Sundance Channel

Blue Heaven

Bradford Shellhammer — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 21:08:49 +0000

As a professional gay, um, hello, I write the gay column here, I have to say I like to pride myself on knowing that I am a wealth of gay knowledge. Oscar Wilde? Check. Cher and all her chart toppers? Check. Rock Hudson movies? Check. My pop culture references are gay, gay, gay: from Paris is Burning to France Joli to John Waters. I felt like I knew all homoculture. Nope. Not all of it. For Wine/Bound, my monthly book club where we drink wine, we read the glorious gay novel Blue Heaven by Joe Keenan. Had I not only never heard of the book, but neither of its author. My book club mates were aghast! Simply aghast! The book was published in 1988 and it's light reading. It follows two Manhattan homos and a few other female and female-impersonating friends through a madcap comedy of drinking, fashion, weddings, and the mafia. It's the kind of book that reads like a TV show, effortless, light-hearted, camp, fun. It is perfect Fire Island beach reading material.

Matthias Heiderich’s Berlin

Bradford Shellhammer — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 17:32:16 +0000

I am obsessed with Matthias Heiderich’s cropped square photos of Berlin’s buildings. Using color and composition, the photographer creates patterns and abstract images that may not obviously be architecture and the city’s skylines. Having just returned from Berlin last week it’s quite remarkable just how perfectly he captures the modern feel and cool, geometric shapes of [...]

Brazilians and a Transsexual

Bradford Shellhammer — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 21:24:35 +0000

AMANDA LEPORE - TURN ME OVER from Daniel Wierman on Vimeo.

Amanda Lepore is the world's most famous transsexual. A former David LaChapelle muse, the feisty NYC legend's been on the scene for many more decades than her plumped and plucked face suggests. She's been the face of a Swatch and has walked runways across the globe. She also makes adorable bubble gum pop like this new record "Turn Me Over."

Come on, Vogue

Bradford Shellhammer — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 17:04:06 +0000

ME AT NINE, PERFORMING TO MADONNA IN SUMMER ’91! from Robert Jeffrey on Vimeo. I don’t know who Robert Jeffrey is, but God I need to! He’s uploaded this amazingly gay video on Vimeo of himself, age nine, proving Gaga’s not the only formidable challenger to Madge’s gay icon status. This made my day! Week! [...]

Vimeo of the Week: Pi

Bradford Shellhammer — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 15:54:41 +0000

Pi from Thomas Blanchard on Vimeo.

It is Gay Pride month and what better way to get gayer on SUNfiltered than by watching hotties jumping on their bikes. This film is romantic and beautiful and just sexy enough. It shows off the beauty and form of the athletes and makes me very excited for summer! Kudos Thomas Blanchard.

Robyn’s Call Your Girlfriend

Bradford Shellhammer — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 21:31:21 +0000

My obsession with Swedish singer Robyn is ever further cemented with her new video for the single "Call Your Girlfriend." In a textured sweat top, leggings, and sneakers she makes a video fascinating only because of her spunk. It was recorded in a single take in Los Angeles at an abandoned warehouse by Max Vitali, who often collaborates with the singer. It's emotional and fun. And you'll keep watching, I promise.

Vimeo of the Week: Jellyfish Lake

Bradford Shellhammer — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 19:37:49 +0000

JELLYFISH LAKE from Sarosh Jacob on Vimeo.

Jellyfish Lake by Sarosh Jacob is a hypnotic film documenting Jellyfish Lake on Eli Malk island in the Republic of Palau. The jellyfish live in this lake without an real predators which has lead to them losing their stinging ability. More from the filmmaker below:

New York’s changing face

Bradford Shellhammer — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 21:37:48 +0000

James and Karla Murray’s New York City storefronts project is now a book. It took them 10 years to complete the project and in that time 1/3 of all the shops photographed have shuttered. It’s a visual documentation of the loss of Mom and Pop stores across NYC. From the couple: STORE FRONT is a [...]

