please, don't let this be true
The Animal reports that Shepard Fairey may be losing his eyesight, due to Diabetes. They claim that he could be legally blind by the end of the year.
Shepard's work is polarizing. He's been heralded as this generation's Andy Warhol, and he's been labeled a fraud, by people who believe he's borrowed elements of art from existing media.
He's garnered a new level of publicity this year, as he designed some of the most beautiful political posters that you ever laid eyes on.
And now, his own eyes may be failing. This would be sad news. Although if true, I know that Shepard's got a plan. He'll see things in different ways, crank the Obey machine into high high gear, and turn it into something that none of us can see today.
All the best, Shepard.
(photograph by Elizabeth Daniels)
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:30 AM
2 comments
what if everything were made of pixels
Or what if it already is, and we just don't have the resolution to see it?
Really cool pixel graffiti, found in NYC. Ironically, tagged later by another graffiti artist.
Labels: art, newyork, streetart
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:46 AM
2 comments
giant shoes bring together east coast and west coast. all is well.
Part art project, part street-team, part promotional stunt. This Adidas promo rocks. (Stupid Flash site won't let you link directly. Click on "superstar.")
Two giant (no really - GIANT) adidas shoes get painted by street artists. One on the west coast (the left shoe), one on the east coast (the right shoe). They meet in Venice Beach, and live happily ever after.
Only one thing leaves me uncomfortable. Why does the east coast shoe have to travel to California? Was the left shoe too lazy to meet halfway? Couldn't the giant shoe meet-up take place in Chicago? Over deep-dish pizza?
From mmcgreevy, via Twitter.
Labels: fashion, outdoor, sports marketing, streetart, streetteams, stunts, youthmarketing
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:38 AM
0 comments
the cool kids have needle and thread
If I knew how to use a needle and thread for something other than poking myself or my friends, I would be a famous embroidery graffiti artist.
I'd leave my tag sewn everywhere. Even on clothing for sale at retail, so people could purchase it unknowingly, and wear my tag around. But I only know how to use a needle for poking. What about you?
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:07 AM
0 comments
what you can do with wire and tape
Just a little bit of duct tape can create a whole bunch of wonderful. Awesome street art project that utilizes an ordinary chain link fence and some tape. I sooo want to run out and do this today. But I'll probably just sit in front of the computer, instead.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:39 AM
0 comments
street art animals feed on subway air
Someone's creating plastic bag zombie animals, that come to life with the fresh air of a subway grate. They lie dead on the sidewalk, until the train passes through and pushes the air up, bringing the bagged beast to life. So awesome. Can only imagine what that looks like at 3:00 in the morning, on an empty street.
Labels: art, newyork, streetart
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:33 AM
0 comments
brooklyn gets covered in green
Street artist Edina Tokodi is installing art throughout the Williamsburg, Brooklyn neighborhood. Only instead of paint or pasted paper, she's using moss. Cool.
Labels: art, green, newyork, streetart
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:38 AM
0 comments
shepard fairey endorses obama
Wow. I won't take political sides on BrandFlakes - but take a look at the brand power here. Legendary artist Shepard Fairey has created a series of prints of Obama. And completely endorsed him. This is interesting.
+ It's rare for a brand like Obey to take specific political sides. Certainly commonplace to take a stand against the status quo, against the war, etc. But for a brand or artist of Shepard's notoriety to endorse a particular candidate, this early in the game is unique. Creating a line of 'products' centered around the candidate is unheard of, I believe.
+ Posters of Obama. Can you remember a candidate that has carried the brand/star power worthy of posters that people would want to hang in their homes? Not since Kennedy, in my opinion.
Say what you want about candidates - but Obama has unbelievable brand power. Brand Managers, watch and learn. Found on Notcot.
Labels: art, politics, streetart, youthmarketing
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:45 AM
3 comments
you've been deputized.
File this under "wish I thought of it."
Introducing the design police. A full set of templates that you can print on sticker paper on your own printer, and then walk around town like a design sheriff. Fun stickers that allow you to call attention to bad design.
