The Granary

Design Killers

2009-04-15T17:05:37Z

Free Work
Spec work could potentially be the ultimate design killer. In the past, I have applied for a several freelance jobs in which they’ve responded a full day’s work is necessary just to prove that I could the job and only then, would I be qualified to be considered for the job. Did they not look at my extensive, ten-year in the making portfolio? Since when did design work become a lottery raffle? More importantly, why do I have to compete with a nineteen-year-old design student who is willing to do anything, for any price? What makes this even worse is the clients who are propagating spec work to get the quickest and cheapest result, regardless of quality. Good design is not a commodity and not something that should be exploited.

Inspirational Showcases Galleries
It seems like every week a new showcase or listing of top notch websites pops up, and more often than not, I question the validity of the chosen and the requirements by which the sites are picked. Who are the judges? Where do they find the sites? Do they have a list of criteria? Do the submitters generally know the judges, or do they just submit so often, the judges showcase the site eventually? I suppose rewarding the B student is the new standard. Rewarding designers for learning how to use Wordpress will only weaken the pool. There are a few quality showcases of course, but lately there’s more showcase galleries than there are quality sites.

Originality
Remember that time, when you had to come up with your own ideas? Now it’s all done for you. Because of the internet’s overflow of ideas, developing an original idea is becoming more and more difficult. More often than not your “genius idea” has all ready been done, and done well. For example, these three highly rated designers have somehow used the exact same layout, wording and basic color scheme for their portfolio site. Interesting. Perhaps they are working together as a conspiracy.

Do it yourself.
Pretty soon there will be a shop like Home Depot, or Lowes for designers. With the future of free, open source software, weekend warriors are given the tools to design their own logo, business cards and build their own website. Much like carpentry, there are well qualified craftsmen and then there’s my uncle who has a few hand tools and likes This Old House. In either case, they both could build you a house. Who would you choose?

I’m willing to say that Wordpress, for example, is assisting in the destruction of well thought out design. Every day out comes another list of 50 or 100 free Wordpress themes. Smashing Magazine, in response to my accusation that they are taking work away from professionals, commented, “These themes are for learning. We wouldn’t assume people would steal them.”

Really Smashing Mag? It appears to me that half of the designers out there are changing a few graphics from an existing theme, or combining several components from other themes into one. Their innovation is limited by the understanding of code.

Creative Success With Multiple Skills

2009-04-06T17:04:45Z

My Experience
When I graduated Grad school, I wanted to be a full time illustrator, paint each day, but I knew that was not financially possible, so I learned how to animate in Flash which lead to creating websites. Thankfully, I was able to get a full time web design job where I excelled in the interactive and creative design category. During this time I was also involved in developing an Arts web-zine and crafting a small amount of custom furniture.

I started my business with the intention of doing what I love; illustration, animation and creative web design. I have the ability to juggle multiple tasks, so my focus wasn’t an issue. But, I do find myself getting bored very easily and not all of them pay very well. Collectively, my skill-set has allowed me to financially survive, but I also follow the Ramen Method.

The Ramen Method is something we have all done in college or at one point in our early adult lives. It is the belief of spending only as much as we need to, and only consume the minimum amount of goods to survive, like eating Ramen everyday, hence the title. By eliminating any unnecessary spending, you learn to be resourceful and frugal, and any profit can be applied to the growth of the business.

For example: I have a gallery show of 30+ pieces of artwork. The gallery insisted that I have frames, so I went to the Scrap Exchange and bought a number of $2 frames, and built my own as well. I also needed to make nice digital prints so instead of spending the money upfront to get prints of paintings that just might not sell, I waited until the show was over and made prints for those who specifically requested them. The money I gained from sales paid for the prints and for a new camera.

Have A Cause
“Idle hands are the devils tools”. If you cannot work on a personal project, then do something for a cause. You may not get paid monetarily, but by helping someone with their business, you’ll reap the rewards in other forms. You are able to work on perfecting your craft, use the project as a case study, and the “client” gets a solid product or service in return. You look good by volunteering your time and services. It is also a great way to make connections and continue with your word of mouth marketing. We keep a meter on our about page which tallies the total number of pro-bono hours we put back into the community.

