Oh Lordy. The jokes never stop. We believe one of the Tumblr community folk said it best when they posted this photo by Rachel Flotard with one word — “inevitable”. Anyway, it’s good for a short laugh so here you go… the bastardization of Banksy-meets-Hollywood.
In honor of my throbbing headache, I present you with this useful information.
If you’re staying at any of The Standard Hotels in Los Angeles this week, you are in town at just the right time. We can hardly contain our excitement over the spectacle that is the twice-yearly Vintage Expo at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. In town for two days only, the exhibition gathers high quality vintage vendors from across California into one, convenient to shop place.
Between the goodies in the above video and this epic participants list, we can’t wait for Saturday. We’ll be arriving early to get our hands on the best finds.
Vintage Expo
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
Regular Admission, $10 Early Admission, $20
We’re not sure exactly which film this is from but we appreciate the humor (found on the Tulletulle Tumblr). We also noticed that the perfect date is actually right around now on the calendar! Anyways, we always thought it was a stupid question. Now here’s the best answer.
A summer favorite at The Standard Miami, the Miami Vice. And no we’re not talking about the TV show, though we did find it interesting how many fanatics there are out there.
Check out this blog, Miami Vice Chronicles for a little walk down memory lane.
But back to this oh so refreshing drink, the Miami Vice. Quite a simple recipe, with 50% Piña Colada and 50% Strawberry Daiquiri. The pink and white swirl seem to color coordinate with Crockett and Tubbs wardrobe. This cool refreshing drink actually lets off steam on a nice hot Miami summer day… but watch out for that brain freeze.
See you at the pool.
If you’re like me, you’re already sick of hearing of the Royal Wedding, and if you know me, there’s only one way I can deal with the deluge. That’s right. I made a drink in honor of it all. If you can’t beat them, toast them, I always say.
All day tomorrow, Friday the 29th of April, The Standard, Hollywood will be serving Pimm’s Cup for nothing short of $8. Pretty simple, right? Right. Cheerio!
xo
Stan
Today’s graphic is in the form of a video. We can’t stop humming this tune. The animation is top notch too. We’re betting this will be one of the jams on rotation this summer.
All week long it’s been PEN World Voices Festival this and PEN World Voices Festival that. Yes, the PEN American Center is a wonderful literary humanitarian organization, and, yes, it’s super cool that The Standard, New York is partnering with them. However, we’d like to point out that Angelenos can read, too. Yep, Los Angeles is not all endless sunshine and poolside cocktails. This weekend is the annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, a West Coast celebration of the written word.
Featured authors include: Aimee Bender, Daniel Clowes, Rainn Wilson, Patti Smith (yes, that Patti Smith - did you know she won a National Book Award?), TC Boyle, and famed chef Thomas Keller will be popping by on Sunday for a little public chat.
If you’re lucky enough to be in Los Angeles this weekend definitely mosey over the USC campus and check out the LA Times Festival of Books. We can pretty much guarantee that the weather is going to be perfect: sunny, 75 degrees, with a dreamy ocean breeze, it is Southern California after all.
For more details, list of authors, directions, times, and tickets click here.
(Chef Micah, right)
Last Saturday, our own Executive Chef Micah Fields represented for The Standard in the Hot Knives Thunderdome at the 2nd 8th Annual Grilled Cheese Invitational, hosted in Downtown LA…. as expected, he didn’t disappoint.
Chef Micah dominated with The Melted Mushroom - bacon bread, smoked mozzarella, wild mushrooms and ramp vinaigrette - to win his round over Chef Eric Samaniego of Comme Ca.
(Congratulations, Chef Micah! We can’t wait to test it for ourselves)
Bill Cunningham New York Trailer from Gavin McWait on Vimeo.
During the last New York Fashion week we wrote about the screening of Bill Cunningham’s charming documentary at the Film Forum. Read more about this visionary artist or check out the trailer again (above).
To all our readers staying at The Standard Miami this week, we just wanted to remind you that the brilliant documentary will be playing in one of our favorite art house theaters in South Beach called Miami Beach Cinematheque.
Bill Cunningham New York will be screening this Thursday at 9pm. Check out their calendar for more info.
