UO Blog

From Elsewhere

Maya Fuhr: Garbage Girls

Garbage Girls, a photo series shot for Vice by photographer Maya Fuhr, is a project that focuses on girls in their really, really, really messy rooms. Each girl featured has an accompanying interview that discusses how their rooms got to their current states, but it might be nicer to imagine that some of these messes are planted. In any case, the resulting photographs are pretty awesome. —Katie










From Elsewhere

Animated Murals By Insa

Whoa, talk about patience. INSA, an artist based out of the UK, re-paints these pieces several times in order to snap enough pics for the .gif effect. The end result is awesome (not to mention that INSA should win a Nobel Peace Prize for patience). —Katie
(via Boooooooom)






From Elsewhere

RiFF RAFF as "Jamie Franko"

Life imitates art imitates life imitating art. It's all just so meta, ya know? —Katie

From Los Angeles


Osei-Duro x Space 15 Twenty Present: Megan Whitmarsh at the Bazaaaaar Pop-Up Shop

If you're in L.A. tonight, be sure to stop by the Bazaaaar pop-up at Space 15 Twenty (1520 N. Cahuenga Blvd.) for a special evening with clothing line Osei Duro and artist Megan Whitmarsh! Come by from 7-10pm to take part in a live fashion meets art show, with live drawing! The audience is highly encouraged to participate! DJ Al Dente and DJ Last Looks will also be there in order for you to get your groove on. RSVP on Facebook! - Maddie

From New York

Patterns by Bobby Doherty

Bobby Doherty has a talent for pattern. In his editorial work for the New York Times Magazine, the Brooklyn-based photographer finds the geometric connections between organic and man-made objects most of us miss. Saturated colors and tightly cropped points of view aid the sense of infinite repetition that make Doherty's photos, and the phenomena of pattern in general so intriguing. Angelo














From DC

(Photos by Maddie Flanigan)

Interview: Roger Gastman

Roger Gastman talks about everything, but the one topic he's most interested in at the moment is the underground D.C. graffiti culture of the late '80s into the '90s. Here, we discuss his vast collection of memorabilia from the time, his personal love of graffiti , and what he's doing next (which I hope includes throwing another party).

Interview by Ally Mullen and Maddie Flanigan

Hi Roger, can you give me a brief description of Pump Me Up: The Subculture of the 1980s, the show you just wrapped up at the Corcoran Gallery of Art?
It’s a collection of the D.C. subculture in 1980s: punk rock, go-go, hardcore, gangs, graffiti, and underground culture. A lot of rock culture from D.C. that has never been documented.

What got you interested in the whole subculture depicted in the show?
I grew up in D.C. and in the ‘90s, was running around writing graffiti, and I was always interested in what came before me. What was there before? Who did something first? I kept digging up more and more information over the years and I met someone who was doing graffiti a few years before me. I followed them further downtown—probably some places I shouldn’t have gone—and met Cool Disco Dan, the focus of my documentary The Legend of Cool Disco Dan. He wrote graffiti and opened my eyes to a lot of what the D.C. culture was in the ‘80s, especially the black subculture.



How was your style of graffiti different from what Cool Disco Dan was doing?
For me, graffiti was about punk rock and hardcore. I went to hardcore shows and everybody wrote graffiti, especially during this time. Dan came out of the go-go graffiti community and his was graffiti was completely different from the type we were doing. He had crossed over.

What brought you together?
All of the go-go graffiti writers who were writing their names in the ‘80s stopped in 1987-’88. The crack epidemic came and they started hustling. Dan was never into crack or hustling—he just wanted to continue to write his name. He figured out people in the hardcore scene were writing their name and Dan taught us a lot about downtown, a lot about going out and the culture of downtown and showed us what sparked this kind of graffiti.

Do you think the underground movement of graffiti affected the city at the time?
In D.C. at the time, there was much more dangerous going on. When people are writing graffiti in places like Georgetown, DuPont Circle or heavily trafficked tourist areas, they were more aware of you. If you got busted, something was going to happen to you. But for the most part, the city didn’t care about graffiti. Until the late ‘90s.


How does D.C. compare to other cities when it comes to graffiti?
Cities like Philadelphia, L.A. and New York are much richer in graffiti history, leading back to gang graffiti in the ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s.

