A great feature about the evolution of Spike Jonze at GQ.
An excerpt:
"There seems no easy explanation for Spike Jonze’s speedy rise, as it is usually told, from BMX kid to skateboard photographer to innovative music videographer (the Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage,” Weezer’s “Buddy Holly,” Fatboy Slim’s “Praise You”) to filmmaker. Jonze gives me the impression that he was a somewhat aimless high school student with no clear ambitions. Whether through modesty or his aversion to sharing, Jonze may be underplaying how early he blossomed. When I call his old photography teacher, Frank Stallings—the one school inspiration Spike mentions—Stallings paints a vivid picture of a small Mohawked boy who struggled academically but was inventive and popular and highly motivated, often away riding on BMX tours but already obsessed with filmmaking. “He ate and slept video,” says Stallings. “He was just so talented. I didn’t need to teach him.” In fact, Stallings says, a short film Jonze made and acted in back then won both county and state film competitions."
Read the complete feature here.
Thanks Linds.
The Evolution of Spike Jonze
Watch: Deathbowl to Downtown: The Evolution of Skateboarding in New York City
The trailer for the upcoming documentary. Watch for a very young Mark Gonzales, long before he took the art world by storm.
Before they were famous: Spike Jonze, Mark Gonzales, Jason Lee, + Danny Way
In eager anticipation of Where the Wild Things Are, I'd like to show you Spike Jonze's roots in film making. This video is from 1990 and was shot by Spike in the streets of Paris for the then newly formed skate company Blind. It features the now acclaimed contemporary artist Mark Gonzales, Jason Lee (before he became Earl), and skate legend Danny Way. Spike remains close to the skate industry and still continues to direct skate videos to this day:
Now, almost 2 decades later, Spike Jonze's latest work is only a couple of weeks away:
Damien Hirst for Supreme: "I want them to be ridden"
Damien Hirst's collaboration with Supreme sold out instantly at Supreme's galleries and online. Originally priced at $88, these decks now command thousands of dollars on eBay, and will certainly make their way to the auction houses in the future (as Wright and Phillips de Pury have featured Supreme decks in the past).
"In his partnership with the skateboard makers, Hirst--who previously created a popular clothing line through Levi's--has joined a whitehot roster of artists who have produced decks through Supreme, including Murakami, Christopher Wool, Marilyn Minter, and Richard Prince (ed note: don't forget Jeff Koons, Larry Clark, Kaws, and Peter Saville). But if you're lucky enough to land one of his paint-splattered creations, don't hang it on your wall. "I hate that more than anything," Hirst says in the Supreme-distributed video below. "I want them to be ridden.""
Easy to say for the artist who closed a $200 Million sale at Sotheby's (in the midst of the recession no less). Despite my 20-year love for the sport, the video makes me cringe with every scrape, grind, and pop.
Via Art We Love
Listen: Coconut Records : Any Fun: directed by Mark Gonzales
Any Fun - Coconut Records - Music Video
Co-starring Chloe Sevigny.
Via Pedestrian
Spaces: Jon Liu + Laura Rule: London
Todd Selby visits the home of hairstylist Jon Liu and Laura Rule, art director for Another Magazine. Their collection includes a vintage deco teak bar cabinet, various vintage 70s modernist lamps, a Mark Gonzales "The Priest" Sculpture, "Joy Division" and "Blue Monday" Peter Saville commissioned skateboard decks by Supreme, and a Terry Richardson commissioned calendar also for Supreme. But it is Laura's incredible shoe collection that takes the cake.
"Jon and Laura have one of the best cars in the East End of London, a Ford Capri 1600 GT in a beautiful pearlescent baby blue. Laura also has one of the craziest shoe collections I have ever seen. She has a pair of boots from Tom Ford's last collection at Gucci, the Eiffel Tower YSL shoes and so many more.
Their home is in a refurbished factory space, there is a large open area with one private room. That room used to be their bedroom, but now it is filled with shoes! Until Laura pulled out the shoes for this shoot I do not think Jon had realized how extensive her shoe collection really was."
Via The Selby
Mark Gonzales in Paris
Before being embraced by the contemporary art world, Mark's first medium was the street, and his brush was his board. His love for skating has never faded, and the romance continues to this day.
Via Color Magazine.
Favorite Picks: Wright: Post War + Contemporary Art
Favorite picks from the upcoming June 4th auction:
A motorized sculpture by Julio Le Parc
Collapsible Jitterbug Atom sculpture by R. Buckminster Fuller
Andy Warhol's $1
Marilyn Minter limited edition skateboard decks for Supreme
Photos by Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin
David Lachapelle photo of Helena Christiansen
Painting by Barry McGee.
See the full online preview here.
Fresh Finds: Gino Sarfatti, Harvey Guzzini, James Mont, Christopher Wool
A pair of molded and perforated plywood chairs in the style of RUSSEL WRIGHT and PIERRE JEANNERET.
Limited edition commissioned skateboard decks by CHRISTOPHER WOOL for SUPREME.
A pair of painted side tables in the style of JAMES MONT and KARL SPRINGER.
A rare GUZZINI Art 4000 table lamp.
A fine brass and perforated steel floor lamp attributed to GINO SARFATTI (most likely an ARTELUCE for LIGHTOLIER collaboration).
All via Modern Love.
Saturday@Phillips : Favorite Picks
Favorite picks from the upcoming April 25th art and design auction at Phillips.
An amazing BERT STERN Marilyn Monroe digital print, from his 1962 The Last Sitting for Vogue.
PAUL TUTTLE lounge chair.
ARNE JACOBSEN's Egg chair with ottoman.
A rare VERNER PANTON Living Tower.
Limited edition CHRISTOPHER WOOL decks for Supreme
Pieces by BARRY MCGEE, ED TEMPLETON, AND NECKFACE.
See the full preview here.
Phillips de Pury : Saturday@Phillips : Favorite Picks
A few favorite offerings from the upcoming March 14th Sale. This is actually an abbreviated list, an incredible amount of art and design to lust after in this particular sale:
JEAN PROUVE bench
Three Chompers by KAWS
WON JU LIM plexiglass light sculpture
Supreme skateboard decks designed by KAWS
ROBERT INDIANA LOVE rug
Swedish Flag by JEFFREY VALLANCE
Walnut and Brass side table attributed to CESARE LACCA
EERO SAARINEN Womb settee
Pair of STILNOVO floor lamps
Pair of lounge chairs by RINO VERNUCCIO
Lemon and Album by MELANIE SCHIFF
STUDIO GAVINA's Omaggio Ad Andy Warhol stool
A suite of 4 works by SHEPARD FAIREY
A hardcover Index Book by ANDY WARHOL
JOEL TAUBER's My Lonely Tree
The full catalog is here.