I so want to harvest this idea and create a different set of stickers. One that includes 3rd eyes, scars, bullet holes, Frankenstein plugs and blood drip. I could enhance outdoor advertising all day long. So much fun.
What do Design Police uniforms look like? I bet they're hot.
Labels: adindustry, design, outdoor, streetart, streetteams
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:15 AM
2 comments
pimples you can put on your friend's picture
Clearasil in Germany is running a really fun and icky promotion. They've produced ads with special stickers that allow the reader to place pimples on any picture in the magazine. Or anywhere else, for that matter.
When other readers see the pimple, they can re-use the sticker (gross), and see details about Clearasil on the back side of the sticker. Oh, how I could use a giant box of those pimply stickers.
Labels: ads, streetart, streetteams, youthmarketing
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:11 AM
1 comments
adfitti: the best thing to happen to advertising
Advertising grafitti is what I adore most about the NY subway system. The Denver Egotist points to a photo set of Decapitator's work - a most adlicious collection of outdoor ads edited for your artification. These are all from east London. While I'm depressed that we've exported High School Musical to our friends in England, I'm at least stoked that they're doing something creative with the ads.
Labels: ads, hacks, outdoor, streetart
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:36 AM
0 comments
a relaxing billboard
Immediately calming. You can't say that about many billboards. This is the work of Helmut Smits, for an exhibition titled Rock My Religion.
Don't you just want to park a lawn chair in front of it, and relax?
Labels: art, outdoor, streetart
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:00 AM
0 comments
historic graffiti wall uncovered in construction
Real estate developers uncovered a wall featuring historic work by graffiti artists Fab Five Freddy, Futura 2000 and Jean-Michel Basquiat while converting a building to luxury condominiums. Don't worry, I'm sure it was quickly covered in granite or elegant wood paneling.
Labels: art, newyork, streetart
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:46 AM
0 comments
how to play video games with your building
Dorm room Tetris. Wow. Unbelievable. Nuff said. Thanks Rob!
Labels: gaming, hacks, streetart, technology, youthmarketing
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:34 AM
0 comments
banksy in nyc!!
Holy, mother of all street art. There's a Banksy show in NYC!!!
If you're not already familiar with Banksy - some have likened him to a Warhol of our generation. Awesome, cool, inspirational stuff that I'm sure creative directors will be borrowing in ads for years to come.
At the Vanina Holasek Gallery, December 2nd through 29th. One more reason to come to NYC for Xmas, if you live in Kansas. :)
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:10 AM
2 comments
threadless turns merchandising into art
Threadless is having another one of their fab $10 t-shirt sales, and in the email announcement, I noticed something even cooler.
Every week, their in-house artist/musician/snowboarder Joe Suta creates an original painting that's a mashup of the week's winning t-shirts. The painting is used for display in their Chicago store window. At the end of the week, when the display comes down, they sell the artwork. Which has created a wonderous collection of one-of-a-kind pieces of art. Every week.
What an excellent example of doing something local and growing it into something more biggerer. The Chicago storefront is by its nature only viewable by a limited audience. People in Chicago. But by adding the paintings to their retail internet site, they've shared them with the world - all while helping to offset the cost of the process.
An awesome example of creativity, art and commerce working together. Other retailers should take note.
Labels: art, fashion, mashup, retail, streetart
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:24 AM
0 comments
shepard fairey show in london
Shepard Fairey awesomeness comes to London in a show titled Nineteeneightyfouria. How cool is it that Shepard spun records at his own opening?
To our friends in London: Please go to this show. If only to rub it in our faces, that we can't go. And then take pictures, and swim in the awesomeness. And then tell us how great it was. And that all of the cool people were there. And that you can't believe we're not living in London. And that everything in the U.S. is so lame. (Can you say 'lame' with an English accent? I don't think it would have the same impact.) Ha. You get the Shepard Fairey show - but we still own "lame."
