DESIGN

Break Dancers Set World Record

Break It ’til You Make It…Red Bull BC One is Spinning Into The Records Book

Over 70 breaking aficionados have set a world record for the most simultaneous windmill moves completed in 30 seconds.

The windmill is a classic Hip Hop dance move in which the legs are lifted high in the air and twisted in a windmill pattern, while the torso and head rest against the floor. The world record for the most windmills – the most recognizable move in breaking – was completed simultaneously by the largest group of dancers aged between 15 and 50 years old.

The world record was set at Kinderdijk, a village in the Netherlands’ South Holland province, known for its iconic 18th-century windmills and a monument to the history of humankind that was officially included as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

Over the past few years, the Hip Hop scene – and the culture that surrounds it – has grown dramatically, with rappers like Poke and Brainpower filling the country with old school beats and fuelling a society of talented breakers, battling in competitions around the Netherlands and around the World.

Leading the breakers is Italy’s Mauro Peruzzi – aka Cico, the ‘Prince of Power’. Known for his dynamic, gymnastic, power moves, Cico is one of the most impressive talents in the B-Boy Dance form today and this is not his first World Record. Especially heralded for his energetic airflare combination moves and incredible ‘1990s’, where he spins and speed in a one-armed handstand, holding the World Record with a mind-boggling 27 revolutions.

The World Record Breaking event marks the growing breaking scene in the Netherlands, with Amsterdam hosting this year’s Red Bull BC One World Finals on November 4th.

Rilke Guillén

Rilke Guillén 

Artist Plásticomexicanocatalán, spiritually and vitally grown and split between two ways of being, of thinking and feeling. He has exhibited his work in Spain and Mexico for many decades.

Artist statement

I believe to express my vision of this splendor-decadent world that witnesses our existence, to try to move in the emotion of the viewer, to make him see inside yes; by the right and the reverse of the same glove of what is and exists and of what is not and also exists. Like the dream inside the eye and the outside eye. Like the truth and vertigo of the depth of the fractal-cosmic spiral. As a picture, as truth, as the line that springs from my pen. Creating images and sculptures gives meaning to my existence and being me from the inside-out, so I can communicate with others. I am an insatiable explorer of the plastic techniques that I am encountering in my path, such as painting, watercolor, engraving, sculpture, design, etc. My search in these different lands has the same objective: to find the voice that is capable of taking out this animal-human being, who is thronging in my heart. The fine perfume of the flower of my spirit.

Biography

I remember as a child drawing horses and birds obsessively. The representation of images has always seemed to me as a matter that holds great power, as if in representing an object or being, somehow one was made with his skill, with his unique quality. I have always been surrounded by art. My father, in his poetic dimension, attracted artists from all disciplines to the house to share his presence and talent, some of them had a great impact on me. There was a very special one that made me the honor of taking me as a disciple for a short but unforgettable time: The great teacher Rodolfo Zanabria (who in peace rides in infinity with his maidens with long hair and beautiful faces). From him, I learned that the road is long and if you know how to walk you will reach the Magical Domain. Destiny had the willingness to be a Mexican-Catalan artist, spiritually and vitally grown and split between two ways of being, thinking and feeling. This has allowed me to exhibit and share my work on both sides of the Atlantic since my debut on the plastic scene, until today.

For more artworks, visit here.

ASHLEY BENSON × PRIVÉ REVAUX

PRIVÉ REVAUX LAUNCHES NEW COLLECTION AND CAMPAIGN

Brand upgrades offerings with The Icon Collection and new prescription lens program from partners Jamie Foxx, Hailee Steinfeld, Jeremy Piven and Ashley Benson
  

Following the brand’s successful launch this summer, Privé Revaux is releasing its second collection of handcrafted eyewear, along with a new campaign starring brand partners Jamie Foxx, Hailee Steinfeld, Jeremy Piven and Ashley Benson; styled by creative directors Mariel Haenn and Rob Zangardi, and shot by Steven Taylor. Along with the new collection, Privé Revaux will also debut prescription glasses and new exciting retailers.  

