This clever design provides a place to store snacks within and a receptacle for empty nutshells or wrappers on top (or vice versa). Designed by Claus Jensen and Henrik Holbaek. Made of multi-layer laminated glass. Available in red, black, orange, turquoise and lime. Slated for release this month. Keep your eyes open for availability.

It’s pretty rare when we find something original, and these pieces from french artist tilt are our first look at fetishist graffiti. Tilt’s style is mostly traditional hip hop bubble style lettering that ends up just this side of japanese cutesyness. It’s no wonder then that so many girls have been willing to let Tilt draw on them in various states of undress and then be photographed. We’re pretty sure this guy must be fighting American Apparel off with a stick as they beg for a licensing deal.

We have to say that Portland, OR is our new favorite getaway spot. Just a quick flight from LA and you’re surrounded by lush scenery and lots of good shopping. We recently stumbled on Madison Millinger while gallery hopping in Portland’s Pearl District. Their rugs are made with hand spun wool and natural vegetable dyes. Many of these impressive pieces hail from Tibet, Nepal, Turkey, and India where they are hand made by skilled artisans.

We posted earlier about Dave Kinsey’s show at BLK/MKT Gallery. For anyone who missed the opening, Kinsey and BLK/MKT Gallery delivered an amazing show. Politically inspired, Kinsey’s work explores the frustration of apathy and the burnden of defeat. “Apathy seems increasingly common in modern western culture,” Kinsey observes, “There is a general sense that people feel helpless or don’t care to engage in issues that affect their lives and the lives of those around them. Consumerism and even modern technology allows for and easy complacency.”

In a way his artwork, like the political landscape, can be perceived on multiple levels. On one level, we see the palatable beauty of his work. At a deeper level, we the see conflict and despair of his subject. His paintings take on a painterly style which encourage closer observation of the layered imagery. Static restrained imagery is juxtaposed against aggressive splashes of paint. The paintings are most powerful when in seen person and are well worth a visit to the gallery. The show runs through November 17, 2007. For more information visit BLK/MKT Gallery. Click the link below to see more images from the opening show.

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On a recent trip to Atlanta we noticed that both art and design are more prevalent than ever. For more than a decade now Atlanta has seen tremendous growth and with that growth comes the demand for more luxury goods. This is especially evident the boutique shopping areas such a Virginia Highlands. Here we found Highland Gifts for Men. This boutique caters to “the man who has almost everything.” We especially liked the Colonel Littleton Collection, namely the No. 1 Grip Bag (above), available at Highland Gifts for $650. I must say that there is definitely more demand for gentleman, and gentlemen have needs too.

This is the most personalized jewelry that we can imagine. The barcode collection is for both men and women. All of the items can be personalized with up to 14 characters and are 100% Sterling Silver. Find at Pippa Knowles website

ANTHONY LISTER  .  KELSEY BROOKES  .  KILL PIXIE

NOVEMBER 3 – NOVEMBER 28, 2007
Opening Reception: Saturday November 3rd, 2007 7-10pm
The Lab 101 Gallery, Culver City presents ‘Replace ‘Please’ with Fast & ‘Thank you’ with Good’, featuring Australian originating artists Anthony Lister, and Mark Whalen aka Kill Pixie along with the San Diego based artist Kelsey Brookes.

The three artists collectively come together for the first time to exhibit their individual styles while sharing their common thread for love of urban environment and exploding interest in the art scene. Native artist Kelsey Brookes who has previously exhibited in a handful of group exhibitions at The Lab 101 is now commanding a hefty price tag and demand for his paintings in europe as he joins the ranks of representation by the Lazarides gallery (London) home to UK urban artists Banksy. Australian born/ Brooklyn based painter Anthony Lister is also taking the international art scene by storm -added to the mix is Sydney’s most uncompromising contemporary artist Kill Pixie who is set to fellow is the footsteps of both Brookes and Lister.

This exhibition will also be The Lab 101 Galleries three year marker for the opening of its doors in the Culver City Arts District, its fourth years in existence as a static art gallery and its sixth year operating in the art world curating local and International exhibitions. It also marks our final schedules exhibition for the year.
This exhibitions runs though to November 28th,2007.

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For anyone who has visited another country, marveled at the currency and wished they could get their hands on it again comes a great website. Banknotes.com has galleries of currency and a marketplace for you to buy and sell to other design obsessed individuals like yourself. The notes shown are from South Africa.
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Photographer turned Filmaker turned photgrapher Christoph Martin Schmid captures the Essence of Los Angeles by creating a sense of perfection to the place which doesn’t actually exist. We’ve long suspected New Yorkers and Bay Area residents like to hate on the City of Angels because it revels in it’s own fakeness, and Christoph Martin Schmid creates an fantastic illustration of this idea.

We also feel hit a little close to home as we look through Martin Schmid’s shots of the Griffith Park fire. Especially as half southern California is currently facing the same treatment form mother nature today.

Hard Format is a website which features notable vinyl, cd, and dvd designs for music. The packaging above and below was found while perusing the site. Vaughan Oliver designed the with assistance from Chris Bigg. The musical artist is Scott Walker and the album is titled And Who Shall Go To The Ball? And What Shall Go To The Ball?.

For those unfamiliar with Vaughan Oliver, he is a famous British graphic designer responsible for the visualization of many musical artists including Cocteau Twins, Dead Can Dance, This Mortal Coil, Pale Saints, Pixies, and Throwing Muses. His work pushed the envelope and helped guide the direction of graphic design through the 80s and 90s.