We Sink by Sóley

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Photo source: Sóley | www.soleysoley.com/

 

Every so often you run into an artist that simply makes you stop and think of looking up at the sky for some time wondering about things. Sóley unquestionably does this. I was first introduced to her at what is known as Bedroom Disco, a really ground roots movement where bands play by donation in a living room of some generous soul.

Sóley, a very charming individual, presents to the listener an array of songs filled with loops of dainty tidbits of delightfulness, and she does it all with this charisma that shows she is simply expressing her soul. Sóley is from Iceland, and she has a marvelous way about the world.

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Posted in: Albums, Featured, Reviews \ Tagged: , , , , ,

Cerasa’s Bathrooms

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Free Series | http://cerasa.it/

 

Stumbling across a company by the name of Cerasa from Godega di Sant’Urbano, Italy, we knew immediately that a new direction had been found for COT.

Taken as a direct quote from Cerasa’s website: “Cerasa aims at offering to its own clients not only projects with exclusive and innovative lines, but also destined to last in time as they are built with materials of proven reliability.”

It really does look like they stand by this motto to the very last T.

Cerasa has been around since 1983. This gives them credibility. Cerasa’s portfolio makes them among the worlds greatest bathroom designers and innovators today. Every element has style, has class, has simplicity and functionality built into every nuance of their designs. If you’re [re]designing your bathroom, you WILL benefit from browsing what they have done with it.

Their designs immediately bring to mind other such feats of design that just make sense. The world knows Apples sexy and sleek looking designs automatically. Their simple and elegant look with round edges and nearly seamless layout. Or Volkswagen, with their unrelenting ability to think of every last necessary element of a products design to provide an experience, not just a function.

 

Suede 2011 Series | http://cerasa.it/

 

Suede 2011 Series | http://cerasa.it/

 

Suede 2011 Series | http://cerasa.it/

 

What really sets these bathrooms apart from the ordinary is the furniture, which is what Cerasa provides. It has a unique touch with very subtle but well defined edges, it has unity, it has a very sexy style.

A few things of particular interest to note.

  • The bars that hang from the ceilings to hang towels on. I wonder if they move on ball joints to ensure they don’t get knocked out of the ceiling?
  • Seats within a bathroom are necessary.
  • Openness creates the impression the space is very large. Say goodbye to full walls and shower curtains.
  • If it’s a tub that’s required, don’t think twice about using a claw-foot tub.

 

Maori Series | http://cerasa.it/

 

Suede 2011 Series | http://cerasa.it/

 

Maori Series | http://cerasa.it/

 

Maori Series | http://cerasa.it/

 

Paestum Series | http://cerasa.it/

 

Play Series | http://cerasa.it/

 

Slim Series | http://cerasa.it/

 

Street Series | http://cerasa.it/

 

Street Series | http://cerasa.it/

 

York Series | http://cerasa.it/

 

A bathroom is a place created to allow one enough space to come out of it feeling completely energized, feeling fresh and new. It should have space enough to dry or hang towels and to turn around and not bump into the sink and toilet. It should have floors that resist water damage and adequate space to put down your toothbrush so that you don’t have to store it in your pocket when you rinse your mouth out.

Cerasa does this, and they do it great.

 

Posted in: Bathrooms, Featured, Living \ Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Planet News by Allen Ginsberg

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Planet News is a collection of Allen Ginsberg’s poems from 1961 – 1967.

If you are new to Allen Ginsberg, then it’s a brilliant thing you’ve found the poet. If you’re returning, then you should be aware of his theme for regurgitating, masturbation, and long forays into a realm that is like a side space between life and dream.  A dance with many words arranged in a random order at the authors wil and given to the reader to interpret it as they may, according to their mood and place in the book.

Planet News is a great book of poems. It encourages the reader to release their pre-conceived notions of poetry, and allow themselves to dance disturbingly through a picture that Ginsberg paints.

Journal Night Thoughts is one of the most chaotic verses of poetry conceived. Random rants and circles and un-announced paths discover that which cannot be explained.

