A post by Bobby at Kitsune Noir got me thinking about some of the more commercial work done by director Chris Cunningham — namely, commercials.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykXkmVURI-w

Bobby’s post referred to one over at Dazed Digital focusing on Cunningham’s recent TV spot for Gucci’s Flora fragrance. In it, a woman exerts a mysterious, natural force over a field of 20,000 fake, white flowers to a soundtrack of Donna Summer’s ‘I Feel Love,’ which Cunningham worked with Summer to re-record for the project in Nashville last year.

Cunningham, whose body of work includes such groundbreaking videos as Aphex Twin’s Come to Daddy and Bjork’s All is Full of Love, isn’t new to the commercial game. And, in the case of an of-the-moment director like Cunningham who often gets signed up on the strength of his name and given free rein, sometimes we all luck out and get something just a little bit bizarre.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E57FKectTKM

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nOzL8vF4_M

When Matthew Edelstein stepped away from his full-time gig at Details in 2008 he put his newfound freedom to immediate good use. The blog-style site he created, bare-bones all the way, quickly became a sort of creative safe haven for photographers, models and creative directors itching to escape the controlling arm of a big magazine. While most print publications are struggling to build on their online presence, Contributing Editor is a magazine that exists solely on the screen.

At Contributing Editor, turnaround is quick. Edelstein and his CE partner Ryan Schmidt coordinate with their various contributors to get their work published quickly, infusing the whole project with a youthful energy — from shoots with bands like Young Lords to a look inside the much-photographed Shipley & Halmos office, this is all fun stuff from seasoned veterans getting a chance to do their own thing.

This is hardly the first online-only style/culture publication, but it is defiantly unique in that the site looks like a collection of image scans. Contributing Editor isn’t trying to be a web publication — it’s a publication that just so happens to be on the web. Can we expect much more of the same as everything continues to make its move onto the Internet?

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0zEXdDO5JU

A nice little graphic video made by Jonathan Jarvis, although, not exactly our kind of article, we figured everybody should have a basic understanding of the current Credit Crisis that is creating the biggest economic downturn since World War II. We recommend visiting Crisis of Credit to watch this video. If you really like it, you can even buy Jarvis’ T-Shirt. This video has already received half a million views on YouTube.

From Juxtapoz – a short talk with Harry Kim of the documentary film ‘Dirty Hands: The Art and Crimes of David Choe.’ Kim, as one of Choe’s old friends, is in good position to explain some of the ins-and-outs of the bad-boy artist’s life. Former prisoner, current gambler (but with a buddy-system!), and all-around interesting personality, here are a few choice snippets from the interview:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S1x4tQ16W0

We have a system down, where we go to Vegas together, he gambles every day, I hold the chips, and he has to leave up so he doesn’t leave losing money. We have to be partners in gambling so it’s really measured and controlled. He calls it “nerd gambling.”

Is he still a hard-core Christian?

No, he hates all that stuff now. But all the Christians are trying to capture him back. They won’t stop emailing him.

One scene was almost a metaphor for his whole life, where he punches himself in the face to get blood running from his nose, to use it in his drawing.

Well, it’s one way to put yourself in the work!

As of yesterday, the Kitsune Noir Desktop Wallpaper Project is a full year old. From Bobby’s description upon the project’s launch on March 5, 2008:

First and foremost I decided that I wanted this project to be something that was free. Well, free doesn’t leave a whole lot of options that don’t include me going into debt, so I had to be creative. What I decided to do was start a project based off the of the Radiohead desktop wallpapers I created last year in honor of In Rainbows coming out.

But this time around, I decided to write all of my favorite artists and designers, many of which you’ve seen featured on this blog, and see if they’d contribute a wallpaper. As it turns out, my favorite artists and designers happen to be some of the nicest people out there, and so many of them were more than happy to help and be a part of this project…

We’re lucky Bobby knows so many nice folks — although I’m sure it’s not a matter of luck. So, out of appreciation for one of the most consistently inspiring (and free!) services in the blog jungle, here are a few favorites from this past year. Follow the image to pick up the wallpaper through Kitsune Noir (for any manner of desktop sizes, along with iPhones, PSPs, et al.) and click the banners for links to each artist’s site/info.

*bonus, from Bobby’s description: “Right now she’s illustrating three comics for independent publishers and working on projects with Image and DC Comics” (!) And also, “…the anime influence, sort of reminds me of James Jean but doesn’t feel like a ripoff.” My thoughts exactly.

Browse them all here, and stay tuned to Kitsune Noir for a new entry every Wednesday.

Fleet Foxes – Mykonos

You can’t keep a great concept down. Here’s another behind-the-scenes look, this time on the lower-budget tip.

Fleet Foxes recently debuted their video for Mykonos, directed and produced by the singer’s brother, Sean Pecknold. This is a far cry from some of the work Pecknold’s done for Fleet Foxes in the past, having shot the band as a rustic throwback to the days of The Byrds or CSNY for their song ‘He Doesn’t Know Why.’

Fleet Foxes – He Doesn’t Know Why

This time Pecknold, who works under the name Grandchildren, and his small team of artists/animators utilized paper cutouts, stop-motion photography and a glass pane technique to make magic happen. Via Pitchfork, here’s how:

Valentine’s Day is around the corner, and with the economy in a record-setting slump, it’s easy to see how the second-most highly commercialized holiday of the year can be even more daunting than usual. But fear not – resident girl Tam is here to help with advice and activities, bringing you the GEDDEM Guide to Valentine’s Day, in order to make sure that you and your lady have the best V-day ever.

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