FROM THE ARCHIVES: ART INTERVENTION


For the next three weeks I am off on an adventure—the best adventure possible! I am getting hitched, an amazing event and process that has inspired my ongoing series of posts called The Wedding Files. While I am on my honeymoon I will be featuring some of my favorite posts from past years (including this street-side number from September 2010) to tide you over until I return. Hope you enjoy them!

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I have been bookmarking a lot of videos about super cool street art recently. Here are three of my favorites I thought I would share with you. Enjoy!



Some background on the project:
"In 2007, the New York City Transit Authority began installing LED signs on subway platforms that display estimated wait times for arriving trains. Unfortunately the information is little more than trivia: except for a few stations, it is only visible to travelers after they’ve paid their fare, so the data has little bearing on commuter decision-making.
Their primary effect, then, is to erode faith in the system, to create expectations that can’t always be met, to raise false hopes, and to erase the mystery and magic of the wondrous system that transports more than five million riders a day.
These LED signs also threaten historical social behaviors, rendering obsolete the time-honored New York tradition of leaning over the platform edge with the hope of glimpsing headlights from an approaching train.
The Spoiler Alert signs warn waiting riders of this potentially unwanted information – allowing them to avert their eyes so they may preserve their spirit of adventure – while still leaving visible the data for travelers who wish to ruin the surprise for themselves.
Learn more about Jason Eppink (a major player in my favorite group: Improv Everywhere) and his other projects here. Found via the awesome Subway Art Blog.




Some background on the project:

"This summer mural painter Matt W. Moore created a series of live painting performances on walls in MARSEILLE, LYON, and PARIS. Directors Le Groupuscule captured the evolution of each mural, gathering over 700,000 pictures, that were edited as a stop-motion animation to an unreleased track by Monsieur Monsieur to create this music video. This collaboration of 3 artistic disciplines to make walls dance is part of the global initiative : Let's Colour Project."
Learn more about the collaborating artists here (in French) or here. Found via Wooster Collective.


 

Some background on the project:
"Multipraktik is a multi-disciplinary platform motivated by the pursuit of new practices at the crossover between design, photography, video production, music, events and art. We operate as an evergrowing collective of designers, artists, musicians, producers and programers. We create teams based on projects and with each project we try to challenge conventional approaches. This project was organized cross-slovenian street TapeArt actions with different artists (in particular Fejzo & Luka Ursic) as part of the new campaign for Orto (Simobil)."
Get more information on Multipraktik and the artists here and here (website under construction). Found via Wooster Collective.



WASHI WALLS

WASHI WALLS
WASHI WALLS
WASHI WALLS
WASHI WALLS
WASHI WALLS
WASHI WALLS
WASHI WALLS



You have probably already read about this by now, but how amazing is SimcolxMT's new washi masking tape strips for your walls?! As a New York City renter with paint commitment issues, I can just imagine these large rolls of (I believe) removable tape would be the perfect way to spice up a big empty white room.

It is nearly impossible to figure out the details required to purchase these since the entire website is in Japanese, but you can check out the whole selection for yourself here.


WONDERLAND ROOM

WONDERLAND ROOMWONDERLAND ROOM
WONDERLAND ROOMWONDERLAND ROOMWONDERLAND ROOM
WONDERLAND ROOMWONDERLAND ROOM
WONDERLAND ROOMWONDERLAND ROOM
WONDERLAND ROOMWONDERLAND ROOM
WONDERLAND ROOM


Oh my goodness, I am in love with the Wonderland Room! An Etsy store that sells fun stationery supplies from South Korea this site has everything you could ever possibly want if you are as addicted to paper goods as I am! Seriously, anyone looking for a Christmas present for me: feel free to buy anything (and everything!) included above!

Check it out here, because I can guarantee you will find something to drool over!


ART INTERVENTION


I have been bookmarking a lot of videos about super cool street art recently. Here are three of my favorites I thought I would share with you. Enjoy!


Some background on the project:

"In 2007, the New York City Transit Authority began installing LED signs on subway platforms that display estimated wait times for arriving trains. Unfortunately the information is little more than trivia: except for a few stations, it is only visible to travelers after they’ve paid their fare, so the data has little bearing on commuter decision-making.
Their primary effect, then, is to erode faith in the system, to create expectations that can’t always be met, to raise false hopes, and to erase the mystery and magic of the wondrous system that transports more than five million riders a day.
These LED signs also threaten historical social behaviors, rendering obsolete the time-honored New York tradition of leaning over the platform edge with the hope of glimpsing headlights from an approaching train.
The Spoiler Alert signs warn waiting riders of this potentially unwanted information – allowing them to avert their eyes so they may preserve their spirit of adventure – while still leaving visible the data for travelers who wish to ruin the surprise for themselves.

Learn more about Jason Eppink (a major player in my favorite group: Improv Everywhere) and his other projects here. Found via the awesome Subway Art Blog.



Some background on the project:
"This summer mural painter Matt W. Moore created a series of live painting performances on walls in MARSEILLE, LYON, and PARIS. Directors Le Groupuscule captured the evolution of each mural, gathering over 700,000 pictures, that were edited as a stop-motion animation to an unreleased track by Monsieur Monsieur to create this music video. This collaboration of 3 artistic disciplines to make walls dance is part of the global initiative : Let's Colour Project."
Learn more about the collaborating artists here (in French) or here. Found via Wooster Collective.


