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Entries tagged with 'Murakami'
Posted Apr. 7, 2008,
Eight Items or Less: Mountain Dew Does Not Prevent Pregnancy, Murakami Merch Does Not Sell High on eBay and Brooklyn Flea Does Not Disappoint
By Gary Pini
1. Florida lawmakers are re-considering their strict "abstinence only" sex-education stance in light of a survey that revealed a high number of the state's teens believe:
-drinking a cup of bleach will prevent HIV
-a shot of Mountain Dew will stop pregnancy
-smoking marijuana will prevent pregnancy
2. Sorry to be so pessimistic, but the speculators that bought Murakami merchandise at last week's Brooklyn Museum opening might want to hold off a bit on the resale. The eBay bids on the limited edition prints (retail $1,000) and framed "denim" samples (retail $6,000) are currently only in the $75 to $100 range. Or maybe they should try Sotheby's new website. According to the Wall Street Journal, it's has been "re-configured for beginner clients."

3. New Kids vs. Jonas Brothers? We're betting on the Brothers.
4. We checked out the new Brooklyn flea market on Sunday (every week @ 176 Lafayette Ave., Fort Greene) and we are happy to report that it was slammin'.
5. Several restaurants in San Francisco have started adding a "health tax" to customer's tabs. The flat fee or percent of the total is in response to a new law that requires employers to pay for employee health insurance or put money into a pool that will cover them.
6. We ran into Conrad Ventur at our Beautiful People party last week and he gave us the latest copy of his Useless newspaper (#7) featuring Brendan Sexton III on the cover shot by Marcelo Krasilcic. FYI: Krasilcic just shot Mary-Louise Parker for the May issue of PAPER.
Posted Apr. 3, 2008,
This Week in Art Openings: David McDermott and Peter McGough, Andy Warhol and Takashi Murakami, James Welling
By Mary Logan Barmeyer
David McDermott and Peter McGough, “Detroit”
In this photograph exhibition collaborative duo and masters of history David McDermott and Peter McGough revisit 1950s suburbia when the automobile ruled. Shot at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, these photographs of retro jukeboxes and Buddy Holly haircuts were set amongst vintage clothing and antique interiors, and developed using a historic color developing process. The people in the photographs may be modern-day models, but this exhibit is totally old school. (Also be sure to check out the duo’s painting exhibition on display until April 26 at Cheim & Read, featuring TV divas of the same era.)
Nicholas Robinson Gallery, 535 W. 20th St., (212) 560-9075. Opening reception Thursday, Apr. 3, 6-8 p.m. Through May 17.
Posted Apr. 3, 2008,
Murakami Sells Real Louis Vuitton Bags on the Street!
By Kim Hastreiter


So tonight is the big Murakami gala opening at the Brooklyn Museum of Art. The show has come here from MOCA. and as in L.A., Louis Vuitton is sponsoring the gala and a "shop." But the most amazing Louis Vuitton idea that Murakami had I read about in WWD this morning. It seems as though the artist is collaborating with LV on an art+commerce piece that is a commentary on FAKES, which as we know, is a huge issue for luxe brands like Vuitton. As part of the exhibit, Murakami and LV will be placing eight "pocketbook" street vendors on the street in front of the museum selling REAL Vuitton bags that were specially designed by Murakami and LV for this particular piece. Of course I am gagging about this and am plotting to go there and get one of these. Isnt that the coolest? Plus HOW AMAZING AND ENLIGHTENED is it that the Vuitton execs agreed to go along with Murakami's preposterous idea of doing this? Ya gotta hand it to them.
Posted Apr. 2, 2008,
Eight Items or Less: Murakami's Sculpture Doesn't Fit into BMA, Queens Is the New Downtown and Day26 Is the New D12
By Gary Pini

1. Woops! The New York Times reports today that an 18-foot-tall sculpture by Japanese artist Murakami wouldn't fit into the Brooklyn Museum of Art and had to been installed in the lobby of 590 Madison Avenue. The art that did fit opens to the public on Saturday.
2. "Downtown has moved to Queens." That's what the owners of a new club in Long Island City are claiming. Robert Prichard and Michael Waldman plan to open a 5,000 square foot venue there this summer. (via the Observer)
3. More Weiland vs. Revolver. He says: "Returning to Stone Temple Pilots will be a stark contrast to playing with a handful of discontents. I think Sebastian Bach would be a fantastic choice for a new Velvet Revolver singer.

4. What CD did people buy this week? The number one LP is by Day26, stars of TV's Making the Band. Statistic freaks will note that the last #1 debut by a male group (2001) had a similar moniker: D12.
5. After PAPER's Beautiful People party tonight, we are going to the Hump (@ Blue Owl, 196 Second Ave.) to hear some jams from the ‘80s and ‘90s spun by DJs Lindsey, Miles and Camp Gabby. We love their flyers designed by Grotesk.
6. If you have money but aren't very creative just call CircleRBrands. The Wall Street Journal reports that this Michigan-based design and branding company has several pre-packaged business concepts available including: Bloomservice "the ultimate package for the floral industry includes registered brand name, logo, 800 phone number and all matching domain names." They aren't selling an existing business, just the name, concept etc. so you'll need your own flowers and arranging skills.
Posted Oct. 29, 2007,
Murakami Loves Vuitton
By Kim Hastreiter

So I just got off the phone with both Rose Apodaca (writer) and Jeffrey Deitch (gallerist) who each attended the most outrageous party of the year: the Louis Vuitton gala opening of the Murakami show in L.A. last night at the MOCA. The big news from both my friends was that Marc Jacobs dyed his hair blue for the occasion. Can you imagine! (Check out Rose Apodaca's photos and read her blog about it all... she's one of my moles!).
This was also the grand opening of the Louis Vuitton pop up Murakami store at the museum... a historical first! Word has it that the shelves are being stripped bare of merchandise and sales are much brisker than anticipated. Deitch told me that the whole shop reminded him of an appropriation not unlike the Prada Marfa shop. He also told me his favorite item in the shop was a piece of customized Murakami Vuitton fabric that was being sold as little pieces of art for 6,000 bucks a pop. He said people were going NUTS for them. Here are some pix from Rose's blog of blue-haired Marc and Trina Turk (an L.A designer) as well as a sick photo of one of the Murakami "girls." Isn't it all amazing?













