Leo's Song

Creative animation by Kelly Meador & Daniel Elwing a.k.a. impactist. They created this piece in response to the accompanying music track we created in honor of a visiting cat named Leo.

Leo's Song from impactist on Vimeo.

Stop motion with wolf and pig

Stop-motion by Takeuchi Taijin (Dokugyunyu) is fucking amazing, he used 1,300 printed pictures and he displayed the photographs in his room and photographed it again. Nice job man

New Painting by Matt Dangler

Vans X Malcolm Mclaren

Anyhow, we mentioned a collaborative release that would extend over to Vans as well, and below is the visual evidence. These sneakers are definitely a bit more active and colorful compared to the Supreme apparel items. The model that was chosen to receive a makeover was the lesser known V-79 model, which features a very subtle look and feel, which was most likely to give way for the extreme color and detail inside the insole and tongue. Expect a release in the U.S. on May 21st, and May 23rd for Japan.

Supreme X Malcolm Mclaren

Supreme are one of the few brands on the market at the moment that take inspiration from their roots in regards to music. Surpeme looked to Bad Brains for inspiration on previous projects, Miles Davis, and now, Malcom Mclaren. Those unfamiliar with Malcom must know that he had a huge part in the success of the New York Dolls, as well as the Sex Pistols back in the 70’s. Supreme are set to release a small collection which includes all-original artwork from Malcom on items including t-shirts, hoodies, and even a New Era cap. Some of the artwork done-up by Mclaren is very similar to Keith Haring artwork. The small collection can expect a release in the U.S. on the 21st, and Japan on the 23rd. As if this weren’t enough, Vans will also be taking part in the release of the V-79 model. Something different, and something nice!

Vans - SK8 High Goatskin Pack

Vans are proud to have released their Japan SK8-Hi Goatskin Pack. Vans kept things classic, even in choosing the color options for these fine sneakers. It is just a shame that they won’t include a Black option. The leather tongue tag is definitely a great touch, and works well with each and every colorway.

XLarge X FUCT - T-shirt Collaboration

I’ve talked about this previously, but XLarge and FUCT have had a long history growing and collaborating together. These X-FUCT T-Shirts are very reminiscent of the store the 2 brands once shared aptly titled X-FUCT. Choose from 2 colorways.

Stones Throw X Stussy - US tour T-shirt

Stussy have a lot under their belts lately, and are constantly releasing some very cool items. Stones Throw got down with Stussy on a U.S. Tour T-Shirt. This shirt remains simple, but is great and to the point. actually Stones Throw is the record label of Madlib, Madvillain, Khoushik, etc

Henry Chalfant & Martha Cooper | The 25th Anniversary of Subway Art

Famed urban culture photographer Henry Chalfant and equally famous American photojournalist Martha Cooper take a look into the culture of subway art. Both discuss the significance and history of the genre, celebrating its 25th Anniversary.

Deathwish Antwuan Dixon Pro Model Deck

We saw Lizard King’s new Deathwish deck last week, now we have a look at wild child Antwuan Dixon’s new signature deck. A play on NWA’s “Straight outta Compton”, the deck reads “Straight Outta Carson“. Check out new photos of Antwuan Dixon below and look for his new Deathwish deck at your local skate shop within the next couple months.

Janet Waters - Liquids & Bubbles

“Liquids & Bubbles” is a colorfull photographic series by Janet Waters.

TRUE “Spice & Herb” Grinder

4/20 may not be a holiday in many parts of the country. TRUE commemorates this annual (and daily) celebration with a laser engraved “Spice & Herb” grinder. It features the TRUE logo encircled by some classic lyrics from SF’s legendary RBL Posse anthem “Bammer Weed”

Vans Spring ‘09 Low Cab

The Half Cab originated from downsizing the ankle support on the Caballero, Steve Caballero’s original skate shoe. Now Vans does away with the ankle all-together with the Low Cab. For spring, the sneaker is available in Blue Croc, Black Croc, and Red Croc. Available now at Plus Skateshop and other Vans retailers. $60

Artist Profile with SLICK on Walrus TV

Continuing with their weekly episodes on Walrus TV, Upper Playground hits us with a look into the world of graffiti legend SLICK. This latest interview captures his journey into album artwork, music videos, films, and even gallery showings. We also learn how he earned his name while attending Catholic School as a youngster and his time at Otis Parsons in Los Angeles. Check it out!

