Chris Osburn Interviews David Choe (whitehot)

Chris Osburn Interviews David Choe
by Chris Osburn
whitehot Magazine of Contemporary Art
April 2008

Anger comes from having giant boils filled with creamy yellow puss on your face that won't go away when you're in high school, so a girl would never even consider touching any part or anywhere near your penis, when that is all you want and desire - for someone to touch, or accidentally bump into your stiff pubescent cock, and so you look like a MUTANT and why you relate to the X-MEN, and then you start to draw the X-Men, and then you get really good at it, and the girls still won't look at you, but at least they'll look at your art, which of course has a million lines and details, because everything you lack in composition and anatomy and perspective you make up with obsessive details, which is fine, because the longer they stare at the art, the longer you can look down their blouse and catch whiffs of their beautiful hair. God still gives me spots once in a while to keep me humble.

Click here for complete interview.

Interview with Chris Von Steiner's Snow King (whitehot)

Chris Von Steiner's Snow King
by Chris Osburn
whitehot Magazine of Contemporary Art
April 2008










My influences are all very different. It depends on the show that I am working on. For The Snow King, I drew from Disney for the snow. I really like the winter scene in Bambi. I also went to museums and studied the Old Masters, such as Rubens. One artist who especially inspired me was John Singer Sargent because he painted a lot of portraits. He wasn't classified with the impressionists, but his kind of painting is kind of between impressionism and realism. With this show, I tried to translate vector illustration with what he did with oil.

Click here for complete interview.

PhotoBoxing

Recently I started blogging for PhotoBox, the UK’s number one destination for online photo sharing, storing and printing. I really appreciate the interest that the good folks at PhotoBox have taken in lil ole me. I reckon this opportunity will be a fun way to further integrate my love of photography with online babbling. I'm looking forward to blogging about my experiences with PhotoBox as I learn about all the services and features they offer. So far I’m impressed. I’m also keen to blog about PB's progress as they work toward launching a new platform for their entire site ... and to simply further inundate the world with my thoughts and images. Here are the links to a couple of posts I've done thusfar:

Meet our new blogger!
Chris Osburn, PhotoBox Blogger
PhotoBox Blog
April 7, 2008












Hi. My name is Chris and I am pleased to let you know that I’ll be logging in to blog for PhotoBox two or three times a week. As a pro-am photographer and writer living in London, I think this will be a super opportunity to share my thoughts (and photos!) with all you lovely PhotoBox members ...

Click here for complete post.

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Easter weekend in Marrakech
Chris Osburn, PhotoBox Blogger
PhotoBox Blog
April 9, 2008








I’ve just now got round to uploading my pics to PhotoBox (see ‘em here). It was my first time uploading photos to PhotoBox. It was a pretty easy process really but I’m still getting my head round it. I will say the photos uploaded quickly and more smoothly than has been the case with similar sites out there.

Click here for complete post.

To All the Girls I've Loved Before - Willie Nelson and Julio Iglesias

The winds of change are always blowing.

Marrakech Quickies, New Jersey Chicken and More in Review (April 11, 2008)

London Daily Photo: New Jersey Chicken by Chris Osburn © 2008

Marrakech Quickies, New Jersey Chicken and More in Review

Oh geez! I'm so frickin' bizzy right now that I almost forgot to write this weekly update! Anyway, here's the best bits from this week:

For checking out the recent Phil Frost book signing for Juxtapoz, Katie - the webmaster at Jux - referred to me as "our trusty British buddy" - nice one.

I (finally) posted a new review in my South Seas Cinema series.

Emiana's series of Marrakech photography at ontoTravel continued through the week with more still to come! And if that's not enough for you, I posted two videos from that same Marrakech visit: one of aphenomenal street musician in Marrakech's night market, the other of a really cheeky kid acting kinda dirty up in the Atlas Mountains.

Also, it snowed on Sunday. I filmed it.

Of course, there's another whole week's worth of London Daily Photos at ontoLondon too!

Enjoy your weekend,
Chris

ontoLondon - ontoTravel - Tiki Chris Presents

Death by Blogging

In Web World of 24/7 Stress, Writers Blog Till They Drop
By MATT RICHTEL
New York Times
Published: April 6, 2008

To be sure, there is no official diagnosis of death by blogging, and the premature demise of two people obviously does not qualify as an epidemic. There is also no certainty that the stress of the work contributed to their deaths. But friends and family of the deceased, and fellow information workers, say those deaths have them thinking about the dangers of their work style.