The new Icon Collection pays homage to iconic figures who ignite inspiration, both current and past—The Einstein, The McQueen, The Karl, The Jackie O. Each design has been upgraded in both quality and design, crafted by hand with high-end materials including acetate and a proprietary lightweight, yet durable metal alloy. Additional features include newly designed hinge screws and more; all still retailing for only $29.95 per pair.

In addition to new styles, Privé Revaux will also expand from traditional sunglasses to prescription sunglasses and optical frames with the new Privélege program. Launching within the next few weeks, Privélege is a subscription service that grants members exclusive access to money saving benefits. For only $29.95/year (the price of one pair of Privé Revaux glasses), members can add prescription lenses to their Privé Revaux frames at wholesale cost. Frames with prescription lenses will begin at $59.95 (depending on lens type), a fraction of the price of typical prescription glasses. In addition, members will be privileged with early access to limited-edition frames and exclusive discounts. To enhance the shopping experience, customers can utilize “The Reframer Virtual Try-On,” a digital tool exclusively on PriveRevaux.com where customers can upload a selfie to see how any frame will fit their face prior to purchase.

“Since inception, Privé Revaux designs have been consistently selling out, so we wanted to offer our customers new and fresh styles to love. We’ve upgraded everything from high-end materials to affordable prescription lenses, as well as a better user experience with a digital try-on tool, local kiosks and brick-and-mortar retail expansion so buyers can easily find the perfect fit—all at the same amazing price,” says David Schottenstein, Privé Revaux Founder.

Since June, Privé Revaux has rapidly expanded it retail footprint. The Icon Collection will not only be available online at PriveRevaux.com and retail giant Amazon.com but also at major department stores, Privé Revaux-branded kiosks and brick-and-mortar shops this November. Privé Revaux will also be launching in Australia and New Zealand in partnership with Catch Group, selling through the retailer’s various sales channels including Catch.com.au. Additionally, the brand will be available internationally in Canada, Colombia, Mexico, Japan, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Indonesia, South Africa, Norway, UK, Italy, the Philippines and the Middle East.

 

Photo Credit: Steven Taylor/Privé Revaux

About Privé Revaux Eyewear:

Privé Revaux Eyewear was established to disrupt the eyewear market as a purveyor of quality goods at a great value. It was built on a shared passion for style and quality from serial entrepreneur David Schottenstein along with an elite team including celebrity visionaries Jamie Foxx, Hailee Steinfeld, Ashley Benson and Jeremy Piven as well as VP of Celebrity Relations Dave Osokow and Creative Directors Rob Zangardi and Mariel Haenn. With more than 100 hand-crafted and polarized designer frames for $29.95, everyone can be anyone. Each style is named to evoke a personality from The Artist and The Socialite to The Boss and The Godfather. Privé Revaux Eyewear is available on priverevaux.com and at Amazon.com. For more information, visit www.priverevaux.com.

TIDAL X BROOKLYN

JAY-Z, Jennifer Lopez, Stevie Wonder, DJ Khaled and More To Raise Funds for Hurricane and Earthquake Victims

A stellar lineup of music legends, including JAY-Z, Jennifer Lopez, Stevie Wonder and DJ Khaled, will raise funds for victims of Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Maria and the Mexico earthquakes with their performance at the annual TIDAL X: Brooklyn concert event.

The annual TIDAL X Brooklyn event brings together incredible performers in an effort to raise awareness and funds for organisations that support relief and recovery for those affected by the unprecedented natural disasters. This year’s concert is hosted by Angie Martinez and includes JAY-Z, Jennifer Lopez, Stevie Wonder, DJ Khaled, Chris Brown, Kaskade, Iggy Azalea, Cardi B, Fat Joe, Remy Ma, Daddy Yankee and more with special appearances by Rosie Perez and Lin-Manuel Miranda. 100% of all ticket sales will benefit organisations helping those affected by Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Maria, and the earthquakes that have affected Mexico over the last few weeks.

