Posts made in January 2022

Ferne Jacobs × Craft in America

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Fiber artist Ferne Jacob s’ lifetime art collection spanning from the mid-1960s to 2022 will be on display exclusively at the Craft in America Center.

The Los Angeles artist has been innovating in the art world for over fifty years. The exhibition will showcase around 30 pieces of work created by Jacobs across the timeline of her career. Though Jacobs has lived in Los Angeles for many years, her art has never been on display in such a way. The experience will take visitors through the evolution of her career as an artist and highlight her unique tactics and techniques.

Jacobs serves as a pioneer in the development of fiber as an artistic form. She is renowned for the methods she uses to manipulate the rare material. While embracing traditional techniques of knotting, coiling and twinning, Jacobs has continued to elevate these practices into something revolutionary. Though she may work in fiber, Jacob’s artwork are sculptured pieces of art.

The display of Jacobs’ artwork allows the public to admire and be inspired by her artistic approach. All of Jacobs’ work signifies a personal artistic journey constructed and apparent in her artforms. With years of dedication, Jacobs has perfected and transformed her unique craft.

The exhibition will run from April 2, 2022, to June 18, 2022, at the Craft in America Center in Los Angeles, California.

Related Programming

While the exhibition is an in-person experience, Craft in America is creating a virtual exhibition for those who cannot be in attendance. The virtual exhibition is complemented by an assortment of public programs such as an artist talk, demonstration, and hands-on workshop. Students from the Craft in Schools program, which works to encourage underprivileged K-12 Los Angeles schools, will be attend the exhibit. They will have the chance to learn about Jacobs’ creations, which serves as an opportunity for the students to explore the artistic method of fiber.

About Ferne Jacobs

After moving to Los Angeles at a very young age, Ferne Jacobs dedicated her life to her craft. After taking a weaving workshop with the artist Arline Fisch in the mid-1960s, Jacobs discovered her passion. After obtaining her M.F.A. from Claremont Graduate University in 1976, Jacobs has been showcased in several solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States and internationally. Accumulating varying awards for her groundbreaking art, Jacobs artwork is also featured in public collections such as the Smithsonian National Museum of American Art (Washington D.C.), the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City) and the Museum of Arts and Design (New York City).

SAY HELLO TO THE NEW LAMBO

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By: Reb Czukoski, Vaughn Lowery, Armon Hayes × Jeff Langlois

The 2021 Lamborghini Huracan EVO RWD Spyder stands with a sleek and comfortable design, making it prepared to pull up at any occasion and has seen enormous amounts of positive feedback for its accessibility across all fields. It is the newest open-top evolution of the Huracan range, first debuting at the 2014 Geneva auto show. This model is the first rear wheel drive Lamborghini in its generation and only one up for purchase at this moment.

Lamborghini’s Italian-produced machines are known for their contemporary look, intended to give users an adrenaline inducing experience. Founded in 1963 with the intent of producing luxurious, race-inspired, and timeless grand touring cars to give companies like Ferrari competition, Lamborghini serves sales worldwide and has been increasing revenue with their highly customizable vehicles. This stylish and top performance convertible is now one of the most enticing ones of its kind on the market right now.

Design

The shape of the car is aerodynamic and is cutting edge in speed and power. The car hugs the ground with its black rims, making for ease at clawing corners and whipping the bends at top speed. The 103.1-inch wheelbase and 20-inch forged Narvi rims, determines that this car is made for the track.

Sporting five different metallics, the linework makes each one feel unique. The aluminum and thermoplastic resin exterior comes in five different colors and are listed as follows; Arancio Livrea, Arancio Dac, Giallo Clarus, Verde Shock, and Celeste Fedra. The layout of the car is smooth from the front and angular from the side. The tail end of the side body inverts itself to give it a chiseled triangular shape that is sophisticated and energetic.