Click here for complete article.

Vote for Skull-a-Day!!!

One of my favourite blogs, Skull-a-Day, has been nominated for a Webbie, which Skull-a-Day's administrator (Noah) describes as "basically the web equivalent of getting an Oscar nomination!" Awesome. Here's more from Noah:

Hey folks, I'm incredibly excited to announce that Skull-A-Day is an official nominee for a 2008 Webby Award! My site is one of only five included in the Personal Web Site category! Not only is the site eligible for the The Webby Award, but you, yes you, can help the site win the The Webby People's Voice Award! Voting starts today and runs til May 1st. The winners will be announced May 6th and be honored at the 12th Annual Webby Awards in June! So what are you waiting for? Please vote for Skull-A-Day today!

Halloween Skull Mask Project by Skull-A-Day (Virginia) © 2007

Aloha Oe to Ft Lauderdale's Hukilau

Odds are if you happened upon this post because you're contemplating attending this year's Hukilau then you already know that this year will be the last of these brilliant events. Here's more about the news from a recent email from Tiki Kiliki, the event's co-creator, co-founder, producer and organizer:

As we go into this 7th year I see how we’ve grown as an event, I see familiar faces and so many new ones each year. I’ve seen your children grow and some of you get married or engaged while at the event. I’ve met some of the most incredible people from all over the world – it’s become a personal journey, one I will never forget ... I encourage all of you to try to make this last year, as I promise to make every effort to bring you the last and the very best yet. There will be additional performances, seminars and surprises announced within the next week to accent our already stellar lineup. You will also see schedule changes so keep a good watch for those so that you can plan your vacation accordingly. It has been my extreme pleasure bringing Hukilau to you year after year, this has been an extremely difficult decision to say the least. I’m so looking forward to seeing all of you in June as we celebrate one last time together!

Sounds like a lot of fun. Now I'm doubly bummed I can't make it. Click here to visit the Hukilau's website.

South Seas Cinema: Eux et Moi

Welcome to South Seas Cinema, a series of posts about films set in – or pertaining to – Polynesia and the South Pacific.

Okay okay, so it's been months since I posted anything in my SSC series. I blame an ocean of other obligations and, honestly, just not coming across any truly inspiring movies with the right sort of South Seas slant. Anyway, I recently happened upon a set of good ones that has me all fired up to rant about. It's called Eux et Moi, a DVD collection of two short films by French ethnographer, Stéphane Breton, about his experiences in "the field" - a small village in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea.

Eux et Moi is post-modern Anthropology at its most compelling. Breton shares his insights, discoveries and doubts openly in equal measure as a social scientist and storyteller. His rapport with the villagers makes for great viewing, and - without giving too much away - his inadvertent role in shaping the dynamics of the village is fascinating.

Eux et Moi is narrated in English and French with subtitles in both as well. I'm not quite sure how to get ahold of a copy. Unless, like me, you pick one up at the Musee du Quai Branly in Paris. Here's a link to the museum's bookstore; they might be able to help.

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South Seas Cinema is sponsored by
DESIGNinBLUE
architecture&design
mail@designinblue.com
+44 20 (0) 7947 359 456
+44 20 (0) 7950 674 636

Phil Frost Book Signing at Elms Lesters (Juxtapoz)

Phil Frost Book Signing in London
by Chris Osburn
Juxtapoz
Friday, 04 April 2008










Before Elms even opened its doors, a queue had formed outside. Once the doors were opened, the queue of fans eager to meet Phil and have him sign a copy of book snaked through the gallery and continued to grow for at least the first hour.

Click here for complete post (and all the photos).

Like a Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan

Dylan at his orneriest!

Good Times at the Coach and Horses, hosted by Qype

Qype throws a good party. But don't take my word for it:

Qype party and almost missing last Tube home
Annie Mole
Going Underground
Friday, April 04, 2008

Went to the fab Qype party last night, so was able to help drink them dry as the booze flowed (quite literally) freely.

Click here for complete post.

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Qype Party: The Aftermath
from Rob
Qype Blog
4.04.2008

Judging by the decidedly hungover emails we’ve had today it seems that everyone had a great time.

Click here for complete post.

