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Calling All Art-Fanatics!

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Calling All Art-Fanatics: 18 Exciting Art Happenings Across the Country

Destinations News:

California

Presidio “My Park Moment” Photo Contest: The Presidio in San Francisco has launched “My Park Moment” photo contest, where the public can submit a photo of their favorite park memory through May 28—a family picnic, a camping trip, their last hike in the Presidio or anything else they love to do in their favorite park. This fall, approximately 400 photos will be selected for a free and family-friendly outdoor photo show at the future home of the Presidio Tunnel Tops. Debuting in spring 2022, the Presidio Tunnel Tops project, comprising 14 acres of new national park land—will be an iconic “must see” San Francisco destination.
LACMA Partners with Snapchat: Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and Snapchat recently debuted the “Monumental Perspectives” experience, which brings together artists and technologists to create virtual monuments that explore some of the histories of local communities in an effort to highlight perspectives from across the region. Visitors can experience the augmented reality monuments online or at site-specific locations across Los Angeles including LACMA’s Wilshire Boulevard campus, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and more.
Napa Wrap Art and Art Walk: Napa Wrap Art is a new outdoor public art project debuting this spring, featuring transformed utility boxes into works of art around Downtown Napa. Thirteen regional artists were selected to create diverse designs that provide an opportunity to turn ordinary objects into something special that both locals and visitors can enjoy. Later this summer, Downtown Napa will welcome a new rotation of the Napa Art Walk sculptures – a true outdoor treasure hunt for art that is a perfect activity for kids of all ages.
Desert X: The third installment of the internationally acclaimed biennial desert art exhibition returned in 2021 through May 16. The 2021 Desert X artist lineup includes a diverse group of 13 artists ranging from locals like Kim Stringfellow to international representatives like Zahrah Alghamdi. Visitors can explore new outdoor art installations across the desert region for an exciting socially distant experience.

Texas

San Antonio’s McNay Art Museum just opened Limitless! Five Women Reshape Contemporary Art, which includes an ever-popular infinity mirror room installation. San Antonio Museum of Art opened No Ocean Between Us, featuring art from Latin American artists of Asian descent, while the Briscoe Western Art Museum will open Still in the Saddle: A New History of the Hollywood Western in time for Memorial Day Weekend.
Designed by Steven Holl Architects, the Nancy and Rich Kinder Building at the Houston Museum of Fine Arts completes a decade-long campus redevelopment project. Opened to the public in late 2020, the building finishes a trio of spaces that make up one of the largest art museums in the country. On the first floor is a black-box gallery dedicated to immersive installations. Second-floor galleries highlight photography, decorative arts, prints and drawings, and the top floor features thematic exhibitions on art from the 1960s onward. Additionally, the space features a 215-seat theater and a fine dining restaurant.
The Dallas Museum of Art recently unveiled Cubism in Color: The Still Lifes of Juan Gris, the first US exhibition in over 35 years dedicated to the Spanish artist Juan Gris, this exhibition reconsiders the legacy of this important yet underappreciated modernist master. Co-organized by the Dallas Museum of Art and the Baltimore Museum of Art, Cubism in Color: The Still Lifes of Juan Gris highlights the artist’s pioneering and revolutionary contributions to the Cubist movement by focusing on his fascination with subjects drawn from everyday life.

Rapid City, South Dakota

“Legends in Light” Laser Show at Crazy Horse Memorial – Beginning Memorial Day weekend and occurring nightly through Labor Day, the “Legends in Light” laser show at Crazy Horse Memorial turns the carved mountainside into a 500-foot remarkable display. Each night at 9:30 p.m., viewers can take in the story and rich heritage of Native Americans.The show presents colorful animations and features music with choreographed lasers and sound effects.
Gift From Mother Earth Art Show – Every June, Crazy Horse Memorial hosts The Gift From Mother Earth Art Show – an exhibition that celebrates a blend of arts and crafts that represent Native American cultures and the New West. From Friday June 18th – Sunday June 20th, artists of custom-made clothing, jewelry and other similar items will showcase their pieces starting at 8 a.m. each day.
Native POP: People of the Plains – Featuring original Native work by established and emerging Native American Artists, Native POP is a one-day fine art show located in Main Street Square in downtown Rapid City. This cultural celebration will take place on Tuesday, July 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 8 pm. and will feature Native culture bearers sharing their Native knowledge and artistry. Visitors to Rapid City can also experience Native American art, culture and history at Prairie Edge or Journey Museum and open-air murals painted by local artists at Art Alley throughout the summer.

St. Pete/Clearwater, Florida

From museums devoted to big-name artists to incredible street murals adorning the buildings around St. Pete’s Central Avenue, art—and the cultures it celebrates—is all around in St. Pete/Clearwater. Spring/Summer 2021 is an exciting season for St. Pete art, with new exhibitions, venues, and events to explore.

From Margins to Mainstays at Museum of Fine Arts St. Pete – This exhibition, on display April 24 – September 26, features masterworks from MFA’s photography collection that were made by artists whose careers and personal lives were sidelined, ignored, or impacted by their gender, race, sexuality, or nationality. From Margins to Mainstays illustrates how the canon of photography has changed since the medium first began being shown in museums in the 1940s, with particular emphasis on rectifying the small percentage of women and artists of color historically acquired by and displayed in public collections. The exhibition includes works by Berenice Abbott, Lotte Jacobi, Carrie Mae Weems, Lee Miller, Cornelius Marion Battey, James Van Der Zee, and Manuel Álvarez Bravo.
Fairgrounds St. Pete at The Factory – Art enthusiasts will fall in love with The Factory, an 8-warehouse St. Pete arts center spread over 6.5 acres in the heart of the Warehouse Arts District. Fairgrounds St. Pete, opening Spring 2021 at The Factory, is a 15,000 square foot artist-made environment. Fairgrounds functions as an immersive, choose-your-own-adventure experience where visitors are invited to explore a world of playful art and technology exhibits that highlight weird, wacky, and wonderful Florida. The inaugural installation gives 60+ local and nationally recognized artists a platform to showcase their work and experiment with the unexpected. Fairgrounds aims to compensate artists fairly for their contributions by paying not only for their work, but also a portion of the profits from ticket sales while their work is on view. Through exhibits, events, workshops, and creative education programs, Fairgrounds will be a leader for arts innovation and an economic engine for local artists and craftspeople.

