Central Park NYC

Central Park is definitely an oasis to the grime and pavement. But it's crazy how in in the park, no matter what, you can detect the human crafting that gave rise to the entire thing. the park was built in the mid 19th century entirely by master architects and landscapers. from the water falls to the 'woods', the landscaping is really the underlying magic that helps to form a place to satisfy the casual outdoors escape. a disneyland for nature, the park features mini creeks, ponds and ecosystems that have come to maintain themselves, with the help of the central park conservatory, independently. I went to the north woods today for a breather and found myself among numerous painted turtles in one one these forged ponds beneath a waterfall. it was defintitely a peaceful experience. meditated with a baby turtle who was on a suitably small rock by himself for a minute before grabbing a bigger guy who let me hold him before he got uncomfortable and jumped back in. i was left watching with envy as the humidity was pretty high...  literally looking eye to eye with animals i have always found to be a humbling experience because they all seem to possess a very peaceful quality that people will never master- living in the moment... a trait that living in New York can transform into a superpower if ya dig. anyways i kept going and found about a 60 degree shale with the park's oldest building, the blockhouse, on top. deciding it was a worthy enough reward for breaking a sweat, i found myself on all fours.. again, exactly what i'm trying to doin the middle of nyc. my new hobby. use the body in natural ways (i.e. climbing, hiking), without having to leave the city. lastly, is it not obvious and dope that birds and dinosaurs are related.. i always watch birds and pretend. and too bad the only animals in the city are dogs cats, squirrels and birds. too bad there's no deer... at least there's fireflys. alright.. ahaha

Here's a link to events in Central Park for summer

http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_things_to_do/upcoming_events/events_search.php

OH FUCK. They had to have him. Jared Jones is so hot in Gucci Spring Summer 09

No worries ladies and gentlemen, the man will be back in NYC  tomorrow. That's just how he do. 

Waterfall in East River?

The East River is not only home to tagged up turtles, but dead bodies, and starting this summer, man-made waterfalls as well. Artist Olafur Eliasson created this Pier 35 contraption which, along with three others at the Brooklyn Bridge, Governors Island and below Brooklyn Heights, will start gushing water sometime in July. Circle Line will be operating “special in depth tours” of the waterfalls, but you can also avoid tourists and check them out from the shoreline and East River bridges for free. -"Will"

Men's Fashion Weeks in Europa

a bit excited to get outta nyconscious luxury in 08 caint you know

Biggest Lego Set Ever. Shaq and Kobe. Luke and Kenobe

 . 

It has 3803 pieces. and comes with 25 Heroes, Villians, Droids, and Creatures. This has the largest minifig count of any LEGO set released to date. Recreate the action and adventure of the Star Wars™ movies with the ultimate Death Star playset! This amazingly detailed battle station features an incredible array of minifigure-scale scenes, moving parts, characters and accessories from Episodes IV and VI on its multiple decks, including the Death Star control room, rotating turbolaser turrets, hangar bay with TIE Advanced starfighter, tractor beam controls, Emperor’s throne room, detention block, firing laser cannon, Imperial conference chamber, droid maintenance facility, and the powerful Death Star superlaser…plus much more! Swing across the chasm with Luke and Leia, face danger in the crushing trash compactor, and duel with Darth Vader for the fate of the galaxy! Includes 25 heroes, villains, droids and creatures! Includes 6 new and exclusive minifigures and droids only found in this set: Luke Skywalker™ (Stormtrooper™ outfit), Han Solo™ (Stormtrooper outfit), Assassin Droid™, Interrogation Droid, Death Star Droid and 2 Death Star™! Also includes Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Obi-Wan Kenobi™, C-3PO™, R2-D2™, Princess Leia™, Chewbacca™, Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight), Darth Vader™, Grand Moff Tarkin™, Emperor Palpatine™, 2 Stormtroopers, 2 Emperor's Royal Guards™, R2-Q5™, and mouse droid! All-new Dianoga™ trash compactor monster! Movie-authentic Death Star environments include the Superlaser control room and target monitor, Imperial conference chamber, TIE Advanced hangar bay with moving launch rack, Emperor's throne room, droid maintenance room, detention block, trash compactor, and much more! Rescue Princess Leia from the detention block cell, then escape through the secret hatch to the trash compactor below! Reenact the final duel between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader in the Emperor's Throne Room! Death Star measures 16” (41cm) tall and 16½” (42cm) wide!

