♀ Free Pussy Riot! ♀

This post is long overdue. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Pussy Riot, they are a radical feminist punk band from Russia and my personal heros. They wear balaclavas to conceal their identities and stage incredible public performances which protest the oppressive Russian government and specifically, Vladimir Putin. Three members of the group, Yekaterina Samutsevich, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina were arrested in March following a performance at Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow. The band jumped on the altar (where women are not allowed to stand) and performed their song "Punk Prayer" which highlights the relationship between Putin and the Russian orthodox church. The video is posted below, it's even more punk rock than the last scene of Times Square. But unfortunately the three girls who were arrested, who might not have even been there, are being charged with "hooliganism." In Russia hooliganism is practically synonymous with terrorism. They are facing seven years in jail, which is obviously total bullshit. Not to mention entirely politically motivated. 

For further reading check out this recent article from The Guardian, Tobi Vail also wrote an amazing piece about them awhile back.  I also want to encourage everyone to donate to their legal defense fund and take action via Amnesty International. These girls are incredible and in need of public support. Free Pussy Riot!

Dream Wallpaper

Stills from House, 1977

Welcome to my home...

I am so beyond flattered to be featured on Refinery 29 this week! I've always loved those girls and it was a pleasure to have them over. Check out the post here, there are more photos by Maia Harms and an interview by the lovely Laura Feinstein. 

White Magic / Dark Heart

The latest Summerland lookbook shot by Jon Duenas. We always like our summers with a heavy dose of lace and black velvet. 

Vogue Italia Bambini

After I graduated from college I was a freelance photo researcher, most of my clients worked in the fashion industry. At one point I did a massive research project on children's clothes and subsequently discovered dozens of back issues of Vogue Italia Bambini from the late seventies and early eighties. I have hundreds of images from these magazines on my computer and at one point I was planning to devote an entire blog to them but now it makes more sense to post them here regularly. Below are a few of my all-time favorites, I especially love the mini-Bianca at the end of the post. 

Fan Art

I bought these prints of David Bowie and Marilyn Monroe in an antique shop in Asheville, North Carolina a couple of years ago when Megan and I were on a road trip. Although they are aren't stellar from a technical standpoint (note the proportion of Marilyn's eyes and Bowie's deformed ear) I could not love them more. The Bowie image was drawn from this Rolling Stone cover  and makes me oddly nostalgic for a rockabilly phase that he never actually had. The source of the Marilyn drawing is unknown. Although this print did make an appearance on Anna Nicole Smith's reality show, it was hanging in her house. So it reminds me more of Anna than it does of Marilyn and that seems oddly fitting. 

Marina

You know when you’re in the 70s and you’re an artist and you wear nail polish and lipstick they don’t take you seriously. You look like you want to sleep with 

the curator. I love vanity and I love fashion and I don’t have shame to tell it. 

-Marina Abramović

Chic Happens

Against my better judgement I picked up like 40 issues of Chic from a street vendor this weekend. It was a late seventies / early 80's men's magazine founded by Larry Flynt. It's pretty risque compared to Oui or Playboy, definitely more similar to Hustler. Although it's more fashiony than Hustler. I love the covers, a lot of them look like Cosmo-esq women's magazines. But the inside is a different story. It's a lot of highly unappealing crotch shots (this is the understatement of the century), photos of oiled up chicks lying on cheap satin sheets, gross (and flacid) hairy tan dudes, etc. But the appeal lies within the insanely campy concepts for the editorials, the hysterical prop styling, the Harri Peccinotti-esq beauty shots, and the flawless, coked-up art direction. I'll post some images from the inside of the issues in the near future, something that doesn't violate Blogspot's content policy. If thats possible. 

Condi

Is it weird that I'm kind of excited that Condoleezza Rice could potentially be Mitt Romney's running mate? Of course I don't want them to actually win. Because that would be creepy, regressive, destructive, and profoundly upsetting. But I've kind of missed Condi. I mean, she did nothing good for the country/ world but there was always something compelling about her. She's had a fascinating life, for sure. And girlfriend knows how to work a skirt suit. But the most interesting thing about her is the fact that she is a complete and utter enigma. She's extremely intelligent, she's the first woman of color to be Secretary of State. But ultimately she's just....sketchy. And profoundly so. But I sort of love her anyway. 

One of the best things at MoMa right now is Luc Tuymans' portrait of Condi. It's brilliant.  

About a Girl

I can't even conceive of someone looking cooler/ hotter than Annabella Lwin looks in this photo from a 1983 issue of The Face. This girl is unbelievable. The hair, the dress, the little gloves....Frankly, it's almost too much to handle.