Manik x Kiks TYO Skateboard Decks

Seattle based Manik got together with Kiks TYO from Tokyo to collaborate on a couple of skateboard decks. As usual the brand makes use of girls and sneakers, also for this project, and just like on t-shirts, the formula seems to work well on skateboard decks. We give you a preview of two of the collaborative decks, with possibly more on the way.

The Hundreds Footware 2009 Summer Collection

We present you The Hundreds Summer 2009 Footware Collection. The LA brand has nicely developed the footwear side of their line over the past couple of seasons and presents for Summer 2009 three models in a multitude of colorways - the Johnson Low, Johnson Mid and the Valenzuela. All three models come in canvas this season, making it a great companion for the hotter days that lie ahead. The Johnson Low and Johnson Mid are our personal favorites, coming in some strong color combos, while keeping an overall simple and subtle look.

The Shadow Conspiracy Spring 2009 Collection

We show you now the new Shadow Conspiracy Spring 2009 softgoods collection. As usual the brand presents very strong dark graphic t-shirts and a lot of them this season. The accessories line became smaller compared to previous seasons and only includes caps this time around.

Vans Vault “Multi-Neon” Half Cab LX

Maybe it’s the summery weather out here on the east, but these multi-neon Half Cabs are surprisingly not much of an eyesore. Part of Vans Vault spring collection, the kicks feature premium leather, and a touch of yellow perforated leather for a bit of flair. Look for these at Vans Vault retailers now.

etnies Fall 2009 Preview

For their upcoming Fall collection, etnies teams up with Black Label on a pair of sneakers as well as truck company Thunder. We also have a look a new Black/Green colorway Mikey Taylor’s pro model, which feature Alien Workshop artwork. Keeping that classic etnies feel, the shoes will definitely appease fans.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF PHOTOGRAPHER SHAWN MORTENSEN 1966—2009

It is truly with a heavy heart that we must break the news that one of our inspirator, photographer SHAWN MORTENSEN, passed away last nite. A kinetic force of optimism and seemingly limitless positive energy, Shawn’s hearty career as a photojournalist and artist took him around the world several times over, unselfishly spreading his endless supply of good vibes as he went. Particularly renowned for his portraits of musicians, artists, and entertainers, Shawn photographed a stunning array of pop culture demigods in his 20+ year career including Keith Haring, Tupac, Henry Rollins, James Brown, The Notorious BIG, Bjork, Jun Takahashi, Leo Fitzpatrick, Christopher Wool, Mark Gonzales, Ed Ruscha, Vivienne Westwood, The Bad Brains, Dash Snow, Grandmaster Flash, Neil Young, MIA, John Lee Hooker, Nigo, Sofia Coppola, Agnes B., Sonic Youth, The Beastie Boys, Keith Richards, Chloe Sevigny, The Foo Fighters, Everlast, Kraftwerk, Wu Tang Clan, and The Sex Pistols, to name but a few. Shawn was also a successful commercial photographer who worked with clients like SUPREME and NIKE, and publications like VIBE, and I-D Magazine, where his streetwise eye was a highly prized commodity. Within the artistic community of his homeland of Los Angeles, Mortensen was a local legend whose constant presence at weekly art openings was a staple of the scene, his favorite Polaroid camera always in hand. At the time of his death, 43-year-old Mortensen was working on a series of new artwork titled “M.O.R.= Monsters!, Outlaws, & Renegades” set to debut at SPACE15TWENTY in Los Angeles in June of this year, and a collaborative photo-based T-Shirt line with Hollywood fashion brand BARRACUDA. Our hearts go out to Shawn’s family during this difficult time. Needless to say, Shawn may be gone, but he will not be forgotten. For newcomers to Shawn’s work, his excellent book, “Out of Mind” is a must-have reference.

Upper Playground x Ricky Powell T-Shirt (JAM MASTER JAY)

As part of their Spring/Summer 2009 Collection, Upper Playground has worked with photographer Ricky Powell. The t-shirt comes in black and white and features a large photo print on the front. The back features the words “Rest in Peace to a great man. We will miss you.”

