by Kyana Gordon Sips of rum punch, luxurious private villas and postcard-perfect white sand beaches are reasons many vacationers flock to the Caribbean. Holly Bynoe and Nadia Huggins, two ambitious women from the chain of glittering islands known as St. Vincent and the…
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Pointing to the movement in recent years to connect with our food sources as we become increasingly aware of our impact on the planet, Modern Farmer—a daily website, print quarterly, event series and online store launched…
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The recently launched web outlet, The Ground, is a multifaceted cultural platform that stands out for its innovative entrepreneurial approach. The project integrates a social network, interactive online publication and promotional platform, as well as a biannual print edition filled with notable articles from the virtual edition. The initiative…
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Local NYC storytelling in a new web outlet for long-form journalism
Dedicated to long-form, local human-interest journalism based around NYC, the web-based publication, Narrative.ly marks a sign of changing times for the medium, where the rift between breaking content and meditated stories is causing outlets to choose sides. As Narratively founder Noah Rosenberg explains, the site is essentially about storytelling….
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Berlin’s leading design book shop welcomes world renowned illustrator Olaf Hajek and more
As ardent readers of Gestalten‘s stellar art and design books, we’ve been wanting to visit their storefront, Gestalten Space, ever since it opened last year in Berlin. Tucked away in a cobblestone alley in Mitte, Gestalten Space sells the imprint’s own publications along with a well curated selection of covetable design objects, while the exhibition space in back allows for an expansion to the work of the artists and designers they publish. Demonstrating a wide scope, in April they exhibited photographs from Jorg Bruggemann’s book “Metalheads,” followed by a selection of the best new Japanese communication design from the Tokyo Art Directors Club.
Right now Gestalten is celebrating “Black Antoinette,” their second monograph by illustrator Olaf Hajek, with an exhibition that runs through July. A collection of Hajek’s work from the past three years including editorial contracts, commercial portraits and personal pieces, “Black Antoinette” continues Hajek’s visual language of colorful botanical headdresses and folkloric influences with a distinct handmade, tactile quality akin to woodblock, not seen is most contemporary illustration. The look stems from the fact that Hajek never starts his work on the computer, but with paint on paper, wood or gray board. He does use a scanner, but only to send his work to clients—never as part of his illustration process.
The new book sets itself apart from Hajek’s previous publications with a style that has become more “free and painterly,” as Gestalten puts it, and less committed to absolute perfection. “Hajek masterfully melds influences from West African and Latin American art to create surreal juxtapositions of fairy tale fantasies and disordered realities. His magical realism enriches the perspective of anyone viewing his work,” and, we’d like to add, allows him to masterfully tread the fine line between commercial illustration and fine art.”
“Black Antoinette” runs through 29 July 2012 at Gestalten Space, where you can also buy the book. Copies will be available in the US within the coming months.
Gestalten Space images by Perrin Drumm
Our latest shipment with the subscription service features Joshua Harker’s 3D filigree brilliance
Back in November 2011, we announced our partnership with the subscription service Quarterly Co., which offers users the chance to receive gifts in the mail from a roster of design-minded contributors four times per year. For the second shipment, Cool Hunting co-founders Josh Rubin and Evan Orensten sent subscribers a miniature “Crania Anatomica”, a sculpture by Chicago-based artist Joshua Harker.
We first learned about Joshua when he was seeking funding for the project on Kickstarter with the goal to raise $500; he ended up with $77,271, the highest funded sculpture project in the history of the website. Now, Joshua has created a version exclusively for our second Quarterly shipment. We’re thrilled to offer subscribers a little something that celebrates the human form and serves as a solid addition to any cabinet of curiosities. Subscribers have been receiving theirs over the last few days and have been tweeting pictures of the little 3D-printed filigree wonder in various settings.
Due to high demand, Quarterly Co. is currently closed to new subscribers, but you can join their waiting list or check out their blog for more information.
Images by Josh Rubin
Three ways to stay informed about the progressive aspects of city-based agriculture
Nearly 12,000 years ago the Neolithic Revolution altered the course of our survival from hunting and gathering to established agriculture. As the world’s population concentrates into cities and realization dawns that our resources are limited, we’re faced with a new and potentially as significant shift in how we feed ourselves. We are now transitioning from hunting and gathering—sending trains, planes and trucks to destinations around the world for our food—to an emphasis on growing local through urban farming. The global movement toward this approach affects more than just the food we eat—the focus on community gardens and DIY techniques leads to conversations about our culture, how we treat our environment and the progression of mankind. It also encourages experimentation and leads to developments in science and technology. Perhaps best of all, urban farming and its pioneering ways inspires everyone to get out there and spend a little time with Mother Nature.
