Frida está en Filadelfia

There's a Frida Kahlo exhibit going on at The Philadelphia Museum of Art (through May 20). Here's a sneak-peak slideshow from The Times.

Pinkeresolution #2: Get back to nature

Get Back to Nature:
The Audubon Society has links to local chapters around the country. From there you can find your nearest nature conservancies.
Hit the trail in VT. Grab a pint and some "yaki" wings at Long Trail Brewery's riverside deck this spring.
The New York Botanical Garden is hosting its annual Orchid Show (through April 6, 2008)
And, Oh yeah! don't forget to update your Birks...

Roooooarrrrr.... Grrrrrrrrrrrreen

I first saw these on a commercial last weekend and I knew it. She amazes me again. Jill Greenberg, (who I thought we had posted about last winter, but can't seem to find it) has produced a gorgeous body of work as part of Animal Planet's new branding. I was so captivated by these animal portraits. The intense white light gives them such a painterly feel.
Greenberg was the photographer for an article in Fast Company featuring Mike Rowe from the Animal Planet last month.

recent project: APF NY

We just wrapped up a project for the Association of Professional Futurists. Here's a peak at the cover of the invite. Fun huh?

Every Chair

Luke Strosnider photographed every chair in the Visual Studies Workshop in Rochester, New York. Click the link to see the archive of the 521 chairs on Flickr. Is there a psychological name for being obsessed with chairs? Cuz I might be.

via Aesthetic Outburst

Obamart

We've all been bombarded with all the requisite campaign hype. Being a designer, I know I'm hypersensitive to how the candidates are presenting themselves. The McCain campaign is patriotic but with more of a military feel because Senator McCain served our country as a Naval Aviator. Star graphics abound.
I've noticed that Hillary's is the only campaign using a first name in its branding. Maybe our former first lady would like to distance herself from her past life as Mrs. Ex-president.
Lately, having an "underground" movement has helped the Obama campaign align itself with youth, future and change. I like the visuals, I hope it's not just hype.

Here are a couple of examples of "ObamArt" that caught my eye (top to bottom):
Shepard Fairey of Obey
The Mac
Ray Noland aka CRO of Go Tell Mama

Illustrator: Janice Kun

I'm liking Janice Kun's illustration style...
above: Reggae Toronto below: Hugh Masekela

Pinkeresolution #3: Give

Justgive.org is a site that offers a charity search if you don't know where to start.
Kiva is a great way to provide a much needed boost for entrepreneurs in developing countries.
Oxfam America has a great shop where you can purchase really creative "gifts". You can donate a Goat ($45), Water Pump ($135) or even a School Desk and Chair ($35) to those who truly need it.
Lastly, you can always give your time. Visit Volunteer Match to find where you can help out locally.

flight attendants & cheer

Caught a glimpse of photographer Brian Finke's Flight Attendants series. I also enjoyed the Cheerleading set.

josephine baker windows

Macy's Herald Sq. has a great window display called "Rediscovering Josephine Baker". I couldn't find much information online, but I think it is meant to coincide with Black History Month(February). The collection, on loan from the Jean-Claude Baker Foundation, features original film posters, photography and costume sketches. If you're in the area (34th St.), check it out!

M&mmmmmmm

I bought my husband a Wii for his 30th birthday this weekend. We wasted endless hours creating Miis of our friends, our family, you name it. It enables you to customize players, picking their hair, their eyes, their brows and so on...While Melissa swears she invented the mix and match character creator as a kid (and I believe her) I think M&M has perfected it— little chocolate characters that look just like you! Just what I need, another office distraction. Heck, it only takes a few minutes and it is a creative activity.
So while I loved making Miis, I do have to say, I'm a little partial to M&Ms creator. Not only do they have curly-hair (unlike the Wii) they've got BLING.

Free Guitars

Friggin hilarious piece from a campaign for a local rock station by The Bridge, Glasgow.
via the long tail, thanks Michele!

VF's Hollywood Issue

Cool minty greens and salmon pinks for Vanity Fair's Hollywood Issue 2008 cover shot. Here's a slideshow of the past 15–shot by Annie Leibovitz.

44 1/2

Spent the weekend in New York and had a great time! We had Sunday brunch at a restaurant called 44 1/2 (named for it's location on 10th Ave. between 44 and 45th street). Everything was fabulous, but I especially enjoyed the pops of pink everywhere!
The menus–which are pink leather–are nicer than my wallet! I nabbed a coaster (above). The staff wear adorable pink T's with cheeky sayings on the front/back like "over/easy". I'd love to find out who did their stuff.

woof woof!

I recently saw co-owners of Seattle design firm Modern Dog Mike Strassburger and Robynne Raye show their work at NC State. Even though it was a Friday night, it was standing room only. And for good reason. To paraphrase the event description from AIGA Raleigh's web site, their mix of punk rock aesthetics and tongue-in-cheek humor makes their work 'a hell of a lot of fun.' In my opinion their coolest work is the collection of band posters, which they've recently combined into a book called Modern Dog, 20 Years of Poster Art. It ranges from musical acts like 50 Cent to Ben Folds to Kiss. But the cool factor doesn't end there. They also do advertising for snowboarding company K2 and package design for kitsch products like Cat Butts magnets, Mullet shampoo, and Dirty Girl lotions. Some people have all the fun.

