50/50 | Handmade Nation

50/50 | Handmade Nation

50 Books/50 Covers Exhibition
UT Downtown Gallery, 106 S. Gay Street
Opening: Friday, January 2nd from 5 - 9pm
with a presentation at 7pm by author/director Faythe Levine
(show running through January 24th).

This exhibition showcases selections from the "AIGA 50 Books/50 Covers" competition, which aims to identify the 50 best-designed books and book covers of the year.

Also at the exhibit, Faythe Levine, author of Handmade Nation, will be promoting her book and upcoming documentary about the DIY movement in the United States. Admission is free. It will be awesome.

Presented by AIGA Knoxville and The Downtown Gallery

Links:
Faythe Levine in the NYT
About AIGA 50/50

Memphis Artists.

Memphis. I am surrounded by Memphis. I recently saw Alex Chilton (from Memphis) play in Milwaukee. It was a great show filled with some Big Star classics, some semi-obscure R&B covers and rounded out with a Chuck Berry cover. Also, musically...I'm ordering a record by current Memphisian John Paul Keith which is newly released and from what I have heard fantastic (link below). A new documentary (albeit a short one - 26 minutes) is out on photographer William Eggleston. I recently re-watched the documentary "William Eggleston in the Real World" and am excited to see this one as well. He is quite an inspiration. As a tidbit, William Eggleston provided the photo for Big Star's second album cover (Radio City) . Alex Chilton / Big Star / William Eggleston / John Paul Keith. Weird Memphis Mojo going on around me at the moment.

What: Reiner Holzemer film "William Eggleston: Photographer"
Where: Microcinema DVD


What: John Paul Keith & the One Four Fives (live at Ardent Studios)
Album: Purchase Spills and Thrills LP

Milwaukee, WI | December 2008 (on a very cold walk).

While ALL of my pictures turned out poorly underexposed (and I'm pretty upset about it) and this was about the only one that would scan decently, I figured I should at least have one to accompany the post. So, anyhow, I was in Milwaukee to visit a friend this past week, see Alex Chilton play, work on a book project for said friend, and just hang out in good company. JWLawson and company gave me nothing short of true southern hospitality, treated me to great food, cold beer, and good conversation. After time with Lawson I always feel inspired in some way...I think this time it's the inspiration to work...whatever that work may be. I feel the excitement of just doing things. Making things. Doing what the brain says to do without thinking too much (or at all) about it. The craving to complete a task is there for a purpose so I came home with the incentive to act on those cravings. Without them we are just not living up to our full potential. Hell, if nothing else, I got to experience watching a Packer's game with true Packer's fans and see Alex Chilton bust out in a Michael Jackson cover, all while hanging with true friends. Awesome trip. Thanks Jon and Val, for putting up with me and letting me crash at the L&L.

Holiday Cards

Holiday Cards - November 2008

Two of my additions to the AIGA Knoxville Cut and Paste Card Show.

CUT & PASTE CARD SHOW | KNOXCARDS.ORG