It is truly with a heavy heart that we must break the news that one of Supertouch’s dear friends, 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. HAVE A LOOK: Read the rest of this entry »

John Waters goes back to 1965 when Ike pulled all of lil’ Tina’s strings…

As a director of some of the most acclaimed highbrow B-movies of all time, Supertouch amigo JOHN WATERS needs no further introduction. Quietly working the night shift as a fine artist for years now, the Baltimore-bound obsessive’s hard work has finally landed him a spot in the most hallowed hall of the modern art world, namely, the GAGOSIAN GALLERY, where the artist’s solo “Rear Projection” show opened to a throng of Hollywood players, weirdos, fanboys and girls, and well-wishing lookie-loos on Saturday nite. Comprised largely of C-prints of photos Waters has taken of TV screens bearing his favorite stills from movies of all kinds, the works pulse with the raw humor and dry wit that is Waters’ hallmark. Of particular note in this top notch collection of works are several large-scale Pop “object” sculptures that include a giant roach motel, a reproduction of the $250-a-jar La Mere face cream (this is Hollywood, after all), and a monster bottle of poppers big enough to keep all of LA bugging for a month. The crown jewel, in Waters’ epic display, however, is the beyond-lifelike sculpture of a dapper Ike Turner circa 1965, kneeling before, and holding the strings of, a marionette doll version of Tina Turner. Quipped Waters on our private exhibition visit about the headlines in the NY Post after Ike Turner’s death: “You know what they wrote when Ike died?: “Ike Beat Tina to Death!” HAVE A LOOK: Read the rest of this entry »

To officially launch the LIVESTRONG “Stages” benefit art show (full details below) powered by NIKE that will debut during LANCE ARMSTRONG’s run in this year’s TOUR DE FRANCE, an epic kickoff celebration was held on Saturday nite at Nike’s MONTALBAN THEATER in the heart of Hollywood. The evening began with a massive public charity ride from Children’s Hospital—after Lance spent part of the day visiting with pediatric cancer patients—to the theater where he then took the stage to formally announce the charity art show with the help of BEN STILLER, Nike’s MARK PARKER, Livestrong CEO DOUG ULMAN, and SHEPARD FAIREY. Speaking before a packed house of loyal yellow-clad followers and Livestrong soldiers, Lance eloquently detailed his plan to expand the global scope of cancer awareness through his return to professional cycling and engaging the creative community more closely in the battle with “Stages.” Closing out the nite was surprise musical guest BEN HARPER who performed a full set with his new band THE RELENTLESS SEVEN before a truly stunned crowd. Exhibited throughout the venue were Lance’s new TREK “art bikes” designed by BARRY McGEE and KAWS, as well as his twin Tour of California cycles, most notably the now-infamous stolen time trial bike. Onlookers crowded around displays of Nike’s stunning new NSW Livestrong gear (proceeds from the sale of which go directly to Livestrong) that included offerings by artists MISTER CARTOON and FUTURA, and mingled with some of the “Stages” artists in attendance like ROSSON CROW, ERIC WHITE, and Mr. Fairey (who might have signed more autographs than Lance by night’s end). Keep an eye on Supertouch for more exclusive details on the show coming soon. Meanwhile, HAVE A LOOK: Read the rest of this entry »

Shepard and Amanda Fairey roll out the west coast welcome wagon for KAWS…

KAWS‘ anxiously anticipated new show “The Long Way Home,” opened its doors to an absolutely massive crowd at HONOR FRASER gallery in LA last nite, with a queue that wrapped entirely around the block (and then some) for the duration of the frenzied two-hour opening. KAWS’ incredibly well behaved legion of faithful followers did their best to make the Brooklyn-based artist feel welcome in his first west coast solo exhibition that featured new paintings (the largest of which went to collector and Supertouch buddy Lance Armstrong), sculptures, a 20″ solid bronze Chum figure and a new series of “Kurfs” and “Kawsbob” package paintings that were all spoken for well before the opening festivities kicked off. The evening’s attending “A-list” included Everlast, Todd James, Robert & Suzanne Williams, Lupe Fiasco, Rosson Crow, Eric Elms, Miguel de la Barracuda, Shepard & Amanda Fairey, Scott Campbell, actor & Iron Man II screenwriter Justin Theroux, Cassette Playa’s Carrie Mundane, LAMJC’s Michael Dupouy, ANP Quarterly’s Brendan Fowler, legendary Pop artist Kenny Scharf, and the incredible Chrome Hearts/Vice “Dont’s” column guy with the crusty egg whites in his spiked hair (see below). Of course, a lot of KAWS’ less savvy enthusiasts didn’t quite understand that a proper art opening is not the place to ask an artist to sign your entire toy collection carried along in plastic grocery bags and the message boards will no doubt be ablaze this morning with unwarranted hate mail from a wave of unsatisfied eBay flippers (along with the 200 or so fans who couldn’t get into the show because of mandatory time & fire marshal capacity constraints). A 600+ collector waiting list for the show’s 18 paintings, however, proved testament to the pure heat of KAWS’ unfulfilled demand in the art market and a huge story in the day’s LA Times was just icing on the cake. HAVE A LOOK (and tune in for opening photos tonite): Read the rest of this entry »

