JOYENGINE: cause sharing is cool

Images, video, and an interview with Broken Crow have been posted up on the Burlesque of North America’s blog. It makes my heart smile when those who inhabit cities help shape and define the spaces we all share with the gift of art.

We’ve followed our friend Steve Talkowski’s progress designing, prototyping, and eventually producing his signature Sketchbot for about 2 years now.  It’s been a wonderful process to witness and a testament to Steve’s talent, commitment and vision.  To kick off what Steve’s calling “Phase 1″ of Sketchbot he’s teamed up with MyPlasticHeartNYC to throw a massive Sketchbot custom show.  He’s assembled a spectacular cast of 50+ customizers.  We’re humbled to have been invited and to have the opportunity to take part.  We couldn’t be more psyched for Steve.

Participating artists:

This short film makes you feel the sand on your feet and water in your face…ah, who doesn’t need a little beach time?

EDEN from Sean Mullens on Vimeo.

Main Entry: Eden
Pronunciation: \ˈē-dən\
Function: noun
Etymology: Late Latin, from Hebrew ʽĒdhen
Date: before 12th century
Definition: Paradise, a place of pristine or abundant natural beauty

Monday nights are always a tough night to host events, but Denver creatives came through and represented our city well for the “We Live in Public” release party on March 01, 2010. The night saw some technical difficulties, but in the end I think the screening did it’s job. It got people thinking and talking about what’s happening to our society as we increasingly embrace the internet. Our crowd consisted of advertising/marketing representatives, designers, filmmakers, writers/bloggers, architects, musicians, and various other influencers who have the ability to affect others… Hopefully all of you who attended are telling others to see this film. It’s important for people to make themselves aware of the pitfalls associated with living in public.

I would like to thank the following folks for the help in making the evening possible. Futuristic Films team, especially Monique Weiring and Richie Kendall. Director Ondi Timoner, for making such a thought provoking film. I first met her in 2002 while working at Radar Communications. I  remember her telling about the two these two films she was working on for a long time.  The first was “Dig,” and the other was “We Live in Public.” Both won grand jury prizes at Sundance. Proud to call her a friend. If you haven’t seen Dig, hustle on over to Hulu, as it’s one of the most popular downloads there. You won’t be disappointed, its a great rock n’ roll film…

Thanks also go out Open Media Foundation for hosting the event. If you aren’t aware of what they do stop by or visit them on the Web. Anyone who’s an independent film maker in Denver should know about this valuable resource. Jason Stoval, DOM board member, did a great job hosting our, brief, Q&A session with the other cities.

A big shout out also goes out to my friend Steve Nilsen (Lifestyle Marketing Manager at Pabst Blue Ribbon) for donating the libations for the after party. Mega hug goes out to DJ Ginger Perry for setting the mood with tunes. I know you were tired girl from other gigs over the weekend, so thank you again for making it out. Also to our VJ’s (Doug and Alie) and live painters (Kamla and Audrey.

Last, but not least, THANK YOU to all my friends who made it. There were a lot of you there and it meant a lot to see you there! It never ceases to amaze me how deep my network runs with solid peeps!

Do you love Jamie Hewlett? Do you like gun battles, animation, muscle cars, Mos Def, Bobby Womack, Damon Albarn, and Bruce Willis? Me too. That’s why I love this new Gorillaz video.

Drop City, south eastern Colorado (6km) North of Trinidad ≈ 1966

My partners and I often purchase the Denver Voice from street vendors in downtown Boulder. The Voice is a newsprint publication sold for a suggested donation of $1.00.  It’s aim is to facilitate a dialogue that addresses “the roots of homelessness by telling stories of people whose lives are impacted by poverty and homelessness and to offer economic, educational, and empowerment opportunities for the impoverished community.”  If I’m correct the seller, typically homeless, keeps $0.75 of the transaction and the remaining $0.25 goes back to the paper.  The Voice is wonderfully designed, exceptionally well laid out and features award-winning writing and reporting.  This February’s cover particularly caught my eye.  It was the balance of color, geometry, and nature that drew me in – the artwork of Clark Richert.

Quasi Kepler by Clark Richert

Thanks to the Voice, the writing of Denver multi-media maker, Travis Egedy, and a couple of mornings of deep interweb-recon I’m now very familiar with the work and ideas of Richert, the history of Drop City (a Southern Colorado artist community known as the first rural “hippie commune”), and the work and ideas of a great number of affiliate artists and truly forward-seeing thinkers.  I’m actually wondering how I had not yet heard of Clark and his exploits.  For the last 40+ years he’s been working as an artist, scientist, philospher, and professor – currently at the Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design (RMCAD).  Richert is an innovator to say the least.

Drop City Complex under construction

Richert’s work dates back to the early sixties when he and filmmaker, Gene Bernofsky met at the University of Kansas in Lawrence.  Together they collaborated on a body of conceptual artwork  they referred to as “droppings” (works dropped from a loft onto the street below) that became the founding works behind a movement later known as Drop Art and led to the eventual creation of Drop City.

