French designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac took the whole adult Lego nostalgia craze and ran with it for this “Brique” rug. Now if there was only a way to justify the $2,000 price tag. |RetroToGo|
Although Mayor Bloomberg continues lamenting the city’s strict open container laws, don’t expect to crack a beer in public anytime soon, at least legally. Also don’t expect overzealous cops to stop ticketing people for drinking on their stoops. According to Mayor, until the city can afford more police talent “it’s easy to second guess [them].” |NYP|
Auto Dealer Shooting for New Business
With auto sales slumping and the public’s disdain for gas guzzling vehicles increasing, a Hummer dealer in Illinois converted half his showroom to a gun shop. He says it’s a natural fit as most of the customers are the outdoorsy type who love weapons anyway. Wonder how those same red blooded, hunting-happy patriots feel about this? |BND|
Later this week, Governor Paterson is expected to sign a bill banning the shackling of pregnant prisoners, noting that “a woman giving birth to a child is hardly the first person that is going to be thinking of trying to escape.” Although other states’ bans on the practice haven’t led to escape attempts, New York prison officials are wary. |AP|
Argentina, that sizzling South American paradise that provides fertile ground for steamy marital affairs is now drug friendly too. The country’s Supreme Court said they’re down with a limited amount of weed and other substances, ruling that adults have the “right of privacy to decide…whether they want to possess or consume drugs.” Although the case specifically concerned five men charged with possession of weed, it will apply to narcotics like cocaine and other drugs as well. That makes the nation with the world’s friendliest flag, almost on par with Mexico and light years ahead of the United States. |AP|
Photo of vandalized traffic signal in Argentina via Wikimedia
Highlighting the upside of computer errors and broken displays, “Glitch: Designing Imperfection” features 132 pages of colorfully broken bits from dozen of artists. Published by Mark Batty for a September release, the book is available at the preorder price of $22. Preview pages from the book of corrupted images after the jump. Read more »
The slightly schizophrenic Obama-Joker image continues to morph and take on new meanings. After Flickr removed the original created by artist Firas Khateeb and reportedly deleted accounts that reposted it, some of its users are still undeterred. It can still be found all over the site, often accompanied by commentary. “I uploaded this to support free speech. I don’t agree with the sentiments necessarily,” writes a flickr user. Another free speech supporter decided that agitation was the best method for fighting the Yahoo-owned photo-sharing mammoth, “Might as well make whoever is sending take down notices busy.” Or this person, who takes a more blunt approach in questioning the hypocritical policy, “Flickr sucks ass for its one-sided personally motivated censorship and politics.”
From White Cube, the gallery that debuted Damien Hirst’s $100 million diamond covered skull comes more absurdly priced art: a cardboard box valued at $30k. Christie’s expects to fetch that sum auctioning off Gavin Turk’s “Brillo 5,” described as “an ironic and ambiguous work that is essentially a copy of a cardboard box.” |NYP|
Matt Held Paints Picture of Facebook
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- “Konstantin” Facebook Portrait by Matt Held
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- “Sophie” Facebook Portrait by Matt Held
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- “Jitu” Facebook Portrait by Matt Held
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- “Elis” Facebook Portrait by Matt Held
Next month, artist Matt Held opens his first solo show featuring portraits based on the Facebook profile photos of strangers. Facing a “serious case of painter’s block” last year, Held began the gimmicky series, from which 40 paintings will be displayed at Chelsea’s Denise Bibro Fine Art’s project space. Preview the artist’s work online, or in person from from September 10th through October 3rd. If you like what you see, you can still join the Held’s Facebook group in hopes of having your own face painted.
Police raided an apartment in Yonkers leased to rapper Jadakiss and found “5 grams of heroin, 6.5 pounds of marijuana and $40,000 in cash,” reports the Lower Hudson Valley News. Authorities say they were lead to the location as part of an ongoing drug investigation and that Jada is “not wanted at this time in connection with the case.” |LoHud|
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