Friday Fun: PANTONE Cruiser Bikes

Happy Friday! How about a super stylish weekend cruise on a PANTONE bike? Count us in!

Thanks to Italian Designer ABICI, you can now cruise in some serious style. ABICI has recently launched a super cool collection of bicycles called the ‘Pantone Universe Bicycles’.  The bicycles come in your choice of four PANTONE colors: Green 627C, Ruby Red 186C, Turquoise 15-5519, and Mimosa 14-0848.

         

The bikes not only look stylish, but feature: fully-enclosed chainguards that display the PANTONE color codes they take after, leather saddles, metal mudguards, back-pedal rear brakes, manual front brakes, and battery-powered lights. The bikes can also be customized for men and women and customers can even choose different speeds and accessories to fit their cruising needs.

The bikes look awesome, but do come with a semi-hefty price tag. The prices for these sweet bikes start at $1,181.  Worth it?

So would you splurge on a PANTONE bicycle for yourself?

Incredible 360-Degree View Landscapes

Wow, talk about an entirely new way to view the world. Literally, a 360-view of some incredible landscapes.

New York City-based photographer and filmmaker Randy Scott Slavinhas stitched hundreds of photographs together to form stunning spherical panoramic projections.
Titled ‘Alternate Perspectives’, his collection consists of surreal images of various cityscapes and landscapes.

“I developed a technique that could realize my desire to turn the real into the surreal,” says Slavin.  “The result is something rebellious, beautiful, and provocative. My series is a collection of the works culled from these photographic explorations.”

Pretty incredible. At least we think so. Check them out:

[via DesignTaxi]

Craving Sweets: Really Realistic Paintings of Dessert

We could not get enough sweets following yesterday’s National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day, so we thought we would share the increible work of a talented painter.

Mary Ellen Johnson is the artist behind these PAINTINGS – not photography – of the most delicious looking desserts. Can you believe it? Because we did not at first either. Pretty incredible right?

Eat your heart (and eyes) out:

Did these leave you drooling too?

 

Fun Fact Tuesday: How Famous Brands Got Their Names

You learn something new everyday! We found these knowledge tidbits on DesignTaxi – and they are actually pretty cool.

You hear the names of famous brands probably at least once a day. Names like Coca-Cola, Nike and Adobe. These brands are world-famous and some of the most advertised; and their logos, instantly recognizable—but do you know how their names came about and what they actually mean?

Based on the Wikipedia list, online magazine Bored Panda has made a visual list of famous company name etymologies.

So how many of these fun facts did you already know?

DENY Designs Artist of The Week: Anderson Design Group

The DENY Designs featured artist of the week is the Anderson Design Group. The Anderson Design Group is new to the DENY Designs family just this past month. We are absolutely loving their colorful retro designs – sure to transform any space into a fun one.

More about Anderson Design Group:

Anderson Design Group, Inc. founder Joel Anderson graduated from Ringling School of Art & Design in 1986. He was recruited straight from college to work as a staff illustrator and designer at Carden & Cherry Advertising in Nashville, TN. While at C&C, Joel won an Emmy Award for his work on a CBS show, Hey Vern, It’s Ernest. Joel worked at C&C for 7 years, learning the art & science of advertising (and how to talk like Ernest.) In 1993, Joel and his friend David Thomas founded Anderson Thomas Design, Inc. The firm focused on CD package design at first, and quickly grew into a diverse print & web design company with a client list that included Universal Studios, DreamWorks Pictures, Golden Books, Thomas Nelson and more.

In 2007, the partners decided to pursue different interests, so Joel reorganized the design firm as Anderson Design Group, Inc., narrowing the studio’s focus to specialize in illustrative design, branding, and product development.

Check out some of their designs on DENY products:

To see all of Anderson Design Group’s work on DENY Designs products, just head over here: http://denydesigns.com/collections/anderson-design-group-all-art

So, what do you think? Pretty fun right?

