Watching | Nadal’s Richard Mille RM027 Tourbillion
The other day, TGT was afforded the opportunity to spend personal time with one very special watch. Capable of making most watch enthusiast’s and amateur’s chest tickers skip a beat, the Richard Mille RM027 Tourbillion confounds when in the palm of your hand. That’s because the RM027 defies the loosely held horological axiom of good watchmaking – heavy is good. The RM027 is anything but heavy. As a matter of a fact, its only 13 grams – and provokes a childlike reaction of laughter.
One of fifty in existence, it was showcased in the watchmaking world upon the wrist of Raphael Nadal during his storming of the 2010 Wimbledon tournament. This particular timepiece on our wrist, was Nadal’s personal watch worn when he won Wimbledon. Still visible along the lug profiles is the wear and grime from what was a heated tournament. Also, in case we forgot, did we mention that it is a Tourbillion?
The watch was auctioned off by Antiquorom in Monaco to benefit Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, and fetched a whopping $510,000 dollars. A bargain for a truly unique watch, considering it retailed for more and this particular one belonged to a historic tennis icon.
As for ourselves, we can’t afford to be seen with a watch that floats in our bathtub – because, that just sounds silly. (more…)
The Printing Press | Axis Map’s Typographic Maps
We’ve been a fan of Axis Maps, fine graphic design creations for some time. While not exactly a graphic design studio, this contemporary cartography studio cranks out impressive renditions of maps with equal portions of cartography and typography, to create visually unique products/art. We’ve been following them awaiting the release of their long anticipated New York map of Manhattan. Well, they just hit the press and can be gotten for a very reasonable price for such eye-candy. Alongside the release of the Manhattan maps, comes the DC edition. All we know is we want one – real bad. Grab them now while you still can at Typographic Maps.
Fret Buzz | The Pedal That Rocked The World
The Sound of Clapton, Hendrix and Zappa. Brought to my attention from a close guitar aficionado friend of mine, is the new release of the short on the pedal that made rock history. The iconic Cry Baby, or the wah-wah pedal as it is also commonly known as, was the revolutionary sound behind the guitar of the 60s. Hendrix rocked his foot on it in London and made history in ’66. Many others followed. It was then that funk on the guitar was decidedly here to stay. Crank it up to 11, and enjoy the feedback.
Within is the video release in HD, complete with a video of Hendrix’s rendition of Voo Doo Child, for a textbook sample of the pedal and guitar’s eponymous voice.
1935 | The Work Progress Administration Initiative
In 1935, Franklin Delano Roosevelt slated the creation of the New Deal’s Work Progress Administration. It was the agency’s task to create large scale public works projects to stimulate growth and employ millions in a time where uncertainty was ever present. The projects would range from the construction of roads and bridges, to the management of creative programs to bring cultural significance to American communities. An already ambitious undertaking, FDR created the arm of the WPA known as the Federal Arts Project, and entrusted them with the responsibility of improving awareness and visibility of the program. (more…)
The Color and The Shape | How Ink Is Made
The folks at the Printing Ink Company have put together a beautifully composed video short on the making of ink. Wildly under appreciated, ink is the mode with which shape and color takes place; and to those with a discerning eye, or should I say tact, we can find texture. In today’s world of speedy production, a humdrum knack for efficiency and progress, we observe that texture in printing is a quality that has slowly become irrelevant, especially in books. As a consequence of our own lifestyles we forget that not only can the written word touch our lives, but we can also touch it. For those who need reminding, an old book that belonged to your great grandfather will be reassure of its presence. For now, we watch the art and immensely personal experience that is the creation of shape and color.
Watch it here, as UMG will not allow embedding.
Norman Rockwell | Style Imitating Art, Imitating Style
Few men have been able to capture American life as skillfully as Norman Rockwell could. Rockwell had an impeccable ability in depicting blue collar America and being able to convey the emotions of his subjects. Norman Rockwell, by way of his paintbrush, captured some of the most iconic imagery of the 30s and 40s. Unknowingly to many, most of his paintings were staged in his studio and prepared for a scene, at times using multiple individuals from separate studies. [More Inside]
Distractions | The Google Art Project
And… They are at it again. Courtesy of the ingenious folks at Google, they bring you The Google Art Project. They have topped themselves once more with one of the most entertaining pan and zoom projects so far. Wander the galleries of the worlds most celebrated art museums and admire their masterpieces with the clarity of that afforded by stepping over the velvet rope and whipping out a magnifying glass.
As any other project of theirs, it’s a work in progress, but what has been achieved so far is pretty incredible nonetheless. The site can be found here. For those interested, the image above is a macro of the brush strokes of Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night.
The Gentleman's Topcoat 