Latest news with #Koons
San Francisco Chronicle
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Can Jeff Koons take a joke? This Bay Area artist is about to find out
Sometimes, you hear an idea for an art project that's so smart and funny, you can't wait to see how it gets realized. That was how I felt when Santa Clara artist Kathy Aoki told me about her developing series 'Koons Ruins.' The Koons in question is one of the most famous living artists in the world: Jeff Koons. The 70-year-old has been ubiquitous in the art market since the 1980s, known for works that reference everyday objects — basketballs, action figures, barware — that he heightens by inflating their scale and adding a glossy, pop culture sheen. Even if you don't know his name, you might recognize his work: 'Balloon Dog' and 'Tulips' sculptures, both made to resemble the kind of twisty balloon creations made by clowns; his gargantuan 'Puppy,' covered in flowers and greenery; or 'Come Through With Taste — Myers's Dark Rum — Quote Newsweek,' a fake magazine advertisement. Koons calls himself 'an idea person' and is not involved in the actual fabrication of his work. Still, his art sells for millions of dollars and is in museum collections across the globe. 'Even if people aren't familiar with his work, they can recognize gross commercialism when they see it,' Aoki told me, quick to state that she does not hate Koons or all of his work. 'But when he talks, I can't tell if he's smiling to himself like he's pulled the wool over the eyes of all these institutional directors, investors and collectors, or if he really believes in the work that he's making.' With its commentary about the art market, collectors and blue chip art that Aoki brings to Koons' work, she goes much deeper than the artist himself. 'Koons Ruins' is currently getting a high-profile preview this month on the Salesforce Tower's 'Day for Night' video installation. Aoki's five-minute animation features giant chipmunks roosting on a buried balloon dog sculpture and tractors bearing the 'Koons Ruins' logo. In the finale, a balloon sculpture is tossed over a waterfall, rises, and then sinks into bubbles. The video runs most days beginning at midnight. What made me fall in love with the 'Koons Ruins' project is the storytelling. Aoki, 56, invented an art collector named Dorothea James who was so offended by Koons' work that she makes it her mission to buy as much of it as possible so she can destroy it. The wrecked pieces are eventually put on view at her estate, now dubbed 'Koons Ruins,' and opened to the public upon her death. 'She goes so far as to hire her own team of chemists to undo the proprietary coating that Jeff Koons has made for his sculptures,' Aoki explained of the character. 'I'm enjoying exploring her character more, and why she's taken it this far.' When I met Aoki at her room at the Hotel Del Sol during the Startup Art Fair San Francisco in April, she had transformed the space into a visitors' center for the nonexistent location with a topographic map of the imagined art park, peepholes where you could see images of degraded Koons art, animation and even an audio tour. I laughed at installations that rated different Koons works for their level of offensiveness. I browsed the 'gift shop' with its T-shirts featuring crossed out balloon dog 'Koons Ruins' logos. Aoki is currently a fellow at the Lucas Artists Residency Program at Montalvo Arts Center in Saratoga and will be working a San Francisco residency at the Space Program in the fall. But the biggest supporter of her project is the New York-based nonprofit Creative Capital, which gave Aoki a $50,000 grant for the project this year. While Aoki has previously dipped into the pool of pop culture commentary and large-scale art with pieces like her 'Gwen Stefani Grand Burial Exhibition' (2009-16) and her 'Hello Kitty Monument' (2012-20), she is in new legal territory with Koons. Because her work references existing work by the living and notoriously litigious artist, she is carefully navigating how much of his works she can depict and how. Showing images she's created of Koons' art in various stages of decay have so far felt safe, she said, but she remains cautious. Aoki knows of the 2011 cease and desist letter San Francisco gallery Park Life received from Koons after selling bookends in the shapes of balloon dogs. (Koons himself has been the subject of at least four copyright infringement lawsuits.) But one of the benefits of Aoki's Creative Capital grant is access to lawyers who will advise her of her legal rights as an artist. Aoki's hope is that she can use the grant to create large, 'immersive scenes' that will pay homage to her practice as a print maker while also using two-dimensional elements. Eventually, however, she wants to take the narrative further. 'I would like to make a mockumentary film about the 'Koons Ruins,'' Aoki told me. 'There's just so many different elements of the story and approaches I'm excited about.'