Edible Art: Cupcake Cherry Blossom Tree Mosaic

This is surely one project that I don’t know I could finish entirely without eating it first. But one group of very dedicated artists from London-based bakery Crumbs and Dollies created the most incredible looking Cherry Blossom mosaic made using only cupcakes. And not just “some” cupcakes – the bakery group got together for Japanese TV show ITTEQ with Laura Hadland and the Morisanchu Group and baked and iced 10,000 whole cupcakes for the mosaic. The installation took place last and was put on display at the Highcross Shopping Centre at Leicester.

How the installation was not eaten upon hours of debut is beyond me, but it looks amazing. My compliments to chefs!

Too Cool: Giant Furniture

Talk about feeling itty bitty. Artist Robert Therrien created this series of over-sized furniture that measure over 10 feet tall! Robert Therrien is know to recreate everyday objects true to their original material and color, but on an enlarged scale.

Robert explains his inspiration for this series:

“The artist’s point of view – from the small world – could be viewed as a large ges­ture- publi­cally. The prac­tice is cre­at­ing some­thing both large and small. Pub­li­cally, Table and Chairs is per­ceived as a big object, where it actu­ally orig­i­nated from a small detail-a corner bracket sup­port­ing the table leg. Instead of crawl­ing under­neath and pho­tograph­ing an actual table in order to see it, why not shrink your­self and take a normal snapshot?”

This installation was on display as part of the Lifelike exhibition at The Walker Art Center in Minneapolis.

Therrien was born in Chicago in 1947; he now lives and works in Los Angeles.

That’s One Big Bunny

Artist Florentijn Hofman has once again left us in awe with his “Big Yellow Rabbit” art installation that he created last summer in Orebro, Sweden – Floretijn Hofman was the same mastermind behind the big yellow Rubber Duckie that floated its way down the river in France.

The Big Yellow Rabbit was a temporary 13 meter high sculpture.  The rabbit was created as an enlarged cuddle toy made out of swedish products thrown against the statue of Engelbrekt.

Hofman’s work often deals with simplistic happiness – his signature oversized installations serve as diversions that ease the tension of modern life.  His work often gives onlookers a moment of serenity amidst times of economic and political turmoil. We can’t help but appreciate this.

DENY Designs Artist of The Week

The DENY Designs featured artist of the week is Randi Antonsen.  Randi’s work is so unique, bright and wild – we just can’t help but to fall in love with it. Learn more about Randi and her inspiration:

Randi says , “I have a carefree but fully engaged approach to life and art.I find inspiration in the smallest of things because I ‘see’ with these inquisitive and always looking for magic eyes.My work incorporates many approaches and mediums all in one; but then so doe’s life. I am always willing to flow with new life and change my art with it.Overall I bring to my work one consistent phrase and that is this energy of the mixing of life’s varied forces; as in nature, as in life, as in art.”

Check out a few of Randi Antonsen’s artworks on DENY Designs products:

  

To see all of Randi Antonsen’s work on DENY Designs products, visit: http://denydesigns.com/collections/randi-antonsen-all-art

  

Friday Funny: Woody Comes To Life Through Instagram

There is not much to say about what we have recently stumbled across while cruising Instagram, except user @shamwoww has some of the most clever, creative photos that will leave you laughing until it hurts.

Instagram user @shamwoww simply takes photos of a Toy Story doll – Sheriff Woody – in situations (some not so G rated) that bring him to life in the real world. The outcome: some of the funniest pictures we’ve seen in ages.

We had to share these with you – because we all can appreciate a genuinely creative individual when we see one.

Enjoy:

               

Super Sweet Ride

From DesignTaxi:

New York-based designer and artist Britta Hope created a bike made of candy. Yes, a bike. Dubbed ‘The Candy Bike’, the bicycle is a sure to give you a visual sugar rush—made of all sorts of candy, from the handlebars to the wheels.

