A dark, faceless figure shielding its head with a white bandana clutches a rifle, pointing it towards a giant McDonalds symbol that many often associate with obesity. Although the story behind this street art is unknown, female activists in Tehran going on hunger strikes for the violent conditions they’ve faced inside prison cells may be a possible clue. Graffiti artist A1One’s “Hunger from Tehran” is one of the many graffiti pieces featured at “Visual Slang 2008: The Modern Urban Imagination” displayed at Abrons Art Center on the Lower East Side. Curator Lois Stavsky unites artists from Iran to Tel Aviv in one exhibition where tales of survival, despair, and hope from the streets of their war-ridden homelands are revealed.
Immediately upon entering, visitors will be lured in by an “Autumn Venus” a series of enamel portraits based on the goddess of love by local artist Antony Zito. His giant voluptuous lady stares closely with large sad eyes as burning orange hair cascades down her golden beige skin. Smiling-Bag Productions shows a “Madonna and Child from Tel Aviv” where a young mother holds onto her son as they stare at each other against an azure backdrop, their faces covered with gas masks, shielding themselves from the scent of death. Barcelonan artist Pez is also featured with his cheery triple-eyed flying alien, bringing humor to the exhibit of brain-cranking political messages.
Visual Slang 2008 is proof that graffiti isn’t the enemy of a city, but its voice that some wish to prevent from speaking for fear of what it will say.
Visual Slang 2008: The Modern Urban Imagination is on view at the Abrons Art Center Henry Street Settlement til the end of this month. 466 Grand Street New York, NY 10002
Fruition relaunches their website! This season they have collaborated with Stussy, pulling out some of their deadstock that has been boxed up for years! If you’re in Vegas right now for the shows, make sure to stop by. www.fruitionlv.com
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BLOWOUTS IN BABYLON
Tonight is the last Big Bamboo party. Stop by to say your thanks to Linyee and Queen Majesty. Jamaican Ska, Rock Steady, and Rub a Dub and more! 8PM-Midnite! No Malice Palace and Garden. 197 East 3rd Street between Avenue A and B.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, August 27th- The Hump continues with a birthday celebration for Mikey. DJs Thanksgiving Brown and Barthelona, hosted by Jeru the Damaja, Aliya, and Mikey. at Blue Owl.
If you haven’t heard of her yet, this is the start of seeing her brand everywhere. New York newcomer Dana Veraldi seems to be doing the right thing at the right time. Her graphic t-shirt line combines her love of photography, illustration, and fashion into one clever and hip package sold at the best boutiques in the country.
We strapped her into our Confessional this week to find out more.
Name and Age, please:
Dana Veraldi, 24.
Marital status:
Not married
Where are you originally from?
Philadelphia
How long have you lived in New York?
Just over 1 year - I finished college May 2007 and moved here the same week.
What neighborhood in NY do you live in?
BUSHWICK in Brooklyn.
What are your favorite memories of New York since living here?
Meeting amazing friends, dancing, laughing, rooftops, arts and crafts.
At what age did you start exploring your creative interests?
My grandfather and father are both photography fanatics so they helped to introduce me to the medium at a young age. My family has always been supportive of my creative endeavors.
You graduated from the University of Maryland College of Art, majoring in Photography and Graphic Design. Is it safe to assume that you knew you’d be focused on your tees and totes after graduating?
No, I really had no intention or idea that the shirts would take off in the way they did. I knew I would always be taking pictures and that they would become a catalyst for other projects but I didn’t think that the tees would become a small business.
Can you tell us a little bit about how your photography, drawing, and fashion all come together?
It was natural how everything came to be - I’ve always taken an excessive amount of pictures and when I had assignments to draw and paint images for my screen-printing class it made sense to draw from my own photographs. I was not satisfied with two dimensional prints and loved the thought of my friends wearing something I made. I easily got a wholesale account to buy mass quantities of t shirts and began giving my designs away to friends. I love to take pictures of people in the shirts, their own shirts (for example Jackson in a Jackson shirt), because its almost like its come full circle - a photograph becomes a drawing which becomes a shirt and then a photo is taken of the final product.
Is there any one discipline that you enjoy more than the others?
Photography for me comes the most naturally and is the most satisfying.
When did you start selling your products under the name Deer Dana?
I created my website (www.deerdana.com) years ago and then decided to start selling shirts on the site as well as showcasing my photos. It just made sense to call my line Deer Dana.
I read an interview about how you create designs of your friends or people that inspire you including Agyness Dean, Tory Burch, and Andre Leon Tally. What’s your relationship to all these recognizable names?
Agyness is a dear friend of mine and I was happy to make the shirt of her after she began DJing with Jackson (our idea was that they could wear each other while DJing). Tory is the stepmother of 2 of my closest friends - I love her and her 6 kids. Andre I do not know personally, but have always admired.
You’ve also been assisting some big name stylists for the Sunday Times, Purple Magazine, and Elle. Is styling also something you plan on persuing?
No, but its been fun assisting my friend Christopher Niquet and occasionally assisting others. I love the energy of being on a shoot and the team work that goes into creating the images.
Any other creative outlets or projects we should know about?
I am working on a series of photographs of siblings right now, I hope to show them within a year.
Got a long term plan?
Photography, art, friends, family, babies.
Do you have much free time, and what do you do when you’re not working?
I am kept pretty busy between a couple shoots a week and making shirts the other days.
How would you describe your personal style?
Heirloom treasure chest meet lord of the flies.
What’s your most prized possession?
A golden piglet my friend Jon gave me.
Where do you like to shop?
Bess, Mario Besdescu, Olatz, deeandricky.com, Evolution, Opening Ceremony, Number (N)ine, Tory Burch, APC.
What are your top 3 fave restaurants in NY?