Hotel/Attraction News:

Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa

Kicking off in May, Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa has partnered with local artists and galleries to create the “Art in the Garden” exhibit. The gallery spread out across the property’s 10 acres of gardens will be open to both guests and the local community, free of charge, and Estancia will be providing a guided art brochure that showcases the various pieces and maps them out across the property. Art pieces including murals, statues and galleries have been created and provided by locals including Channin Fulton, Stefanie Bales, Billy Pease, Thomas J. Galleries and more.

New Orleans – The National WWII Museum

The National WWII Museum’s newest special exhibit “SOLDIER | ARTIST: Trench Art in World War II” explores the unique military pastime of creating art, souvenirs and tools out of the discarded materials and waste of war. Featuring more than 150 artifacts, many of which have never been exhibited, the collection also includes a background on the creators, providing a rare glimpse into the circumstances of war and the ingenuity and resourcefulness of servicemembers in the field. Such items range from souvenirs, such as ashtrays and jewelry made by servicemembers for their loved ones at home, to forbidden items like radios and musical instruments made by prisoners of war. The exhibition will be open to the public through January 2, 2022.

Daxton Hotel – Birmingham, Michigan

Daxton Hotel has opened its doors in the affluent community of Birmingham, a city 30 minutes north of Detroit. The hotel features a minimalist-luxe design with more than 400 original pieces of cutting-edge art curated from around the world by renowned Saatchi Art. The incredible collection of mixed media brings whimsical and energetic flair throughout as vibrant colors flood spaces throughout the hotel, featuring a chartreuse lobby, deep-burgundy guest rooms and lavender parlors, an ideal composition juxtaposed with the art collection, avant-garde architectural lighting and furniture in bold shapes. Daxton Hotel brings a blend of provocative yet sophisticated style, offering artistic freedom of expression throughout the use of light rays, shadows and reflections creating an ethereal mood. The hotel offers a Beauty + Bubbles event, where visitors get an intimate tour of the public art collection curated by Saatchi Art on the first Friday of every month. The tour features work from 160 artists representing nearly 40 countries. The artwork crosses multiple mediums including painting, photography, collage, drawing and sculpture of some of the best international, national and regional artists.

The MC Hotel – Montclair, NJ

Located just 45 minutes outside of NYC, the 159 room MC Hotel is at the intersection of culture and community in the heart of Montclair’s thriving artistic community. With art curated from established and up-and-coming artists in every room, the hotel is part art gallery, part meeting place. Currently on display are pieces from painters Ryan Chin and Siona Benjamin-Kruge as well as mixed-media artist Basia Goszczynska to name a few. At guest check-in travelers will be met by a sculpture of a flower from Karen Kimmel that stretches across two walls. The sculpture features textiles that were meticulously hand-punched then painted onsite. On the lobby wall of the bar guests will see a sculpture from Goszczynska which is made from salvaged oyster farming bags, marine rope and steel wire. He also continues this unique interpretation of upcycling to shelves of the bar which displays Rainbow Collections, a piece featuring crowdsourced microplastics and salvaged baby food jars.

Crossroads Hotel – Kansas City, MO

With 2,000 square foot dedicated to public art, local artists and artists with historic ties to Kansas City, Crossroads is not just community-driven but art-driven. The gallery program is a thoughtful effort to reflect and contribute to the surrounding art district. Exhibitions, artist commissions, performances and unexpected artist-driven experiences intimately connect visitors to the creative scene thriving in the area. Along with the public gallery and local creative contributions to the interiors, amenities and delicacies, Crossroads is thrilled to support an artist in residence program. Curated by Hesse McGraw (director at Contemporary Arts Museum Houston) and Kansas City’s el dorado inc., the hotel’s architecture firm, the program provides another meaningful way for Crossroads to contribute to and support the artistic, social and cultural flourishing happening in the city. Current artist in residence Nick Miller is showcasing Wild Stallion, is a sculptural installation representing unseen and unstoppable algorithmic forces of technological innovation done with duct tape. Previous exhibits have come from Peggy Noland whose car makeovers are nothing short legendary and Glyneisha Johnson whose Watering Place paidhomage to the plants as a source of refuge for Black, Brown and Indigenous people.

Hewing Hotel – Minneapolis, MN

Since opening its doors in 2016 the 124-room luxury lifestyle Hewing Hotel has provided an unmistakable all-Minnesotan experience in the bustling North Loop neighborhood of Minneapolis. The former farm implements showroom and warehouse built in 1897 has been reborn as a cultural center for the community retaining its original brick and timber rustic charm. Immersing guests in Minneapolis, the hotel offers unique experiences with Minnesotan flair such as a monthly music series, Alley KAT! Perkins Pop Up Concert in the adjacent alley with season 6 The Voice semi-finalist Kat Perkins. The visual art of the area is on display through regularly rotating installations of local artists. The current collection includes works from Minneapolis-based artists Roko and Toni Gallo reflecting the beauty and talent within the area.

E! Reunion Road Trip

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E! TAKES A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE AS NEW SPECIAL EVENT SERIES

“REUNION ROAD TRIP” PREMIERES THURSDAY, JUNE 10 AT 9 PM ET/PT

Four Part Series Reunites Iconic Casts Including “All My Children,”

“Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” “A Different World” and “Scrubs”

E!, the global, multi-platform brand for all things pop culture, reunites some of the most celebrated TV casts as its new event series “Reunion Road Trip,” launches on Thursday, June 10 at 9pm ET/PT. The four-part special event series catches up with the beloved cast members as they reconnect with old friends, reflect on their trailblazing shows that helped shape the television landscape, and share surprising revelations and behind-the-scenes scoop. With exclusive, candid conversations with the stars as viewers have never seen them before, each episode delves into their earliest days from auditions to first impressions, their continuing legacy and everything in between.

Below is the episode rollout:

Reunion Road Trip: With All of My Children – Premieres Thursday, June 10 at 9pm ET/PT

Fan favorites Rebecca Budig, Eva LaRue, Cameron Mathison and Jacob Young come together at an exclusive Hollywood mansion to celebrate the show’s 50th anniversary with surprise visits from former cast members Susan Lucci, Alicia Minshew, Debbi Morgan, Kelly Ripa and Darnell Williams. As one of the most unforgettable soap operas of all time, the group dishes on the show’s origins, off-camera romances and series cliffhanger that always left fans wanting more.

Reunion Road Trip: Queer Eye for the Straight Guy – Premieres Thursday, June 17 at 9pm ET/PT

The Original Fab Five, Ted Allen, Kyan Douglas, Thom Filicia, Carson Kressley and Jai Rodriguez reassemble in Los Angeles as they makeover Jai for his 40th birthday. As the group works their magic, they think back to their most heartfelt, meaningful makeovers and the impact on the LGBTQ community then and now.

