kHyal

kHyal™ and Karl launch new blog, DesignerGrill.com!

2009-11-22T16:41:00.000-08:00

Please find a consolidation of our blogs at DesignerGrill.

And, please visit our other destinations:
kHyal
fiZz
kHyalKouture
Blipworld
talentEd
PUSH
creativeplacement
DesignerJournals
SoNoRocks

Facebook = kHyal Kouture
twitter = kHyal
LinkedIn = kHyal !
flickr = kHyal
Tumblr = kHyal Kouture

2008-12-21T09:25:00.000-08:00

Hey Y'all. I'm posting most of my content to my facebook personal and fan pages and via twitter under kHyal these days, so please enjoy the archives here and come on over there and find me!

Army of Girls

2008-11-19T13:13:00.000-08:00

I was sourcing some Victorian Art for a client recently when I found this. It reminds me of the work of Henry Darger. The whole girls-with-guns thing. Above it is a random image by Darger, note the similarity. You can google him for much more info, documentaries on YouTube and galleries that represent his estate. The first ones I saw in 16 years ago were at Ricco/Maresca Gallery in New York and Carl Hammer Gallery in Chicago. The violence is chilling and in keeping with the crazy communications I've had with my sister this week.

High Platelette Count

2008-11-12T05:59:00.000-08:00

You want to stay at a fun place? Ready? Set? Go! Porches at Mass MoCA, the utlimate in "granny chic," kitch and comfort. Rock on—on the porches overlooking the massive converted factory space of Mass MoCA—drinking coffee out of branded porches mugs; hang in the outdoor hot tub any time of year surrounded by brisk mountain views. A quick walk across the street and you've arrived at what can be at it's curatorial best, one of the most breathtaking art experiences imaginable. The sheer size of the space allows installations unseen elsewhere. Can you tell I like this place? Yep. It's a frequent stop and in comparison to metropolitan areas with similar level contemporary art outlets, quite economical.

Log

2008-11-05T03:44:00.000-08:00

Well—it's been a month since we stayed at winvian—but the longing to go back hasn't ebbed. Where else can you have a bike outside your door with a license plate that matches the cottage?

Social Media + Superman

2008-10-27T12:37:00.000-07:00

When Laurie Anderson released "O Superman," in 1981—I went to the ICA in Boston—to marvel at it. I was reminded of that day over this past weekend, when a friend in the Bay Area posted on his facebook status that Laurie was playing at Berkeley and he was going. Only a little later he updated on facebook that he didn't go because the parking situation was abysmal. This was not an O Superman experience for him, nor was it a Superman move for him not be more perserverant. Maybe facebook is the new Super Hero for letting me know all these frivolous facts about my friends that I would be otherwise unaware of.

Made from Scratch

2008-10-26T05:19:00.001-07:00

I love scratch board—and distressing—so of course I think street art looks better when someone has clawed at it. Out in the wild there are signs of this everywhere. Raw and unforgiving, nature defaces by need. In the streets, it's often just an act of agression, but that energy can permeate into powerful effectualness.

Chicks and Rabbits

2008-10-24T02:34:00.000-07:00

Scootie

2008-10-23T09:08:00.000-07:00

This is Scootie on Marmoleum with a big head—plus—Scootie on plywood. Scootie is named after Karl Heine's snack food invention, the Peanut Butter Scootie. It's a graham cracker, a layer of peanut butter, nuts, more peanut butter, a layer of chocolate, another graham gracker, a piece of lettuce and a blanket. Karl came up with this concept in his sleep. I recorded it. He didn't remember a thing.

Hottie

2008-10-20T10:43:00.001-07:00

Are you a Hottie? Damn straight you are! How can you tell? Dude, you just know.

Fashion Slant

2008-10-17T07:40:00.000-07:00

Hey ladies, get the slant on fashion! See how the latest thing in this 7th Ave. shop is to lean strongly to the right or left in a jewel-tone cocktail dress? You can see how the mannikin to the far left has got it all wrong—she's dressed in beige—and is standing up perfectly straight. How uber uncool.