Stussy 2009 April Feature: Mark Ward

Stussy continue on with their periodical artist features as the previously seen John Pound piece makes way for another contributing artist in the United Kingdom’s Mark Ward. The feature sheds some light on the efforts of Mark Ward over the years and a look into his design personality.

Supreme Sticker Archive

Slam Jam gives us a look into their personal collection of Supreme stickers that have released through the years. Although its not every single sticker made, a variety of these definitely hold a nostalgic value within streetwear/skate history. Highlights include Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Last Supper renditions.

The Next Superkid of Skateboarding?

Is Alex Midler the next skateboard superstar á la Ryan Sheckler or Nyjah Houston? I hope he’s following a better path than Sheckler, but chances are high that the big sponsor-juggling is starting soon. Check this video of the ten year old shredmaster. 9-stair Kickflip Boardslides and Ollies down the Santa Monica triple set? Ouch! Think we’ll hear and see a lot from that kid in the future.

XLarge 2009 Summer Collection Video Preview

XLarge present a preview into their 2009 summer collection with a short animated sequence. The brand with what many would consider a decent legacy finds itself doing what it does best flipping iconic pieces of pop culture including Dick Tracy, King Kong and Donkey Kong.

Star Trek | The Enterprise Project

With the new Star Trek movie entering theaters beginning of May the anticipation is building up. As part of the promotion of the movie, they created The Enterprise Project. Artists, designers, photographers and other creatives from around the world created interesting versions of the Enterprise. The creations are displayed at different locations around the US and there are certainly some interesting ones among them. Participating artists include Mr. Brainwash, Duncan Lemmon, House Industries, Jesus Diaz, and many more.

A Tour Inside the Jeff Koons Studio

or those wondering where Jeff Koons get down, TateShots offers a new video tour inside his New York studio. This in-depth piece features a fantastic view into his enormous sculptures as well as a better understanding into the mind of one of the contemporary art worlds most famous faces. Check it out!

McGee, Templeton, & Pettibon Exhibition Recap

Curated by Aaron Rose, the Barry McGee, Ed Templeton, and Raymond Pettibon group show officially opened up this past week. The exhibition featured a collection of works by some of the contemporary art world’s most prestigious artists. Having all three shared experiences in the subcultures of graffiti, skateboarding, and punk, the opening proved to be a nostalgic look into the past and present within powerful portraits symbolizing various issues in the realm of teenage youth, social unrest, and as put so well by Aaron Rose “the constant power struggle between a man and his destiny”. McGee, Templeton, & Pettibon will run through May 30th, 2009 at the Circleculture Gallery in Berlin.

Circleculture Gallery
Gipsstrasse 11
10119 Berlin-Mitte
Germany

Photography: Berlin Piraten @ Flickr

Ron English’s Abraham Obama DVD Available

Abraham Obama is a humorous and provocative look at an unprecedented political art movement. A campaign to change the visual landscape of America yields a new President, and ushers in a new collective consciousness for Americas people.

FUCT Spring/Summer 2009 Collection | New T-Shirts

Today we can give you a further look at the soon to be released FUCT Spring/Summer 2009 Collection. The brand gives us a preview of the upcoming graphic t-shirts, which once again look very promising.

Glow Graffiti

We came across a fun new product today - Glow Graffiti. The pack consists of special paint, stencils and foil to paint on. You only see the artwork under UV light. From now on you can paint without getting in trouble or you can just use the boxset on the next party to keep your friends puzzled for a while.

Sk8face Trailer

Its been in production for a minute and there still isn’t any definitive release date but Sk8face is going to be fresh for sure when its finally done. Get production updates on the Sk8face blog. This is some real OG art shit.

Steve Caballero Sculpture by Ehren Brienert

Nearing his thirtieth year as a professional skateboarder, “legendary” is almost too cliche to describe Steve Caballero and all he’s done for skateboarding…and who doesn’t have a pair of Half Cabs? Pictured above is a sculpture of Steve Caballero created by NJ-based artist and skater Ehren Brienert, who based the sculpture off this photo of Steve from 1980. Congrats to Steve and all he’s achieved and Ehren Brienert for a great work of art!