Bracing Week in Review (April 4, 2008)

London Daily Photo: Warning by Chris Osburn © 2008

Bracking Week in Review

Hi. Emiana and I were in Marrakech over Easter weekend, where Emi took a bunch of great photos. Check out the series of her Marrakech photography at ontoTravel (there are two pics up now but it will continue through this coming week). Emi also provided the unfortunately close to our flat crime scene content for one of this past week's London Daily Photos at ontoLondon.

While she was doing all that, I got around to wrapping up my posts from the Fusion 5 Festival in Cannes. There's a killer video interview with porn, comic books and horror movies aficionado (and brilliant artist) Matthew Bone and a two part video interview with the quirky Angie Mason. Part 1 is a brief conversation about her cute yet brooding art and Part 2 is a fun lil fast motion clip of Angie drawing me a pic. You'll love it.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention: I got braces.

Enjoy your weekend,
Chris

ontoLondon - ontoTravel - Tiki Chris Presents

Fusion Five Festival: Angie Mason Interview PART 2 - Angie Draws!

Here's Part Two of my video interview with the quirky and lovely Angie Mason conducted during the Fusion 5 Festival in Cannes hosted by Strychnin Gallery. In this segment, Angie, a visual thinker, decides to draw an answer rather than deal with any more of my babble! Enjoy.

Metal Mouth

Yep I got braces. Maybe a couple of decades later than most folks, but I got 'em. And it certainly didn't impede me having a ridiculously good time at the Qype do at the Coach and Horses in Soho.

Fusion Five Festival: Angie Mason Interview PART 1

Yet another interview from the Fusion 5 Festival in Cannes hosted by Strychnin Gallery. Here's the first of a two part interview with the super friendly Angie Mason. Stay tuned for Part Two!

Fusion 5 Festival: Matthew Bone Interview

Porn, comic books and horror movies - here's my video interview with LA artist Matthew Bone conducted during the Fusion 5 Festival in Cannes hosted by Strychnin Gallery.

Six Days on the Road - The Flying Burrito Brothers

Hippies groovin' to trucker tunes. How could Altamont have turned out well? Still, the Burritos' cover of "Six Days on the Road" is awesome.

Already Friday? (March 28, 2009)

London Daily Photo: From All Directions by Chris Osburn © 2008

Already Friday?

Not a lot of posting this week.

I wrapped up my Cannes photo series at ontoTravel and added another week of London Daily Photos at ontoLondon, including a great one by Anna Krsikova. I posted another video interview from the Fusion 5 Festival too, this one of Mimi S, a pop surrealist from Berlin. Have fun.

Enjoy your weekend,
Chris

ontoLondon - ontoTravel - Tiki Chris Presents

Fusion 5 Festival: Mimi S. Interview

One more video interview from the Fusion 5 Festival in Cannes hosted by Strychnin Gallery - this one with full time illustrator and native Berliner" Mimi S.

Robot Man - Yusef Lateef

Kind of a long clip at 10 minutes. But if you ain't got that much time for Yusef Lateef, then I suggest you take a moment to examine your priorities.

Cannes Fusion in Review (March 21, 2008)

London Daily Photo: Rabbit Ears by Chris Osburn © 2008

Cannes Fusion in Review

This week, I basically processed and posted lots of content from when I was in Cannes for the Fusion 5 Festival. There's more to post but I probably won't get to it until the middle of next week (I'm going offline for an extended Easter weekend). In the meantime, enjoy my video interviews with Fusion 5 Festival artists Boris + Natascha, Kristen Ferrell and Daniël Van Nes as well as my photo-riffic report for whitehot. There are pics from my time in Cannes for my ontoTravel series too. And, of course, I added another week of London Daily Photos at ontoLondon.

Enjoy your weekend,
Chris

ontoLondon - ontoTravel - Tiki Chris Presents

Fusion 5 Festival: Daniël Van Nes Interview

Here's an video interview from the Fusion 5 Festival in Cannes hosted by Strychnin Gallery with "illuminated dark art" engraver, Daniël Van Nes.

Fusion 5 Festival: Kristen Ferrell Interview

Here's another video interview from the Fusion 5 Festival in Cannes hosted by Strychnin Gallery - this one with the one and only Kristen Ferrell.

