The Coolest girl at the Club.. Lady Miss Kier!!!

Anyone that knows me from back in the days knows that I was a fixture in the NYC nightclubs when going out was fun.. My friends and I would go out EVERYNIGHT..  We were broke, young and full of life,. Drinks were always free, fun was had by all and we met women from all over the world.. It was what MY NEW YORK was all about..  And it was good!! 

 The clubs were amazing!! It was inspirational the way people would take serious time to dress up and whip up some masterful creations. I have always been a t-shirt and jeans type of guy, but I really appreciated the effort and creativity that was put into the scene back in those days!

On any given night this was “the back of the club”… 

 You would be in the same crowd with a Hustler, next to a pimp, next to 6 models next to 4 lawyers, next to 5 B Boys, next to 8 skin heads next to 7 drag queens, next to Mick Jager, next to a homeless dude, next to 15 club kids, next a politician on coke, next to a guy tripping on ecstasy, next to an under aged kid who had just run away, next Linda Evangelista and Veronica Web dancing with 4 homeboys from the South Bronx… And it worked!  It was a huge salad bowl of culture. That’s what I called a NYC club!!

 Before all this table service bullshit that goes on now.. The clubs were about your energy, not about your bottle service,, and back then the only women walking around with Louis Vuitton or Fendi bags in NYC were old hags on 5^th Ave. that had lots money but lacked the creativity… But I digress!!!

THE GARAGE, DANCERTERIA, AREA THE WORLD, THE TUNNEL, RED ZONE, MARS, QUICK, LIMELITE SAVE THE ROBOTS AND MANY MANY MORE!!!

 Although I met hundreds of people while I worked for Michael Alig at Project x magazine( I’ll get into that in another blog post), there’s one person that till this day I can still see dancing circles in my head.. She was the coolest and one of the most stylish women I had ever met. She danced all night, was always smiling, glowing and just basically leaving me breathless with her style and energy..     

Ladies and Gentlemen,,, Lady Miss Kier:  “The Coolest Girl at the Club”..

Kirby was born in Youngstown, Ohio and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She spent time in Virginia Beach, Virginia where she attended Kempsville High School, and Washington, D.C., before finally settling in New York City in 1982, at the age of 19 to pursue a career in fashion design. In New York she attended FIT to study textile design, but dropped out after a short time. She supported herself as a waitress, a bartender, a coat checker, a bathroom attendant, a go-go dancer, and an art gallery receptionist; continuing to study and work at designing on her own. In this early period as a club kid she prepared a performance art window piece for the nightclub “Area” and received First Prize.[1]

It was in New York’s Washington Square Park that a mutual friend introduced her to Dmitry Brill, a Ukrainian refugee and amateur D.J. The two started dating, and moved in together in an apartment in Williamsburg, Brooklyn from 1984 to 1989. During that time, the two with third member Towa Tei formed the band Deee-Lite and soon broke onto the world-wide music scene. Following almost 10 years of touring and performing, the band officially disbanded in 1994, following the end of Kirby and Brill’s tumultuous romantic relationship.

Kirby had long been interested in art and design. Despite a lack of formal training, her artistic and design talents have been widely recognized, and she has lectured at several programs, including Princeton University and Cooper Union Art Institute. However, she is more well known for her writing skills, one of the major reasons behind the success of Deee-lite’s music. Besides her lyrical works, her poetry has been included in such publications as the spoken word collection “Verbal Abuse.”

Throughout her career, Kirby has been a vocal activist on the political front, specifically protesting against the Iraq War, social inequality and environmental issues. In addition, she has been very involved in the gay rights movement, which has garnered her loyal following in the gay community

I always considered her the empress of style and master of cool..  For more info please visit: http://www.ladykier.com/

TRIPLE FIVE SOUL BLACK FRIDAY SALE..

“Who Shot Rock & Roll”..

The Brooklyn Museum rocks out with a new exhibit , “Who shot Rock & Roll”.