Reunion Road Trip: It’s A Different World – Premieres Thursday, June 24 at 9pm ET/PT

For a very special college homecoming, alumni Sinbad and Kadeem Hardison invite Darryl M. Bell, Jasmine Guy, Dawnn Lewis and Cree Summer for an intimate, sit-down discussion to look back on the sitcom’s overall success and long-lasting cultural impact on generations by tackling a range of substantive issues and giving a voice to the Black community. They are joined by the show’s director and executive producer Debbie Allen and executive producer Susan Fales-Hill.

Reunion Road Trip: Back in Scrubs – Premieres Thursday, July 1 at 9pm ET/PT

Cast members Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke and Donald Faison reconvene as they go on a quest to track down Rowdy, the show’s treasured taxidermied dog. Along the way, they reminisce on their time on the groundbreaking sitcom, spill their juiciest behind-the-scenes stories and are surprised by a few of their favorite co-stars, Robert Maschio and Judy Reyes.

“Reunion Road Trip” is produced by Studio Lambert USA, part of the All3Media Group, with Stephen Lambert, Jack Burgess, Alex Walton and Rene Rainey serving as Executive Producers.

About E! Entertainment

E! is the only global, multi-platform brand for all things pop culture, and airs some of the most sought-after reality series on TV, including “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” “The Bradshaw Bunch,” “Botched” “Overserved with Lisa Vanderpump” and “E! True Hollywood Story.” “E! News” is the leading multi-platform publisher delivering breaking entertainment news and pop culture coverage 24/7 across EOnline and all digital and social media. The brand’s programming slate includes “Daily Pop,” “Nightly Pop” on linear and “E! News’ The Rundown” on Snapchat. “Live from E!” covers signature red carpet events, keeping fans connected to their favorite stars on pop culture’s biggest nights and the “E! People’s Choice Awards” celebrates the best in pop culture and is the only award show for the people, by the people. E! is part of the NBCUniversal Television and Streaming portfolio, which includes NBCU’s broadcast, cable and streaming platforms: NBC, Bravo, E!, Oxygen, SYFY, Universal Kids, USA Network and Peacock. For more information, visit EOnline.

About Studio Lambert

Studio Lambert is a British and American production company producing high quality scripted and unscripted series. It was established in 2008 by Stephen Lambert, creator of many well-known global formats including the CBS Emmy-winning “Undercover Boss” and BAFTA-winning “Wife Swap” and BAFTA-winning “Gogglebox”. Studio Lambert is part of the All3Media group. Most recently, the company made several versions of “The Circle” for Netflix; two series of ‘The Hustler’ for ABC; and is currently producing scripted series for the BBC and Amazon as well as several new unscripted series for UK and US networks. In two recent UK industry polls, Studio Lambert was ranked No. 1 by its peers, and it also won the Best Independent Production Award in the most recent U.K. Broadcast Awards.

Kiss U Right Now

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DUCKWRTH RELEASES NEW VIDEO “KISS U RIGHT NOW”

CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED DEBUT ALBUM SUPERGOOD AVAILABLE NOW

“…Duckwrth will be an inspirational artist for years to come.” – Essence

“SuperGood channels the soulful pop of Pharrell, the funk of Anderson Paak and Thundercat and the stylishness of Outkast to come up with an essential summer sound” – The Evening Standard

“Duckwrth makes shimmy-inducing, heart-pounding, soul-smiling music. His style is distinct, high fashion without the barriers to entry.” – DJBooth

“…showcases just how versatile he is in an optimistic sonic landscape of warmth, nostalgia and soul.” – HYPEBEAST

“Duckwrth keeps hitting the mark with his eclectic blend of alternative hip-hop.” – Earmilk

“Duckwrth has been proving himself to be one of the more unique artists in hip-hop right now and if there is one hyphenated word to describe his sound, it would be “genre-bending.” – HotNewHipHop

Critically acclaimed Los Angeles rapper Duckwrth returns with yet another cinematic visual for “Kiss U Right Now.”

Watch “Kiss U Right Now”: HERE

Capturing quarantine vibes, he sanitizes his entire crib in the clip directed by Alex “Grizz Lee” Loucas. He’s armed with Windex and toilet paper and a whole lot of shrink wrap as he chats with a girl played by Arlissa over video. What ensues is both hilarious and timely as a virtual rendezvous just doesn’t compare to the real thing, so he dons a full Hazmat suit, hops on his bike, and visits her in real life. You’ll have to watch it to see what happens next!

“Kiss U Right Now” remains just the latest standout from his critically acclaimed label debut album SuperGood—out now.

Listen to SuperGood: HERE

Duckwrth will be performing on October 27th for his “A SuperGood Night” global live interactive experience in partnership with Headliner.Live who have hosted events for artist like Pink Sweat$, Free Nationals and more. Tickets are on sale now.

SuperGood has generated feverish tastemaker praise. In a four-out-of-five-star review, NME called it, “a tireless exercise in versatility and positivity from the West Coast,” and The Guardian described it as “easy listening funk with the occasional clever twist.” Meanwhile, FLAUNT put it best, “Duckwrth is here to make sure you’re feeling SuperGood.”

Over the last five years, LA-based wunderkind Duckwrth has quickly risen up the ranks as a promising star of the future of music. His collection of critically acclaimed projects including Nowhere (2015,) I’m Uugly (2016), Xtra Uugly (2017) and The Falling Man EP (2019), have transcended streaming platforms and landed in films, TV series, and brand ad campaigns and have received critical acclaim from a vast number of outlets including NPR, The FADER, Complex, XXL and more. This cumulation has led the rapper to become an international touring staple, headlining shows globally and performing at Austin City Limits and opening for superstars Billie Eilish and Anderson. Paak. Duckwrth’s music has appeared on shows like CW’s All American, HBO’s Insecure and Real Time with Bill Maher and his song “Start A Riot” was featured on the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse soundtrack. His music has appeared in campaigns for the likes of Cadillac, Microsoft, Peloton, Amazon and Apple Music, and he’s worked with fashion legacies like Levi’s, Vans and Fila, as well as high fashion men’s suit designer Paul Smith.

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Q×A with The Gnarled Branch

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Q&A with David Irvine from The Gnarled Branch

David Irvine is the multi-talented artist behind the Gnarled Branch. He is known for his imaginative ‘Re-Directed Paintings’, whimsical furniture, original paintings, painted burnt out light bulb ornaments, salvaged record paintings, and so much more. You can visit his Etsy shop here! You can see throughout his work that there is an interest with popular characters which brings life to the rural paintings he often re-directs. Irvine will match the original artist’s style within the painting or counter it intentionally, but he always leaves the original signature clear to see. There’s a story behind each of his works, including the painting “The Last Trick or Treater” which is one of Irvine’s favorites. Read on to learn more about David’s work, inspiration, and so much more.