Prozac for Mannikins

2008-10-16T11:51:00.000-07:00

This is a tough time of year for some people—shorter days—darkness settling in early. But mannikins, too? And, it's not like you can take them shopping or buy them a Cosmo to snap 'em out of it, right?

This was yesterday, on my walk back from KioskCom and the Digital Signage Show at the Javitz. Where I had intended in taking a photo or two, but we've all seen trade show booths, haven't we? Cool stuff though. We're getting closer to a Bladerunner reality, yet it's taking some decades.

I still don't have a synthetic snake.

Wildlife Refuge

2008-10-13T04:34:00.000-07:00

Where do dreams reside?

The Blurry Morning Light

2008-10-11T03:36:00.000-07:00

There is a certain light which blurs the day—eluding explanation—and leaving the air at seemingly random times. Click—and it's gone. Returning to the crispness.

Invasion of the Blips

2008-10-10T06:52:00.000-07:00

In front of the "music" cottage at winvian.com.

Woodland kHyal

2008-10-09T03:05:00.001-07:00

Listen—if you haven't seen the winvian website—go NOW. You will suffer a deep want to be in the ultra hip confines of it's exclusivizing compound. Scrambled eggs and truffles for breakfast with hand made raisins and espresso; skate with peekey toe crab and homemade bread at dinner. You get the idea. Not to mention the massages by a roaring stone fireplace with rose petals, candles and champagne in the 5,000 square foot spa. And, 16 themed cottages, built by 16 different architects. It inspired me to create a new woodland self portrait series. The first of which is shown above.

Bringing back a little dignity ...

2008-10-03T11:19:00.000-07:00

Granted, some of my posts have been on the low-brow and perverse side lately. So, I'm amping up my game with some well respected and expensive icons from the Louvre. Enjoy!

Hot Hassocks with Holes

2008-09-30T03:20:00.001-07:00

Yes, it really does look like this squishy, rubbery hassocks are having sex. But, really they're just interlocking to create a social seating area. Way cool.

S P E C I A L

2008-09-27T15:20:00.000-07:00

Animal prints—are in—always. Oh yeah—you can buy patterns too. 'Cuz that's the special part.

Sexy Fashion Copy: "NO TAX TODAY"

2008-09-22T10:27:00.000-07:00

Who wouldn't agree that not paying tax is sexy concept? It frees up that money for our lingerie budgets, right? But, "YES, We Carry FELT."—I'm not so sure about—and, I'm wondering who might be the target market for that. The folks who make the little circles you stick on the bottom of chair feet so you don't scratch the hardwood floors?

Pictoplasmic Kouture

2008-09-18T05:19:00.000-07:00

The Pictoplasma folks took some Pictoplasmic pix in which I found myself captured through a link on their newsletter. What Would kHyal Wear on day two? Vintage paisley 60's polyester mini dress, patterned tights, Italian belt, Hello Kitty swarovski crystal necklace purchased from flight attendant on a trip back from France. Do you think I look fat?

A Blip in the Space and Time Continuum

2008-09-14T05:31:00.000-07:00

Last week the Pictoplasma conference took place in New York. A first appearance in the US and chock full of super cool character design. Big leaguers like Tim Biskup and AKA studios were on hand to extol their virtuous output—along with a plethora of other character designers and filmmakers from around the globe. I made my blip character into a t-shirt to get in the spirit. Next stop—Argentina.

Fill it to the rim—with Brim—field

2008-09-13T06:53:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday was the last day of the last episode of the three Brimfield shows for 2008. It had poured the day prior and the pickins were a bit slim. And, mostly too pricey—save the mid-century eyeglass frames I scored for $10 and $15. Still—a fun time—with some excellent photo opps to capture washed-up but willing models (see above).

Enlightenment

2008-09-02T07:28:00.000-07:00

Fall is upon us—the days will be shorter—and darker. Time to rethink your interior lighting options. Bask in the glow of your imagination.

Solid Gold

2008-08-30T02:09:00.001-07:00

Chair—ity begins at home. What better than a gold finger edition of this biomorphic form?