Pythagorean Tree by Drop City Artists- 1967

Today, Clark is the head of the painting program at RMCAD, where a retrospective of his work is currently being held at the Philip J. Steele Gallery.  Aritistically, he is represented by Denver’s, Rule Gallery and is rumored to be looking into the creation of yet another sustainably-minded creative person community. Read Egedy’s complete article for the Denver voice here.

Great reuse of old skatedecks by artist Haroshi for his latest show Harvest. He does a brilliant job holding onto something of sentimental value by giving it new life — via Juxtapoz

I’ve posted about ‘We Live in Public‘ a couple of times over the last year. On March 1 it becomes available on VOD/DVD. I’ve said it before and will say it again, if your at all using social media (FB, Twitter, etc.), you have a responsibility to see this film. If you have teenagers, or work with middle/high school students you want them to see this movie. If working in advertising/marketing, or want to, it’s for you as well. This film helps us understand the cultural significance of living in a world dominated by personal technology devices. You will not think the same after seeing it…

On March 1st, in celebration of our VOD/DVD release, WE LIVE IN PUBLIC will be screened simultaneously in theaters worldwide!  The screenings will be followed by a webcasted in-theater Q&A with director Ondi Timoner and the always-controversial star of our documentary, Josh Harris, live from a pod in Chicago (if you’ve seen WLIP you’ve remember the sleeping pods from the bunker?).  Concurrent screenings and Q&As will take place in LA, Denver, Chicago, New York and Atlanta, and we are thrilled that Adrian Grenier (Entourage) will be live with the audience in New York and Eliza Dushku will be hosting the affair in LA.   All of the cities will be linked to one another and webcast live on weliveinpublicthemovie.com.  Webcast starts at 5:30 PM PST, with screenings starting at 6 PM in LA, & 7PM in Denver, 8pm in Chicago, and 9pm in NY & Atlanta. Q&A and outrageous parties directly following the screenings.  During the simultaneous screenings, Ondi and Josh will host a live show from their Chicago pod with exclusive clips from WE LIVE IN PUBLIC, all live on weliveinpublicthemovie.com. –Press Release

If your interested in attending the Denver screening, send me an email at jad@equiporoca.com. Space will be limited, but will try my best to accommodate any requests to join the party….

The opening reception of David B. Smith’s 2010 Group Exhibition, Part 2 is this evening, February 19th.  The Exhibition marks the return of Jason Thielke’s work to the gallery walls, and with the evolutionary addition of new subject matter as well.  Exhibiting alongside Thielke are some of the top young contemporaries in the art world today, including Josh Agle (Shag), Jud Bergeron, Kris Lewis, Mario Martinez (MARS-1), Niall McClelland, Amy Sol, and Cole Sternberg.  Be sure to stop by.

Left – Detail of Big Horn Sheep.  Right – Detail of Moon and Star

Project Hello is an idea/event that has been manifested to provide a platform for Denver creatives to get together and rub elbows, slap skins, talk shop, and gather inspiration while exposing their work among peers. The event will also help foster and provide context for the community at large to unite, build, and shape a supportive artistic community in Denver. Project Hello will run for one day and will be curated in a “festival or salon” like setting at the TAXI building on May 1, 2010.

Less than two weeks away – Submission Deadline is March 1, 2010 to be considered for exhibition inclusion. Creatives of all shapes & sizes in various stages of artistic career & development are encouraged to submit. There are a few guidelines for submission, all interested should send the required info and content to projecthellodenver[at]gmail.com.

Matt Scobey just wrapped up an insightful interview with the gals behind Project Hello Sandra Fettingis & Louise Martorano which has been posted on the PH site for viewing pleasure. Sandra and Lisa shed some light on what you can expect from both submitting to and attending the event. The Project Hello crew has also worked up a Facebook page to keep us all in the know.

Cheers to Sandra, Lisa, Matt Scobey and everyone else involved in helping bring this event to life!

Last weekend, Stephen Powers wrapped up his so much more than amazing Love Letter Project (a series of murals collectively comprising a love letter to West Philadelphia).  On February 12th Powers and Co. held an exhibition documenting the creation and inspiration behind the Love Letter project.  On Saturday, February 13th Powers was at Exit Skateshop for the Love Letter For You book signing and on Sunday, February 14th (Valentines Day) Powers sold out 350 seats aboard the “Love Train” (slow-rolling elevated train) where he played personal tour guide and host to his 50 rooftop murals.   Above is a small collection of some of our favorites.  From top row to bottom row and left to right – Open Your Eyes, Nice Dream About Us, I Love You (Necklace), Your Everafter, Daycare and Carfare, Hold Tight, Home Now, and Bread and Butter.  What a project!!!

Matthew Doubek and Samuel Mobley invite to you STEP RIGHT UP! COME ONE, COME ALL! And attend the Pirate Gallery on February 19th from 6-10pm for their 3rd annual collaborative exhibition, The Carnival of Fictional Amusement.  Expect fantastical sights like the Amazing Goat Man and the Miniature Giraffe accompanied by plenty of popcorn, corn dogs, and gobs of jelly beans.