Color My World!

Color Chart: Reinventing Color, 1950 to Today is opening March 2 at the MOMA. More images can be found here and here.

Color Chart: Reinventing Color, 1950 to Today celebrates a paradox: the lush beauty that results when contemporary artists assign color decisions to chance, readymade source, or arbitrary system. Midway through the 20th century, long-held convictions regarding the spiritual truth or scientific validity of particular colors gave way to an excitement about color as a commercial product, mass-produced and standardized. The Romantic quest for personal expression instead became Andy Warhol’s “I want to be a machine;” the artistry of mixing pigments was eclipsed by Frank Stella’s “Straight out of the can; it can’t get better than that.” Color Chart is the first major exhibition devoted to this pivotal transformation, and will feature work by 44 artists ranging from Ellsworth Kelly and Gerhard Richter to Sherrie Levine and Damien Hirst. Organized by Ann Temkin, The Blanchette Hooker Rockefeller Curator of Painting and Sculpture, The Museum of Modern Art, the exhibition will be accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue.

Wow, flashback: In college we were assigned a group project called COLORGY. It was to design an exhibit on color! I was in the RED group. I can tell you everything about RED. Facts, figures, and visuals of RED were coming out of my ears. It turned out amazing & then became an exhibit at the MOST Museum! We were all very proud.

Illustration: IZAK Advertising

Happy Leap Year. The IF word of the week is 'Leap'. Next week I will be participating in my first Illustration Friday. Each week I try to do the assignment on time and now it's in writing, so stay tuned!

So I was perusing the internet and came across IZAK's 'Le Printemps of Tokyo' Store Banners and magazine spreads. It makes me think about how many windows and foreign magazines I am 'missing'. I need to do some extra scouting in NYC and purchase some international magazines for illustration inspiration.

Window Wednesdays: Communication at Bergdorf Goodman

A big smile crossed my face when I saw this week's windows over at Bergdorf Goodman. As a designer who must COMMUNICATE to clients on a daily basis this week's theme hit home. From Etch-a-Sketch to Messaging Stickers to Hello my name is... tags they really dug up some creative ways to communicate. Enjoy!

Dreams Can Come True

I was so happy to see Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova win 'Best Song' last night. I saw the movie and A Swell Season in Concert last year. They are such gifted, humble, artists! The quotes from their speeches last night have such inspiring messages. They are coming back to NYC in May. That's a concert I'd go to again, and again, and again...

Glen and Marketa’s acceptance speeches were as follows:

Glen Hansard:
Thanks! This is amazing. What are we doing here? This is mad. We made this film two years ago. We shot on two Handycams. It took us three weeks to make. We made it for a hundred grand. We never thought we would come into a room like this and be in front of you people. It's been an amazing thing. Thanks for taking this film seriously, all of you. It means a lot to us. Thanks to the Academy, thanks to all the people who've helped us, they know who they are, we don't need to say them. This is amazing. Make art. Make art. Thanks.

Marketa Irglova:
Hi everyone. I just want to thank you so much. This is such a big deal, not only for us, but for all other independent musicians and artists that spend most of their time struggling, and this, the fact that we're standing here tonight, the fact that we're able to hold this, it's just to prove no matter how far out your dreams are, it's possible. And, you know, fair play to those who dare to dream and don't give up. And this song was written from a perspective of hope, and hope at the end of the day connects us all, no matter how different we are. And so thank you so much those who helped us along way. Thank you.

DVF Spring Campaign

Did you see the new Diane von Furstenberg 2008 Ad Campaign, featuring Model Natalia Vodianova by François-Marie Banier? It's very different from anything she's done lately. The handwritten type and paint splatters are very gritty for the DVF brand. There is a beautiful film on the DVF website that shows the creative process.

I also enjoyed the new commercial during the Oscar's featuring Diane as the new face of “Are you a Cardmember?” It was nice to get a sneak peak into her home & studio life.

Plugged into John Legend

Has anyone plugged into John Legend? I've seen these co-Target/John Legend advertisements in New York City, but I wonder if they are in any other cities. I admit I haven't even plugged into them. John is already on my ipod, so stopping to take a minute during my busy commute isn't feasible. Unfortunately, when I have a couple of minutes to wait for the subway no Johnny-on-the-Spot can be found!

Window Wednesdays: Bright Colors for a Cold February

Macy's Herald Square
The windows this week are all about Josephine Baker. What a beautiful display of art, posters, fashion illustrations & clothing.
Hermes
Old Navy
Not only did I capture the new windows (are those the outfits from the commercial?), but how cute is their bath & body packaging. You really get some nice designs for an affordable price.
Gap Body
Liking the graphics a lot. Summer are you here yet?
Gap (Special Store)
I never know what to call this Gap store that is next to Henri Bendel. Sometimes it has accessories, sometimes it showcases (red) products, and now it loves CANDY. Kids & CANDY it looks like.

Deep Breath of [February Air] at Old Navy

Last week I wrote about the 'New Look' at 'Old Navy'.

Since then the commercial has launched - and oh I am L-O-V-I-N-G the song by the indie band Lights. Things like this make me wonder--
1) Who researches music at Old Navy? What a great job!
2) Do they feel a sense of warmth when they know they have now 'discovered' and basically brought a new song to the masses?

Enjoy the new song & visuals below. I'm sure you will be hearing this song everywhere VERY SOON.

Jonathan Adler at Barnes & Noble

I noticed Jonathan Adler has some nice Home & Office items exclusively for Barnes & Noble this weekend. What a cheap & chic way to spice up your desk or cubicle. Here's hoping this relationship lasts longer than the Hold Everything partnership! I'd scoop them up as fast as you can - I read the umbrellas were already sold out!

Penny for Your Thoughts

Literally! As postage is now going to increase one cent on May 12th. On Sunday night I watched this segment on 60 minutes about the controversy of keeping the penny or getting rid of it --- completely! I don't remember any mention about U.S. postage, and I can't imagine all U.S. postage rounding up to the nearest 5 cent.

Already people have cut back on sending out letters and cards, which breaks my heart as to me nothing can replace a handwritten note. Sometimes I think the act of writing letters will soon be a rarity; I'm happy to be amongst the rare.

Stefan Sagmeister: Solo Show

Stefan Sagmeister is at the Deitch Gallery until February 23. He is blogging this week over at the NY Times. They are very witty, interesting posts - I highly recommend.{photograph taken from deitch.com}

Window Wednesdays: Love-ly Designs

Pink
Gap Body
Tiffany Internet Ad!
I couldn't resist-it's to cute and I happened to go into the new Wall Street location with a co-worker this week. He needed help picking out a new charm for his wife. The Point of Purchase display inside with the charms was adorable and very customer friendly. Unfortunately I wasn't allowed to take any pictures.

Papyrus Paper Store, NYC
Nine West
Elizabeth Arden, Red Door, NYC

Banana Republic, Love Identity