Tonight, folk legend and lifelong civil rights activist Joan Baez lends her voice in support of Green Party candidate Reverend Billy Talen’s mayoral bid. Also featuring the Rev’s Life After Shopping Gospel Choir among others, the Elect-a-lujah benefit concert costs just $15 and starts at 7 PM in the Highline Ballroom. Of course, if you prefer your mayoral candidate’s music off-key, head to Times Square to check out the Naked Cowboy, who doesn’t even live in New York City.
Lockheed Martin charges that the MTA should pay up to $137 million in damages for canceling their contract to install a “post-9/11 surveillance system,” in their latest court filing. Of course the MTA, which Lockheed accuses of barring them from working in necessary areas, is firing back, demanding $90 million for unfinished work on the mostly broken subway surveillance camera network. |NYP|
Inside the paint splattered façade of 76 Grand Street, Deitch Projects has assembled a tribute to the late Dash Snow. In addition to some of the artist’s photos, collages, installations and graffiti, the community driven exhibition features countless snapshots from Snow’s life and memorial pieces from friends, fellow artists and graffiti writers. Above is a selection of images from the show, which runs through August 15.
Judging by the amount of ships they’ve been steadily commandeering and the dozen or so they’re still holding, it’s hard to believe that Somali pirates are deterred by weather. Still, the U.S. Navy is concerned there could be increased attacks now that monsoon season is ending and issued a warning. |AP|
As the 1.3 billion people of the People’s Republic continue their march to becoming full-fledged Consumers, they’re discovering the American joy of blowing hard-earned money on utterly unnecessary products…like pocket-sized air fresheners! But really, how could they resist with such cute ads as these by DDB Shanghai for the TianTian brand which, I’m stupidly assuming, is named for either the giant panda or the apparently smelly chess player. Isn’t farting in public punishable by death in China? Anyway, it also appears that Chinese ad agencies are discovering the Western advertising tactic of stealing ideas: the funny gaseous pants bubbles visual isn’t original. Previously in China Ad Watch: Ben Gay, Panadol Cold & Flu. |Images: Coloribus|
Despite months of unpaid rent and neighbors’ repeated complaints about the stench, a Vietnam veteran was finally found dead and decomposing in his Brooklyn apartment. The Housing Authority claims they made repeated attempts to contact James Gale, but failed for apparent reasons: “he either turned down these attempts or was not available when we tried to help him.” |NYT|
The feds are not down with bird racing. According to the Associated Press, the “unusual event” held at Phil “Scooter” Rizzuto Park in Queens features two birds whistling songs at each other while people keep count and the “first bird to tweet a certain number of songs is considered the winner.” An agent from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service claims it helps fuel illegal finch smuggling from Guyana, although that’s probably not what’s really pissing off officials, it’s this: “Authorities also suspect the men place illegal bets on the birds.” |AP|
Photo by Seth Wenig/AP
Offering the public a chance to own the King of Pop, a synthetic diamond company plans to offer a “diamond made from Michael Jackson’s DNA.” LifeGem will create the hard gemstones using a charred lock of the performer’s hair, burned off during an explosive Pepsi commercial 25 years ago.
Combining guerilla gardening and illegal ad takeovers, two Toronto artists cut and fold billboard and flyer ads into planters.
Photo by Spacing Magazine
Combining two of life’s greatest joys, bicycling and art, Lance Armstrong’s Stages exhibition opened at the Emmanuel Perrotin gallery in Paris last week. On view through August 8th, the benefit show for the Lance Armstrong Foundation features commissioned work from the “world’s most accomplished and promising international artists.” The selection of 16 artists, all but two of them male, was tasked with creating new work with some type of cancerous connection. Read more »
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