Colors

I picked up a couple of old copies of Benetton's Colors magazine . I got the Shopping for the Body issue you see above and also the War issue. I haven't posted any scans from the War issue yet because, to be honest, I have been shy of opening it. Justin looked at it when I first brought it home and and his reaction has frightened me a little bit. I will get up the courage soon though, especially if there's interest because neither of these issues are in the Colors archive. Please find below a few of my favorite bits from issue No. 18:

Can you read this one if you click on it? It seems if you strap the flesh of a potato to your knee it will swell....I hope I'm helping some nerd get out of gym class!

It makes your poop not smell. I'm not naming names, but I know someone who would like to get their hands on some of this. *ahem*

I want to say "only in America!" but I actually would expect this to come from Japan or China, and also I wouldn't have thought it to be from 1996. It seems so 'now', with all that antibacterial crap and general germaphobia these days.

The pink lipstick is actually a vibrator, the tiny bottle is skunk scent for hunters in the US, and  "email diamant" is a toothpaste that tints gums pink. Before there was Vice magazine, there was Colors!

Organic tampons from 1996 in the center, finger tape on the top left to relieve joint ache in fingers (ouch! looks painful), Pepee is supposedly used by pornstars in Japan to make their genitals glisten on camera, and the cotton pads in the blue box are supposed to enlarge breasts.

There were so many more things I could post pictures of that were great: the twig toothbrush, leaves for deodorant, black dirt toothpaste....plus ear cleaning tools and an electric tongue! On the cover is "Night Flower" a pubic wig from Japan. I should post the copy to that one, it's so good! 

London ephemera

So I just came back from a trip to London of the short, hectic and super-fun variety. I lived there for almost 2 and a half years up until this time last year. So it was with a bit of a heavy heart that I came home on Monday. I miss it a bit over there. Strangely, visiting felt as if time had stood still this year. J & I visited friends, ran around town, reminisced, and basically were sleeply and awake at all the wrong times.

Here are some of the bits of paper I brought back with me:


These first ones are all from Tate Modern....



Postcard from a Gillian Wearing photograph from the series (see previous link) Signs that say what you want them to say and not signs that say what someone else wants you to say



Dan Flavin 'Monumment' for V. Tatlin
I think the image results page on Google is the best link for him!



The back of the flyer for Doris Salcedo's piece for the Turbine Hall Shibboleth. I have some photos that I'll post of this piece later this week. In looking up a link for Salcedo, I found this from the Istanbul Biennial. Wow!




These two are the packaging from a Louise Bourgeois tea towel. Apparently I have now started a home furnishing art collection. (Post on The Thing is still outstanding!) I'm sad to report we did not see the show though....also sadly missed the V&A Couture show that everyone is raving about. I was only there for a weekend people!



Note to self: Look up Meredith Frampton's work....



Who can resist a proper Dracula? Really just brought it home to reference good films to look for on Netflix....



My lovely Selvedge magazine, that is just too pricey in the US (maybe I'll get a subscription!)

Arthur!

I almost never pick up free "magazines" on the street. They usually have too many ads, or interviews of overly-hyped celebs, little new info, or stories that would require research or time....which is all a consequence of beign free, I suspect. Anyway, Justin always brings free magazines home, and he found a really good one this week. It's called Arthur and it's seems a bit hippie/pychedelic (they call themselves a "transgenerational counterculture magazine") which is not my thing, but they had some really good, a bit off the radar, articles in this issue (number 26!). You can pick it up on the street or download the whole shebang on their website. Here's some pieces I liked:

Lavender Diamond's BECKY STARK

I have never heard of Lavender Diamond, but you can hear them here. A beautiful girl with an intersting story. And of course lovely songs.


Thurston Moore & Byron Coley have an audience with YOKO ONO

I know she's contradictory: sometimes raising money for good causes and others famously selling off Lennon's estate for her own profit, or making music I can't bear to listen to but paintings and films I absolutely adore. An excellent interview that critically looks at Ono's work as well as revisits her life thus far.


Zen humorist/media innovator HENRY JACOBS

I'm a little bit in love with Henry James....he plays left-handed ping pong and wants to make a movie about it to show the world the other (better!) side of America than the one most people in other countries see.


Fringe knitter TINA MARRIN

Her work reminds me a bit of Clare Tough's early designs. A download is available on Tina's how to make your own miniature knitted skunk.


MIRANDA JULY's time machine

Sweet illustration, fun little interview.