Spiral Q - Philadelphia

The Spiral Q is a really cool organization based in Phili that (in the words of their website):

"seeks to mobilize communities and illuminate the victories, frustrations and possibilities of living in the neighborhoods of Philadelphia and similar urban settings through the construction of full-scale giant puppet parades, toy theater and neighborhood pageantry. Through its puppet parades and pageants, Spiral Q is resurrecting and reclaiming an almost forgotten form of people's theater to amplify and unite the power and vitality of those working for change through art-making, protest, and civic theater."

Kids and adults collaborate on costumes and puppets that are showcased in annual parades and other events. Some amazingly cool ideas and interesting creations come out of their collaborations-- giant dracula heads, elephants on bicycles, that sort of thing. 

Their studio/workshop area is super-cool to visit-- layers upon layers of puppets and huge paper mache masks line the walls and hang from the ceiling.  Their dedication to the community as well as the innovation that constantly generates from the collaboration and participation of everyone they work with are inspiring. 

Link: Spiral Q

american craft magazine + website redesign

I really like the new design for American Craft Magazine and its accompanying website... the magazine was recently relaunched with guidance from editor Andrew Wagner and creative director Jeanette Abbink, who were both founding team members at Dwell magazine (got this info from mediabistro/unbeige). Brooklyn-based design team Renda Morton and Holly Gressley handled the site redesign.

Maybe my experience as a designer working on the layout of higher ed textbooks makes me especially appreciative of the simplicity and elegance of the design-- it's not always easy to pull off such restraint while also conveying a unique sense of character that's stylistically unique.

Link: American Craft Magazine

Ugly Man: Computer - 1986 Reggae

I don't have much information about where this footage is from, but it's kind of an early precursor to dancehall music... I just love the whole thing. Check the styles...

Link: Ugly Man: Computer - 1896 Reggae

Painting/Scratching/Experimenting with Film: Len Lye

Len Lye was a New Zealand-born artist who created really amazing experimental films and animations. He painted (and drew, scratched, stamped, etc.) directly on celluloid... resulting in abstract, kinetic patterns that seem to dance across the screen. These films were often synchronized with music-- everything from Don Baretto and His Cuban Orchestra to African drumming.

When Lye received funding from a company or government organization, he was amusingly unsubtle about throwing their name and logo into the film-- his films made in association with the British General Post Office are good examples of this. It's an interesting overlap of advertising and experimental film/animation, and it's something that today would be much slicker, but probably a lot less interesting too.

Link: Len Lye Films Online : Google Video

Drawings: Seurat

I'm excited to see the drawings of Georges Seurat on exhibit at the MOMA in NYC (although the show's going to be mad crowded...) Seeing the atmosphere and energy of his drawings, the contrasts, the tension between light and dark, hard and soft, abstraction and representation, the way certain images seem to vibrate, so that you're aware of both the textures of the materials he used and the feeling of the work that transcends the materials... anyway, it's all stuff that makes for good design, too. I'm inspired.

Link: NYT article on Seurat exhibit