Supreme x Nike SB “World Famous” Bruin

Previewed in great detail a little while ago, the Supreme x Nike SB Bruin finally readies itself for a release as we are offered a further glimpse into the revamped basketball style. Characterized as one of Nike’s earliest low-top basketball offerings, the upper is simple in solid-colored suede with leather on the heel. The Nike Swoosh in metallic materials offers a contrast highlight. A total of four colorways are available including white/red, green/gold, red/gold and black/silver. Releasing alongside the shoes are a series of cotton twill jackets which replicate the same slogan on the back. Available on Supreme NY and LA on April 16th with US online sales starting on April 20th. Supreme stores in Japan will release on April 18th.

New Balance M575J | Fame City x Mita Sneakers

We gave you an exclusive preview of the sneaker and today we get a more detailed look at the Fame City x mita Sneakers x New Balance M575J Trail. The sneaker comes with lots of colors on the suede upper, as well as a yellow mesh toe box and tongue. Mita will be releasing the sneaker on April 25th.

Nike SB | Winter at the SB Warehouse Video

Although Oregon might be located in the non-stop waterfall that is the American Northwest, they do posses some positives including tax-free shopping, Nike Headquarters, and also play home to some of the brands more coveted athletes. This latest film showcases team riders Daniel Shimizu, Matt Beach, Chet Childress and Al Partanen having fun in the Nike SB Warehouse this past Winter season. The clip features filming/editing by Jon Humphries with a soundtrack provided by Dead Moon.

Emerica x Beams x Ed Templeton | Sneakers & T-Shirts

Emerica teams up with Japanese retailer Beams and with artist Ed Templeton on a sneaker/t-shirt package. The lace-up sneakers come with black canvas uppers and animal fur patterns. Matching they present the pocket t-shirts, which feature the same animal pattern on the pockets, along graphics by Ed Templeton.

New Balance A17 Slip-On

New Balance has released an interesting sneaker. The A17 is a slip-on, but has been given the looks of a classic New Balance running shoe, featuring the laces, as well as other parts of a sneaker printed on the upper. The A17’s upper comes in once piece and has been given struture through the print. The sneaker is now available at Flauge.

Streetwear Alphabet

Unofficially dubbed the “Streetwear Alphabet“, here we have an assortment of letters/logos from some of the most popular brands in the industry to form the alphabet.

The Baker Boys Distribution Warehouse

If you weren’t aware, Jim Greco, Andrew Reynolds, and Erik Ellington founded Baker Boys Distribution, which is responsible for Brigada Eyewear and Deathwish Skateboards. Steve Berra gives us a look inside the Baker Boys Distribution Warehouse, which is where all the designing and distribution of goods takes place. He also chats it up with Greco and Ellington on how they started Deathwish with money from their own pocket. The warehouse employs skaters and is run by skaters, so if you want to support a core skate company, Deathwish is a good choice.

Mishka Women’s Spring 2009 Collection

NYC’s Mishka has catered to the fellas for years, now it’s time for the ladies to get down. Introducing Mishka’s Women’s Spring 2009 Collection, which features everything from graphic tees to “Keep Watch” Leggings. Get a look at a couple pieces below then head on over to Mishka to view the full lineup and purchase your favorites.

Johnny Cupcakes Cut & Sew Sample Images

Johnny Cupcakes gives us an inside look at his upcoming Cut & Sew items. The items consist of polos, button downs, shorts, board shorts, and more. One thing that sets off Johnny’s cut and sew collection is his glow in the dark buttons.

Good Wood NYC x 51st State Skateboard Pendant

Known for creating incredibly detailed wooden pendants and rings, Good Wood NYC drops their latest piece, a collaboration with 51st State on a Skateboard Pendant. The idea was originally conceived as a skateboard inspired piece with the theme of “Push Good Wood”. Expect the second half of this collaboration to drop in a few weeks. Available now through 51st State’s Online Shop. $15

DQM Spring ‘09 Collection

DQM release new collection this weekend.

Dave’s Quality Meat
7 East 3rd Street
New York, NY 10003
(212) 505-7551

Deathwish Summer ‘09 Lizard King Dec

Deathwish pro Lizard King, gripping tight to his brand new pro model deck, which puts a “green” spin on Kool-Aid Man.