Power

The rear-wheel drive allows drifting on turns and requires more input than an all-wheel drive, but the calibration is very controllable. Equipped with the new Performance Traction Control System (P-TCS) computed directly for its rear-wheel drive make of the Huracan EVO and delivers torque even during the phase for realignment after drifting or side-slipping.

The 413 lb-ft of torque at 6,500 rpm allows for emerging technology, having the vehicle recognize its orientation crossed with the driver input. Its engine is a 5.2 liter, naturally aspirated V-10 with a seven-speed LDF dual-clutch transmission. These components are what make the car top its highest speed of 201 mph and gives it a 3.5 second acceleration from 0 to 62 mph.

Tech

In the cockpit, music and call apps can be accessed on an 8.4 inch touch screen in the center console of the front seats, easily reachable from the right-hand side of the driver. It also comes with bluetooth and Amazon Alexa setup which allows for in-car voice control and is reflective of convenience for communications while on the road. The ‘Lamborghini Sensonum’ audio package features a 390 watts system, 10-channel amplifier, and 10 speakers throughout the cabin. Not to mention there are additional USB cables located behind the armrests of the seats.

At about 128 decibels, you can almost hear the backfires over a mile away, satisfying the vociferous car enthusiasts. It cannot be revved in park, but putting the car in sport or corsa, while pulling on both paddles can make an exploding resonation while standing still.

Safety

The car’s configuration and low elevation from the ground allows for optimum momentum and a better ride. If finding yourself in a situation where the car does flip, detonating rods erupt from the crown of the car meant to shield the driver from the ground in an event of hurling over.

ABS and driveline traction control the cars stability for deceleration and acceleration, which are exceptionally important for drastic pace changes. The race inspired seats with carbon fiber upholstery, plants you firmly on take offs and inspires soaring velocity.

Conclusion

This fighter jet pulls in at around $273k U.S. MSRP, which is not too steep of a price for all the extras and the ability to own a supercar. From leisure to exhibition for any high-level executive, celebrity, or youthful trendsetter, it is a beautiful addition to a garage or flaunted in any environment.

Pre-order now.

Preview promo.

Flore Drops “Unidentified Foreign Objects” NFTs

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The one-of-a-kind, acclaimed artist Flore is joining forces with Art Angels to drop a new line of NFT designs on Nifty Gateway. The collection will release on Thursday, January 13, featuring a group of collectible pieces titled “Unidentified Foreign Objects.” Flore’s inspiration for the pieces of work stem from the Atomic Era, a period where curiosity of outer space ventures and mid-century modern design came together.

The collection of NFTs includes six assets with a physical piece that is currently held in the LA-based gallery of Art Angels. The drop is sure to attract collectors across the metaverse to engulf themselves in Flore’s point-of-view throughout the space-time continuum with six new UFOs. The physical piece of art will become that of the owner of the NFT ‘Invader.’

Art Angels

Art Angels is the admired, female-owned contemporary art gallery in Los Angeles. Known for their provocative style, collectors are attracted to the diverse collections of art at the gallery. The gallery has gained success swiftly, appealing to high-profile businesses and individuals, offering a VIP experience paired with a sociable vibe. Housing an array of avant-garde pieces by Hollywood elites like Elizabeth Taylor and Simon Cowell, Art Angels is a luxury brand that houses truly eccentric pieces of art.

ASHLEY KUTCHER × ONE EIGHTY LIVE

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Up and coming pop singer-songwriter Ashley Kutcher just announced her first live tour dates in both Los Angeles and New York City. The upcoming two-night tour is set to begin in March 2022 and will feature performances of Ashley’s debut EP One Eighty. For a sneak peek at what is to come from the tour, watch Ashley’s live performance of “The Night You Left” HERE. Tickets for the tour are available on January 14, 2022, at 10AM PST.