The term “rock ‘n’ roll” has always referred to more than just the music. Its sonic oomph — personified in images of our teenage crushes and all-time idols, whether it’s Elvis gyrating his hips or Kurt Cobain thrashing his guitar — make up the other half of the picture. Photo historian and curator Gail Buckland understood the impact of this imagery and, together with the Brooklyn Museum, collected 175 photographs — some iconic and some rarely seen — by 104 photographers, for a show capturing artists ranging from Wilson Pickett to Amy Winehouse, titled “Who Shot Rock & Roll: A Photographic History, 1955 to the Present.” The exhibition is accompanied by a book of the same name, and a Henry Diltz close-up of Tina Turner — looking beatific with beads of sweat running down her face — graces the cover and awesomely sums up the sentiment. 

For many, “Who Shot Rock & Roll” will bring back fond (or “altered”) memories of their first college dorm (Bob Marley, anyone?), first concert or first obsession with a band. In addition to celebrating these rock icons, the show and the book pay homage to the photographers themselves, who clocked countless hours chasing those golden, immortalizing moments. “These photographs embody euphoric ecstasy, rebellion and revolution,” says Buckland, who’s been a rock-ophile since seeing Elvis Presley in concert when she was eight years old. “I’m just glad to be sharing them. Rock ‘n’ roll has been a great unifier of generations. It’s quite magical.”

“Who Shot Rock & Roll” runs through jan. 31st at the Brooklyn Museum.

(clockwise from above) William “PoPsie” Randolph, “Jimi Hendrix and Wilson Pickett”; Max Vadukul, “Amy Winehouse”‘; Ian Dickson, “The Ramones”; Henry Diltz, “Tina Turner”

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN TRAINS TALKED..

FROSTY FREEZE FOREVER!!!!

This page would not be complete without a serious mention and tribute to Wayne ‘ Frosty Freeze” Frost.

He was a B-Boy, Graffiti Artist, Hip Hop Historian, an original member of The Rock Steady Crew and Zulu Nation. Frosty was known for his comedic, acrobatic and inventive style. He is World Famous and considered by many as a B’boys B’Boy!!  Always funky fresh with style charisma and moves that would leave everyone with their mouths wide open.  That was Frosty!!

I met Frosty way back in like 1981 through our mutual friend, TAKE ONE from Rock Steady Crew. It was a very brief encounter. He said whats up, borrowed my Pilot and we took a few tags together on the 96 Street 1 train station.

TAKE ONE, FREEZE RSC  and MEC ONE (me). Damn I wish there were digital cameras back in the dayz!!!

Life and time kept moving ahead, soon after that The skinny dude with the afro (Frosty) was everywhere!! He was featured in movies such as Flashdance, Wild Style, Style Wars and The Freshest Kids and also appeared on the cover of The Village Voice . He was featured in early hip hop music videos such as Afrika Bambaataa and The Soulsonic Force’s “Planet Rock” and Malcolm McLaren’s “Buffalo Gals. Frosty Freeze had become world-famous.

You see, when all this was happening most of us were living in the moment. We didn’t know that this thing called hip hop would develope into this conglomerate where people drive Bentley’s, their houses are featured on MTV cribs and kids in Germany would be reciting lyrics from Melly Mel 25 years after he wrote it.. Fucking crazy!!

Years later I was chillen with my boy PSYCHO TC-5, we lived on the same block and were childhood friends so from time to time we’d hit the streets together looking for whatever came our way. On this particular day we ended up in Harlem, met up With JON ONE who just so happened to be chillen with MR. FROSTY FREEZE himself.. It was my first time meeting JON and now my second time meeting Frosty.. He obviously didn’t remember me, by this time he had traveled the world been in like five films, countless documentaries and was respected worldwide. So believe me, I wasn’t trippin.. I was just happy to be there with 3 of the realist motherfuckers in the game.

We all ended up going to one of the projects staircases on Frosty’s block and did what teenage kids did back in the days.. Smoked weed, drank a 40 and talked about trains and hip hop.. That night Jon One put me down with the  156 crew and we became life long friends.