Schiller’s, Bubby’s, Blue Ribbon Sushi
What music have you been listening to lately?
Lightspeed Champion, Ssion, Kanye West, Beach Boys, Louden Wainwright III, Estelle
What’s your most recent discovery/exploration in New York?
Shoe repair man on 17th and Irving. He is the best.
Tell us your favorite rolling paper or your cocktail/drink of choice.
Tequila
Name one New York woman that you would nominate to our Hail Mary! list.
Lyz Olko of Obesity and Speed
Snowboard season is right around the corner and we’re already doing a bit of research on this year’s board choices. Check out Monument’s new artists collection and Claw’s collab with K2.
Monument Snowboards launches the new 2008-09 collection of boards featuring artists Krink, Todd Tourso, Kime Buzzelli, Thom Lessner, and Owleyes in perfect timing with their brand new website www.monumentsnowboards.com. Kime happens to be one of my favorite artists so hers is top ranking for me.
Claw Money is back and killing it like always, collaborating on a snowboard with the action sports crowd favorite, K2. She’s bringing originality to snowboard design and taking fashion statements to the extreme. Claw gets down on the 2008 women’s Mix snowboard, Auto Agogo binding and Affair Access boot, draping pearls and metallics and finishing off with a customized emblem. For the sassy boarder into making a bold statement.
Tonight, Tuesday, August 19th- LinYee + Queen Majesty invite you to celebrate the summer with BIG BAMBOO! TUESDAYS. Their 2nd to last party of the summer. A weekly rotation of special guests selecting Jamaican Ska, Rock Steady, and Rub a Dub and more! with special guest selector DJ Eddie Stats (HEAVYWE1GHT) PLUS 8PM-9PM Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry’s “Repentance” Listening Party. Every Tuesday, 8PM-Midnite! No Malice Palace and Garden
197 East 3rd Street between Avenue A and B. No Cover.Backyard.DancingMood. Special giveaways for the early birds!
Wednesday, August 20th- MadeMe + WorshipWor†hy + Around the Way Girls present “Strike A Pose” Music by Ni** Sky & Radio Rose. MadeMe Fall 08 Video Lookbook Unveiling. 10pm-3am. photos by Cee the Photographer (Kicksclusive). Socialista // 505 West Street @ Jane. Open Bar 11pm-midnight compliments of 42 Below Vodka. Cocktail Specials All Night: First Floor: Beers $5, Well Cocktails $8, Tacate & Fofoquero Shot (Cachaca, Lime, & Simple Syrup)–DELICIOUS! $8. Second Floor: the Big Bird- Vodka, Soda, Pineapple Juice $10. RSVP: strikeapose{at}pitchcontrolpr.com
Thursday, August 21st- At the 55DSL store in NYC! Featuring amazing pieces of art crafted from recycled and found objects from the streets of NYC and special guest appearances by legendary DJs! Catch a sneak preview of 55DSL’s brand new Fall Winter Collection: LOW NOISE HIGH QUALITY. Lots of art, free booze, signed posters, sorbet, goody bags, and much more!
Married to the MOB’s been making huge moves this year and their Fall 2008 collection is proof. The brand adds more cut and sew pieces to the collection, expanding it into a more full selection of goodies! “This is the beginning of MOB. I was at a point where I felt the name and brand were strong enough to start really expanding”, states MOB founder/Creative Director, Leah McSweeney, “it’s going to be a lot more types of clothing, a lot more deliveries
plus accesories. And, there are so many good projects in the works. This is the year of the MOB, for sure.”
Married to the Mob will be showing at Magic, Project and Agenda tradeshows. Make sure to stop by their booth!
Cultistshop relaunches! Women’s online street and lifestyle retailer ups the ante with their revamped site which now includes their blog and easier navigation… Shop quicker!
Our friend Neal at Teamworks along with several other men’s streetwear brands were invited to celebrate the 5th Year Anniversary of the Lafayette store in Japan. Teamworks put together this video of their trip… they experience a taste of celebrity out there!
Little girls may not have known it back then, but ‘80s cartoon star Rainbow Brite would resurface 24 years later as a muse for playful European couture. Fusions of bold, beautiful colors are currently making a splash inside closets ruled by little black dresses. Denmark-based designer Sanne Kiilerich has been chasing rainbows for five years with “Kiilerich,” a small boutique in Copenhagen where colors ooze out of delicate silk dresses that’ll make any wallflower light up more than a disco ball at a high school prom.
If you were expecting Kiilerich to resemble Ms. Brite herself with a low-cut frilly party dress and sexy stripped leggings with apple candy heels, you’re greatly mistaken. Sporting mousy-brown hair and librarian glasses, she easily surprises with her color obsession. Before her quick success in fashion, she attended TEKO, Scandinavia’s largest design and business academy where she graduated in summer 2002. It didn’t take long before she was given the opportunity to display her growing collection during London’s Fashion Week in 2003.
Summer is all about sunny days with blue skies, making Kiilerich’s dresses a must-have to look and feel cool. For a more grown up Tickled Pink look, a spaghetti strapped Japanese pink dress with giant black stars is ideal for turning heads at a beach party. If an older Patty O’ Green were heading out for martinis, she would probably wear a silky halter dress with a plunging neckline blending hues of emerald, tea green, and pear. While many see black as boring, Kiilerich’s autumn collection is anything but, showcasing a midnight black jumpsuit with large sleeves and a glossy wide belt to create a cinched waist.
Even though the fall season may mean sweaters, Kiilerich, like an impassioned artist, splatters color on long gowns, creating works of art such as the go-go dress with erratic brush strokes of yellow, white, and apricot or a tie dyed layered dress with charcoal, corn, and hot yellow. The summer may be coming to an end, but with Kiilerich, color is only the beginning.
