d3

Conran Shop Collector's Series: Picasso pitcher

This isn't particularly modern but I'm captivated anyhow.

It's got a good story behind it, and it's so lovely and sculptural. Read all about it here...

Picasso Jug, $110, Conran Shop

Great Modern Art/Design/Wine Gifts for Under $50

Okay, the theme isn't new. But I'm short on time (and sleepy) so you'll just have to appreciate my attempt to give you some gift-giving options that are fun, creative, and cheap - all under $50. I hope to keep rolling more out as the week goes on...we'll see how I do. In the meantime, you should be able to get your hands on any of the following in time for Xmas...

2009 Pentagram Typographical Calendar (12"x18") - I gave this calendar, pictured at right, to a friend of mine (and myself) a month or two ago...it's gorgeous and functional. $32 (includes ground shipping!) at kenknight.com

I saw another gorgeous calendar at Etsy...this one is quite small, but printed with very modern images of nature on premium, heavyweight matte paper, and sold with a clear clip that mounts to the wall...brilliant.

While we're on paper - I just saw this poster at our cool friends Tom & Leah's house last week. It's fantastic. And $22! My favorite is the LA version, but most major US cities are represented...find your here.

Other quickies...there's still time...how 'bout a cute fake tree? A 3' version from Urban Outfitters is just $28. Or an unusual bottle of sparkling wine (a $20 Gamay from the Loire Valley - bubbles are v. modern, you know...)?

A gift that's really useful but that you're unlikely to buy for yourself is the best kind (well, second best, after a gift that's fabulously UNuseful, of course). This recycled carafe & glass set, $22, certainly fits the bill.

One last quickie before bed - long time readers of d3 (that's you, Mom!) kno I'm obsessed with 20x200.com. If you aren't too, you should be. Anyhow, my latest love on this fanw thattastic art site is this image by artist Jane Mount. It's a gorgeous way to give the gift of art (it's hard to see here...do check it out, it's incredible - and $50).

More to come. Merry, merry!

Print Your Way Into My Heart

This is a super-brilliant, easy gift for your lov-ah...(though sadly they won't get it till mid-January, still worth sharing)...$25 for a 18" x 24" digital print from artist Christopher David Ryan.

Ben Weber, photographer

This is a bit of a non-sequitur but the indirect connection to this blog is the concept of cool design all around us. A gentleman of my intimate acquaintance, Mr. Ben Weber, recently published this photograph taken on his iPhone. I think it's stunning. Too bad it's not higher res...

Girl, Turn Your Records On...

Clementine Press, a letterpress based here in LA, is offering free shipping this week (via Etsy) only on their cool designs. Get this 8 x 10 print for the music aficionado in your life...real art for $15!

de Kooning biography

de Kooning: An American Master is one of those books that I started a long time ago...I read one or two hundred pages then put it down for some of my beloved airport mystery trash, and it ended up at the bottom of my stack of "still reading, just not right now" books. (Note - this stack is at an all-time low right now - I think I only have 4 going. A real achievement for me).

Anyhow - picked it back up a week or two ago and got completely, totally hooked. Reading about de Kooning in the '50s means reading about Pollock, Noguchi, and so many others who were living and working at the same time of many of my (our?) favorite designers.

It's a big book, but you can handle it. It's also a beautifully designed book, though I have to push you toward the paperback version - the hardback must be monstrous. Anyhow, can't recommend enough.

de Kooning: An American Master, by Annalyn Swan and Mark Stevens, $17.13 at Amazon

Venice Art Walk

Coming right up...love this year's tag line:

For two days, Venice becomes an art museum. Well, I'd argue we're pretty arty 365, but those two days are pretty amazing. This week (Thursday night) is the Art Happening event (which I coordinated last year, should be a great time), and my favorite part, the silent auction, will be Sunday 5/17.

Here's a list of all the artists presenting work in the silent auction. Pretty killer. I may need to buy myself a pre-baby push present...

Venice Art Walk & Auctions, May 17 - 18

Barry McGee's Prada Fondazione catalog

Now available at Giant Robot. I'm so mad at myself for not buying Barry McGee when I saw his work for the first time at a group show at Clementine 10 years ago.

At least I can still afford this catalog of his 2003 show at the Prada foundation in Milan...

Barry McGee - Fondazione Prada Catalog, $65, GiantRobot.com

Flying in...

I like this birdy letterpress art. 8" x 8", mounted on a 3/4" wood frame. I'm feeling the blue h-bird...though there are other choices too.

From the Curiosity Shoppe, which I love. If you haven't yet, spend some time - they've got some fun goodies, sort of straddling the crafty/design line.

Blue & Yellow Bird Art Print, $45, CuriosityShoppeOnline

Art: keeps on giving, and giving, and...

So I got an email several weeks ago from Matt at BlueFlip Art, inviting me to take a look. It's taken me till now to really dig through the site.

Two things I love about BlueFlip: first, like my beloved 20x200, you can find "real," significant art for ridiculously low prices, and second, every artist on the site contributes a portion of their proceeds to the charity of their choice. Love that double.

This is "Slice of Taipei," by Eric Lu, who will contribute to the Cancer Research Institute if you purchase one of these 16.5" x 7.7" prints. At $29.95, why not?

One other notable detail about BlueFlip: not all prints are limited edition, so you might be getting one OF a million. But I doubt there are really thousands of any of these out there, and again, part of the proceeds are going to charity. So get off your collecting high-horse and buy because you love the work, not because you want to have something no one else has. (BTW, there is a limited edition Eric Lu print on the site right now that I also really like for $45. So if the limited thing is crucial you can satisfy it).

Other prints I like on the site: Robot by Richard  Wilkinson, The Origin of Symmetry by Manuel Larino, and Surrounded by Amy Kligman. The most expensive of these three, btw, is $30.

All prints, limited or not, are quality giclee prints created with an eight-color, archival ink process on heavy, acid-free, pH buffered 100% cotton paper. That's good stuff. Buy more art! Be happy! The art will give to you every day you look at it, and you will give to great organizations. All for about the price of a mediocre lunch here in LA. What could be better?

Giclee prints, prices generally $15-45, BlueFlip Art.