We should probably thank Donald Trump for pushing the subject matter so annoyingly that Hawaii finally coughed up the Long Form Certificate. The Tumblr In Other News put it all to bed by printing Obama’s quote spoken at the big press conference:
“I know that there’s going to be a segment of people for which, no matter what we put out, this issue will not be put to rest. But I’m speaking to the vast majority of people, as well as to the press: we do not have time for this kind of silliness. We’ve got better stuff to do. I’ve got better stuff to do.”
Word, Obama. No more silliness.
A Closet Visit Film No. 1 from Claire Cottrell on Vimeo.
“It’s about collaborating with talented people,” confessed LA blogger of the moment Jeana Sohn, who last night celebrating the debut screening of her latest project at The Standard, Downtown LA, a short film that ultimately pays homage to it girl style on the West Coast. And boy did her subjects show their support!
Still from Closet Visit
If you know me, you know that I find any excuse to enjoy a cocktail. All you have to say is, “Let’s grab a cocktail!” and I’m yours for the night. That’s why we had the most brilliant idea late last night.
Being that we’re celebrating the PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature this week, we figured we should throw a daily happy hour in support of this amazing human rights organization.
Beginning today and continuing through the week during our normal sunset hours on Top of the Standard (4pm - 10pm on weekdays and from 2pm - 10pm), we will be hosting one hour of happiness from 7pm - 8pm where $1 from all cocktails poured will go to benefit PEN. In addition, we have come up with the above cocktail menu inspired by Salman Rushdie’s favorite classics (available in room at The Standard, New York!) from which we will donate $2 for every cocktail ordered.
Isn’t life Stan D’eliriously grand?!
xo
Stan
Trailer | Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon from CloserToKOL on Vimeo.
Another jewel discovered this week at the Tribeca Film Festival is the documentary on the life and times (and “real deal” evangelical family) of the Kings of Leon. We’re sure you’ll file this under one of your favorite Rock Docs of all time.
Check out a scene found on New York Magazine that shares a clip of their family members discovering the band broke big after seeing their mugs on the cover of a Rolling Stone issue on an episode of The Price is Right. Classic clip!
(All Images from Santa Monica Museum of Art)
Once a year, Santa Monica Museum of Art plays host with the most for Incognito, a unique art show and benefit that brings together 8 x 10 works from 500 contemporary artists sold for just $300 each. Already sounds pretty great right? Well there’s a twist - a good one…
(Off to the Races!)
Today’s graphic is one of our favorite kinds — a doodle by a legend — found on Kali’s Tumblr. Here’s notes from the man himself, Kurt Cobain, and his top 50 albums of all times. Who would have thunk Kurt was a list-maker? First thing we noticed is Young Marble Giants made the list! So did Public Enemy’s It Takes a Nation of Millions whom our main feature today, a chat with Cey Adams, worked on that album cover back in the days.
The MoMA is paying homage to the first generation of artists that started it all in the Hip Hop game. One of the influential Creative Directors of that era is a man named Cey Adams who will be at the gallery May 5th to sign posters along with Riot Girrrl icon, Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill.
In 1984, Cey, a young artist and graffiti writer at the time, got hired to work at a record label named Def Jam Records. It was a time of paradigm shifts for the baby genre with legends being born every day — Beastie Boys, Biggie Smalls, Run DMC, 3rd Bass, Public Enemy, etc.
Today’s graphic is just a reminder that today is only Tuesday. Only 3 more work days until the weekend returns. Tick Fucking Tock.
This single, “Don’t Worry” was released online early April, and we’re still listening to it. It’s from a band called About Group. It’s a sweet soulful song with vocals sung by Hot Chip singer Alexis Taylor (who DJ’ed at our Le Bain nightclub not long ago).
Other instrumentation comes from Charles Hayward (This Heat), John Coxon (Spring Heel Jack, Spiritualized), and Pat Thomas (who has played with Derek Bailey, and Tony Oxley).
The track below, “Don’t Worry” was written by Alexis during a bittersweet moment (as he explained on Spin.com). He wrote the track when Hot Chip signed their major label deal with EMI. It captured his feelings about getting signed. “I was pretty confused whether that was the worst decision in the world or not really,” he admits. And the idea of “Don’t Worry” wasn’t at all about finding catharsis, reassuring himself that things would be alright: “It was more like, ‘Don’t worry, everything is potentially ruined, so what’s there to worry about?’”
