basquiat would have loved this:

REEBOK GETS BASQUIAT
The estate of artist Jean-Michel Basquiat has entered into a multi-year agreement with Reebok to produce a new collection of shoes as well as a new global ad campaign. The new shoe, dubbed Reeboppers and designed by Maharishi of London, features the late artist’s favorite colors -- black, red and white -- as well as his trademark crown logo. The shoe is priced at $140 and due in stores at any moment; more designs may be forthcoming as well. Reebok’s "I Am What I Am" campaign is including Basquiat along with other celebrities, including Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Allen Iverson and Christina Ricci. The deal was promoted by David Stark, president of the brand licensing agency Artestar and agent for the Basquiat estate.

I still like it more than most of the Basquiat I've ever seen...

for some reason I find this funny. Jay-z, Iverson, Christina Ricci, and Basquiat? Pretty random.

i'm going to pretend i didn't read that.

complete lack of focus.
i went to the site to view the campaign. there's a lot of money being spent on decoration over there.

anybody but me find the "reebok barrio" line a tad bit racist?


http://www.rbk.com/us/

me and jewels...we love us some jean-michel.

hey, it's not like I get art. Just what I like. Regardless of whether it's due to my untrained eye or stupidity (or both), with a few exceptions, he just doesn't do anything for me. Anything I can make by accident I'm a little skeptical of. I'm sure there's important theory and whatnot, but that's why I'm not an artist. That's also, incidentally, why I turned down a free ticket to the Barnes yesterday.

if someone's work doesn't hit you, it doesn't hit you--it's as simple as that. i would never think anyone is stupid just because their taste doesn't line up with mine. sometimes there is theory, etc. and sometimes the work is pure crap.

i do have a bit of a problem when people say stuff like:
"Anything I can make by accident I'm a little skeptical of," because the truth is that you can't.

i didn't acuse you of not getting art.
i just love me some basquiat.

and even if you aren't a big fan of impressionism (which fits your stated criteria of being something you can't do) you should check out the Barnes before it moves to the city. It's a really cool experience unlike any museum you have ever been to.

there is some pretty famous art that any one could have or would have done.

basquiat to me falls under, "anyone could have, but most people wouldn't have"

I like Basquiat. He has a few pieces I really like and rest is sort of meh.

like picasso, for the most part i don't find that indiviudal pieces blow my head back. But his body of work is what impresses me.

No, I've been to the Barnes, it truly is spectacular, but not really my type of stuff though. I'm just as happy checking out Bread's new stuff on 95 between Philly and Wilmington as I am with the Renoir.

Lau, saying I could do that by accident is wrong, I know, but his work just strikes me as the artistic equivalent as Smiley from Do the Right Thing.
But you're right I couldn't do it accidental or otherwise. My biggest problem with art is that one can never know if an artist's success is largely in part to effort/talent/inginuity or some coked up millionaire having a crush on him/her. See, Neckface.

oh, and if nobody has ever caled you Lau, I take full credit/blame.

if you've been to the Barnes, feel free to pass it up a second time. It's not really my type of stuff either (it gets a bit samey after a while) but certainly a must see for the unique experience.

and i agree 100% that an artists success can often be atributed to some rich person haveing a crush on them. I also bothers me that often one person gets "chosen" while any number of similar style/qualtiy artists get ignored.

i understand why a lot of people feel this way. some things seem so obvious or simple. and there IS a ton of crap being produced that people just eat up as the second coming of christ and it really burns my biscuits.

but that's the art world not art itself. the art world is a marketplace where the art is secondary to what critics, dealers and collectors often set as the next big thing. and yes, some very untalented folks/manipulators are making tons of money. not everyone but there are quite a few scamsters out there with an audience working to be so hip that they are unwilling to admit that the empoeror has no clothes.....okay, this is turning into my own psychotic rant so i'll stop.

bottom line:
enjoy what you like and leave yourself open to new possibilities.

and cotton, lau is all yours.

Not sure why, but I just thought of that Anthrax song "I Am The Law" switch "Law" to "Lau"

I AM THE LAU
And you won't fuck around no more - I AM THE LAU
I judge the rich, I judge the poor - I AM THE LAU
Commit a crime I'll lock the door - I AM THE LAU
Because in Mega-City ...
I AM THE LAU

yeah, its a pretty slow day.

And speaking of art, check out these lyrics to "Caught In A Mosh"

2. Caught In A Mosh

Why don't you listen to me when I try to talkto you
Stop thinking of yourself, for just a second fool
Shut up, shut up, I don't wanna hear your mouth
Your mather made a monster, now get the hell out of my house

[BRIDGE:]
Can't stand it for another day
I ain't gonna live my life this way
Cold sweat, my fists are clenching
Stomp, stomp, stomp, the idiot convention

[PRE-CHORUS:]
Which one of these words don't you understand ?
Talking to you, is like clapping with one hand

[CHORUS:]
What is it ? - Caught in a mosh
What is it ? - Caught in a mosh
What is it ? - Caught in a mosh
What is it ? - Caught in a mosh

Don't tell me how to do my job
There's the door, your name's on the knob
You're always in the way, like a beast on my back
Were you dropped as a baby, cause brains you lack

[REPEAT BRIDGE]
[REPEAT PRE-CHORUS]
[REPEAT CHORUS]

[MOSH PART]
Think - before you speak
Or suffer, for your words
Learn, to give respect
that others, give to you
AAAAAAAAAAAH, The best you can do

[LEAD BREAK]
[HARMONY LEAD]

Hey Man
I'm trying to reason but you don't understand
Talking in circles, we'll never get it straight
Just you and me in our theatre of hate

[REPEAT BRIDGE]
[REPEAT PRE-CHORUS]
[REPEAT CHORUS]

jesus christ.

That shoe is butt ugly.


The Anthrax tho' is mighty fine. Can we do "Medusa" next?

Thats pretty odd. I did however see an ad for them in some mag, but it just had a pic of a Basquiat impersonator (or thats some good PSing) and some quote. I doubt enough people knew/know about him to care about this shoe.