Still Not As Hot As The Lego City & Space Trains in the 90's biiottcchhh-AAH

Posh Spice and i'm Sneezin- Jump Yo Ass in the Tub You Stank.

Why do we have to see this wack trash punk rock bitch everywhere? because her rawathlete husband affords her ridiculously tacky lifestyle? sheeeit.. bitch you was bad when you were posh spice, now you wanna be a fashion icon cuz Dave's black card? please.. this bitch is fake down to the tit- and broke without her trick. Dave got the game fucked up. She is as quotable as Kobe Bryant. Quit Talking about Victoria Beckham!!! She doesn't do shit but..... design failed clothing lines and..... what else? she's photographed because... her 'fits deserve it. where are the children? Yock, yabitch. she is not fabulous or elegant by any means.  Quit It. Dave! hide this bitch and make her take care ya kids my doYOCK

Sonic Youth in the Summer Jungle. Heath's Pimp. Jahmal is Melrose. Chloe Hand Washes. Generally Inspirational. Basically Saturday Night.

Str8 Bauce!
"Cain't YOU knOW?!?"

Friend: Dude, dinner, Bowery Hotel. Be there. 

Heath: Free food? 
Friend: Crab cakes, risotto balls, all f-r-e-e! 
Heath: Fuck, yeah!

http://video.on.nytimes.com/?fr_story=e4754ee6758cee3d8e4adebe4c73d312c0cd709a Chloe Sev 2 edge fer yer mama

http://video.on.nytimes.com/?fr_story=4b0c4a44900d00212941613575c9ff35a3fc7161 Ill Art Fair minus Murakami

Click here if you aint no fool

Continent to Continent living

 Version 2008 @ wherethehellismatt.com

feeling the dawn of multi national bossing,  it is beautiful to see people all over the globe enjoying whats really real. see you in Papua New Guinea...

Rainy Nights

Interview Team & Marc Jacobs on Charlie Rose

Marc is so funny. And Bright. Love that Guy. 15 minute marc

Wintour the Homegirl.

it's old news, but reading the letters to the editor had me fucked up. don't get it twisted with these king kong beauty and the beast references. i don't care if a negro appeared on the cover in a panda suit. after 115 years, the moment arrived and people are trying to hate? especially when lebron is such a great representative. smart, young, handsome and of course talented beyond physical gifts. there's always something to say. "he shoulda been in a suit. " "he shouldn't be yelling""he shouldn't be next to a white girl because... " WHAT? . all i'm sayin is i'm still lovin that cover. shit is heat. 

Had to Happen. Nessmonster for Givenchy

boy chilled his way into the most elegant of turns for Givenchy by Willy Vander Perre. small thangs to a real giant. dude's just gettin started. 

Oregon Ducks return on NC-dub cover? Hotter Murmor than that Vogue anythang cover.

GO DUCKS!!! GO JEREMIAH!!!! GET THAT THOUSAND YAWRDS CUDDIE. ITS NOTHIN. I DONT KNOW THIS PHOTOGRAPHY IS TRUMPIN EYTHANG THIS MINUTE AHAHA AND THAT DUCK FASHION IS OH SO STUIE. DIPPED LIKE A CHICKEN STRIP 

Sessille Lopez. Vogue Italia beauty flicks. a different kinda human

"HERE'S THIS EXQUISITE GIRL"....."WHAT DON'T YOU GET? SHE'S A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN" STEVEN MEISEL IN THE NY TIMES ON SESSILEE LOPEZ

really feelin these 

GO MAJOR. GO

American Vogue July Adds to Negro Model Conversation

“"  

"I have asked my advertising clients so many times, ‘Can we use a black girl?’ They say no. The concern is that consumers will resist the product. It all comes down to money."

