Vampires never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever get old tho they can be tired. I'm not talking about that stay young forever thing associated with myth either.And I mean tired like played out. Vampires usually show up in popular media whenever an epidemic pops up, and presently we have Swine Flu. And HIV and Poverty. So expect the trend to stick around for a while. Cable and TV people are obsessed with the fanged things: it's "media's" way of explaining disease and circumstance beyond realms of logic. One designer who cannot be linked with the trend, (because he was making clothes with The Count, that lovable Sesame Street Vampire that teaches your kid how to count,  for a while now), is designer Brian Wood. Above is his very limited edition Kill The Count Varsity Jacket. No bat wings needed to tell it's fly.

Fit: Tailored
Color: Black Sleeves, Navy Chest & Back
Make: 100% Wool, Lather Pocket Slip
Detail: Applique Count Logo on Chest, Applique Heart on Sleeve, Ribbed Waist and Cuff, Varsity Bomber

It makes sense Wood would do a vampire varsity jacket with a school subtext given the vampire teen dramas on the big and small screen. Jocks, inverted vamps,  fresh outta tang and glory, stay  trapped in their own minds after  they get old.  $295.00  Get yours. Available 11/15.

New song and video from Janelle Monae courtesy of Kia Motors and their Kia Soul Collective Series.  The song is called I Come Alive. Monae is so underrated, its a shame! Yeah, she’s astonishingly and exquisitely beautiful on the outside, but so is her voice, her lyrics and her songs. We need a Janelle Monae on the radio today. Last year she was one of the few artists who made 2008 especially great and I am looking fwd to listening to her. Unlike other “artists” today, and she actually is an artist, a brilliant one at that, she has something say and that something is worth listening to. PLEASE DIDDY DON'T RUIN HER!! Monae is signed to Bad Boy. And we know what happens to artists who sign with Bad Boy: they disappear, go to jail or mysteriously find religion. Or Both Via MissInfo

While MAC users hold their breath for their version of Google Chrome, the IT browser of  last year,  Google released yesterday 100 artist inspired Chrome Themes  for those who already use it: PC people. The themes were made by some of todays leading artists, fashion designers, architects, musicians and illustrators including Mariah Carey, Jeff Koons,Jenny Holzer, Karim Rashid, Jonathan Adler, Oscar de la Renta, Anita Kunz, Tom Sachs, Kate Spade, Donna Karan, Kid Robot, Casey Reas, Dolce & Gabbana, Michael Graves, Todd Oldham, and Yann Arthus-Bertrand. Above is the Jeff Koons theme. Below is a video flipbook of some of the themes. Get themes here.

Jayson Keeling

Nominees have been announced for the Rema Hort-Mann Foundation Grant and I recognize some of the names cuz we're friends. Up for a 10,00o.00$  unrestricted grant are Scott Andresen, Jodie Lyn-kee-chow, David Antonio Cruz, Jayson Keeling, Mary Valverde, Carlos Sandoval De Leon, Zac Fabri, Simone Leigh, Aisha Bell and Rashaad Newsome.  From the Foundations website:

The Foundation was born around a kitchen table with the intent to celebrate Rema's life. Through the efforts of friends and associates, it has evolved into a dynamic and effective organization, acting as an advocate for emerging artists and a bedrock of support for individuals suffering from cancer. To carry out these goals, we offer unrestricted grants, by nomination only, to promising artists who demonstrate an ability and commitment to making substantial contributions to the arts, but require financial support to do so. And we provide grants for travel, accommodations, child care and related expenses to help strengthen the emotional and familial support for cancer patients while they are undergoing treatment.

Combining these two missions is our way of commemorating Rema's life and upholding the passions closest to her heart.

Artists will be competing against dozens of other artists across multiple disciplines including painting, sculture, photography and video. Over the next few days I will be posting selected images and artists from the competition.

Disclaimer: I was nominated last year and I believe the committee/judges will be looking at both artist statments as well as the work it self. Above work is "The Kingdom of Heaven is Within," 2009 glitter and debris on canvas, 60 x 72 inches, by mulidisciplinary artist Jayson Keeling.

Above TIGER SWEAT STADIUM JACKET/Only Four Color Ways. Black X White is available in NYC only. Purple X White=LA only, limited color. Black X Black= LA, NY Exclusive. Grey X White= LA, NY, Web Available October 3rd. Below, RIGHT: SHARK TRACK HOODED PARKA, released last Friday. Available in four colourways, white, black, gray, and green. Each come with a Terriyaki Source Figure Toy.  Via Bape and The Hype BR

I'm only feeling the Shark.