Friday, May 30, 2008

The Sun-Blocker Search Continues...



THANKS TO MY WEBMATE DAVID FOR SENDING THESE NEW PICS (Taken near Melrose Place in West Hollywood).

Here at SEANYASHAR.COM, we are always on the search for new photos of sun-blocker walls. With so many different patterns, they're such an abundant source of inpiration for textile design. I'd love to see a whole collection of dresses or t-shirts created around all the different designs that these mid-century concrete blocks come in.

Fashion is rarely inspired by fashion itself. Mid-Century architecture just seems like a natural way to go.

-S

SYI: Check out the original entry about Sun-Blocker walls by clicking the link called SUN-BLOCKERS.

The Sun-Blocker Search Continues...



THANKS TO MY WEBMATE DAVID FOR SENDING THESE NEW PICS (Taken near Melrose Place in West Hollywood).

Here at SEANYASHAR.COM, we are always on the search for new photos of sun-blocker walls. With so many different patterns, they're such an abundant source of inpiration for textile design. I'd love to see a whole collection of dresses or t-shirts created around all the different designs that these mid-century concrete blocks come in.

Fashion is rarely inspired by fashion itself. Mid-Century architecture just seems like a natural way to go.

-S

SYI: Check out the original entry about Sun-Blocker walls by clicking the link called SUN-BLOCKERS.

Monday, May 26, 2008

Helvetica

I don't know how this documentary got passed me?!

Helvetica is a feature-length independent film about typography, graphic design and global visual culture. It looks at the proliferation of one typeface (which will celebrate its 50th birthday in 2007) as part of a larger conversation about the way type affects our lives. The film is an exploration of urban spaces in major cities and the type that inhabits them, and a fluid discussion with renowned designers about their work, the creative process, and the choices and aesthetics behind their use of type. - helveticafim.com

Helvetica encompasses the worlds of design, advertising, psychology, and communication, and invites us to take a second look at the thousands of words we see every day.



This is a MUST for Anyone who is passionate about typography...The trailer alone gets me inspired!

Check out helveticafilm.com for more trailers and such.

-S

SYI: About the Typeface:

Helvetica was developed by Max Miedinger with Eduard Hoffmann in 1957 for the Haas Type Foundry in Münchenstein, Switzerland. In the late 1950s, the European design world saw a revival of older sans-serif typefaces such as the German face Akzidenz Grotesk. Haas' director Hoffmann commissioned Miedinger, a former employee and freelance designer, to draw an updated sans-serif typeface to add to their line. The result was called Neue Haas Grotesk, but its name was later changed to Helvetica, derived from Helvetia, the Latin name for Switzerland, when Haas' German parent companies Stempel and Linotype began marketing the font internationally in 1961.

Introduced amidst a wave of popularity of Swiss design, and fueled by advertising agencies selling this new design style to their clients, Helvetica quickly appeared in corporate logos, signage for transportation systems, fine art prints, and myriad other uses worldwide. Inclusion of the font in home computer systems such as the Apple Macintosh in 1984 only further cemented its ubiquity.

Helvetica

I don't know how this documentary got passed me?!

Helvetica is a feature-length independent film about typography, graphic design and global visual culture. It looks at the proliferation of one typeface (which will celebrate its 50th birthday in 2007) as part of a larger conversation about the way type affects our lives. The film is an exploration of urban spaces in major cities and the type that inhabits them, and a fluid discussion with renowned designers about their work, the creative process, and the choices and aesthetics behind their use of type. - helveticafim.com

Helvetica encompasses the worlds of design, advertising, psychology, and communication, and invites us to take a second look at the thousands of words we see every day.



This is a MUST for Anyone who is passionate about typography...The trailer alone gets me inspired!

Check out helveticafilm.com for more trailers and such.

-S

SYI: About the Typeface:

Helvetica was developed by Max Miedinger with Eduard Hoffmann in 1957 for the Haas Type Foundry in Münchenstein, Switzerland. In the late 1950s, the European design world saw a revival of older sans-serif typefaces such as the German face Akzidenz Grotesk. Haas' director Hoffmann commissioned Miedinger, a former employee and freelance designer, to draw an updated sans-serif typeface to add to their line. The result was called Neue Haas Grotesk, but its name was later changed to Helvetica, derived from Helvetia, the Latin name for Switzerland, when Haas' German parent companies Stempel and Linotype began marketing the font internationally in 1961.

Introduced amidst a wave of popularity of Swiss design, and fueled by advertising agencies selling this new design style to their clients, Helvetica quickly appeared in corporate logos, signage for transportation systems, fine art prints, and myriad other uses worldwide. Inclusion of the font in home computer systems such as the Apple Macintosh in 1984 only further cemented its ubiquity.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Sean Song: "Rose Garden" by Lynn Anderson

A weekly selection from my personal collection.

"Rose Garden" by Lynn Anderson


...Early 70's country is highly underrated.

