JOYENGINE: cause sharing is cool

Kluver and I tend to stray to a bit to the left.  Subsequently, those on the right, those like Bill O’Reily are often subjects of discussion amongst us.  Kristian’s been hell-bent on Mr. Bill O’Reily as of late.  I guess that has something to do with the below image finding its way into my inbox this morning…  Seems like a good time to pull out some O’Reily highlights, so here goes.

1. Bill O’Reily Flips out

2. Bill O’Reily Flips out REMIX  (AWESOME!!!)

3. Bill O’Reily Gets His Ass Kicked by Phil Donahue

4. Jon Stewart too smart for O’Reily

5. Keith Olbermann Neuters O’Reily

6. Howard Stern and O’Reily Exchange Insults

7. Snoop has some word for O’Reily (AS STRAIGHT UP AS IT GETS!!!)

But don’t let it get you down.  We’ve come to terms with it and use it as a big motivator.   And, we think we’re pretty damn crafty.   Think about that.  Then go visit rocket-fly.com, there’s an illustration of  your new girlfriend.  Then go home and make a sculpture of a giant phallic monster.  Right?

Bigshot Toyworks is teamin’ up with some great artists and producing some super arty toys. Mike Burnett’s Neighborwood Figure is just one of many. Personally, the more the wood the merrier (well at least in regards to designer toys… ladies???). On a local note, our friend, Kluver is in the midst of some top secret wooden sculpture that just might translate into some toys. Regardless of that, wood - is - good, particularly twice recycled wood in Kluver’s case. With the economy in the shitter, and China poised to take over the planet we should probably start thkinkin’ about makin’ some shit at home, eh? Wood, just so happens to be in abundance in the U.S. - unlike rotocast vinyl manufacturing (the equipment, labor force, and pad printing processes involved). Well, I guess we do have a labor force, albeit a slightly lazier one than China… I’m goin’ out on a limb here and calling “wood” the new “vinyl”… we’ll just have to wait and see.

A picture is worth a 1000 words, right? Eff that. Not in the case of Kluver’s crazy illustrator buddy, Oscar Woodruff. Perhaps a million? Oscar is quite possibly the nastiest illustrator ever, yep ever. He draws cuz he likes to. And, he draws a lot. The character above is part of a world created by and perhaps only intimately known by Woodruff… and maybe Kluver? Anyway, rumor has it that Oscar’s illustrations may be coming to life in some published format here soon. We certainly hope that happens.

SUK. One more, almost lost - member of the Kluver family. We’re stickin’ to our guns and takin’ a lead from our buddy Derek. Looks like it really is becoming Kluver history month. When is somebody (strangeco, kidrobot, toy2r, unkl, crazy label, etc.) gonna hit up our buddy Kristian and give him the opp. to make some frikin’ toys already??? Arrrrrgggggggg.

While on a recent visit to Mike Dunn’s wood shop to work on some custom panels and frames we found this… in the trash pile, of course. Kluver has a ridiculous propensity to create. Often, hiding, throwing away, or just plain choosing to never show anyone what he’s worked on. While this graphite sketch on particle board is kinda neat, it is in no way indicative of Kristian’s magical creative powers. Which brings to mind the “Kaminetski Case, ” a semi-mythical portfolio case Kluver designed and built in ‘97, which has long been a subject of discussion in the underbelly of our little designerly posse. The story behind the Kaminetski Case is semi-legendary. We finally witnessed the case this weekend in all it’s glory and the only word to describe it… amazing. We’re gonna try and drop some pics, specs, and other brilliant Kaminetski related info later today.

Our design firm, cypher13, does all sorts of work for FATE Clothing. We’re in the midst of gettin’ their website dialed in and droppin’ all their product online for the ‘07/’08 season. Markham “Shitty Kitten” Maes, Kristian Kluver and I spent some time last fall workin’ up some new apparel patterns for this season. We just got the pics and the gear came out pretty fresh. Have a look. All of the ‘07/’08 gear should be available online in about a week.

Lucian stepped up and created a piece for our friends over at Texture Media for their first annual art show. The art show is doubling as a CAN DRIVE and CHARITY EVENT. All the art submitted will be offered for sale through a silent auction, with 100% of the proceeds going to a charitable cause. It’s awesome to see Texture throwing an event like this. Fuckin’ cool.

NOTE: The walls of our shop/gallery are now blank. It was unfortunately time to remove Kluver’s wicked vinyl installation and buff the murals by the likes of Tazer, Eak, and Shitty, repair the drywall, throw up some primer and repaint in preparation for our latest top-secret installation. Stay posted for more on that sucker…

Our buddy Kluver took this series 3 dunny on his little European motorcycle trip back in October. 3542km later, the dunny now rests safely at the JE/C13 headquarters. Check out some pics from the trip.