Television was a Baby Crawling Toward that Deathchamber is a brilliant exploration of that exactly which the title describes, as much as any Ginsberg poem can stay upon one single topic.

Many of his poems explore city streets of places that Ginsberg is visiting, or places that Ginsberg has possibly been. Waking in New York, Vulture Peak: Gridhakuta Hill, Last Night in Calcutta, and Cafe in Warsaw at least mention the place in the title, and manage to brew up some sorts of raw cunning or unprotected adulterations that describe very true scenes that can be imagined.

I found the little poem First Party at Ken Kesey’s with Hell’s Angels a very interesting poem, as it seemed simpler and explored the spaces that Ginsberg likes to leave with less description and instead random observations, rather than his typical dreamscape that he explores with much more words.

Another topic of choice which, given the date the poems come from and Ginsberg’s cultural circle, seems only natural is the US Government. Ginsberg’s way of sarcastically exploiting that which he does not approve of was clear in many of the Wichita poems, such as Wichita Vortex Sutra, or in Today which is yet another complaint about the government.

Planet News is a beautiful read. If it’s not something you’re immediately interested in, the read is worth it for the mere significance Allen Ginsberg has had on the art of poetry.

Posted in: Books, Featured, Reviews \ Tagged: , ,

The Portraits of Carlo Calope

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Portrait photography has been around since the beginning of photography. Photographers like Arnold Newman, Robert Mapplethorp, Robert Frank, Art Kane, etc. have been legendary and ground breaking photographers that have altered what was perceived a portrait, escaping from the norm.

To become unique in the art of the portrait photograph is indeed something that is as defining as ones own face, an art that has changes with such subtle nuances that help solidify it’s uniqueness.

Carlo Calope‘s photography explores this precious line of portrait photography with his delicate touch he puts on each and every image. The colors used in each series’ seems to match perfectly with the model used and the location chosen, but that’s aside from his portrait work. His portrait work seems to reach into the depths of a soul, pulling out character and features in such a way that allows for the viewer to understand.

The following photographs are taken from Calope’s series Portraits Section I and Le Mannequin, simply to show more of his work.

Photo credit: Carlo Calope | www.carlocalope.com

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Posted in: Artists, Featured, Photographers \ Tagged: , , ,

London, England

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The world over knows of a handful of towns, those cities that no matter where you go people nod in recognition of the city you speak of. Places like New York, Shanghai, Berlin, and Moscow are all in this boat, and so is London, England. Dare I mention that they also hosted the 2012 Summer Olympics?

Photo source: Ned Tobin | www.nedtobin.com

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Posted in: Europe, Featured, Traveling \ Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

Canada’s Environmental Assessment Act 2012

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Photo source: Ned Tobin | www.nedtobin.com

I’ve recently been fed an article from the Vancouver Sun discussing Canada’s decision to alter some of the rules for its Environmental Assessment Act, becoming official on July 6, 2012. I won’t regurgitate what has already been spilled there, but I will offer some insight into what our government’s policies are.

Reading something like this Vancouver Sun article makes it nearly impossible to let it slide without saying something. We Canadians are passive about a lot of things, but our environment we should not be passive about. We, the entire population of the world, should take absolute measures to promote planet earth’s safe growth, health, and happiness. Continue Reading →

Posted in: Featured, Local, News, World \ Tagged: , , , , ,

Game Lapse by Jaybo Monk

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Jaybo Monk is a man whom you meet and never forget. His honesty and sincerity is what makes his art so pure, so essential.

There have been many late nights where I’ve debated the purpose of art with him; Jaybo always has the romantic stance that art should be created to express what must be expressed. Everything is just secondary.

It’s easy to see this in his work. It’s also easy to see into his minds eye with his work.

Recently, on 16.08.2012 Jaybo created some of the most extraordinary pieces of art I’ve had the pleasure to look at for a solo show at Rook & Raven Gallery / London. They explore white space and shapes with an emphasis on the olympics.I perticularily love how he manages to create a surreal exposé  of the lustful imagination mixed with wild beasts… and the muscle structure.

