BEAUTY: Man--Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Like a Pre-Raphaelite painting...

For Vogue US, October '12. Photographed by Mario Testino.

A still from "Anna Kernina."

On the cover of Bullett magazine, Fall 2012.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson stars in the upcoming "Anna Karenina" film adaptation with Keira Knightley as Anna.

Muriel Grateau Dinnerware

Muriel Grateau designs clothing, jewelry, home accessories, table linens, silverware, and amazing dinnerware. Take a look at these plates from her Paris store.

These mirror-like plates are actually porcelain. Poured and hand finished to produce the reflective sheen, this setting is called Miroir de Sorciere, and indeed it recalls the "scrying mirrors" used as a divination tool by magical practitioners.

Above is an impressive display in her eponymous shop. What blows me away is that most of these settings are in a matte finish!

Her store is located at 37 Rue de Beaune, Paris... if you find yourself in the area, stop in and ogle these art works for the table.

BEAUTY: Installation--luzinterruptus

I have posted about the light installation work of the Spanish art collective luzinterruptus before, here and here, but here is their most recent site specific installation, entitled Literature vs. Traffic, at the Light In Winter festival in Melbourne a few months ago. Over ten thousand books were lit from behind their pages and scattered like a river through a public space and into a lane of traffic on a busy street.

http://www.luzinterruptus.com/

BEAUTY: Installation--Ryoji Ikeda

Japanese artist Ryoji Ikeda works primarily with light. Part of his Spectra series employs an array of extremely powerful Xenon searchlights aimed straight up into the sky. This installation has been adapted for many different cities around the globe...

The result is visually compelling, and evokes a beam going out into space, a beacon, a transmittal. Searchlights are traditionally used to draw attention to special events and these pieces evoke that as well. And of course, those of us living in the United States have seen the two searchlights aimed straight up where the World Trade Center buildings used to be, the light occupying the loss, serving as an ethereal memorial.

Above: Spectra (Nagoya)

Above: Spectra (Paris)

Above: Spectra (Buenos Aires)

Above: Spectra (Barcelona)

http://www.ryojiikeda.com/

"True Romance" by Citizens!

Everybody kisses...

Clearly inspired by this photo:

In June of 2011, the Vancouver Riots erupted after Canada lost the Stanley cup. Riot police knocked down Alexandra Thomas, 25, with a shield and her Australian boyfriend Scott Jones, 30 came to her aid. He says she was frightened and did not want to get up so he tried to comfort her, and gave her some small kisses in an effort to calm her and get them out of the way. The moment was snapped by photographer Richard Lam. Image from Getty.

https://www.facebook.com/gocitizens

Hotel Amenities

Some useful, some not so much, a few new to me...

By Michael Dumontier and Neil Farber.

http://personalmessageblog.blogspot.com/

Neologism: "Pants"

The Mysteries of Vernacular series is created by Myriapod Productions.
They are working on a short film for each letter of the alphabet.

http://mysteriesofvernacular.com/

"Prada Real Fantasies"

What a marvelous, peculiar promo for Prada's F/W 2012 collections. I love how it references other time periods and places... as well as time periods that may not have happened yet and places to which no one has yet been.

http://www.prada.com

BEAUTY: Art--David Fullarton

The art of San Francisco resident David Fullarton looks like collage doodles or graffiti but upon closer inspection, it is easy to see that a lot of thought goes into what the piece is going to say and exactly how it will be said. There is a lot of humor and a lot of bald truth as well.

Top to bottom: And I Say To Myself, What A Wonderful World; Apology #22; Character Flaw; Consider Yourself Warned; The End Of Civilization; Too Much Is Never Enough; We're Up We're Down; When Only The Best Will Do

http://www.davidfullarton.com/

I Had That Dream Again

Happy Birthday, "Oh, By The Way!"

Congratulations "Oh, By The Way," you are three years old!

Three years ago, I had a dream in which I started a blog called “Oh, By The Way.” When I woke up that morning, I went to the computer and promptly started a blog called “Oh, By The Way.” Seriously--it was the first thing I did that morning, and yes, I often act out in waking life things I have dreamt.

"Oh, By The Way" is my digital scrap book of things I like, things I would share with a close friend and say: “Oh, by the way, do you know of this artist/ clothing or interior designer/ model/ singer/ actor/ gorgeous man… or, have you seen this video/ photo/ film ...or heard this song/ band... or, read this book/ poem/ inspiring quote... or visited this place/ restaurant/ famous building?”

Followers and regular readers: thank you so much! I hope you find this blog fascinating, beautiful, interesting, moving, inspiring, informative, and uplifting. Welcome to the birthday party. Help yourself to a virtual slice of violet cake (I adore flower-flavored food)!

Happy Autumnal Equinox 2012!

It's the first day of fall!

It Was A Short Summer...

http://www.peanuts.com/

Jewelled Insects

Through the lens of photographer David Chambon's camera, insects covered with droplets of morning dew look like diamond and jewel encrusted pins and brooches from Tiffany.

http://www.davidchambon.com/