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'I just wanted to vote': Cleona Rosie the Riveter honored for voting 81 years in a row
The first time Lorraine Koons ever voted in a presidential election was in 1944, when she voted for then President Franklin D. Roosevelt's fourth term. "I wasn't old enough for the primary that year," she said. "You had to be 21 to vote then in those years, and so I was only 21 in time for the general election." Since then, Koons has voted 81 years in a row, saying that she "never ever" thought about skipping an election and not submitting a ballot. "I think voting to me is an important part of life," she said. "You're helping your government in a small way." That why members of the Lebanon County Lebanon County Bureau of Elections and Voter Registration, along with county and state election officials, came out to Lebanon Valley Home May 9 to acknowledge the 102-year-old Koons' dedication to fulfilling her civic obligation. "I think it's wonderful," she said. "They really surprised me. I didn't expect all this." Koons recently wrote the elections office a letter saying that she had recently moved, and a certificate and a commemorative plate she received in 1997 honoring her induction into the Pennsylvania Voter Hall of Fame had gone missing. The Voter Hall of Fame acknowledges commonwealth residents who have voted in every November election for at least 50 consecutive years. "She wanted to know if there was any way to get a copy of at least the certificate because she would like to pass that along someday," Elections Director Sean Drasher said. In the process of helping Koons, the elections office staff realized that she had continued her voting record for almost 82 years. The event Friday was supposed to be a small affair, but Drasher said that once state and county officials found out they wanted to join in as well. "People like Lorraine remind us that we still have a civic obligation to get out there and vote," he said. "And to do it with such a cheery smile, she's a great ambassador." Koons, who spent all but the last three years living in Cleona, graduated from Lebanon High School in 1940 and began working at the Cleona Paper Box Factory. Last year she spoke with the Lebanon Daily News about her time as a "Rosie the Riveter," helping to repair U.S. aircraft at the Middletown Air Depot during World War II. "I worked in the fuselage department," she said. "That department put in new gas tanks and we worked on the oxygen systems and the oil systems. We repaired any damage that was made from enemy fire." In December 2024, Koons received the Rosie the Riveter Congressional Medal of Honor for her service. Lorraine Koons: Cleona Rosie the Riveter's proudest moments: working the air depot and lifetime of voting But as proud as she is about her time as a Rosie, Koons is also grateful for her chance to vote in every election. Voting became important to her at a young age, through her aunt who was very politically minded. "When I was just little, I had an aunt that was very active in local politics," she said. "She took me along with her to all the conventions, rallies and speeches. ... I couldn't wait till I was 21. I just wanted to vote." To celebrate her voting record May 9, the election office staff got Koons a cake, baseball hat, a card and an elections blanket. State Rep. Russ Diamond presented Koons with a House of Representatives proclamation, and state Rep. Chris Gebhard, along with County Commissioners Michael Kuhn and Jo Ellen Litz, also expressed their congratulations. Koons said that it's a privilege to go out and vote, especially during the primary. "So many people think, 'Oh I'm not going to vote in the primary,' and that's the important one," she said. "That's when you pick the people that are going to run." The Pennsylvania 2025 municipal primary is scheduled for May 20. Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ or on X at @DAMattToth. This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Cleona Rosie the Riveter recognized for 81-year voting record
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rocky Mountain Soda is Now Made Using Certified Organic Sugar
Rocky Mountain Soda Co., Which is Based in Colorado, Crafts a Wide Variety of Full-Flavor Sodas that are Free of Artificial Colors, Added Salts and Preservatives DENVER, CO / / February 6, 2025 / Rocky Mountain Soda Co., a Colorado-based, family-owned company that was founded in 2009, is pleased to announce that all of their products are now made using certified organic sugar. To check out their full line of authentic and full-flavor soda pop, which are also gluten free, vegan, kosher and made with non-GMO ingredients, please visit As Moose Koons from Rocky Mountain Soda Co. noted, the decision to switch to certified organic sugar was inspired by two key objectives. "Not only does this help with our goal of only using the best ingredients, but organic sugar helps the environment by avoiding synthetic pesticides and herbicides during its cultivation," Koons said, adding that organic cultivation reduces soil pollution, water contamination, and potential harm to surrounding ecosystems while promoting sustainable farming practices to maintain soil health and biodiversity. Whether customers order Boulder Birch Beer, Evergreen Elderberry, Pikes Peak Prickly Pear or any of the other delicious and refreshing flavors from Rocky Mountain Soda Co., Koons said they can rest assured that they will enjoy beverages that are made from quality ingredients that people can actually pronounce. In addition to organic cane sugar, the sodas are crafted with sparkling Colorado water, natural flavor extracts, and non-GMO citric acid. The sodas are also free of artificial flavors, colors, added salts and preservatives. Customers are welcome to purchase soda directly from the user-friendly website; Rocky Mountain Soda Co. offers bottles of soda in 12 or 24 packs, and their cans in 12, 24 or 48 packs. People may order a single flavor in any of these increments. "We craft each flavor in small batches and package each bottle by hand on the day it is made," Koons said. "Our efforts are realized in every sip you take. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do." About Rocky Mountain Soda Co. Rocky Mountain Soda Co. was founded in 2009 and is still hand-made in Colorado using only the highest quality ingredients. They craft authentic full-flavor soda pop that not only tastes great, but is gluten-free, GMO-free, kosher, and vegan. Their products are free of artificial flavors, artificial colors, added salts and preservatives. For more information, please visit Media Contact Moose Koonsmoose@ Glencoe StreetDenver, CO 80216 SOURCE: Rocky Mountain Soda View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