Origins of I Heart New York

Bradford Shellhammer — Mon, 30 May 2011 15:24:01 +0000

I sat down with Milton Glaser last week. Not only am I working with Milton at my day job, I also recorded our conversation for Dwell too. Meeting legends typically don't phase me. I've met them all from design icons to rock gods. But Milton is the quintessential New Yorker. It was quite a joyous event for me. The below statement about "I Love New York/I Heart New York" was particularly fascinating for me as he not only explained it's design inspiration, something I'd never heard, but also explained how ubiquitous the statement had become. It's a fun read:

I am sure you have answered this about a million times, but I have to ask about "I Love New York" or "I Heart New York." I don't even know what to call it! Love or heart? What you may not realize that is that the heart, a symbol used as a verb, has now entered into the Oxford English Dictionary. This happened a couple of weeks ago. So heart is now a verb. It entered with an acknowledgement that "I Love New York" was the manifestation that did it, the first symbol ever to enter the Oxford Dictionary. You can call it either one as both are correct.

Vimeo of the Week: LEGO Technic Super-8 Movie Projector

Bradford Shellhammer — Fri, 27 May 2011 19:00:41 +0000

Lego Technic Super-8 Movie Projector from Friedemann Wachsmuth on Vimeo. Friedemann Wachsmuth’s amazing little film Lego Technic Super-8 Movie Projector is pretty freaking awesome. The filmmaker/designer built a fully functional Super-8 projector using nothing but LEGOs! Ok, wait, I take that back. He did use a lens, reel spindles and a lamp not made of [...]

Q&A With Sebastian Junger

Bradford Shellhammer — Wed, 25 May 2011 16:16:58 +0000

DreamStates: Sebastian Junger Animation by Cole Gerst Sebastian Junger is busy on a book tour promoting his book WAR, now in paperback. The author and filmmaker took time from his busy schedule to chat with me about his Dreamstates episode, seen above. How were you first approached to take part in DreamStates? I was told about it by National Geographic. I thought it was a cool idea. Did you collaborate at all with the illustrator? If so, in what ways? No I did not. And I think he did a fantastic job! I absolutely loved what he created. It was such a cool experience watching my own dream portrayed visually. It was very cool. Was there anything that he got 100% right, spot on? Well I think the characterization of the expanding cartoon monsters was perfect. He really nailed it. It was really spot on. You said this dream marked a time where you grew up. Have you had other dreams, like or unlike this one, that have repeated or have impacted you? I mean every once in a while we all have dreams that are devastating. Nothing ever like that though. Nothing with a complete sense of doom and helplessness. It was really a classic midlife issue. How old were you? I was 46.

3 Way (The Golden Rule)

Bradford Shellhammer — Mon, 23 May 2011 16:30:14 +0000

SNL got really gay this past Saturday night. Yes, Justin Timberlake hosted. Yes, Lady Gaga performed. But nothing could have prepared me for the return of the Dick In A Box singers, Timberlake and Andy Samberg. After brief cameos by Patricia Clarkson and Susan Sarandon, the pair focus on Lady Gaga. Hilarity ensues when the [...]

Morrissey versus the Queen

Bradford Shellhammer — Fri, 20 May 2011 19:16:01 +0000

The very existence of the Queen and her now enormous family - all supported by the British taxpayer whether the British taxpayer likes it or not - is entirely against any notion of democracy, and is against freedom of speech. For a broad historical view of what the Queen is and how she "rules", examine Gaddafi or Mubarak, and see if you can spot any difference.

Vimeo of the Week: Under the Lucan Sun

Bradford Shellhammer — Wed, 18 May 2011 19:30:50 +0000

Under the Lucan Sun from Leonardo Dalessandri on Vimeo. Under the Lucan Sun is a film by Leonardo Dallessandri that captures visual snapshots of the architecture, people and nature of a small Italian town. It’s both creepy and beautiful. In a few short minutes mood is established and you’re longing to know more about the [...]

Meeting Milton Glaser

Bradford Shellhammer — Mon, 16 May 2011 00:31:15 +0000

Forgive me while I geek out for a minute. But the other day I met the legend Milton Glaser! Milton Glaser is a design legend. That cannot be overstated. The man created the “I Heart New York” logo, arguably the most copied design in the world. I spent the afternoon with Milton. We talked about [...]

Gawker vs. Gaga

Bradford Shellhammer — Fri, 13 May 2011 19:15:59 +0000

Gawker’s Brian Moylan rips Lady Gaga’s new column for V Magazine to shreds. In a post entitled “Lady Gaga’s First Magazine Column Is as Annoying as You Expected” Moylan lets us in on the fact that Gaga spells Marc Bolan’s name wrong and laughs at her lecture on art and fashion. Moylan’s not buying it: [...]