The event is proudly sponsored by BACARDĺ, who is committed to supporting communities impacted including Puerto Rico, Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico and The Bahamas – all areas which are considered home to the brand and to its operations, offices and employees. In response to the damage caused by the hurricanes and earthquakes, the brand has firmly committed over $4.3 million in donations to relief agencies supporting the communities impacted.

Art With Purpose

Breast Cancer Awareness pieces that are for millennials, by a millennial!

Marc Thaler began Art with Purpose after he graduated this past December from USC. His mother battled breast cancer, so the cause is close to home. He has raised over $40,000 since the brands’ start.

His pieces are streetwear inspired – hoodies, denim jackets, hats, etc. and 25% of sales go toward breast cancer research at hospitals like, City of Hope, St Johns, Keck School of Medicine at USC and other organizations such as John Wayne Cancer Institute and Phase One Foundation. Marc believes that he is so successful because “young people are into fashionable streetwear, and can afford to buy a piece of clothing, but might never think to write a check to a foundation.”

“Hub of the Plains” × TX

Lubbock, “Hub of the Plains” & Leader of the Mains.

By Ana de Cozar × Vaughn Lowery



Located in Northwest Texas, Lubbock earned the name “Hub of the Plains” in 1909. It’s appellation was followed by Lubbock County’s expansive business markets, which resulted in its numerous appearances in national survey rankings. Among them, we find Lubbock as the 24th Best City for Small Business in the U.S. in 2017 by ValuePenguin, No.7 on Forbes’ List of 19 Opportunity Cities in 2014, the 15th Best City to Start a Business in 2016 according to WalletHub and the 6th Best City for 20-Somethings in the U.S. in 2016 by Move.org.

But as we say in the title, not everything is about business in Lubbock. 360 Magazine had the pleasure to visit the Texan city of opportunities, and had a taste of its terrific culinary range.

Our team stayed in the West Texas’s only AAA Four-Diamond hotel, the Overton Hotel & Conference Center. The Overton is located in the heart of the “Hub City”— just steps from Texas Tech University. As Lubbock’s largest hotel conference center, The Overton Hotel & Conference Center is the ideal destination for corporate business events, weddings, Texas Tech visitors and visitors to Lubbock, Texas. At the Overton, we had a reception of grilled veggie display for those green lovers and a fiddlehead fern. But we can highlight their dessert selection, the strawberry cheesecake mousse shooters combined with a bavarian cream with fruit truffle mousse shooters is all you need to satisfy your sweet palate.

Another delicious option for a lunch in Lubbock was Evie Mae’s Pit BBQ. Quickly becoming a local favorite, Evie Mae’s was recently featured on the cover of Texas Monthly as one of the Top 25 New and Improved BBQ Joints in Texas. Here, you’ll discover melt-in-your-mouth brisket, green chile sausage, homemade sides and an assortment of gluten-free desserts. Arnis Robbins nicely greeted us while we tasted the brisket and an outstanding gluten free cornbread with sausage. For dessert, we had ice cream on a gluten free brownies.

Another option is the La Diosa CellarsHidden in the heart of downtown Lubbock, La Diosa Cellars offers an exceptional wine menu along with Spanish-inspired tapas and live music. In this Lubbock must-see you can try an escargot accompained by 3 different hummus: pesto/basil, cranberry/beets and garlic lemon.

Moving up to dining our first selection is the West Table Kitchen and Bar. This upscale restaurant and full bar offers a unique style of food and beverage to its patrons. Be sure to check out their website for their seasonally evolving menu. Here, 360 Magazine met Cameron West, who provided us with an amazing Caesar salad with anchovies, short ribs and bread pudding. Cagle Steaks, a pure Texan family-owned steakhouse serves specialty steaks, barbecue, smoked salmon, grilled chicken, fajitas and more in a Southwestern, casual atmosphere.