-S

SYI: Thanks Bo (www.daemundawg.com)

Sean Song: "Rose Garden" by Lynn Anderson

A weekly selection from my personal collection.

"Rose Garden" by Lynn Anderson


...Early 70's country is highly underrated.

-S

SYI: Thanks Bo (www.daemundawg.com)

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

This Land Is Your Land



I love prints
I love typography
I love terrain
+
____________________

= Therefore, I'm certainly digging these cool typographic posters from Ork (designed by Jenny Beorkrem). They're large, simple, and pack a big statment. Very clever and funky, and with the right framing they can even be sophisticated...(sophistafunk some might say).

Only $22

Cities currently available: Boston, Brooklyn, Chicago, Los Angeles, Manhattan, & San Fran

www.orkposters.com

-S

This Land Is Your Land



I love prints
I love typography
I love terrain
+
____________________

= Therefore, I'm certainly digging these cool typographic posters from Ork (designed by Jenny Beorkrem). They're large, simple, and pack a big statment. Very clever and funky, and with the right framing they can even be sophisticated...(sophistafunk some might say).

Only $22

Cities currently available: Boston, Brooklyn, Chicago, Los Angeles, Manhattan, & San Fran

www.orkposters.com

-S

Bruce Nauman


Bruce Nauman, Human/Need/Desire, 1983

Thanks to Don for sending me the name and info for this.

Bruce Nauman


Bruce Nauman, Human/Need/Desire, 1983

Thanks to Don for sending me the name and info for this.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Need VS. Desire


I sneaked a shot of this at the MOMA in NYC a few years back. I don't remember who the artist is, but I adore the piece nontheless.

That would be THE most killer focal point ever for a living room or bedroom. I just think neon signs are sexy to begin with, and the words just make it so intriguing.

-S


SYI: If you know the artist, let me know.

Need VS. Desire


I sneaked a shot of this at the MOMA in NYC a few years back. I don't remember who the artist is, but I adore the piece nontheless.

That would be THE most killer focal point ever for a living room or bedroom. I just think neon signs are sexy to begin with, and the words just make it so intriguing.

-S


SYI: If you know the artist, let me know.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

"Sugar Me" By Lyndsey De Paul

Introducing: Sean Song. A weekly selection from my personal collection.

"Sugar Me" By Lyndsey De Paul.


-S

SYI- "Sugar Me" was a UK top ten hit in 1972

"Sugar Me" By Lyndsey De Paul

Introducing: Sean Song. A weekly selection from my personal collection.

"Sugar Me" By Lyndsey De Paul.


-S

SYI- "Sugar Me" was a UK top ten hit in 1972

Color Wheel


"Miami-based Jen Stark produces intricate, hand-cut paper explosions with an X-Acto knife, glue, and an eye for evolving repetition." - Flavorpill

-S

What's your favorite color? Mine's GREEN.

Color Wheel


"Miami-based Jen Stark produces intricate, hand-cut paper explosions with an X-Acto knife, glue, and an eye for evolving repetition." - Flavorpill

-S

What's your favorite color? Mine's GREEN.

Monday, May 12, 2008

The Sartorialist





For the past couple of years now, I've been a regular at thesartorialist.com. It's a place I go to for a daily dose of inspiration.

For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the website, the Sartorialist is a blog that showcases personal style on the streets of New York, as well as other cities internationally from time to time. In the Sartorialists own words, "I started The Sartorialist simply to share photos of people that I saw on the streets of New York that I thought looked great." "I thought I could shoot people on the street the way designers looked at people, and get and give inspiration to lots of people in the process. "

The Sartorialist is a friendly reminder that fashion & style are two very different things.



SYI- Would you like to see a blog like the Sartorialist that's focused on west coast style? L.A. specifically?

The Sartorialist





For the past couple of years now, I've been a regular at thesartorialist.com. It's a place I go to for a daily dose of inspiration.

For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the website, the Sartorialist is a blog that showcases personal style on the streets of New York, as well as other cities internationally from time to time. In the Sartorialists own words, "I started The Sartorialist simply to share photos of people that I saw on the streets of New York that I thought looked great." "I thought I could shoot people on the street the way designers looked at people, and get and give inspiration to lots of people in the process. "

The Sartorialist is a friendly reminder that fashion & style are two very different things.



SYI- Would you like to see a blog like the Sartorialist that's focused on west coast style? L.A. specifically?

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Sun-Blocker Walls




As you know, I love mid-century design and architecture. Being born and raised in L.A., it seems that the majority of homes were built in that period between the 50's and 60's (post-war, if you will). So, I grew up in a town filled with homes that express early ideas of what modern/the future should look like. A fascination grew.

Interestingly, most of these mid-century homes looked very similar to one another. As a backlash to anything ornate, the mid-century modern facade was prone to be simple in decoration. As the city grew to create suburbia in this era, street upon street of new modern homes looked like clones of one another.

