Damien Hirst is intriguing. Just when I think I am over this guy he finds a way to get me interested again and this video definitely has pulled me back in. Anytime you can have an artist walk you through their work, I think your perspective on them and the work changes – sometimes for better , sometimes for the worst - in this case for me it was for the better. This is a great video of the new Damien Hirst Retrospective exhibition currently on show at the Tate Modern in London. Hirst walks through with curator Ann Gallagher.

If you know us personally, you know that we are always talking about how cool our Canvas Custies are. Our folks have become friends, are interesting, inspiring, supportive, do interesting creative things,  live life to the fullest and keep us moving forward as a shop and as people. I have decided to stop talking about them and let you hear from them in their own words. Nick Berman (Nick B as he has been previously referenced on the blog) is one of these individuals. Good times are always at hand when Nick B is in the building – we discuss fashion, design, music, books, magazines etc…  Nick Berman is a designer of furniture and the owner of Berman Rosetti.  We had a few questions for Nick B and he was nice enough to answer.

How has being a designer impacted your life … beyond finances? On a pragmatic level I find that the same patience required to solve a design problem is inherent in our everyday problems and as well the same trust I have for my design instincts has blossomed into my personal life. Exposure seems to be the word that comes to mind when I think of impact from my profession. Not only the travel and research required but also moreover the collaboration with my partner, clients and whomever else is involved in the project at hand. Most importantly I have found that you can really have fun and still make a living!

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Highlighting the work of iconic American architect Philip Johnson, The National Trust for Historic Preservation unveils its latest short film, “Architecture + Influence: A Short Film on the Work of Philip Johnson.” The film boasts an impressive and concise oral history of Johnson’s extensive body of work throughout the years. One of the few whose legacy is as vast as it is impactful, Johnson is respected for his Glass House masterpiece and his wide range of work that drastically changed the architecture landscape indefinitely.

Martin Greenfield is a suit maker of legend. Jac and I had the opportunity to meet and speak with him a few years ago and he was very inspiring, bursting with energy and experience to share. The Facts – Many often complain about the migration of American manufacturing jobs to cheap overseas markets, especially within the garment industry, which has nearly vanished since the 1960s. Yet America is still home to many longstanding companies, who are still very much in place today, providing the world with quality goods at affordable pricing. A must watch for any aspiring designer or creative manufacturer, Greenfield discusses both the past, present and future of the garment producing industry, as well as providing a look into his daily operations and what is required to make the best clothing possible. With plenty of helpful tips present in this short five-minute piece, the most profound, “Quality with intrinsic value will always keep you in business”, will echo in our minds for years to come.

Daphne Guinness is someone that I recently became aware of thanks to British Vogue (don’t quote me on that) who listed her among the best dressed couture families on the planet. She is definitely a unique woman and her take on production is interesting to me – I love her efforts here for Barneys.  The facts: Documentary filmmaker Brennan Stasiewicz infiltrates the cosseted world of Daphne Guinness in Daphne’s Window. Featuring intimate footage of the icon at her Fifth Avenue apartment, the short follows the eccentric fashion patron and socialite as she prepares for her recent installation in the windows of Barneys New York. The storefront showcased her collection of pieces by designer Lee Alexander McQueen and a selection from the archive of fashion editor Isabella Blow, which Guinness purchased in its entirety last year. The display culminated in a performance art piece in which Guinness dressed for the Met ball in one of the flagship’s windows, modeling a lilac feathered gown designed by McQueen’s Sarah Burton. “She appears to me as someone always in a window,” says Stasiewicz. “Someone you can approach and see, but you remain on the other side.”  “Daphne is someone to take pleasure in, and in many ways, someone who incites moments of wonder,” says Stasiewicz.

Reed Pages is a mag that we stock at the shop and people are always asking me who is Jeff Staples when I mention that he is the creator of the mag (which is in need of a second installment), Reed Space and the infamous Nike Pigeon Dunks – well ta da – here he is discussing what he is all about. Jeff has shown an appreciation for our little shop and we return the compliment. Enjoy

Beautiful ful is a brand that Canvas has embraced from sketch page thru to finished product. We have been able to create several one of a kind pieces for our shop with the brand over the seasons and always look forward to seeing what they are going to bring to the table next. This time they are bringing a trailer (film to follow) where designer Alejandro Rodriguez shares his thoughts on what Beautiful ful is all about. Enjoy

Oliver Spencer is a brand we love at Canvas and have increasingly represented on our floor since being introduced three years ago. I love when brands make these videos and we can share the designer with everyone so you can get a slice of their personality and vision. The brands we carry like Oliver Spencer are more than the clothing, they are…. Enjoy