I don’t care how easy they make it to update a blog, some people just aren’t cut out for setting aside time to write anything of value (or attempt to)… especially about themselves. Regardless, here’s my catch-up entry on whats been happening in the last month or so, and what’s coming up for me in the next few weeks:
The AIGA St. Louis Chapter Annual Meeting/20-20 Show seemed to be a hit, great turnout and everyone seemed pretty excited about all aspects of the event. I printed 20 letterpress posters on Kirsten’s Vandercook that were given away at the event (along with 20 other local designers/illustrators). I am planning on releasing the extras and test prints that I printed for cheap-purchase on etsy in a few weeks. Shots from the event and my work can be seen here.
For the past 5 years I have been casually looking for a small letterpress. Tabletop presses are hard to find, and when you do see them, the prices are astronomical and keep climbing. Printing this job for the AIGA pushed my search from a casual search to a very involved one, and within about 2 weeks of scouring a few sites daily, I finally found one that was in a weekend-driving distance. So I’m heading to Denver in a couple of weeks to bring it home. It’s a fully-restored 5 x 8 Imperial, and if this takes off for me like I hope then the next hunt is for the beloved Vandercook.
Here she is:
Also in big news, two of the sites I worked on last year: Dan Flavin: Constructed Light and The Light Project both were selected for the AIGA National 365 Annual and Design Archives, — the Flavin site also won a National Addy, but it hasn’t been announced yet if its gold or silver. The last AIGA National award for me was the FK Photo site way back in 2005. I’ve always held certain awards and publications in high regards, AIGA National being one of them, so I’m very honored and happy for everyone who was involved in these sites.
Listening to:
Lots of things, its been a pretty good year for new music. But here’s the list I jotted down to remind myself which albums I really wanted to take in an upcoming weekend of 26 hours in a car: american analog set (hard to find bsides), the wooden birds, papercuts (new), pains of being pure at heart, fever ray, jens lekman, crystal stilts (ep), here we go magic, deerhunter (new ep), grandaddy (old), miles benjamin anthony robinson, lotus plaza.
Reading:
In slow motion: Gun Germs & Steel and The Age of the Unthinkable.
Going to:
Denver (see above) in car and in 3 days.
The coast of Georgia & Savannah, for the first ever family vacation.
Thinking about:
Making some hand-drawn type as eps sets.
Playing some washers.
Buying this waterproof lumix.
Not spending any more time than I need to in a hot attic behind a computer screen.
iPhone camera apps.
Cleaning up this blog.
Lakes.
Dealing with:
Being a landlord… or attempting to. There’s nothing fun about taking applications, running credit, rejecting people (the worst), showing property, and dealing with no-shows. Especially when you and your wife don’t really have the time to do it in the most organized and effective way.
Seasonal Allergies.
Water leaking into my house and out from under my toilet.
I just finished “Guns Germs and Steel”. Actually not quite finished, sort of ran out of steam in the last chapter. Great book though, the kind of stuff I love thinking about.
yea, i’m bummed… forgot to take it with me on vacation so i’m still only a few chapters in!