As a youngster, I began to fix my attention on what I thought to be the most unique aspect of a mid-century modern facade.
I would walk past these homes and focus on the decorative concrete walls AKA "sun-blocker walls". A fascination with these walls still holds today. It seems that there are an infinite array of decorative concrete blocks from this era. To me, the sun-blocker walls are art... unique textiles worth highlighting.

With all that said, I'm thinking about finally putting together a book of my favorite "sun-blocker walls" in Los Angeles. The idea is to create an alternative to all the coffee table books about mid-century modern homes. This book will consist of only close-up pics of the sun-blocker walls, and it would highlight the textile design more than the actual home. The idea is also to get published, so what do you guys think? Is this a book that would interest you? Would you pick it up if you saw it on a coffee table?

-S

SYI- I found the pics for this blog entry online... there are much more amazing sun-blocker walls out there in the city. I need to take some snapshots and post them soon. Also, how does one get published?

Sun-Blocker Walls




As you know, I love mid-century design and architecture. Being born and raised in L.A., it seems that the majority of homes were built in that period between the 50's and 60's (post-war, if you will). So, I grew up in a town filled with homes that express early ideas of what modern/the future should look like. A fascination grew.

Interestingly, most of these mid-century homes looked very similar to one another. As a backlash to anything ornate, the mid-century modern facade was prone to be simple in decoration. As the city grew to create suburbia in this era, street upon street of new modern homes looked like clones of one another.

As a youngster, I began to fix my attention on what I thought to be the most unique aspect of a mid-century modern facade.
I would walk past these homes and focus on the decorative concrete walls AKA "sun-blocker walls". A fascination with these walls still holds today. It seems that there are an infinite array of decorative concrete blocks from this era. To me, the sun-blocker walls are art... unique textiles worth highlighting.

With all that said, I'm thinking about finally putting together a book of my favorite "sun-blocker walls" in Los Angeles. The idea is to create an alternative to all the coffee table books about mid-century modern homes. This book will consist of only close-up pics of the sun-blocker walls, and it would highlight the textile design more than the actual home. The idea is also to get published, so what do you guys think? Is this a book that would interest you? Would you pick it up if you saw it on a coffee table?

-S

SYI- I found the pics for this blog entry online... there are much more amazing sun-blocker walls out there in the city. I need to take some snapshots and post them soon. Also, how does one get published?

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Fav Ed Ruscha's



See blog entry below: Wayne White & Ed Ruscha

Fav Ed Ruscha's



See blog entry below: Wayne White & Ed Ruscha

Wayne White & Ed Ruscha





I've been digging Wayne White's work ever since I saw a painting of his hanging at Fred62 in Los Feliz. He takes, cheaply mass produced lithogaphs from thrift stores and painstakingly writes bold typefaces on them in a glossy 3-D style.

The works are very kitschy of course, but I like to think that there's something extra wonderful about the opportunity White envisioned when he began this collection. To recycle neglected art in this way is something I totally respect.

Specifically, what I love about White's works is the similarities to earlier works of Ed Ruscha.

-S

SYI: Wayne White worked as a set designer for Pee Wee's Playhouse, for which he won an Emmy. He has also done the art direction on two seminal music videos, Peter Gabriel's Big Time in 1986 for which he won a Billboard award for best Art Direction in a music video. In 1996 he designed all the Georges Méliès inspired sets for the award winning video for the Smashing Pumpkins, Tonight, Tonight.

Wayne White & Ed Ruscha





I've been digging Wayne White's work ever since I saw a painting of his hanging at Fred62 in Los Feliz. He takes, cheaply mass produced lithogaphs from thrift stores and painstakingly writes bold typefaces on them in a glossy 3-D style.

The works are very kitschy of course, but I like to think that there's something extra wonderful about the opportunity White envisioned when he began this collection. To recycle neglected art in this way is something I totally respect.

Specifically, what I love about White's works is the similarities to earlier works of Ed Ruscha.

-S

SYI: Wayne White worked as a set designer for Pee Wee's Playhouse, for which he won an Emmy. He has also done the art direction on two seminal music videos, Peter Gabriel's Big Time in 1986 for which he won a Billboard award for best Art Direction in a music video. In 1996 he designed all the Georges Méliès inspired sets for the award winning video for the Smashing Pumpkins, Tonight, Tonight.

Friday, May 2, 2008

Newspaper Blackout Poems


Texan cartoonist Austin Kleon blacks out the majority of text in newspaper articles, revealing new poems made from the leftovers.

A new artform is born!

check out Austin's blog to see more of his ingenious work:

http://www.austinkleon.com/category/newspaper-blackout-poems/

-S

Newspaper Blackout Poems


Texan cartoonist Austin Kleon blacks out the majority of text in newspaper articles, revealing new poems made from the leftovers.

A new artform is born!

check out Austin's blog to see more of his ingenious work:

http://www.austinkleon.com/category/newspaper-blackout-poems/

-S