My paint throwing pal eepmon has just recently had his works installed at the Canadian branch of Japanese agency firm Dentsu.
Spanning 3 x 10.6 feet wide, eepmon’s work installed around Dentsu Canada’s exterior new office is truly realized in this proportion as every bit of detail is exposed– especially his Citylights series.
Called the “Dentsu Outdoor Gallery” (D.O.G.), this new gallery initiative is designed to feature Canadian artists from a broad range of disciplines including graffitists, mixed-media artists, illustrators, street artists, photographers and visual artists.
On my last night in Vancouver I had the opportunity (really, the pleasure) to stay at The Opus Hotel, located in the up-and-coming Yaletown district. I’ve stayed at hundreds of boutique hotels around the world and was really quite surprised with how well this property was put together and run.
The building itself is very well done and features 96 luxury guest rooms inside– each with all the top details and modern amusements you would come to expect. iPod docks, a great mini-bar (even with some oxygen if you’re feeling tired), comfortable modern furnishings, soaker tub in the bathroom, etc. And most importantly, a great bed! My room had a small but nice balcony that let in some fresh Canadian air.
Rooms are designed around five unique themes from modern and minimalist to daring and dramatic– with really everything in between. Each room corresponds with one of the personas from within their Lifestyle Concierge– a really great idea that gives you recommendations for your visit tailored to your personality and mood. The idea is fairly simple– 7 different personas that just about everyone can identify with. Into arts and culture and want to see what the city has to offer in those realms, check out Susan’s recommendations. Want to go off the beaten path? Billy’s the man, and so on.  Good for food, shopping, entertainment and so on.
I would definately give them a nod for an up and comer in the area, and a brand to keep your eyes on in the future. They’re even on Twitter!
I popped into GOODFOOT Vancouver while exploring Gas Town today. Very spiffy looking space with a nice selection of the usual goods. Living in NYC certainly makes me spoiled but I found the selection to be pretty tasteful here. Some quick-strike Nike’s, Visvim, as well as a few very good looking Ransom pieces. If you’re in town it’s certainly worth the visit.
I’m headed to Vancouver and then Whistler tomorrow for the week. I’m primarily out there to speak at a special industry session during the Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival but I have ample time to explore Vancouver and hopefully catch more spring powder if this snow keeps up. I’m looking forward to it all.
I’ve never been to Vancouver, crazy right? So– where should I go? Shop? Eat? Explore? I’m told I should also hop over to Vancouver Island and see some whales or run with the bears or something too.
If you’ve got thoughts please leave a comment below, or drop me a note. Thanks!
It’s not that us females aren’t attracted to some of the skateboard and snowboard designs out there, it’s just that some of them are a bit much. We’re not asking for our decks to be splashed with images of male models or anything — though we probably wouldn’t complain — but we’d appreciate some designs that appeal directly to our particular sensibilities. In the meantime, we have Lilly Lab to thank for creating a women’s line of apparel that makes us feel feminine without images of flowers and unicorns. So far, the site features just a few designs, including a tweeting bird, a banana peel, and their heart-filled logo. Even better, the shirts are cut to fit our curves, no matter how big or small they may be.
Today will close the International Documentary Challenge 2009, a filmmaking competition that solicits the work of brilliant (and crazy) storytellers and editors racing against the clock to put together thematic work. After choosing from one of two assigned documentary genres like sports or music, the teams have had five days to put together their best entries for the chance to premiere at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival. Inspired by the understanding that “filmmaking tools are now so affordable that anyone willing to invest the time and energy to tell a story can do so,†Challenge founder Doug Whyte of KDHX Community Media has been pleased to draw professional and amateur filmmakers alike, 80 percent of whom turn in a completed film by the hard deadline. The 12 films selected this year will join nominees from previous competitions, including docs about shopping carts, small town prostitution, and mixed music trading. Submissions are required to be mailed by 5 p.m., which is the same time that these video warriors can finally get some sleep.
I always love seeing artists who don’t come from a traditional artistic background. The Canadian illustrator, Raymond Biesinger, is one of those people. Even though he has a BA in European and North American political history, he has become a highly sought-after and talented illustrator. His work reminds me of classic European print illustrations from 60 years ago. Everything has a gritty and unfinished feel that is absolutely amazing. I loved clicking around Raymond’s site and checking out all his great work.
It’s like a glory hole … for your ears. Our Great White neighbor’s metro system has become the testing grounds for Pepsi’s new musical poster campaign. Agency BBDO has devised an interactive ad on Canadian subway cars (currently 100 cars in Toronto and Vancouver) that allow you to plug in (headphones not included) and get a taste of some brand new music. Ok, so the mariachi guys, conga players, and team of kids who pop n’ lock in the middle of the F train had this idea first, but those b-boy urchins aren’t trying to get you to visit Pepsiaccess.ca and download their artists. Where else can you find a captive audience that are all wearing earbuds?
We’ve championed Bell & Ross brand timepieces for quite some time now. The Swiss watchmakers build instruments for those whose professions force them to withstand physical trials well beyond the everyday commute. Did you know a Bell & Ross watch was the first automatic chronograph worn in space? Or that their Hydromax model holds the world record for water resistance? Seeking to build on their reputation for breaking records and enduring extreme conditions, Bell & Ross is teaming up with skydiver Michael Fournier on The Big Jump.