Where did graffiti begin?
Traditional graffiti as we know it today, writing your name over and over again for the sake of it, started in the late ‘60s in Philadelphia and NYC. People argue about who started it. Philadelphia can win that argument by having a more defined graffiti scene through the ‘60s that was more stylistic, but New York made graffiti famous by the subway trains that they were starting to put out in the early ‘70s.

How would you describe yourself and what you do?
I am a collector, a hoarder, a curator—whatever you want to call me. In the last several years I’ve been putting out magazines, books, documentaries, doing museum shows, gallery shows, working with artists. I am a fan and I’m interested in a lot of this subculture, mostly the subculture that spawns out of the ghettos: graffiti, music, etc. I’ve been able to put together good collections of ephemera and artwork and probably saved a lot of things before they were destroyed or dug up things people didn’t know still existed. 



You don’t write graffiti now, right? Would you ever go back into it?
Sure. I know plenty of people that had second or third graffiti careers in their late ‘30s or ‘40s and did just as much graffiti as they did in their teens. I guess you can’t count me out yet, but I’m not active.

What was your tag and what’s the story behind it?
“Clear” and there’s no real meaning.

Roger tagged my notebook

Where do you think graffiti is today versus where it was in the ‘80s?
In the ‘80s, graffiti was a huge movement. It was in the galleries and it was getting a lot of attention. In the late ‘80s it died out, the trend stops, but in the mid-‘80s it was everywhere in the U.S. and across Europe. In the last ten years, give or take, it’s turn into a multi-million dollar business. It’s not a subculture anymore; it’s its own culture with many different subcultures that have come off of it. It’s the fastest growing art movement in the last 40 plus years.

What are you currently working on?
Currently, I am working on distribution for The Legend of Cool Disco Dan. I’m working on a film Wall Writers that we just finished about graffiti in 1967 and 1972. John Waters did the voiceover for that. I am also working on a couple other books and working with Sanrio on a couple of projects too.

Who are a few graffiti artists you think everyone should check out?
1. Cost (Queens, NY)
2. Revs (NYC)
3. BLADE (NYC)
4. Freedom (NYC—the Freedom Tunnels ended up being named after him.)
5. Risk (L.A.)

What was your last purchase on your credit card?
Emergen-C at the airport in Phoenix.

What are you watching on Netflix?
I just finished watching all of this really horrible TV show that was amazing called Blue Mountain State. It’s about a football team and every other thing is like a dick joke or getting drunk. 


What’s the best party you’ve ever thrown.
There’s been everything from a Christmas party a few years ago with male strippers. At a birthday party last year we had this big fat man baby bartending. A sword swallower. We had Angelyne, the original ‘80s version of Paris Hilton, come over. She drives a pink corvette. It was a win.

What do you play most on your iPod?
I still listen to the same things that I was listening to when I was a teenager: Naked Raygun, Cock Sparrer, and ‘80s D.C. bands.

What’s your screensaver?
OJ Simpson wearing gloves.



If you could wear one clothing brand from back in the day again, what would it be?
Cross Colours! I never wore it but I wish they’d bring it back so I can wear it.

Where do you get the images for your blog, Roger Gastman Talks About Everything…
I get a few dozen emails a day from my friends, or from some random person I met of fucked up, weird images and links if you can imagine. Or it’s three in the morning and I can’t sleep so I type in crazy searches into Google images and see what pops up. I have folders and folders of thousands of ridiculous image people send to me everyday. What’s on the blog is PG-13 compared to what I’d like to post, but I have clients I work with… but if you get on my personal distribution list you get some real gems.

Thanks Roger!


From New York

Bazaaaaar Pop-Up Interviews: Kilo Kish

Meet Kilo Kish, an up-and-coming artist making her way from Brooklyn to around the world.  After DJing our Bazaaaaar Pop-Up Shop, we spoke with the singer and songwriter about her new mix tape, K+, what her ideal tour would be like, and how she keeps her hair so beautiful!
Interview by Ally Mullen

Hi Kilo! Introduce yourself! 

I'm Kilo Kish, 22-years-old, from Orlando, FL but living in Brooklyn, NY.

You're a jack of many trades. Can you list all of the things that you "are?"
A creative thinker, singer, songwriter, candle lover, violet-candy obsessor.

Some of your music reminds me of slam poetry put to music. What type of genre do you feel your music fits into?
None. Really I just make what I can and leave the rest of interpretation to everyone else.



