“Plan of the City” is an amazing new animated film conceived and directed by Joshua Frankel. Combining live-action footage, animated elements, illustrations and images including public domain photos taken by the Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity, the visually stunning 13-minute film artfully envisions New York City’s unique architectural fixtures blasting off from Earth and resettling on Mars. On the evening of May 6, 2011, at NYC’s Le Poisson Rouge, the film will by presented by New Amsterdam Records featuring a live performance by Chiara Quartet, Matmos and NOW Ensemble, celebrating the releases of their new albums. Tickets and detailed project, performance and artist information is available via Le Poisson Rouge.

The S.L.A.T.E. Pop-Up Shop @ AK1511 is a unique retail concept: In addition to standard retail, featured brands are able to host their own in-store events and sample sales, display exhibits, and bring in live musical performances and DJ showcases. The featured brands will rotate monthly, and the current roster will appear through Jan. 17.

Click here to see a world of A Nice Set images on Flickr.The A Nice Set art experience is a cultural movement in its third year of touring around the globe. Hollister and his colleagues at We Are Plus commissioned over 30 international artists to develop one-of-a-kind sets of DJ slipmats that explore the dynamic relationship between visual art, music and DJ culture. Partnering with International designers Network (IdN), We Are Plus created a book to accompany the custom tour experience that features the art work and interviews with world renowned DJs such as Jamie Lidell, Bobbito Garcia and A-Trak. Custom DJ slipmats and more information are available at www.aniceset.com.

We Are Plus founder and creative director Jeremy Hollister:

“When we conceived A Nice Set, the main idea was to create an exhibition that we felt would attract and entertain those we see as ‘tastemakers’ worldwide. They are DJs, artists, designers, photographers, writers, young entrepreneurs, and businesspeople who are shaking things up and making their voices heard. As a group, these individuals are powerful, and from the beginning, we felt that events targeted to their interests would also offer progressive retail brands a great opportunity to reach this elusive crowd. To us, the S.L.A.T.E. Pop-Up Shop @ AK1511 represents the perfect scenario for uniting thoughtful art with a powerful retail scenario for innovative brands.”

DJ’s Perplex and Mr. Tsang are two of many talented musical artists to have appeared in conjunction with A Nice Set events worldwide. Thank you everyone!

At the top: A Nice Set: Shanghai, presented by NeochaEDGE, Jellymon & We Are Plus.
A Nice Set is a traveling exhibition of customized slipmats designed by leading artists from around the world. A NICE SET: SHANGHAI was presented by NeochaEDGE, Jellymon, and We Are Plus, and featured slipmat designs from international artists as well as the first showing of original slipmat designs from emerging Chinese artists. Further integrating the music + art theme, a set of Aerial7 headphones received a custom-design treatment by Chinese artists and were displayed at the exhibition.

I personally first met Tommy in about 1978, when I was a pre-teen and he was studying photography at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Over the years since that time, we have collaborated on many projects, and finally in 2008, I had the opportunity to commission him to do some personal portraiture. Even with my knowledge of his masterful artistic talents, his professionalism blew me away. Whereas I had asked for a few snaps for posterity’s sake, he approached the project with the diligent craftsmanship which has cemented his long-standing relationships with many top entrepreneurs, celebrities and creatives. From pre-scouting the locations in LA where we shot to his uncompromising determination on shoot-day to get me numerous iconic images for every use I might imagine, he surpassed my expectations by quantum leaps and bounds, and if I do say so myself, made me look better even than I’ve felt in years.

I recommend Tommy Ewasko without reservation for the creation of extraordinary imagery.

Veteran imagemaker Tommy Ewasko is a world-class artist dedicated to producing unique, exacting and exciting creative photographic imagery. Quickly finding success in New York City following his graduation from the Rochester Institute of Technology, by 1988, Tommy’s impressive imagery had already landed him on the exclusive roster of Kodak’s Image Bank – which is now Getty Images, the world’s leading stock image agency. Tommy then expanded into Houston, Texas, where he joined forces with some of the world’s best developers, marketers and graphic designers to produce award-winning imagery for an elite list of corporate and agency clientele, while drawing rave reviews in boutique and gallery exhibitions across the United States. Currently based in Los Angeles and enjoying collaborations with a new field of creatives, Tommy also continues pursuing award-winning partnerships with the finest designers and creative directors from Houston to New York, and beyond. Meanwhile, Tommy’s works, including those seen in his Getty Images and Framespan galleries, continue to expand through his travels, his unique perspective, his craftsmanship, and E Studio, his professional imaging bureau.