Lorem Ipsum Dolor Sit Amet

Designers use "Lorem Ipsum" type everyday as a placeholder for copy in our work. (We use a web app. on Lipsum.com to generate custom blocks of dummy text.) Created in 1500s by an unknown typesetter, Lorem Ipsum was not really meant to be read. According to Lipsum.com, the main chunk of Lorem Ipsum "comes from sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 of 'de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum' The Extremes of Good and Evil by Cicero, written in 45 BC." A treatise on ethics!

Here is the 1914 translation of section 1.10.32 by H. Rackham:

"But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?"

I like to rock Veer's "Lorem Ipsum Mesh" T-shirt ($22)

Pinkeresolution #4: EAT MORE CHOCOLATE

There are few occasions where we feel justified consuming a half pound of Swiss Milk Chocolate loaded with hunks of hazelnut—in 5 days. This being Valentine's "week" and the fact that our friend just returned from Switzerland with a year's supply of the heavenly goodness, seemed to be a decent enough excuse to test our Pinkeresolution #5, Eat More Chocolate.

So here is my ode to chocolate…
First, Some sweet design:
Alice Chocolates, (sophisticated and charming) Nutella, (We love anything Swiss), a pretty little British design for ChocoChic packaging, and LA Burdick Mice (a Boston wedding classic, now perfect for Chinese New Year.)

Next, a few recipes to try:
Nutella Pizza
This one reminiscent of our favorite pizza we ate on Spring Break in Sorrento.
Banana Nutella Panini
I know Melissa will be making this one this weekend.
Molten Mocha Cakes
This are so "last year" but I don't care, I will be recommending this chocolate dream and baking it for years to come.

Whatever chocolate you prefer, Milk, 65% Dark, White (who likes white chocolate, it isn't even chocolate?) make sure you eat a lot of it this year, especially while bathing suit season is still a few months away.

betsy's house

A couple of shots of Betsy Johnson's home. LOVE the pink, yellow & black combo.
From Elle Decoration UK via style-files

Rainbow Cove Green

A while back, our intern Hadley asked if we had been through the latest piece of public art at Logan... because I normally cab it to Logan, I haven't had an opportunity to see Rainbow Cove Green from the inside. The massive installation by artist Christopher Janney connects Terminal C to central parking.
The walkway is bathed in saturated color (mostly pinks and greens) and features the sound environments of New England. If you've ever navigated through the maze-like parking at Logan, you know how nice it is to have a space to decompress. Here's an article in The Globe from last spring...

happy birthday!

Tulips

The Animated Life: Tulips a film by Jeff Scher
Variations on the Hollywood screen kiss
xoxo

piper

We love the Alice in Wonderland quality of this Viktor & Rolf special edition bottle for Piper.

cute clock

Saw this cute paper clock from Decoylab on poppytalk handmade. I think it would be a great way to cheer up a boring cubicle.

Con's artists

above: "100 voices", Meghan Berckes below: "Cloaked in Red", Camilla Engman

As a follow-up to my last post: just found out Converse is launching a new initiative as part of their partnership with (PRODUCT)RED.

The project, called 1HUND(RED), will feature a series of 100 artist-edition sneakers... 10% of the net wholesale goes to the Global Fund.

Thanks Meghan!

(RED)

The (RED) project has been around for a little while now. The formula is pretty simple:


You buy a (PRODUCT) RED. A portion of the proceeds get donated to The Global Fund. The Global fund uses the money to finance health/community programs in Africa. You help someone affected by HIV/AIDS through your purchase.
Lot's of good gift ideas for the ones you love. Cuz let's face it, roses are tired.

Love You , Damien Hirst (detail)

On that same note, the (RED) Art Auction will be held on Valentine's Day at Sotheby's in New York. 60+ contemporary artists donated pieces. Artists include: Christo, Chuck Close, Jasper Johns, Jenny Holzer, Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami, and Damien Hirst. Check out the full catalog.

Cardboard art

check out Chris Gilmore's work with cardboard and glue...
(thanks for the heads up Ryan!)

Pinkeresolution #5: Try New Foods

Green Tea Bubble Cream filled Cupcakes with Green Tea Cream Cheese Frosting recipe

So your a big-shot foodie. You love sushi. You've done green eggs and ham for St. Patricks. Feeling like you're stuck in a rut?
Don't rest on your culinary laurels– spice things up:
Hit up YELP for reviews
We love the photos on tastespotting
Our stomachs are growling already!

Pinkeresolution #6: Take a Class

"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education."-Mark Twain

Here are a couple of fun ideas:

Shake what ya mama gave ya at Green St.'s Havana Club Friday Night Salsa lessons
Boston Center for Adult Education Dinner to Impress a Date

The School of the Museum of Fine Arts has a great selection of continuing ed. printmaking classes