The New Kindles

Amazon is serious about winning the e-reader and tablet wars. What's their secret weapon? Cost. Today they introduced their updated Kindle line at a price point that significantly undercuts the competition. $79 for the entry-level Kindle, $99 for the Kindle Touch ($149 for the 3G model), and $199 for the Kindle Fire. The new entry-level Kindle slims down its footprint by losing the previous model's physical keyboard. The Kindle Touch should have Barnes and Noble's Nook shaking in its boots. But the real news is the Kindle Fire. The Fire features a dual-core processor, 8GB of storage, and Amazon Silk, a mobile-optimized browser that plays Flash content. The Kindle Fire's UX design is clearly influenced by Apple's category-defining iPad and lacks much of the iPad's features and functionality. However, the fact that the Kindle Fire costs $199 and leverages Amazon's extensive cloud capabilities, means that Apple finally has some serious competition for Post-PC dominance.

San Francisco Open Studios

Rio Yanez

Annie Galvin

This weekend is the first weekend of Open Studios in San Francisco. This weekend features studios in the Mission, Noe Valley, Bernal Heights, Castro, Excelsior.
SF Open Studios is free, self-guided and takes place every weekend October 1-30, 2011 from 11 am to 6 pm. Each weekend features artists in different neighborhoods. To assist in planning studio visits, the public is invited to learn about the participating artists at artspan.org or by picking up the free SF Open Studios Guide, complete with thumbnail reproductions, contact information, and map locations, available at SOMArts Cultural Center at 934 Brannan St. during regular gallery hours throughout October. While at SOMArts, visitors can enjoy the SF Open Studios Exhibition, featuring select works by many participating artists, on view September 29 ­ October 29, 2011.

Mark Warren Jacques

Portland artist Mark Warren Jacques makes work that speaks to me. This work was from his last show at Gallery Hijinks in San Francisco. He has another solo show this fall at White Walls and I can't wait to see what he comes up with.

Art Capsule featuring Deedee Deedee Cheriel at Black Book Gallery

ART CAPSULE will be one swift night of viewing and party. Artists, Deedee Cheriel and Max Kauffman will be in attendance. Chasing Rainbows, an emerging art-fashion line, will have a small collection of work on display in the gallery store as part of the ART CAPSULE event. Check out Black Book Gallery September 29 to witness a mash-up of creativity and visual art.

Jeremy Geddes

Artist Jeremy Geddes paints super real images. The subject matter is stunning and surreal.

Lauren Nassef on Tiny Showcase

Get your limited edition print of "Spinning Tops" by Lauren Nassef now on Tiny Showcase.

PUMA and FuseProject

Yves Behar and the team at fuseproject continue to blur the lines between product design, advertising, and public relations. This year they partnered with PUMA to create a forward-thinking, green-friendly packaging system that still manages to impress with its formal beauty. Their “clever little bag” uses 65% less cardboard than the standard shoe box. It has no laminated printing, no tissue paper, and significantly reduces Puma's worldwide carbon footprint.

Puma's "clever little bag" is a win for the environment. It's also an impressive win for the brand. The case study video features elegant motion graphics and writing that sells the idea with a set of convincing environmental metrics. The "clever little bag" is a state-of-the-art example of how to create online goodwill. The case study video alone has created hundreds of thousands of positive brand impressions. It's great to see innovative, strategic ideas implemented with such style. Advertising agencies should take note. This is what a successful, modern ad campaign will look like in 2012.

Capsule Design in 10 days

In just 10 days one of my favorite fall events will be taking place, Capsule Design Festival. I would love to see you there. Come out for some fantastic designs you can take home. I can't wait to check out all the amazing local talent.

Mike Egan at Yard Dog Gallery in Austin

Mike Egan is a painter from Pittsburgh, PA. A former funeral director, his paintings are meditations on life, death and religion. Acrylic paint on wood, they are simultaneously creepy and beautiful. 

His most recent show, The Death of 1977 opens at Yard Dog Gallery in Austin, TX this Saturday. Check it out if you can.

New Miss Van Print - Oldies IV

You can get your limited edition (of 60) Miss Van Print Oldies IV here.

Mark Whalen and MK Gallery Present Anomaly and Observers

Mark Whalen is my favorite artist working today. Check out this amazing video for his new show at Merry Karnowsky Gallery in LA.


Anomaly and Observers from Thomas McMahan on Vimeo.

Mark Whalen at MK Gallery in LA

This Saturday is the opening of Mark Whalen's (aka Kill Pixie) show at Merry Karnowsky Gallery in LA. 

ANOMALY

New works by Mark Whalen

Merry Karnowsky Gallery

OBSERVERS – Collaborative installation with Thomas McMahan and Carla Azar

September 3 – October 1, 2011
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 10, 8-11pm