trends in trade

A TOUCH OF CRASH

Women's fashion and incessant worry over the plummeting stock market. Pretty much my life.

'Ich bin ein Berliner

Earlier today while Barack Obama gave his "We are the World" speech before a sea of nearly 200,000 Germans in Berlin, John McCain ate cream puffs at Schmidt's Sausage Haus und Restaurant in Columbus, Ohio.

banksy

He has depicted Queen Elizabeth II as a chimpanzee, tagged the West Bank border fence, and even sneaked his own Mona Lisa into the Louvre. Twenty years of work has caused Banksy to become a household name in the world of street art - all the while preserving his anonymity. Unfortunately, the on-going game of intrigue seems to be over. A photograph taken in 2004- including photographer Peter Dean Rickards- supposedly reveals Banksy as Robin Gunningham, a 34-year-old Bristol, England native. His elusiveness added to the themes of social injustice and hierarchies of power, which were a focal point in his art. Personally, I'm a little pissed that the mystery seems to be solved for good this time. Part of me is hoping this is just another "false" Banksy, but if not, then congratulations Robin Gunningham for climbing the bright shiny ladder of commercial success without a first or last name.

fur is dead

el topo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPnZ4_OFNmg&feature=related

I've realized recently that I have a growing interest in things (art, buildings, clothing, etc) that are aesthetically "bizarre". In addition to "El Topo", I'd really like to see "The Holy Mountain". Both are eccentric, groteqsue, and directed by Alexandro Jodorowsky.

ben weiner

About a month ago, a friend sent me a link to artist Ben Weiner and I immediately fell in love. He creates hyperrealistic oil paintings of close-up real life environments. His work is on exhibit at the Mark Moore Gallery in Santa Monica, and has been featured in various shows around New York City. http://www.benweiner.com/