Vimeo of the Week: Collision

Bradford Shellhammer — Thu, 12 May 2011 19:40:30 +0000

Collision (by Max Hattler) from Max Hattler on Vimeo. Max Hattler‘s film COLLISION was created in 2006 and it shows “Islamic patterns and American quilts and the colours and geometry of flags as an abstract field of reflection.” In 2008 The Gaurdian wrote, “to note the five long years that the Iraq campaign has chalked up this [...]

Toby Wong retrospective

Bradford Shellhammer — Mon, 09 May 2011 15:06:40 +0000

Portrait made from dice by Frederick McSwain

Toby Wong was a Canadian designer I once interviewed for FULL FRONTAL FASHION. He was a product designer and a subversive artist. His designs weren't for everyone. He made gold coke spoons cast from McDonald's coffee stirrers and diamond rings, inverted, so the diamond point was on the outside. That design was called "Killer Ring" obviously. This New York Times slideshow is a great reference of his work. It is Design Week in NYC this week and a retrospective called Brokenoff Brokenoff, in Toby's honor, will run May 14-17. It's a celebration of Toby's work including many close friends' contributions.

Only in New York

Bradford Shellhammer — Fri, 06 May 2011 17:46:42 +0000

Only in New York do people live in apartments covered in tape, covered in yarn, and covered in crazy wallpapers. Eclectic people flock to this city and New York Magazine‘s new issue features some extreme decor proves that. Included are six apartments of various size and extremity. Featured are Agata Oleksiak (now known solely as [...]

Vimeo of the Week: N.Y. Adorned “Tradition”

Bradford Shellhammer — Thu, 05 May 2011 20:30:37 +0000

N.Y. Adorned “Tradition” from Evan Owen Dennis on Vimeo. Evan Owen Davis‘ film N.Y. Adorned “Tradition” is a short black and white portrait of tattoo artistry and New York City. The tattoo studios, not unlike the art studios of New York, are filled with people from all over the world. Images of New York City [...]

A Q&A with Will Forte – Part 2

Bradford Shellhammer — Tue, 03 May 2011 14:31:26 +0000

To celebrate the launch of DreamStates, last week I got on a call with Will Forte while he drove to Mt. Rushmore. We discussed puffins, SNL, and of course, his dreams. Part One was yesterday. Part Two is below. You're not on SNL anymore? I left SNL in the summer and moved back to Los Angeles. But you were just on this past weekend with Elton John? Just for that sketch. That was so exciting to have Tom Hanks play my brother. He is so fun to be around. Are you working on new movies? I just got done with a movie Tim and Eric. It is called Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie. I was in Palm Springs wearing a moustache. I love wearing a mustache.

A Q&A with Will Forte – Part 1

Bradford Shellhammer — Mon, 02 May 2011 13:51:38 +0000

To celebrate the launch of DreamStates, last week I got on a call with Will Forte while he drove to Mt. Rushmore. We discussed puffins, SNL, and of course, his dreams. Part One is today. Part Two will post tomorrow. Hi Will. Hi! I apologize in advance as I am 7 miles from Mt. Rushmore. I'd pull off but I think the park is closing soon! So this is the best time to interview me. I am so energized about getting to Mt. Rushmore. It's taken me 40 years to get to this part of the country so I just had to get to see Mt. Rushmore. I was just in Iceland last week and your DreamStates episode is all about puffins. So it's appropriate we're talking. I assume Iceland is where you came in contact with puffins? Yes. Yes that is where. I went to a festival there and it was a weekend long event that was amazing. During this festival whole families stay up the entire night and there were puffins all over the island I was on. So we saw these puffins everywhere and then at night all around the tents people would be snacking on puffins! And I was a little sad as they seem like these cute birds. But then I heard they had a nasty side. So you didn't come in contact with their nasty side? It was all second hand information? Yes, it was all second hand. Have you seen the YouTube video of Gordon Ramsey catching puffins and snapping their necks? No, puffins!? Yes, if you Google "eating puffins" you'll find this video of Ramsey catching puffins in nets and then snapping their necks! No wonder they have this bad attitude. They've gotta have this attitude to survive.

Robyn Documentary

Bradford Shellhammer — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 19:41:10 +0000

Robyn, the prolific and innovative Swedish pop singer, is the subject of a new hour-long documentary. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the life and professional evolution of a child star to an iconic force. It is in four parts – click through to the next part after each part ends.

