bill wearing socks

Here's an awesome tribute video to Bill Murray by Niege Borges. Check out the looks and sounds that have emerged from the prolific actor throughout his decades-spanning career, and then buy the poster here!

be there: softrock

the lower east side's 1:1 gallery continues an impressive roster of events with softrock, by actually huizenga and socrates mitsios. the video-themed exhibition features the dynamic, sexualized, and violently glamourous aesthetic that characterizes the collaborators alongside a curated soundtrack. saturday evening marks a highlight in the project, with a special performance featuring miss huizenga alongside brooklyn darlings house of ladosha and cody critcheloe. look here for more details.

FASHION FRIENDS: METALEPSIS PROJECTS

Metalepsis Projects is a collaborative effort - a true harmony of tastes. Victoria Cho and Astrid Chastka, previously employed as architects, took their language of design and structure and created something new. Taking inspirations from some fine art giants, the collection seeks to take jewelry to another level. 

SARAH: You are very inspired by heavy fine art and architectural influences (e.g. Sol LeWitt). Is there anything happening in contemporary culture that you find really significant and
motivating in that same way?

ASTRID CHASTKA: I am inspired by pretty much everything on the art blog But Does It Float. I’ve recently been seeing a lot of generative artworks there that are interesting; the computer is such a powerful tool. Although Victoria and I are both really interested in the balance between technology and handcraft, I’m equally impressed by extremes at both ends of that spectrum. Also, I think that the way musical artists like Nicolas Jaar and James Blake are chopping and distorting and pacing their music in new ways inspires me to try to think about wearable items differently.

VICTORIA CHO: Urban fabrics, such as New York City, Berlin, Mumbai, etc. are really inspiring to me. They are the greatest and most complex living organisms. Especially now I find the Occupiers around the country inspiring, not only because of the ideals that bring them together but also by how they physically inhabit and transform public spaces.

S: You work in bronze, a very sculptural metal. It makes your jewelry seem like little monuments. Tell us about that.

VC: We came across bronze in a more accidental way. We just fell in love with the material the first time we had a test sample made. Bronze is also a very common material for architectural hardware such as door knobs and knocks, and we have always been intrigued by these beautiful but utilitarian objects.

S: All the shapes of your pendants are related but different, like the way we were told to think of snowflakes as children. Whats the significance to each shape? Or their relationship?

AC: Some of the pieces have a direct relationship in that a negative space in one shape equals the positive geometry of another shape. They fit together like puzzle pieces but can’t be assembled as a necklace in that way. We then designed more detailed versions of the smaller, removed shapes that played on their geometries.

VC: The basis of the collection is more about the whole than the individual pieces. We designed for the possibility of relationships that the pieces are able to create.

S: When you guys are dressing, do you work around jewelry? Are you minimalists?

VC: Definitely!! All about accessories. More so lately, my wardrobe has gotten simpler and cleaner, but I love unique fabrics, textures and prints.

AC: I am a natural born maximalist who has undergone years of architectural training in an attempt to eradicate this tendency. It didn’t work, but at least now I am able to appreciate both ends of the spectrum. Some of the pieces in this collection are very minimal and others not so much; I like that.

S: Who are some of your favorite designers?

AC: I usually like to see what Maria Cornejo and Rodarte are up to. More often I’m inspired by people on the periphery of architecture like Do Ho Suh [the detail with which he manipulates fabric in 3 dimensions is mind-blowing] and Rachel Whiteread. I also think Confetti Systems is an awesome creative brand.

VC: Some of my friends. Their talents inspire me. Right now, I love everything from Tisci at Givenchy and I also really admire Hussein Chalayan.

S: If you could befriend anyone in the world who would it be?

AC: Buckminster Fuller! What an exciting man! He thought about so many things in so many different ways. He never stopped analyzing the universe and inventing things for a better life in it. He was interested in practicality and efficiency yet created some of the most beautiful designs of his time. I also hope he would take me for a ride in his Dymaxion car.

VC: James Turrell. He’s this old white-bearded man (and obviously a very well-respected and renown artist) with the most unpretentious attitude. I saw him once at a lecture and I was just imagining how awesome it would be to hear all his stories about the art scene in the 60s in LA. But i also find extraordinary his vision and ability to use light/space with such malleability. And if the famous Roden crater ever gets finished, I’d like a private tour.

S: How did you two meet and begin to work together?

VC: We worked at the same architectural firm in New York. Interestingly, we didn’t really became friends until after leaving.

AC: Our first idea for a collection was to laser cut patterns of Victorian lace into stainless steel. We learned a lot about how NOT to make jewelry doing that collection. Victoria moved to LA this fall so now Metalepsis Projects is a way for us to keep in touch and continue creating together over a great distance.

S: What is the relationship between art and fashion?

VC: I think fashion is art! Much of contemporary art/fashion is informed and shaped by new technologies, culture, craftsmanship and above all, a need for artistic expression.

Metalepsis necklaces are available for purchase in the IDLM store.

FASHION FRIENDS: JELENA BEHREND

Jelena Behrend is a jeweler, working artist, and crucial lower east side destination. Her studio, which she opened in 1998 on Chrystie Street, is open by appointment and frequented by gallerists, notable celebrities, and individuals seeking hand made custom jewelry with a soul. Jelena uses inventive materials like green gold. Her work is a unique combination of aggressive and subtle, both classic and current. Jelena's pieces have been featured in Interview magazine, worn in films, on the red carpet, and she has even designed a perfume bottle for a conceptual art/fragrance project in collaboration with Lisa Kirk. Jelena is a woman who wears many hats. We were glad to ask her a few questions about her style opinions.

