probably my favorite dylan cover

Jim James rules. Can we see My Morning Jacket again? Pretty please? Can we see Bob Dylan again? Pretty please?

upsetting

Last winter my family and I went on a drive to Long Branch. My mom spent her summers there with her family when she was a kid so it was really awesome to go and experience it.


However, I was horrified to see this . I can understand the thought process behind this monstrosity, but I do not support it. The complex itself towers over everything. It just shoots up in the middle of this coastal town blocking whatever view of the ocean anybody else might have had. I refuse to post photos because it's just upsetting.

I mean really, how many luxury shops and spas and restaurants do you need at the shore? Can't you have something small and comfortable that is luxurious within itself? If you want something really monumental and "luxurious" (i.e. expensive) and out of the ordinary can't you just go to Atlantic City? It works in Atlantic City. It should stay there, and not invade the rest of the coast. These developers have been trying to take away people's homes (eminent domain sucks) to continue building this "project". Can you believe that? UGH. This site is pretty interesting in relation to eminent domain.


God I get so disgusted by excessive spending on unnecessary things. Don't get me wrong, I love nice things, special things, unique things, that you can't always have or that are once in a while. BUT REALLY when I saw this structure I almost cried. My stomach was in knots for weeks.

Since I've been out of the state I haven't really had access to information about the issue, and the most recent stuff that I found online was from december. I really hope this isn't still going on.

Why do I suddenly rant about this now? I was looking for places online I could possibly bring my mom to for a mother's day brunch lady's day type thing, and a couple of restaurants from that "Pier Village" popped up.

Yikes.

I woke up

with this in my head

infatuation

"The pretty, initial position which falls short of completeness is not to be valued - except as a stimulus for further moves."
Richard Diebenkorn

Man and Woman in a Large Room is at the hirshhorn. I'd really just like to go sit with it for a while.

can't wait

to read Tropicália : A Revolution in Brazilian Culture

I wish MICA had a Tropicália course, that would be amazing.
The Fader had a really awesome piece on Tom Zé a few years back. That article in addition to my discovery Os Mutantes got me really interested in the movement.

ole ole

God, I love Buster Poindexter.
It's 95 degrees in Baltimore today and 83 in my apartment.
Don't get me wrong, I love this weather, it's just frustrating to not have beach access.
At least in high school I could just leave and go to the beach you know?
Finals are now, I'm pretty souped for my projects, not so much my papers but waaaaddayagonnado.

pretty stoked

Okay, this is the first time (!) I have ever been able to enroll in all of my first choice classes at once.

Highlights include: Experimental Lettering with Ken Barber and Screenprinting with Nick Karvounis

I've always been a big fan of House Ind, so it's going to be really great to have a class with one of their people as my professor.

Fink Fonts & Tiki Type have always been favorites, I can't wait for that class!

BEST OF THE BEAST

This is so exciting!
Go out and support the Fool's Gold fam if you can! Dust's art is rad, the people are rad, the party is probably going to be even more rad. I would go if I could, you should if you can!

Hatch Show Prints

Recently I was lucky enough to get attend a lecture on Hatch Show Prints by Jim Sherraden. It was amazing to see the history of the shop, which is still the oldest working letterpress shop in the United States. The woodtype itself is so incredibly beautiful, it was really awesome to see these and crafted typefaces be preserved and still utilized today. Letterpress is awesome. It is just flat out awesome. I love when design becomes a tangible thing, and letterpress yields marvelously tactile results. Hopefully, I'll get an opportunity to take a class in the near future. I had the opportunity to meet Jim before the lecture and he was a really warm charismatic guy. He came to MICA earlier in the day to pull a few posters in our press (sadly I had class) and I heard it was a great experience. I'd really like to visit the shop down in Nashville, road trip anyone?

from the backwall

Be-Bop-A-Lu-La // Buddy Holly
Looking For the Perfect Beat // Africa Bambaata
American Boy (Arthur King Edit) // Estelle / Kanye West
Livin' In The Future // Bruce Springsteen
Midnight Rider // The Allman Brothers Band
I'll Tumble For You // Culture Club
ABC 123 3:02 // Jackson 5
Oxford Comma // Vampire Weekend
The Guns of Brixton // The Clash
Freckle Wars // Ecstatic Sunshine
La Bumba // Ritchie Valens
Saharian Break // DJ Mehdi
Electric Feel // MGMT
I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down // Elvis Costello
Veni Vedi Veci (Diplo Remix) //Black Lips
Hungry Heart (Live) // Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
Spiderwebs // No Doubt
Caroline No // The Beach Boys
Gun Slinger // Bo Diddley
Doors of Your Heart // The English Beat

i forgot

about how much i liked wilco



oh, and guess who has an internship?