Hope created the bike as part of her 3D design class, where students were given Huffy bikes and told to create a vessel that delivers a message.

“I chose the message ‘treat yourself’,” Hope wrote, “and created a bike that is made out of candy and delivers cupcakes out of a giant cupcake carrier on the back! Yum.”

What a sweet ride!

Lunchbox Awesome: A Lunch Way Too Good To Eat

Graphic designer, Mom (and maybe aspiring chef) –  Heather Sitarzewski made a decision to stray away from the typical “brown bag” boring school lunches,  and create unique ‘bento’ lunch boxes for her son every day. Her ‘bento’ lunch box project is appropriately titled “Lunchbox Awesome”.

However, unlike your usual bento boxes, she manipulates the food into various shapes and patterns to form characters from cartoons, games and movies – which are shockingly recognizable, and look way too good to eat!

Sitarzewski has created over 120 different bento lunch boxes for her son, featuring characters such as Spongebob Squarepants, Harry Potter, Ninja Turtles, Hello Kitty and Angry Birds – we wonder how popular her son must be at school now (he must never want to trade his goods for the coveted Snack Pack).

She keeps a Tumblr account of her masterpieces, which can be viewed here. But here are some of our all time Lunchbox Awesome faves:

Way to go Heather – these are incredible!

DENY Designs Artist of The Week: Holly Sharpe

The DENY Designs featured artist of the week is Holly Sharpe.  New to the DENY Designs team just this last month, Holly brings a bright, bold and beautiful style that we can’t help but fall in love with. We are especially loving her ‘Tribal Girl’ and ‘Dreamer’ designs on DENY Designs products – surely to transform any home space into a dreamy fantasy-land.

About Holly Sharpe:

“I am a printed textile designer, artist and illustrator from Edinburgh, Scotland. I currently live in London, but hope to travel again sometime soon and soak up some more worldwide inspiration! I absolutely love drawing and have done for as long as I can remember, it really is my passion.”

“The motivation behind my work is something I canʼt quite put in to words, I just know that it has always been inside of me and the more I do it, the more inspired/ motivated I become. Ultimately I do hope to be able to use my work to engage, provoke and inspire others. The long term goal is to somehow portray a positive message about how we live our lives and to spread an awareness about important issues. I am inspired by all things beautiful and slightly infatuated with color.”

Check out a few of Holly Sharpe’s artworks on DENY Designs products below – pretty gorgeous right?

To see all of Holly Sharpe’s designs on DENY products, visit: http://denydesigns.com/collections/holly-sharpe-all-art 

Thanks for reading, and stop by and check DENY Designs out on Facebook, Twitter and Pintrest too!

    

Friday Interesting: Most Popular Fashion Brands By City

Not exactly design-related, but we stumbled across a recent article from Lucky Magazine that profiled the most popular fashion brands by city and were inclined to share.

Shop It To Me—an online personal shopping assistant that tracks discounts on your favorite brands—crunched the numbers and analyzed the brand preferences of their users in 23 major U.S. cities and ranked the most popular brands 1-50 in each of them.

Check out the images below –  and tell us, do you stack up with your city’s preferences? Or is your wardrobe in an entirely different zip code?

MIAMI

Top Brands: Victoria's Secret, BCBG, Nine West
Shopping Forecast: Out of all cities, it's where Michael Kors is ranked highest. Maybe it's all the neon pink and electric green he's been using lately?

 

SAN FRANCISCO

Top Brands: Banana Republic, Marc Jacobs, BCBG
Shopping Forecast: It's the only city where comfy-casual brand Ella Moss makes the top 50. (Lightweight cotton dresses might make trekking up those city hills a little easier.)

SEATTLE

Top Brands: The North Face, 7 for All Mankind, Victoria's Secret
Shopping Forecast: North Face is #1. Rain gear that's tough but not overly sporty— like this military green slicker— is probably why.

