The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum opened a new exhibit today as part of its 50th anniversary celebration featuring artwork by Vasily Kandinsky. Not only is Kandinsky known as a pioneer of abstraction and modernism in the art world, but he also served as an inspiration for the building of the Guggenheim Museum.

Born in Russia in 1866, Kandinsky was influenced by the many historical events that spanned his lifetime, mainly the Russian Revolution and both World War I and II. The exhibit features nearly 100 paintings from 1902 to 1942. Until January 13, 2010, people will be able to enjoy his work that explores freedom from nature.

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
1071 Fifth Avenue (at 89th Street)
New York, NY 10128
(212) 423-3500
www.guggenheim.org

Photos:
www.artacknowledgenews.com

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Creative talent knows no bounds. Karl Lagerfeld, Chanel’s creative director, photographer, and occasional guest editor, has applied his inventive eye to the October 2009 issue of design mag Wallpaper*. The super sleek book covers interiors, fashion, art, travel, and more for the in-the-know reader, so it seems fitting that its latest cover uses a brand-new paper technology that peels back to reveal a second photograph.

Lagerfeld and designer Philippe Starck collaborated to shoot model Baptiste Giabiconi in a Dior Homme suit which, when peeled, also reveals him in the nude. The pair also edited a significant portion of the issue, handling topics as diverse as European real estate and the meaning of life. This Wallpaper* issue will be out on September 10, 2009.

Wallpaper.com

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Graffiti doesn’t get much credit as an art form, and many cities consider it a nuisance best covered and forgotten. In Philadelphia, however, the Mural Arts Program has created a public art project that celebrates graffiti’s potential to convey positive ideas. The Love Letter Project is a collection of 50 city walls painted by 40 local and international artists, all with messages about love.

The murals, which are all painted to face the Market train, will be completed by Labor Day. The project also encompasses a documentary film, a free month-long sign marketing course, and several books. In Philly, brick walls and spray paint are all you need for a great art exhibit.

ALoveLetterForYou.com

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You shop online for clothes, books, electronics, and even groceries, so why not art? That’s the case that three young entrepreneurs are making for an innovative site that puts a new twist on the traditional gallery scene.

Ugallery.com is the brainchild of Stephen Tanenbaum, Greg Rosborough, and Alex Farkas who met in business school and started the online site three years ago. Stephen runs the business side, Greg tackles the marketing, and Alex is the artist in residence for the operation. “Alex had the original concept because he saw a lot of his friends within the art school had this big barrier to get into the art world because they were so young,” recalled Stephen. “Basically we had a lot of friends who were emerging artists and couldn’t get into the galleries and we wanted to give them an outlet to exhibit their work.”

One thing that sets Ugallery apart is that it’s not just a portfolio site for artists, but rather a curated site. All artists have to apply to be featured on Ugallery, which includes submitting an application and providing background information and sample images to a revolving curatorial board led by Alex in San Francisco. “Alex is great at really recognizing talent and at the same time recognizing the drive that artists have and the seriousness they put into their work,” explained Stephen. About 25 percent of artists applying end up exhibiting on the site. Once selected, the artists don’t pay a penny to exhibit on the site and the costs are picked up entirely by Ugallery and its investors. The revenue that comes in from sales is put directly back into the business, and the gallery is able to almost break even.

Currently, there are around 300 artists featured on Ugallery, ranging in age from 19 to mid-fifties. “One thing they all have in common is that they are very serious about their art career, and want to make it as professional artists,” commented Stephen. One of the most popular artists on Ugallery is Sarah Beth Goncarova, whose beautiful oil paintings of dramatic landscapes have earned her a fan following on the site. She credits Ugallery with helping expand her audience and allow her to move forward on new projects. “The curatorial team at Ugallery is genuinely interested in knowing as much as they can about each work,” said Sarah Beth. “That personal connection between artist and curator is really rare and special, and that is one thing that makes Ugallery stand out from other online sites, and I suspect that is part of what makes it successful.”

While all of the artists are based in the United States, the site has attracted buyers worldwide from the Czech Republic to New Zealand, London to Rome. “It never gets old for us to hear the excitement in the artists’ voices when we tell them that we’ve sold their art,” said Stephen.