Barter
Once again the barter system has surfaced, and we like it! These tough times are a great opportunity for trade work and helping others stay afloat. A good friend and musician was in need of web design help and I wanted guitar lessons. Not necessarily an equal trade in terms of cost per hour, but both services are valuable in their own right and therefore equal in our minds. Laura volunteered her time at the Arts Center and was able to take a dance class she could not otherwise afford.

Free time
Every artist has some form of OCD, or at least some type of visual obsession. You will find that most successful artists, designers, musicians are obsessive about practicing, developing and experimenting with their skills. Sitting around waiting for things to happen will never work. At this point, my hobbies and free time are still spent being creative. Whether it’s building furniture, painting a picture, or writing a blog post, I make an equal effort towards personal projects as much as commercial projects. The hope is that eventually my personal projects will transfer into “commercial” work.

UNC’s Arts & Business Seminar

2009-03-26T14:43:07Z

We’ll be speaking today at UNC’s Arts & Business Seminar with Michelle Bordner, Artistic Coordinator for Carolina Performing Arts, Chris Wimberley of Nightsound Studios, Alexis MastroMichalis of Nightlight and Jim Dennis of Music Loft on the subject of “So Your Want To Open A Studio?” (Local professionals with backgrounds in Music, Studio Art, Design, and Dance come together to share and compare their experiences managing a small business and pursuing their artistic careers.) Our plan is to be open, honest and careful not to sugar coat the gory details of entrepreneurship. These are the questions they’ve asked us to prepare for…

-- Your background: artistic, education, work

Laura: We both come from a fine arts and design background, but I graduated from Buffalo State with a degree in Design - but I had far more English classes under my belt than art classes. Matt spent years with clevermethod, a Western New York Web Development Firm, helping build their portfolio and client base, while I became involved with the community through a local magazine, Buffalo Rising. I think what we took away form those experiences was the politics behind business and how important it is to keep your hands dirty. Having others do the work for you never works out.

-- What attracted you to the arts and what in turn attracted you opening your own business?

Matt: I was always interested in art and animation growing up. I had the chance to go to college and study art with a major in Illustration. While in Grad School, every artist I met was working for themselves. I knew that being a freelancer would be tough but I also knew it would be better than sitting in an office. I did freelance and taught a class at the local Community College. Unfortunately I wasn’t making enough money so I got a part-time job at a web design company. After working there for a few years, I gained a ton of experience and decided to try it on my own.

Laura: Well, we could say I don’t think that many other people are as organized or as responsible as I am, whether that’s true or not is a different story. I enjoy my freedom. Matt needed an outlet to use the full extent of his creativity, and not be stifled by a group of project managers, art directors and owners. He has too many ideas to be told what to do.

-- How did you go about opening your studio?

Laura: Full boar! We did some minimal research, but because writing your business plan is a never ending process, we incorporated as soon as possible and learned on our feet. The only way to learn from your mistakes is to make them.

Matt: You have start with a plan. Not just a business plan, but a plan of reality. “Do I know enough about this business to survive? Do I have the resources financial (and emotional) to handle this decision the event something goes sour. “ These are two important questions to keep in mind. Being an artists or designer is not as romantic as it may sound. Have a marketing and business plan, then follow the appropriate steps apply for a business license. Talk to as many small business owners as possible!

-- What was one of the biggest obstacles (either financial, logistical, or personal) to opening the studio?

Matt: Our biggest obstacle was meeting new people and getting new business from local owners.

Laura: We work from home and we have no overhead, so we knew the risk wasn’t high. And we knew we worked well together because The Artery Magazine ran smoothly from the start. That really only leaves sales. I had, and sometimes still have, a hard time cold selling someone on our services although I’d consider myself fairly persuasive. Or relating to them on a non-creative level. Knowing what you want to say and saying it are two different things. Also, I’m young and female; even in this modern era, that’s a difficult hurdle.

-- What has been one of the greatest advantages to owning your own business, as an artist and/or an entrepreneur?