How do you like them?

Photo source: Jaybo Monk | http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151826326030476.486571.40186475475&type=1

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Posted in: Artists, Featured, Painters \ Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,

Andrey Yakovlev & Lili Aleeva are True Creators

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Take photographs, sure, but lets do it in such a way that it creates swirling dreams that dance around your minds eye and whispers little secrets into the overwhelming expanse of that which invites drop jaw and stare. NOW we have creation. Now we have tapped into what it is to create and to inspire.

Behold Andrey Yakovlev & Lili Aleeva. Possibly some of the most outstanding examples of fashion photography available.

Andrey and Lili create an experience for the viewer. They dissect the landscape and place models into the scene, making what can only be called a romantic dance dream.

The wardrobe choices, the accessories, the makeup. This, it is easy to say, is inspiration.

In this work, Andrey Yakovlev is the photographer, and Lili Aleeva is the art director and MUAH.

Photo source: Andrey Yakovlev & Lili Aleeva | Tropicana Unity | http://www.behance.net/gallery/TROPICANA-unity-/4697015

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Posted in: Featured, Style, Womens \ Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Brussels, Belgium

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The de-facto capital of the European Union, and the capital of Belgium is a city that goes by the name of Brussels  (French: Bruxelles, [bʁysɛl]; Dutch: Brussel, [ˈbrʏsəl]). Before traveling here, one hears of garbage and an un-kept, rundown city.

Photo source: Ned Tobin | www.nedtobin.com

 

This may be what one immediately notices with piles of garbage and graffiti everywhere, but this is not all that the city has.

Yes, it does have a thriving red light district, but there are also castles and museums and men playing cello sitting in the plaza.

Photo source: Ned Tobin | www.nedtobin.com

The city has a way of giving you the feeling that you’re about to open doors, or peer around a corner, and a whole new world will open up. It’s a mysterious city, one that feels like it’s had it’s fair share of madness roaming the streets. For some of us, this is a bit of excitement; for others, this is not the safe haven of our familiar places.

Brussels was founded in the 10th century by a descendent of Charlemagne as a fortress, and today has a population of just over one million people.

Photo credit: Ned Tobin | www.nedtobin.com

 

Photo source: Ned Tobin | www.nedtobin.com

 

Within the city, there are three major languages: French (mostly), Dutch, and English, but like most countries (especially with French speaking countries) if you don’t try and speak their language, you will find some cold shoulders. But, like all cities, this just depends on the area of the city you find yourself.

The culture in Brussels is very creative. There are various clubs to have fun in [I found myself one night at a lindy hop club, and a pub that boasts the largest selection of beers in the world the next],  and the city streets crawl with creativity. There are painted “crashed” cars/art projects distributed around the city, there is a pissing dog statues and also a pissing boy statue, park benches that have slanted backs, a sculpture park, and a museum of musical instruments. The feeling is a really gothic/creative feeling that spews forth from this city.

Photo source: Ned Tobin | www.nedtobin.com

 

Photo source: Ned Tobin | www.nedtobin.com

The core of the city is all located within a relatively small area that it’s very easy to become extremely familiar with it. If you start walking with nowhere in particular to head, you find yourself walking in a circle. It seems that all roads just take you back to the center of the city, or so my path seemed to always lead.

Photo source: Ned Tobin | www.nedtobin.com

 

Photo source: Ned Tobin | www.nedtobin.com

 

Photo source: Ned Tobin | www.nedtobin.com

 

If you’re heading to Brussels [or Bruges, Antwerp, Gent, Leuven, Mechelen] for the first time, I suggest checking out a really interesting organization called Use It. As I was heading into Brussels I met an interesting traveler who had just finished working for them, and when I arrived at the office, it was exactly what I was looking for: a map with all the cool spots to check out, friendly people behind the counter wanting to help me, free internet service, and free tea!

Have you ever been?

Posted in: Europe, Featured, Traveling \ Tagged: , , , , , ,