What is your background – in addition, did your upbringing prompt a specific reference point within your work? Is your work informed by certain concepts or themes from your childhood, background, socioeconomic status, where you lived or were raised?

DI: I was fortunate to be raised by parents who appreciated all the arts. Going to see theatre shows, music performances, and gallery exhibits were always exciting. I was encouraged to develop with the visual arts and musically as well with regular music lessons and art lessons. They were at first concerned when I decided to pursue a career in the visual arts, as they knew it can be a real struggle – but were fully supportive and excited that I was accepted into art college to study illustration.

How does this impact how you see the world and create art?

DI: It’s no secret the art world can be very snooty, takes itself far too seriously and that is a real shame. In a lot of the genres that I do- I am always considering humor and fun as elements in a piece. Especially during these difficult pandemic times, art needs to uplift and provide smiles and not be staunch, same old -same old themes that have been done over and over.

Do you have an educational background or experiences that have contributed to your evolution as an artist?

DI: I studied illustration at Sheridan College, and throughout my childhood would occasionally take art lessons. The rest was experimenting and being self-taught with various mediums and medium combinations. I taught visual art to a wide range of ages through community night school and was an art tutor to a terrific student with special needs. Those were very memorable years.

What does your work aim to say?

DI: I do so many different genres of art, I think there’s a spectrum of what I want to communicate…. from making people laugh and feel good — to the darker, macabre work to scare and bring the viewer into a world that they may not feel comfortable being in… I guess I make art to get a reaction… not just creating something for its sole purpose is to look pretty and match the sofa.

Is there a particular artist that inspired you to pursue art?

DI: My grandfather was an accomplished amateur painter and I’d watch him work and see the pieces he did… maybe that was the first seed…Other than that I would always sign out art books from the library and soak in everything from master painters to illustrators and cartoonists who worked presently.

Whose techniques do you study or admire?

DI: There are so many — but in high school, I always enjoyed Ralph Steadman ink illustrations, Van Gogh for his boldness, Rene Magritte for the unique and surreal visuals … Currently I’ll search through websites like Tumblr or magazines like Juxtapoz and discover artists both old and new who mix unusual mediums or have their own unique style.

How do you cultivate a collector base?

DI: When I first started as a fine artist, I didn’t have a computer- the internet wasn’t a thing yet, so I was reliant on physically going to galleries and public places to show my work. From little gift or record shops to restaurants and cafes. Now with technology, it’s just a matter of updating and refreshing social media, submitting articles to websites, or being lucky and being featured by a blog, website, or podcast…it all helps and a lot more convenient to be able to post an instructional video from home, or post new work in progress photos to a website, than to lug workaround or mail promo packages out to land a show. Once a collector is on board, having top-notch customer service skills and excellent communication is key…

What inspires you to paint?

DI: I’ll have a lot of eureka moments as I’m sketching or planning out new works or series….and I have to then see that eureka image come to fruition. It would drive me bananas having a good idea sitting there on a page and going nowhere. As well it is my chosen job- so those bills must get paid.

How do you look for new ways to challenge yourself?

DI: I get bored very easily… so challenges are always put in place to not get bored. Every artist has a spectrum of color they usually gravitate to when creating a piece…I like to switch things up and use the colors I don’t normally use or come up with different color combinations/ mixing. I’ll even wear tinted sunglasses so the colors I think I’m using wind up making happy accidents when I look at the piece without the sunglasses. Using oil pastels with acrylic paint… various types of inks and papers …are many variables that can be used to break away from regular tendencies when approaching a piece.

Do you have a favorite painting that you have completed? If so, can you tell us the story behind it?

DI: I did a solo show a few years ago with Halloween as the main theme. A few favorite paintings came out of that show including one called the Last Trick or Treater. It showed a bird’s eye view looking down onto an old tyme small hamlet, and one child in a ghost costume running down a street with a lantern. I think I captured the quiet of the night, and the bit of panic the boy was having as he was quickly trying to get home.

What inspired Re-Directed painting for you?

DI: When I first started as a fine artist, I had very little money and art supplies and framing was expensive. I would frequent yard sales and thrift shops to purchase old frames, lithographs on board, and existing canvas prints to paint over and frame. Around 2009 I started to paint weird imagery in an existing piece and then later one piece my Mom was getting rid of was a seascape -where I had the immediate vision of two reapers playing with a beachball. I painted them in, shared them on social media and things snowballed rather quickly from there. I came up with the term re-directed as I used that as a tag and hoped people would begin to associate it with me…and it worked! Other people now use that term – which is fine… I prefer that to ‘Improved Painting’…as I never meant to demean the original artist. All these redirected pieces were salvaged and unwanted and quite likely wind up as landfill. I hate waste and seeing potential thrown away. This was just another method to upcycle. I’ll spend considerable time touching up the piece from scratches, buffs or sun/ water damage then I’ll add in my own visions. ..never covering the signature of the original artist. Research is always done prior to any painting to insure it’s not of significant value. I rarely work on originals, always lithographs, canvas prints, or anonymous paint by numbers.

Is there anything that you would like to add?

DI: Even though most know my work through my ongoing Re-Directed thrift art series, I look forward to continuing my upcycling work (hand-painted ornaments using salvaged burnt-out light bulbs, pop art paintings on discarded, damaged vinyl records, beer cap pins, and redoing/painting discarded wooden furniture…) and preventing landfill.

Follow The Gnarled Branch:

TORSUS PRAETORIAN

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TORSUS PRAETORIAN, THE WORLD’S MOST RUGGED HEAVY-DUTY OFF-ROAD 4X4 BUS, READY TO TRAVEL EVEN TOUGHER ACROSS THE PLANET’S MOST INHOSPITABLE TERRAIN THANKS TO A RAFT OF ALL-NEW 2021 TECHNICAL UPDATES

TORSUS PRAETORIAN benefits from all-new technical updates for 2021
Updates for PRAETORIAN include new LED lights, advanced air conditioning system, new safety-enhancing passenger door and pneumatic footsteps, new fire protection system and improved interior features
Built for the world’s toughest jobs, PRAETORIAN transports personnel and equipment across inhospitable terrain in extreme weather conditions
Transporting up to 35 occupants, PRAETORIAN can wade through water up to 900mm deep, ensuring nothing will stop the vehicle from reaching its destination
For more information on TORSUS, please visit: Torsus

TORSUS, manufacturer of the world’s toughest, heavy-duty off-road buses, today announces a comprehensive range of all-new 2021 technical updates for its flagship vehicle, the TORSUS PRAETORIAN.