Laura: The freedom to get up and get out when you feel creatively blocked. A bike ride, walk, or coffee in a new place can be entirely rejuvenating. When you surround yourself with the same people - office culture - day in and day out, you stop learning from them. The day starts revolving around the office happenings and not the work.

Matt: Working directly with clients and being able to do what we want. I don’t have to rely on someone else.

-- What advice do you have for young artists?

Matt: Be patient but don’t let yourself have too much free time. Being self motivated is by far the hardest part. Make a list of projects that you would love to work on and set personal goals. I wanted to have a show, so I went to several galleries and did new work. Also, I learned from those who are successful. Figure out how they got there and how you can apply your skills to that mindset.

Laura: Spend more time learning from your peers than your professors. They are who you will be competing with in the real world.

-- What do you wish you’d know before you started out?

Matt: How to sell myself. I’m a horrible salesman.

Laura: That my friends and family were right - it’s always easiest to start a business in a place where you already know people. And accounting, in all forms.

Musically Motivated

2009-03-05T21:11:57Z

Seems like all the latest fashion trends include some sort of grunge graphics or dirty script lettering. This actually came from many of the earlier hardcore bands. You could trace it through their posters, CD artwork and especially their t-shirts. Many hardcore and punk stylings have had a great influence on the design world. Even much of the old hip-hop graphics and music are seen prevalently in today’s TV ads and fashion. Just watch the next phone or car commercial and you’ll quickly match a music style with the graphics used.

Music is a great way to showcase your artwork as well. Get in contact with your favorite local band and offer to make their posters, flyers or t-shirts. Once they become famous, teenage girls everywhere will don your artwork, eeeeh! Many new musicians are depending on unique artists to create that next great album cover. Remember the ones you grew up on? I still covet the Iron Maiden cover art. Small, unsigned bands offering a contest to design their t-shirt, is becoming a popular trend. You’ll also see a lot of web designers collaborating with the electronic musicians. Both are looking for exposure and seem to work seamlessly. Next time you go dance party or show, be sure to check out the flyers and posters. Someone had to make those, why couldn’t it be you?

Challenge yourself with something out of your element. I was recently commissioned to develop artwork for a hip-hop artist. I know very little about modern hip-hop and so it was a great challenge. Develop some artwork for a variety of music genres. Who knows, you might find that you work well with Country music.

To each is own I suppose, but doing research might offer new ideas. Try http://www.albumcovers.net to view a huge library of cover art. Something from a death metal group may influence your next abstract painting. It may sound cliche, but it would be a good idea to see live music, namely jazz, and practice location drawing. The beat will get your hands moving and keep you engaged; the musicians’ energy drives the gestures. When you go to a show, take some pictures.

A few artists influenced by music:
www.sterlinghundley.com
www.austinshaw.com
www.g66.co.uk
www.derekhess.com

Motivation to create

2009-03-05T17:42:35Z

In a moment of self-reflection I’ve complied a few ideas that might help artists stay motivated.

Art Makes Great Gifts - It is the holidays so what better way to get some new work done than to give a gift to your loved ones. In most cases your family or friends desire one of your masterful creations, but just cannot afford it. Here is an opportunity to do something nice and hopefully it will have been a portfolio-worthy piece as well. Whether it is for the New Year, for your valentine or just a birthday, it is a good way to have a solid deadline and stick to it.

Trade Work - I would like to trade a piece of my work with one of my artist friends. However, I would rather give them something new. Ask your friend to trade a new piece of work and give each other a respectable deadline.

Dueling Artists - An idea that my friend Warren often proposed to stay motivated, is to create fictitious assignments for each other. Since we are both illustrators, staying fresh and sharp is our goal, plus it helps build our portfolio. Choose a subject matter or story, and then create an image for a deadline that you both agreed upon. It’s a great exercise to see how the other person interpreted the same story/subject, and also a good way to keep each other accountable for their work. It is helpful to keep a regular schedule - once a month, or even once a week. This is also a great way to get feedback from other artists and keep each other motivated.

Drawing A Day - Pretty self-explanatory. Whether it is a doodle, a location drawing while at lunch, or a sketch for the next great masterpiece, it is good to keep in practice. Exploding Dog has done an amazing amount of work based on a word, phrase, or story that fans have provided him, on a daily basis.