The full album entitled Start and Complete is being released on Domino Records on April 26th.
Embed:
Hadrian Belove of The Cinefamily said it always a dream of his to take moviegoers out of the movie theater. “You know”, he explains, “take a bunch of people fishing while simultaneously screening a movie about fishing”. Thanks to two LA movie organizations, The Cinefamily and Cinespia, dreams can come true. Last Sunday, this dynamic duo teamed up to present Werner Herzog’s new 3D documentary The Cave of Forgotten Dreams in the Hall of Mammals at The Los Angeles Natural History Museum.
(Dinosaurs!)
Look at all these maddening faces. We bet you’ll never look at your dogs snout the same way again. Photos taken by shutterstock.
You know that kind of personality that lights up a room? That hardly describes Elena Pezzo, Membership Coordinator at The Standard Miami. She’s got fantastic energy and an infectious sense of humor. Along with this she has a plethora of knowledge in health, nutrition, and wellbeing!
This Wednesday Elena is leading a complimentary intenSati workshop at The Standard Miami. intenSati is a revolutionary workout fusing high-energy aerobics, martial arts, dance, yoga, and strength conditioning. Combining spoken affirmations with simple choreography, intenSati provides a heart-pumping, exhilarating workout that builds physical, mental, and spiritual muscle. Courage, confidence, willpower, enthusiasm, self-respect, and a strong, healthy body are all results of this powerful program.
Wednesday, April 27 from 7-8pm. RSVP with the Spa Desk 305-704-3945.
Name: Andrew All
Title: Rooftop Manager
Sun Sign: Taurus
Meet Andrew, the man who holds it down on our infamous rooftop at The Standard Downtown Los Angeles. Having a decade experience in running bars, Andrew was snagged by our company to run all cool activities on our illustrious roof. We also poked around only to discover his love of Scrabble and NBA…
Todays graphic is a goodbye to all the Easter rain we felt this past weekend in New York. Illustration by Gerard Russo.
We’re currently listening to The Kills who released a Limited Edition 10 inch with the track “Satellite” from their new album Blood Pressures (out now on Domino) UK.
(The Kills are back with New Album)
Entertainment Weekly called their 4th record “another near masterpiece” but you should listen for yourself. It’s a nice evolution in The Kills vibe with Mosshart and Hince taking it to a whole new dark and seductive place.
After their performance at Coachella, the duo plans to “zig zag their way across the country” with stops in Austin, Nashville, NYC, Detroit and wrapping up the tour in LA. For more info on them, go to Kills.TV. Here’s them doing a little tune just to get your appetite wet!
Anyone who attended last year’s Target Fashion Spectacular is aware that our love for Ryan Heffington is on the grandest of scales. The king of curious choreography was the mastermind behind The Standard NY’s 15 minutes of kaleidoscopic fame.
Though to many, Sir Heffington is just now becoming a household name, he’s been a stalwart on LA’s east side scene for years, with his weekly workout Sweaty Sundays. So you can understand that we were extremely jazzed when last year he finally opened his own beautiful studio, The Sweat Spot, on the Sunset Blvd. main drag in Silver Lake.
The Sweatspot offers a wide range of classes from Rock n’ Roll Ballet, Groov3 (Hip Hop with a live DJ bustin’ the best 90’s jams), Pilates Mat, Tap Dat Azz (dig up those tap shoes!) and of course, everyone’s favorite, Sweaty Sundays.
All that variety’s been enough for us to give up our gym memberships, put down the remote and cruise over to Silver Lake as often as possible to sweat it out. Scan the schedule, blow off your brunch plans this weekend and give it a try! You won’t regret it.
The Sweat Spot
3327 Sunset Blvd.
323-953-8089
New Jeans, New Pool by Jessica Craig-Martin for Stan D’Arde
Over the years I’ve learned that the only constant in life is change. A consistent evolution and awareness of self is key to who you are, and this is what keeps me going in the morning. Today, I would like to introduce you to the all new me.
My new logo is an iconic photograph entitled New Jeans, New Pool by famed artist and photographer Jessica Craig-Martin. When I first saw it, there was an immediate bond for all the obvious reasons.