Mr. Hudson - There Will Be Tears

MR HUDSON "There Will Be Tears" Directed by: NABIL fx: weirdcore from nabil elderkin on Vimeo.

"Papershapers" exhibition

The exhibition will feature works from 10 different artists that are cut, torn, folded, and sewn into unique creations.

Shin Tanaka will be making a rare U.S. appearance at the opening tomorrow night and will even be on hand to show original pieces and fold paper with fans (maybe bring some of your favorite paper pieces along to fold!)

Stussy 2009 April Feature: John Pound

Stussy serve up their monthly educational experience as their 2009 April feature focuses on influential illustrator and artist, John Pound. Having put together a capsule for Stussy earlier this year, his most well-known work is perhaps his special Garbage Pail Kids work for Topps back in the 1980s which was an unexpected success; "I had turned it in, in January of 85, and I didn’t really hear much from them, until maybe May or June. They were doing a test release and said ‘Oh man, it’s really taking off. Sales are really going good on Garbage Pail Kids. Lets do another series.” The interview is in itself quite comprehensive, touching on numerous aspects of his life from his childhood to the present as well as an obvious focus on the process behind Garbage Pail Kids. Check the feature out over at Stussy.com.

Emerica | Design-a-3

Emerica has just announced a pretty rad contest, the Design-a-3. Taking it all DIY style, aspiring sneaker freakers can vie for a chance at perfecting the classic Reynolds 3. It’s pretty simple, just download the template here and make sure you put together a banger. The winner will be chosen by Reynold’s himself and will receive a years supply of their design and the kicks will be released by Emerica as a limited edition later this year. As contest go, it doesn’t get much doper than that. Better get crackin, though, the contest ends on May 5.

Belvedere Presents Mr. IX

Mr. IX from Mr. IX on Vimeo.

Belvedere IX has continued their collaboration with famed Parisian graffiti artist and nightlife king Andre Saraiva with a new film, called Mr. IX.

The new film documents the creation of Andre’s latest graffiti personality who embodies the spirit and energy of the night: Mr. IX.

Vans Custom Shoes Relaunch

Vans Custom Shoes has unleashed their new and latest custom design site. In a move very much in line with the brand’s past, users are given some pretty free reign on the design of some classic shoes including the Old-Skool, Slip-On and Era. While the shoes itself are quite simple, you’ll be surprised as to the number of different options available at your disposal. Some new interactive additions allow you to chat with friends during the design process, save your designs and send over some of your potentials to friends for a second opinion. The whole process starts here.

The Circus World Of William Spencer

The Hundreds - RSWD Collection Release April 9th

The Hundreds are back at it again, but this time with their Rosewood Collection releasing this Thursday April 9th 2009. Take note that some styles of tees will be available at both locations and some will be exclusive to The Hundreds SF and The Hundreds LA Flagship store. The first three images are available at both THLA and THSF locations.

House of Pain x adidas Campus 80 Release at Concepts

Following up on the massive sneaker release between legendary Hip-Hop act House of Pain and adidas , we get a look at an exclusive interview with House of Pain on St. Paddy’s Day which was the official release day for the project at Concepts. Definitely an insightful piece brought to you by Peter Dudgeon, with a look into the official return of House of Pain. Check it out!


HOUSE OF PAIN & ADIDAS Campus 80 Sneaker Release: St. Patty's Day from Peter Dudgeon on Vimeo.

Western Edition x RAW Present Marvin Gaye: 25 Years Later

As a tribute to Marvin Gaye on the 25th anniversary of his unfortunate death, Western Edition and RAW have gotten together to produce an amazing in memoriam limited edition collection. The collection consists of a red beanie in Marvin’s trademark style, a tee, and deck. The companies also released this thoughtful statement to accompany the news of this collaboration.

Carhartt Presents: Spektra Skateboard DVD

Spektra is the title of the first ever CARHARTT SKATEBOARD DVD that has just been released in stores now. With eleven different films SPEKTRA gives an insight into the colourful world of characters and projects within skateboarding that carhartt supports.