On the other hand The Crafthouse Gastropub is the dining restaurant you can’t miss. Be sure to try the Texas Burger, named in Texas Monthly’s 2016 list of the Top 50 Burgers in Texas. You’ll also find a wide variety of dishes and a Sunday brunch menu that’s both sweet and savory. We tried lamb chili and baked cheddar with swiss, roasted red peppers, green onion and mayo, and also steak frites.

After a big meal, 360 Magazine picked up the best dessert options at Lubbock. If you ever dreamed about building your own dessert, Pie Bar Drop is your perfect hot spot. We created an Oreo pie filled with crushed vanilla wafer with pecan, a pineapple coconut filled with crushed graham cracker, caramel drizzle and coconut savings on top. Yes, unreal but glorious for your palate. Yet we had our dessert, a good shot for those instagram bloggers while enjoying a coffee would be The Coffee Shop with its friendly decoration.

Keeping up with Lubbock’s succulent food array, we discovered marvelous breakfast selections at Arbor Hotel & Conference Center. A locally owned and operated hotel, is a true jewel to West Texas. The new hotel features a year-round outdoor hot tub, conversational fire pits, hotel bar and much more. The hotel offers 3,000 square feet of meeting space as well as a pre-function space. We enjoyed a Chuck Wagon Breakfast with National Cowboy Symposium, true made in Texas!

The advance of agriculture in Lubbock made it the marketing center that it is now, and in that process wine making had an important role. We selected our top winery, and it is clearly not an easy selection in this Texan county. Here there is a list of our top wine stations:

  • At the Funky Door Bistro & Wine Room  you can “wine and dine” like nowhere else. Known for its fondue and wine bar, this fine-dining restaurant showcases some of the most unique varietals of wines and pairings of food. We tried their salmon and sashimi ahi tuna.
  • The Wine Nest is your place if you love music. Three vineyards, one family-owned winery and multiple award-winning wines, all located just on the outskirts of Lubbock. From aromatic Malbec to sweet Gewürztraminer, wine lovers with any palate will enjoy the selection we tasted at Trilogy Cellars. The Wine Nest is a premier boutique wine and gift store, perfect for shopping, sipping a glass of wine and listening to live music.
  • Find award winning wines at Pheasant Ridge Winery. It proudly boasts the oldest vines in Texas. The bold flavor and character of their wines reflect the Cox family’s mastery of wine production. Pheasant Ridge received the first gold medal ever awarded to a Texas red wine for their Cabernet Sauvignon in the San Francisco Wine Competition in 1986.
  • Tour and tasting at the Llano Estacado Winery. The simple mission of Llano Estacado, from its beginning in 1976, has been to embody the potential of Texas wine. Today, Llano Estacado is the largest, bestselling Premium Winery in Texas, producing wines of World Class Quality, and has been an ongoing pioneer in introducing not just Texans, but also the entire world to the great wines made in the Lone Star State.
  • Tour and tasting at McPherson Cellars. Our new friends The McPherson family has been a part of Texas winemaking for over 40 years. Owner and Winemaker Kim McPherson greeted us and showed how he has beautifully restored the historic Coca-Cola Bottling Plant, located in Lubbock’s Depot Entertainment District, into a world-class winery. We tasted their Texas wines that have won over 600 medals in state, national, and international wine competitions. They also sell cute wine merchandising, such as the famous T-Shirts with messages like “My doctor says I need glasses” or “This wine is making me awesome”.