Build A Business - Ever wanted to start a business or a cool new band? Here is a great chance to create an entire new design for a client that will never tell you “no”. Start with the basics - an identity. Then, create some supporting materials such as a website or flyers or print ads. This is a good time to do exactly what you want without any client interference. What you put into it is what you get out of it, but it’s a great way to show some skills.

100 ideas - We read an article recently regarding writing down 100 ideas. It sounds easy but maybe not at first. Grab yourself a large coffee, some good music, then plop down with a pen and paper and go to town. Write down whatever comes to you. Could be things you want to do in the next year or it could be things you want to accomplish in the next ten years. In any case, it gets you thinking about what you are doing and what you want to do. In the end you might have 97 bad ideas, but one of those might just be a springboard for another set of ideas. Plus, that list is always something good to reference in times of brain farts.

Font Games

2009-02-26T15:36:56Z

Call yourself a Designer? This game challenges your ability to decipher fonts during target practice!

Inspirational Links

2009-02-19T18:44:58Z

Everyone always asks artists about their inspiration; where does it come from, who inspires them, why do they create the way they do. Some of these questions will continually go unanswered, many will receive a pretentious artist’s explanation and only a few may come down to the very specific reason why. Each artist that I have met has been inspired and motivated quite differently but there is one consistent factor, and that’s the unquenchable desire to create.

As a web designer and illustrator I am constantly searching for inspiration to help keep my creative juices flowing. I often spend countless hours combing thru magazines, books, and websites dedicated to the showcasing of successful and often painfully talented individuals. In the last few years I have noticed a tremendous increase in the quality of my work based the regular digestion of these materials. By no means am I suggesting to copy original work for financial gain, however I am asking that young artists and designers learn from the masters and integrate their vision with what they have learned.

Below are just a few samples that provide inspiration to me and hopefully they will add a little warmth to your cold and cloudy minds.

Smashing Mag
A blog dedicated to showcasing and educating web designers. With almost daily updates, they offer a ridiculous amount of material to inspire even the most successful. Their tagline is “We smash you with the information that will make your life easier, really.” I couldn’t agree more and yes, your head should hurt after spend a few minutes there.

FWA
If you are a web designer, then The Favorite Website Awards site will be the best and worst decision you’ll ever make. Aside from being an extremely well designed site, The FWA showcases the best of the best in web experiences. It is not for the faint of heart and should come with some Tums. Every time I view this showcase, I reconsider my career.

Drawn!
For the illustrator, this blog features some great articles and images of talented animators, and illustrators. Updated regularly, it will be hard not to find something that will inspire your next masterpiece.

Allen Spiegel Fine Arts
ASFA is the agency that represents some of the biggest names in the illustration field today. This page showcases some gifted artists and I, myself frequent it quite often. Some notable individuals include: Kent Williams, Phil Hale and Dave McKean.

Making Controversy Work For You

2009-02-19T18:36:07Z

All “controversial” artists have some type of message. This message is usually something you’ve heard before, either from a Christian conservative or maybe a man-hating lesbian or animal rights activist, but never the less, a voice that is represented visually. The voice they speak is one that touches each of our nerves and the imagery is striking. In some cases their motivation is purely shock value to force you to run away crying. At other times the artists are asking you think about the concept with new eyes and consider the other side.

James Victore typically has one simple message and one simple image but that is what makes his work so striking. There is no extensive analysis, there is no artist statement. In most cases, Victore’s work is humorous - which might take a slight edge off his work, but still the truth is quite obvious. “Graphic Design is a club with spikes and I want to weald it.” view interview with James.

http://www.marshallarisman.com/” title="Marshall Arisman">Marshall Arisman is by far the most interesting individual I have ever encountered. His earlier work speaks to the violent and perverse world of self-mutilation and gun usage. He also toys with the idea of the atom bomb and the destruction of humanity. Emerging in the early 60’s, Arisman’s work was controversial from the beginning. He was often known for his dark and mysterious spiritual powers as well as his psychic abilities. All of this has been the driving force behind much of his work. He has spent endless hours drawing what he sees as auras around spiritual figures and animals. Much like the late Francis Bacon, Arisman’s work also uses the facial expressions of the beast from within to relay the human struggles.