Strychnin Gallery's Fusion 5 Festival in Cannes (whitehot)

Fusion 5 Festival
by Chris Osburn
whitehot Magazine of Contemporary Art
March 2008










Despite the dark overtones ever present in much of their collective work, the group of artists represented by Strychnin Gallery are a merry bunch. And who can blame them for their glee, especially when the gallery ships 'em off for a dirty weekend in Cannes for the first (but probably not the last) Fusion 5 Festival? For those not fortunate enough to attend, Fusion 5 – hosted by Strychnin Gallery – was an amazing event, featuring twenty artists and fifteen musicians/DJs from five continents, all converging upon the design fabulous 3.14 Hotel located along the world famous Croisette.

Click here for complete article.

Fusion 5 Festival: Boris + Natascha Interview

Here's a video interview with elusive internation arts duo, Boris + Natascha, from this past weekend's Fusion 5 Festival in Cannes hosted by Strychnin Gallery.

The Gods Made Heavy Metal - Manowar

I can't tell if this kid has a dillusional concept of self identity or if he lost a bet. Either way, using your sword as an air guitar rocks!

Week Down the Cannes (March 14, 2008)

ontoTravel: All that Glitters, Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008

Week Down the Cannes

This week found me back in France. This time in Cannes for the Fusion 5 Festival. Should time stand still this coming week, I've got tons of content from the event to share.

When I returned home from Cannes, I was surprised to find a bizarre note taped above the postboxes in the lobby of the building where I live. It's a rather telling artifact of the neighborly vibes round here (too funny). Click here to check it out.

In closing, I'd just like to mention that there's plenty of eye candy on the blogs this week: London Daily Photos at ontoLondon, a new ontoTravel series of photos from my trip to Cannes and more!

Enjoy your weekend,
Chris

ontoLondon - ontoTravel - Tiki Chris

Strychnin Gallery's Fusion 5 Festival in Cannes (Juxtapoz)

Here are some photos from this past weekend's Fusion 5 Festival in Cannes hosted by Strychnin Gallery. Enjoy.

Friday at Fusion 5 Festival in Cannes
by Chris Osburn
Juxtapoz
Tuesday, 11 March 2008










Click here for all the "Friday night" photos.

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Saturday at Fusion 5 Festival in Cannes
by Chris Osburn
Juxtapoz
Tuesday, 11 March 2008












Click here for all the "Saturday" pics.

Tiki Bar TV Episode 34: Mailbag's Revenge

Click here to visit the Tiki Bar TV website.

DRAW at StolenSpace (Juxtapoz)

DRAW at StolenSpace Gallery, London
by Chris Osburn
Juxtapoz
Friday, 07 March 2008

Click here for all the photos.

Surfer Girl - The Beach Boys

I have watched you on the shore standing by the ocean's roar.

Grippingly Odd Week in Review (March 7, 2008)

London Daily Photo: Gripping, Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008

Grippingly Odd Week in Review

The photo featured above is entitled Gripping. However, an alternate title might have been Image for a 1970's Sociology Textbook. I took the pic while plodding along near bustling Tottenham Court Road Station. I hope I didn't look too odd when I took it (or when I took any of this week's London Daily Photos for that matter). Apparently, the police here in London don't take kindly to odd photographers these days.

When not taking peculiar pics in London, I was in Paris goofing around with my video camera. Check out these two clips at ontoTravel (and expect one or two more next week!):

Paris Short Film: L'Art du Bain
Paris Short Film: Eiffel Tower Quickie

In closing, I'd just like to say rest in peace to slack-key legend Ray Kane. His soulful Hawaiian music has played a prominent role in my life over the past several years and deserves much more recognition that it or he ever received in his life.

There's so much more in this week's batch of posts. Feel free to snoop around the blogs.

Enjoy your weekend,
Chris

ontoLondon - ontoTravel - Tiki Chris

Mahalo Ray Kane

Sadly, the world has lost a musical legend, Hawaiian slack-key guitarist Ray Kane. His album, Wa'ahila, is easily one of the most listenable sets of songs I've ever had the good fortune to hear.

Ray Kane, Master of Slack-Key Guitar, Dies at 82
By MARGALIT FOX
New York Times
Published: March 5, 2008

Ray Kane, an internationally known master of the Hawaiian slack-key guitar, died last Wednesday in Honolulu. He was 82 and lived in Nanakuli, on the island of Oahu.

Click here for complete article.

L'Art du Bain

Shot early on a Sunday morning from a hotel window in the 16th Arrodisment of Paris. Sad. The subject had been standing there for some time before I ever looking out of the window and was there at least a minute or two before I grabbed my camcorder.