Whether you’re a casual farmer, a serious harvester or just someone who wants to know more about the science of agriculture (and perhaps doesn’t know where to begin), here are four resources for keeping tabs on the evolution of urban farming today—from the latest news to cultivation tips—that are useful no matter where you live.
Spending time raising animals and tilling the earth can have therapeutic benefits on the human psyche, Meg Paska points out in one of her first posts, “In Becoming a Backyard Bumpkin“, on Brooklyn Homesteader, a blog she runs with Brooklyn Grange farm manager Michael Meier. The self-proclaimed go-getter embodies the DIY spirit, and her adventures in farming lead to a site filled with really solid advice on beekeeping, home-brewing, gardening, mycology, composting, backyard livestock husbandry and more. Guest bloggers provide insights on subjects like making your own beef jerky or homemade laundry soap. In addition to guiding readers through projects online with detailed instructions and explanatory images, Paska and Meier also lead monthly classes and workshops on the subjects they’ve come to master.
To make getting started or maintaining crops even easier, Paska and the Brooklyn Grange team recently opened a pop-up shop in the Greenpoint neighborhood. Hayseeds, open through the end of June 2012, not only stocks essential urban farming supplies, but it also serves as a place to stop by and discuss endeavors with a host of knowledgeable green thumbs. Keep an eye out for Paska‘s forthcoming book on rooftop beekeeping for more information on raising the ecosystem’s most essential species.
The non-profit station, Heritage Radio Network was created in 2009 by Patrick Martins, founder of Slow Food USA and of Heritage Foods USA. Reporting live from two converted shipping containers out back behind the sustainable Brooklyn pizzeria Roberta’s, HRN “chronicles and celebrates the growing movement to change American foodways”. HRN offers an abundance of thoughtful ways to get involved in the local food movement that extend beyond farming and well beyond Brooklyn. From their online programming you can glean information on everything from landscaping to agricultural policy.
The station’s extensive coverage is presented by an array of leading chefs, scientists and cultural thinkers. Former director of culinary technology at the French Culinary Institute, Dave Arnold hosts a weekly call-in cooking show covering molecular gastronomy and new culinary tools. Notable photographer Michael Harlan Turkell covers the marriage of food and art in his show “The Food Seen” and notable author Dr. Jessica B. Harris offers listeners a global perspective on food geography, culinary history and cultural trends in her segment “My Welcome Table“, to name a few.
Intent on moving garden culture beyond what they call a “hi-gloss scenario” and into a domain that instead “restores our connection to the natural world and redefines our relationship to plants”, the quarterly Soiled and Seeded Magazine showcases the positive effects of unconventional horticulture. The Ontario-based non-profit keeps a fresh, global perspective on gardening and its sociological impact through stories on topics like ancient Croatian botanical manuscripts, urban seed bombing dispensers or turning waste into soil in troubled countries like Haiti.
Edited by botanist Barbara Ozimec, Soiled and Seeded lends an expert understanding to urban gardening topics while keeping the inspirational themes highly entertaining. The magazine’s impressive masthead of international contributors have equally authoritative backgrounds, with all of the writers working professionally as anthropologists, horticulturists or program managers for organizations focused on environmental sustainability.
Three simple booklets bring wit, wordplay and graphic design shenanigans to the printed page
Boutique graphic design outfit User Design recently released a series of self-published works united by British wit and a simple, hand-drawn aesthetic. The titles include “The Journey of the Larks”, “Punctuation…?” and “Life”, and show an emerging playful side of the predominantly commercial publisher. Illustrated, designed and created by Thomas Bohm, the trio matches supremely minimal design with an endearing sense of play.
“Journey of the Larks” is a picture book that balances word play and illustration with clever “typographic shenanigans”. The themed spreads illustrate a range of inventive scenarios from “a wince of dentists” to “a lot of used car-dealers”. The standout pick of the bunch, Larks has plenty of charm to entertain children and adults alike.