The casual elegance of this unknown man, laying poolside fully clothed, martini in hand, is the allure. What is he doing there? Did he have time to kill before a chic dinner? Was he feeling melancholy and needing some time to himself? It was such a powerful image that I just had to have it!
Being that I’m not the selfish kind, I’m also giving you the opportunity to have a piece of Stan at home as well. The photograph is available for purchase via Works On Whatever, the art forum born from the genius minds of Yvonne Force-Villareal, Doreen Remen and Casey Fremont over at Art Production Fund. And for those of you who love your books, JCM’s monograph, PRIVILEGE, is also available online.
Here’s to more change for you and I to come.
xoxo
Stan
Our beloved Tumblr celebrated their Prom at Le Bain at The Standard, New York. With the most perfect cupcake dresses, drinks spiked by Kanon Vodka, a dashing prom king and queen, and the best Prom playlist you could dream up, it definitely was a night to remember; Refinery 29 recaps the party for you here.
Lorenzo Martone named Prom King
It’s time for another set of acoustic nuggets from the The Standard Hollywood. The following three musicians will be performing their magic inside the Cactus Lounge this Wednesday, April 27th.
Listen to Jesse Tyre Karp of The Estate Band here)
The Estate, a revolving cast of players, is fronted by singer/song writer, Jesse Tyre Karp, whose self deprecation and quaint insecurity are masked only by his unique Americana anthem style, a swarthy brand of alt-country and unselfconscious rock. While Karp and The Estate look to the 60s and 70s for inspiration, with help from Bryan Higgins from OK Management (whose firm also represents folk heavyweights like Bob Dylan and Paul Simon), Karp anticipates good things for the band in the near future. He gloats modestly, “Good things are happening.”
This Saturday, Anané and ‘Little’ Louie Vega take control! The iconic couple of the New York nightlife celebrates Anané’s birthday at Le Bain. As the legendary DJ puts it: ‘We’re about to rock that joint!’
Anané, You started djing at subMercer, in the basement of the Mercer Hotel, what memories do you keep of that first experience?
I have to say my one-year and a half residency there was my school for my success as a DJ today. I’ll never forget going to visit Stephane and Richard there one Saturday night and being escorted by Richard to an elevator (not the main entrance) downstairs, walking down some dark hallways and through various doors to arrive into the most intimate, sexy chic lounge I’ve seen in a long time in NYC, reminded of me the old Jackie 60. Once inside, the music was eclectic, the crowd a mix of downtown chic upscale business and lots of fashion victims… I mentioned to Stephane, if I were ever to do something it would be there, next thing I know he invited me to come play some music (nothing serious since I didn’t consider myself a DJ at the time) and just have fun. How could I refuse? It was perfect and for the next year and a half I brought something there that hadn’t been brought and that was quickly mirrored. What I most enjoyed and appreciated is how Stephane understood what I brought musically to the subMercer and together we had an exquisite, diverse and fly monthly party!
The Standard wishes everyone a happy and safe Easter Weekend. Here’s a few words on making eggs from the master herself, Martha Stewart, on Egg Dying 101.
On Wednesday we threw a party with Busy P (btw - yesterday was his bday, happy belated b-day Busy P!!!) and Technikart … there’s really nothing to say, Charles Roussel’s pics say it all. For more pics click here.
Andre Saraiva is in love. He wants to tell the world. Annabelle Ronson is the target of affection. Scored to Laurie Anderson’s “O Superman”.
Full Name: Liana Schmidt
Exact Title: Manager Food and Beverage
Sun Sign: Gemini
(Liana, Our Manager Food & Beverage, The Standard Miami)
We are pleased to introduce you to Liana. Liana is a great asset to the family at The Standard Miami. She’s laid-back and witty, and well, she kicks ass! We asked her our usual Standard questions so you can get to know her. We think you’ll approve.
If you fancy yourself an aficionado of all things grilled cheese, there’s only one place to be in LA this Saturday - The Grilled Cheese Invitational. Relocated this year to Los Angeles Center Studios, the event will be bigger than ever and already has us salivating. What’s even better, our new executive chef, Micah Fields, will go for the gold in the Hot Knives GCI Thunderdome. We’ve seen his recipes and trust us, they are medal worthy.