Vimeo of the Week: Symmetry

Bradford Shellhammer — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 19:53:44 +0000

Symmetry from Everynone on Vimeo. Symmetry, a film created by Everynone, comes in at under 3 minutes long. This is a remarkable thing to note as the film has such an powerful emotional punch. The film’s split screens shows the dualities of life. A muscled torso sits side-by-side with weights, cookies with milk. Cops and [...]

Conversations with Icelandic designers

Bradford Shellhammer — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 19:00:46 +0000

While in Iceland a few weeks back I was charmed by the fashions. They were quirky and a little offbeat. I tracked down two of my favorite designers there and asked them a few questions. Read below for more:

Sigríður Ásta Árnadóttir

Describe your design philosphy in three words? Recycle, redye, reuse Who wears your creations? I guess you must have a sense of humor ... but also a nostalgic inclination.

Tap Into It

Bradford Shellhammer — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 18:44:05 +0000

TAP INTO IT from Vancouver Craft Beer Week on Vimeo.

Gay men like beer a lot more than many a stereotype suggest. But even those gay men who turn their noses up at beer in favor of the more obvious choices like vodka may reconsider after watching this movie. In teal unitard and rocking a regular guy's body, the actor gives his best Jennifer Beals a la FLASHDANCE. He's good. Connecting with the camera to comedic effect and giving it all.

Vimeo of the Week: Drawingmachine by Eske Rex

Bradford Shellhammer — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 17:36:44 +0000

Drawingmachine by Eske Rex from Core77 on Vimeo.

There's something very simple and relaxing about the above Core 77 film. Shown last week at the Milan furniture show, Salone Milan 2011, the Drawingmachine by Danish designer Eske Rex. Utilizing two pendulums, the machine creates large-scale graphic drawings. Not only are the results stunning, but so is the machine itself and its sounds and movements. I want a drawing. More info from Danish Crafts here:

A Q&A with Meera Sethi

Bradford Shellhammer — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 18:30:49 +0000

I stumbled upon the work of artist Meera Sethi at Bombay Electric in Mumbai. I love her use of colors and her modern take on Indian garments. The Toronto-based Sethi answered some questions for me while she traveled India and as I returned from my third trip to that nation. Your Firangi Rang Birangi series of paintings really caught my eye. Can you describe them to me? The Firangi Rang Barangi — Hindi for “colorful foreigner” — works are a series of acrylic, pencil, and ink paintings on paper that foreground themes of femininity and hybridity through dress. In them I combine Eastern and Western textiles, garments, and jewelry in order to reimagine identity across borders. These paintings make use of bold colors and patterns, layering cultural history with personal style. While the surface of these works draws us in, the bodies that they adorn are barely revealed — an inversion that suggests the role of sartorial expression in creating a sense of self, particularly one rooted in a diasporic, transnational experience.

A Q&A with Moleskine

Bradford Shellhammer — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 21:42:56 +0000

I love my Moleskine notebooks. So much so that I tracked down Marco Beghin, President of Moleskine America, to ask him about the iconic notebook brand. Here's what I found out: What is the history of the Moleskine brand? Moleskine® was created as a brand in 1997, bringing back to life the legendary notebook used by artists and thinkers over the past two centuries: among them Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, and Bruce Chatwin. A trusted and handy travel companion, the nameless black notebook held invaluable sketches, notes, stories, and ideas that would one day become famous paintings or the pages of beloved books. Today, the name Moleskine encompasses a family of nomadic objects: notebooks, diaries, journals, bags, writing instruments and reading accessories, dedicated to our mobile identity. Indispensable companions to the creative professions and the imagination of our times: they are intimately tied to the digital world.

Depeche Mode remixed

Bradford Shellhammer — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 19:00:26 +0000

Depeche Mode, the U2 of electronic music, is releasing a remix album this summer. And I am freaking out! The 4-disc set will feature remixes of tracks from all their albums, spanning 81-11. Included will be new and old remixes. The band's releases have also become a wonderful study on package and graphic design. By the looks of the above image, this release continues on that tradition. Here's to a summer of Depeche Mode blaring from speakers in gay clubs across the world. More info below:

On traveling to Bjork’s homeland

Bradford Shellhammer — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:39:44 +0000

Angie Grant was a friend of mine in 9th grade. She had a blunt-cut died black bob and wore black and white striped tights with black Creepers. She stained her lip cherry red and idolized The Cure's Robert Smith. At 15 Angie had found a look. She'd created a strong visual that invited ridicule and attention. I admired her greatly. And when i found out a few years back she'd died a little piece of me too also left this world. I was thinking of Angie Grant this past weekend as I traveled to Iceland for the first time. Angie gave me Bjork's album Debut when we were high school kids. And it changed my world. It was one of those crystal-clear moments when you easily look back and remember finding a new world.

