“My idea of a good picture is one that’s in focus and of a famous person,” declared Andy Warhol, the Pope of Pop. What could be easier than shooting quick-to-see Polaroid prints of celebrity pals that arrived daily on his “factory” doorstep? Andy’s also ironically remembered for stating, “Photographers feel guilty that all they do for a living is press a button,” which is exactly what he did for his instantaneous snapshots of Debbie Harry, Diana Ross, Yoko Ono, Dolly Parton, Schwarzenegger, and other boldface names currently assembled for Andy Warhol: Big Shotat New York’s Danziger Projects.
1. According to the NY Post, Jim Carrey is renting studio space from Julian Schnabel. Says a source: “Jim is working on a large abstract canvas. His work is actually quite good.”
2. NBC may be moving 30 Rock to a 10pm time slot to make way for the return of Parks and Recreation and a new comedy, Perfect Couples. [via EW]
3. “My whole goal is to reintroduce magic to hip hop. We watched this wizard do his thing. Y’all supported him. And he’s an official Roc Nation signee.” Jay-Z on signing Jay Electronica to Roc Nation
4. Michael Jackson’s first official posthumous single — “Hold My Hand” — is here. A different version of the song leaked back in 2008, but this one is supposedly a lot better. [via Vulture]
5. Watch the five most ridiculous moments from last night’s premiere of Sarah Palin’s Alaska — including its unfortunate theme song. [via Gawker.tv]
Best known for his film career, Dennis Hopper was also a photographer, artist, collector, and fixture of the creative community for over half a century.
James Dean first introduced Hopper to the Los Angeles art world after the two met on the set of Rebel Without a Cause. He went on to produce a wide body of visual art while working as an actor and director on classic movies like Easy Rider. As an artist, Hopper’s talent was most obvious in his photography, which documented his creatively charged milieu and reflected his uncanny ability to be in the right place at the right time.
Julian Schnabel was an art-superstar before turning his hand to writing, music, film, and architecture. A true renaissance man, Schnabel is now touting his large-format Polaroid photographs in a 100-image exhibition at the NRW-Forum in Düsseldorf, which runs through July 11, and an impressive, new Prestel monograph, which releases June 30.
Turning the 20 x 24 Polaroid camera on friends and family over the course of six years, from 2002 to 2008, Schnabel captured fleeting moments in his Manhattan, Montauk, and Brooklyn studios and other locations related to his art and interests. Schnabel’s pals Mickey Rourke, Christopher Walken, and Lou Reed are caught on camera hanging out with the artist, while Takashi Murakami, Max von Sydow, and Dick Cavett are documented dropping by the studio to visit.
During its 30 years in business, well-known artists and cultural heavyweights designed over 65 menu covers for New York City restaurant Chanterelle. Now owners David and Karen Waltuck have put dozens of menus from their archives up for sale to help pay off creditors. Visit their website to scoop up one by Cy Twombly for $3,000; Robert Rauschenberg for $1,000; and Marcel Marceau for $400. But hurry — two by Kiki Smith have already sold for $3,000 a pop.
View some arty menus — including a few that are really cool, but not for sale — after the jump.
Last night’s Gotham Independent Film Awards saluted the best in American independent cinema, with top honors going to Kathryn Bigelow’s gritty war drama The Hurt Locker. Presented by the Independent Feature Project, the often boozy ceremony heralds the start of the film awards season, and in past years has proven a good indicator of which indies will receive Oscar nods.
The crowd at Cipriani Wall Street — which included Willem Dafoe, Meryl Streep, and Alec Baldwin — was eager to express their support for independent filmmaking. Said presenter Ellen Burstyn, “I love independent film because I think that’s where all the people stories are now. The big studio films have gotten to be so much about explosions and special effects.” Richard Kind, a character actor currently in A Serious Man and previously in every movie, sitcom, and animated film ever, added, “The Coen brothers said that when they got a really big budget it wasn’t as much fun as keeping it small, and I think they’re right. I think you’re more focused.”
Neo Rauch, Ettape. David Zwirner, New York and Galerie Eigen + Art, Berlin/Leipzig
As Venice settles down to a calmer flow of visitors to the Biennale throughout the summer, the art-world caravan has journeyed to Switzerland for the 40th edition of the world’s most prestigious fair, Art Basel. Collectors stormed the booths of their favorite galleries at the preview, making quick acquisitions of high quality modern and contemporary art.
More than 300 international galleries are showing work in a variety of media by more than 2,500 artists. With the exception of the sections of the fair offering emerging art and experimental projects, most dealers have been cautious to bring the best work by known artists — a strategy that is already paying off. Read More »
Because we can’t all escape from our desks to enjoy 72-degree weather and international contemporary art, Flavorpill’s resident guru Paul Laster will be bringing you daily bold-face name littered updates and photos from Art Basel Miami all week. If you missed yesterday’s first installment, read it now.
Because we can’t all escape from our desks to enjoy 72 degree weather and international contemporary art, Flavorpill’s resident guru Paul Laster will be bringing you daily bold-name littered updates and photos from Art Basel Miami all week. Enjoy!
Miami Basel’s six days of art and design events officially kicked off with Design Miami, housed in a stunning new pavilion, designed by Aranda/Lasch. First on the agenda was lunch with Design Miami’s 2008 Designer of the Year, Fernando and Humberto Campana, Miami Design District guru Craig Robins, and HSBC Private Bank execs in the VIP lounge, which the Campana Brothers sensuously constructed from raffia, freshly transported from their native Brazil.