One Eighty includes Ashley’s first song that went viral with a total of 58M audio streams, “Love You From a Distance.” After the success of “Love You From a Distance,” Ashley landed a deal with Darkroom/Interscope Records. The EP symbolizes Ashley’s rising success collected in the past year that accumulated millions of streams. When considering the EP, Ashley says, “One Eighty is a collection of songs I wrote as my life took a complete turn. It’s a project of discovering who I am as an artist. Together these songs tell my story and I could not be more excited to share it.” One Eighty is available HERE.

About Ashley Kutcher

Ashley Kutcher is a 23-year-old rising singer, songwriter and artist originally from Baltimore, Maryland. Ashley originally went on to chase a nursing degree at Towson University after high school. During her time at school, a local bar discovered a video of her singing online and asked her to perform on their stage. This single opportunity opened Ashley up to the world of music and songwriting, as she quit her waitressing job and began playing sets at the bar, playing for around four hours per each night. When Ashley’s senior year came, she began posting her singing talents on TikTok. Ashley posted a demo of “Lust,” which captivated the attention of over thousands of people. Continuing off this momentum, Ashley soon after posted another demo “Hands to Myself” to streaming platforms, with the song accumulating over 1 million streams on Spotify.

While continuing to grow her emerging fanbase, Ashley noticed a tweet from blackbear that stated, “hit me up if you don’t like me.” Ashley took inspiration from this tweet, and formulated her own song called “HMU if U Don’t Like Me,” similar to the tweet by blackbear. The song rapidly gained another million streams, and Ashley realized the true talent that she possessed. Ashley, again, took to TikTok with another one of her songs “Love You From A Distance,” produced by Eric Taft. The song surpassed 9.5 million Spotify streams while she signed to Darkroom/Interscope Records (with now over 58 million audio streams). Ashley’s creative and sincere point of view attracted her audience, leading to the success of her debut EP One Eighty. Ashley now is getting ready to perform her music for the first time in Los Angeles and New York.

Ashley Kutcher One Eighty Tour Dates:

March 8 Los Angeles, CA Moroccan Lounge

March 10 New York City, NY Mercury Lounge

Rottet Studio Wins Awards

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Hall of Fame architect and interior designer Lauren Rottet, FAIA, FIIDA, has been honored for the Artis Chair from the Rottet Collection by the Chicago Athenaeum 2021 GOOD DESIGN® and the New York Product Design Awards.

The GOOD DESIGN® awards recognize the top new products bestowed annually by The Chicago Athenaeum in cooperation with the European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design, and Urban Studies. Founded in Chicago in 1950, GOOD DESIGN® is the oldest and most respected program awarding design excellence worldwide. This year, the museum received a record number of submissions from an international roster of top manufacturers and industrial and graphic design firms representing 50 countries.

“We are honored to receive these accolades for our work–a real measure of excellence–and we thank the distinguished judges and the design community as a whole,” said Lauren Rottet when referencing the Artis Chair, a sculptural swivel chair that exemplifies function and relaxation.

The Dichroic Table, Powerful Table Collection, Montauk Upholstered Guest, and Wood Float Chair and Sofa were also celebrated by the New York Product Design Awards. Rottet’s continued exploration of light, color, and reflection is highlighted with her Dichroic Table while her Powerful Table Collection elegantly promotes both beauty and function. The Montauk Upholstered Guest Chair embodies stability and comfort with a lively twist while the Wood Float Chair and Sofa explore the amalgam of solid walnut and clear acrylic.

About Lauren Rottet

Lauren Rottet is the Founding Principal and President of Rottet Studio, an international architecture and interior design firm, which has been recognized as one of the Top 3 Most Admired Design Firms in the World. The firm has an extensive portfolio of corporate, hospitality, residential, and maritime projects for the world’s leading companies and brands, including Goldman Sachs, Disney, BGC3, New York Stock Exchange, Target, Four Seasons, Langham, Dorchester Collection, Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, Hyatt, Hilton, Belmond, Naftali Group, Extell Development’s Central Park Tower, Viking Ocean Cruises, and more. “I am not sure I have seen someone who is as skilled in such a wide vernacular of design styles from contemporary minimal to elegantly traditional in such an authentic manner,” said critic Paul Goldberger. Rottet’s product designs have earned many accolades, including Interior Design’s Best of Year, four gold medals for Best of NeoCon, and seven Chicago Athenaeum GOOD DESIGN Awards.