Damien Hurst was first noticed because of his Freeze exhibition in 1988. His second major installation where he utilized animals, A Thousand Years, consisted of a large glass case containing maggots and flies feeding off a rotting cow’s head. He went on to create the infamous Sensation exhibit, which was part of the much celebrated Sacchi collection. During this exhibit, he explored the human and animal body with explicit detail, dissecting and discovering in a manner that had never been practiced before. All of his shows require attendants to be over 18.

http://www.gagosian.com/artists/jenny-saville” title="Jenny Saville">Jenny Saville is woman who has struggled with her own identity, and so interprets the identities of the figures she paints. She has spent several years studying the obese, deformed, rejected and outcast individuals of society. Saville uses an enormous canvas to display this grotesque imagery so that the paintings are unavoidable. Because some of the paintings are a collage of multiple figures, the imagery becomes a huge piled mass of cold and twisted flesh.

Sue Coe, is an illustrator and animal rights activist. She has spent the past several years researching and documenting slaughterhouses and stockyards. These drawings and paintings have come to culmination in her graphic novel “Dead Meat” which exploits the sufferings and injustices imposed on Mother Nature and it’s creatures we take for granted. She continually creates imagery depicting a bleak and desolate earth that has been destroyed by humans. Not much of a heart warmer.

For more controversial art stories, check out the Art News Blog

Market Your Art

2009-02-17T23:14:12Z

As an artist I can only speak from experience, getting noticed and recognized is quite the daunting task. Taking on the life of an artist or freelancer is never easy and here are a few tips on how to get noticed.

Shake hands and kiss babies - It’s not just for politicians anymore. Being a people person is not my forte, but I have come to realize that you just never know whom you are going to meet. Networking and making contacts everywhere you go is very important. Don’t be shy, you are selling a quality product, so kissing a little ass never hurt anyone. Remember, not everyone is sincere, but that’s one more person that knows your name, right? Get out there and sell some vacuums!

Get on the Interweb - These days the world wide web isn’t just for funny videos and sexually explicit material. Artists’ communities are being formed right in your own backyard. All it takes a little research. Sites like Humblevoice and Virb are great communities dedicated to emerging artists, musicians and writers. If that’s too intimidating, then try some as simple and effective as Flikr or even Myspace. All of these are free to sign up and a great place to showcase your work, get some feedback and make friends.

Be A Winner - Quite often art and design magazines such as Communication Arts or HOW have annual competitions. Many of us know this, but always seem to forget, or are too lazy to send in the form with our slides, maybe simply unable to afford the entry fee. If that’s the case, then perhaps find a magazine that offers something similar for less. Sci-Fi book, Spectrum, or the illustration great, Society of Illustrators, are some other alternatives. If you’re like, totally digital, then try some online competitions for snowboard companies, design webzines or t-shirt makers. Get on the web; it’s not too difficult to find them. Be sure to enter early and often.

I want something I can touch! Some art directors and gallery owners don’t have time to cruise the web on their lunch break to check out your super-duper, colossal website. This when you need to beckon the creative gods, or goddesses, for some immaculate ideas. By creating a unique self-promotion piece, we give the art director a reason to stop and take a look at something that isn’t on the monitor. Whether it’s a postcard or a brick you’re your name on it, having a unique presentation is essential for stopping someone in his or her tracks.

Who you gonna call? Not the Ghostbusters, that’s for sure, so try for someone that’s not fictional. First, think about the work that you want to do, and who do you want to work for? Want to design concert posters for your favorite band? Then send your promo piece to the record label and also their bands. Want to have work in ESPN magazine? Then send your promo piece to the BOTH the art director, and their assistant. Want to be in that cool new gallery, then go down there and hand them your slides in person. They’ll remember your face, and you’ll know that they actually got your work.

Remember, ‘persistence over resistance’. Be confident and keep sending someone your work, eventually it will stick in their head and they’ll give you a shot.