Designed to transport personnel and equipment safely across the world’s harshest environments, the PRAETORIAN is a 4×4 off-road bus based on an upgraded, heavy-duty MAN chassis. It is powered by a six-cylinder MAN diesel engine with 286bhp and 1,150Nm of torque, as well as a heavy-duty 4×4 off-road transmission – sufficient for the bus to easily climb a 65 percent incline. From the Michelin XZL off-road tyres specifically designed for emergency response and tactical vehicles to the military-grade elastomeric coatings engineered for maximum durability and impact resistance applied to body parts, no detail is overlooked. The PRAETORIAN is engineered to master any terrain, in any weather conditions, anywhere in the world.

Following extensive customer feedback from all four corners of the globe and continuous vehicle developments, TORSUS is pleased to reveal a series of all-new technical updates to make the PRAETORIAN even more resilient. Underpinning TORSUS’ ethos to build vehicles for the world’s most demanding jobs, the upgraded PRAETORIAN features only the very best materials, technology and construction methods in the automotive industry, ensuring exemplary quality, unwavering durability and meticulous attention to detail. Now, both engineering refinement and every aspect of vehicle performance has been elevated to an even higher level.

‘At TORSUS, we live by and set the highest standards for ourselves and our world-beating 4×4 buses. Our mission is to ensure our 4×4 heavy duty buses conquer the world’s most daunting driving environments, safely transporting people and equipment to locations no other vehicle could ever reach. Achieving this requires rigorous attention to detail coupled with our obsession with delivering nothing but the best. That means we constantly strive to improve our vehicles and make sure they feature the most relevant and beneficial new technology through our ongoing process of product development. By listening to customer feedback, we make certain we are always on-point with our updates and improvements’; said Vakhtang Dzhukashvili, CEO of TORSUS.

‘Our expert engineering and manufacturing teams have helped us to manage the challenges of the past year. The 2021 model year represents the very best of TORSUS – it represents resilience, determination and our desire to succeed in the face of adversity. Like many businesses, the past 12 months have been challenging, but it is testament to our team that we have been able to produce an upgraded product and reach our key strategic targets’: said Yuliya Khomych, Director of Strategy, TORSUS.

From darkness to light

TORSUS creates a range of PRAETORIAN 4×4 buses to cope in highly challenging conditions from disaster evacuation to fire fighting and from motorsport to operations command. Optimum lighting is essential in such circumstances, which is why TORSUS’s engineering team has replaced the halogen lights previously found on the PRAETORIAN with highly energy-efficient all-new LED headlights, which provide significantly enhanced illumination. Roof-mounted lights are also offered for even greater levels of visibility and safety.

To develop the PREATORIAN’s new lighting system, TORSUS partnered with WAŚ – one of the most innovative automotive lighting technology companies in the world. WAŚ offers almost 4000 different lamps for automotive applications and supplied TORSUS with its ultimate W149 driving lamps. Both focused and diffused lighting units are fitted, each providing 4100 lumen, which is more than triple the illumination provided by a halogen high beam car light and perfect for driving safely off-road in darkness. When the PRAETORIAN is stationery, roof and side mounted 991 SIGNAL SL 1000 lumen work lights provide 360-degree illumination for the crew to carry out their tasks quickly and safely in the most demanding situations.

Keeping cool at 50°C

With sales outlets and service and maintenance points across Africa, Australia, Europe and South America, the PRAETORIAN was already comfortably at home in some of the hottest temperatures on the planet. Even so, TORSUS’s engineers have taken the opportunity to further bolster the performance of the vehicle’s air-conditioning system. Working closely with market leader Webasto, the PRAETORIAN’s air-conditioning has been thoroughly upgraded to protect the wellbeing of crew and occupants, whether they are travelling through Australia’s Great Sandy desert or the Sahara in North Africa. Both regions can see outside temperatures rise as high as 50°C and 60°C inside the vehicle, which is within the operating parameter of the air-conditioning system fitted to the PRAETORIAN.

Detailed work was carried out to enhance air distribution to individual luggage rack outlets for more airflow volume and increased nominal air conditioning cooling capacity. The industry-leading 21.52 kW system can cool down a full bus of 35 occupants from 60°C to 30°C in just three minutes, and incredibly, can drop the temperature from 60°C to a comfortable 20°C in under 15 minutes. In fact, so effective is the air-conditioning unit; it can even keep the engine cool should it, for example, become in danger of overheating when climbing sand dunes.

Safer entry and exit

To comply with the latest EU regulations, TORSUS has redesigned the operating system of the PRAETORIAN’s passenger door, facilitating the smooth opening and closing in less than 8 seconds. To ensure optimum safety, the door automatically closes once the vehicle speedometer reaches 3km/h. Incorporated sensors eliminate the risk of passengers or obstacles being trapped in the doorway. All-new pneumatic extending and retracing footsteps and new entrance bars make it more convenient and safer for passengers to enter and exit the vehicle than before. And an updated emergency evacuation system has also been integrated into all doors, which feature both interior and exterior emergency release buttons, and roof hatches.

Another example of TORSUS’s determination to go to any and every length to create the ultimate specification 4×4 off-road bus is the fitment of a highly efficient bus stop brake system. Operated by the touch of a button, it utilizes the air service brake equipment of the rear axle with a pressure of 3.5 bar and negates the need for the service brake or parking brake to be applied during frequent stops.

TORSUS is also about to enter production with first vehicle equipped with fully mechanical doors in the middle section and rear swing doors. This will provide an unmatched versatility offering in fields such as leisure, camping, safari and tourism, and enable customers to create a vehicle that meets their needs and desires perfectly.

Protection against any eventuality

The PRAETORIAN is designed to offer its occupants optimum protection in every condition and circumstance, even in the unlikely event of a vehicle fire. A powerful, new, automatic, fast-acting fire suppression system developed by industry leaders in fire protection BlazeCut, has been fitted to the PRAETORIAN. As per mandatory legislative requirements, the BlazeCut system automatically actuates in the fuel tank area when a fire occurs, extinguishing the blaze in seconds leaving very minimal damage to the vehicle, and keeping occupants safe. However, TORSUS has extended the coverage of the system to other areas of the vehicle, such as the engine compartment, at no additional cost to the customer. Two fire extinguishers are mounted inside the cabin, and new fire-resistant materials and fabrics have also been fitted.