Online shopping is not a novel idea, but the concept of shopping online for art certainly is. Physical galleries where you can interact with the art, ask questions, and even meet the artist are still the de facto model, though, and Ugallery has tried to replicate that online. Interested buyers can browse by genre, color, size, or medium, and then read the artists’ statements, view portfolios, see how the artwork would look on a wall, and ask questions of the artists through the ULog feature. Since buyers don’t have the ability to see the art up close before purchase, there is also a full return policy if a piece isn’t completely satisfactory. It’s clear that there is an obvious appeal for young and first-time art buyers who have grown up using the Internet and prefer researching and contemplating an art purchase online instead of visiting galleries in Chelsea or San Francisco. “It’s getting to be more accepted, with a lot of galleries closing and some taking their business online,” said Stephen. “I think we’re definitely on the forefront here.”

Despite the economy, people are still buying artwork and Ugallery’s reputation as an affordable outlet for art has helped them during these tough financial times. “People are a little more hesitant to spend on the discretionary items like artwork, but I think we are attracting people who have bought original artwork before or want to start, and I think we’re one of the first places they come to,” said Stephen. The average painting on Ugallery sells for $400 with photography going for around $100—much less than the standard price tags at prominent galleries.

Ugallery’s commitment to its artists goes beyond simply posting their work online. The founders work tirelessly to expose the artists in new forums, which include exhibiting alongside physical galleries at events like the Affordable Art Fair, held every spring in New York City. “The whole point of that fair is promoting emerging artists artwork while offering artwork at an affordable price,” said Stephen. “It’s been incredibly great for the gallery, for the artists, and for the patrons.” In the future, Ugallery is planning on participating in more art fairs and hosting standalone exhibitions.

The success of Ugallery is proof that one good entrepreneurial idea and a lot of hard work can create a sustainable business. “You can have the greatest idea, but unless you put in the time, it’s not going to go anywhere,” said Stephen, who along with the other founders, has relied on family and friends to help expand the company. Despite the challenges of the running a business, Stephen can’t imagine doing anything else. “There are long hours when you work for yourself,” he explained. “There are no office hours. The train only runs if you’re there. We all enjoy doing it, though; we wouldn’t still be doing it three years later if we weren’t successful and liked doing it everyday.”

Look for new features on Ugallery in the weeks to come as they expand their blog and add more interactive features for customers to comment on the artwork. “I think we’re in a great place, and sales have been even better than last summer,” said Stephen. “Hopefully we’re able to grow the gallery to really drive all of these artists’ careers.”

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We all know the type: the guy whose apartment looks more like a tourist information center than a livable space. Yankees posters everywhere? Check. NYU pennant taped to the wall? Check. Manhattan skyline wall mural? Check. I Love NY magnets all over the fridge? Check. Disorganized stacks of New Yorker and NY Magazine? Of course. The culprit? Hometown pride run amuck.

Thankfully, there’s a cure and it comes in the form of Ork’s City Neighborhood Posters. Stylish and affordable, they make a striking statement while instantly upping an apartment’s cool factor. The posters are the creation of Chicago-based designer Jenny Beorkrem and the line of typography maps has grown to include 13 different city prints all available online in screen prints ($27) or posters ($22).

These posters make a perfect gift for housewarmings and graduations, and would even look great grouped together if you can’t pick a favorite city. As for those previously mentioned gentlemen and their prideful apartments — help a guy out and get him a copy of the Manhattan print. He might have to sacrifice one of those beloved Yankees posters, but at least he won’t lose any street cred in the process.

Source:
OrkPosters.com

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Legally Blonde The Musical is making its premiere in Los Angeles this week at the Pantages Theatre, and we have a special offer code for you. Save up to $20 on select seats by using this offer code: OMGX2 at BroadwayLA.org. The show is in L.A. for four weeks only, August 12 - September 6, 2009.

The show was proclaimed “The Best New Musical Around!” (WOR); we can’t wait to see Elle Woods and Bruiser again!

Discount is valid on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening performances from August 18 - August 27 only. Offer excludes Orchestra Rows A-Z 100s/200s/300s. The offer expires on August 22, 2009 at 5pm.

