New Assigment: Typographic Comics

I assigned a new project to my Graphic Design I students at Appomattox Regional Governor's School. They were asked to make a typographic comic, using a chapter from Alan Lightman's book Einstein's Dreams. Students were encouraged to play with time perception, using innovative panel arrangements - thus reflecting the content of Lightman's book. So many of the solutions were very impressive. Below are three of them.


by Claire Sullivan



By Cristina Peters


By Sidney Tilghman

Death Is Not Justice!

The above poster was inlcuded in the top 100 of the "Death Is Not Justice" poster campaign about abolishing the death penalty worldwide. The campaign was initiated by Poster For Tomorrow.

You can order a catalogue of the top 100 here.

Original Creative Brief:

We want universal abolition of the death penalty in 2010. It’s simple. The death penalty is a violation of human rights. Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”

How does that fit with beheading, stoning, hanging, lethally injecting or shooting someone?

The problem is that there’s no going back on a death sentence. And in a world where every judicial system makes mistakes, it’s inevitable that innocent people will be executed. Which is simply not acceptable. More than two thirds of countries in the world agree, and have banned executions.

Sadly, shamefully, 58 still persist in killing people in the name of “justice.”
In 2009, countries with the highest number of executions were Iran (with at least 388 executions), Iraq (at least 120), Saudi Arabia (at least 69), and the United States (52).

In China information regarding the death penalty remains a secret, but estimates show that China executes more people than the rest of the world combined.

But there is hope - the number of people being executed around the world appears to be declining. And in December the United Nations will vote on a universal moratorium on the death penalty. It’s a vital step towards abolishing the death penalty once and for all.

No matter whether you live in a country that practices capital punishment or not, we have to raise awareness across the whole world that the death penalty is a violation of human rights that has no place in modern society.

Daughter As Warrior Princess.

Spent some time on and off working on this illustration of my daughter in traditional Iranian female warrior garb. All of the references were photos of her. The faces of the two secondary figures were obviously changed. Not sure if it is done yet. Perhaps the image is very close to completion.

Enjoy.

New Work: All super quick flyers.

A few posters with short deadlines for three events. Two were designed in less than 30 min. One was designed over the course of an afternoon.

Inspiration, Cool Stuff, Etc #35

Conflict Kitchen - take out from only countries the US has conflict with. (I was sent this by numerous people awhile ago. I am not sure why I haven't posted it sooner.)

What Social Entrepreneurship Can Teach Social Design


Ralph Caplan pod cast - dialogue about design that is functional versus just looking good, the civil rights movement, branding, fashion, obsolescence and designer responsibility.

Maira Kalman on the Colbert Report

Billionaires Favorite Politicians Infographic

iPhone Ap to help people conserve oil - the application is the tope view of a glass full of water. You are encouraged to set in on the dashboard of your car. The more water you spill from driving erratically the more oil you have wasted..

Modeling for Another Limited Rebellion

I modeled for ALR Design's collaboration with Dupont Circle Communications on the Red Flag Campaign . The campaign is focused on bringing awareness of the several ways that domestic violence manifests itself. The posters are intended to be posted at various Virginia college campuses and have been made available for campuses nationwide.

More info can be found on Another Limited Rebellion's blog.

Project M Comes to VCU

A friend of mine, Marc Obrien, will be discussing his work with Project M at VCU 5PM November 3rd at 1509 Main Street Richmond, VA.

Added info taken from the Project M promo materials

What is Project M?
Founded by graphic designer, John Bielenberg, Project M is an intensive two
week long program designed to inspire young graphic designers, writers,
photographers, and other creative people that their work can have a positive
and significant impact on the world.

Thinking Wrong
The human brain tends to think along pre-determined linear thought pathways.
Such linear thinking can inhibit true innovation and creative exploration.
Project M encourages and provides techniques for “thinking wrong” to
generate new ideas and design directions to challenge the status-quo.

What is a 48 Hour Blitz?
A Blitz is an intensive two day workshop that consists of design thinking, rapid
prototyping, immersive research, designing, exploring, anything & everything
based on an undefined project that participants discover in the process.
Twelve spots are available. Open to juniors and seniors. First-come, first-served.
M'ers will be excused from their GDES classes during the Blitz. Interested?
Contact Marc O'Brien at info@projectmlab.com

Schedule:
11/3: Project M presentation, 5pm, 1509 Main St. Open to all students.
If spots are still open, you can sign up after the presentation. Meet & Greet
dinner with Project M/GDES participants after.

11/4: 48 Hour Blitz begins at 9am at 1509 Main St.

11/5: Project will be presented at 1509 Gallery's First Friday opening.
A detailed email will be sent to Project M/GDES participants.

Project M Linkage:
projectmlab.com
pielab.org
welcomehomempls.com
100hammers.com
nadabike.com
blanklab.org
plot63.org
tropical-l.com
getrichslow.org

Inspiration, Art, Cool Stuff, Etc #34

Sorry I haven't been posting this stuff lately. I have been extremely busy.

Oil Does Not Mix With Water Posters printed with oil from the gulf spill.

Changing Education Infographic

NY Times infographic on the recent Wikileaks info

Tracking Fireflys with time lapse photography.

Interesting approach to a slow down and watch for children PSA

Appomattox Regional Governor's School on First Friday

This coming First Friday (Nov 5th), three of my students will have work up at the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society, Inc. (101 W Broad Street Richmond, VA 23220).

The festivities will include sketch improv, dance improv, a string quartet as well as 2D & 3D art. The students represent Appomattox Regional Governor's School talents from various departments.

