Monday, August 31, 2009

David Bowie and Beezy Bailey: Art for Africa

Via Bowienet

On Monday, September 21, 2009, the first Art for Africa auction will be held at Sotheby's in London. And there will be many amazing works contributed by several contemporary artists with all of the proceeds going to orphaned and needy children in Africa. Among the artists participating will be David Bowie and Beezy Bailey with their painting "From Nahodka Westward by Train":


david bowie beezy bailey painting

Via Art For Africa - David Bowie and Beezy Bailey

"Lot number: 4
Details: From Nahodka Westward by Train
Oil on canvas
Signed by both Artists
40.6 x 50.8 cm
16 x 20.8 in
Executed in 1994
Provenance: Donated by the Artists
Estimate: £2,000 - £3,000
"

Artists biography:

"David Bowie was born in London in 1947."

"In 1996, Bowie's wife, Iman, visited South Africa for a shoot with photographer Bruce Webber for American Vogue. David Bowie decided to check out the first Johannesburg Biennale. While in Cape Town he met Beezy Bailey who was also being photographed by Webber and subsequently did an interview with Bowie for Modern Painters Magazine. Beezy and David immediately got on and Beezy suggested painting together at the same time as doing the interview - to which Bowie agreed. The artists produced three paintings and drawings in Beezy's Cape Town studio which were later shown in David's exhibition in Cork Street, London."

"After their collaboration in South Africa, Beezy flew to New York while David was acting as Warhol in the Julian Schnabel film on Basquiat and putting together his 'Outside' album. During this time Beezy and David created some 50 canvasses working together in a creative process that was extraordinary and powerful."

"Only a few of these works have been available for public view at Gallery Thorens in Basel and only one of these paintings has been sold previously in the 'Art for Aids orphans' auction in Cape Town. The painting 'From Nahodka Westward by Train" was named as such by David as it reminded him of a particular train trip he took during a tour in the 1970's in Japan."


For more information, please visit the Art For Africa Home Page

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Lego Big Morl 'Afureru' 溢れる

Just released on July 22, 2009, here is the new single 溢れる ('Afureru' or 'Overflow') by the Japanese indie rock group known as Lego Big Morl



Starting out in March 2006 in Osaka, Lego Big Morl has quickly become a pretty popular group and has often appeared on both local and national Japanese TV and radio shows. Current members are Kanata Takehiro (Vocals & Guitar), Tanaka Hiroki (Guitar), Shintaro Yamamoto (Bass) and Asakawa Hiroshi (Drums). They will appear live at the SkyJamboree '09 in Nagasaki on Sunday, August 23 2009. For more information about this band, please visit their Official Website You can also listen to some more samples of their upbeat and catchy tunes on their MySpace page

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Japanese Pig Rodeo 2009 Video

The 26th Annual Japanese Pig Rodeo was recently held on Thursday, August 13, 2009 in Ehime Prefecture, which is Japan's pork production capital. There were 40 men and women who participated in this year's "Bacon Bronco" all going for the grand prize of 50,000 yen (about $520). All the pigs weighed about 100 kilograms and the attending audience just laughed and applauded the 'Pig Pokes' who were in the rodeo:




The original Japanese news story can be read on Asahi News

Live Video: Mass of the Fermenting Dregs

Recently released on YouTube, here is a very good, multi-camera shot video of Mass of The Fermenting Dregs live at the Daikanyama Unit in Tokyo on September 22, 2008. And having seen them just a couple months ago, I have to say that this video really captures the intensity of Mass Dore and their fans quite well. Of course, you want to turn up the volume all the way:



Related posts:

Mass of The Fermenting Dregs - ハイライト

Mass Of The Fermenting Dregs Tokyo Concert Review

Mass of the Fermenting Dregs Live Video

Mass of the Fermenting Dregs Promo Video