Legally Blonde The Musical
Pantages Theatre
6233 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood, CA
800-982-ARTS (2787)
BroadwayLA.org

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Family Records’ lineup reads like a who’s who of the music business—only five years premature. It’s almost guaranteed that the artists you see performing at intimate venues like Bar 4 or last weekend at Gramercy Theatre, will be the ones you mention to you friends years from now and rave about how you saw them play live before they made it big. These artists aren’t household names yet, but there’s plenty of evidence that they will be soon—especially if Wesley Verhoeve has anything to say about it.

The entrepreneur behind this New York-based boutique record label and artists management firm is Mr. Verhoeve, a thirty-something Dutch transplant who has succeeded in carving out a niche for Family Records and its musicians. The label was founded in 2007, and while creating good music is obviously paramount, the community element is also important to the dynamic of the label. “The name, Family, was picked with a certain vision in mind where it’s truly a little family that is supportive of each other,” said Wes. “Artists are approached only if in addition to having amazing music, they also fit into the group personality wise.”

Wes’s path from his hometown of Maastricht to Manhattan was unconventional to say the least. After earning an MBA, Wes bypassed the corporate world in order to pursue his love of music. New to the city in 2003, he met Jay Mankind and started Cross-Pollination, a popular weekly music series on the Lower East Side. A couple of years later, he teamed up with musicians Casey Shea and Jeff Jacobson to form the band The Undisputed Heavyweights, and Family Records was subsequently founded as a way to release their music. The Undisputed Heavyweights retired in 2008, but Family Records remains the band’s lasting legacy.

Family Records releases 8-10 albums a year by a slew of talented artists including Dinosaur Feathers, Matt Singer, and Gabriel Kahane. In addition, they manage four artists: Casey Shea, Wakey! Wakey!, Pearl and the Beard, and their newest project—Lacrymosa. Bridging rock and instrumental, electronic and folk, the common bond between these musicians is their unfailing ability to produce honest, soulful music that strikes a chord deep within even the most skeptical of listeners.

Most of Family Records’ albums can be streamed on their website, and it’s evident that the rise of social networking via Facebook and MySpace has helped build a community for these artists online as well as in New York. “It has made it easier to promote and distribute your own music,” acknowledged Wes, who admits to being something of a Twitter addict himself. “It’s given artists a lot of possibilities and power, but it’s also led to a very cluttered online music space.”

To set Family Records apart, Wes and his team have come up with creative ways to stay a step ahead of the changing industry. “I think specifically with the Casey Shea project, we’ve made some interesting strategic choices not many people would’ve made, but it’s been working out well,” said Wes. “We’ve been releasing one three-song single per month for six months, and giving them away in limited edition handmade runs at the release shows. It’s certainly helped us build buzz around the project, and emotionally engage early adopter fans.”

Days at the office are anything but typical for this music man who splits his time between the studio and meetings around town. “Generally my day involves problem solving, strategic thinking, and lots of communicating with interesting people, whether it’s artists, bookers, or one of the many partners we work with,” said Wes.

While his daily routine might not be predictable, his go-to look for work is. In the five years since Wes moved to New York, his style has evolved into a tailored uniform that reads business not boring; urban but with a European sensibility. Button-down oxford shirts, skinny ties with a tie bar, and fitted jeans are standard form for Wes. He avoids the quirky yet ubiquitous pairing of Converse sneakers with business wear in favor of the traditional—he sticks to brown or black leather shoes for a polished look. “For the most part, I aspire to pursue a timeless look, with hints of the modern age in terms of cut,” explained Wes. “On a style level, I admire guys like Robert Redford, Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, Robert Downey Jr., and Daniel Craig.”

Considering Wes’s profession, it’s surprising to learn that he is one of those rare New Yorkers who travels around the city sans iPod. “I listen to music on my iTunes in the office and at home, but when I am on the move I like to take in the sounds of the city,” said Wes. His favorite songs of the moment are Jay Z’s “U Don’t Know”; Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill”; and The Shins’ “New Slang.” Phoenix, Sufjan Stevens, and The Beatles are also all in heavy rotation on his stereo.

And what about Wes’s recommendation for this year’s “song of summer”—that catchy tune that sticks with you from May to September? True to form, Wes is one step ahead of the rest. “I feel a little bit like a fraud for picking an album I’m involved in, that isn’t even out yet, but for me personally, the summer song of 2009 is The Bloodsugars’ song ‘The Pedestrian Boogie.’” Judging from Wes’s track record, his song of summer is bound to be our favorite come autumn.

