In Bombay Beach…Life is a habit…

Had the pleasure of seeing a preview of this documentary-record-cum-drama last night followed by a Q&A with director Alma Har’el at the wonderful Lexi Cinema. With dreamlike musical elements describing a small community on the fringes of the lost American dream, and the dreamers who populate its surreal and poetic landscape. Bombay Beach is one of the poorest communities in southern California located on the shores of the Salton Sea, a man-made sea stranded in the middle of the Colorado desert that was once a beautiful vacation destination for the privileged and is now a pool of dead fish. Alma Har’el tells the story of three protagonists. The trials of Benny Parrish, a young boy diagnosed with bipolar disorder whose troubled soul and vivid imagination create both suffering and joy for him and his complex and loving family.  The story of CeeJay Thompson, a black teenager and aspiring football player who has taken refuge in Bombay Beach hoping to avoid the same fate of his cousin who was murdered by a gang of youths in Los Angeles; and that of Red, an ancient survivor, once an oil field worker, living on the fumes of whiskey, cigarettes and an irrepressible love of life. Together these portraits form a triptych of manhood in its various ages and guises, in a gently hypnotic style that questions whether they are a product of their world or if their world is a construct of their own imaginations. The narratives are interspersed with choreographed sequences in which the protagonists dance — to music specially composed for the film by Zach Condon of the band Beirut and songs by Bob Dylan. Really encapsulating stuff. definitely worth checking out when it goes cinema wide on Friday. You can see where and when the film is showing by checking out the Bombay Beach site here.

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The right one….

“The Right One” is taken from Phenomenal Handclap Band’s new album Form and Control which is released on 13th February. Disco nice-ness.

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Minimal Marvel…. The art of Marko Manev

I really dig how Marko Manev can strip icons to their barest elements and still be recognisable to the mass audience. He has created a series of minimalist Marvel posters, which includes icons such as Spider-Man, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, The Thing, Silver Surfer, and more. For more of his work check his website here! Shouts to Juxtapoz for the heads up!

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Artist of the day…Liam Brazier

Liam Brazier is an illustrator who uses the combination of blocky geometric style and less rigid, traditional hand drawn work styles. Great colour combinations coupled with comic and commercial subject choices make these pieces dope.

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Star Wars…Journey to the BARK side…

Journey to the Bark side continues the huge success of VW’s ‘The Force’ spot last year. This gem comes courtesy of the Deutsch LA agency.

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Artist of the day…. Pavel Puhov

Introducing Street artist Pavel Puhov of Russia. He has a knack for turning common structures like bridges, walls, and street lamps into places for art.

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Futura Expansions…..

NYC-based graffiti and fine artist FUTURA 2000’s newest solo show, Futura 2012—Expansions, is currently rocking at Paris’ Galerie Jerome de Noirmont. Here is the new video produced in conjunction with the exhibition, a slick piece created by Guillotine. From Futura himself, “EXPANSIONS … is the thème of the recent artwork presented at the Galerie Jérôme de Noirmont. Over the past three décades, I have tried to define a style & technique that would separate my work, from the other artists within my subculture. the process has allowed me to explore the realm of the ABSTRACT and spontaneous.”

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Never Forget…..

Jheeeez and bread. Lianne La Havas has been on the PinBoard radar for a little while now and its nice to see a new video offering for ‘Forget’ which was one of the standout tracks from her ‘Live In LA’ EP she was giving away. Really looking forward to seeing her live in the coming months, all her dates at the Social and the Scala are now sold out affairs…expect lots from this young lady, and to hook up with the likes of Shlohmo and TIP for the remix duties..thats a good look right there. My gaaaaarsh.

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The Thursday throwback…..

Considering that I have to sit through a double parents evening at school tonight I thought this was an apt track. Classic bizz from those Leaders Of The New School. Dope dance moves, heavyweight flow. They don’t make them like they used to.

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How many plastic people does it take?…..

Those plastic toy figures left on the floor by children all throughout the world are finally getting put to good use. Korean designer Do Ho Suh knows a thing or two about design. The Korean born artist studied oriental painting at the Seoul National University before moving to the U.S. to receive a BFA in painting from Rhode Island School of Design and MFA in sculpture from Yale University. In his latest ‘Floor’ installation, Do Ho Suh took a common toy and transformed it into a practical piece of art. The ‘Floor’ installation consists of thousands of multicolored plastic toy figures holding up a large glass plate that can hold the weight of people across the glass. Dope.

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