Highspeed Rail in the US of A
I honestly never thought I’d see or potentially ride a highspeed rail in the US but from the sounds of this article and so many similar ones popping up lately, we have a strong chance of this becoming reality. I must also admit that hearing that Florida (of all places) would be one of the first to receive said trains and that Texas would follow there after. What does make me smile on the inside, is how many people are not only behind such plans for tracks to be laid across the US, but how much momentum these plans are gaining thanks to the Obama administration. Undoubtedly, this will be one of the most important and crucial periods of American development in our lifetime.
Read more here.
Dick Chicken
First, I think its awesome that this is a video from the article section on Playboy. Had no Idea they were stepping their content game up. Nice move! Second, I think this video is very telling of the modern street artist’s dogma and way of life. To me, it’s a HUGE fuckin joke to think that these people would serve any prison time let alone as much as they sometimes do. Time and time again, I hear stories about kids getting 5+ years for this stuff. Yeah, you can say they live in terrible places like Texas — where you get more time for writing your name on a wall than selling drugs — but I mean, seriously!? This is an odd custom, humans and it’s even more strange that you think throwing a person in jail will make them “learn their lesson” Nope, they just came out unable to participate in society and now they steal shit and sell drugs and beat old women for fun. I’m exaggerating to some minimal measure, but I think you get the point.
On a positive tip, this guy is getting after his “thing” with supreme dedication, like all of us should with whatever we do. That alone, is far more uplifting and inspiring than most of what I read on the electro-webs everyday. Maybe that’s my whole interest in graffiti to start? Self reliance and dedication equals responsibility. Sounds like a good thing to me. Food for thought.
(via @jedotlu )
More DICK CHICKEN here.
Laika
This video brings up a lot of interesting ideas for me… First, it’s amazing to see people come up with an entirely new way of doing something and potentially changing human habit forever in the process. Secondly, I just thought about how discovery methods have seemed to change entirely, even over the past 40 years. If you think about the concept of invention — which is a under-considered term today — it was more of a finite thing. Example: I want my bread to be warm and slightly baked but faster than an oven can do it. Alas, someone invents a toaster. A single solution with a finite use. Today invention and technology are definitely transitional. We make things on a whim, which leads to something that leads to something else etc. Example here being the cellphone. In its origination, the cellular phone was obviously considered a somewhat finite thing, but somehow we now have the iPhone. Which to me is nothing of a phone at all and when we stop thinking of it as a phone, it has the potential to become something greater. We now make things that might not be needed and have no real use, but under the pretense of them leading to something greater, we move forth.
Find out more about Laika here.
(Now if someone can just make a good font browser, we’ll all be ok)
Today
I feel like there aren’t many rightfully outspoken people on this topic and within only a few more years, if not already, the topic of September 11th will become more or less, a religious holiday or a reason to feel proud. Nothing more. If anything, I feel as though I’m going against what I believe in, just speaking about it TODAY. It was a fucked up deal and a lot of people who shouldn’t have been, were affected. The thing that really bothers me is the obvious lack of effort to really talk about it with out “god blessing” anyone or “praying for families” etc. You would think more people would question their way of life and really take today as a reason to reflect on their lives and the things they do with it.
Not to belittle the point, but I also find it interesting that there are many worse things that people deal with every day and throughout every year that have a much more negative affect on us all, American or not. Why don’t we celebrate those moments we overcome and take a minute to reflect on those issues with the intent of growing from the lessons they provide. I guess we would need a specific day on the calendar or a statue to remember the value of these things. Something to buy or to hold?
Everyday I read about ground breaking research and factually relevant stories that affect millions of people. Why is it that these are only spoken about under the breath of a few? How is it that our world has become so concerned with feeling proud and worshiping things that we have forgotten what it takes to grow, learn and understand.
I don’t blame religion or capitalism. I don’t even blame political affiliation. I blame each and every person who fails to take charge of their own lives and realize that no matter what you believe or who you are, you are in charge of yourself. Get up and go do something, stop bitching about how unfair things are or how you are owed anything. Find what you want and grab it.