In the case you’re not a professional chef, here’s how it works. Competitors will vie for champion in one of four categories, ranging from the basic - Love, American Style - to chef’s choice - The Kama Sutra (savory) or The Honey Pot (sweet). A lucky few will sample, vote and ultimately select a winner in each group.
Not especially proud of your skills in the kitchen? You can still compete for the trophy in Cheese Calling or Cheesy Poetry or simply show up in your favorite festive duds all while trying your best to get your greasy paws on melty morsels of grilled cheese.
Registration for the main event is still open. Cheese you there!
Grilled Cheese Invitational
April 23, 2011, 11 AM-6 PM
LA Center Studios
$12 entry
Jennifer Grace Safina, the latest addition to the Intergrated Wellness Team at The Standard, Miami, has brought a fresh, new and extraordinary way to experience transformation.
The Creative Insight Journey that Jennifer Grace teaches is an 8 week class that comes from a Stanford University Masters degree course.She is known for her contagious enthusiasm and charm, has created a fun atmosphere to learn and explore.The Journey is all about self realization and the acquisition of practical tools to help navigate through life’s ups and downs. Jennifer Grace provides a myriad of ways for her students to experience many “aha” moments and powerful insights.
NYC based photographer iO Tillett Wright is known for her black and white photographs of underground outcasts, creatives, and weirdos. Those not familiar with her work should definitely check out her blog and website ASAP. Anyhoo, we’ve been fans for ages and asked if she’d mind trying her hand at The Box at The Standard, Hollywood. The end result is pretty effing awesome, here’s what she had to say about it:
(iO Tillett Wright for The Box at The Standard, Hollywood)
Tells us about your inspiration for your piece in The Vitrine: The installation in the Vitrine is basically my take on what the back room at a seedy, Chinatown boxing match would look like. I shot at these underground boxing events in New York this past winter, that were totally illegal, and became known as male model boxing because they pitted male models against street fighters and boxers. We just brought out a new little book of those photos, called ‘KISSER - The Last of The Friday Night Throwdowns’, which you’ll be able to get for free in any room at the Standard for the month my installation is up. The idea is that the model in there is either waiting for her fight or coming from her fight, and this is her time alone. She’s going to photograph herself all month long, and tape it up on the glass, gradually obscuring herself, with images of herself, as models can tend to do.
It’s Friday, and it’s been a crazy week. I’m a little Stan D’elusional, so I wanted to let off a little steam (vicariously) by sharing this video of my new idol who calls himself, iTr3vor. This is what it’s all about, and no one is even paying attention. Love it!
(Expect to see Skaters hit this at MOCA. Design by Lance Mountain and Geoff McFetridge)
Earlier this week, we wrote about the infamous Art in the Streets Exhibition at The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA). The opening was a smash success. The reason Art in the Streets has been getting such attention is because it’s the first major U.S. Museum exhibition focusing exclusively on the history of graffiti and street art.
(The Latest Wax Poetics Issue is on Newsstands)
We’re a little obsessed with Wax Poetics, the magazine for music lover. The music journal specializes in covering artists that other mags leave behind. These are the pioneers, the ones who in some way, birthed movements — and in some cases, were the DNA of hip hop samples.
The new issue, #44, includes George Bensons’ journey from child singer to fathering the genre of smooth jazz. Keyboardist George Duke forged a new path and ruled the R&B charts with eccentric funk. Mainstream Records embraced a funky bunch of modern jazz players and soul singers. Bill Cobham was the most technical and disciplined drummer to ever stay in the pocket. John Coltrane’s three-song demo for Africa/Brass sees the light of day. Phil Cohran is the embodiment of spiritual jazz.
More stories include Norman Conners. He was a young drummer trying to keep up in the serious world of spiritual jazz. Then Norman traded the rigorous life for expensive cars, fashion models, and R&B hits.
And finally, rising from the fertile musical soil of Queens, New York, a group of musicians formed a tight bond and called themselves the Jamaica Kats.
That and more… Just enough to feed your mind and soul with a much needed music history lesson. Did we mention the photography is mesmerizing too?
Read more or buy the issue at WaxPoetics.com
In the experimental world of “branded content”, sometimes brands miss the mark. We have to say we’re pretty impressed with the ethereal filmmaking skills of director Phil Pinto who put together this art piece for Eddie Bauer to to showcase the new collection. The piece was produced by Mariko Munro and Rachelyn Remz-Porter for Twin Bike Pictures.