"Souled Out" at Leonard Street Gallery, London (Juxtapoz)

"Souled Out" at Leonard Street Gallery, London
by Chris Osburn
Juxtapoz
Friday, 29 February 2008












The show, which takes its title from the name of Beejoir's Bangkok studio, takes a fresh look at Beejoir's latest imaginative conceptions "alongside fellow artists whom share the same desire of presenting profound visuals that both allure and confront the viewer."

Click here for complete post.

Aquarela do Brasil - Joao Gilberto

... better than silence, only Joao.
- Caetano Veloso

David Choe at Lazarides in London (Juxtapoz)

David Choe at Lazarides Galleries, London and Newcastle
by Chris Osburn
Juxtapoz
Friday, 29 February 2008










... a kaleidoscope of watercolors, acrylics, spray paint, ink pen, pencils and oils portray threatening über-babes and depict explosive scenes of ultra-violence with their daunting consequences.

Click here for complete post.

Banksy, Bloggers, Videos (February 29, 2008)

London Daily Photo: Caffeine, Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008

Banksy, Bloggers, Videos

Okay. This week, I met up with some fellow London bloggers at The Camel and Artichoke pub and had the wherewithal to bring my video camera. Check it! I exhibited the same wherewithal at the press preview for a show of works by Banksy at Andipa Gallery. There's a bunch more little things here and there. So, I recommend rooting around Tiki Chris land to see for yourself. Make sure to have a look at this week's London Daily Photos at ontoLondon.

Enjoy your weekend,
Chris

ontoLondon - ontoTravel - Tiki Chris

Putting Blogs to Faces (London Bloggers Meetup)

Folks talking about their blogs at the February London Bloggers Meetup at The Camel & Artichoke on Lower Marsh Street in London. Click here for info about the next London Blogger Meetup.

All Eyes on Banksy

All Eyes on Banksy, Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008

Works by iconic - and iconoclastic - graffiti artist Banksy are on view at Andipa Gallery in London. Here's da scoop from me to you!

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Preview: Banksy Exhibition at Andipa Gallery
By Chris Osburn
Londonist
February 27, 2008

Not only the world’s most famous graffiti stencil artist, England’s own beloved Banksy is also one heck of a studio artist. Don’t believe us (or any of the hype surrounding Banksy)? See for yourself at Andipa Gallery, where – starting this Friday – many of Banksy’s works is to be on view.

Click here for complete post.

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Banksy Exhibition at Andipa Gallery, London
by Chris Osburn
Juxtapoz
February 27, 2008











... the bulk of exhibition is comprised of studio pieces which are very much available for purchase, if you've got the funds. For instance, an exceptional acrylic on canvas painting titled Sharks has a price tag of around £40,000 (yep, that's roughly $80,000).

Click here for complete post.

MrBaliHai's Britiki Round-Up

Here's MrBaliHai's summary of his recent trip to England. It's always interesting to read someone else's account of events. MrBaliHai's recollection seems accurate, especially his retailing of our meet up "last Thursday for a few Navy Grogs and Mai Tais."

Britiki Cheerio
Posted by MrBaliHai
Eye of the Goof
February 24, 2008

Aloha, I have returned from England. My body is 5 pounds heavier, and my wallet is a couple-hundred pounds lighter ... I'm off to the basement now to start running off my extra poundage on the treadmill.

Click here for complete post.

For Whom the Bell Tolls - Metallica

Remember Cliff Burton? Remember Cliff Burton!

La Settimana Rivista (February 22, 2008)

London Daily Photo: Meat Specialists, Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008

La Settimana Rivista

This week, when not becoming an Italian citizen, I checked out the Chris Von Steiner exhibition at Strychnin Gallery in London and got around to posting another London Short Film, this one of a lovely day out at Kew Gardens to view all the massive Henry Moore sculptures. But enough about me. Kimberly in Shanghai and Chris in Freiburg kindly contributed to ontoTravel's ongoing Expat Perspective series. Thanks! Of course, another week's worth of London Daily Photos have been posted at ontoLondon, including one particularly awesome shot from an anonymous contributor.

Enjoy your weekend,
Chris

ontoLondon - ontoTravel - Tiki Chris

Chris Von Steiner's "The Snow King" at Strychnin Gallery London (Juxtapoz)

Chris Von Steiner's "The Snow King"
by Chris Osburn
Juxtapoz
Wednesday, 20 February 2008















Mystical animals, such as giant stags, green owls and white wolves, provide symbolic underpinnings to the trials of the human characters in Von Steiner's works.