If anything, today is the day to seize opportunity and make something happen. Now do it.
Melbourne Rebrands
The idea of branding a city has always been an interesting concept to me. Sure, it makes sense, but so rarely are they ever used in a way that reflects the nature of a brand or an ideal. Usually these shitty “logos’ are used as nothing more than a header on letterhead and occasionally tossed onto a city vehicle. From the looks of it, this Melbourne rebranding shines a bright new light to the concept of designing an experience and embarrassing an ideal to reflect onto people as a sort of ambition or milestone for achievement. Hopefully this will become something of a regularity in the future.
Hop on over to the Brand New blog for a closer look at the project and additional info.
Ghostly Discovery App
Ghostly International takes a good stab at the future of personalized music experience through a new mobile application. Location based experiences, flash augmented reality and a handful of other delightful tricks are soon to change the way we think of brands and services… seriously. And if they aren’t attempting to change interaction, service or experience, then they won’t be around very much longer anyway. Find out more about their app here.
Favorite Sneakers
Lately, I’ve seen more than a handful of sneakers that I’ve quite thoroughly enjoyed and would love to eventually purchase. Take a quick look below and some of the swell footwear that is either in shops now, or soon to be released by various companies.
Clae – Russell (above)
Nike – Holiday 2009 Sweet Classic Low (above)
Creative Recreation – DiCoco in Black Patent (above)
Nike - Terminator Hi Jersey (above)
Nike – Summer 2009 Dunk Hi Splatter (above)
Nike – AM1 Hold Tight (above)
I find most of these gems on some super duper blogs such as Highsnobiety, Hypebeast or Sneaker Freaker. These sites cover a wide range of topics surrounding “urban” fashion, or streetwear. If you are in or around MPLS, check out VS Social Standard or Status. When I’m in Chicago, I usually hit up Saint Alfred or Leaders. When I roll through Denver, The 400 or Family Affair (Sorry if I left anyone out). These of course, aren’t the only places to read about or shop for sneakers but make me happy.
In the works
It’s been a minute since my last post… This year is off to an fairly hectic start for me with a few interesting projects in the works. I’m collaborating with the founder of Artcrank, Charles Youel, to bring the event/exhibit into Denver for 2009. I’ll be curating, producing, and contributing to the show which is shaping up to take place the second week in April. Lifter Baron is currently working on a new identity system for Artcrank over at Seventhsin, the few sneak peeks that he has fed me so far look tasty. I too… am currently working on an Identity project for Designklub (Thanks to Jaime Kopke), with a redesign of the DK blog following immediately after. I’ll post more random bits on all, as they continue to evolve and develop.
Chicago
The city that whispers in my ear as I lay my head to rest. The city that slowly tugs at my sleeve…
Soon, very soon.
Denver’s Future Looks Shiny
Although I haven’t lived in Denver for almost a year now, I’ve still managed to keep track of a lot of awesome shit that’s been going on there. Now, there might be a lot of fantastic and jazzy things going on there, but there are also some huge piles of shit that haven’t been cleaned up since I’ve left either. I’ll break these down into two categories to make my brief and honest observation.
Some good friends have broke off and started their own studio! This needs to happen more often in Denver, the community has grown quite stagnated over the past decade or so.
The Denver Infill Blog has had a lot of interesting announcements on metro development, including a lot of LEED certified projects. If this pace keeps up Denver will no doubt be a true central business hub in coming years.
The Shoppe has made a huge impression on the community and turned into something of an after work creative hub. High-Five Tran!
On that same note the Fabric Lab is getting a super fantastic face-lift as we speak! This sort of growth promotes local creativity and elevates the DIY mentality that Denver needs to embrace more often.
A handful of fancy boutiques, salons and restaurants have been popping up. Some of these include: Big Hairy Monster, 3 Little Birds, Speakeasy, Family Affair and The Shoppe.
The JE Crew set up one of the most ambitious local art projects (Soft&Furry) I’ve ever seen there. Not only did they help raise the bar for the artsy community and help move it into a new arena, they received international recognition and participation!
