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Nobody is FAMOUS in New York. Because we are merely fragments, wishes, and pieces of struggles
it is crucial to see what we may become; a potential to be. We are not FAMOUS, we are just
New York.
Sophie Mörner & Capricious Collective, Brooklyn, August 2007
Famous Magazine is another of those magazines thats solidifies the importance of independent publishing. Less of a magazine, and more of a journal of collected art and thought, Famous reminds me why it’s important to never stop dreaming.
It’s easy, especially as an American, to get caught up in the day to day monotony of a boring job and an overly materialistic society. Sometimes I forget to just look out the window into the sunshine and appreciate life. Famous Magazine is a welcome escape.
Curated by Sophie Mörner and created by Reiko Underwater, each issue of Famous centers around a different theme and format. Issue #10, Nobody is Famous in New York features visual and (a few) literary samplings from NYC-based artists. Created in limited-editions and bound by hand, Famous is a refreshing visual journey into the lives and work of artists you’ve never heard of, but will soon find yourself googling.
Famous reads like a scene in a Sofia Coppola film—drawn out images, stream of conscious thoughts and a peaceful sense of beauty. From Jonathan Black’s airy, blissful photograph of a nude girl in a field that looks straight out of a Marc Jacobs ad to Elizabeth Gilchrist’s charming pencil drawings of dogs in sunglasses, Famous captures those fleeting moments that make life special.
January 20th, 2008
Andrew Jeffrey Wright makes art. He’s also friends with a hell of a lot of cool people, or so he claims in his bio on the site of Philadelphia’s Space 1026 Gallery. Wright makes art for kids who know how to have fun! Sculptures of Furby toys in trash cans, pencil doodles of E.T., and chaotic, colorful pattern paintings are among Wright’s work. Andrew Jeffrey Wright is my kinda gentleman.
Having been a fan of Wright’s brand of art for sometime, I had to pick-up his mini art-zine Labs With Abs when I was searching for a stocking stuffer this past holiday season. But I won’t lie, I totally bought it for myself.
Published as part of the Tiny Books line by Blue Q and Measuring a diminutive four inches, one might easily pass up this treasure amongst the beefier offerings. But with a cover featuring relaxing lab with a six-pack and the headline “So Real! So Tite!”, one can’t help but be charmed into purchase.
There is no pretense behind Labs with Abs. It is literally 20 pages of Wright’s drawings of Labrador Retrievers working out, relaxing poolside, and of course admiring their abs in the mirror. With a bit of a homoerotic undertone, it definitely appealed to my not-so-secret inner furry.
January 20th, 2008
I am one of the few chicks pretty into the whole sneaker/streetwear game. Ironically though I don’t wear too terribly much of it, but I’m usually pretty up on the new shit.
So, when I came across the announcement for the 2007 Autumn/Winter Supreme Magazine whilst hypebeastin’ this morning, I decided I simply MUST acquire this.
(sidenote: Can I just say Vincent Gallo streetweared out, bestill my heart.)
Now I know there must be a reader out there who is either a hardcore Supreme fanboy or avid NYC shopper who would be willing to pick me up a copy and kindly post it to me (I will of course pay you for shipping and cost, etc.)
The magazine comes out October 29th at the Japanese shop and November 1st at the NYC Supreme branch. Time is a wastin’, and any help is appreciated. Otherwise I’m going to have to bloody knuckle off the boys in the ebay war-zone.
Holler if you can help me out.
October 25th, 2007
Condé Nast have decided to fold 10-year old Jane magazine. Staffers were informed this morning of this decision. Started in September 1997 by Jane Pratt, Jane was intended to be the replacement for the irreverent Sassy (also start by Jane Pratt). Pratt was forced out of Jane in 2005 as advertising sales and circulation floundered. Pratt was replaced by Brandon Holley of Elle Girl and turned Jane from a forward-thinking young woman’s black book to a yet another ad-filled, trite, yawn-worthy piece of newsstand crap. And apparently the general public agrees with me on this.
RIP Jane, you had a good run too bad Holley filled your last days with blowjob tips and get-skinny-quick diet pill ads. You truly deserved better.
July 9th, 2007
I’ve been a bit MIA, but life’s been a bit crazy as of late. Too many excuses. Anyhow, I’m back and as T.I. would say big shit poppin’ and little shit stoppin’. On May 11th, I attended my very first magazine launch! Granted it was a small affair, but who knows, maybe 5 years from now Book Band will be the new Visionaire and I can say I was there before Terry Richardson (please don’t be a dreamcrusher!)
Book Band is a periodical publication curated by Chicago-based designer Ryan Maconochie, who invites various creative thinkers to submit ten pages each of content on the topic of their choosing. Band members enjoy total creative freedom. Each is responsible for supplying their content exactly as they would like it to be published, and their submissions are not altered or edited in any way. The collective efforts are compiled into a single published work available for purchase online. Book Band No. 1 features the design, photography and writings of Matt Bandsuch, Kevin Ripp, Russ McClintock, Lars Söderkvist and Ryan Maconochie.
