Hustler of Culture

LA - Peter Trummer: The Aggregated Figure and Its Unfolding Ground (02.22.12)

02.22.12 | SCI-Arc, W.M. Keck Lecture Hall
Peter Trummer: The Aggregated Figure and Its Unfolding Ground

Wednesday, February 22, 7pm
W. M. Keck Lecture Hall
Intro by Hsinming Fung

Peter Trummer is Professor and Head of the Institute for Urban Design & Spatial Planning at the University of Innsbruck. He was Head of the Associative Design Program at the Berlage Institute in Rotterdam from 2004 to 2010. Trummer practiced architecture with UN Studio before establishing his own firm in 2001. He is currently writing his doctoral thesis on "population thinking in architecture." He lectures, teaches and is invited as a critic at the Berlage Institute, Architectural Association, University for Applied Arts in Vienna, IAAC, SCI-Arc, University of Pennsylvania and Rice University. Recently he has published Essays in AD, Arch+, Hunch, Volume and Manifold.

"Ludwig Hilbereimer has argued that a single building is no longer an 'object,' but only the place in which the assemblage of single cells assumes physical form. The intent of this lecture is to argue that from the viewpoint of urban flow of capital, the disciplinary problem being to understand any urban figure as an aggregation of inhabited cells. The lecture will demonstrate this thesis on several design projects developed within the last six years."

Buff Monster at the DTLA Standard Hotel

Buff Monster recently painted the wall outside of the downtown Standard Hotel and here's what he had to say about it:

I first worked with The Standard back in 2006 I believe, when I did an installation at the Hollywood location. They didn’t have this wall Downtown back then. Anyway, I drew a little sketch, packed up my trusty Scion xB, called Tim to come down and help me, called Dan from 33third to do video (33third.com sells spray paint, and you’ll get 10% off your order by entering code BUFFMONSTER). I called some friends in the media, and got to work. I spent two days working on the wall and I’m really happy with how it turned out. My dad, who is facing 24 years in federal prison, even came by to help paint (More on my dad, and progress photos of the wall, on Rob’s post on The Hundreds). The Standard even made a signature Buff Monster dessert which will be on the menu until my wall comes down (towards the end of Feb).

Looking forward to visiting the mural next time I'm in downtown LA!

Hermès Flagship Store Launch

Signal | Noise worked with the Swiss design agency Unit, a multi-creative platform, on two interactive experiences for Hermès's flagship store in Geneva. The result: a sexy, Daft Punkish-table I'd like to work at. Hoteliers! I'm pretty sure people would linger at this bar a long while or even better, clients would enjoy flirting with one another from across the lightstreams.

More about the project from Signal:

The event was held at the Musee D'Art et D'Histoire, Geneva, in two of it's main exhibition halls.

The theme for the evening was the meeting of handcraft and technology, in the first room we created an iPad application which invited guests to leave their hand print on the evening. When they placed their hand on the iPad a stylised animated sequence 'scanned' their hand and projected it as part of a composite Hermès logo on the end wall of the space.

For the second room, we designed and built a six metre interactive monolith interwoven with "digital stitches" - arrays of infra-red sensors and LEDs, which allowed guests to create and control strips of light in the minimal, high-gloss surface. In turn users' gestures also controlled large projections of iconic Hermès images projected in the space.

Ice Cube Celebrates The Eames

Eames Demetrios shared this short film with me earlier today. I was excited for its launch. I've never seen a rapper/actor talk about mid-century modern design with so much gusto. Of course, the local knows what's up.

Ice Cube walks around Case Study House #8 aka the Eames House dropping knowledge about the dynamic Eames duo. Classic. I love his remark, "Each freeway [in LA] has its own personality... the 405 -- "bougie" traffic. The 110, haha, that's gangster traffic right there!" Ice Cube comparing music sampling to how the Eames built is fantastic: "You know taking something that already exists and making it something special -- you know, kind of like sampling."

Celebrate the era that continues to inspire the world. More at pacificstandardtime.org. More Eames on HOC: http://bit.ly/HOCeames

"Art in the Streets: The Murals Project"

Art in the Streets project for Vanity Fair, Cadillac and MOCA with Shepard Fairey, Kenny Scharf and RETNA from sage seb on Vimeo.

Check out this dope teaser video by Sage Seb of "Art in the Streets: The Murals Project". Following the MOCA street art exhibition, friends Shepard Fairey, Kenny Scharf and RETNA took their art back to the streets. Congrats to all three!

Hey Angelenos, if you want to sneak a peek, the murals are located at the West Hollywood Library.