The MCA has been stepping it up with more events and lectures involving, wait, what?! Denver’s own talented creatives! Good job Ian for the great work on Applied Ideas! Hopefully more things of that caliber can start to pop up.
First of all, with all of this urban renewal going on, where the hell is the transit system?! This huge plan has been in the works forever! Why is no one getting out there and helping raise awareness? You people are artsy, get out and Obamatize that shit!
Where are all of the new small design studios? Part of what helped Denver’s creative community grow a couple decades back were all of the pissed off and under paid designers breaking off and starting their own thing. Get stepping kids, shit. Also, I know it’s not easy to go independent, but network, build bridges, stay focused, go present your shit! Which leads me into the next one.
All of you underpaying no job giving “ad agencies” and “local heroes,” start fucking sharing work! Stop acting like a secret sect of the Illuminati and hand off projects now and again. It’s obvious that your staff isn’t doing everything it can to help the biz/community grow, so get a fresh set of eyes on those accounts every so often. Also, what ever happening to following leads and getting new business? Are you all happy with CP+B being the only tyrannical big account holders in CO? Do something, call someone. Stop being so “perfect and comfortable.”
New businesses and local shops etc… Hand off design work to local creatives. Get them involved and help spread the word when you meet someone talented. Throw a party now and a again and meet some new faces. Your graffiti writing friend is not a designer and should not be doing your logo or website! This is just as much the young fresh designer’s fault for not being visible, but do your job as a business owner and support the local community.
What are the unemployed and unsatisfied designers out there doing to stay fresh and current? The market is saturated with designers of all types all looking for the same jobs. I know because I’ve seen the books, followed the links, talked to you on iChat and via email. In some regard, you are equally responsible for the quality of the community and the message it conveys. Take the time to read the blogs, buy the books and meet the people in your community. If you spend a little time establishing those connections with the places you have interest in, you’ll have a better shot at getting in. Shit you might even get a lead or two or maybe even a little advice as to what might help you land better gigs. You have to stay busy and amped on your mission. The 9-5ers will eventually weed themselves out. If you aren’t helping, you’re only hurting it.
With that all being said, some crying and others cheering, what do you think? What are the pros and cons, the positives and the negatives? How do you feel?
That’s Something Alright…
I don’t know what I’m really about to write… I think I’ll make this stream of consciousness… As of this very moment I feel completely unmotivated. I can’t seem to solve the most simple problem on one design. An illustration. Thats all. I feel like this problem goes a little deeper than just this project, I don’t think that it has anything to do with… I don’t know, I think it might actually be because I’m inside, at home all fucking day, working, creating, thinking, reading. I usually do good with this but lately, it’s been kicking my ass. We were at the screening for Beautiful Losers the other day. It was an awesome documentary. Everyone who isn’t cool should go see it. I’ve seen Aaron Rose like 4 times around Minneapolis and yeah… We also went to Chris Johanson’s show at some gallery on Nicollet. It was odd. Kinda fun, but odd. Aaron, Chris & Jo were there, I wasn’t sure if they were tired or just sort of chillin. I think the art scene here is totally different than in Denver. It seems to be more of a thing for your friends and if you aren’t a homie you are sort of that weird person who nobody knows that showed up… I haven’t been able to feel totally involved in it yet, but I think it’s kind of uncomfortable still, to go. I feel like I need to draw more. Maybe that will help. I want more coffee, and can’t seem to enjoy much if any of my own music lately. I wonder if I’m dying…? No of course not. It’s all imaginary, it’s a subconscious excuse to be lazy… maybe it’s nothing. Shit. Ass-clown.. Thats a rad word. Well, I guess I’ll go make some more coffee and try to eat enough to go for longer on this whole creative spurt I’m not having. Poop.
I Promise I’ll Write Something Today
Moving out of state has proven itself distracting, at least from the expected daily routine. If you don’t know already, Celeste and I are moving to Minneapolis in like 24 hours. We will attempt to bridge the gap between these two flourishing communities via related content and interesting things we think are worth sharing with Colorado that are going down in MN. I hope that all 4 of our readers don’t think that we are leaving you out. The plan is not at all to leave anyone out, but rather to add some people in to the circle. More soon.