Vimeo of the Week: HK Honey

Bradford Shellhammer — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 17:49:23 +0000

Nokia – HK Honey from The Silentlights on Vimeo. The above film, HK HONEY, is about the organization of the same name. HK Honey is a group of beekeepers and designers who intend to illustrate the need for bees within our worlds. The thought of bees and designers living together, at first, is an odd [...]

Attention Seekers

Bradford Shellhammer — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 17:11:28 +0000

I love this New York Magazine slideshow of NYC apartments from over the years. Documenting the scariest, the noisiest, and even the gaudiest, the slideshow shows a broad array of apartments in New York. I love the smallest, a 55 square foot studio! And the noisiest, seen above, nestled against a roller coaster, would be [...]

Skeletor in New York

Bradford Shellhammer — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 21:41:54 +0000

The charity art show I am curating, Skeletor Saves, is this Thursday in NYC from 6-10. What started off as a crazy little idea has ballooned into an event of monstrous size! We could not be more thrilled. We took an 80s cartoon icon, He-Man, and built a star-studded celebrity art show around him and his Masters of the Universe. Some heavy hitters are involved. Designer Marc Jacobs has sketched some characters for the show. Helmut Lang's submission is modern and the opposite of He-Man's over-the-top imagery. Porn stars Francois Sagat and Buck Angel turned artists for the event. Add other notable gays to the mix-Casey Spooner, Joey Arias, Raja from RuPaul's Drag Race- and you have a show that NY Magazine calls "Brilliant/Highbrow."

Vimeo of the Week: Nova the film

Bradford Shellhammer — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 19:00:18 +0000

NOVA the film from ROJO on Vimeo.

The 75 minute documentary "Nova the film," is a movie on new art and the artists, many new, young, and excited, who make these works. It was directed by Isaac Niemand and produced by ROJO® in collaboration with BossaNovaFilms.

Cuckoo Cats

Bradford Shellhammer — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 21:46:33 +0000

Absolutely Cuckoo Cats from SINLOGO on Vimeo. Yes, I know stupid cat videos and pictures have haunted the Internet for, like, um, ever. But this video just has me giggling like a big ole’ sissy. Set to The Magnetic Fields’”Absolutely Cuckoo,” the film shows three silly synchronized felines bobbing their heads to the music. I [...]

The Amen Break

Bradford Shellhammer — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 17:59:13 +0000

The above 20 minute documentary was made in 2004 and it's all about what is likely the most famous sample ever recorded, the "Amen Break," pulled from a hit, then forgotten, record from the 1960s. That single, the song "Amen, Brother" was performed by the The Winstons. This film honors it.

Vimeo of the Week: Through The Middle

Bradford Shellhammer — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 21:24:31 +0000

Through the Middle from Clouded Vision on Vimeo.

Clouded Vision's Through the Middle is a wonderful and short documentary showing a barber shop and its decline. It is a bittersweet goodbye letter to another time and another place where industry and prosperity once thrived. It's a perfect snapshot of what it's like being a small business owner during a recession. Simon James Lane and Tom Sweetland's film is profound and pint-sized. More on the film:

The Twisted Art of Mariel Clayton

Bradford Shellhammer — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 18:19:39 +0000

Mariel Clayton is one f-ed up artist! And I mean that in all the best ways. Mariel is a photographer who specializes in photos of dolls. Now, that’s creepy just in and of itself. But when you add to that statement the fact that Clayton beheads, mutilates, and depicts graphic death scenes with the dolls [...]

Pet Shop Boys go to the ballet

Bradford Shellhammer — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:00:18 +0000

The Pet Shop Boys, the techno-pop duo, have scored their first ballet. Based on Hans Christian Andersen's story The Most Incredible Thing, the ballet is choreographed by Venezuelan dancer Javier De Frutos. It has opened to mixed reviews that match the reviews the PSBs have received their entire career: dramatic, uneven, fun, unforgettable, and a bit confused. If unable to make it to London to see the show the soundtrack was released last week. More on the show below:

Vimeo of the Week: AH

Bradford Shellhammer — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 17:54:16 +0000

Ah from studio shelter on Vimeo. Lee SungHwan directed the quirky and fun film AH for Studio Shelter in Seoul, Korea. Made from LEGOs and stop-motion graphics the film’s fast pace includes number countdowns, cops and robbers, Star Wars, and my favorite, a LEGO version of the SMPTE color bars from TV. It’s perfect for [...]