Hirsuta: Rawhide- The New Shingle Style Exhibition Discussion (07.29.11)

 

Exhibition Discussion and Opening Reception

Friday, July 29, 7pm, SCI-Arc Gallery

Hirsuta: Rawhide- The New Shingle Style

Jason Payne and Eric Owen Moss discuss Rawhide, which will be on view through September 11, 2011.

Opening reception to follow the discussion.
 

Lectures and discussions are broadcast live online at http://www.sciarc.edu/live

The SCI-Arc Gallery is open to the public daily from 10am-6pm.
Parking and admission are free. No reservations are required.
Building entrance and parking lot are located at 350 Merrick Street, between 4th Street and Traction Avenue.
Southern California Institute of Architecture, 960 East 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013

PAS House

Etnies' founder/owner, Pierre-André Senizergues' ambitious plans to build a completely skateable home in Malibu are under way. I've seen a few skate-centric homes before where parts of the house were skateable. But I've never seen a home that was 100% built for skating. More info:

Imagine a city of the future where skateboards are used as the primary form of transportation and recreation – in and out of your home. A utopia city for skateboarders would mean that a skateable path, like a ribbon connecting everything together, links each building in an unending ability to keep in motion on your board. The PAS House takes this concept and brings it to life through an architectural project mixing a modern single family home with a skateboard ramp structure – all from an environmentally-driven perspective.

LMPP's Dogtown Digs

Here's a sneak peek at Lulu's Dogtown digs (it was totally inspired by our surf/skate neighborhood and all the outsider artists we know). I'm not exactly sure what constitutes a nursery, but I guess it's that too. Lulu's room has been a work in progress for over a year and we finally finished it this week. While there are still a few things to tweak, it's pretty much done now. I've never seen another room like it and I'm stoked with how it's turned out.

If you follow the kick ass kid's shelter blog, ohdeedoh, they'll be profiling it soon. I'm also trying to catalog everything in her room for a future post, but since some of you have been following the room's progress, I thought you'd enjoy a look now.

Thank you to all our artist pals for the art on her wall and to all our friends for picking up such unique gifts for Lulu. It goes without saying that our kid is loved and one lucky little gal!

Ghibli World of Minecraft

I am so grateful that there are some people with lots and lots and lots of free time on their hands! Someone loves Hayao Miyazaki very much! [Thanks to Mike Steel for this amazing clip!]

Unplggd's Behind The Blog: Souris Hong-Porretta of Hustler of Culture

If you ever wondered where I worked in my boxer shorts, here you go. [Thanks to Gregory and the Apartment Therapy crew for the love!]

Pasadena - JPL Open House (05.14.11 - 05.15.11)

JPL Open House

Dates: Saturday and Sunday, May 14 and 15, 2011
Time: 9am-5pm both days
Admission and parking are free

This popular event celebrates JPL's accomplishments with exhibits and demonstrations about the Laboratory's ongoing research and space exploration. Many of the Lab's scientists and engineers are on hand to answer questions about how spacecraft are sent to other planets, how scientists utilize space technologies to explore Earth and how researchers are searching for planets beyond the solar system.

The Open House is a fun and educational experience for children too, with special hands-on activities designed for kids. Admission and parking are free.

The following items are not permitted at this NASA/JPL Event: weapons, explosives, incendiary devices, dangerous instruments, alcohol, illegal drugs, pets, segways, and all types of skates including skateboards. No bags, backpacks or ice chests are allowed, with the exception of small purses and diaper bags.

Your entry on NASA/JPL property constitutes your agreement that you, your vehicles and your personal belongings are subject to inspection.

JPL is located at 4800 Oak Grove Drive in Pasadena, off the 210 (Foothill) Freeway at the Berkshire Avenue/Oak Grove Drive exit. Parking is available near the Oak Grove main gate and the eastern boundary of JPL, accessible from Windsor Avenue via the Arroyo Boulevard exit off the 210 Freeway.

Swoon and Upper Playground Present: The Walki Print for The Konbit Shelter Project

Swoon and Upper Playground Present:
The Walki Print for The Konbit Shelter Project

New York based artist, Swoon, has teamed with creative lifestyle brand, Upper Playground, to release the limited edition Walki print - 100% of the proceeds from the print will go towards support of The Konbit Shelter Project.

The Konbit Shelter Project was created with the idea that a group of artists, engineers, architects and builders could pool their individual knowledge, resources and time to make a lasting difference in post-earthquake Haiti. Konbit Shelter is a rebuilding initiative, which uses dome-style structures and the super-adobe technique of earth bag architecture to create sustainable, inexpensive and dependable housing for the people of Haiti.  While the structures are extremely resistant to natural disasters, they also have the major benefit of being comprised of 90% earth and requiring no specialized scaffolding and understructure to build - making it a viable option for the people of Haiti to continue building on their own once they learn the method. 