Below is my student's work: Three versions of a poster for an up and coming musical at the school, "The Drowsy Chaperone." Jacob Alder's poster was officially chosen to promote the event.

By Megan Kitchen


By Jacob Alder


By Rachel Meyer

Dia de los Muertos system

This poster was designed for 18"X25" poster, 11"X17" flyers, 4"X6" post cards, and 4"x6" private invitations.


Based on the above poster a poster specific to the Pre-Halloween Party was developed for 11"X17," but as these things sometimes go it was printed scale to fit on a 8.5"X11."


This months "Gallery5 After 5" lecture was also design using this system at 8.5" by 14."

Info about the month long celebration below.

Gallery5 Presents
Dia de los Muertos
Saturday, October 30th - Saturday, November 13th

Gallery5's observance of Dia de Los Muertos will be a multicultural experience, integrating traditional practices with events relevant to the immediate community. The holiday exists today as a fusion of Aztec rites from the Pre-Hispanic era, Roman Catholic beliefs, and modern secular interpretations that vary from city to city across Latin America, parts of the U.S., Canada, and Europe. These festivities celebrate death as a continuation of life and provide a time to reflect on our own lives and the lives of those no longer with us.

By observing such rich and vibrant traditions, Gallery5 hopes to encourage participation by a wider range of demographics, and to challenge common paradigms associated with death. Dia de los Murtos at Gallery5 will include several days of festivities, workshops and live performances. The celebration will begin on Saturday, October 30th and culminate in a Dia de los Muertos festival on November 13th.

All to be held at Gallery5
200 W Marshall St
Richmond, VA 23222

Festival Sponsored by
RVANews
WRIR 97.3
One South Realty Group
Octoprint
Magic Hat Brewing Co.

With special contributions from
The Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
The Latin Ballet of Virginia
National Hispanic Cultural Center
Skull-a-Day
The University of Richmond
Virginia Commonwealth University
Justin Laughter
World of Mirth
Premiere Costumes
Main Art Supply
Nationwide
Moe’s Southwest Grill (10839 W. Broad, Mechanicsville)

Saturday, October 30th
Pre-Halloween Dinner Party
7PM / $10 per person ($8 for members)
An early evening of great local performers and food to kick off your Halloween night!

Featuring Performances by
Tequila Mockingbird
Silent Music Revival
Lobo Marino
Voix de Ville Follies
Gull
Richmond Comedy Coalition
and more!


Friday, November 5th
Public Opening Reception
7PM – 11PM / FREE
This night will celebrate the opening of Memento Mori, an exhibition of contemporary art exploring death and the ephemeral in our main gallery upstairs. (On display until December 17th)

In our GallowLily’s craft gallery, we are excited to present La Danse Macabre, a solo exhibition of internationally recognized Papel Picado artist Catalina Delgado Trunk.

This night will also be an opportunity for audience members to add on to our Community Altar that will be constructed in our Lucent Phoenix space. Guests are encouraged to bring their own ofrendas (or offerings) in the form of small ephemera, flowers, unlit or electronic candles, clothing or non-perishable food. All food and clothing brought to Gallery5 will be donated to a charitable organization after the celebration. To encourage hands-on audience participation and give everyone an opportunity to take home part of the festivities, we will provide Traditional Craft Demonstrations. Learn how to make colorful tissue paper marigolds or mold and decorate you own sugar skull!

This evening will feature traditional and contemporary performances inspired by Dia de los Muertos. Seasonal brews available!

Featuring Performances by
Frankzig
Members of the University of Richmond Theater Department
Daniel Jose' Custo'dio
Flamenco Del Sur (Clarke Hedgepath on guitar, Derrick Englert on bass and Andy Brockmann on percussion)

D.J.’s provided by
WRIR 97.3

Also presenting
Ofrenda to the Disremembered: A multimedia installation by Salvador Barajas, Danah Bella, Liz Canfield, and John Priestly.

"Ofrenda to the Disremembered" is a trans-temporal re-examination of the Mexican tale of la Llorona, whose unthinkable act of desperate infanticide in the face of colonialist oppression made her, variously in different versions, a monster, a cautionary tale anti-heroine, and the protector of border transgressors. This multimedia performance considers la Llorona in a borderland defined by NAFTA, anchor babies, and nannygates in the border fence.

Colectivo caliban is a sound and movement performance ensemble comprising a creative intersection between modern dance troupe d a n a h b e l l a DanceWorks and three multimedia artists who met through the Media Art & Text interdisciplinary doctoral program at VCU. Their work investigates deterritorialization, crossing borders between bodily self and society, subject and object, noise and music.

Wednesday, November 10th
Gallery5 After 5: A Happy Hour Lecture Series
5PM - 9PM / FREE

Andrew Chesnut of VCU's School of World Studies, presents a lecture, Viva La Muerte: The Cult of Saint Death and the Days of the Dead in Mexico”

Also Screening: Death: A film by Matt Lively and Alex Germanotta (30 mins)
Matt Lively and Alex Germanotta both graduated from VCU and teamed up to make films. Alex is the Emmy-winning film wizard and Matt is the tireless internationally exhibited art-maker. The 30-minute documentary "Death" is the first collaboration between them. Lively and Germanotta are currently working on an animated short called "The Wind Chill Factory."

Saturday, November 13th

Dia de los Muertos Food & Craft Festival
11AM - 7PM/ FREE

This will be the culmination of Gallery5’s observance of Dia de los Muertos.
It will be a FREE all-day festival of live music, performance, and workshops.
A full schedule of workshops, performances and vendors will be available soon!