Michael Leon Studio

Michael Leon, best known as co-creator of Commonwealth Stacks, Rasa Libre, and Nike’s Tech Pack, has launched his namesake web home michaelleonstudio.com. Alongside imagery of some of his most popular artwork and ongoing projects, Michael will be creating editions specifically for the website. The first grouping is 5 gloss black and 5 bone pearl sculptures based on a 3D rendition of his infamous “Skull behind Sunglasses" image. These gypsum based sculptures are each hand engraved and numbered and will be released periodically in varying finishes, colourings and applications until reaching the full run of 100.

Kenny Brimer... Fundraiser on Sept. 19, 2009

Kenny is one of my closest friends I grew up with in Hawaii. We met through skating when we were both 14 years old. Personally, one of the most consistently awesome people, both on and off the board.

“My name is Kenneth Brimer and I’ve been diagnosed with Chronic Lymphotic Leukemia. The doctor says that I have a good chance to be elected to have stem cell transplant. You can’t believe how unexpected this is, at my age (36). I have it in me to get over this…. but it seems like the fight is only half the battle. I need the fight of other people along with mine to kick this.”

“Thank you for all of the help.”
- Kenneth Brimer

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Help Kenny directly by donating any amount you can for his medical expenses.
Below is a DONATE button for secure donations through the Solitary Arts and PayPal. 100% will go to Kenny. Mahalo.

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Full details at…

Porous Sends A Package...

Porous Walker, aka Jimmy DiMarcellis sent a box to the SF office.

The iron-on, “Look What Love Made Me Do” t-shirt was included as I ordered one for myself through his OWLTOOTH online shop along with an original piece. Purchase a bit of his genius by ordering some for yourself. The, “Centerfold-able” shirt receives upwards of 10,000 hits in a day!

Included in the box was a framed piece along with a stack of originals. Lovin’ it!

Mahalo, Porous.

Spike Jonze's 1980's BMX Redux

Spike Jonze discarded a BMX bike frame in the late 80’s in a Torrance, California parking lot. The frame was saved over the years and ended-up with Ben Ward, a designer at Odyssey BMX. Ben re-built Spike’s bike to perfect 1989 specs. It’s based on a photo from Freestylin’ Mag of Spike shredding in a contest in La Jolla.

Thanks Ben and Spike for the photos.

Spike Jonze

Kings Of Convenience... Captured By Danielle Rubi

Here’s the album art for the new Kings Of Convenience record. I took this photo on my old Rolleiflex camera (like the ones from Invisible Thread) at Adrian Meier-Dentzel’s place in Mexico, Casa Rincon, where the recording studio is (Glass Cube Studios).

A candid moment. Every evening in Mexico feels like this.
- Danielle Rubi

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Thanks to Danielle for sending these photos!

New album comes out on October 20, 2009. Can’t wait as it’s been five years since their last recording.

Check her blog for all the photos from the Kings Of Convenience video shoot.

Erlend Øye and Eirik Glambek Bøe

On Set with Kings of Convenience and Director Francois Nemeta By: Danielle Rubi.

Adrian Meier-Dentzel / UFACTO

Adrian Meier-Dentzel recently moved to Paris to work with master craftsman, David Toppani at UFACTO. He took some photos of their recent projects and sent them our way… We’re really stoked to have a peak at what’s being created and invented at the UFACTO establishment, and with Adrian tinkering… Thanks, man.

UFACTO is the name of the furniture studio where I work in Paris. Architectural models, prototypes, sculptural things I’m still trying to figure out, and furniture, of course, are all part of the daily work flow. Many designers, mostly French ones, have their things made here. The pieces are one-of-a-kind or small-edition only, usually no more than 12. Big, famous, celeb designers who have contracts with gigantic, fancy pants manufacturers like Vitra, Cassina, Kartell, and Ligne Roset, often have their gallery pieces and prototypes made at UFACTO. Even though much of the workshop’s output has an industrial feel, it is truly an artisan establishment. There are usually no more than 10 people working in the shop at any given time. David Toppani, the owner, master craftsman, and fabrication genius, is a very nice and quietly great man. So nice, in fact, that he let’s me use the studio and all of it’s fantastic tools to work on my own projects.
-Adrian

Start below with David Toppani, the patron of the workshop…
Click on the image to be directed to Glass Cube, where Adrian discusses in detail, the projects you see here from UFACTO.

Todd St. John: September 19, 2009 In San Francisco

So stoked… Gary Benzel just posted his first post as a Mumble member about Todd St. John’s upcoming show here in San Francisco.

Read the entire post HERE

Todd St. John: “Section”
September 19th – November 28th

Opening Reception Saturday, September 19th,2009 7-10pm

Mollusk Surf Shop
4500 Irving Street
San Francisco, CA 94122

2009 Skateboard Film Festival Winners

The Skateboard Film Festival announced their first year winners for various categories.

2009 Skateboard Film Festival Winners:

International – Indonesiai’am – directed by Sebastien Abes
Documentary – D.O.P.E. – directed by Chris Ahrens
Shop Video – Prescriptions – directed by Colin Clark
Sponsor Me – Marc Gerard – directed by Jean Penninck
Feature – Free Pegasus – directed by Brian Lotti and Jesus Gomez
Creative Short (presented by SKATEDAILY.net) – Day in the Life – directed by Sylvain Robineau
Zumiez Viewer’s Choice – Permission to Shred – directed by Ben Fordham
Final Cut Pro Battle – Best Edit, Ben Kaplan

Embedded below is a video from one of the winners from this years festival.

GM x Fairwheel Bikes... Sneak Peak

Working on a bike project for Fairwheel Bikes that will be shown at Interbike. More to come…
-GM

Grandison King Taber II

Find GRANDISON at FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH in Rhode Island as well as at GRANBURO, then click on the video-still below to watch him session with his head filed away.

Mahalo to Gran and Thom for the video…

Stoked on the support.