Complete comfort in challenging terrain

The PRAETORIAN’s ability to climb snow-covered mountains, wade rivers and cross rock fields does not come at the expense of occupant comfort. And now, both driver and passenger experience an even more refined travelling experience thanks to an extensive range of upgraded interior features. The positioning of the driver’s seat has been realigned, which improves safety with better side mirror visibility, while passengers now have even more space between seats. The passenger seats have also been upgraded, with the introduction of individual monitors in the back of each seat to facilitate the integration of personal media devices. Additional occupant comfort takes the form of new, efficiency-enhancing insulation materials in the vehicle walls and roof, which provide superior heat retention in cold conditions and help keep the vehicle cool in hot weather. Also, improved mechanisms on the sliding windows efficiently reduce energy consumption.

To enable the PRAETORIAN to cope with extreme cold, whether transporting passengers to a ski-resort or moving crew and equipment around an arctic base for example, TORSUS has equipped the vehicle with a CELLO heating panel. This flat, wall-mounted heating panel essentially generates radiant heat by mitigating cold airflow. Even when the temperature outside drops to -10°C the combination of side wall insulation heating panel raises the temperature inside the vehicle to +20°C, requiring 19 percent less energy to do so compared with a conventional heating system.

Peter Zaicek, Head of Production at TORSUS, said: “As the most adaptable and versatile 4×4 heavy-duty off-road bus on sale, the TORSUS PRAETORIAN is designed and engineered to excel in many different and extremely hostile environments across the globe. Ensuring the vehicle always delivers optimum performance, durability and safety in any location require extensive testing and development– not just of the vehicle but also of the ground-breaking equipment and technology it’s fitted with. At the core of every TORSUS vehicle is quality. We are fully confident that each of the latest updates to the PRAETORIAN matches both our and our customers’ high standards.”

Available in a variety of derivatives, the PRAETORIAN can be used from adventure tourism to the military frontline. There is a specification for every need. Always dependable. Always reliable.

About TORSUS

TORSUS is breaking new ground by designing, developing and manufacturing the world’s toughest off-road buses. The iconic PRAETORIAN makes the world’s most capable heavy-duty off-road bus, and the new TERRASTORM signals the brand’s fearless ambition to grow further into the global heavy-duty 4×4 minibus market. The TORSUS brand was released in 2016, developing and manufacturing heavy-duty off-road 4×4 buses in a purpose-built factory in Slovakia.

TORSUS operates and sells in global markets to customers in heavy industry, utility and government service sectors. Warranty and service backup is provided in all markets with the fastest response times in the sector. Working in partnership with MAN and VW on key chassis and powertrain technology ensures that every TORSUS has ultimate durability, reliability, serviceability, value and, of course, toughness engineered in. TORSUS: BUILT FOR THE WORLD’S TOUGHEST JOBS.

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Gruin × Clean Slate Exhibition

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GRUIN: CLEAN SLATE EXHIBITION

Exhibition opening Thursday, May 6th, 2021 from 5-9pm PST and Saturday, May 8th from noon-5pm PST

Location: Domicile (n) 4859 Fountain Avenue Los Angeles, CA, 90029

By appointment here

LINK TO THE EXHIBITION

As we emerge from the pandemic, Clean Slate, curated by Margot Ross and Emerald Gruin, is an exhibition full of hope and celebration of new beginnings, wiping the slate clean for a rebirth.

Laura Jones’ work, Gaia, is the centerpiece of the exhibition. “Gaia”, the mother of all life, is the goddess of healing and cleansing removing all past darkness. The Australian Sturt desert pea flower featured in the painting, represents rebirth. After the rain, these flowers blossom and are symbolic of the rebirth of nature.

Belynda Henry’s works represent her fascination with the Australian landscape. Living and working in a lush valley in New South Wales, Henry experiences its ever-changing sights, sounds, light and textures. She is absorbed by nature’s compositions and colors, meditating on the medium and incorporating those impressions in her imaginative works, which are vibrantly modern and uniquely visceral.

Jonathan Rosen debuts a digital mirror piece from his Dream Machines series. After a year of confinement and sacrifice on the surface of the mirror the word BORN glows radiantly as a thousand phrases flash randomly underneath. When a viewer stands before the mirror and takes a photo a single message is frozen over the viewer’s reflection reminding us what we were all born to be.

Using the motif of a silhouette, Keelin Montzingo’s figures are taken directly from influencers’, models’ and brands’ Instagram accounts, observing how the female pose exists in an echo chamber where the real mirrors the constructed and the constructed seeks the real. While Montzingo does not criticize self-promotion, she questions whether the female is collectively perpetuating the male gaze or rather reclaiming the body, defining an empowering narrative where the female speaks directly to the female in celebration of the divine.

Dana James’ The Hero evokes a sense of nostalgia and history, where she works the textured wax achieving a distressed, “wear and tear” aspect, referencing antiquated, sentimental belongings.

Camie Lyons is an Australian-based artist working across a variety of mediums – including sculpture, painting and drawing. Her practice is largely inspired by her intuition and experiences as a contemporary dancer, as she explores the free-flowing possibility of lines, form and movement created by the human body.

Elliott Nimmo’s new series of work began on the cusp of Spring. Each painting explores the crisp light filtering through the trees, early morning mist and the possibilities that each new wave brings to the shore.

Jay Miriam paints magical moments of lingering time demonstrating that, when we are so caught up in a routine, we pass time without thought. In The Sunbathers, three women forget themselves in a forest as rain drizzles and one hides behind a bush.

Laura Kimmel (née Laura Weyl) is a New York-based filmmaker, photographer, and multimedia artist. Her NFT work Non Fungible Woman, uses analog image manipulations to create visceral, poetic visual worlds. Laura’s work explores the labyrinth of femininity through ritualistic, performative art making. She journeys with her muses, often trespassing, in pursuit of magical realms to conjure authentic expressions of self-outside the constraints of social constructs. Her photograph As Above evokes an alternate reality of light and color, a portal to the subliminal.

Leila Jeffreys’ work Revival evokes the feeling after the bushfires, where there is regrowth and new signs of life. The image appears like a tree of leaves, the birds appear to look like the tree is blooming with new leaves.

Although at first glance, Tom Smith’s work appears digital, it is carefully hand-made. Melt is constructed from 2 paintings on paper in opposing hot and cold colors, Smith slices the paintings into tiny strips using a razor. One slice at a time, he alternates the strips and adheres them into one picture. The painting then experiences 400 tons of pressure in a hydraulic press, permanently affixing the slices with vibrating effect revealing and distorting the image.

