Home with 'Beautiful Losers' director Aaron Rose

Aaron Rose, 39, a collector and painter of street-inspired contemporary art, lives like a Soho bohemian in Silver Lake, Los Angeles. Rose made his debut as a filmmaker with the release of “Beautiful Losers,” a documentary about a loose-knit group of outside artists in New York in the 1990s. The film is screening Aug. 29 to Sept. 4 at Landmark’s Nuart Theatre in Los Angeles.




Photos: Stefano Paltera for L.A. Times

Tattoo Talk

Of course, I have to ask you about your tattoos.
The black-and-gray one is a hand-poke Japanese tattoo, and the other one is a mix of traditional Japanese and American styles.

Hand-poke? Sounds painful.
It’s a long pole that the tattoo artist uses, by hand, to apply the tattoo. It takes a lot longer but doesn’t really hurt more than getting an electric tattoo.

Do people approach you about them a lot?
Unfortunately, yes. They draw a lot of attention. I work at the Mandarin Oriental, and it’s pretty conservative, so none of my clients ever sees the tattoos. It’s my little secret.

How about on the street?
I attract the crazy people. Also, people expose themselves to me.

Really.
I was at a fashion show in Bryant Park, and this woman—I don’t want to say her name, but she’s a pretty big fashion editor— she basically pulled her pants down and showed me one on her ass cheek.

Are you drawn to other people with tattoos?
Yes. My boyfriend is a tattoo artist. He’s pretty much covered in them.

Has he given you one?
He refuses to. He says he doesn’t want to take his work home with him.

Photo: Spencer Heyfron - Interview: Emma Rosenblum for New York Magazine

Hand Drawn

Beautiful hand drawn type from the New Zealand design firm Shine. See more here.

List for Week.

1. Redesign/redecorate house. Use mix of mid-century, industrial and     alt-country.
2. Eat a lot of sushi.
3. Listen to Uncle Tupelo, Bob Dylan and the Handsome Family.
4. Edit photos for the “style” issue of REFUELED magazine.
5. Make arrangements for the Warrenton, Texas Fall antique show.

Americana Playpens

Vintage photo booths are popping up everywhere. In homes, at parties, and in quirky shops. There to document a moment in time on tiny strips of paper. I really dig the folks who are taking not only current photos but also vintage ones from family albums and attic boxes and enlarging and displaying them in groups.

Fashion Toast

If you want sexy, adventurous and a touch of urban prairie, click over to Fashion Toast. Rumi is dishing it out in a heavy dose. I must score her for a REFUELED mag shoot.

Nightwood

Nightwood is a Brooklyn based home décor business specializing in its own reconstructed furniture and textiles. With a down to earth yet airy aesthetic and sensibility, Nightwood conveys a modern rusticity that emphasizes hand-crafted one-of-a-kind products.

Crackheads Unite

Collection by fashion designer Judi Rosen, New York.

Photo: Todd Selby

Arthropod Aesthetic

Bugs & insects housed in glass at Vagabond.

Weekend Soundtrack

Jakob Dylan "Seeing Things"

Devoted Wallflowers fans have long sensed that Jakob Dylan had an album of this sort in him. What’s surprising, however, is the finesse with which he’s pulled it off. Pared for the most part to voice and acoustic guitar, the songs on "Seeing Things" bring to mind similar work by the likes of Townes Van Zandt, Alejandro Escovedo and Nebraska-era Bruce Springsteen.

Odd & Beautiful

Urban Prairie friends Mike Miller & Karen Linder of Lo and Behold Antiques always finds the best vintage, odd and beautiful signage around. One of the oddest has to be the one that reads "Skunk fat on sale here. Also traps." Now if that doesn't reflect the deep gothic south, I don't know what does. Most have already sold on their site, but the visit is still worth a look.

REFUELED Magazine "Style" Issue

The second issue of REFUELED magazine will feature Eisley’s Sherri Dupree. REFUELED no.2, the “style issue” gets an insight into Dupree’s songwriting, sense of style and her photography. Look for Chris Brown’s interview and Sherri’s self portraits in the magazines November release.

Found Typography Lovers

FounDesign is an ongoing collection of photographic images and compositions of Found Typography and Found Design. A must visit for any typography lover like myself.

Getting Refueled at 50 - Chris at CNN.com

To read Chris's take on turning 50, jump over to CNN.com's ireport. Also look for Chris's iReport used in CNN's broadcast news coverage.

Model + Prop Master

Another look at The Selby. Grace: Model, photographer, illustrator & Kenyan: Prop master at home in Orange County, New York.

Warrenton Texas

A strange look at the town of Warrenton Texas during 

antique week. A cross between "Sling Blade" and 

"Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus". The Fall show

starts Sept. 27th and runs thru Oct. 4th.

© 2008 Urban Prairie

Possesions

Photographer Todd Selby has put together a great portfolio of people and their possesions in their environment. Shown above, top left to right, my mentor Marvin Jarrett: editor-in-chief NYLON Magazine, Goergie Greville: film director & Chrissie Miller: designer of Sophomore.

Resturant owner and chef Jean Adamson.

Check out the site at theselby.com

Inspiration

Great, inspiring examples of Urban Prairie living. Wood, plastic, tile and steal.





Photos: Living Etc.

Weekend Soundtrack

Having translated years of personal pain into a compellingly emotive album, life takes an upward swing for singer-songwriter Collin Herring. In recognition of his latest effort, PAST LIFE CRASHING - written during two stints in rehab, a tumultuous marriage and subsequent divorce - Herring has been nominated for "BEST ALT-COUNTRY" artist and "BEST SONGWRITER" by the Fort Worth Weekly.