinner in front of the TV or as a distinct tray for serving guests at your holiday party.

OXO Four-Piece Grill Set

For the BBQ ace with discerning tastes in and out of the kitchen, the OXO 4-Piece Grill Set comes with an attractive set of essential grilling utensils, each with retractable hooks and a patented design for the silicone basting brush, which keeps marinades from sliding off its bristles.

DeLonghi Gran Dama

Used daily by CH founder Josh Rubin, with the touch of a button the DeLonghi Gran Dama creates espressos, lattes, cappuccinos and macchiatos—each with programmable amounts of coffee and milk, as will as adjustable cup sizes. The convenience is well worth the price.

Damn Good Cookies

While most of us are dreaming of dessert before our meal even starts, these cookies are worth the wait. Chocolate Gourmet’s “Damn Good Cookies” definitely live up to their name. Our mouths are watering just thinking about the delicious treats.

Avocado Salt and Pepper Shaker

The uniquely designed Avocado Salt and Pepper Shaker by Brooklyn-based ceramicist Daina Platais is cast from an actual avocado, her personal food favorite.

Brooklyn Salsa

Brooklyn Salsa engages us with its quirky names that represent the different boroughs of NYC. With flavors such as The Hot, The Pure, The Green, The Tropical and The Burnt, there are no shortage of options on how to spice up your next snack attack.

Converse leverages their heritage to reinvent retail with their second shop

With over 100 years of history and a shoe known around the world, it may seem surprising that the Converse store opening today in NYC is only the second brick-and-mortar shop for the iconic brand. Following the success of its first location on Boston’s Newbury Street, Converse is taking their wholesale and online empire to SoHo, with a sizable shop dedicated both to the city itself and Converse’s athletic heritage all with a punk rock twist.

As explained by Dave Powers, Vice President of Global Retail for Converse, the store is directed at kids aged 18-22 that enjoy wearing a simple outfit comprised of Chuck Taylors, jeans and a plaid shirt. While this sounds similar to the typical ensemble adorning the Abercrombie crowd, Powers ensures us that the Converse shop is actually the opposite to uniform style. Powers states simply, “we don’t need anyone telling us how to dress.” The Converse store reflects this, with its relaxed atmosphere, no-frills merchandising (there’s even an express pick-up window for shoe shoppers who already know their size) and a customization center complete with “maestros” who are eager to help patrons put their name and personal style on shoes, totes and tees.

The store is home to the largest selection of Converse kicks in the world, from the 648 pairs of red, white and blue Chuck Taylors making up the American flag wall installation (taken from the Berlin Bread and Butter show) to its extensive showcase of premium brand collaborations, NYC One Stars, (Product) Red, Jack Purcells and more.The shop isn’t just for sneaker freaks though—also stocking the shelves is a brand new collection of apparel and accessories seemingly centered around various styles of denim and snug-fitting sportswear.

With so many brands drawing on their heritage as modern inspiration, the Converse store is a refreshing take on the concept; successfully acknowledging its roots and playing to them without force-feeding its customers a glorified version of its past. Reclaimed gym bleachers are a prominent design element in the store, for example. Powers also explained to CH that before they worried about decor or product the goal was to achieve the perfect store ambiance. Initially working with design firm Ideo, two years later they have done just that.