Who are some of the people you've worked with on your K+ Mixtape? Who is someone you would love to collaborate it in the future?
Childish Gambino, Flatbush Zombies, SBTRKT, The Internet, Earl Sweatshirt. I'd like to collaborate with Kanye West.

What have been the most surreal moments of your career so far?
Traveling overseas and being in magazines.

If you were going on your dream tour, who would it be with and where would you travel to?
'N SYNC. We'd go to Japan, South Africa and New Zealand.


I read that you paint.What are some of your favorite things to paint?
Human figures from life and floralish.

I also heard you mention working with printing your art on fabric, like home goods and beddings. What is your interest in textile design? Favorite part about it?
Pattern, print, and repetition is super interesting to me. Creating patterns is like putting together a puzzle and you can insert them into every aspect of your design.

Can you describe your personal fashion style in five words?
1. I 
2. Wear 
3. What 
4. I 
5. Like

What musicians and artists influences you the most?
(Recently) Marina Abromovic, Tom Sachs, Egon Chiele, Charles and Ray Eames.

If you had to eat one meal for the rest of you life what would it be?

Grilled salmon, quinoa, with mixed green salad and chardonnay.



What are five things you talk about or think about on a daily basis?
My focus, shoots/interviews, food, boyfriend, mom.

What is one thing you love about yourself?
I'm always thinking myself into oblivion.

What is your life motto or philosophy?
Feel everything, work hard be nice to people.

What is the last text message you received and who was it from?
Fom my manager, Justin, reminding me to answer these questions :)

From New York

Urban Outfitters Presents BAZAAAAAR: NYC Opening Party

Don't worry New York, we didn't forget about you! We'll be setting up our second BAZAAAAAR pop-up shop at our 5th Avenue store (521 5th Ave. at 43rd) on May 9 with an opening party from 6-9 PM.  Shop the Zamrock-inspired shop and art show—featuring limited edition pieces and collections by brands like Della, Fashion Rising, African Lookbook, Osei Duro and more—while listening to a DJ set by the lovely Wynne of Twin Shadow. RSVP Here!

From London

Simpsons Drawing Club

Simpsons Drawing Club is a collaborative blog by a handful of UK artists with a shared obsession for drawing the iconic animated family. If you consumed popular culture in the '90s, you understand the impact of Matt Groening's yellow characters, particularly on illustrators.

 
The genius of Simpsons Drawing Club comes from the range of personalities and artistic quirks among the contributing illustrators, providing new spins and stories on old, beloved characters. My favorites are Sam Taylor's drippy metal-inspired characters. Check it out for pages and pages of goodness, and if you have a Simpsons drawing, tag it with #simpsonsdrawingclub on Tumblr and see if it makes the blog. -Angelo

From Philadelphia


Cat Gifs

Our cats are back in stock! (Um, ok, so they never really went away.)


Apple, who belongs to our Print Production Manager, Sheena Allen.


Benson, who belongs to our Assistant Catalog Stylist, Stephanie Iselin.


Ellie, who belongs to our Graphic Designer for Web, Victoria May.

From Philadelphia

Pattern is Movement

Tomorrow night, April 30, watch and listen as Pattern is Movement unveil their new record at this week's Tuesday Tune-Out presented by the Cinedelphia Film Festival. Their music will be synched with scenes from There Will Be Blood as an album screening and listening party. The film will take you through the band's journey of the past four years, with an additional Q&A with the band members and the album's lead engineer. Plus, there's going to be free pizza from Pizza Brain. There are like, four wins here: music, film, an interview and the best food on earth. You've been warned in advance, so if you miss it, just don't come crying to me about it—I'll be busy in my bowling alley drinking milkshakes. The film starts at 7:30PM at the PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.).—Ally

From New York


'Lost Then Found'

Last week, Interview Magazine released these incredibly simple yet perfect photos of one of my favorite artists, and the magazine's founder, Andy Warhol. The color portraits, taken by a British photographer named Steve Wood, were taken at the Deauville American Film Festival in the early '80s, and were just uncovered last year. I am personally a huge fan of Warhol, and its really cool to see some portraits of him in a normal setting, rather than The Factory, or even a self portrait. Wood's portraits are now going to be part of a week long exhibition in New York City, running from May 3 until May 12, called Lost Then Found. This seems like something cool you're gonna want to check out! Maddie