X-Force Twenty Seven

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This April, X-FORCE enters the Destiny of X era with a new jumping-on point and a shocking new enemy!

As long as mutant-kind thrives on Krakoa, X-Force must protect the island nation from its most dangerous outside threats. In order to do so, this group of mutant-kind’s most lethal have to be willing to get their hands dirty and risk their lives in the most extreme and dangerous situations. They’ve made their share of mistakes, being killed and resurrected more times than they can count. And now, they’ll face a new foe that will strike at the heart of Krakoa’s dream. Emerging in the aftermath of “X LIVES OF WOLVERINE/X DEATHS OF WOLVERINE” comes “Cerebrax”! This all-new arc kicks off in “X-FORCE #27” and will see rising star Robert Gill come aboard as the hit series’ new main artist.

As Wolverine returns to Krakoa, the mind-melding threat of Cerebrax grips the island via a security flaw! But where does it come from, and what does it want with Forge? Here’s what writer Benjamin Percy had to say about what fans can expect from the new hard-hitting chapter of X-FORCE: “There has never been an easy time for X-Force, but the year ahead is going to be particularly chaotic and challenging. I can’t get into too much detail about ‘X LIVES OF WOLVERINE/X DEATHS OF WOLVERINE’—because Beast has listed those files as classified—but I will say that there are repercussions. For some of the characters of course. But also, for one of the Cerebro units, which has become sentient, and its hunger for intelligence and power is quite literal. Cerebrax is coming. You should also expect some dramatic shake-ups to the team roster and a major transformation for Kid Omega that we’ve been building toward for some time. Take cover, because one of my favorite villains in the 616 is showing up in a multi-issue story I’ve been wanting to write for years. And expect for the Man with the Peacock Tattoo to finally be unmasked. Robert Gill’s art is blowing my mind and melting my email inbox; I can’t wait to share it with you all. Get ready for menace, mayhem, and moral confusion.”

About Marvel Entertainment

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.

New Mutants Twenty Five

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This April, Vita Ayala and Rod Reis‘ NEW MUTANTS run will bring the heat to the X-Men’s Destiny of X era with a brand-new arc that will see a war ignited between Magik and the Goblin Queen! “THE LABORS OF MAGIK” will kick off in “NEW MUTANTS #25”, a perfect jumping-on point for the series that is redefining what it means to be the next generation of X-MEN.

They were the central stars of the groundbreaking classic X-Men crossover INFERNO, and now over thirty years later, Illyana Rasputina and Madelyne Pryor are ready to fan the flames once more! Illyana is the rightful queen of Limbo… but she’s been awfully busy on Krakoa. And now that Maddie’s back in action, she’s determined to sit on the throne that was once promised to her. Who will you bow down to?

To commemorate this highly anticipated storyline and to celebrate the book’s 25th issue, some of the industry’s leading artists have gloriously depicted the two queens of mutant-dom in incredible new variant covers! Artists including Stanley “Artgerm” Lau, Dan Panosian, Phillip Tan, and Phil Jiminez have all drawn variant covers. Check them all out now and choose a side when “NEW MUTANTS #25” hits stands in April.

About Marvel Entertainment

Encanto Soundtrack Tops Billboard

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The Encanto Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, featuring eight original songs by Tony and Grammy-winning songwriter/composer Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton, Moana) with an original score by SCL (Society of Composers and Lyricists)-nominated composer Germaine Franco has moved from No. No. 7 to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart for the week ending Jan. 6, 2022. The set earned 72,000 equivalent album units (up 76%) in its sixth week on the chart. The album also maintains the top position on Billboard’s Soundtrack and Independent Album charts for the second consecutive week. According to Billboard, Encanto is the first soundtrack to reach No. 1 in more than two years since Frozen 2 topped the chart on Dec. 14, 2019. Read the Billboard.com story HERE.