—StevenMeisel, on why black models have disappeared
it's cool to see press about this stuff, but fuck, the question is, will they only talk about it here during the slow summer months of fashion, the topic being swept under the rug juust before NY fashion week after all these haters can say "see, we talked about it.. but ...........(cat-like-smart-bitch smirk)" i'm hopeful that it will become a gradual trend picking up speed (*wincing), but the odor of fast track PR creates a bit of doubt. but please, fashion editors and advertising... use some damn beautys like Lopez, Major, hello. or Liya Kebede. adiditalkinbout thats whatitdo. she is sent from god. you know i'm feelin that older look, can't fuck with these baby babes either. and there are more than 3 of them. quit pluckin these 6 's and 7's from the internet submittals or whatever yall do and then be callin the genre that is 'black models' ugly, unremarkable and unmarketable. stop misrepresenting with that harsh dark look. sure. it can be gorgeous, but... well shit, just change it. of course they gonna look "too strong for the clothes" if you pull them straight outta outchasing lions and jackals for food and baking black under the sun in the Serengeti  gotdammit.
“I thought, it’s ridiculous, this discrimination,” said Mr. Meisel, speaking by phone from his home in Los Angeles. “It’s so crazy to live in such a narrow, narrow place. Age, weight, sexuality, race — every kind of prejudice.” ..................not to mention vastly  restricting the art of the whole thing entirely.      ? 

THANKS TO THE PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT IT AND THANKS TO OBAMA

north manhattan

on saturday had to see some nature. ventured uptown in search of tryon park. ended up on the eastside/harlem river drive. at one point i had to put the camera on my back to climb up a hill using vines as ropes and fingernails as claws, all while being bitten by bugs. i would say it was a sufficient experience for living in manhattan, and casually seeking a break from the beloved exhaust and sewer infested air. especially as it was a place on this little island with almost absolutely no people. interesting how wherever there is concrete, you can see how easily nature would (or will) have its way with things when we are gone to continually rebuild. eventually made it across to tryon park, which was nice and had refreshing views of the hudson. concluded that there is not an acre untouched in nyc. maybe....... i love thinking of the island when people looked at that river view and there was no city.

CFDA chill out===== State of Health in Beauty and the Future

> At the CFDA-hosted "Beauty of Health" discussion, Michael Kors, Coco Rocha, and casting agent James Scully all stepped up to the plate to address the waning weights of models. 

Kors threw in a designer's perspective, suggesting that his peers should "stay away from child-size clothes unless [they're] designing for children," and pointing out that when designers offer such small sample sizes and celebrities starve themselves to fit into them, their super-skinny aesthetic has a far-reaching impact on the general female population.  He also advised agents to only send the most suitable girls to castings:  “Sending a girl when there's little chance of her being booked throws a 16-year-old into a tizzy.  The odds of a girl being booked for my show and Rick Owens’s are slim.”

"Last season I took diuretic pills. Once I took so many on an empty stomach that I was doubled over for hours. That's the last time I ever did something so terrible to my body."  She asked designers to provide healthier food at their shows — "No one wants to be caught with that photo 'Model Eats Cake'" — and to make their fit models, and therefore their sample sizes, bigger — models are humiliated when zippers won't zip up at castings." 

“She wakes up in the morning, goes to the bathroom to take a shower and runs by the full-length mirror because she can't bare to look at herself naked. She only weighs 104 pounds, but all she can think is, I need to be thinner. She hurries to her first show, where she promises herself she'll eat a few grapes. But when she gets there, there's nothing but pastries. First looks are called, she puts on her dress and it takes three people to zip her up. The dresser makes a joke, 'We almost had to call the agency and tell them you didn't fit.' All the girl can think is, I better not eat until tomorrow.”

— Coco Rocha, on the typical day of a model, at the CFDA Health Discussion Tuesday

I am 5'11 and naturally 130- 135. If they would accept someone at those statistics I wouldn't be going through such turmoil, yet I'm not completely blaming the industry 100%, because I do in fact understand that I could've chosen to go seek employment elsewhere.

