Craig Richardson’s weblog, guestbook, database of music and collections of writings

Newly arrived to the Cool Hunting office (and soon to adorn our walls), Portland, OR-based graphics studio MWM's new 2009 calendar features a calming mandala design. Titled Cycles & Seasons, the burst of color and sharp design is a welcome addition to any wall and fun to look at all year long. You can order the set of quarterly calendars online for $85....

Josh Rubin: Coolhunting

Jeff Sonhouse's latest exhibition, "Pawnography," at the Tilton Gallery in New York explores the role of the black male in today's shifting socio-political climate. His vivid portraits, rendered as mixed media paintings or drawings, depict a variety of political and anonymous figures, their faces sometimes masked or completely obscured. In the case of the latter (examples below), the effect is reminiscent of Francis Bacon's...

Josh Rubin: Coolhunting

Corey Arnold's world straddles two disparate, yet wonderfully integrated, pursuits—he works as both a professional photographer and an Alaskan crab fisherman. Now there's a story. We asked him how his inside perspective on human and animal relationships influences his photographs. When I was a kid, I used to stalk birds and other animals with my BB gun in the backyard. My hunter instinct was strong...

Josh Rubin: Coolhunting

by Ariston Anderson Last night France's first brother Olivier Sarkozy hosted an unusual opening in his swank Upper East Side abode, which also happens to be Richard Avedon's former studio. Budding art dealer Vito Schnabel (son of painter and filmmaker Julian Schnabel) curated the show featuring Terence Koh, who formerly worked under the alias asianpunkboy. Known as much for outlandish high-fashion statements as for...

Josh Rubin: Coolhunting

After a long wait, our friends at Refinery29 bring us their latest seasonal playlist. If you're like us, as the sun begins to set earlier and earlier, you start to become a bit of a homebody and listening to music is a big a part of that. So, we hope these 16 tracks inspire you to have some friends over and pass around the...

Josh Rubin: Coolhunting

NYC-based artists Markus Linnenbrink, Fred Tomaselli, Marilyn Minter and Phoebe Washburn collaborated with Artware Editions on an environmentally-sound (and avant-garde) alternative to the living Christmas tree. Each artist came up with a die-cut vinyl wall sticker of the life-sized trees that are the mainstay of the yuletide tradition and the results bear the mark of their creators. Tomaselli's tall and skinny version (above left)...

Josh Rubin: Coolhunting

Most any style geek will recognize Les Ateliers Ruby as the brand that's made the motorcycle helmet an object of desire. Earlier this year, founder Jerôme Costes' flagship collection, Pavillon, was popping up on most every design-conscious blog in existence. Now, for riders looking to up the ante, Les Ateliers Ruby has launched the Costume line, a special order personalization service. Costume offers two paths...

Josh Rubin: Coolhunting

Canadian illustrator Courtney Wotherspoon layers delicate image upon image to create the most captivating, colorful kaleidoscopes, an effect only enhanced by her trademark multimedia, everything-and-the-kitchen-sink execution. The result of this approach is particularly refreshing. We can rest assured that something wholly new and exciting will emerge from Wotherspoon's studio each and every delectable time....

Josh Rubin: Coolhunting

Canadian illustrator Courtney Wotherspoon layers delicate image upon image to create the most captivating, colorful kaleidoscopes, an effect only enhanced by her trademark multimedia, everything-and-the-kitchen-sink execution. The result of this approach is particularly refreshing. We can rest assured that something wholly new and exciting will emerge from Wotherspoon's studio each and every delectable time....

Josh Rubin: Coolhunting

by Tamara WarrenFresno, CA-born photographer Tony Stamolis’ new book "Frezno" examines life in California’s sixth largest city with vivid, stark and honest imagery. Stamolis captures his hometown, once a beacon of booming surburbia, with a seedy, fluorescent pallor. The cover shot—two shirtless youths wearing KISS-inspired makeup and black jeans and standing under high-voltage electricity towers—sets the tone for Stamolis’s return-to-home pictorial essay. Other images...

Josh Rubin: Coolhunting