(Film Still from Slanted & Enchanted, Short film by Eddie Bauer)
The final result is a trippy little dreamy sequence filmed in the woods with cool cats Clara Balzary, Hannah Bronfman, Marc Razo, Shelly Zander, and Todd Jordan. the clothes itself look cozy, striking, and perfectly suited in the smoky woodsy environment tinged with a drop of surrealism.
We’ve waited for months and the moment is finally here! Dimitri from Paris is joining us at Le Bain this Sunday for a blow-your-mind come-back. It’s perfect timing too since he’s just released a new record with Italian producer DJ Rocca, called “I Love New York” (on Gomma).
Enjoy the trailer below and come dance this Sunday at Nouveau York. Doors open 9pm where you’ll hear a warm up opening set by one of our favorites New York DJ’s, Justin Strauss.
(Arcade Fire’s 2000 Glowing Orbs. Photo Mark Sutherland)
In our final wrap on Coachella madness, we thought we’d congratulate The Creators Project, a collaboration between Vice and Intel, for their incredible art installations. The Creators Project is Coachella’s first-ever creative partner.
They re-imagining the festival by creating groundbreaking visual experiences advanced by technology. If you were at the fest last weekend, these were the 5 things they were responsible for:
It’s that time of year again! Color your eggs. Hide your eggs. Find your eggs. Then ride a pony! And you can do it all at The Standard, New York! This Sunday, come down and join me for a spEGGtacular (sorry, I had to) day of Easter festivities!
For more information, please The Standard Grill on 212-645-4100.
See Stan. See Stan run. See Stan run to Gucci. See Stan run to Gucci and buy a pair of black pony skin loafers with a gold horse bit detail. That was the first story I ever read. It was actually the first story I ever WROTE and then I read it. I’ve always been a literary scion (in my own mind), and that’s why this news is more than I can handle.
Next week, The Standard, New York is acting as the official hotel partner of PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature and is hosting a slew of events which you must attend. But the most exciting part of the week is that famed literary giant, Salman Rushdie, author of the infamous book entitled The Satanic Verses, has curated an incredible list of his favorite classics. All the books are donated by Housing Works and will be found in all the rooms at the hotel…until they are taken! Think of it as your own private library, and you never have to return the book!
If you’re wondering what lies in the mind of Rushdie and what he finds to be a classic, I’m about to share his titles with you. I was going to make you check in to the hotel to find out, but it hurts me to taunt you, so here they are…
Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass
William Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby
Eudora Welty’s The Collected Stories
Bernard Malamud’s The Complete Stories
Saul Bellow’s Humboldt’s Gift
Philip Roth ‘s Portnoy’s Complaint
Flannery O’Connor’s Everything That Rises Must Converge
Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five
Thomas Pynchon’s V.
Joseph Heller’s Catch 22
Toni Morrison’s Beloved
Michael Chabon’s The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter & The Sorceror’s Stone
HA! I’m totally kidding with that last Harry Potter title. Just wanted to see if you were paying attention!
The books will be in all rooms from April 25 - May 1. For reservations, please call The Standard, New York on 212-645-4646.
xoxo
Stan
Celebrate Earth Day this Friday at The Standard Miami. Sunset Earth Day Yoga, Paddle Boarding and Sunset Happy Hour with live music at The Lido Restaurant and Bayside Grill.
In honor of Earth Day resident Yoga Teachers Jaya + Mateo will lead fellow yogis to celebrate life and mother earth. A percentage of proceeds will benefit the Manatees in Biscayne Bay, www.savethemanatee.org $10 donation. RSVP with the Spa Desk 305.704.3945
Todays graphic is for all those people who’ve procrastinated and filed for an extension. Here’s to the joyous tax day!
Illustration: Self-portrait for GHG#2, 2011 by Joakim
This week, we are thrilled to join forces with Guest House Gallery. Established in 2009 in Paris and London, GHG organizes one-night art shows, introducing emerging artists in unusual places. This time they set up shop at Gleason’s Gym in Dumbo and feature a boxing match! The after show party will be at Le Bain this Friday night, with two of the most innovative DJs from Paris: Joakim (of Tigersushi) and Etienne Tron (of Radioclit fame). Pauline Lévêque and Marine de Bouchony, the curators of GHG, tell us about their own way of promoting art.