SPEKTRA TRAILER 2008
by FADEREIGHT-Films

Mishka NYC 2009 Spring Collection Lookbook by Extra Butter

Inspired by the efforts of Mishka NYC, retailer Extra Butter has taken it upon themselves on more than one occasion to put together some interesting and visually captivating lookbooks of their own. This time around, the shoot was inspired by the 2009 Mishka spring release “Kaiju Invades” tee done by L’amour Supreme. As well the shoot includes a special guest spot bassist Kent of No Redeeming Social Value. Hats off to Extra Butter for going the extra mile and putting their own little spin on things.

Shepard Fairey | Obey Installation at SXSW

Shepard Fairey and some homies are seen here putting together an installation at last month’s SXSW music festival. Setting up shop outside of Austin’s Home Slice Pizza, the video goes in detail regarding one of Fairey’s claims to fame in wheatpasting posters. With music provided by Sandpeople, the video was produced by MyLocationScouts.com.

The WiiSpray Project

The WiiSpray Project is essentially a platform developed to create “virtual graffiti” through the use of Wii technology. Originally developed in the Spring of 2007 by students Martin Lihs and Frank Matuse, the WiiSpray has quickly emerged as a legitimate creation allowing one or more people to interact creatively independent of space and time. What makes the WiiSpray even more unique is its ability to create works that could be saved on a server, independent of particular platforms. Further detailed information regarding this innovative project can be found at WiiSpray.com.

Meggs x Stussy Artist Series T-Shirts

Continuing their on-going collaboration with progressive street artists, Stussy has now worked with Meggs from Melbourne. Known for his multi-layer stencil work, the artist designed overall four t-shirts for Stussy.

KRINK x Girl x ALIFE Skate Deck

KRINK teams up with ALIFE and Girl Skateboards to produce a new limited edition skate deck. The deck features KR's trademark drip effect in a metallic silver finish with co-branding on the reverse side. Retailing for $60 USD, it is now available through Alifenyc.com.

Totem Laser-Etched Decks

New Zealand’s Totem Decks specialize in artist laser-etched natural wood decks. They are rad pieces that are fully skateable although at upwards of $165 for one you might want to chill on actually setting them up. They have recently done a series of boards with artist Christian Pearce and the resulting decks: “Car Crash,” “Hot Rod,” “Bridge Out,” and “Bog Bot” are definitely banger status. Check out more on Totem’s blog.

Zoo York State of Mind Trailer

Here’s the (second) trailer for the upcoming Zoo York video “State of Mind”, that will be premered worldwide on 4th of june. Filmed and edited as usual by R.B. Umali. Can’t wait to get some new footy of Barley, Kirby, Suski and the rest of the boys.
For more information check Zoo York’s home.

13 Most Beautiful… Songs for Andy Warhol’s Screen Tests

The first ever authorized DVD release of films by iconic artist Andy Warhol is finally available. The release, in conjunction with The Andy Warhol Museum, features a slew of prolific subjects including the likes of Nico, Lou Reed, Edie Sedgwick, and Dennis Hopper amongst others. The DVD is comprised of 13 classic Warhol silent film portraits presented with newly commissioned soundtracks performed by Dean Wareham and Britta Phillips. Originally shot between 1964 and 1966 at Warhol’s Factory studio in New York City, this compilation is definitely a nice historical piece to own. Available now through Plexifilm for $30 USD while a more Limited Edition version is available for $250.

Nike Paris Bastille by 180g

Offering an unrivaled customization process to fashion, 180g is known for its wide-range for available dyes which create distinct tailor-made colors to apparel. Teaming up with Nike, the process will soon be debuted on a series of Nike branded products. The preview seems to include footwear, tees and track-tops and will commence on April 9th.

HellaCA Bandana Skull 2009 April Releases

Inspired by a trilogy of old punk graphics, Southern California-based label HellaCA focus on traditional punk/hardcore design in the form of strong graphics amongst black & white backdrops. Taking a different approach than most brands, HellaCA look to release a selection of product every 1-2 months, in order to offer a wealth of variety and ever-changing styles. This latest collection is comprised of their Bandana Skull design which has been translated onto a t-shirt and zip-down hoody format. Having done previous work alongside Bounty Hunter and famed Japanese artist Usugrow, designers Daniel Clements & Bryan Shima look to make a splash with the launch of HellaCA. Both items are now exclusively available through the Viva Monster online store.