Click here for complete post.

E' Ufficiale! Io Sono Italiano.

If, for whatever reason, I seem more incredibly stylish or dashingly sociable the next time we meet, it might have something to do with my becoming Italian. See, after three years of marriage (to an Italian citizen), a few months’ worth of paperwork and then three more subsequent years of waiting, I have been accepted into the fold of Italian citizenry. My new Euro status is super cool on a number of levels - not the least of which is the opportunity to zip through the short line at European airports (although, I won’t actually have my passport for another couple of months). Furthermore, not having to deal with the British Home Office (which actually lost my American passport back in 2001) is very much a boon. Of course, it does feel rather incongruous to say “I’m Italian,” because, in so many ways, I ain’t. The inner core of my Georgia cracker soul just hasn’t come to terms with this yet (and may never). Still, if even a little of the warmth and graciousness that my Italian friends and family have shown me over the years rubs off on me, then an Italian Tiki Chris will be a very positive force in the world indeed.

Sail On/Commodores

Lookin' for a gooood time? Hell yeah.

Orange Alert in New Jersey (WTF?!?!)

Thanks to Michael for fowarding a link about an unnaturally orange glow eminating from New Jersey. Yikes!

New Jersey Freakshows
by El Presidente
Barstool Sports
January 21, 2008


Click here for all the hilariously disturbing photos.

Graffiti, cupcakes, tiki bars and more (February 15, 2008)

Lots of arty stuff this week like an interview with London graffiti artist Sickboy and photos from the openings of Sanderson Bob's Pure Yet Complex and Jef Aerosol's Spray it Loud. There's some video action for ya too: a short clip of me and some friends hanging out at London's newest tiki bar, Sugar Cane, and some footage from Sunday's Chinese New Year parade here in London. And just because you've been especially nice this week, here's a tip on where to find the best cupcakes in London ... and - last but not least - a week's worth of London Daily Photos at ontoLondon.

Enjoy your weekend,
Chris

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ontoLondon - ontoTravel - Tiki Chris


London Daily Photo: MASSAGE
Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008

Sickboy Interview for Whitehot Magazine of Contemporary Art

Sickboy Interview
Words and photography by Chris Osburn
whitehot magazine of contemporary art
February 2008










Being a frustrated teenager, I needed an outlet other than drug experimentation, and graffiti was a very enticing world. Manchester at the time had a strong scene with Hulme and a lot of tagging going on. It just seemed a little edgier than art class.

Click here for complete interview.

Sanderson Bob’s "Pure Yet Complex" at Kemistry Gallery, London (Juxtapoz)

Sanderson Bob’s "Pure Yet Complex" at Kemistry Gallery, London
by Chris Osburn
Juxtapoz
Thursday, 14 February 2008














Pure Yet Complex, the first UK solo exhibition by graphic designer Sanderson Bob, ... features a selection of limited edition lithographic posters, explores the artist's "interest in line, color, perspective, movement and the edges of things."

Click here for complete post.

Jef Aerosol: "Spray it Loud" at Islington Arts Factory (Juxtapoz)

Jef Aerosol's "Spray it Loud" at Islington Arts Factory, London
by Chris Osburn
Juxtapoz
Wednesday, 13 February 2008












[Jef Aerosol's Spray it Loud] features many of Jef's most recognizable stencils of pop culture icons and rock 'n' roll legends such as Nick Drake, Ian Curtis and Neil Young. However, Jef also utilizes his talents to draw our attention to society's less celebrated: an elderly beggar, a homeless mother and child, a runaway child huddled in a corner.

Click here for complete post.

Tuesday night at Sugar Cane tiki bar in Clapham Junction, London

Here's a little diddie from last night's get together at Sugar Cane, a pretty cool newbie tiki bar in Clapham Junction, London. Big thanks to MrBaliHai for organizing this impromptu gathering and to Sugar Cane for the attentive service, fine drinks and good eats!

tuesday night @ sugar cane
a short film by chris osburn featuring:
will kane, world of kane
trader jim, pocketiki
mrbalihai, eye of the goof
sian, exotic tramp
tiki racer
tiki chris

Hey Good Lookin'/Hank Williams

One of America's most brilliant poets and sincerist performers! And if you don't like him, you are certainly more than welcome to kiss my ass.

