The Flog.

It’s been a while since my last separated at birth post! And here I receive the announcement for Arkitip’s upcoming issue, 45 featuring some of their favorite usual suspects Cody Hudson, Evan Hecox, and Todd St. John.
I was thinking about making some jokes about the whole magazine in an envelope thing because when I saw that bright red picture, it was screaming the thinest magazine is hiding in this envelope! Go get it!
I won’t say it though.
Jokes aside, once again this new issue looks fabulously crafted and promises to bring some delicious work. You can see/hear Evan Hecox talk about his own contribution here.

Update: I forgot to mention that Hecox is currently having a solo show at Kinsey/DesForges which closes this Saturday, the 22nd. My shots are in my drive, expect to see them appear around here soon.

(Let image, screen capture from the Apple commercial for the MacBook Air. Right images from Arkitip issue 45, from Kitsune Noir)

American Craft relaunched with a new design for its October-November issue.

Andrew Wagner, founding editor at dwell moved to NY and took over as the new editor-in-chief of the magazine.
Wagner started this new venture with a Q&A clearly stating what were his choices for this new design.
This sincere introduction reveals some of the interesting interrogations the team had when reworking on the mag. Points regarding the title for example, and the choice of de-emphasizing the word american, “(…) considering the current less-than-stellar stature in the world of the United States“. After such a rare acknowledgment, Wagner answers with an irrevocable yet somehow humble statement, “(…) we are Americans“, then moves on to answering the question regarding the choice of inviting a french person on the cover, “(…) we decided it didn’t matter. For us, the power of craft is universal.”

Such answers, even as cheesy as they sound, give me confidence that somehow, through aesthetic discussions, we might reach a common understanding of our time.
Craft is carried by such a large amount of people - look at places such as Flickr and the myriad of blogs covering one’s special talent -, yet it is often diminished by we all know who, for not being able to convey the true essence of human creation, thus, it invigorates me to see that projects such as this one step forward.

On another note, it’s also lovely to read Wagner divulging that the inspiration for the mag’s new cover design came in part, from another great NY based magazine I love, Capricious.

(All images screen captures from american craft magazine)

THE THING is a quarterly periodical in the form of an object.

For the first issue, the publication invited LA based artist Miranda July to create an everyday and shippable object that somehow incorporates text - which will be common to all issues.

The idea is rather exciting and for $120 (+ $40 shipping within the US) you are committed to 4 issues and the collaborations of Anne Walsh, Kota Ezawa and Trisha Donnelly.
Although this project already started last August with a delicious sweatshop free wrapping party at Southern Exposure in San Francisco, you still have until October 26th to subscribe and receive the first issue.

Check also this project, The Present Group in the same vein, yet not as aesthetically appealing.

(All photographs taken by Corinne Schulze, from THE THING’s wrapping party)

Art Review 15 is out and ready to browse for free, on your machines. Register here if you haven’t already.

Although the magazine put on its Friezed colors - read the piece on Mario Garcia Torres who was awarded with the Cartier Award 2007, a few LA based artists made the round. Walead Beshty is featured in a special focus on photography, along with Yto Barrada, Guy Moreton and Vera Lutter. The last summer group show at john connelly presents, Late Liberties, a take on the nonpictural practice, is reviewed for the magazine.

(All images from Art Review: Digital. Left is Kim Fisher, Damaged (pink), 46, 2007, oil on linen, 213×191 cm, Courtesy jon connelly presents, NY. Right is Walead Beshty, Six Sided Picture (RYB), 2007, 185×155 cm)

The September issue of Art Review Digital is now available online, free to read. You need to subscribe to access the pages.

This issue features the Danish/Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson, whose first US survey opens next week at the San Francisco MOMA. I am really looking forward to seeing this show and I hope that I will be able to do so before next February…

The mag also reviewed two LA shows! Yes two. Eden’s Edge at the Hammer and Rogue Wave ‘07 at LA Louver. Although these aren’t very adventurous picks or critics - no mention of Osman Khan’s amazing installation at Rogue Wave for instance - both shows are pretty strong.

(All images from Art Review. Left is Liz Craft and Eden’s Edge review. Middle is Portia Hein & Rogue Wave review. Right is Olafur Eliasson.)

The LA (or you know, Torrance) collective The Art Dump were acting editors on the new issue (#15) of the Australian magazine Monster Children. A few issues will be available in the US through Girl, among other distributors. Check the websites for more info.

Last weekend was great. I finally had some time to do a heavy tour of the galleries and the heavy flog surprise I have been preparing for a while is almost ready to take off. This morning, I received my issue of Arkitip designed by KAWS and I am so thrilled. The magazine is gorgeous, and so is the laptop sleeve.
I saw that RVCA, sort of as in the vein of Arkitip Intelligence, opened a bunch of blogs for their beloved contributors, from Deanna Templeton, Aaron Rose, to Rich Jacobs, Ashley Macomber and Marsea Goldberg. You can pick your favorites and browse their entries.

(From left to right: Herbert Baglione painting his installation at New Image Art. Matt Leine’s wooden piece and Aaron Rose’s outfit of the day on July 28th. Very dapper.)

Arkitip kept warning us to subscribe early and now I can see what they were preparing. For their issue 41, they collaborated with KAWS & OriginalFake as well as Incase to create a limited edition laptop sleeve (which will fit most 13" laptops, sketch books and mags) soft on the inside and all debossed-designed on the outside. The result looks pretty sexy and comfy. The issue is in an edition of 2000. $65.

(All images from Arkitip. From left to right: sleeve & mag, Mark Dean Veca, Scott Campbell & Tito F.)

Monsieur M. Dee gave me the heads up for the new Summer Issue of Artillery which should be good since his work appears in it!

This link comes from the Fecal and is also a good one. Telefon Til Chefen is a gallery in Copenhagen whose main interest is zines! And you should check their amazing collection.

And since we are at it, here is the link to this great directory of european independent self-published and/or self-distributed books and fanzines. I actually recently received a gorgeous package from the french based publisher Rouge Gorge. I will be posting the delicious books here very soon. Thanks Antonio & Jose Maria!

(All images from Telefon Til Chefen website. Left is Anders Jandér: Odd Couples, 2006. Middle is Tommi Musturi: Stand Alone and Smile, 2007 & right is Zven Balslev & Daniel Milan: Two-Headed Nature, 2004.

Arkitip, issue 40 is out. 7.5×9.5 inches, packaged with Ricky’s Italian Espresso Coffee Blend (Makes 10, 12 cups of coffee), numbered ltd. edition of 1500. $30.

(All images from Arkitip. Left is cover. Middle is Shawn Kuruneru. Right is Joe Demaree)