February | 2015 | CJMS Communications

Monthly Archives: February 2015

Mike Brodie’s ‘A Period of Juvenile Prosperity’

Photographer, Mike Brodie, documents the lives of vagabonds

Mike Brodie, a young, 21 year old photographer at the time, decided to pack up and leave everything behind to document the lives of American vagabonds in an amazing, thought-provoking and touching series of photographs taken between 2006 and 2009. These compelling images by Mike Brodie have now been published in his book A Period of Juvenile Prosperity. A Period of Juvenile Prosperity leads us into the precarious daily life of these young people, jumping from train to train, sleeping and living rough all while traveling throughout the United States. Born in Arizona in 1985, Mike Brodie first began photographing in 2004 when he was given a Polaroid camera. Working under the moniker, ‘The Polaroid Kidd’, Mike Brodie spent the next four years circumambulating the U.S. amassing an archive of photographs that would go on to make up one of the few, true collections of American travel photography. Having never undergone any formal training, he chose to remained untethered to the pressures and expectations of the art market. Mike Brodie compulsively documented his explorations and as suddenly as he began making photographs, he left the medium behind. In 2008, Mike Brodie received the Baum Award for American Emerging Artists. A Period of Juvenile Prosperity published by Twin Palms was released in early 2013 and has been followed by numerous gallery shows. Mike Brodie recently graduated from the Nashville Auto Diesel College (NADC) and is now working as a mobile diesel mechanic in his silver ’93 Dodge Ram. Although he has stopped creating photographs, the body of work he developed in four short intense years has left an enduring impact on the photo world.

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Florence + The Machine – Video of the Day

Florence + The Machine's new video ‘What Kind Of Man’

Florence + The Machine are back: Dropping on 12th February 2015, we were so happy to watch Florence + The Machine’s new video What Kind Of Man which is taken from their forthcoming album How Big How Blue How Beautiful which will be officially released on 1st June 2015. Earlier this week, the band unveiled the album’s title track (and music video). On What Kind of Man, the group opt for a more classic rock firepower with searing guitar riffs weaved between Florence Welch’s high-flying vocals. We always knew the front woman had bite, but this track just might be her fiercest one yet. The video for What Kind of Man was directed by Vincent Haycock and choreographed by Ryan Heffington. How Big How Blue How Beautiful serves as the follow-up to Florence + The Machine’s 2011 smash Ceremonials. It was written over the course of two years in London and Los Angeles and recorded alongside producer Markus Dravs (Arcade Fire, Coldplay, Björk). It also features contributions from Goldfrapp’s Will Gregory, Paul Epworth, Kid Harpoon, and John Hill. Regarding the LP, Welch commented ‘I guess although I’ve always dealt in fantasy and metaphor when I came to writing, that meant the songs this time were dealing much more in reality. Ceremonials was so fixated on death and water, and the idea of escape or transcendence through death, but the new album became about trying to learn how live, and how to love in the world rather than trying to escape from it. Which is frightening because I’m not hiding behind anything but it felt like something I had to do.’ Can’t wait for this album to drop!

R.I.P. Steve Strange

Steve Strange passes: We are very sad to learn that legendary Blitz club kid and the frontman of 80s band Visage, Steve Strange has passed away aged 55. His record label confirmed that he had died of a heart attack. His record label said in a statement: “We are extremely saddened to announce that Steve Strange died at 11.15 local time on Thursday, February 12 in Sharm el-Sheikh International Hospital, Egypt. Steve Strange died in his sleep of heart failure – his family, band members and friends are all distraught at this sudden news of his untimely death. Steve’s family request privacy at this extremely difficult time.” Steve Strange, best known for his work with New Romantic band Visage had one of the biggest hits was the single “Fade to Grey” in 1980. However, Strange was also a leading style pioneer in his own right. He was at the forefront of London club culture in the 1970s and 80s, beginning with the Blitz – a Soho night which helped launch the careers of countless British musicians, including Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet and Boy George. With his outrageous dress sense and out-there DIY costumes, Strange embodied the spirit of the New Romantic scene. As the doorman at Blitz, he was infamous for his ultra-discerning eye; he reportedly allowed David Bowie in, but not Mick Jagger. As news of his passing spread, former New Romantics lined up to pay tribute to the quintessential London club kid.

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Banana Art by Stephan Brusche

And then there was ‘Banana Art’: So it would seem many artists are inspired by fruit these days including Dutch artist Stephan Brusche who continues to find creative ways of turning bananas into works of art via his new series of banana art entitled Banana Doodles. The artist first began by doodling directly onto the banana’s surface a few years back as a way of showcasing his creativity on Instagram. Since then, Brusche has incorporated the fruit’s shape and skin (through carving and peeling), continuing to find new ways to reimagine the same space over and over again. The 37-year-old graphic designer turns humble bananas into iconic characters such as Marilyn Monroe and Homer Simpson as well as animals and famous artworks and although the Dutch artist hadn’t expected his banana art to be so popular, positive feedback has lead him to release his very first book, Fruitdoodles, which documents his initial 50 banana art creations. He also has his own Fruitdoodle calendar with a different creation for each month of the year. Although Stephan has now found his banana art to be rather lucrative, the designer says that his famous fruit had very humble beginnings. ‘I took a ballpoint pen and just started drawing. I was pretty amazed how pleasant a banana peel is to draw on.’ Ba nah nah na indeed.

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