• Watching the wire in montreal airport. Hour 8 of flying. QPP cops asking me “qu’est-ce que what’s that show?” #
• Wooooooo! Montreal to toronto executive class upgrade - shortest way to say you’re sorry, air canada. Yes hi, do you serve 6am martinis? #
• It took forever for my top 5 albums of the year. and there’s 15 of them http://www.johnnyhockin.com #
• 2009

  Let’s make this a big one! #

The man’s man revival is in full swing. Here’s to Miller and Errol for these ads that are capturing exactly what we here in Canada have been doing this whole snowmaggedon: braving the cold to pick up beer.

Click here to watch the ad…

• Thump thump, thump thump…the beat of the heart goes thump thump #
• This morning obsessed with this mr hudson song http://www.johnnyhockin.com #
• If yes man is liar liar part two it’ll still be worth the money #
• wanted: visvim toronto store. #
• i’ll go back to black #
• checking out mick boogie / adele #
• Today is why kias don’t sell in canada. Little red can’t even make it up ossington #
• Respect to styrofoam ones 60s revival. #
• Aniston in gq: “whatever blows your hair back” #

Five years ago this month, a young upstart named Kanye West graced the cover of The Fader with a mission to change music. And with flashing lights forward, the mission still hasn’t changed - Ye is as candid as ever with another Fader cover. This time 808s and Heartbreak is inspiring heated debate for its devotion to autotune, and Kanye is just enjoying the ride.

Kanye West - Paranoid (Seewhale Edit) MP3

If you’re still undecided on the album, Kanye’s behavior at the album’s listening parties is telling. Even though I don’t know whether I would give the album an A, his headspace gets an A+. He’s writing/producing/blogging for the love of it, and apparently soon he’ll be designing forward thinking streetwear. Whether you love him or you hate him, he’s a forced to be reckoned with. Go ye, go.

This is quickly becoming a series. There are very few books out there like the wood book. This is a piece of historic design in itself, while also being a source of inspiration. Surround yourself with nature, the Woodbook.

Buy it here.

Culled and assembled by Romeyn Beck Hough between 1888 and 1913 in what still remains a stunning and unparalleled achievement, American Woods—originally published in 14 volumes, with actual specimens mounted on card stock—is a work of breathtaking beauty that has set the standard for the study of trees and wood.

(more…)

I do a lot of fake shopping around the holiday season. A lot of looking at things online and not buying them. Since I’m not really big on gifts, I’m going to share some things in case you’re in need of a gift idea for the young aesthete that enjoys the finer things.

Buy it here.

Bright Minds, Beautiful Ideas: Parallel thoughts in different times
Author: Ed Annink, Timo de Rijk, Ineke Schwartz and Louise Schouwenberg
Editor: Ed Annink and Ineke Schwartz
Designer: Ontwerpwerk, office for design

The world of design is in confusion. The market suffers from a surplus of products, designers and companies, the majority of which are imitations and epigones that constantly supplant each other. Distinctions between separate disciplines are becoming increasingly blurred, labels merge with one another and design studios go bankrupt. Old and new values clash. The world economy has been plunged into recession while interest for local aspects is on the rise. High time for a rethink on the role of the designer and the meaning of design. What is an actual and true contemporary attitude to design - what is contemporary design? These are questions posed by ‘Bright Minds, Beautiful Ideas’ , an inspiring and brainstorming book that through the imagination and handiwork of four innovative and influential designers, sketches a perspective for today (and possibly the future).

From the 1950s until his death last year, Charley Harper’s illustrations expressed the playful energies of the outdoors through his signature “Minimal realism” (his words). As Youworkforthem points out below “Charley liked to say, that when he paints a bird, he doesn’t count all the feathers in the wings – he just counts the wings.”

I just purchased his rocky mountain poster:

Buy an anthology of his work here: http://www.youworkforthem.com/product.php?sku=P1230

Tonight in London it’s DJ Mehdi with an opening set by me me me. Serious.

Tonight in Toronto Bad Day issue two comes out. If you don’t make the opening I recommend you at least check out the mag. Art and insight and photos from around the world.

My pal Jesse Harris‘ new show is amazing. Last week I hit the opening, and the Mona Lisa had already sold. Hit Le Gallery while it’s still there. And if you’re in Montreal, watch for Jesse, Jimmy Limit and Shawn Kuruneru’s Shangri Lost 5 to hit the Emporium this thursday!

JESSE THE BODY
From July 2nd to July 27th
LE Gallery - 1183 Dundas St W, Toronto ON

Now i have to see the full version.