Inspiration in Every Corner

2009-02-17T23:02:05Z

Artists are too often lacking their creative muse, their inspiration, ideas that pay the bills. Art is reactionary work, not very often do you wake up ready to create something great and original. Creating something from nothing is harder work than say, your average day at the auditing house or security detail. There are no guarantees that what you put down, put out will be well received - unless what you’re putting out is your body.

So how do we generate these ideas? By poking fun at the shit around us, silly.

1. Take a walk and make a list of items that you find on the sidewalk. Don’t touch them; you never know where that needle has been.

2. Collect color chips from a Home Depot and lay them out. Make “ugly” combinations.

3. Illustrate your list of tasks or groceries.

4. Create a fictional character.

5. Go out for Thai food and notice the interactions of shape and color.

6. Hang out at a tattoo parlor for an afternoon and witness handy work on a live canvas.

7. Make a copy of your favorite photo and alter it with magic marker.

8. Video yourself dancing and try to recreate the motion.

9. Hang upside down and attempt to trace the shapes floating around in your eyes

10. Try to describe the beat of the song you are listening to using only metaphors.

Matt Duquette at Wootini Gallery

2009-02-13T17:17:59Z

Matt Duquette: Transitions, at Wootini Gallery

This Friday Matt Duquette will be exhibiting his first ever, solo show Transitions at Wootini Gallery.

Matt Duquette is a transplanted artist with a wide range of styles and skills. He comes from Buffalo, NY where he spent the last few years dedicated to web design and animation, but he looks forward to reviving the paint and brushes he once used daily.

His early work is wound on the idea of one ultimate moment. In the 90’s Matt attended an influential hardcore show (Buried Alive and All Out War) that changed his attitude and illustration style. Matt realized that music evokes the physical response that he was seeking and that the hardcore music scene allowed kids to strike out in a socially acceptable way. Matt began to document that chaos, and painting it became his driving motivation. His style correlates with the beat of the music--loud, restless and ebullient. “I’m so impatient. Sometimes I don’t think I can draw fast enough. I used to sit for hours and do tight renderings. There is no way I can do that now. I like to work fast because I get bored easy and I need to just get it out. I’m not worried about making a nice picture, but about getting the idea or feeling across. I want to dive in and get my hands dirty. I want to continually find a new place to live, mentally. Music and art allow me to do just that.”

This collection, “Transitions”, invites viewers to wander through his mind as he switches paths in life. “I’ve always tried to use the body as a way of expressing emotion, and as a metaphor. My portraits, be it human or robotic, represent physical reactions to situations. This new work is simply a shift from despair, punk rock and still life to organic design, humorous robots and hope. And music still plays a large role in my subjectivity.”

Our Online Wedding

2009-01-27T21:15:35Z

Matt and I are excited to say that our wedding website has officially launched! He’s spent many long nights creating custom digital illustrations, tweaking each color to stay within our scheme, and perfecting the functionality of this interactive wedding site.

We’ve all had the experience of a nightmare wedding, so we took our guest’s enjoyment into careful consideration when we started planning. From the rehearsal dinner to the reception, we wanted every aspect covered so our guests weren’t left wondering. We’ve carefully outlined the details of the not-so-traditional ceremony, adult only reception and our honorary guests. I wanted to make special mention of the Pastor who’s agreed to unite us, so we we asked for a head shot and Matt created a caricature that remained true to his likeness. Matt made sure to link directly to our registries and even wishlists so the gift giver had one less step to take in the process.

Once the invites are out, we will be adding an optional online RSVP, and a feature where guests can suggest songs, and even beers, that they prefer. The rehearsal dinner page will also go live when the restaurant has officially been booked. Please visit the site!

Graphic Tee Design

2009-01-13T15:34:29Z

Jeff and Katie Downie of Downie Photography were so excited about what we came up with for their brother Steve, that they commissioned us to make promotional graphic tees.

The idea was to start with an editorial photograph taken by Jeff and convert it to an illustration that would not only reproduce well, but also make a statement about the type of people they are: young, hip, and forward thinkers. This first design was the initial direction we took, placing the name “Downie” in the foremost part of the vector design.