Labels: art, creativeinspiration, streetart
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:38 AM
1 comments
sewage hatches. not just for sewage anymore.
A collection of really fun painted sewage hatches.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:12 AM
0 comments
this looks like fun
Seeing these cool Post-It pieces of art makes me want to do the same. This would be a fun thing to do with an empty storefront window. Maybe on Friday.
Labels: creativeinspiration, streetart, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:21 AM
0 comments
not a good week at burning man
It hasn't been a great week at Burning Man. Earlier in the week, some asshat started the man on fire early. They were able to put it out in time, and the burn will happen this weekend, as scheduled.
And then someone committed suicide. Apparently, he was left hanging for a couple of hours, as people thought it was some sort of art installation. Way to ruin it for everyone else, fella.
Let's hope that everyone on the playa isn't all bummed, and that this weekend ends with a glorious, fun filled fire. This year, you can watch it live on the webcast. Wishing I was there! (photo from TimBExplorer's sweet photo stream)
Labels: art, pop culture, streetart
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:15 AM
1 comments
banksy vs warhol
Another reason to go to London...
The Hospital gallery and club in Covent Garden is hosting a show featuring work from legendary street artist Banksy up next to legendary pop artist Andy Warhol.
Duncan Cargill, the show's Creative Director, says "Implicitly, Warhol is defending his title, but Banksy makes for a formidable challenger as he has received maximum exposure since 2000."
Two of my all time favorite artists. Let's hope this show makes it to NYC.
Labels: art, creativeinspiration, streetart
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:01 AM
0 comments
when creatives protest
Super cool piece by a protester.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:24 AM
0 comments
graffiti archaeology is born
Check out graffiti archaeology. It's a time lapse collage of graffiti spaces. They've photographed spaces over time (as early as the 1990's), and show how graffiti has changed or evolved within that space.
Even beyond the very impressive site build, the concept for this project is amazing. A concept that could be applied to soooo many other situations or brands. Impressive. From John Nack at Adobe
Labels: architecture, photography, streetart
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:43 AM
0 comments
italians suck soda from the streets
To promote the soft drink Chino, Enfants Terribles is running a campaign that puts giant straws in the streets of Italy.
Labels: beverage, outdoor, streetart, yummyfood
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:24 AM
1 comments
curb art should be everywhere
Two things the world needs more of. Sexy 70's girls in banana commercials, and curb art. Why can't curb art be everywhere, on every sidewalk, and in every public space? Coolz0r has a nice little collection of cool ad-related sidewalk art. If you're looking for sultry 70's girls, you're on your own.
Labels: ads, art, outdoor, streetart
posted by darryl ohrt @ 6:10 AM
0 comments
put coldsores on ads for fun
Yesterday, we posted about how artist Steve Lambert turns street ads into street art. Now, we've got something even better.
Printable cold sores. Put them on your favorite subway ads. Or on the CEO's painting, in your corporate lobby. Blistericious.
Labels: adindustry, outdoor, streetart, streetteams
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:29 AM
0 comments
turn annoying street ads into art
Steve Lambert has a great instructables post on how to turn a wall of annoying ads into art. In broad daylight. Nice.
Labels: art, newyork, streetart, streetteams
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:38 AM
0 comments
tunnel house
Lovely two bedroom property, the prize of the neighborhood. You'll feel right at home in this one of a kind gem. Open and airy floor plan that brings the outside in.
Love this house.
Labels: architecture, art, creativeinspiration, streetart
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:36 AM
0 comments
glowstick street art
Sweet collection of street art, done with glowsticks, flashlights and fire. From advertising/design goodness.
UPDATE: Ben Kunz points to Sprint's awesome execution in this spot.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:55 AM
2 comments
good stuff in nyc tomorrow
At least two interesting events in NYC tomorrow, if you're around:
First, James De La Vega, will be creating interactive artwork as part of the first ever public demonstration of Microsoft's new Surface Computing platform that was unveiled to major acclaim last week. (I'm dying to see this demonstrated live) This event takes place at the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers at 811 7th Avenue (at 53rd Street) from 10am - 12pm.