Disney’s Encanto is now streaming on Disney+ and in theaters, arriving on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on February 8. Listen to Lin-Manuel Miranda and Germaine Franco discuss the songs and score of Encanto on a new episode of Disney’s For Scores podcast HERE and enjoy the music featured on the Disney Hits Playlist. The Encanto vinyl album can be pre-ordered HERE.

About the Film

“Encanto” is directed by Byron Howard (Zootopia, Tangled) and Jared Bush (co-director of Zootopia), co-directed by Charise Castro Smith (writer of The Death of Eva Sofia Valdez) and produced by Clark Spencer and Yvett Merino. Bush and Castro Smith are screenwriters on the film.

In the film, the magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift from super strength to the power to heal every child except one, Mirabel. But when she discovers that the magic surrounding the Encanto is in danger, Mirabel decides that she, the only ordinary Madrigal, might just be her exceptional family’s last hope. The voice cast includes Stephanie Beatriz, Maria Cecilia Botero, Wilmer Valderrama, Adassa, Diane Guerrero, Mauro Castillo, Angie Cepeda, Jessica Darrow, Rhenzy Feliz, and Carolina Gaitaĭn.

Tracklist

“The Family Madrigal” (Stephanie Beatriz, Olga Merediz & Cast)
“Waiting on a Miracle” (Stephanie Beatriz)
“Surface Pressure” (Jessica Darrow)
“We Don’t Talk About Bruno” (Carolina Gaiten, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz, Cast)
“What Else Can I Do?” (Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz)
“Dos Oruguitas” (Sebastiaĭn Yatra)
“All of You” (Stephanie Beatriz, Olga Merediz, John Leguizamo, Adassa, Maluma, Cast)
“Colombia, Mi Encanto” (Carlos Vives)
“Two Oruguitas” (Eng. Ver. of “Dos Oruguitas” performed by Sebastiaĭn Yatra)

Bugatti × Bytech

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Bugatti has partnered with industry-leading Bytech International to create a new scooter that was revealed for the first time at the CES 2022 expo held at the Las Vegas Convention Center on January 5, alongside prominent technology companies from around the world. “Bugatti is at the pinnacle of automotive excellence,” said Wiebke Stahl, Managing Director at Bugatti International. “Partnering with a company such as Bytech gives us an opportunity to expand our reach in the electric mobility space with an experienced partner and a product that can be enjoyed by consumers around the world.”

Fabricated with the everyday consumer in mind, the electric scooter features a unique aerodynamic yet functional folding design that is available in three colors: Agile Blue, Silver, and Black. Weighing only 35lbs, the scooter is constructed with a magnesium alloy frame that allows for easy transport and has a large LED screen that displays speed, mode, battery life, and headlights. The electric scooter boasts a 700w motor capable of traversing any type of terrain with a 15° incline, 9″ run-flat tires, three speeds with cruise control, and a 36v/10ah battery with a range of approximately 22 miles, as well as over-heating, short circuit, over-current and overcharge protection. The battery is portable, easily removable, and uses a standard wall outlet to charge, only takes four hours.

Recognizing safety as a first and foremost concern, the electric scooter is equipped with cutting-edge technologies to ensure driver protection. For those purposes, this scooter features unique lighting functions. Its dual-turn signals are located on the ergonomic handle grips, as well as above the rear mudguard. Additionally, there are illuminated base lights on the sides of the deck, and a back “EB” monogram projection logo for enhanced artistry, style, and performance. The scooter also features a dual-braking system, a front left-hand brake lever, and a rear E-ABS electronic brake for added security and comfort.

“We are excited to partner with such an amazing brand that represents luxury and top quality in a growing industry yearning for enhanced design, while also incorporating the evolving needs of its customers,” said Eli Mizrahi, Executive Vice President at Bytech International. “By joining forces, we are able to expand our consumer base, which began with the debut of our new scooter at CES.”