While attending a decidedly anti-queer Catholic school in Colombia, for Juan Arango Palacios the jungle became a place of refuge—a safe haven—it was the first place and time in Juan’s life where they felt completely content with who they are. This space, which over time has been transformed into an archetype, acts as a timeless setting for the people that Juan meets and experiences that they would have navigating the path ahead of them. Juan is committed to creating dynamic compositions that represent the blurred memories of an immigrant, the suppressed fantasy of a queer person, and an imagined heaven informed by an icon laden religion.

Rico Ayeni is a self-taught artist from Brooklyn, New York, who makes storytelling imagery that combines color and passion while documenting everyday life around the world. A Head In The Clouds Is A Clear Mind was captured when Ayeni was touring around Africa, looking for moments which highlighted certain characteristics and challenges he observed from his people.

Paris-based Cyrielle Gulacsy has created CS005 / (Spectral Component) for Clean Slate, the first of a series developed during lockdown. Struck by the beauty of the light during her first trip to California in 2017, Cyrielle studied the solar spectrum and the color temperature variations depending on the sunlight’s interaction with the atmosphere. The paintings are composed like windows opened to the sky that capture the magical and ephemeral instants of daylight. Breaking down the solar spectrum, each piece offers a moment of contemplation and invites the viewer to deeply meditate on the essence of light: its origin, its nature, its beauty. The artist uses pointillism and layers of dots to give form to the principle of “wave-particle duality” in quantum mechanics, a property of the photon, the particle of light.

VISITOR INFORMATION:

domicile (n.) is located in the Merrick Building in East Hollywood at 4859 Fountain Avenue. The gallery can be visited by appointment only.

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Songs to Save Them All

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Emmylou Harris, Two Feet, SYML, Wrabel and more to perform in “Songs to Save Them All” livestream concert on May 6 to benefit Best Friends Animal Society

Tune in at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT on YouTube, Tiltify, Twitch, and Facebook

Numerous musicians are set to appear in “Songs to Save Them All: A Benefit Concert for Homeless Pets,” a three-hour benefit concert for Best Friends Animal Society streaming on May 6, 8 PM ET/5 PM PT.

Recording artists expected to perform include country music legend Emmylou Harris, as well as Aunty Social, Baker Grace, Brandon Jenner, Canyon City, Chappell Roan, Davis John Patton, Dylan Dunlap, Geographer, Joshua Radin, Laura Jean Anderson, Munn, Pryor & Lee, Sammy Rae, SYML, The Joy Formidable, Tim Atlas, Two Feet, Victoria Anthony, WILD, Wild Rivers, WOLF and Wrabel.

In addition to the musical talent, celebrities including Lauren Ash, Mayim Bialik, author W. Bruce Cameron, TikTok influencer Caitlyn Cohen, Abbie Cornish, Kat Dennings, Josh Gad, Tricia Helfer, Thomas Lennon, Zosia Mamet, Natalie Morales, Kevin Nealon, Alison Pill, Dennis Quaid, Norman Reedus, Katee Sackhoff, Reid Scott, Amanda Seyfried, Brittany Snow, Katie Stevens, Cecily Strong, Holly Taylor, Ashley Williams, Bellamy Young, and others are also expected to make appearances to support the cause.

“Music is a universal language and brings so much joy to the world,” said Julie Castle, chief executive officer at Best Friends Animal Society. “This concert will celebrate how music and our love of animals unite us and show how we can all come together to support each other, our communities and homeless pets.”

The free event will livestream on Tiltify, Twitch, YouTube and Facebook, as well as at Best Friends website. Viewers will have the opportunity to donate to Best Friends Animal Society via Tiltify to support making America no-kill by 2025.

All proceeds will support Best Friends’ work across the country, including lifesaving collaboration with thousands of shelters and animal welfare groups. There will also be a spotlight on the organization’s recent No-Kill Los Angeles initiative achievement, which reached a 90.49% save rate in the City of Los Angeles for 2020.

“Everyone at Best Friends sends our gratitude to the musicians, singers, and songwriters who are sharing their time and talent for this awesome event,” Castle said. “We hope animal lovers everywhere will tune in, enjoy the music, and learn more about how everyone can make a different for homeless pets.”

About Best Friends Animal Society

Best Friends Animal Society is a leading animal welfare organization working to end the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters by 2025. Founded in 1984, Best Friends is a pioneer in the no-kill movement and has helped reduce the number of animals killed in shelters from an estimated 17 million per year to around 625,000. Best Friends runs lifesaving programs all across the country, as well as the nation’s largest no-kill animal sanctuary. Working collaboratively with a network of more than 3,200 animal welfare and shelter partners, and community members nationwide, Best Friends is working to Save Them All. For more information, visit Best Friends website.

Rising Singaporean Artist Yung Raja

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RISING SINGAPOREAN ARTIST YUNG RAJA RELEASES NEW FREESTYLE MIXING ENGLISH AND TAMIL — LISTEN NOW

NEW SONG “MAMI” IS YASSER’S TRACK OF THE WEEK ON BBC ASIAN NETWORK — LISTEN HERE

INCLUDED ON ‘NME 100’ LIST — FIRST SINGAPOREAN ARTIST TO APPEAR ON THE LIST

LYRICS + TRANSLATIONS HERE

Praise for Yung Raja:

“Singaporean hip-hop star sparks joy with dizzying Tamil and English raps” — NME

“Yung Raja has flown onto the hip-hop scene over the past year, commanding a riotous audience across South East Asia” — HYPEBEAST

“Within a year, [Yung Raja] has grown to become one of South East Asia’s popular hip-hop artists” — Rolling Stone

Yung Raja has been dubbed as Southeast Asia’s next avant-garde bilingual hip hop artist known for his tasteful unification of English and Tamil lyricism. Over the weekend Yung Raja released another installment of a freestyle that showcases just this. Raja is a master wordsmith and elegantly switches between the languages backed against a trap beat that begs hitting the replay button. The dizzying freestyle comes off the back of his recently released single “Mami” which is also the Track of The Week by Yasser for BBC Asian Network. The video for the song has already surpassed over 100,000 views on YouTube and rising. Check out the song and technicolor video, here.