Then, at 4pm there's a panel discussion titled The New Urban Interventionists at the Creators Series event, at the Altman Building at 135 West 18th Street in Chelsea. This will be a discussion about how street artists are changing the way they interact with the urban canvas.
Looks like you need tickets to that second event.
Labels: creativeinspiration, newyork, pop culture, streetart, technology
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:34 AM
0 comments
your graffiti's in my chocolate
Soooo wish that I thought of this. Someone's released chocolate bars with wrappers designed by famous NYC graffiti artists. You can buy them individually, or in a "gallery box" set. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the All-Stars Project. Sweet. From Boing Boing.
Labels: package design, pop culture, streetart, yummyfood
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:40 AM
1 comments
mmmm. chipotle. art.
Artist Andrew Wilson has created a gallery of art on Chipotle menus. Art AND mexican fast food. That must be what it's like when you die, and go to the light.
Labels: art, creativeinspiration, streetart, yummyfood
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:27 AM
0 comments
unauthorized art show on mta/clear channel boards
Jason Eppink has produced PIXELATOR, "an unauthorized on-going video art performance collaboration with the New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority, Clear Channel Communications, and its selected artists." Totally, totally, awesome.
Labels: adindustry, art, creativeinspiration, newyork, outdoor, streetart
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:14 AM
0 comments
how to get coffee like you're in a video game
If you play World of Warcraft, the world's most popular video game, you'll really appreciate this. This is what it might be like, if you lived in WOW, and needed to get a cup of coffee.
Second Lifers and other MMO players will also get a laugh. For those of you too busy working, with no time for games, I'm not sure what you'll think. Just get back to work. Thanks Devon!
Labels: art, gaming, parody, secondlife, streetart
posted by darryl ohrt @ 6:51 AM
1 comments
invisible car that everybody notices
That's not photoshop work. It's a sculpture of a real, "invisible" car. Cool. Great outdoor promotional idea.
Labels: art, outdoor, streetart
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:36 AM
0 comments
boston city council: we want in on the party
The Boston City Council is holding a hearing today to discuss guerilla marketing. They're suggesting that there be a notification process regarding campaigns, so that they don't get caught off guard.
Says City Council President Maureen Feeney:
“Our agenda is not to ban these types of marketing activities. We don’t want to violate First Amendment rights. We understand that this is an innovative new technique, but what we do want is to understand how we can engage and involve these marketing agencies to apprise the city of what’s going on.”
They also have said that they can keep a secret - and that marketers won't have to worry about campaigns leaking from their department.
On paper, this sounds like a good idea. Why not keep them informed? But in reality, this would never work.
Marketer: "We'd like to paste oversized posters onto the sides of buildings"
City Council: "Uh, no."
Real guerilla campaigns come in two flavors: legal, and illegal. The legal campaigns are pretty easy. Negotiating for some otherwise unused outdoor space, for a unique installation. MINI has done this often. Because property owners are typically involved, there's no hoopla, and no need for a City Council meeting.
Illegal campaigns on the other hand, are graffiti style - and involve installing art or installations onto public places without permission. There's no scenario where the Boston City Council will (or could) give blessing to these campaigns.
And meanwhile, the police are still blowing things up like crazy.
Labels: adindustry, outdoor, politics, streetart, streetteams
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:29 AM
3 comments
grl tags rotterdam
The Grafitti Research Lab has posted video of their most recent experiment , in Rotterdam. This would never work in Boston. From 30gms .
Labels: art, creativeinspiration, outdoor, streetart
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:41 AM
0 comments
street walking girls
An artist in Iceland got tired of the pedestrian traffic lights that only featured males. So he added some boobies, for equal opportunity cross-walking. Cool.
Labels: art, pop culture, streetart
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:39 AM
0 comments
label your devices for safety
Geeks, nerds and artists might want to buy a few of these stickers and keep them handy.
