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My work is now done, finally. On Monday May 12th and Tuesday the 13th here in Beijing, Nike launched two of the coolest events I’ve ever had the good fortune to be a part of. The first being the Nike Sportswear opening featuring video portraits by artist Robert Wilson and the 64 HD screen video installation I worked on along with the crew I was working with in Italy, Sartoria. The second event was the Nike 6.0 BMX demo and Lightning Bolts Art Show in a jaw dropping venue simply known as “the Gas Tank” in Beijing’s 798 artists district. Artists from this show included Michael Lau, Andy Jenkins, and Nick Philip among others and featured pieces using Bob Haro’s original number plate as a canvas. Over those past two days an amazing collection of talent, taste makers, celebrity designers, executives, and head creatives, converged on Beijing to produce another innovative Nike experience. Here’s a peak at some of the madness with more pics to come very soon!

Director Paolo Fresci (maestro of our installation), Suitmen’s Adam Glickmen (hugely responsible for bringing me aboard the project), DJ Alex Turnbull (created the banging beats for our piece), and Sartoria’s mad genius Giorgio Di Mitri (the visionary period) watch on as the other 32 monitors bombard them with video in our installation room.

New Nike Terminators with a Robert Wilson portrait of skater Shingo Iwasaki.

More new Nikes with Wilson’s portrait of dancer Sofia Boutella.

The outside of the Nike 6.0 event at the Gas Tank.

The impressive insides.

Another angle.

Too many people to name in front of Michael Lau’s piece at the main entrance (although that’s Nike sweethearts Jill Meisner and Drieke Leenknegt on the left).

I hope these pics whet your visual appetites because there’s much more to come soon!

(click image to see more photos of The Sads at agnes b.)

On Friday April 11th, L.A.’s agnes b. boutique in brought together Brent Stewart’s photography from the set of writer/director Harmony Korine’s (Kids, Gummo) upcoming cinematic love story Mister Lonely, as well as the musical stylings of The Sads.

I don’t usually find myself perusing the high class fare and all too expensive goods (to me at least) of Robertson Blvd., but the night’s opening reception was an exception. On the walls amidst the chic couture you could find production photos from Harmony’s film. Some were big prints of the film’s stars, some were small snapshots of candid moments, and some were even just photocopies. The photos were nice to look at as I tried to avoid glancing at price tags, but the real buzzing excitement came from the anticipated performance by The Sads.

Almost as out of place as the bowls of Lay’s Sea Salt and Vinegar potato chips and accompanying bowl of cherry tomatoes (actually a great combo), The Sads were set up to perform right in front of one of the large store front windows giving passer byers a glimpse into a cross section of high fashion and low-fi musical creations. Aska Matsumiya (also of the Moonrats) first took the “stage” and began singing while on the keyboard, she was soon joined by guitarist/Moog/modular synth player David Scott Stone as they performed the first song of the evening. At the completion of the first song, the duo soon turned into a quartet as drummer Dan Monick and guitarist/vocalist Aaron Rose picked up their instruments and headed right into their next song, “Pas Deux”.

I’ve heard all The Sads’ songs to date, and as you may have guessed, they come from a place where sadness may dwell. But seeing them perform live and feeling the energy the band was exuding actually made me feel the opposite, quite happy. The sound was great for a clothing store; the beats were heavy, the vocals were heard, the band was tight, and the children were really into it. And when I say children I don’t mean that as a euphemism for the adult audience, I mean the children who were not even 7 years old who were performing interpretive dances when they weren’t banging along with the accompanying beats with whatever they could get their little hands on.

The Sads performed a mesmerizing set that I honestly can’t say I was fully prepared for. A set of musical economy with massive feeling that made me forget I was standing next to a rack of $7000 jeans.

Check out more of The Sads at www.thesads.com

Check out Harmony Korine’s film Mister Lonely at www.misterlonely.co.uk

*There actually were no $7000 jeans. At least to my knowledge.

Apologies for the late add.

Continuing the Being True photo exhibition, a series of 3 weekend film screenings has been added to the show starting with James Clauer’s “The Aluminum Fowl” and Ari Marcopoulos’ “Craig Kelly / A Work in Progress” tonight. The film series, as well as the photographs gracing the walls of the 144 LAB space, will continue through the next 3 weeks ending it’s run April 27th. All films are by/related to photographers in the Being True exhibition.
Most are quite rarely seen as well.

Last weeks opening reception featured a live set by Mika Miko and was completely jam packed. Be aware that the gallery space is narrowly small and seating is limited so an early arrival is suggested.

Curated by Emma Reeves and Aaron Rose, 22 Years of American Culture features the photography of Tim Barber, Angela Boatwright, Kenneth Cappello, Poppy De Villeneuve, Cheryl Dunn, Naomi Harris, Alex Hoerner, Drew Jarrett, Alain Levitt, Jeaneen Lund, Ari Marcopoulos, Dan Murphy, Jason Nocito, Patrick O’Dell, Mike Piscitelli, Ray Potes, David Ransone, Terry Richardson, Jamel Shabazz, David Perez Shadi, Brent Stewart, and Tobin Yelland.

Tonight’s opening at L.A.’s agnés b. boutique on Robertson blvd. fittingly brings together Brent Stewart’s photography from the set of writer/director Harmony Korine’s (Kids, Gummo) upcoming cinematic love story Mister Lonely, as well as the musical stylings of Aaron Rose’s band The Sads. Following failed and flowering romances between celebrity impersonators, Mister Lonely includes a cast of Michael Jackson, Marylin Monroe, Charlie Chaplin, Madonna and Abraham Lincoln among others. Or at least versions of them I should say. Mister Lonely comes to theaters May 2nd.

Reception is from 6-8pm, The Sads will be performing at 7:00 sharp followed by DJ Nathan Harrington from Family Books spinning records.