Dispatches from Berlin - WET Magazine at Udolpho

In 1976, a bizarre, even absurd magazine was born in Los Angeles that would improbably go on to influence an entire generation of designers, artists, filmmakers and more. The magazine was called WET and the theme was gourmet bathing. Leonard Koren was an avant garde artist who focused on bath art, that is photographing people in baths doing weird or interesting things. As a thank you to his subjects, he would throw a party at a Russian-Jewish bathhouse in LA. The idea for WET grew out of these parties and he didn’t even really know what gourmet bathing was, but just knew he wanted an absurdist magazine. He carried this ethos through all 34 issues which ran from 1976-1981. If you wanted to know how to cook fish in bath water or dress for the apocalypse, this was the magazine for you. There was a “serious” side to the magazine however, and Koren worked with countless underground artists of the time and even wound up making household names out of people like David Lynch. Koren maintained complete creative control and his art design of WET has now become a thing of legend. It was so amazingly California new wave that it can never be duplicated. Koren would go on to release a “Making of WET”, which gave some great insight into the magazine’s creation. Berlin bookstore, Udolpho, brilliantly curated a show on WET and I am lucky enough to be in the city during its limited run. I visited the small gallery space near the Tiergarten district and was blown away by all the various issues on display. They are even better in person and I loved all of the local ads of the time too. A true time capsule of art and design and I wish I owned every issue. Will see you on the internet trying to find some to buy! -JRS

[ALONE] An Existential Haunting

The dredges of summer are finally coming to a close and that can only mean one thing: Halloween season is upon us. This is a favorite time of year because there are so many traditions and rituals that are associated with the thirty first day of October. However, last year in Los Angeles, a new ritual was born and it has returned to haunt us yet again.

The Alone Experience is a fully immersive, large scale haunting that takes participants through multiple rooms (and levels) in a haunted house-like format, the likes of which you have never seen. As the name suggests, those who are brave enough, walk through completely alone and encounter all sorts of obstacles, ghouls, freaks, weirdos and sounds along the way. You never quite know what to expect and you don’t even really know where you’re going, so the disorientation makes it incredibly scary. I had the privilege of going through last year and was blown away. The venue was an industrial basement of sorts on the edge of downtown LA and the production value was amazing. Fully customized rooms, costumes and props meet you every step of the way. This is not a quick run through and the organizers pay close attention the detail and expect to even be manhandled and pushed around a little bit too (you sign a waiver of course).

This year’s experience is even bigger and better. The location has changed but we can expect a similar venue somewhere downtown (they let you know when you get your tickets), and the second incarnation will only be building upon the success of the first. To get us even more excited, the opening ritual will take place on October 17th with punk legend Lydia Lunch performing, along with Squeaky Blonde and other acts as well. I was legitimately frightened at times last year and I can’t wait to go back! Tickets are on sale now so get them while you can. I love October.

-JRS

For tickets and more information visit the Alone website here.

BRVTAL WOMAN - ZANA BAYNE F/W 2014

If you haven’t noticed, leather is a favorite material here at The Brvtalist. Nothing is better at straddling the line between hard-wearing utility and fine luxury. I always like to feature handcrafted brands with a great aesthetic and Zana Bayne hits all the right notes. Based in NYC, Bayne has a BFA in Conceptual Art from San Francisco Art Institute and also spent some time in Berlin before relocating to New York. All of these play a big role in her designs and her sharp, minimal harnesses and leather accessories have a distinct quality with a dark, devious edge. These are perfect as full ensembles or as individual pieces that can work from the art gallery to the dungeon. She’s even branched out with some great bags and even some men’s accessories. Definitely one to know about. 

For more information click here. 

-JRS

MANHUNTER - Trailer - (1986) - HQ

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The Keep - Trailer

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Michael Mann Appreciation Week

What started off as simple admiration has become full blown obsession. While there are many filmmakers who have left their mark on me, I’m not sure there is one whose influence is more profound than Michael Mann. His early 80’s neo-noir crime dramas capture the essence of what I love most about the best decade. From his slow burning plots to the classic fever dream visuals and aesthetic, no detail was ever over looked. I also don’t think there was any TV show that captivated me more than Miami Vice and Heat remains arguably one of the best LA crime movies ever. Mann’s legacy continues to live on in movies like Drive and Beyond the Black Rainbow and I’m excited to see more films in this vein coming out. This week on the Brvtalist, we salute Michael Mann. 

-JRS