360 crew surely adores food and wine, but Lubbock had much more to offer. During our visit to the northwest city of Texas, we discovered enough from our country at the following attractions:

  • National Ranching Heritage Center-Dedicated to preserving and interpreting the history of ranching, it is a museum with seven exhibit galleries and a 19-acre historical park. Authentic, restored ranching structures dating from 1780 to 1950, tell the story of how early ranchers and their families adapted to a harsh environment. Annual events include Candlelight at the Ranch, an event hosted in December to recreate a frontier Christmas, and Ranch Day, an April event designed to make history come alive with cowboys, chuck wagons and horses. We were surprised by some goodies like the Smith and Wesson model revolver or the Native American real Comanche Feather Headdress.
  • Lubbock Lake Landmark– Smithsonian Magazine named Lubbock Lake Landmark one of the top five destinations to see evidence of first Americans. In fact, signs of human life from 12,000 years ago have been uncovered at the Lubbock Lake Landmark, the oldest continuously inhabited site in the country. This internationally recognized archaeological and national history preserve provides a perfect family outing and regularly hosts Night Hikes on a 3-mile scenic trail through the Yellow House Canyon.

Texas stands for its art in many aspects. They are well known for its modern art and the beautiful Marfa is an exceptional demonstration. Lubbock possesses art exhibitions as well;

  • You can experience an interactive art space like no other at Lubbock’s Tornado Gallery.  Tour the gallery that showcases Tony Greer’s Plasma sculptures featuring Xenon tube pieces and other neon objects. Learn more about the process of creating these masterpieces and the art of glassblowing. We loved those @unityinglass pieces.
  • Roberto Bruno was the best architecture artist in Lubbock and his house remains as a must-see. He moved to Lubbock in 1971 to teach art at Texas Tech University’s school of architecture. He started working on The Steel House in 1973, two years after sculpting a similar piece of art, which inspired him to build something bigger to live in. This three story, 2,200-square-foot house overlooks Ransom Canyon, and remained uncompleted before his death in 2008. The city also counts with several murals and a photographer alley, where the creativity spreads around the streets.

A city is not a city without its nightlife. 360 Magazine especially enjoyed performances of Charlie’s Tout and Jaime Wyatt at The Bluelight Live. Other music selection we had was at Lubbock Moonlight Musicals. It inspires audiences throughout the summer with fun and exciting musicals at their outdoor amphitheater located in Mackenzie Park. Making use of local talent, as well as bringing in various Broadway professionals, Lubbock Moonlight Musicals is able to produce shows that thrill all audiences, from sophisticated theatergoers to first-timers. We saw a fascinating performance of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.

With a flourishing restaurant and bar scene, not to mention the unprecedented rise of craft beer and creative cocktails as of late, there’s truly something for everyone in America’s finest city. You’ll also find championship golf courses, museums, and some other awesome restaurants as the Chimy’s , Giorgio’s Pizza and Torchy’s tacos within city limits.

Other honorable attractions include:

Bars:

http://www.charleyb.net/

http://www.facebook.com/flipstavernlubbock/

http://www.clubluxor.com/

http://chimys.com/

Coffee Shops:

http://www.goldstripecoffee.com/

http://www.sugarbrowns.com/

http://yellowhousecoffee.com/

http://www.jandbcoffeeco.com/

Attractions:

American Wind Power Center

Bayer Museum of Agriculture

Buddy Holly Center

Charles Adams Studio Art Project

Museum of Texas Tech

National Cowboy Symposium

Silent Wings Museum

Southwest Collection

Vietnam Center and Archive

Antonio Brown

Antonio Brown was introduced to the world of entertainment through his unreleased memoir entitled, Muted Dreams. It was dubbed the male version of Push by Ebony Magazine which secured him tons of followers on social media.

 

However, it wasn’t until Brown left his position at The Alexander Doll Company and began to embark on a fashion and philanthropic dream. The vision commenced with the birth of LVL XIII (Level 13) –  a luxury men’s fashion label which launched a line of top-tier sneakers. 

 

The collection became an instant success. Brown made over $250,000 within the first two months in sales. To date, LVL XIII has garnered attention from Chris Brown, JR Smith, Tyson Beckford, Kroy Biermann, Nas, Tracey Morgan, Jim Jones, Jason Sudeikis, Chris Tucker and Tristan Wilds. 