Seven Days Down (February 8, 2008)

Okay, so it's been awhile since I posted any original content specifically for this blog. Well, I got around to writing another I ♥ T-Shirts post this week, this one about a tee from that awesome lil tiki bar, Forbidden Island. Aside from that, I was kinda busy keeping an eye on the market for urban art in London and starting a new "Takeout Stakeout" series for Londonist ... and, of course, posting a whole new batch of London Daily Photos at ontoLondon.

Enjoy your weekend,
Chris

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ontoLondon - ontoTravel - Tiki Chris


London Daily Photo: Secure
Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008

I ♥ T-Shirts: Forbidden Island

Comfortable, practical, and these days the only accessory you need to make a statement, it's hard to imagine a world without the ubiquitous T-shirt. I ♥ T-Shirts takes a subjective approach to this modern fashion phenomenon with each post dealing with a favorite shirt.

Shirt: Forbidden Island
Designer: Tiki Diablo (the tiki on the back), Martin Cate (lettering), Hanford Lemoore (boards, tiki torches and flames)
Price: ???
Purchased: Gift from the Forbidden Island staff
Status: Top of the stack!

Waaaaaaaaaaaaay back in November (seems like ages ago now) while tiki road trippin' through California, I had the pleasure of mingling and drinking a few times at Forbidden Island, a fine little Polynesian-themed bar in the East Bay town of Alameda. In a show of aloha spirit, the folks there were kind enough to slide a free FI T-shirt my way. Mahalo! It's a comfortable Hanes "Tagless 6.1" (whatever that means), and I wear it often. There's a big ass tiki on the back of the shirt (an image based upon an actual carving in the bar). The graphics on the front are pretty awesome too. I love the crossed tiki torches and wonky letters. I'm not sure if you can order the shirts online (click here for the FI website) but that's all the more reason to visit one of the San Francisco Bay area's coolest bars.
























Interested in contributing a review of a favourite T-shirt or perhaps sending along a sample Tee to be reviewed? Click here to access my email address. Then, send an email with a brief description of your idea/product along with any relevant online links.

I ♥ T-Shirts is sponsored by Chongolio's Lost-Isle.

Real-Life Sopranos Stuff

Thanks to Emiana for passing on the info about these real life, modern day mobsters.

90 jailed in Palermo and New York: the bosses of the new Italy-Usa pact
The haul has been codenamed "Old Bridge". It could be the beginningof a series of assaults against the "Cosa Nostra" 'families' in America
by ATTILIO BOLZONI
La Repubblica
(7 febbraio 2008)

It's the biggest mafia haul since the days of the "Pizza Connection". Striking the bosses from Palermo and New York, the Inzerillo 'family' and the Gambino 'family' these 90 arrests represent a simultaneous attack on 'Cosa Nostrà on both sides of the Atlantic. An attack on an organization that was becoming once again a force on the world stage of international trafficking.

Click here for complete article.

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The old New Jersey mafia war: Corleonesi killers against the Inzerillo
In Antonino disappeared in 1981; earlier, in the same year, Pietro's bodywas found in the trunk of an old car with a 5 dollar note in his mouth
di ATTILIO BOLZONI
La Repubblica
(7 febbraio 2008)

The other was Pietro Inzerillo whose corpse was found on 15 January 1981 in the trunk of an abandoned automobile in front of the Hilton Hotel of Mont Laurel in New Jersey. He had a 5-dollar note in his mouth, and a two-dollar note on his genitals.

Click here for complete article.

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... and click here for photos of the mob bosses shopping, dining, and posing in New York.

Superfreak - Rick James

Super Duper Tuesday has me superfreakin' out!

Another Week in Review? Already? (February 1, 2008)

Already another week? I guess time flies when you're having lousy burritos in London. Time also zips along at a rather rapid pace when ... I'm viewing puzzled smurfs with ridiculously elongated genitalia and large glittery bottles of Chanel surrounded by dildos and when I'm viewing cool art at current London exhibitions such as Sartorial Contemporary Art's How Women Are group show and Phil Corbett's Erotic Terrors of the Deep.

Yeah, it's already February ... 2008. All of January's Daily Photos have been posted at ontoLondon. Say hello to February (before we know it, it'll be spring).

Enjoy your weekend,
Chris

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ontoLondon - ontoTravel - Tiki Chris


London Daily Photo: No One
Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008