Some background on the project:

"Multipraktik is a multi-disciplinary platform motivated by the pursuit of new practices at the crossover between design, photography, video production, music, events and art. We operate as an evergrowing collective of designers, artists, musicians, producers and programers. We create teams based on projects and with each project we try to challenge conventional approaches. This project was organized cross-slovenian street TapeArt actions with different artists (in particular Fejzo & Luka Ursic) as part of the new campaign for Orto (Simobil)."

Get more information on Multipraktik and the artists here and here (website under construction). Found via Wooster Collective.


NSS: RECAP, PART TWO

This weekend I will be finishing my recap of the National Stationery Show . . . a bit late I realize, but better late than never! Hope you like it!


NSS: RUSSELL + HAZEL
NSS: RUSSELL + HAZEL
NSS: RUSSELL + HAZEL
NSS: RUSSELL + HAZEL
NSS: RUSSELL + HAZEL

At the Russell + Hazel booth I met Alexandra who kindly pointed out all the new goodies they have put out. I am particularly enamored with the leather portfolios--big zip pouches that shimmer in gold, silver, black and mint green--that came out earlier this year. They have also just introduced an awesome set of notepads; sold in a three pack, each pad marks out the time in each day in hours, minutes and seconds. Lovely! But, truly, everything made by Russell + Hazel is beautifully clean, bright and useful. Do yourself a favor and check out their website here.



NSS: SWEET BELLA
NSS: SWEET BELLA
NSS: SWEET BELLA

I also stumbled upon an unexpected treat: the Sweet Bella USA booth. Sweet Bella sells all sorts of wonderful things--desk lamps, vintage telephones, leather wallets, etc--but I absolutely fell in love with their overwhelming selection of Japanese masking tape. As you know I am obsessed with patterned masking tape (see here) and so I almost died when I saw their display. I love the idea of displaying all the options on hang tags that have been struck together. I want to buy all of them! Check out their website here and all the masking tape here.



NSS: MR. BODDINGTON'S STUDIO
NSS: MR. BODDINGTON'S STUDIO
NSS: MR. BODDINGTON'S STUDIO
NSS: MR. BODDINGTON'S STUDIO
NSS: MR. BODDINGTON'S STUDIO

Moments later, I also discovered a new favorite stationer: Mr. Boddington's Press. There I had a long talk with the owner, designer and all-around genius, Rebecca. Besides being incredibly talented, Rebecca is also extremely nice. I had the great pleasure of talking with her for a while as I gazed longingly at her work. Her booth was quite creative: she used lined envelopes to create a shingled overhang above a display, had an adorable mailbox to hold business cards, and entire shelf covered with her wax-sealed business cards. Her cards themselves are a delicious combination of dark whimsy and hand-drawn sweetness: a combination that is so winning and unique that I guarantee you can't find it anywhere else. Check it out here.



TAPE NECKLACE




As you all know, I am pretty much obsessed with colorful tape and its many applications (see here). It is not surprising then that I would be positively in love with the tape and paper clip jewelry on offer at Creatures of Comfort and designed by Manu. I love the bright and sassy color combinations and the lovely draping. Gorgeous! I can just picture these paired with a crisp white shirt and dark suit . . .

Check these (and many more beautiful things) here.

REBECCA WARD






In keeping with Monday's post, I wanted to share with you the wonderful things Rebecca Ward does with tape. I love the way she weaves the stretches of tape in space, making them seem like buttressing or scaffolding rebar. Simply awesome.

If you are in need of some inspiration, I highly suggest you take a gander at her colorful portfolio here.


(Thanks Oh Joy! for the tip!)


TAPE IT


Because I am thinking ahead to wrapping all those holiday gifts and because I am absolutely in love with japanese masking tape, I thought I would do a little round up of some of the best options out there online. There are some really great sites offering a variety of colors and patterns at a range of prices. Read on for some of my favorite picks.



Wasabi Masking Paper Tape, MoMA Store, 10 rolls, $25


Monochrome Set of Masking Tape, lovepetitzakkajapan, 6 rolls, $25


Japanese Masking Tape, Design Within Reach, 3 rolls, $12


So Many Pretty Solids Pack, happy tape, 20 rolls, $36.50


Colored Paper Tape with Polka Dots, ArtFire, 1 roll, $17.99



Japanese Masking Tape Set in Blue, Ginko Papers, 3 rolls, $7.50


Enjoy! Feel free to drop me an email if you purchase any of these products and/or if you use them in a fun project. Until then, happy wrapping!

PAPERMASH





As you may have guessed by now, I am a sucker for pretty decorative tapes. Really truly a sucker. Hence the major drool action from Papermash's "Tape and String" section. It is delectable and dangerous and totally tempting. Check it out here.


HAPPYTAPE! (GASP)




How amazing is this?  I posted about japanese masking paper tape several weeks when it was offered through Design Within Reach.  Now it is being offered in full force (no more "out of stock" notices!) through the awesome website HappyTape!  Hooray!!  Go forth and tape!


(To all my friends and family reading this post . . . I would be very happy to see a box of this tape hidden in a neat little package with my name on it . . . )