Curio: 70s Paranoia Posters by Jay Shaw

Alexa here.  Catching Argo this weekend, with its panic, mustachoied men and analog opening credits has given me a taste for some good 70s paranoid thrillers.  (My current addiction to Homeland's depressive spy world set the table a bit, too.) I'm on the verge of staging a marathon of my favorites: Marathon Man, Three Days of the Condor, The Conversation, All The President's Men.  I was reminded that artist Jay Shaw recently created possibly the best alternative posters for this genre, each in stark black and white, utilizing images from these films seamlessly in his bold designs. They've been printed in editions of 100 and most are still available through Gallery 1988 for $30.  If this niche genre is a favorite for you too, snap these up while they are still available.

Click for... Klute, All The President's Men, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and Marathon Man...

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Curio: Articulated Dolls by Pucherito

Alexa here. If you've taken a figure drawing class you're likely familiar with articulated wood mannequins (Manny to some).  I was lucky enough to spend most of my art school figure drawing classes with real human models, but occasionally as a cost-saving measure we'd have to draw from good 'ol Manny. After awhile I wanted to burn him. Maybe that's why I enjoy the use he's been put to by Pucherito, who has transformed Manny into some cultural idols with a little paint and inspiration. 

Here are some film favorites given the Pucherito treatment, with the resulting effect of elongating the likes of Woody, Sly and Liza into the same gangly proportions. 

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Curio: Carole Bayer Sager's Friends

Alexa here. Carole Bayer Sager is best known as a songwriter. Anyone who came of age in the 80s will know the songs she helped create with the likes of Marvin Hamlisch and her ex-husband Burt Bacarach. Many of these figured prominently in film, like "That's What Friends Are For" (I remember Rod Stewart's version being used in Night Shift, although Dionne Warwick's version with her friends is more famous) and "Nobody Does It Better" (one of the best Bond songs). Carole won an Oscar alongside Bacarach and Christopher Cross in 1981 for the indelible "Arthur's Theme (The Best That You Can Do)".

These days, less excited with songwriting, she has turned to oil painting.  She discusses her new work, mostly of large-scale abstractions and macro-like images of food, in October's issue of W magazine. While her abstractions are stronger, she has also painted portraits of her famous friends, many of which reveal an intimate side of figures we often don't get to see.  Here are a few from the film world she has captured. You can see all her work here.

Steve Martin and his wife Anne StringfieldNicole, Sunday Rose, and KeithStephen Spielberg

Curio: Recycling Celluloid

Alexa here.  The arrival of The Master, possibly the last film shot in large format film, has many lamenting the turnover of most theaters from celluloid to digital. Next year 20th Century Fox isn't even distributing film prints of its movies, and the other studios will likely follow soon. Digital is cheaper and easier, but the magical grain and glow of film are certainly unique.  The projectionists are being cast aside along with the reels (see The Last Projectionist for a great trip through that lost craft).  

And what of all those soon-to-be useless reels? Fox's Latin American division announced that they would be sending all that celluloid away to be manufactured into polyester fabric.  Rather than create more flammable clothes, here are some crafters and artists putting all that leftover film to more creative ends.

Collapsible bookshelves using recycled film by VU35.Portraits of Audrey and Marilyn using recycled 8mm film by Erika Iris Simmons. 

Click for more creations, and for how to get your hands on some film stock yourself...

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Curio: Elaine Hanelock's Psychedelia

Alexa here. I've been on a bit of a redecorating jag lately, most likely because I'm pregnant and somehow that comes with the territory. In my searches for some upgraded artwork I came upon these vintage posters from 1968 designed by Elaine Hanelock.  I've had trouble finding any information on the artist, but her work looks to be a part of, or at the very least influenced by, the San Francisco poster art scene of the time (exemplified by artists like Bonnie Maclean). While this type of style is usually in the service of a gig poster, I love that these instead celebrate Golden Age film stars.  If mod is your thing you can find some of Elaine's original prints for sale on ebay and etsy at a reasonable price.  Here's a sampling.

Charlie ChaplinJean Harlow and Clara Bow

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