Weeks after the iconic DKNY ad at Broadway and Houston Street was covered in a dung-like shade of brown, the corner’s transformation is complete. In a matter of hours today, painters finished off the wall with the logo for the Ohio-based surf clothing company Hollister, ready for their store opening in July.
Photos by Bowery Boogie and Racked
Although the media has mostly overblown the role that Twitter has played in the uprisings surrounding the Iranian elections with most people on the ground are still relying on SMS texts and good ol’ word of mouth, there’s no denying the impact its had on the micro-blogging community. From rappers to porn stars and celebrities, everyone’s getting in on the revolutionary action. And now with this Twitter application that automatically adds a green overlay to avatars, armchair activism has never been so convenient. ANIMAL decided to take a look at the eclectic mix of personalities who’ve gone green for the cause, see some of them below. Read more »
The trompe-l’Å“il installations from street artist Dan Witz have taken a sinisiter turn as of late. His latest work features bound and gagged figures as well as dangerous jungle animals behind faux-window constructions quietly installed in public doorways. Until you take a close look, you might never notice the “Dark Doings” behind closed doors.
In the newest Subway Shmutz report from the Straphanger’s Campaign, the 7 line came out on top, with 84 percent of its cars considered clean. The R train pulled up the rear with three quarters of its cars soiled at any time. Gene Russianoff of the Campaign urges the MTA to use some federal stimulus money on daily operations, including cleaning staff. |NYT|
The EU has outlawed its populations from the eating of pet horses. The new legislation was passed “partly to stop vets’ drugs from entering human diets” and specifically aimed “at continental Europe where two million horses are reportedly eaten every year.” Humans who ignore the ban and eat the outlawed flesh could face a year in jail and fines. In addition to the new mandatory dietary restrictions, all horse owners must obtain passports for their equine and have microchips surgically implanted in their animals so they can be thoroughly tracked. |MetroUK|
Most blamed the attack on Banksy’s paintings earlier this week on vandals with paintball guns, however the illegal paintings were actually marred with paint filled balloons. A British paintball company issued a press release this morning to stop everyone from scapegoating their beloved guns, which “only fire small balls of harmless, fully biodegradable gelatine and certainly could never be loaded with a balloon.”
“Paintball is a popular, well organised section of the leisure industry in the UK, enjoyed by young and old and ought not to be inaccurately connected to acts of vandalism in this way.”
They’re totally right: paintball guns should only get credit for spectacular acts of vandalism they’re used in, like the billboard attack after the jump. Read more »
Tomorrow, Eastern District gallery in Bushwick opens Plenty of Room on the Couch, a summer show from a disparate group of artists. The exhibition of work, all priced at $300 or less, opens from 7 to 10 PM and is on view through July 19 at 43 Bogart Street.
Images by Amandalynn and Dan Taylor
Stuyvesant Town security has found a new way to harass residents: enforcing some so-called rule against taking harmless candid photos, citing the need for permits or a complete ban on photo-taking. Perhaps they don’t want anyone documenting the guarded complex’s garbage piles, pest problems and general disorder. |Lux Luving|
TV commercial via UK agency Whitcher for Los Angeles-based Creative Recreation sneakers (They have some exclusive 09 designs available at Barney’s—that’s MFing hardcore Street.) In it, a young aerosol king’s nebulous artwork creation comes to life as a raging, roaring brick monster. While the special effects are basically passable, I’m neither young nor a street artist; so I’m not one to say how effective this spot is at selling street sneaks to rebels and more importantly, wannabe rebels. I do know the music track titled “What You Got” (anybody know the artist?) is fucking terrible, and doesn’t seem to have even the slightest connection to the action. I also know one more thing: this video would make nice jerk-off porn for knee-jerk graffiti-hating city councilman Peter Vallone, Jr. “Yeah monster, that’s it, chase those thugs down, take their shoes, take their pants, too!” |Video: advertka.ru|
In a policy move that is likely to give CNN’s immigrant-hating newsman Lou Dobbs an aneurysm, various federal crime fighting agencies in the U.S. are recruiting officers from abroad. Law enforcement authorities from scandal-riddled countries like Mexico, Argentina, Colombia have been invited to work alongside officials from ICE and the DEA. While some laud the the cooperative arrangements, other security experts claim it increases the risks of corruption and potential leaks. |AP|
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