Cheryl's Art And Music Guide

Ever hear of the Kenbassadors ? The collection began last year when Mattel decided to focus on men who have made a huge cultural impact (much like Ken , who is now 65).  LeBron James was first. The latest Signature Kenbassador doll is Lenny Kravitz . Lenny is being honored for his career as a singer, songwriter, musician, producer, actor and designer. So is his Blue Electric Light tour. Another performer was recognized by Mattel during the summer. The  Barbie Signature Miley Cyrus doll celebrates Miley's work as a musician and actress, as well as her advocacy for self-expression.  Miley, who grew up playing with Barbie dolls, said she appreciates the attention to details ''down to the shape of the shoe, leather jacket, the belt, hair dimension, and sunglasses.'' Visit https://creations. mattel.com/products/lebron- james-barbie-kenbassadors- doll-hrm33 to check them out. 

Studio Trikken is a Swedish-based graphic design studio run by John Schulisch and Johan Elmehag . They are also developing their own projects, special collaborations, and creative outlets. That includes a new book which Johan told the Art and Music Guide about. AAMG: Banana Art Book  would also make a good exhibit, especially with over 100 artworks to choose from. JE: We are looking into that, but nothing is set yet.  AAMG: Who are some of the book's contributors? JE: The artists come from all over the world! There's a wide range, from art students to renowned design studios. We aimed for a variety in style, technique, and type of participant. At the same time, we looked for people whose approach brought us joy. There's a certain playfulness to the work, a sense of ease and creative freedom.   AAMG: What are some of the most unusual creations? Was the actual fruit used in any of them?  JE: One participant drew 100 bananas, using a banana peel in the process ...

On September 14, Bob Mackie died. The 87-year-old, whose clothes were seen on concert stages as well as TV productions, was remembered by a slew of celebrities. Among them was Elton John , who considered the designer's costumes to be works of art. Cher and Goldie Hawn called Mackie a ''sweet prince'' and Carol Burnett believed  her friend to be a genius, adding on social media that ''sadness doesn't come close to how I feel.''  Brooke Shields said she appreciated the beauty Bob brought into the world, while Sabrina Carpenter wrote she felt lucky to have met him.  Bob, who was also known for designing collectible Barbies for Mattel , was the subject of a book and movie.  In 2024, a documentary, Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion , was released. Three years earlier, a book called The-Art-of-Bob-Mackie , was published. 

 '' Write what you know'' is a popular expression. In Daniel Root 's case, he photographed what he knew. The artist has lived in New York's East Village for decades, so it was easy for him to chronicle the changes here and on the Lower East Side, which is virtually next door.   The results are in a new book called The-East-Village-Then-And- Now , and the cover features a photo of Madonna . She was ''then'' on St. Mark's Place, strolling in a scene from the movie Desperately Seeking Susan .  Daniel examines numerous blocks--as they appeared in the eighties versus nowadays. Often the site is difficult to recognize, thanks to an abundance of new buildings and foliage.  There's not much about the old art scene, but it is believed as many as 176 galleries were established here. Fun was one of the first to crop up in the eighties, and supported the likes of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Fab 5 Freddy, Futura 2000 , and Kenny Scharf ....

Form er President George W. Bush has created 16 new paintings to mark the anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks.  Bush took up painting after leaving office, and his latest pieces are on view at the Bush presidential center through the end of September.  The center, which is in Dallas, Texas, says it is a way to honor and reflect on the courage, sacrifice and resilience following the attacks.   There is a permanent Nation Under Attack exhibit as well. It includes twisted steel from the World Trade Center and a bullhorn used by Bush when he visited the site.

Tim-Pope has become a Sunday Times best-seller in the UK. As a music video director in the eighties, Tim assisted acts such as The Cure (the band's frontman, Robert Smith , penned the foreword to his new book, I Shoot Rock Stars ), Wham! , Hall & Oates , and Queen . So he had a front-row seat to the era's excesses and egos. Nigel-Dick is another director who has penned his memoirs. Among the artists he has collaborated with are Elton John, Britney Spears, Celine Dion, Def Leppard, Yes, Cher , and Toto .  Prior to that, Nigel worked as a salesman, waiter, and motorcycle messenger. He originally planned to become an architect. His book is called Music Video Mischief , and it is to be published on September 15th.