BOSTON

Top Brands: J.Crew, The North Face, 7 For All Mankind
Shopping Forecast: J.Crew's really popular, but it only ranks #1 in Boston. Is it all the college kids? The industrious, adorable outerwear? Those chunky striped sweaters?

CHARLOTTE

Top Brands: LOFT, BCBG, Nine West
Shopping Forecast: Betsey Johnson makes the top 50 in each of the cities we analyzed except Charlotte. It's a little surprising, considering the designer's Southern belle-friendly dresses like these.

MINNEAPOLIS

Top Brands: Victoria's Secret, Banana Republic, J.Crew
Shopping Forecast: At #8, Express ranked higher in Minneapolis than anywhere else. Maybe it's the on-trend pieces like these printed pants?

PHILADELPHIA

Top Brands: UGG, Michael Kors, Steve Madden
Shopping Forecast: It's one of only two cities where UGG made the top 10. (The other one's Boston.)

PHOENIX

Top Brands: Guess, Juicy Couture, True Religion
Shopping Forecast: It's the only city where Guess makes the top 10. (Maybe locals play up the Southwestern vibe in concho belts and faded jeans like these.)

NEW YORK CITY

Top Brands:: Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, Gucci
Shopping Forecast: It's one of only three cities where Louis Vuitton makes the top 10. Which means New York shares some common ground with LV-loving Houston and Miami, two cities with styles that seem really different than typical NYC looks.

BALTIMORE

Top Brands: BCBG, The North Face, Victoria's Secret
Shopping Forecast: At #50, Tory Burch barely made it on Baltimore's rankings, unlike more Tory-friendly Boston and Los Angeles (which rank the brand #31 and #36, respectively).

SALT LAKE CITY

Top Brands: Express, Nike, Victoria's Secret
Shopping Forecast: It's the only city where Old Navy made the top 50. (We hope everyone there stocks up on boots like these: so versatile, and even less expensive than a movie date.)

CHICAGO

Top Brands: DKNY, Banana Republic, J.Crew
Shopping Forecast: Along with Detroit and Atlanta, it's one of just three cities where DKNY makes the top 10. (This trench would be good for braving windy days.)

HOUSTON

Top Brands: Ralph Lauren, Nine West, Steve Madden
Shopping Forecast: Although it might seem like a New England brand, Ralph Lauren only ranks in the top 5 in two southern cities: Houston and Atlanta.

LOS ANGELES

Top Brands: Free People, Juicy Couture, Steve Madden
Shopping Forecast: Along with San Francisco, it's one of just two cities to count Miu Miu in the top 50. (We would've thought New York would be in there too. Although, sorta interestingly, Prada ranked in the top 50 for all cities analyzed.)

DETROIT

Top Brands: Victoria's Secret, The North Face, Nike
Shopping Forecast: Detroit may be famous for brutal winters, but it still ranks Victoria's Secret's little lingerie as its #1 brand of choice.

AUSTIN

Top Brands: Nike, 7 For All Mankind, Ralph Lauren
Shopping Forecast: Along with Houston and New Orleans, it's one of just three cities to rank BCBGirls in the top 50. (Perhaps because floaty dresses like this one would work so well on humid summer days.)

NASHVILLE

Top Brands: LOFT, Steve Madden, Nike
Shopping Forecast: At #15, Kate Spade ranks relatively high in Nashville, compared to Houston and Miami (where Kate Spade is #30 and #39, respectively).

DENVER

Top Brands: 7 For All Mankind, J.Crew, Nine West
Shopping Forecast: Banana Republic ranks #1, which means Denver shares sartorial taste with Austin, Salt Lake City and San Francisco.

PITTSBURGH

Top Brands: Nike, Express, Banana Republic
Shopping Forecast: Along with Salt Lake City, it's one of only two cities to rank Tommy Hilfiger in the top 50.

NEW ORLEANS

Top Brands: Gucci, Nine West, Ralph Lauren
Shopping Forecast: At #15, New Orleans ranks Kenneth Cole higher than in any other city. (In Boston the brand ranks #39 and in L.A. it ranks #40.)