Alongside the freestyle, Yung Raja also uploaded an informational video “Shtambi Shterminology” where breaks down his everyday slang and Tamil phrases— one of the world’s oldest surviving languages

About Yung Raja:

Named one of NME’s 100 artist of 2021, breakthrough rapper Yung Raja has been dubbed as Southeast Asia’s next avant-garde bilingual hip hop artist. Known for his tasteful unification of English and Tamil culture in his lyrics. He found viral success in Asia after releasing a string of singles including “Poori Gang,” “Mustafa” and “Mad Blessings” — the latter of which received cosigns by the likes of Lupe Fiasco and M.I.A.. Raja went on to amass over 11 million plays, a record deal with Def Jam SEA and a whirlwind run that saw him play shows across the continent and a stint in India recording for the famous Kollywood industry. His blend of references combined with natural lyrical ability garnered him critical praise with the likes of NME, Hypebeast, ELLE (Singapore), VICE/Noisey, Rolling Stone (India). While his fashion sensibilities and unwavering experimentation with style has landed him the covers of Esquire and ELLE Singapore as well as brand partnerships with BVLGARI, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Adidas. Born and raised in Singapore, Yung Raja aims to reinvent societal views in and out of his homeland, inspire the next generation of cultural conservators, and elevate Southeast Asian hip hop to world class stages through his music. Last year, Yung Raja signed to Alamo Records in hopes to continue confronting the industry with his addictive bilingual delivery and amalgamation of cultural references.

Discover more Yung Raja via:

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Wallpaper Release by Graham & Brown

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FIND YOURSELF IN THE MIDST OF A JEWEL TONED MAZE WITH ALCAZAR

These geometric shapes resemble a winding puzzle, bringing a truly unique pattern to your walls. Use as part of a natural themed décor, or up the ante with this alluring and sophisticated wallpaper with striking gold accessories.

Graham & Brown, the UK-based wallpaper company, has been busy this year celebrating its 75th anniversary with collaborations including Sacha Walckhoff and the National Portrait Gallery, amongst others. Today, I’m reaching out to share the company’s latest spring wallpaper introductions, including playful, lush botanicals (and a surprise appearance starring tropical fish) plus soothing geometric shapes. See the latest drop below!

Aquarium

This quirky wallpaper is packed with character and life. Turn any space into an enticing aquatic setting with Aquarium. Striking tropical fish swim amongst rich green leaves on this large repeat print. Use for a quirky and fun pop of color. Currently available in Deep Sea.

Glasshouse Flora

Glasshouse Flora relishes in the trend of jewel-tone hues and does it perfectly. Rich colored florals sit on gorgeous rich hues, creating an opulent feel within any room. This impactful design will turn your décor in any space into a sophisticated floral haven. Available in Glasshouse Flora, Glasshouse Flora Amethyst, Glasshouse Flora Emerald, and Glasshouse Flora Sky.

Above: Glasshouse Flora Amethyst

Below: Glasshouse Flora Emerald

Alcazar

Find yourself in the midst of a of a jewel-toned maze with Alcazar. These geometric shapes resemble a winding puzzle, bringing a truly unique pattern to walls. Use as part of a natural themed décor, or up the ante with this alluring and sophisticated wallpaper with striking gold accessories. Available in Noche and Forest.

Above: Shown in Forest

Below: Shown in Noche

Rebel Nell × Motown Museum

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REBEL NELL ANNOUNCES NEW LIMITED EDITION PARTNERSHIP COLLECTION WITH THE ICONIC MOTOWN MUSEUM

Using repurposed and rare vinyl from the birthplace of Motown, the social enterprise will unveil a new line exclusively on May 3

Rebel Nell, the nationally-lauded jewelry company and social enterprise, based in Detroit, announces today a new collection with Motown Museum, using reclaimed record materials from the bright red heart-shaped ‘Pops We Love You,’ 1978 album, featuring the Motown Sound of Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson. The heart-shaped red vinyl was the only of its kind produced during this era.

Of the partnership, Rebel Nell Co-Founder & CEO, Amy Peterson, said, “We are honored to be able to preserve a piece of history that holds a spot in the hearts of people across the globe. We hope this collection serves as a reminder of the joy and peace that resonates when you hear the Motown Sound and inspires us to push toward a more peaceful and inclusive world.”

Motown Museum – Album Collection, is a small tribute to the life and work of Berry Gordy, who was a social entrepreneur before the term was even coined, making the synergies between the two brands, and their respective missions a natural fit. With an $800 loan in hand from the Gordy Family’s co-op, Berry built the empire on West Grand Boulevard in Detroit, known as Motown Records. Motown was a black-owned, black-centered business that broke down barriers through music. The Motown Sound defined a generation and is recognizable and lauded internationally as some of the greatest music of all time. Motown’s influence–musically, socially and culturally–are forever heard in the halls of American and world history. Today, Motown Museum preserves, promotes and celebrates the authentic Motown Story as a platform for others to flourish as thinkers, creators, neighbors and entrepreneurs.

The collection itself will feature 10 pieces (see inset) of signature Rebel Nell-style artistry and modern craftsmanship, built exclusively by the company’s Creative Designers, who meticulously repurposed the bold vinyl into wearable pieces of art. Featuring an array of necklaces, earrings, bracelets and lifestyle pieces made of brass, stainless steel and gold, the collection will launch online and in retail exclusively on Monday, May 3 with a portion of proceeds benefiting Motown Museum directly. Pieces from the collection will range in price from $45 – $130.

To learn more about this exclusive partnership and its inspiration, read more at Rebel Nell’s Blog. This collection will be for sale at Rebel Nell’s Detroit store (1314 Holden Street), online store, and at Motown Museum (2638 W. Grand Blvd).

About Rebel Nell

Rebel Nell began in 2013 with the mission to provide employment, equitable opportunity, and wraparound support for women with barriers to employment. By repurposing meaningful materials into wearable art, we mark life’s important moments and connect them to your personal journey.

We seek to embolden women, to embrace their infinite strength, and to define their own future. Our jewelry serves as a reminder that there is power in being One of No Other Kind. The brand has partnered with iconic Michigan landmarks including The Belle Isle Aquarium, The Joe Louis Arena and more for truly one-of-a-kind collections made of fallen graffiti collected at each storied location. For more information, to order items or gift cards, visit Rebel Nell or on Instagram and Facebook.

About Motown Museum

Founded in 1985 by Esther Gordy Edwards, Motown Museum is a 501(c)(3) not for profit, tax-exempt organization in Detroit. The museum is committed to preserving, protecting and presenting the Motown story through authentic, inspirational and educational experiences. Announced in late 2016, the Motown Museum expansion will grow the museum to a 50,000-square-foot world-class entertainment and education tourist destination featuring dynamic, interactive exhibits, a performance theater, recording studios, an expanded retail experience and meeting spaces designed by renown architects and exhibit designers. When completed, the new museum campus will have a transformative impact on the surrounding Detroit neighborhoods, providing employment, sustainability and community pride by serving as an important catalyst for new investment and tourism in the historic area. For more information on Motown Museum, visit Motown Museum.