Sarah: When you are creating your pieces, do you have a specific type of person in mind? What characteristics seem to be consistent in your clients or muses?

Jelena: As with any artist, I make things that I want to see in the world, objects that I want to exist. I also make custom pieces, and then that person is included to join me.

S: Are there any cinematic icons or films that have effected your personal style, and thus effected your designs?

J: Akasha: Queen of the Damned. I made a series of face masks inspired by her. Rock stars, vampires, powerful women traversing time and history--all these things take part in what i do.

S: If you had to design a uniform for yourself, to wear everyday for the rest of your life, what would it be?

J: Cashmere body suit with platinum chain mail over it.

S: Is there such a thing as too much jewelry?

J: Even one piece can be too much if it's not the right piece.

S: Is there a dream item that you've always wanted, either to design or possess?

J: The Ring of Nibelung. And a metal opanak, the Serbian folk shoe that I made.

S: Who is your style soul mate?

J: The woman in the mirror, she tells me what to do.

above images via Jelena Behrend Studio

to schedule an appointment email Jelena

warm up + any ever

this year's warm up series at moma ps1 begins this saturday. the outdoor courtyard events are a summer staple, featuring experimental live music, performance, and dj sets. best of all, admission to the event includes access to all current exhibitions, so be sure to check out ryan trecartin's any ever, now on view inside the museum. full details here.

CONCEPTUAL STREET ART ON THE WALK HOME

18 artists commissioned by The Art Production Fund created pull- down murals on the Bowery, featuring the work of Glenn Ligon and Rirkrit Tiravanija. Read the ART FORUM coverage.

ART WORTH LOOKING AT

http://www.newmuseum.org/exhibitions/432
Sit in the "glow in the dark" room and let your brain pulsate.

outside/in

this saturday, lebasse projects is hosting an opening at their culver city gallery. a group of international street artists will show work and produce new pieces as part of a permanent installation. full details here.

resurrection

cinders gallery is reborn on saturday, with a group show themed around resurrection as reflected in drawings, sculpture, and photography. full details here.

birds of paradise

the museum of the moving image kicks off its costume and spectacle focused fashion in film festival tonight. rare screenings of work by a number of artists will be presented over the course of the series, with inclusions by kenneth anger, jack smith, steven arnold, and many others. with a variety of eras, themes, and formats to be found under the guise of the festival, there's certain to be something for any taste. full details here.

end to end

friday, april 1st, harvest works is hosting a show opening that features the work of new media artists living in the us and china. the theme is inspired by concepts of end-to-end connectivity and network intelligence, with the international collaboration serving as a manifestation of this principle. the event will be divided between performance, exhibition, and screening, and promises an intriguing look at the intersection between art and technology. full details here.

when we were young

tomorrow night marks a one-off event at f.l.o.a.t. gallery in chelsea combining photography and music. organized by self publish, be happy, which helps promote self-published photographic work, the party will feature youth-centered work by emerging artists and underground 80s musical selections by dark entries.

catch the beat

janette beckman and david corio were london transplants that shot iconic images of personalities musical and otherwise here in new york in the 70's and 80's. the morrison hotel gallery on the bowery just opened an exhibit of their work, which offers a rare opportunity to see their portraits of punk and hip hop figures displayed together. more info here.

infinite instant

opening sunday at participant gallery is the first solo exhibition of f.p. boue, a german artist known primarily for his architecturally-focused film work. this installation will integrate sculpture, drawings, and film, with a screening to be held separately at anthology film archives. expect his signature deconstruction of and reinterpretation of structures as the overlying theme.

whats he building in there

fuse gallery has a new exhibition opening on today and closing next week. this group show, titled after a tom waits song, explores the mystery of the creative process and the perplexity that emerges from the onlooker. the theme is developed with works from artists including matthew stone, dash snow, and harmony korine, which promises a compelling experience.

the hallelujah world tour

tonight, los angeles artist retna has a solo show opening that will feature 35 works of his signature fusion of graffiti and fine art. established art dealers andy valmorbida and vladimir restoin roitfeld are presenting the event, which means it will be a great way to kick off fashion week.

avant garde masters

the recently reopened museum of the moving images continues to curate amazing film screenings and exhibitions. its avant garde masters series draws upon archives ranging from the andy warhol museum to anthology film archives. this sunday, a rare edie sedgwick portrait film will be shown, followed on the 13th with a biographical selection by jonas mekas. it's an amazing opportunity to view commercially underappreciated films in an ideal setting. full details here.

life is full of important choices

eastern european artists dora+maja have an opening scheduled at the brooklyn artists alliance in greenpoint today. with selections of their eye-catching paintings set for display and their carefree artistic ideology sure to set the tone for the evening, it promises to be one of the most interesting art events so far this year. an afterparty is scheduled at the veronica people's club nearby. examples of their work are available here, and look here for full details.

david wojnarowicz

tate modern is hosting a free event on saturday to reconsider the work of david wojnarowicz, whose iconic work has come under deep scrutiny stateside in recent months. the museum also has an extensive collection of his variegated body of work. film screenings and readings are both scheduled to examine one of the most influential and socially active artists of the 80s. full details here.

new world pig

full details here.