Check out WesleyVerhoeve.com and TheFamilyRecords.com to order CDs and find the latest schedule of concerts and events hosted by Family Records and its artists.

Source:
TheFamilyRecords.com

Photos: Ari Sommer of Melophobe.com

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Manhattan is so chock full of fashion forward galleries and museums that it is easy to hit the museum at FIT and the Met’s “The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion” and call it a day. The city that never sleeps, however, is brimming with summer and fall fashion exhibitions.

First stop: the International Center of Photography on 6th Avenue, which houses interesting conceptual and artistic showings. Currently on display is “Avedon Fashion 1944-2000”— a must-see for anyone interested in fashion photography and its role in editorials and advertising. The exhibit showcases the legend’s most important photos from the post-war era. Over 200 photos span decades of fashion’s legendary icons and campaigns. Not surprisingly, much of Avedon’s work stems from his fruitful time at Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. ICP calls the show “the most comprehensive exploration to date of Avedon’s fashion photography.” The images are reflective of Avedon’s refusal to shoot models as mere static clothes-hangers, but rather as feeling, laughing, emotive characters. Vintage prints, magazine layouts, and contact sheets provide a rare insight into the Avedon collection. If New York is merely your state of mind (or a plane trip away), the exhibit’s accompanying book is available at the museum’s website and features materials such as critical essays along with groundbreaking photos. “Avedon Fashion” ends September 20th.

Completing the ICP’s 2009 Year of Fashion will be “Dress Codes: The Triennial”, the museum’s signature exhibition exploring fashion through both photography and film mediums. The Fall ’09 project will examine fashion’s relationship to art and to cultural trends in a broader sense that encompasses consumption and the global market. Defining fashion as “a celebration of individuality, personal identity, and self-expression, and as cultural, religious, social, and political statements,” the Triennial will feature styles ranging from street fashion to haute couture to uniforms. “Dress Codes” runs from September 18 through January 17, 2010.

Sources:
ICP.org

Photos:
NewYorker.com

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TASCHEN is, hands down, fashion’s finest publisher. Founded in 1980 by Benedikt Taschen in Germany, the company has been the pioneering force behind the publication of avant-garde art, design, and fashion books. TASCHEN books are pieces of art alone; with their innovative design concepts and sleek aesthetics, they are proud statements on chic coffee tables around the world. We know that the TASCHEN team consists of consummate discerning readers. What begs to be asked is: what does the ever-hip, NYC-based crew groove to at the office?

From the official TASCHEN playlist:

Leonard Cohen, “I’m Your Man”
Gorillaz, “Hong Kong”
Louis Armstrong, “St. James’ Infirmary”
Nina Simone, “I Put a Spell on You”
Sly & The Family Stone, “If You Want Me To Stay”
Chicha Libre, “Indian Summer”
Isaac Hayes, “Do Your Thing”
The Go-Betweens, “Apology Accepted”

Public Relations Manager of TASCHEN America, Creed Poulson, also happens to inspire incredibly savvy music tastes in his NYC-based office. Here, he shares with The Supermelon some of the tunes that “still make it in the rotation sometimes and that we all like as well.”

Kurt Vile, “Freeway”
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, “Telegraph”
The Modern Lovers, “Modern World”
Smog, “Your Wedding”
Yeasayer, “Tightrope”
Cut Copy, “Lights & Music”

Source:
TASCHEN.com

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If you are creative, the best place to seek inspiration is at a gathering with other artists. Artomatic, a month-long community art festival in Washington, DC, offers the opportunity to do just that. Visual and performing artists from all over come together for installations, concerts, theatre, and special events. The culmination of the festival is the Art in Fashion Show, which takes place this year on Friday, July 3, 2009.

The event, like a carnival, brings together many forms of indie art (not just fashion) and encourages attendee participation. Models walk the runway in costume and creative fashion, sure, but drag, body paint, piercing, and tattoo art are also part of the deal. The public is asked to bring their creativity to their own attire. The theme for this year’s 10th Anniversary show is Celestial Bodies.

Art in Fashion 2009
July 3, 2009 | 8p-2a
55 M St SE
Washington, DC 20003
Artomatic.org

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