Had some work done? No Smarties Gets New Face

It’s getting serious, people!

No Smarties has received some major upgradage today.  The biggest change is what you see above: the cover. Periodically (weekly? maybs) we’re going to feature a new masthead that showcases work we think is notable.  And considering No Smarties’ knock-kneed and piecemeal evolution into its current level of tart, who better to begin the showcase than Courtney Love, brilliantly described as “the train that never really wrecks“?  Much like us.

Stop whatever you’re doing and go to Uncomfortable Conversations right now

Alert!  From 6-9 pm tonight is the opening reception for Uncomfortable Conversations, a design week offsite show curated by bffs Design Glut featuring some rare No Smarties inhouse design, the Mind the Gap bird-spike gloves you see above.  I’d write more about this, but I’m stuck in Scotland because of the ash cloud (le sigh).  More soon!  Go! Go!

Or read more about the show over at Fast Company.

Uncomfortable Conversations
May 15-18, 2010
10am – 6pm
803 Washington St.
New York, NY

Seein’ Dis: BKLYN DESIGNS 2010

◄ Back

Next ►

Picture 1 of 34

BKLYN DESIGNS 2010

Heck yes!

Yesterday we caught the tail end of BKLYN DESIGNS 2010, which marked the beginning of New York design week!  Check out our favorites from the show, and stay tuned for some more in-depth posts about some of these pieces.

Seein’ Dis: Hunter MFA Open Studios!

◄ Back

Next ►

Picture 1 of 29

We had a good time.

We took a little jaunt to the Hunter College MFA program open studio event on Friday.  Their studio building is this enormous former-something near Times Square (there is, weirdly, an abandoned travel agency on the top floor? That kind of thing).  We put on our best skeptical-journalist faces and went around trying to balance our DSLR with our oversized Budweisers, and now we bring the results to you!  Enjoy.

Like furniture but more arty, less sitty

It’s like we’re being spoken to directly!  In Here, For This:  a flock of furniture-like thingies by Dutch artist Krijn de Koning has opened at Demisch Danant, New York, through May 14.

Demisch Danant Gallery
542 w. 22nd Street
New York, NY 10011

(via dezeen)

Blade Wynne’s paintings are the most lovable, least pukey

"Veil" 2008. watercolor and gouache on paper. 10"x13"

Whew, we’ve sure been looking at a lot of slick stuff lately, haven’t we?  You know what I’m talking about: the squeaky clean stuff like this, and this, and especially this.  Not that I don’t totally love that shit, but quoth Roberta Smith, “we cannot live by the de-materialization — or the slick re-materialization — of the art object alone.” Right? Oh, Roberta <3

So if you will, please allow me this opportunity to present to you how much I love Blade Wynne’s stuff. Blade is a No Smarties BFF, he’s both a sweet painter and a Totally Nice Guy, and obviously has one of the most ridiculously badass names you’ve ever heard.

His stuff tends to be modest in scale and maybe humble in content, but hugely ambitious in color range and thoughtfully plotted out spaces. His paintings feel like they happen really slowly before your eyes, and make me so excited that I want to run into the woods live in a tent and look at leaves and live like a crazy woman and do nothing but draw for weeks. Ummmyeah.  He makes some of the best observational work I ever see around these days; a tradition that, lets face it, gets clogged with a lot of pukey painting.

Click through for MORE!

Continue reading…

Seein’ dis: Banks Violette @Gladstone Gallery, NYC

Readers, if you’re anything like us and are ready to have about 500 of Banks Violette’s babies then now would be a good time to head over to Gladstone Gallery, where he’s got a show up until April 17. It’s your chance! You’ll also be able to see numerous new pieces including that boss (& energy-efficient) chandelier above.

Banks Violette, February 12 – April 17, 2010
Gladstone Gallery
530 West 21st Street
New York, NY

Opening Tonight! New Painthings @Nudashank

Alert!  Remember when we told you all about that group show CHROMATOSE that was happening at Nudashank in Baltimore, and how it featured Smarties Tatiana Berg and Ted Gahl?  Well they evidently stole the show and Nudashank has given them their own show to say “thanks” and also “you are fucking awesome.”

Opening tonight, New Painthings:  Tatiana Berg/Ted Gahl
Reception 6-10pm

Friday, February 12
Nudashank Gallery
405 W. Franklin St.
3rd Floor
Baltimore, MD

more info at nudashank.com

Thank you, Etsy

Are you aware that there is a person in Scotland who, for a mere $11.00 USD, will make you a humongous knit banana slug.  Just sayin.

Continue reading…

Ooooooooooo

I am in no way affiliated with NYC-based Dutch designer Marianne van Ooij or the sales of her objects which is why I can maintain perfect journalistic integrity as I tell you that I WILL SERIOUSLY LOOK DOWN ON YOU IF YOU DON’T GO BUY SOME OF HER NEW PILLOWS AT SUPERMARKET FOR $35.  Seriously, click here.  Or look at more after the jump.

Continue reading…