On Fournier’s wrist will be a BR 02 Instrument watch, as he attempts to break the altitude world records for skydiving and balloon flight (as well as the records for longest free fall and fastest skydive) with his 40,000 meter stratospheric jump, taking place between May 24th and May 28th over North Battleford, Saskatchewan. Both Fournier and the watch will have to withstand -120 degree Celsius temperatures, cosmic radiation, and variations in atmospheric pressure. We’re sure the BR 02 will hold up. Mr. Fournier … uh, TBD.
Wings & Horns, W+H, Spruce — no matter what that Canadian company decides to call itself, rest assured they’re committed to quality and forward-thinking designs and cuts. Their hoodies are legendary on men’s streetwear fashion forums, with their parent company producing the ubiquitous hipster item for all the major street labels. Now Wings & Horns are expanding their market with a focus on footwear. Handcrafted in Italy, the white kicks are a hybrid of multiple designs. You can clearly see the military boot influence, the hi-top sneakers, and the Chucks-inspired front. The zipper on the side is perfect for those who like the look of laces but can never be bothered (un)tying them. They are available now at fine retailers for just under $400.
The web has allowed a whole new range of collaborative photography projects to flourish. Artists teaming up are obviously nothing new, but the ease and instant gratification afforded by the Internet makes for free-flowing ideas around the world to congeal into one artistic idea. Some of these collaborations have found a way to focus on one thing that’s universal and immutable: time. Our locations, cultures, and languages are all different, but it's always going to be 10:15 a.m. somewhere. With that in mind, Ten:15 wants you to send in a picture of whatever you happen to be doing at 10:15 a.m., no matter where you are in the world.
Participants can create their own user portfolio and link it back to their personal site, making it a great way to search for new photographers — or just be a voyeur in other people's lives. You can search the archives by photographer, date, or location. Somehow, the communal collection of our banalities turns them into something fascinating. Having photographic proof that some dude in Manila is putting cream in his morning coffee just creates a little more balance and order in the universe. The casual nature and spontaneity of the photographs can't be faked. They capture that laid-back moment where someone picked up their camera or phone at 10:15 a.m. and just snapped away.
It doesn’t really matter if you like photography or not (although, who doesn’t?), Daily Dose Of Imagery should be a staple read for anyone looking for inspiration or visual goodness. Frankly, it’s a must visit for people who can see. Sam Javanrough — a Tehran, Iran native living in Canada since ‘99 — has skills on the camera trigger to be reckoned with, which he has pulled off daily since July 2003 (the archives are deep and seemingly never-ending). Today’s post is an incredible cloud cover from Saturday evening. Yesterday’s was a drugstore aisle transformed into a moving photograph. He sells prints every day as well, from $18 for a 6-inch x 8-inch to $550 for a 44-inch x 50-inch piece. Keep snapping that shutter Sam!
Here’s a little eye candy from one of my favorite artists, eepmon. I’m not even quite sure what Mini Financial Services is, nor do I even think it matters– because this 13 month Mini Cooper Canada Calendar (yeah, that’s a mouthful) he created is incredible. 13 Illustrations for 13 months, where each month contains a different original illustration to compliment the Mini vehicle. The hard copy versions will be available at Mini dealerships across Canada in a sexy hang-on-your-wall format soon. And I’m sending all my Canadian friends to grab them. Intrigued? Check out all the images here.
Update: Credit where credit is due, Eepmon worked with Canadian agency TAXI on this project– check them out.
For someone having graduated this past spring, Talia Shipman brings a stylized maturity to her work that other photographers spend years honing and perfecting. The young artist has already experienced her work being published and shown in galleries worldwide, and if her series, Exodus: The Ten Plagues is any indication, she has a long and bright career ahead of her. Currently on show as part of Captive Visions: Canadian Contemporary Art at Eli Klein Fine Art in SOHO, Exodus is an entirely thoughtful, sometimes macabre juxtaposition of biblical plagues with their modern-day counterparts. Definitely keep an eye out for this rising star — it looks like she’s going to be around for a while to come.
Canadian superbrand Dussault Apparel Co. is about to make their US presence known with a full-scale Melrose store opening. While we’re bummed we won’t be making it to the party (that sounds even better than the Gene Simmons Moneybags look), we’re very un-bummed to finally have access to the labels clothes, luggage, and accessories without needing to cross a border. The Rob Zombie film-inspired store will officially open on November 8th, and will offer shoppers what can best be described as a Disney-on-Bourbon style experience. Some of the terms used to describe the interior of the Dussault Apparel Motel are as follows: 70’s style diner; early Warren Miller-days ski-lodge; pushing the limits of the luxury experience; and freely flowing liquor. So, in other words, have no fear if, while visiting, you find yourself wasted and in a bit of a time warp; it’s all part of the grand plan to get you out of there looking good — a feeling that, I promise, will stick around come morning.
I’m headed to Vancouver and then Whistler tomorrow for the week. I’m primarily out there to speak at a special industry session during the 
It’s like a glory hole … for your ears. Our Great White neighbor’s metro system has become the testing grounds for Pepsi’s new musical poster campaign. Agency 
Canadian superbrand 