WASHINGTON D.C.

Top Brands: The North Face, Marc Jacobs, Victoria's Secret
Shopping Forecast: At #7, LOFT ranks relatively high in D.C, where political types might wear blazers like these.

ATLANTA

Top Brands: Steve Madden, J.Crew, DKNY
Shopping Forecast: Atlanta is one of only two cities to exclude Urban Outfitters from the top 50— NYC is the other— even though the store has really cute things like this.

DALLAS

Top Brands: Juicy Couture, Banana Republic, Ralph Lauren
Shopping Forecast: Coach makes it in the top 50 in Dallas, along with Detroit, Houston, Minneapolis, Phoenix and Pittsburgh. It must be a non-coastal thing?

Pinterest Inspired: Romantic Home Decor Style

Extravagant, exaggerated, wild, imaginative, fantastic.

Romantic decor is a style that appeals to the senses through patterns, lace, painted furniture, crystal, light filtered through sheer curtains and aromatic flower arrangements – one of our favorite home decor styles right now.

We wanted to share some of our favorites from Pinterest, because they are too good to keep to ourselves:

Now, if we could only find a mansion to put all of these ideas in…and a big wad of cash.

Someday….

Life is Beautiful: A Cutting Edge Art Installation

Iranian artist Farhad Moshiri has created a beautiful (and ironic) art installation using only kitchen knives stabbed into the walls.

His installation, which features the words ‘Life is Beautiful’ – is supposed to touch upon how common household items can serve as lethal weapons, lending a sarcastic undertone to the upbeat statement. Definitely a thought provoking piece of work – we love finding gems like these!

 

So what you do think?

Oversized Rubber Ducky Bringing Oversized Smiles to Onlookers

You cannot help but to smile when seeing these images – and that is just the reaction that artist Florentijn Hofman wanted.  Sometimes it is the simple things in life that mean the most, and to tap into those feelings, Hofman created his giant yellow duckie with the mission of simply bringing people together through the presence of art.

Treating the Loire as a giant bubble bath, as The Rubber Duck cruises, it brings a message of joy, without political or sociological connotation. Hofman’s work often deals with simplistic happiness – his signature oversized installations serve as diversions that ease the tension of modern life.  His work often gives onlookers a moment of serenity amidst times of economic and political turmoil. We can’t help but appreciate this.

“The duck itself is a durable vessel, made from an inflatable plastic shell, a pontoon boat, and a generator to help propel it forward downstream. It gently moves throughout the environment without disrupting the nature of the marine life in the river below. Rising 82 feet by 82 feet wide, the bath time toy conjures up childhood memories and nostalgic narratives, undeniably creating smiles as it passes through each town.”

The Rubber Duck traveled a 40 mile stretch from Saint-Nazaire to Nantes, France as part of the Loire Estuary art exhibition. The Rubber Duck has already delighted the shores of both Osaka and Sao Paulo, and it will likely continue its journey to other waterways around the world, surely spreading joy and smiles everywhere it floats.

We hope this ducky makes it’s way across the pond to visit us sometime soon – what an incredible sight!

Absolutely brilliant.

Sweet Murals (Literally)

Believe it or not, what you are seeing is artwork made of sugar. Using sugar cake icing, artist Shelley  Miller replicates the images of historical Portuguese tiles, azulejo ceramic tiles, and even street art – creating one sweet piece of art.

Inhabitat says, “Inspired by calligraphy, arabesques, ancient mosaics, mosque architecture, temples, and textile design, Miller gives the styles of these architectural elements new life reimagining them in a water-soluble medium.”