How did you come up with the idea of doing your art show in a boxing gym?
We look for inaccessible venues, which are private or closed to the public. Places with a day-to-day life of their own, and also an aura. Places where we can play between reality and fiction. They’re a hook for getting a feel for the city and getting a fresh angle on how we see, perceive and imagine it. Lots of famous boxers have trained at Gleason’s Gym, and Scorsese filmed Raging Bull there. It’s a sweaty place, with lots of photos and traces of the regulars, who have nothing to do with art at all. We also had a good feeling with the manager, Bruce Silverglade. Besides, we like the challenge of dealing with the imperatives of these visually laden places.
What was the common link of the artists you curated on this show?
They’re just artists whose work we really like. The only question we ask throughout the selection and the creation process is “would we like that in our house? would we be interested in buying it?” And of course, they’re artists we believe in: we think – or sense – that they’re going to progress and that their works will gain value on the international market. In order to create a dynamic, and because we want GHG to be a place for seeking new forms and exploring unusual techniques, we take care to invite artists who have already attained some recognition alongside young talents who have barely left school.
Lastly, the artists we work with are also quite simply folks we get on well with!
You did the same exhibition in Paris a few weeks ago. What were the highlights?
Actually, we have been surprised by its success : blossoming girls and boys, young artists meeting young collectors, guests queuing outside the secret Hotel Particulier Montmartre, 50 pieces sold out, 84 bottles of precious champagne… What we had in mind was simply happening, all in a very good spirit. God bless GHG.
Both the DJs and producers Joakim and Etienne have been involved in the show. Does music play an important role in GHG?
We both share the same passion for music but who doesn’t? For each edition, we edit a compilation with tracks treasured by the artists.
But here it’s more about the talent of Etienne and Joakim.
We’ve had a love affair with Secousse (Etienne Tron + Aurélien Laffon) since 2009. They’re promoting, producing and commissioning ghetto artists from all around the world whether they are musicians, painters or photographers. Guest House Gallery’s first edition settled in their premises at Le Comptoir Général in Paris. For this second edition we let them present two African “public” painters who work on demand.
We are also in love with Joakim’s music. And he’s a very inspiring character. We knew that he had designed some of his own cd sleeves and had the idea of pushing that thing further. We offered him an opportunity to create his first serie and are proud to know that he liked the experience… It may be the beginning of something for him.
What’s next with GHG? Will you come back in New York soon?
It would be great to come back to NYC but before that we would love to keep on traveling, discovering new artists in Tanger, collectors from Moscow, and why not musicians in Mexico City.
We work on keeping Guest House Gallery a fun and fresh project. And maybe in a few months time, we’ll realize that GHG is getting somewhere and we have to think about it not only as a side project but as the main one!
This next week is a beloved week for film enthusiasts. The Tribeca Film Festival runs from April 21 to May 1st. Tons of industry insiders are flocking into New York city to take note on new films, new directors, and schmooze with heavyweights. Add some compelling panel discussions and hot afterparties and now you have a party power week.
The beauty of the festival is that tickets have finally opened up to anyone in the public who want to join in on the fun. Here’s what to do. First, check out the film guide to determine which film is your flavor, and secondly, purchase your single tickets on the site.
If you’re feeling envious of New Yorkers right now, you can catch some of the films streaming full on the website in their “watch now” section. See you at the theater.
“The greatest yoga class ever in South Florida” - Yoga Bliss led by Keith Fox will be held Saturday April 23 at 9 – 1pm at Miami Beach Botanical Garden, with a whopping 500 participant limit. The FREE yoga with live music class will be at 10:30am - Register here: www.freeyogaevent.com
Keith Fox was been active in the South Florida yoga community for over 15 years and has taught classes at The Standard Spa multiple times, most recently at Wanderlust. The event will also include many giveaways, including a one-month membership and a spa certificate from The Standard Spa. The Standard is a proud sponser of the MahaShakti Foundation events. The final event of the 2011 series will be held 11.11.2011. (www.MahaShaktiFoundation.org) The MahaShakti Foundation brings free yoga throughout South Florida especially to those groups in need – families in economic crisis, underprivileged children, women in shelters, youthful offenders, etc.