They're great for putting on "devices" that news media or Boston officials might mistakenly identify as terrorist devices, hoaxes or bombs. You know, things like art projects, lighting kits, or your calculator. To an untrained eye, any of these devices could be mistaken for a bomb. ;) From BoingBoing.
Labels: parody, pop culture, streetart
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:42 AM
0 comments
boston terror scare: gimme a break.
No doubt you've been bombarded by the sensationalist media reports on how one agency's street campaign blew up - almost literally, in Boston. A full on terror panic was set in motion, all because of some LED lights.
I'm going to side with the agency on this one. Boston overreacted. Big time.
LED graffiti has been around for at least a year now. All over the internet. The pieces displayed on the sensationalist news broadcasts clearly looked like LED street art. Clearly. And now that we ALL know that, it's irresponsible for the news media to label them "hoax bomb devices." They aren't. They never were.
Certainly, the police must take every precaution in this day and age. And the person who first reported the devices to the police was right to do so - as not everyone can be up on the latest graffiti tactics.
But couldn't a quick inspection by police have identified these devices? Was there nobody on the Boston police force familiar with street art? Or with an understaning of what real explosive devices look like? Our agency is in a very small city - and our police department has a graffiti task force. They know more about street art than anyone in our agency.
I SWEAR that when I first read the story, as it was developing yesterday, the first thought on my mind was - LED Throwies.
I say hooray for the agency that tried something different. I'm really sorry it turned into such a fiasco. Really sorry. I sincerely hope they come out of this ok.
The "devices" were apparently in nine other cities? Why no "panic" in these cities? Ten minutes of investigation by officials could have prevented a huge fiasco. Shame on the Boston officials who blew this up.
SLIGHT UPDATE:
Aqua Teen Hunger Force is the Bomb
Labels: adindustry, outdoor, pop culture, streetart, streetteams, youthmarketing
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:12 AM
2 comments
whole train tag
AdAge reports on a whole train tag in NYC. Incredible piece - and it's not clear who is behind this. Art, commerce, or both? In the meantime, enjoy.
Labels: art, newyork, pop culture, streetart
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:52 AM
3 comments
diy sticker campaigns
Wallspankers, a quarterly street art publication is stickerlicious. How Design points to this pdf piece that you can download, enjoy, and if you're so inclined, print the artwork out onto decal sheets. Right from your own home.
I've had a fascination and appreciation for sticker art since the punk rock skateboarding days. And there are some awesome artists represented in Wallspankers.
This is also a great promotional idea for any brands that can benefit from street cred, or unique yute marketing. We produced a street team site many months ago for band 30 Seconds to Mars. Fans used it to make their own street team tools, including stickers (can't find the link now, or it's no longer live, sorry). The site was a huge success.
What can you be supplying your fans to help them sell your brand?
Labels: art, creativeinspiration, streetart, streetteams, youthmarketing
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:57 AM
0 comments
spring street art experiment
Yesterday marked the end of a wonderful street art experiment. A building on Spring Street in NYC, famous for it's street art, has been purchased by a new developer. The developer contacted the Wooster Collective, and arranged for an amazing festival of street art. They invited artists to cover the building in art. Inside and out.
Until yesterday. This week, they'll power wash the outside, and begin installing sheetrock on the inside - creating a street art time capsule for people in the future. Coolest developers ever. Wish I could afford the condo that will feature Shepard Fairey's art underneath the walls, pictured above. Check out the fab collection of photos over at Gothamist.
Labels: creativeinspiration, streetart
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:05 AM
0 comments
careful where you walk
This outdoor concept for Amp'd Mobile reminds me of the "holes" from those old Warner Bros. cartoons. The kind you could pick up anywhere, and just drop them on the ground, and then watch your enemies fall into them. What a cool sidewalk concept.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:26 AM
0 comments
| Darryl Ohrt |
| David Plain |
| Justus Johnson |
| Rob Biddiscombe |
| Matt Hunsberger |
| Steph Fuda |
| RJ Fenn |
| Sara Champion |