Again, life and the ticking of time keeps moving.  From time to time I would see Frosty at the Roxy or in some block party, or even at some Hip hop or graff event.  We’d always show Love, talk for a few minutes, laugh ( HE WAS ALWAYS LAUGHING) and just basically talked about ART, MUSIC, B BOYS &  NEW YORK CITY LIFE..  That was Frosty!!

No matter what was going on in his life Frosty always had a smile, always had something funny to say and always and I mean ALWAYS gave Love.. Love to Hip Hop, Love to his friends and Love to NYC  culture..  I would  be a liar if I were to say that we were ever really close, but there are certin people that leave a life long impact in your life and to me FROSTY FREEZE is one of them,,,

RIP MY BROTHER..  I WILL NEVER FORGET YOU!!!

 

Video by  POP MASTER FABEL..ROCK STEADY CREW..

\

Art Times have Changed!!

Between Graff artist, Wheat pasters, street art, artist blogs, websites like Wooster collective and People like Leopold Vasquez from Sound of Art, conventional galleries are struggling hard to maintain their cache as the once go- to venues for art consumption or to find the “next big thing”.

In the last few years I’ve been moved a lot further by art on the streets or unconventional spaces rather than any white walled elitist gallery in a hood can’t afford ever can..

Long gone are the days of Leo Castelli , Marry Boone or even Bruno Bischofberger  landing in NY with a suitcase full of money ready to pluck a NYC kid from obscurity and into “ ART STAR STARDOM”..

It’s back to the streets my friends and I love it!!  Case in point,,  “MISSBUGS”!!!  Whenever I have the honor of setting my eyes on a freshly pasted piece from MissBugs I stop dead in my tracks and stare in awe..

She is my new, NEW THING..    For more:  www.missbugs.com

 

 

Damn!!!!  It’s been very Long since Iv’e updated the blog..  I guess there wasnt much to say!!

Anyway here is a sneek peek at Triple Five Soul’s Spring Collection..

TRIPLE FIVE SOUL SPRING 2010

COLLECTION OVERVIEW

Triple Five Soul takes a definitive stance in celebrating it’s twentieth anniversary with an untraditionally concise Spring 2010 collection.  For the first time in many years, the brand is not only retracing its famed, classic era foundation of intelligently-utilitarian apparel, but updating it to today’s highest streetwear aesthetic.  A new cohesion between the Men’s and Ladies’ lines finds both in a more direct synchronicity of design, fabrication and treatment than has ever existed previously, with all styles expressing a shared focus on all of the original tricked out design elements of the brand’s golden era.

Men’s Spring 2010 Collection

Consisting of two small deliveries of 22 skus apiece (dropping 1/25 and 2/25, respectively), the Spring 2010 Men’s Collection incorporates fabrications like oxford wovens, lightweight sweater, pigment/overdyed knit polos, 12oz denim jeans, Triple Five’s classic cargo in ottoman fabrication, screenprinted French terry, heathered French terry, Chambrey, pique polos, classic soft nylon.

Key styles include a focus on a tonal, neo-tigerstripe camouflage, a stonewashed vintage 80’s denim collection (jeans and shirts as well as a jacket and vest), graphic screened crewnecks and colored heather knit tops, as well as clever designs that incorporate Oxford gingham and oversized plaid wovens, along with Oxford shorts with printed tigerstripe camo underpockets. The Men’s collection revolves around a color palette that includes the aforementioned tigerstripe camo, a preppy lavander, oxford blue, an antique/military antique bronze, denim in both rinse indigo and vintage stonewash.

