I had a chance to see this Adrian Piper piece at MoCA (Chicago) where it resides in their collection.

‘Cornered’ is easily one of the best pieces i’ve ever seen.

I’m going to leave it at this for now but there’s definitely more to come.. ‘Cornered’ will mean more to some than others but the true power of ‘Cornered’ is that it speaks to all of us.

this pic gives you the visual of how you first engage with the piece when you walk into the room.. from  here on it’s all about the video (below) and  her fathers Birth Certificate(s) hanging to the sides of the television.

Since the 1960’s Piper’s work has consistently challenged social, cultural, and racial stereotypes through live or documented performances.  In Cornered, she is shown on video directly addressing the viewer.  She identifies herself as an African American but begins to ask numerous questions about the expectations that she could “pass” as a white American and the implications of that decision.  Two of her father’s birth certificates, one identifying him as black and the other as white, flank the video screen, which is set up behind a barricade-like table that suggests a gesture of defense against the audience, whose seats are arranged in an aggressive triangular formation.Piper’s work prompts you to come to terms not only with her sense of racial identity, but also your relationship to it and the way it continues to define social relationships in contemporary culture.

GRILLS

some pics from this weekend

700+ cars and trucks @ a free show

AMAZING

From a Ho to a Housewife

Originally created by cartoonist Reinhard Beuthien in 1952 as “filler” for a blank space in German mens tabloid paper Bild-Zeitung, Lilli was inspired by the “working girls” of  Reeperbahn street in Hamburg’s St. Paul red-light district where street prostitution is legal at certain times of the day.  In German it is also known as die sundige Meile (the sinful mile).  The Beatles played several shows here in the early 1960’s, one with John wearing a toilet seat around his neck.

Lennon is famously quoted as saying  ”I might have been born in Liverpool – but I grew up in Hamburg”.

Lily was the modern woman; ambitious, confident, and openly talked about sex.

With a attraction to Rich Uncles and Sugar Daddies, Lilli, at least once, enlisted the help of a mystic fortune teller in her search.

“No, I can’t got out with you. I am too tired. I spent the whole day doing my laundry”

Lilli’s appearance in the mens tabloid was an immediate success and three years later she appeared as an “adult novelty toy” which sold  in bars, newsstands, and tobacco shops.  Despite not marketing to children Lilli quickly gained a following amongst them and business was booming with the creation of outfits and accessories that were sold separately.

Lilli doll by O&M Hausser (German toy company)

prototype designed by Max Weissbrodt (following Beuthien’s drawings)

As the story goes, Ruth Handler of Mattel Inc. had suggested creating a adult bodied doll but got an unenthusiastic response from Mattel.  When she came across Lilli on a trip to Europe she bought a few and took them back to show Mattel executives.  After changing the shoes, earrings, hair, and name, Barbie was introduced at the American International Toy Fair on March 9, 1959 and marketed to young girls as a “Teen-age Fashion Model”.  In 1964 Mattel acquired the rights to the Bild Lilli doll and production of Lilli was stopped.

Despite the intention of an adult appearance, some parents were unhappy about Barbies distinct breasts.

If they only knew..

UNHAPPY HIPSTERS

Sober (and in the light of day), she realized that buying the companion sculpture to the photograph had been unwise.

He’d hoped to procure one of the elusive “silver” pugs; this mutt stuck out like a sore thumb. That’s what he got for shopping with a non-AKC breeder.

She was generous with her Conté Colour carré crayons, but her attempts at mind control made play dates awkward.

His new bedroom was perfect. He spent countless happy hours perched on the bed, pleased at its efficiency of space and function.

In their haste to score an original Damien Hirst, her parents had sped off to Art Basel without her.

The stale smell of disappointment permeated the room.

selections from  http://unhappyhipsters.com/

(I love this site)

This is one of the best uses of time/money/energy/paint/talent/creativity that I have ever witnessed.

Right now, I’m physically torn btwn hoping he does more pieces in this style and hoping he doesn’t do more pieces in this style, letting this one be “the one”.  How amazing is it that someone/something can make you feel that?   New classic shit.

I had the chance to stop by Specter’s recent ‘Repeat’ exhibition at Pawn Works (Chicago) and really liked his perception and execution of the concept.  While Repeat2, with it’s abstract snapshot feel, was my favorite of the show all the pieces were solid and in another world, one where I’m rich, I would’ve bought the entire show to keep the pieces together.  You can check the remaining pieces from Repeat here: http://pawnworks.bigcartel.com/

more info on  here:  http://www.juxtapoz.com/Street-Art/brooklyn-x-paris-x-specter

more info on Specter here:  http://www.specterart.com/

Celebrating their 10th Anniversary this year, the wonderful OKI-NI is truly at the front of this thing..

Starting as a gallery/store/online store that stocked extremely hard to get brands, most of which that were impossible to find online, and others that you hadn’t heard of yet.  OKI-NI’s impact on “this thing” is well documented with an archive of collaborations, that make sense. Amazingly, they’ve managed to do everything and still remain underexposed, it’s a beautiful thing.

and as if that wasn’t enough..  their DMX look-a-like model offers a unique glimpse of what would be the oddest style flip since Andre3000.  Without fail, it cracks me up every time.

Happy Anniversary OKI-NI!