 

Most recently, LVL XIII signed a 1.5 million dollar deal with Zhu Jiang, owner of Décor Apparel (clothing and accessories manufacturer). It included a million dollar liquid cash investment and was highlighted by FORBES Magazine.

 

The initial accomplishments of the brand sparked interest from international superstar, Jason Derulo, whom now serves as Brand Ambassador and Key Investor of LVL XIII. Together they expanded its portfolio and added LVL XIII APPAREL, catering to affluent male millennials.

 

As a humanitarian, Brown spends his time educating and supporting abused youth and giving back to the community through on-site activations and monetary donations. In the past, he’s coordinated various celebrity fashion shows focused on the fight against HIV/AIDS. Many of them were hosted by Angela Simmons, Nene Leakes, K. Michelle and Ro James.

 

Through these engagements, Brown has made notable contributions to both amfAR (a leading organization dedicated to the support of HIV/AIDS research) in the amount of $10,000 and Hero for Children (a non-profit dedicated to improving the quality of life for children infected with and impacted by HIV/AIDS) in the amount of $5,000 – establishing The Antonio Brown Scholarship which contributes to the organization’s summer camp.

 

FUN FACT:

*In 2016, LVL XIII made national headlines when it debuted new apparel and footwear during NYFW at Pier59 Studios.

SUPERPOZE

Paris | Gallery

SUPERPOZE

Exhibition For We The Living (art and music)


For We The Living is imaginary and aesthetic narrative about the upcoming end of the world. Before even launching his musical album, SUPERPOZE, who is known as a singer, musician and music producer, has built a protean and immersive work. This record, and all that surrounds it, comes as a unique experiment – taking root in a fictional archeology work where he gathered plenty of elements, archives, objects, that are now made into an artwork. An installation made of 8 videos, accompanied by a libretto (imagined by the Television art group) surrounds the core of the installation: a piano. The instrument is displayed in the center as an invitation for other musician to come a play live the electronic music tracks of the album in their own way. What is striking is that electronic tunes are made without the usual musical score. SUPERPOZE hence decided to give a posteriori to his music a score. His aim by doing such is double. Firstly, the artist is questioning the process, the archeology and conservation of electronic music. Secondly, it allows others to come and play his music, like it was done with old tunes that anyone could take over and play again and again. This unusual process reveals the composer’s path. People are used to see SUPERPOZE as a musician, with his soft and mystic piano tunes mixed with more raw and edgy electronic sounds. With For We The Living exhibition the artist offers a more tangible and real experience to his music. The show also demonstrates how much comes into the process of a record: from the melodies to the concert, the videos, the libretto, etc. Here the music becomes a more physical experience, even though we live the music in a digital era. Making a bridge between the contemporary art scene and this young music sensation, the exhibition offers a different insight into SUPERPOZE’s world. So many elements cross paths turning it into an unprecedented sensitive experience.

 

Practical Informations

October 14, to november 25

Danysz Gallery

78 rue Amelot, Paris – France

Free access

Superpoze – Analog © DR

Superpoze – Analog © DR


Superpoze – Analog © DR


Danysz Gallery

78 rue Amelot, Paris – France

256 Beijing East Road x Jiangxi Road, Shanghai – Chine

Founded by Magda Danysz, the gallery – Paris, Shanghai, London – is at the heart of the vibrant contemporary art scene.

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​ISSEY MIYAKE  x  UNITED NUDE

​ISSEY MIYAKE  x  UNITED NUDE SPRING SUMMER 2018 SHOES PROJECT For the SS 2018 ISSEY MIYAKE collection a third consecutive shoes project was made with UNITED NUDE. Inspired by ISSEY MIYAKE’s concept – “A Piece of Memory:” Memories of faraway landscapes of Iceland as experienced by the design team serve as the starting point. “Nostalgic recollections never before seen,” guide the exploration and preservation of the dignity of material, while utilizing innovative manufacturing techniques and prove once again the synergy between the two brands.