For more information on the Spring 2010 Collection, please contact Milton Castro

Milton Castro

Corporate Sales

Milton Castro

29 West 36^th street ( 3^rd Floor)

NY NY 10018

212-871-3615 – office

mcastro@osaus.com

Ryan McGinness Renaissance @ Deitch Prpjects

 

Ryan McGinness is about to take the normative rules of engagement to an exponential level of assault. First up are two tasty new books for his product-hungry fans – No Sin/No Future (Ginko Press), and the bound, two-volume package, Aesthetic Comfort (Arkitip). Next comes the concurrent presentation of a major exhibition of his latest paintings and sculptures at Deitch Projects, and a volume of his hybridized graphic-art achievements taken from the past three years (Rizzoli) — both aptly titled Ryan McGinness Works. The Deitch exhibition includes a monumental mural grid of 45 individuated panels, bent laser-cut acrylic sculptures, a stunning suite of seven color spectrum paintings, the mesmeric black on black monochromes and a black-light installation that amps up his most eye-poking fluorescents to a psychedelic frenzy.

Having fully embraced the ornate over the concise, once a primary characteristic of his art, McGinness continues to push the experiential dimensions of installation while investigating the modular and serial dynamics of the multiple. “I choose the restriction of formalism to create a kind of design problem-solving in my art,” he admits, “but working on the computer where there is no original drawing and everything is infinitely scalable, reproducible and re-combinative, I’ve also become interested in the overlap between the production and reproduction of art.” If anyone can translate that overlap in visual terms, it’s McGinness.

Ryan McGinness, Imaginary Happiness, 

 

2008, acrylic on linen, 72 x 72 inches, Courtesy Deitch Projects, New York

“Ryan McGinness Works.” opens at Deitch Projects (18 Wooster St.) on Mar. 7, 2009.

PROJECT VEGAS FEB 09

What’s up peeps!!

So as many of you may know I attend the  Project show twice a year to pimp out the latest fashions for Triple Five Soul.  This year was a little different due to some changes at 555 soul so I actually went on a freelance assignment for  Select Showroom.. ( Thanks Joey!!)

Being that the economy is in bad shape and  the fashion industry has taken a major hit since people are just not spending money like before, I thought it was going to be a slow show..  Boy was I mistaken!!!

Project Vegas was AMAZING this year,, the energy, buyers and the whole fashion industry as a whole seemed very strong and vibrant.  Whatever the reason,, CHANGE, buyer confidence or the industry just basically climbing out it’s hole, it was fantastic to see everyone smiling buying and enjoying this new found energy that was Project Vegas.

Check out some pictures below,, NO PARTY PICS THOUGH!    I was sick a few day before flying out and was on a 10 day antibiotic regimen.. I DID NOT ATTEND 1 SINGLE PARTY,,,,  IN VEGAS!!!!!   ughhhhhhh…  All good, I caught up on some well needed rest,, In Vegas of all places! But I digress..

POSTER BOY…

 

I just got word from my boy Ferm about this…  I LOVE IT  AND WANT MORE…    (Thanks Ferm)

A YouTube video in which guerilla subway artist Poster Boy all but thumbs his nose at cops as he slices and dices platform ads played a role in his downfall last week, investigators said.

Law-enforcement sources said transit detectives watched the 1-min. 45-second digital video on Jan. 1, in which the artist, now identified as Henry Matyjewicz, transplanted a giant demon face from a Subway restaurant ad onto the face of actress Toni Collette.

“It’s good, because you’re almost killing two birds with one razor,” Matyjewicz, 27, is heard to say on the video, taken inside the Fulton Street G train station in Fort Greene. “You’re taking on these ads that are everywhere, and you’re creating something a little more creative.”

  He is currently  Free on $750 bail!!

The YouTube piece was one of several Web sites transit cops used to follow Poster Boy’s work over the past six months. Some 200 samples of his work can also be seen on his Flickr.com page.

But because Matyjewicz does not reveal his identity in the video – and wears a bandana over the lower portion of his face – investigators were still at a loss as to how to bring him in.

An anonymous tip led them to a showing of his work at a SoHo loft last Friday, where investigators quickly figured out who he was when they overheard him talking about his work.

Law-enforcement sources said Matyjewicz told investigators that he “didn’t see cutting out posters as a crime.”

Check out the vid…