Let's Get Radical.

What an awesome/gnarly/busy weekend!

- had my first real interview at a real company with real art directors in new york city and it was a real positive experience (!)

- explored Brooklyn on my own two feet

- finally got out the Fool's Gold office in Williamsburg to hang out with my brother and met Dust La Rock, he's super nice and super talented!

- Walked allllllll the way from Metropolitan and Lorimer to River Street to get to Mollusk Surf Shop, which was a really rad experience. I mean walking was walking, but it was great to get finally get out the shop. I've been reading the blog since I discovered it at the beginning of the semester, and all the dudes who were there were so friendly and knowledgeable. I hung out with them for a while, read the Leroy Grannis book, asked questions (in all my years of coastal living I'd never seen a swallowtail board , maybe I just wasn't paying attention, and was baffled when I saw them on the blog all the time, of course I inquired), and enjoyed an afternoon beer. Their hospitality was really refreshing, thanks guys! It was real surreal to walk out of the shop onto a deck and then back into the city, not onto a boardwalk.



- Attempted to find the Cinders Gallery, but failed, I'm probably just goofy and walked right in front of it

- saw some good friends

- hung out with my parents and genuinely enjoyed their company

- suffered from car failure on the highway and did not make it to family easter, but still managed to have a good time

- got up at 4:30 this morning to catch the 5:58 train back to baltimore, and have been going all day since


OH! I FINALLY bought Big Wednesday at Mollusk -- total win.

on my wishlist

The Vans Abby is really rad. I think the pearl color is particularly sweet. To be honest, I'm just looking for a cute shoe that's hip, aesthetically pleasing, not a sneaker per say, that I can skate in. I'm probably going to fall either way (it's been a while), but why not look good while hitting the pavement.

This is going to be fun.

lending a hand

Recently I've had a few opportunities to use my design skills to help out a couple of friends

John is organizing an exhibition of MICA student work as part of CAPfest; A Community Arts Partnership event that happens each spring. I made the signage for the exhibition and came up with the title (it's a little corny in a cute way but super appropriate for the event). John is going to get it cut out of vinyl and adhere it the wall on Brown 2.



The Graphic Design department had a special event for the second round of "Major Cafe" where freshmen who have recently decided on their majors come and hang out with current design students, meet the department co-chair and ask questions. Brockett asked me to make a few name tags a day or so before the event. I really dig the solution. The construction was a challenge. I had to go work after class on thursday, thus losing whatever access I had to a button maker. Instead, I created a system of rectangular name tags that slipped into a mylar sleeve (good thing I remembered I had some behind my desk) which attached to the person via safety pin. Pretty crafty, right?



I was thinking about the intro to the old Micky Mouse Club. Annette!



Also Max and I collaborated on the cover design for the newest Psychic Friends publication, but that is a secret until the release.

I Don't Wanna Talk About It

Lately, I just want to go for a drive. I have all these really great memories of being in the passenger seat of my dad's old truck with the windows down listening to this Rod Stewart cassette. There is something so soothing about travel. I like the feeling of the wind against my skin. Looking ahead at the open road and not looking back. I like to have the opportunity just to be contemplative. I like being able enjoy things just as they are happening.

Also, this just might be one of my favorite album covers of all time.

Ronald Reagan

good thing

I haven't figured out eBay yet.

vvv SO GOOD vvv

Compost Modern

I can't go to this, but you should!



From the Baltimore AIGA Website:

"Sustainability is the defining issue of our time. It will eventually become the context within which all design is performed, the lens through which all design is considered. Join AIGA Baltimore, for a 4-night exploration of the role we will play in the future of green design.

Through Compostmodern’s recorded lectures and vibrant discussions in a relaxed environment, participants will investigate the current and future potential for ecologically sustainable growth and responsible design. We’ll focus on real world solutions and practical applications of design, using fresh infusions of design thinking.

Space is extremely limited, and interested participants must apply for their spot in this course. Dinner is included.

Thursdays, April 9, 16, 23, 30 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Creative Alliance
$35 members, $50 nonmembers"

I'm really interested in sustainable design, if you know anything interesting please share! I'd like to learn more, and hopefully I can share something with you!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

busy week
will turn into a busy weekend
and another busy week after that

i'm real excited about a lot of upcoming projects


stay tuned ~ ~ ~ ~ ~