The superior style, extra power, and performance of the scooter are designed to make it an alternative and comfortable mode of transportation for both work and play. The scooter has a weight capacity of up to 242lbs and a top speed of 18.5mph. Owners can enjoy three settings: Economy mode (9mph), City mode (12.5mph), and Sport mode (18.5mph).

Kae Tempest × Kevin Abstract – More Pressure

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British spoken word artist, rapper, poet, novelist, and playwright Kae Tempest revealed their new single “More Pressure” with Kevin Abstract. The song is from their upcoming album The Line Is a Curve set for release on April 8th via American Recordings/Republic Records. It is the fourth album from the Lewisham-based artist and has been produced by long-term collaborator Dan Carey alongside executive production by Rick Rubin.

The Line Is a Curve follows Tempest’s widely adored 2019 album The Book of Traps & Lessons, which received praise from the likes of NPR, The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Guardian, and many more, and saw Kae perform live on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night with Seth Meyers. Tempest and Abstract’s shared friend and collaborator Rick Rubin played The Book of Traps & Lessons in his studio, and they had reached out to Kae afterward to thank them for the inspiration, leading to the exciting collaboration on “More Pressure.” The Line Is A Curve also follows Tempest’s critically acclaimed 2021 play Paradise, which premiered at the National Theatre in London last year.

About The Album

After the experience of touring The Book of Traps & Lessons around the U.S., U.K., and Europe, Tempest realized that they wanted The Line Is a Curve to be a communicative record. The concept manifested itself both in the contributions of other artists—including the aforementioned Kevin Abstract, Lianne La Havas, Grian Chatten of Fontaines DC, ássia, and Confucius MC—and during the recording process, when Tempest decided to do three vocal takes in one day, to three different generations of people; “a man of 78 who I’d never met, a woman of 29, the poet Bridget Minamore, who is a good friend of mine, and then to three young fans of 12, 15, and 16 who had responded to a social media post.”

Featuring artwork shot by renowned photographer Wolfgang Tillmans (Frank Oceans’ blond), the album is best described by Tempest themselves:

“‘The Line Is a Curve’ is about letting go. Of shame, anxiety, isolation, and falling instead into surrender. Embracing the cyclical nature of time, growth, love. This “letting go” can hopefully be felt across the record. In the musicality, the instrumentation, the lyricism, the delivery, the cover art. In the way it ends where it begins and begins where it ends. I knew I wanted my face on the sleeve. Throughout the duration of my creative life, I have been hungry for the spotlight and desperately uncomfortable in it. For the last couple of records, I wanted to disappear completely from the album covers, the videos, the front-facing aspects of this industry. A lot of that was about my shame but I masked it behind a genuine desire for my work to speak for itself, without me up front, commodifying what felt so rare to me and sacred. I was, at times, annoyed that in order to put the work out, I had to put myself out. But this time around, I understand it differently. I want people to feel welcomed into this record, by me, the person who made it, and I have let go of some of my airier concerns. I feel more grounded in what I’m trying to do, who I am as an artist and as a person and what I have to offer. I feel less shame in my body because I am not hiding from the world anymore. I wanted to show my face, and I dreamed of it being Wolfgang Tillmans who took the portrait.”

About Kae Thompson

With four studio albums, a novel, their first work of non-fiction (On Connection), three plays, and five collections of poetry to their name, Kae Tempest has firmly established themselves as one of the most unique, thought-provoking, and critically acclaimed voices of their generation. With the release of The Line Is a Curve in 2022, that reputation is only set to grow exponentially.

Album Tracklist

“Priority Boredom”
“I Saw Light” with Grian Chatten
“Nothing To Prove”
“No Prizes” with Lianne La Havas
“Salt Coast”
“Don’t You Ever”
“These Are the Days”
“Smoking” with Confucius MC
“Water In the Rain”
“Move”
“More Pressure” with Kevin Abstract
“Grace”