“Miller’s use of sugar goes beyond just the novelty of a using a confection in an outdoor art installation.  The artist also uses sugar to draw parallels between the history of the sugar industry and its remnants. For an ongoing project in Brazil, the artist decorated several dilapidated buildings with faux-Portuguese tiles. Brazil, once a booming industry leader in the sugar industry, is now faced with extreme poverty in many areas and echoes of the slave labor that fueled the industry. Ironically, sugar is now considered a luxury in many of these areas, so local children have been known to break off samples of Miller’s art installations to nibble on them.”

“Millers azulejo style murals also reference the sugar industry, mainly its transport across the oceans, its history, and link to the slave trade. She has installed the sugar murals in several ports related to the sugar industry, in Brazil, Victoria, BC, and her native Montreal.”

Pretty sweet right?

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DENY Designs Artist of The Week: Ginette Callaway

The DENY Designs featured artist of the week is Ginette Callaway of Ginette Fine Art.  Ginette’s watercolor and oil pastel pieces are bright and beautiful, and with the wide range of subjects, you are sure to find at least one to fall in love with.

About Ginette Callaway: 

I am French born to a German Mother and a French Father and became a US citizen in 2008. I live in the United States and paint in Oil and Watercolors from my Basement Studio in Georgia. Besides my traditional paintings I also love to do fresh contemporary abstract in watercolor and ink, mostly very colorful. My inspirations life, life and life.

I paint every day because that is what I love to do. If I never leave my basement that is fine because in my head I’m somewhere else. Nature inspires me most, because nature is the biggest wonder of all. Animals, Flowers, scenes from around the world and places I have visited. I remember a fragrance of a flower or fresh squeezed limes and it triggers a painting.

Simply from sun up till sun down my head is in a creative vice.

 

To see all of the Ginette Fine Art pieces on DENY Designs products, visit: http://denydesigns.com/collections/ginette-fine-art-all-art#

 

Thanks for reading, and please visit us on Facebook, Twitter and Pintrest too!

      

The 72-Room Bohemian Dream Home

Abandoned building? Nope, actually only three people live in this building (and no, they are not squatters).

A few years ago, New York Magazine revealed that this graffiti-covered old bank on the Bowery (that we all probably thought was abandoned or filled with bums) is in fact a single-family-home. Yes, you read that correctly. Single-family home.

The old 30,000 square foot, bank was bought in 1966 for a mere $102,000 by photographer, Jay Maisel – who still occupies the  now 72-room dream home with his wife and only daughter. Today, real-estate brokers estimate it’s worth at least $50 million.

New York Magazine was given a peek inside the Bohemian dream home, here are some of the incredible photos from the tour:

The Master Bathroom
Originally office space. Maisel designed it, putting down a plywood floor and installing a marble shower stall.

The Dining Room
The bankers had their meals here. It’s at one end of the open living room. The pressed-tin wall is original.

Amanda’s Bedroom
Maisel built the platforms so his daughter can look at the skyline while lying in bed.

The Kitchen
The Maisel kitchen is on the site of the bank’s original kitchen, where staff cooked for the bankers.

The Kitchen

The Maisels on the Roof
Linda has a small garden in one corner; this year, she grew tomatoes, basil, peppers, and parsley. The building’s copper trim is still intact.

The Fifth Floor
The plastic tubing runs along the ceiling and carries cold air. Part of Maisel’s collection of curiosities lines the hallway.

The Elevator
Maisel used mirrors to enclose the original copper elevator cage for safety.

The Third Floor
Once bank offices, now gallery space. The original door frames are oak.

Maisel stores his work in the original safe-deposit vault.

Pretty incredible right?

Child’s Own: Bringing Art To Life

Usually the artists that we write about on our blog are a bit older than 5 years old, but we came across the most incredible website today and felt we had to share.

Child’s Own Studio takes any drawing that your little one brings home and can turn it into a real-life stuffed animal.

“Child’s Own Studio is a place where your child and a craft artist, together, can create a keepsake to be cherished for a lifetime.”

So say goodbye to just keeping the masterpiece taped on the fridge – keep it forever! How amazingly creative is that? Also impressive is the accuracy – the duplications of the drawings are so spot on it is scary.