The second shows a simple and also a more painterly version of the same illustration. Jeff requested that the tee be a great design first and promotional second, so we used a font that blended the company name into the graphics.

This last design was a challenge. We sorted through the provided photographs, quickly realizing that most were scantily clad, or alternately, professionally dressed women. And although Jeff’s product photos are impressive, we wanted to promote his fashion, commercial and personal portfolio so we started researching companies that had a large focus on edgier female designs; Roxy, Funkrush and Design by Humans. At the end of the day, we decided to shoot for a simple design at first, knowing that we are only getting started and there will be a next round of tees.

And Our Design

Seeking Artists and Musicians

2009-01-09T04:06:52Z

photo kidnapped from the Scrap Exchange

We are currently in the process of collecting names & contact info for super cool, but underground, artists, musicians and business owners for the new and improved Artery Magazine. We’ve been working slowly on it for months thinking no one’s paid attention - but they have, and we’ve been getting emails, phone calls and other odd requests. Guys and gals in Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Raleigh and yes, even Durham. With the immediate reaction we’ve had from Durham residents I can’t understand why everyone is so down on the Bull City.

Sure, it has it’s share of problems, but we’re transplanted from Buffalo. Ever take a drive through the State Streets or the Fruit Belt after dark? Durham has quite a bit happening behind that dark curtain. For starters, I want to share an email, a same day response, from Ann Woodward down at the Scrap Exchange. “I am Buffalonian, and went to Buffalo State and grew up in Amherst! Love it here too… so welcome to the area, and glad that you will be reporting on Arts activity in Durham and Carrboro. I moved in 2004 from NYC, basically because it has a great quality of life, lots of cultural community activities, great/awesome people, 3 cities, and the Scrap Exchange!”

The Scrap Exchange is an amazing culmination of all things tangible to be used in creative endeavors. I have a feeling the new found storefront will be our main resource for handmade post supplies.

Also, Django Haskins of The Old Ceremony has attempted to woo us in the direction of Durham since we begun work on their website (to be launched this month!). We’ll find out next week when we dig in, grab a beer at Jame Joyce and pick some brains!

Please, email us, laura @thearterymagazine or laura @12grainstudio.com if you can point us towards things to do, places to go and people to chat about. More to come. (And some non-scary, gang-less photos that weren’t kidnapped.)

Post New Years Art Links

2009-01-04T01:13:47Z

We’ve acquired a new Scott Bye painting! The conversation went like this:
Scott: “Do you really want it?”
Me: “Absolutely.”
Scott: “You are the only person on the face of the planet who loves this painting. It’s all yours.”
Me: Score

Max Wagner’s random goodness blog: The Project Room

Fabric for entirely reasonable prices: PurlSoho

My favorite new find (Raleigh-bound): Ornamentea

Lastly, a New Year’s recipe dedicated to Rob Lynch, interviewee extraordinaire, painter, musician, and teacher. This stand alone focaccia bread kept everyone warm at Rob’s Christmas Party in Niagara Falls when his furnace blew a gasket and the living room temperature dropped to 35º.

3/4 cup hot (not boiling) water
1/4-ounce package fast-acting yeast
1/2 teaspoon sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
freshly grated Parmesan
chopped onion
chopped garlic
rosemary leaves

Grease a 13 by 9 pan (preferably glass)

In a large bowl stir together water, yeast, and sugar. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.

In a small bowl stir together flour and table salt and gradually stir into yeast mixture until mixture forms a soft dough. With floured hands, knead dough until smooth and elastic then shape into a ball. Invert bowl over dough and let dough rest 10 minutes.

On lightly floured surface roll out dough into a rectangle and transfer to baking pan pressing into corners. Let dough rise, covered loosely with plastic wrap, in a warm place until doubled in bulk. Preheat oven to 400º. I usually set the pan filled with dough on top of the oven as it preheats. The warmth from below shortens the rise time.

Brush a thin layer of olive oil over the dough, then sprinkle with onion, garlic, Parmesan, rosemary, salt, and pepper to taste. Press indentations about 1/4 inch deep and 1 inch apart all over dough.

Bake focaccia in middle of oven 17 - 20 minutes, or until golden.