From New York

Cool Art: Von Zos

Von Zos is an independent publishing company that distributes limited edition art, books and other goodies. Based in New York City, the company has worked with a ton of cool artists, showcasing their creations in a way that bigger companies wouldn't be able to. Their current collection of items can be found here (check out the Death Box!), and today they're also releasing a limited edition, Lohan-inspired print by Sara Lyons. Keep an eye on their website to see what other new projects they'll be working on! —Katie

From Los Angeles

'Magic Hour' by Tara Subkoff

The grass always seems greener on the other side of the country.  While I'd give just about anything to live the Los Angeles life (I think?), MOCATV's Magic Hour, directed by Tara Subkoff, gives some insight into what it's like on the West Coast when I'm not there.  Even if there's a dispensary on every corner, featured actress Chloe Sevigny ONLY sees the sunny side in L.A., which scorches you with melanoma! Stay stoned, Cali, or you'll start NYC dreaming and end up in a cold, cramped apartment all of next year.—Ally

From Los Angeles

Zach Braff Movie Kickstarter

Nearly 10 years after directing and starring in Garden State, Zach Braff is at it again. Sort of. He's attempting to, anyway. The former Scrubs actor is following in the Veronica Mars movie footsteps and has launched a Kickstarter in the hopes of funding a follow-up to Garden State entitled Wish I Was Here. Written by Zach Braff and his brother Adam, Wish I Was Here promises to be a sort-of sequel to Garden State. Where Garden State focused on the 20-something existential crisis, Wish I Was Here promises to focus on the 30-something side of things. As long as this movie soundtrack is as good as the last one, we're sold. (DON'T ACT LIKE YOU DIDN'T LOVE THAT SHIT IN 2004.) —Katie


From Los Angeles

Bling Ring Theatrical Trailer

Get all up in this Bling Ring trailer because it is gold. Emma Watson's Valley Girl accent is really speaking to me on a deep level. The only thing that could make this movie better would be Alexis Neiers making a cameo that somehow revolves around screaming about Louboutins, but sadly I don't think that's in the cards. At least there's a Paris Cameo! —Katie


From Elsewhere

Love Me: The Saguaro x Urban Outfitters

This past weekend, Urban Outfitters took over The Saguaro (1800 East Canyon Drive, Palm Springs) with Hello Stranger and OM Records to present the Love Me Pop-up shop featuring our exclusive collaboration with Curtis Kulig! We started Coachella's 2nd #festbest weekend off right with a pool party. From noon until 6pm, our DJ sets and live performances echoed across Palm Springs with music by Warpaint, Wynn from Twin Shadow, Turbotito, Data Romance and Oh Boy Les Mecs.  In attendance was Mr. Kulig himself, pictured above with his new friend who probably got the most love out of everyone at the event. Just be careful Curtis—sometimes love bites! Special thanks to Friends & Family and Juke Magazine.













From Elsewhere

Hurry Up & Wait

Hey European friends, there's a really nice photo show opening up at the end of this week in Amsterdam that you definitely do not want to miss. The show, entitled Hurry Up & Wait, is a collection of photographs by New York City-based photographers Chad Moore and Pete Voelker, who both have never shown in Europe. Hurry Up & Wait is comprised of intimate photos documenting both photographers' everyday lives in NYC. This show provides a great glimpse into the fast paced lives we can all relate to, no matter what city you're in. Hurry Up & Wait will run from April 26 until May 10, at Oz Gallery in Amsterdam. The video teaser above will give you a perfect idea of what the show is about—now if only I could make it to the Netherlands by Friday! - Maddie




Photo by Chad Moore


Photo by Pete Voelker

From Elsewhere

WEed Are the World

LOL. Like, bless Cheech and Chong for doing this, I guess. Although for real kudos on writing a catchy song because the chorus is going to be stuck in my head for the next week. "We're Cheech. And Chong. Can't we all just get a-bong?" Yes we can, guys. Yes we can. —Katie

From Los Angeles

Love Me Pop-up Shop

The Saguaro x Urban Outfitters are teaming up to present the Love Me pop-up shop out in Palm Springs, CA. Running from April 18-April 21, the shop will feature the exclusive UO collaboration with Curtis Kulig. On April 19 from 12-6PM, The Saguaro will also host a pool party with special guest Curtis Kulig, as well as DJ sets by Warpaint, Wynn from Twin Shadow, Turbotito and more. The event is 21+ and free with an RSVP. Everything will be taking place at The Saguaro Palm Springs, 1800 East Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA. —Katie