As promised, I present this short video about my trip to Joshua Tree two weekends ago. The video is actually a sequence of lots of digital photographs shot mostly on a Nikon D70 with some supplemental footage from a Casio Exilim (you may notice the difference in aspect ratios). I haven’t made a video for a long time, so I’m pretty excited about this. I’m also pretty psyched about the photo to video process; it was a lot of fun to take tons of photos and not worry about anything I’d have to worry about if there was actual video involved. Sorry for the current picture quality, I’ll have it posted in HD by tomorrow and will update as such. In fact, the HD version might be up by the time you’re reading this, so feel free to check for it.

I spent the past weekend camping, hiking and rock climbing in Joshua Tree–a place I’ve come to love since moving to Southern California a year ago. I’m working on a short experimental movie about the trip and hope to be able to post it by next week. Until then, here’s one of my favorite photos from the weekend. The sky was perfectly clear and the moon was incredibly bright, which made for fabulous night photography.

A dynamic minimalist composition composed of a jet trail, a cliff, and a strikingly blue sky		Nove Ties

Accept no imitations!

A baffling UFO-like residential structure built at the base of a beach cliff accessible only by a rickety tram.

Very large very decrepit pickup truck with a blue tarp cape.

Almost got it right…

Sorry for lack of postage again. I was away at the Worcester Art Museum for Art All State. 150 and high school juniors from all over Massachusetts participated in making studio installations facilitated by professional artists. I was blessed to work with Catherine Judge and 18 of the 150 students to create this installation based on three pieces of art (Two Chinas, a piece from the Japanese Collection and the Chapter House) in the Worcester Art Museum Collection. We were only allowed three materials. Paper, thread cones and ink. The students came up with amazing design that spoke of a world of order vs. a world of chaos and destruction.

I’d like to thank the students for a great time and great job on a very well thought out intelectual design. I’ve posted a page of photos here.

I recently saw a great Antonio López García exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. Antonio López García is a Spanish painter and sculptor. His work is very detailed, a little spooky and a lot amazing. Here are some pictures of the giant baby heads that he created, installed outside the front entrance of the Museum and here is a link to video about him and his work. Seeing the paintings in person gave me a different view of him than the video. He is meticulous but he’s also very free and loose in areas of his paintings. Something you can really only see up close.

I needed a hat and a pair of kicks. I hadn’t brought either with us on our trip to San Diego and we were headed to the desert for a day of hiking. Marshalls saves the day! I found just what I needed, a hip pair of Pumas and this madras “old style” cap. I figured I looked pretty spiffy in the hat and not only wore it to the desert but all the rest of our trip. (and right now)

When I got home I wore the hat to work. Everyone complimented that they liked it and thought it was appropriate looking on me. I was feeling pretty good about myself. Though wearing a hat at work is against the dress code my boss didn’t even bat an eye. I’ve noticed everyone started paying more attention to me. Especially when putting the hat on or taking it off. So far it hasn’t failed. I reach for the hat bend my head down to put it on and when I look up everyone is looking at me with amazement. Like I was just one person and then all of the sudden I’m a different person. Someone they want to hang out with maybe? I’ve even noticed that on my ride to and from work the toll takers have been nicer.

So what gives? Well it’s the power of design. Looks matter. We have stereotypes and design is based on them. Combined design disciplines and how you organize them in life reflects who you are and who you want to be. Of course I’m a likable, look at my hat. Of course I’m a designer/illustrator, look at my glasses! Of course I like indie music, look at my green spring jacket and sideburns! Let’s go to a contemporary art museum, or maybe take pictures in front of a courtyard fountain so that the water is blowing out of the top of my head.

Let’s sum up. You are what you put around you and chances are you’re at a computer quite a bit. Shouldn’t you have a desktop wallpaper that fits who you are and wish you were? Me, I’m a Farmidable Dumplings pattern man, but maybe you’re more of a Pine Boughs or a Wood Block Print. Either way you’ll find what you’re looking for in our gallery.

Happened upon some really great looking cookies in the window of Girard Gourmet while walking around La Jolla Village. Among the many great forms these cookies take are dogs, seahorses, seals, frogs, sailboats, fish, birds, owls, and commemorative La Jolla plaques. Couldn’t resist purchasing an owl cookie, and found a pretty good lemon butter cookie under all the ornamentation.