Why didn’t we think of that? BRILLIANT!

To see all of the work of Child’s Own Studio , you can check out their website: http://www.childsown.com/

Short And Sweet

Photo Credit: Rick Nelson

We found this photo this morning and can’t stop getting those warm and fuzzy feelings. Here is what Rick Nelson has captured and the story that he tells:

“The story behind this picture is this:

Every day – at the very same time – she waits for him…

He comes… and they go for a walk.

Wouldn’t it be great if we all had friends like this…no words needed…they just intuitively recognize the value of each other in their lives and act accordingly?”

♥

DENY Designs Artist of The Week: Rosie Brown

The DENY Designs featured artist of the week is Rosie Brown. Rosie Brown’s tropical watercolor designs can make any room your own private oasis. The subjects of her paintings are varied, but they all reflect Florida living: vibrant colors, gorgeous seascapes, luscious fruits, tropical birds, exotic blooms, great light and awesome shadows.

Check out some of her designs on DENY products – we think you’ll love them as much as we do:

 

 

More about Rosie Brown:

Rosie Brown has been painting in different mediums her entire life. She originally came from Cuba at the age of nine and knew the importance of having a steady job. This experience prompted her to obtain a business degree from Florida International University. Rosie’s true passion centered on painting and continued to flourish throughout her successful business career. After retiring, she decided to pursue her lifelong passion to create.

Rosie’s love of art extends out to organizations in the community. She is a signature member of the Miami Watercolor Society, the Florida Watercolor Society and a docent at the Lowe Art Museum at the University of Miami. Rosie recently completed two “art in public places ” pieces in Coconut Grove and South Miami.

To see all of Rosie Brown’s designs on DENY products, visit: http://denydesigns.com/collections/rosie-brown-all-art

Thank you for reading! Please visit us on Facebook, Twitter and Pintrest too!

     

Sit. Stay. High Fashion Dog Portraits

Artist and photographer William Wegman, along with his editorial dog Man Ray – had a partnership that produced some amazing photographs. I don’t know if the photographs themselves or the fact that  Wegman could get Man Ray to sit still for that long is more impressive – but either way, I need the name of his doggie trainer.

This is the story behind William Wegman and Man Ray:

It was while he was in Long Beach that artist William Wegman got his dog, Man Ray, with whom he began a long and fruitful collaboration. Man Ray, known in the art world and beyond for his endearing deadpan presence, became a central figure in Wegman’s photographs and videotapes. In 1981, Man Ray died. It was not until 1986 that Wegman got a new dog, Fay Ray, and another collaboration began marked by Wegman’s extensive use of the Polaroid 20 x 24 camera. With the birth of Fay’s litter in 1989, Wegman’s cast grew to include Fay’s offspring — Battina, Crooky and Chundo — and later, their offspring: Battina’s son Chip in 1995, Chip’s son Bobbin in 1999 and Candy and Bobbin’s daughter Penny in 2004.

Pop Culture Icons: They’re Just Like Us

Read no further if you think your childhood visions of pop culture icons might be shattered forever, because artist Mike Mitchell takes some of the most-loved pop culture characters and puts them in ironic situations.  After all, they are “Just Like Us” right? Well that is what Mike Mitchell thinks – and we love his interpretations of what our favorite characters do when the cameras are not rolling.

In his series ‘Just Like Us’ that’s currently exhibited at Gallery 1988: Melrose till April 28th, 2012, characters—such as Magneto, Dumbo, Bambi, Ariel, Ewok, Batman, Poison Ivy and Robin—get into unique situations that make them seem more human and a bit less like the unbreakable heroes of our childhood past.

Some of these are freakin’ hilarious, look:

Too funny! To see all of Mike Mitchell’s amazingly creative designs, visit his website: http://sirmikeofmitchell.com/index.php?/ongoing/about/