Prologue to Departure
The Denver Egotist just recently posted an interesting thread referencing people’s take on the similarities of work and style in CO, from an outside perspective. I personally think it’s completely true. Colorado as creative region is stale and safe. Which, in some peoples eyes, is ok. There are only a handful of creative people here really doing anything to push the limitations in creative communication. This is known, and obvious in our output. I would think that because, we have such a close and comfortable community, we would be more excepting of stretching the expectations and raising the bar. Instead, we are all faced with conformity, on certain levels, just to be noticed as an asset. My aim isn’t to discredit hard working people or to make anyone feel bad.. maybe feel bad.. If you ask me, it feels like there are a few decent agencies running Colorado, and they pimp it out like a pack of prostitutes. Anyone that comes of as hard to tame, gets the smack down. Anyone that wants a decent or realistic salary gets turned away. The emerging potential talent gets no love or motivation to be involved, just gang raped. It’s so obvious when you don’t fit in, like walking into a Kiwanis club meeting wearing Dunks and a bright colored hoodie. You get the glare and no handshake at the door. When you are shown your seat it’s a busted ass chair next the the trash can or the bathroom. This is not only the perspective of one or few, but many.
Billabong Rapes… Artists and Designers
This shit needs to stop! Johnny Cupcakes has fallen victim yet again to large corporations looking to profit off of those who don’t know any better. As you can see in the photo above Billabong recently released a shirt that is a blatant RIP OFF of a Johnny Cupcakes original that was released back in 2005. So what can we do? Well for starters spread the word… if you’ve got a blog please re-post this.
Unfortunately in today’s market… the only voice we have other than shaming Billabong… is our wallet! They cannot survive as a company or brand if we stop providing them with the means to sustain themselves… DO NOT buy their products, DO NOT wear their products, Send them and email expressing your frustration and disgust. Let them know they will never again see any of your hard earned money.
This isn’t the first time Billabong has been caught either… they did the same exact thing to Mike Giant a year or two back. Example here.
Democracy = Participation
As a community and as a society… we really need to start taking a stand and showing corporate America that we call the shots! WE DRIVE the economy… and we determine if a brand is successful or not…
Please support your local designers and retailers who carry conscious driven goods that are made and produced in an ethical manner!
Challenged
If you’ve been reading lately, you probably have a decent idea of how I have been feeling, not only about the “scene” here but in general as well. Lately, Denver has little to nothing exciting going on. No fantastic art shows, no new people sticking their necks out to be noticed and ridiculed for being different. There haven’t really even been any little fights brewing on the Egotist. As a matter of fact the only things that are keeping me motivated as of lately are, the grand opening of The Shoppe, Design Jam 08 and finding a good (emphasis on good) job either here or some other place in the giant world that most, only live to see nearly none of. I’ve actually found myself spending more time thinking about what I want to eat or how I want to organize my desk. I’m beginning to think it’s mostly being convinced that things are exciting, rather than actually being so. I love to stay motivated and as aggressive as possible in getting better at what I do. But how can I stay that way if there is nothing to keep me attentive? I don’t mean to bring anyone down or sound like I’m down. I’m attempting nothing more than to stir up an emotion in you, the reader, or even myself. Sometimes we need a push or a reason to do something great. Actually, not to change the subject, I just recently saw “Good Night, and Good Luck.” I learned a little bit about a very important media figure in the 50′s named, Edward Murrow. He had some really amazing things to say that were important to what was going on then, and even reflect importance on today’s culture and state of being. I’ll leave the specifics up to your own findings. Make sure you look intently. I’m sure there is a lot of little pieces of information you won’t be able to find that rapidly. Hmmmm. I guess the moral of this post is two things. The first being, if you know of anything fun and exciting happening in Denver or that might affect anyone in Denver, let us know. The second, my new hero, Ed Murrow, might say something like,
“This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely wires and lights in a box.”
I heard this and do my best to remember it every day. A new mantra perhaps, from Edward Murrow’s mouth and my fingers to your eyes. Use it to your greatest advantage.
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