In theory, I quite like the idea of cutting out the editor as the middleman between the artist and the audience. However, the end result makes me realize that editors make a damn good salary for a reason (note: this is a small publication, and an editor of this scale would not make a large salary, but I still feel their role would still be highly beneficial) Of the 5 artists featured in the debut of Book Band, I only found one to showcase a well-edited and compelling collection of work—Ryan Maconochie.
Book Band, unbeknownst to them, illustrates a perfect tale of the trials of launching an independent publication. I read recently somewhere that for a magazine to survive, grow and flourish they need enough funding to be able to afford to buy a Honda Civic every other month. Obviously, these figures will be much less for a smaller publication such as Book Band. While large magazines fail quickly without funding it is often a much different situation for smaller, independent publications. Smaller publications end up passing their production costs onto their readers. Book Band’s $20 price tag illustrates this point to a T. I am in no way attacking Book Band specifically—go into any independent magazine shop and you will notice this is prevalent practice. Launching an independent magazine without corporate sponsorship and few ad sales ends in a product so cost prohibitive that the audience it is trying to win over with its independent mantra is cast aside. And that my friends, is how smaller, independent publications fail. There is a magic equation that exists of achieving the perfect balance of corporate sponsorship + ad sales + creative freedom, but much like a unicorn it is a mysterious beast that many search for to their graves.
Despite my disinterest in 4/5 artists featured in Book Band’s debut issue and the prohibitively high cover price, the concept is fresh and interesting, and every issue will continue to feature new talent. I am definitely curious to see this publication grow and hopefully I will be a bigger fan of the content included in future issues.
June 24th, 2007
Jason Crombie is a fantastic gentleman and the brains behind Woooo, an interview based, pocket-sized FREE quarterly publication (and we love free shit!). I can picture Mr. Crombie riding his little bike around, hand delivering his stacks of Woooo about NYC. He also sometimes makes t-shirts with gay ghosts and his friends photos on them to promote the publication.
Issue #4 of Woooo features interviews with Vice magazine founder Suroosh Alvi, sexy 80’s pop sensation Wendy James, viking artist Gardar Eide Einarsson, photographer Jason Nocito, actress Martha Plimpton, music icon Thurston Moore, pro skateboarder/artist Mark Gonzales, DFA dj James Murphy and Madam of the Night Xaviera Hollander.
Mr. Crombie’s style of interviewing is conversational, revealing and utterly hilarious. In lieu of gushing over Jason and how he almost made me pee myself on the bus, I think I’d rather provide you with my favorite excerpts from Issue #4 of Wooo. So here you go folks!
(excerpt from interview with Vice magazine founder Suroosh Alvi)
W: Vice Magazine’s readership hovers around 500,000 worldwide. That’s 100 times what we do at Wooooo and if my penis wasn’t so much bigger than yours I would probably be intimidated. Would you like to buy an ad?
SA: How big is your cock? Yeah I think we can take an ad in your shitty magazine that I’ve never read. Vice Records has a ton of stuff coming out so let me know how much and the dimensions and I’ll send you an ad. I won’t pay you in advance. Invoice me after it comes out and I’ll send you a check within 30 days.
(excerpt from interview with viking artist Gardar Eide Einarsson)
W: Are there any Icelandic theme bars?
GE: Yeah, you mean like Outback Steakhouse?
W: Yeah, but for berserkers. Is there a “Viking Hut”?
GE: Not here, but they totally do in Germany.
W: Can I get a Norse Burger?
GE: Probably dude.
W: Can I get a Thor-shake?
GE: Probably.
(excerpt from interview with photographer Jason Nocito)
W: Do you think when I get older and my ol’ lady gets older, could you maybe do some glamour shots of her in lingerie and stuff?
JN: Yeah, you mean, like, close-ups of her vagina and stuff?
W: No, more like ‘harem-girl’-themed stuff.
JN: Sure, I could do that.
(excerpt from interview with Madam of the Night Xaviera Hollander)
W: Have you ever caught any filthy diseases?
XH: None. Never.
W: Can you tell what a person’s sex life is like by looking at them?
XH: Yes.
W: What’s a good pussy taste like?
XH: A juicy pussy should be a bit fruity and a bit salty from the excitement and sweat.
W: Is it hazardous to your health to freeze a spear of your own shit and use it as a dildo?
XH: No comment. This one is just too coarse.
You can pick-up your FREE copy of Woooo at finer locales worldwide (if you are lucky enough to find one).
May 10th, 2007
A few weeks ago I wrote up the French magazine Clark and guest Art Director—and one of my favorite artists of the moment— Parra. Blog reader Okat of Are You Generic? was kind enough to send in some images from a small Parra showing recently at Arrive in Miami. I am totally adoring the Fuck the System piece. I can never decide whether I appreciate Parra’s illustration style or wit more. They definitely compliment one another perfectly.
And for all you Rockwell Clothing fanatics out there weary of the astronomical shipping costs, pick up Okat and Parra’s collaboration t-shirt here.