SM - Kcymaerxthaere/Namibia Event (12.16.10 - 12.23.10)

 

LA - "Final Projects: Group XXX" (09.10.10 - 09.12.10)

Please Join Us at the MAK Center

Final Projects: Group XXX
September 11-12, 2010
Opening Reception: Friday, September 10, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

MAK Center for Art and Architecture
at the Schindler House
835 N. Kings Road
West Hollywood, CA 90069

Please join us for the 30th Final Projects presentation by the MAK Center's Artists and Architects-In-Residence.

Architect and aspiring historian from India, Zameer Basrai has conceived a project deeply rooted in the social elements of urban planning. He criticizes the fragmentation of American cities, be it through the built environment or forces such as marginalization, racism, or gentrification. Basrai's final project, Urbanism Alone, will present a series of photographic works documenting such action at three such sites: 5th St. & Main St., the Los Angeles River near downtown, and the Westwood neighborhood. Through these, he seeks to explain and locate the "abstract forces" defining urban life in Los Angeles.

LA - Buff Monster's "Beyond the Pink" (09.04.10 - 09.22.10)

LA - Prints and Pieces (09.03.08 - 09.08.10)

Pasadena - Hortus Tulare + Omar Siller Event (08.12.10)

DWR Pasadena welcomes Hortus Tulare owner, architect and artist Omar Siller to the studio for an outdoor presentation. Hortus Tulare (www.hortustulare.com) specializes in copper, cast stone and organic structures that include garden gateways, teepees, wattle fencing, pavers, planters, garden tools, sinks and other items that Siller has designed and carefully crafted. Appetizers, wine and other refreshments will be served.

RSVP to pasadena@dwr.com.

Hortus Tulare Organic Structures
Thursday, August 12, 6-8pm
DWR Pasadena Studio
60 W. Green St.
Pasadena, CA 91105
Phone: 626.432.6700
Directions: http://news.dwr.com/rd/9z1zdp9l5vnsea01kf3q98enj42bi4g4kq14om6nvc8

NYC - Avenue of the Americas at LentSpace (05.19.10 - 11.19.10)

Avenue of the Americas at LentSpace
LentSpace at Canal, Varick, Grand, and Sixth Avenue
Open to the public May 19, 2010 – November 19, 2010
FREE, open daily 7AM to dusk

Avenue of the Americas is a site-specific sculpture exhibition, which literally sits at the gateway of Sixth Avenue, and features artists from North and South America tackling themes related to the social and political issues confronting American societies.

La Jolla - 'William Krisel, Architect' Screening (05.06.10)

MCASD is proud to present a special screening of Design Onscreen’s latest documentary film, William Krisel, Architect.

Directed by Jake Gorst, William Krisel, Architect explores architect William Krisel\'s life and work, including his roots in 1930s China, his ground-breaking designs for modern living, and interviews with scholars, his contemporaries and family.

During the 1950s, Krisel built thousands of mass-produced tract homes in Palm Springs and throughout Southern California and thus played a key role in establishing the desert modernism of the area. By devising airy dwellings with massive windows opening into the bright expanse of the surrounding landscape, Krisel proved that modest mid-century homes did not have to be “cracker boxes” of unimaginative and claustrophobic design. Krisel also built thousands of homes, apartment projects, condominiums, and commercial buildings in San Diego, including the high-rise Coronado Shores.

William Krisel, Architect is produced by Design Onscreen, a Denver-based nonprofit dedicated to producing, preserving, and promoting high-quality films on architecture and design.

Admission to this event is free, but a reservation is required. To make a reservation, please e-mail info@mcasd.org.

(Note: late arrivals cannot be guaranteed seating)

LA - SCI-Arc Undergraduate Thesis & Spring Show (04.23.10 - 05.16.10)

SCI-Arc Undergraduate Thesis & Spring Show

April 23 - May 16, 2010

Undergraduate Thesis Reviews: Friday, April 23 from 10am-7pm
Public reception: Friday, April 23, from 7-9pm

The Southern California Institute of Architecture is pleased to present Undergraduate Thesis & Spring Show beginning Friday, April 23.

UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
SCI-Arc undergraduate thesis presentations and reviews will take place on Friday, April 23, from 10am to 7pm in the W. M. Keck Lecture Hall. The work is the culmination of five years of study and coursework leading toward the B.Arch degree.

SPRING SHOW
The annual SCI-Arc Spring Show, which includes student work from all school programs, will open on Friday, April 23, with a public reception from 7 to 9 pm. Undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate design studio projects, as well coursework from the applied, cultural, and visual studies seminars, will be installed throughout the school for the exhibition and will be on view for the public through May 16, 2010.