Supertouch homies RVCA have teamed up with anti-supermodel ERIN WASSON to create a new line of womenswear that premiered at FASHION WEEK in NYC on February 18th at the Milk Studios Penthouse to critical acclaim. A native of Dallas, Texas, the 27-year-old has become the bad girl of fashion that Kate Moss wishes she actually was with her take-no-prisoners approach to style. The show attracted a crew of hipsters and tastemakers who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with fashionistas to catch sight of Wasson’s to-die-for frame as much as the new gear she and her cadre of drool-worthy models were wearing. If Wasson looks familiar, she should. She’s already modeled for Gucci, Cavalli, Balenciaga, and Karl Lagerfeld; graced the covers of Allure, Numero, Esquire French, Spanish, German, and Australian Vogue, Elle, and Flair; and posed for photographers like Terry Richardson, Mario Testino, and Steven Meisel. Now, in collaboration with RVCA honcho PM TENORE, the hardcore Wasson is poised to throw the weak-kneed fashion world the knuckle sandwich it’s been long deserving with a new collection driven by rock ‘n’ roll and classic Americana aesthetics. Keep an eye on ST for updates on Ms. Wasson’s next steps. Meanwhile, HAVE A LOOK: Read the rest of this entry »

Comrades in fur: Baseman, Ryden, and Biskup cause a whiteout…

Otaku MARK RYDEN fans got a much-needed dose of face time with their art idol in Tokyo last Saturday nite when his hotly anticipated new “Snow Yak Show” debuted at TOMIO KOYAMA GALLERY. In attendance were longtime Ryden brothers-in-arms TIM BISKUP and GARY BASEMAN who helped their bearded elder celebrate in true snow yak style replete with fuzzy white headgear and ice cold hearts to boot. The sold out show of new oil paintings and drawings represents a stark aesthetic departure for the artist who leaves behind his trademark meat-laden painting style and ornate frames behind with this collection of minimalist new work. HAVE A LOOK: Read the rest of this entry »

JR’s first installation best viewed with Google Earth…

French outdoor installation artist (call it “street art” if you must) extraordinaire JR continues his epic 28 MILLIMETER: WOMEN Project with the unveiling this week of his most ambitious stage yet in KIBERA, KENYA. Reconnecting with the subjects he photographed over a year ago in the city—one of the largest slums in Africa—at the start of his mission to portray on a grand scale the unseen and unempowered women of the world, the reunion was an especially poignant moment for the artist. With the help of enthusiastic residents, JR managed to cover 2,000 square meters of local rooftops with photos of the eyes and faces of the women of Kibera, giving them a monumental voice and presence in a city where their own existence is often marginalized. Most of the subjects had their photos installed atop their own roofs and for the first time in JRs global series of installations, the material used is water-resistant enabling that the photo itself to protect the fragile houses in the upcoming rainy season. In order to further spread his message throughout the massive city, JR also encapsulated the local train that runs through the area twice daily with the eyes of local women alongside those of women photographed in Brazil, India, Cambodia, and other parts of Africa whose stories and images reveal a global solidarity of plight and purpose. The pinnacle of the experience, however, comes when the eyes on the moving train align with the static bottom halves of the subject’s faces posted along the train’s embankment, completing the smiling portraits for a split second in rapid succession before moving on to the next village where the experience is repeated. Somehow that stencil art on your local 7-11 will never seem quite so cool again, eh? HAVE A LOOK: Read the rest of this entry »

THE MEDIUM IS THE MESSAGE:

SHEPARD FAIREY AND THE ART OF APPROPRIATION

As underground art phenomenon SHEPARD FAIREY’s first major museum retrospective prepares to open at the INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART/BOSTON on February 6th, we feel the need to address some of the vicious and unfounded rumors surrounding the originality of Shepard’s artwork that have been floated online in recent years. Though written by a variety of different detractors for a questionable array of reasons, the common thread binding them all—aside from a thinly masked veneer of obvious envy in most cases—is a nearly ubiquitous lack of understanding of the artist’s use of appropriated imagery in his work and the longstanding historical precedent for this mode of creative expression. READ ON: Read the rest of this entry »