The grammar-focused “Punctuation…?” is a non-traditional take on classic educational instruction booklets. While entirely informative, the illustrations for rules are executed with a splash of cheek and cleverness. Documenting the 21 most-used punctuation marks, the pamphlet runs the gamut from curly braces and interpuncts to pilcrows and guillemets.
The narrative tale “Life” is a picture book that records “one day in the life of somebody.” The roughly constructed story follows a character through his daily commute, the office grind and domestic life. While non-linear and difficult to decode at times, the account succeeds in demonstrating a kind of dadaist daily life.
User Design’s collection of books can be purchased through Amazon and Central Books starting at £8 or $12.80.
Photos by James Thorne
Sight Unseen returns to the printed page with a limited edition publication championing the creative process
The brainchild of two former I.D. Magazine editors, Sight Unseen began as a Kickstarter project in 2009, shortly after the celebrated print outlet published its final issue. Armed with years of industry experience, Jill Singer and Monica Khemsurov tackled the online world with a distinct site focused on the creative process and what happens behind the scenes at design studios around the world.
Now, with the help of Karlsson’s Vodka Unfiltered project, Singer and Khemsurov return to the printed page with a limited edition book designed by NYC’s Studio Lin. The aptly titled “Paper View” includes 24 new features on a range of designers, including Roman and Williams, Anntian, Roanne Adams, Andy Rementer, Shin Okuda and more.
The duo smartly organized the book into four thematic sections revolving around what it’s like to be a maker. Beginning with “My Mom and Dad Are Artists”, the book continues the exploration of some of the universal truths behind creative thinking with the headings “I Studied X and Now I’m Doing Y”, “Material Obsession” and “Strange Ephemera”. Singer and Khemsurov expertly detail insights from their studio visits and combine valuable text with illustrative photos for a comprehensive overview of how each designer works.
In a one-page column called “8 Things”, a handful of designers candidly share what inspires them—Apartamento founder Nacho Alegre tells how he is humbled by the work of American photographer Alec Soth, PIN-UP Magazine editor Felix Burrichter declares his love for Lagunilla flea market in Mexico City, Mondo Cane‘s Patrick Parrish divulges Sweetwater I.P.A. as his favorite beer and Established & Sons‘ Sebastian Wrong states his obsession for open fireplaces, to name a few.
Limited to just 400 copies, “Paper View” is now available to order for $30. Those in NYC can celebrate the book launch at the design-led boutique Creatures of Comfort (also highlighted in the printed edition), where the Sight Unseen Shape Shop pop-up will open tonight, 9 April and run through 6 May 2012. The temporary store within a store is centered around all things geometric—from Bec Brittain‘s Penta-Hex bottle opener to pillow totems from Mociun and more.
Artifacts collected from Doug Aitken’s cinematic installation
Following his lauded MoMA installation “Sleepwalkers” (2007), Doug Aitken has just released a limited edition box set of materials related to the project in collaboration with Princeton Architectural Press and DFA Records. The original piece turned MoMA’s multiple courtyard facades into an interactive multiplex, simultaneously screening eight vignettes that each starred a different character. For fans of Aitken, the 1,000 numbered box sets—which cover the video project, music and stills—bring a new life to his ambitious project, providing insight into the process behind the work.
Accompanying the DVD of the installation are two audio CDs and a vinyl disc, both of which are covered by original artwork by Aitken. Designed specifically to be spun at 33rpm, the record comes to life with an animation when played. The CDs act as soundtracks to Sleepwalkers, and the record includes three unreleased tracks by Broadcast in addition to an opera from Aitken entitled “The Handle Comes Up, The Hammer Comes Down”.
An interview on the DVD between architect Jacque Herzog and Aitken anticipates the installation of Sleepwalkers on the soon-to-open new location of the Miami Art Museum, which was designed by Swiss firm Herzog & de Meuron. As with all publications from Princeton Architectural Press, the box and components are meticulously bound to create a visually striking collection.
The look of the original exhibition at MoMA is replicated in miniature form in two flip books in the set, and Aitken provides a double-sided poster as well—one side original artwork, the other a collage of movie stills and inspiration. Aside from the film itself, the most compelling piece is a book that shows the creation of Sleepwalkers through images and text. All told, the collection marks a testament to the artist’s prolific range and talent across mediums.
The Sleepwalkers Box is available online through www.sleepwalkersbox.com for $300.
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