April 23rd, 2007
Ben over at Covers passed along this link to me the other afternoon. NMCA seeks to preserve creative magazine design and fight the blandness of our newsstands one publication at a time. NMCA is a hobbysite operated by UK Art Director and magazine enthusiast Michael Bojkowski.
NMCA presents well-edited selection of top magazines as a series of indepth cover galleries. Ever wanted to see the cover of the first issue of i-D? NMCA has got you covered. Browse selections from the best of the best. Featured galleries include: Dazed & Confused Japan, Emigre, Esquire étapes, Fortune, Frame, Good for Nothing, Grafik, Harper’s Bazaar, i-D, index, Mad, Index, Neo2, Relax, The Wire, Thrasher, Time, TimeOut London, Tokion and Vogue Paris. For more magazine mayhem from Michael visit his blog Boicozine.
Hmmm…I wonder if he’s currently working on compiling every cover of
The Face for the site?
April 11th, 2007
Design Your Life is the motto of the new lifestyle magazine Blueprint, brought to you by the fine folks at Martha Stewart’s empire. The motto rings true. I am obviously the portrait of the key demographic, because I’ve never come across a magazine that so exactly pinpoints my lifestyle tastes.
I was very curious to see how Blueprint would hold up in comparison to the much heralded Domino Magazine. Had the wost possible scenario occured? Had Martha created the Domino killer? I was pleasantly surprised to discover that while they share definite similarities, most notably the same target demographic, they provided a nice complement to one another. While Domino mostly features interior design with a few splashes of fashion and lifestyle, Blueprint paints itself as the younger, hipper, urban Martha Stewart Living. Create a modern dinner party for your friends, peruse the essential spring fashion must-haves for the urban girl, and organize and clean your closets like a mini-Martha.
I cannot possibly end this post without giving a nod to the impeccable design of Blueprint. It’s feminine, while remaining modern and clean. A lot of thought was obviously put into the inital legwork by the Art Department and it shows. Many magazines tend to fall back into using as few typefaces as possible and only the simplest of grid layouts. Blueprint isn’t afraid to experiment, and somehow it still comes out looking fresh and refined.
Blueprint definitely will not be pushing Domino off the shelves anytime soon. I suspect the sisters are sitting side by side atop quite a few Noguchi coffee tables as we speak. Being domesticated has never been so hip and liberating.
April 3rd, 2007
I am going to admit a little personal secret here. I rarely ever read the content in magazines. I’d say out of each publication I pick up, I read one or two articles. Maybe it’s because i’m a visual junkie. Or maybe it’s because I get so excitable that I can’t focus my attention (yes, I know this is called ADD). However, every once in awhile I come across a magazine that beats the odds, and I read it cover to cover. Meet Box.
According to their site BOX is: the convergence of sex, fashion, and culture. Its mission is to challenge the schizophrenic nature of the current sexual climate by selecting models, photographers and themes that redefine the current standard of beauty and sexuality. Box exposes readers to features that appeal to a variety of sexual tastes. The magazine approaches the adult market with a luxury outlook. Imaginative and complex photography, conscious design and clever editorial features set Box apart from contemporary pornography. Box presents sex in its natural state, seamlessly integrated into our culture and daily lives without judgment or shame.
I usually tend to favor high-end publications. Perhaps this is because they suggest a world I am most certainly not a part of. They allow me to aspire to something greater for myself. Box is the opposite. It does not have a long history. It is nice looking, but Neville Brody did not design it. It’s not even published in NYC. It is completely approachable and reads like a project created amongst a group of friends. Regardless of intention, it makes the topic often tight-lipped topic of sex welcoming to all.
This particular issue dealt with the topic of Work, and barring the odd inclusion of the prequisite article on Lady Sov., all the content was 100% on-point with the concept. Artist Keith Boadwee, whom you may remember as the paint enema spewing Jackson Pollack, is profiled.
Dian Hanson—one time pornographer, turned magazine publisher, turned Taschen book editor—is featured in a 7-pg. article profiling her career. Her intelligence, business-savvy and drive bring to mind Vogue’s Anna Wintour.
Box also featured several stories from the American working class. Personal anecdotes of life on the job as a Telephone Surveyor, Food Scientist and Emergency Responder. Hearing other’s experiences from the outside reminds me that life is a series of vignettes and to never take one moment too seriously.
And finally, Box gave us a peek into rise and fall of gay photography house AMG (Athletic Model’s Guild). As with Hanson’s article it brought to light the glaring differences in sexual preferences as modern society continues to advance. AMG Founder Bob Mizer dies alone, much of his best work never coming to light, because society’s growing preference for the increasing hardcore has pushed into the shadows. Box paints a rightfully sad portrait, but fails to mention we would have no Jean-Paul Gaultier or David LaChapelle without Mizer. Mizer’s work lives on in the modern incarnations of some of our most brilliant creative minds today.
Box Magazine is everything sex should be—approachable, conversational, sexy and sometimes even intellectual.
March 29th, 2007
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