Introducing two new shoes, the RISE (mid-high geometric heel) and the STEP (fashion sneaker), embody the manifesto of shoes as architecture.

WATCH FULL SHOW

LEILA JEFFREYS —ORNITHURAE

Olsen Gruin and Brooke Shields invite you to the opening of

LEILA JEFFREYS

ORNITHURAE VOLUME 1

Opening: Friday 13 October, 5–8pm
Exhibition continues until 12th November

Leila Jeffreys

Superb Fruit-dove 2017

fine art inkjet print on cotton rag archival paper 

44″ x 35″ (standard size)

55″ x 44″ (large size)

Edition of 25 (standard), 6 (large size)

OLSEN GRUIN is pleased to present “Ornithurae” a new selection of work by the Australian artist, photographer and environmentalist Leila Jeffreys.   

Jeffreys has photographed native birds in her home country and the US (she was personally invited to shoot at Ojai Raptor Center, a sanctuary for wounded birds in California). Her unique work has featured everything from budgies to eagles; wrens to pigeons; cockatoos to hawks.

After noticing how unengaged people seemed to be with birds, she began working on a series of portrait sessions, hoping to portray birds in a way that displayed their incredible beauty and diversity, and to inspire a deeper concern for their well-being. Her first solo exhibition focused on budgies, the ubiquitous family pet. Then, for her next series, she worked alongside wildlife carers to create a series of portraits of wild cockatoos. This was followed by ‘Prey’, which focused on Australia’s hunting birds, and has since worked on numerous shows exhibited around the world. She has also published an illustrated hard cover book in the US, Canada and UK entitled ‘Bird Love’ through Abrams.

During World War II 200 Americans were saved by a note-carrying pigeon that survived Japanese bombardment in New Guinea. Homing pigeons have a very long history of service, reportedly carrying messages for the Moghuls, Crusaders, Romans, Saracens, Egyptian pharaohs and ancient Persians. 

The Reuters media service started out as pigeons carrying stock market prices to and from Brussels. Santa Catalina Island had a pigeon service taking mail to Los Angeles in the 1890s, and Orissa, India, had a police pigeon service that lasted until 2004. All of this was possible because pigeons, when taken somewhere new, even inside a dark box, can reliably find their way home. 

Psychologists take pigeons seriously for their own reasons, respecting them as birds that excel at visual categorisation. Domestic pigeons in experiments have distinguished letters of the alphabet, different emotions on human faces, paintings by Picasso and Monet, and even breast cancer tumours on scans. 

We ought not take pigeons for granted. To pigeonhole them as urban scroungers does them an injustice. Australian bird photographer Leila Jeffreys has taken it on herself to show them as they truly are, as beings with the power to surprise. They are pigeons as we are not used to seeing them, as if our conventional friends, to surprise us, have decked themselves up in party gear. Pigeons were domesticated thousands of years ago, long before chickens or ducks, which makes them the bird on earth to which we have the longest close relationship. Pigeons matter. 

While most street pigeons are as drab as businessmen in suits, the birds of Australasia come dressed as if for a mardi gras, in purples, yellows and other fearless colors. The vivid rainforest fruits they eat have given them an appreciation for colors on each other. Leila will also be exhibiting new works featuring Cockatoos and hundreds of budgerigars in trees to bring ‘Ornithurae’ to life. 

Tim Low ­—author of best-selling book “Where song began’

We would be delighted if you joined us for Leila Jeffrey’s inaugural show at 30 Orchard Street, Friday October 13th, 5-8pm.    

Leila Jeffreys

Cyril Moluccan Cockatoo 2017

fine art inkjet print on cotton rag archival paper 

44″ x 35″ (standard size)

55″ x 44″ (large size)

Edition of 50 (standard), 6 (large size)

olsengruin.com