Discovering Anton Stankowski

Bradford Shellhammer — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 17:43:18 +0000

While working in India last week I was doing research on fonts when I discovered the work of Anton Stankowski. Wow is all I can say. I stumbled on his work after spending hours Googling fonts, graphic design and logo treatments. I studied fashion design in college. I’ve worked in furniture and product design worlds for [...]

RIP Ms. Holloway

Bradford Shellhammer — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 18:00:24 +0000

We gays have icons that sometimes become huge stars, the Gagas and the Madonnas. But we also have more obscure icons, those that the general public could never embrace the way we did. Loleatta Holloway was one of those icons. Her voice was big. Really big. And she too was no small lady. Her "Crash Goes Love" still makes my skin crawl and her "Love Sensation" is just so, so, so good. It is a record that defines that late 70s/early 80s disco meets house sound. It holds up to this day.

George Michael covers New Order

Bradford Shellhammer — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 23:00:13 +0000

The above video is George Michael's odd yet infectious new single. It is a cover of the classic New Order techno-pop gem "True Faith," a song released in 1987. "True Faith's" always been my favorite New Order song. It's aged well and it's lyrics are dark and moody. The song in my eyes always summed up what it was like being gay as a kid. New Order's video for the song was modern and Bauhaus inspired. It fused primary colored cartoon characters with ballet. The characters fought one another too.

Vimeo of the Week: Cry Baby: The Pedal That Rocks The World

Bradford Shellhammer — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 16:32:31 +0000

Cry Baby: The Pedal That Rocks The World from Joey Tosi on Vimeo.

Cry Baby: The Pedal That Rocks The World is well worth the hour it takes to finish this short film. The movie, directed by Joey Tosi, is all about the "wah wah" effect Cry Baby pedal used in popular music. From its debut in 1966 until modern day, the movie interviews industry professionals, from famous musicians to music engineers, showing how it's been used to great effect in many of the songs you know.

The History of Title Design

Bradford Shellhammer — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:41:19 +0000

A Brief History of Title Design from Ian Albinson on Vimeo.

Ian Albinson's A Brief History of Title Design was created for the SXSW "Excellence in Title Design" competition screening. In it the title designs of television shows and movies are woven into a study of font and style. For font and movie nerds alike, it's a fun film to watch. So many are instantly recognizable. My fave: DR. NO. Included are:

Baltimore Candies

Bradford Shellhammer — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 19:33:03 +0000

The new issue of the zine Put A Egg On It, the one with Justin Bond on the cover, is out now. I was asked to contribute an essay about an independent food brand from my hometown. I chose Goetze’s Caramel Creams, a true Maryland classic. Enjoy the essay and grab up a copy of the zine. It's an eclectic mix of people, food, and stories.

Japan relief poster

Bradford Shellhammer — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:01:44 +0000

While the world watches the devastation occurring in Japan right now the design community is responding. All over Instagram, Facebook, and Tumblr graphic artists are creating visual designs intended to encourage giving and help. The best I’ve found so far is W+K’s poster. Combining the flag of Japan with the cross symbol, the poster is [...]

NY77: The Coolest Year in Hell

Bradford Shellhammer — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 16:30:56 +0000

Discos29 - NY77 - The Coolest Year In Hell from Veintinueve on Vimeo.

Watch this film if you love New York or music. It's eye-opening. Many music genres emerged from NYC in the late 1970s: dance, hip-hop, punk. This wonderful film dissects the politics of 1977 and the emergence of those music genres, which, to this day, shape and inspire most popular music. Also thrown in is a history of being a minority, race and sexuality, in Manhattan during the time.

OMD Live at Terminal 5

Bradford Shellhammer — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 19:02:10 +0000

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, the iconic electronic band that sadly most in the US only know from "If You Leave," played their first US shows this week in over 20 years. At NYC's Terminal 5 the energy was palpable and nostalgia flooded the room. OMD's latest album, History of Modern, is a welcome return to form. Unlike many other past-their-prime pop stars' recent efforts, this album is quite good. It's so good in fact it trumps much of OMD's back catalog, which has always been a bit uneven.