Art, Travel and Music: Windy Day but the Sun is Out

London is one of my most favorite cities on Earth. The city is full with art, culture, vibrant crowd, night life and scenery. It is over populated but the city is all right. Londoners are less media-crazed and they spend their time outside and walk around even on the weekdays. Pubs and restaurants are everywhere and they are packed by 5 pm. They love fashion and they spend big money on 500 pounds shoes without weeping. They hardly own TV sets (They actually have to pay a large fee for a permit/license to own a TV!!). Not a lot of them own a car and they travel by tube. Since they don’t have to worry about high speed internet bill, gas price, car payment, car insurance, cable bills, they can spurge on something more fun like eating out, new pair of shoes, pints of beer and the list goes on and on.

A couple of years ago I visited my best friend who was studying in London for two weeks. I did not have enough time to get everywhere I wanted to go and visit. I decided that I had to visit Scotland and Ireland, because of that Manchester did not fit in to my tight little schedule. I have to be honest and admit that I was kind of bummed out that I couldn't see Manchester. I was thankful and happy to be in London, but I hope one day I can go back there and visit parts of the country that I did not see.  

Manchester has a permanent home in the annals of musical history as the starting place of mega bands like The Smiths, New Order and Oasis. The Temple for starters or hear live music at The Roadhouse; maybe even catch a club night at the Mint Lounge. Manchester is a also shoppers' heaven offering up the infamously wonderful department store Topshop, as well as  indie boutiques like Oi Polloi (for menswear) and Affleck's Palace. Plus, if you're really lucky, you can catch a Manchester United soccer match in the Old Trafford stadium. Best learn the fight song now. "Glory, glory, Man United, And the reds go marching on, on, on." There is nothing, we repeat, nothing like a live soccer match.


Art: Lowbrow art




I was really excited to see Gen Art featured article today in my email inbox. They story is about Lowbrow art, Carmille Rose Garcia, Fafi and many more talented artists that I have been a big fan for many years now.

There's a movement spreading throughout the art world called Lowbrow, and despite it's trailer trash title, this style of art (though it's been around since the disco-70s) is suddenly all the rage. You don't need a Masters in Fine Art to appreciate the beauty of the style. Lowbrow is a discipline that speaks to anyone who has ever enjoyed a Tim Burton film or who pays attention to MTV's visuals. The foundations of low-brow come from all that pop culture stuff you ingest everyday: graffiti, cartoons, typography and comic books, which translates to a surreal and often colorful take on real life. For example, take Camille Rose Garcia whose work is stretching beyond itty-bitty galleries to those museums you always say you're going to go to... but then never do. Camille creates dark landscapes inhabited by eerie children made from layers of paint, ink, and varnishes that pioneering collectors are going ga-ga over. For other artists who fall under the umbrella of Lowbrow, check out the French artist Fafi's sexually charged paintings that are reminiscent of the naughtiest Japanese anime. Or, try Max Morresi's large scale works that are intense studies of the human condition. Or, see James Jean who makes more realisitc and surreal narrative stories.



The only question left is: will the stuffy grown-ups from the "art establishment" ever fully recognize this movement? Well, it did take the Post Modernists years to be acknowledged. If you're feeling a little flush, get on board and add a piece of Lowbrow to your fledgling art collection now. It might be the best investment you ever make.

Thanks to Genart for this lovely article.

Music: Please show me your bones...

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs new album Show Your Bones is out now. You can still take advantage and listen to all the tracks from the new cd here.