CRACKADE GOES TO ART CHICAGO 2011

Spent a healthy 3 1/2 hours checking out over 200 galleries (not sure on the number) on the enormous 12th floor of the Merchandise Mart. As you may have heard, Shepard Fairey—better known as Obey Giant—has been popping up around Chicago, pasting up his most recent work from his  'Revolutions' exhibition through the Robert Berman Gallery. The bizarre part, he nor the gallery were listed in any of the Art Chicago materials. Needless to say, it took a little while to find the gallery because most of the workers had no clue what I was talking about. Go figure. Regardless, it was badass seeing it all in person.

So like I said, there was a lot of stuff. I took pictures of whatever looked fresh, interesting or just down right bizarre.  Overall, it was a solid showing, but lacked a lot of street art aside from the Obey Giants and a Mr Brainwash. Surprised I didn't see one Banksy on display.

Shot pictures using my iPhone 4 camera as well as Hipstamatic and Instagram apps. I think the quality is alright with me.

Favorite of the Show: Renaud Delorme,  Mixed Media.
(Above) Shotgun shells, tennis balls, yarn, cassette tapes and other collected artifacts
(Below) Patchwork, electric toy racetrack, pill bottles.

 World Currency Butterflies by Erica Harrsh. These were Hand Painted if you can believe that.

 (Above) Ryan Humphrey
(Below) Mr Brainwash "Madonna"

 (Above) Obey Giant Album Covers. Framed editions of 8

 (Above and Below) Yi-Hsin Tzeng

 (Above) Sarah Palin Stamps.

 (Above) Victor Sydorenko
(Below) Detail shot of the above piece.

 (Above) Kelly Ratchford
(Below) Christina Nederberger. Acrylic on Plexiglass 'Chandelier'

 (Above) Warhol
(Below) Ed Valentine

 (Above) Horse Drawn Hummer Carriage

 (Above) Peggy Kouroumalos
(Below) Christy Langer. Creepiest thing I saw all day.

 (Above) Arno Elias

 (Above and Below) Bates Wilson

 (Above) Most unique way of selling art: Threaten to destroy it. Part of the NEXT section of Art Chicago, this gallery placed a time limit on each piece. If no one offered atleast minimum wage x the amount of time it took to create the piece of art, well, then, it gets the ax. This one was saved for $80 dollars

Obey Giant hanging from the lobby of The Merchandise Mart. Balling.

LCD SOUNDSYSTEM-2010 ALBUM OF THE YEAR

There's no other contender in my mind. LCD Soundsystem released what is rumored to be their last album, This is Happening, in May. The sound is ahead of its time. The tracks are sprawling in size (most clock in at over seven minutes). Nonetheless, the whole album is grounded in rhythm and lyrical themes any person can relate to.  Band producer, lyricist and vocalist James Murphy's tracks are infectious in their honest nature, giving you the sense you've been there too. And you'll want to go back to it again and again. Dig it.




(Directed by Spike Jonze)

Best Advertising Creative of the Decade

Via adweek, comes a compilation of the best work from the 2000's. A decade that saw the explosion of digital and the rise of Apple.

See it at http://www.bestofthe2000s.com/campaign-of-the-decade.html