Point being, it's a big fucking problem, I don't know how many times I've heard my other model roomates vomiting in the toilet throughout the years. It's sad. It's real, It's a problem. - Anonymous

"you need to lose more weight.  The look this year is anorexic.  We don't want you to be anorexic, we just want you to look it."  Even crazier, an agent once advised her to throw up after meals. 

....going a year without menstruating, and her hair weakening and falling out due to malnutrition.   “That's kind of when I realized that this isn't worth it anymore, and it had completely taken over,” Ali Michael says.

not hot.  the girls should be sexy, and not just in the face.. it does look pretty though when they walk... fuck it. just because the clothes are more complex and ornate today doesn't mean the girls have to fade away. infact, they should be able to exude more personality to compete with the added vibrance of the clothes and our society. there should also be a call for older models ( ahem, 19, 20..... yea, i know), women that carry at least a glimmer of adulthood experience in the eye is, sexy (and marketable). the argument is that the market is calling for akward (albeit beautiful) "anorexic" eastern euros. the fact is that the "trendsetters of the world" could easily change this standard with the very same brash passion of change and vision that forged this industry over the past twenty-thirty years. we all try and pretend the models are an afterthought to the collections, when really this is because they are full front and center in the marketing. models are going to resume selling clothes as the buzz of the internet reaches an apex and we start to see a redux of marketing design of yesteryear (ala, more fundamental creativity and less button pushing). so let's make sure to support a more dynamic ideal for our models. let them be the people we are and all want to be, comfortable and beautiful. because being inside the industry, it's easy to forget that those outside are blithely following the setting of these trends. we must face this with a real answer, just as david stern and the NBA and Goodell at the NFL must face their not so-invisble scandals hahahaa. that answer is real women (it's more fun when they're stars, not scared girls, no?), making really beautiful clothes look fun to wear and not just to nimbly present them on a catwalk before walking back around that wall and having a team try to tear through the zipper before she collaspes from loss of blood tot he brain. don't get me wrong, skinny is o.k., but bulimia breath is not. the model eating cake picture should be funny, not career ending.. please.     

Rodeo Italy June

We have fun over here. nerds+fashion=funny

The Herbaliser - The Sensual Woman

helio's girls

My 50th photoshop collage since moving to New York!
They are starting to get ILL!, with the capacity for more illness to come. Anyone interested in commissioning album covers or clothing graphics - get at me.

-Bird the Nerd

Hybrid - Finished Symphony

THE Francis Bacon

Francis Bacon is my favorite painter. Beyond his art, the man was an enigma in his own right. His body of work has very contemporary legs, I find that theyve withstood many transitional decades of new philosophy new art new technologies and are still as fervent (perhaps more so) in 2008 as when initially exhibited. All of his pieces are veiled by a superficial layer of beautiful coloration, interesting textural application, experimental process, and strangely mutated figuration. But what I really love about him, his work, and its enduring vigor, is that there is a deep dark destitute underbelly, partially exposed for those who are willing to see it. Akin to the film "American Psycho", all of his works contain an emotional violence, project a feeling of singularity and pain and coping. He is grasping for reality. There is a loneliness that speaks of the existentialist man fighting against the world (and perhaps losing), but this element can also be related to a human struggling for truth in a world where socializing has been replaced with text messages. His art reveals his psychosis, but to a mind conscious of modern societal failings, it should be relatable.

Lucian Freud

I think his later figurative paintings are the best in the world. The images of humans that Freud paints have transcended the highest reality procurable by photography. I do not think Freud's niche can be touched by anyone, past or present. If I were to relate his image style to a movie, it would probably be Harmony Korine's "Gummo"...but again, I dont think any artist of any medium can produce as captivating or grotesque a human realism as Freud.

Willem de Kooning

A de Kooning painting is a visual eureka, it is so pure and so simple in its complexity. You want to think that you could do this, but no one can do this. Flat out. His paintings are so masculine, so controlled in their looseness. Each one of his brush strokes are like a deadly haymaker thrown by a prizefighter; beautiful, concise, powerful, economical. There is a whimsy and a confidence and a purity of intention that is the result of thousands upon thousands of hours of practice. Have you ever watched the Jackie Chan film, "The Legend of the Drunken Boxer"? Willem de Kooning's and Jackie Chan's styles are much more similar than one would have thought.

more insights to come at a later date...

Zoot Woman - Brano 12

3 sitting bacons

state of the world II

state of the world I

Here are some paintings from the last month, they told me not to so I did...

Nitin Sawhney - Hope

I have been very preoccupied working on a series of paintings over the last few weeks and as result have not produced much photoshop work. Today was unmercifully hot so this is how I kept my mind in cooler places.

Tokyo Police Club - Be Good (RAC Remix)

behind the marquee

Have been spending the last couple days thinking about this fantastic and monstrous city, my place in it, the social/political/commercial hierarchies here, and how to skip to the top. A twenty-three year old person, refusing to wait in line. I do not understand how so many people spend their lives in queue, waiting for something outside of themselves to allow forward movement. This city did not becken me to her shores for that. It is not my forte to relent to 'how it is.' My whole life has been about fighting the rules, cutting the corners, and following my heart against the words of elders. I have infinite time and no time at all. I have recently been told that being an artist is not about talent. Get the fuck out of here with that. This man is not playing the same game as you. I dont care if new york's hierarchies are presently all about playing these games: shit needs to and is going to change.

Sounds From The Ground feat. Colein - Lean on me [afterhours remix]

On my 23rd birthday, I owe it to myself to spend the day taking pictures.

DVF spring 08..... ps SITC rocks broooo

Diane von Furstenberg with the artist Francois-Marie Banier and the creative vision of David Lipman, featuring Natalia Vodianova, has created an unprecedented campaign that infuses the spirit and distinctiveness of the eponymous brand.

"My life is very much the fabric of the encounters that I've had and the respect that I have for the people I've known, including the women who wear my clothes," says Diane von Furstenberg.

The campaign marks von Furstenberg's commitment to establishing her company and her style on their own terms, independent of her image. As David Lipman says, the intention is "to move the brand away from the person, even though her soul and her spirit are still in it."

Inspired by von Furstenberg's desire to reflect the DNA of the brand -- the power of women and their courage -- Banier produced some 50 black and white images, and with strong brushstrokes, smudges, and spatters, he applied bold color and writing to each photograph to create layers of complexity, both visual and emotional, seducing the eye and the mind.

Photographed in Paris and New York, he captured Natalia in a way she had never been seen. "I found her immensely beautiful, with a very interesting soul," says Banier of Vodianova. But in the end, he says, what inspired him to take on the project was the opportunity to create an image of optimism in the life of a woman.

Known for his iconic portraits, painting and writing, Francois-Marie Banier's friendship with von Furstenberg dates back to the early seventies. The mutual appreciation for each other's talent has grown to an intimate friendship and thus inspired this seminal collaboration.

With David Lipman, as Diane's partner in this project, they have succeeded in bringing to life Diane von Furstenberg's vision for the brands debut campaign.

"With so many magazine images that are so completely retouched, we've gone in the opposite direction showing the soul of a woman. It is the most beautiful thing I've seen in my career. It's aggressive and strong in the most elegant way," says Lipman.

Like von Furstenberg's designs and strong prints, the trilogy of talent developing this campaign was spontaneous and full of chemistry. Her role in the campaign, she contends, was simply to make introductions.

"And then," she says, "Once they started, you couldn't stop them.

Diane von Furstenberg, one of the premier names in American fashion, was founded in 1972 by the designer. Renowned for its iconic dresses and prints, DVF has grown into the global luxury lifestyle brand known today. The company, headquartered in New York City, has expanded to a full comprehensive line of ready-to-wear, swimwear, handbags, footwear, luggage, accessories, fine jewelry, fragrance and rugs. Its distinct collections are sold in over 56 countries and in 22 namesake retail boutiques worldwide.

Excerpt, http://www.prnewsnow.com/Public_Release/Apparel_And_Textiles/180312.html

Radiohead - Nude

boredom required putting some new material up.

IDELE - do your thing in Chitown