My friend John Rumery (GR based barbecue guru and champion of all things Grilladelic) just passed on an inspiring NY Times article about the role creativity is playing in rejuvenation of Detroit. Oh. My. Gosh. If the internet hasn’t fine tuned your link-clicking skills this would be an excellent time to introduce yourself to the simple pleasure of digitally submerging yourself in the amazing things people are doing in our state. Read the article. Click to your heart’s content. Learn about awesome stuff like The Heidelberg Project, Design 99 and the Power House. Detroitus no more! Get inspired!

PS. Does anybody know of an old, abandoned, centrally located house we could have? Jonathan? Jeannette?

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Oh Grand Rapids, what will you bring us next? First Paucity. Then ArtPrize. Now Bangups. My friend Jen turned me onto them and despite it being completely awful outside (as can be expected for the next eight months) they take me to late night bonfires on the beach; good friends close and my wife a little closer. I can’t even explain the noise you’re about to hear so forgive my humble attempt: one part White Stripes, one part Weezer, one part The Animals and a dash of Dylan/country/punk/folk/whatever-you-want-to-call-it. All good.

“Remember when you’re a kid, and everybody’s out go-carting, and someone figured out how to take the governor off the go-cart, so it could just blow everybody away? It’s like someone took the governor off this band.” -Rob Bell

And bed races?

Yes, and bed races.

If you’re not doing anything this Saturday you need to come out to the Columbia Art District Festival. As the name would have it, it’s on Columbia (where it intersects with 20th St) and will run from 3:30 – 7:30PM with a fashion show following.  We’ll be screen printing some tees on location with a portion of the proceeds going towards clean water efforts and The Collective.  Grab some food, get a t-shirt and do some good simultaneously.

3:30-7:30 - Open Art Display (art will be displayed inside the shop gallery and booths around the outside lot) + Live Music/Entertainment (20th & Columbia or The Red Lot) + Food available by Chris Steel (Wings, grilled pork sandwiches, fresh-made chips and nachos, water and pop) + Open Beer Garden

6:00-7:00 PM - Bed Race (on Columbia Ave between 20th and 19th Streets)

8:00-11 PM - Fashion Show Gala Fundraiser

Consider it felt.  Last weekend we packed up an assortment of tees and tools and trekked over to print on location at Zeeland’s first ever Global-Local Waterfest.  It was spearheaded by our good friend Dennis (sporting the mohawk below) in an effort to raise awareness of an astonishing fact: if every man woman and child in America donated $30 we’d raise the funds necessary to provide clean water infrastructure to the developing world.  Yup…just $30 per person.  It seems pretty measly compared to the $3,800 you’ve contributed to the war in Iraq and even more ridiculous when you compare it to your share of the national debt ($38,550.12).

The weather was immaculate, and considering it’s September in Michigan I’d say that makes the day a success. The main stage schedule was filled with alternating bands and speakers throughout the day which made it go by pretty quickly. We were lucky enough to need power thus placing us near stage.

Band highlights:  Big Dudee Roo and the Raptors (whistling drummer meets folksy Bright Eyes-esque vocals) and Paucity (instrumental melodious god-sends). If you haven’t seen these guys in person you need to get to one of their shows quickly.

Other highlights: Printing tees and raising coin ($5 per shirt) for clean water initiatives. Five bucks could maybe (and I stress maybe) rent you a DVD from Blockbuster. Or, it could go towards clean water and multiply in the process. A 2005 World Health Organization cost-benefit analysis showed that every $1 invested in improved drinking water and sanitation can yield economic benefits of $4 to $34, depending on the region. Not even Bernie Madoff gets that kind of return.

Here’s a shot of Fredy getting ready to print while Sebastian gets wrapped up in Paucity.  Fredy (with one “d”) is made of gold.  He graduated last year and is now a freshmen learning the ropes at Kendall.  Next time you see him ask him about monkeys.

Here’s Amy and Jenna folding some propaganda. Not only are they beautiful, but they’re also kind, wise and creative.  I’m lucky enough to be married to one of them (Jenna), whom deserves ceaseless thanks for her support, insight and uncanny ability to plan.

Lastly, Josh, whom holds up our little screen-printing world in his hands. Occasionally we’d run out of power and he’d hook up his recumbent bike to a generator in order to trade some sweat for t-shirt curing heat.  Not really, but he did rig an ingenious light to at least let us know when the oven wasn’t working.

Photo Creds: Slim Shady & Katie Joy

Last weekend Dennis and I transported his massive shoe painting (you seriously need to click on that) to it’s new home in Ben’s loft.  After the delivery I couldn’t help but notice the sun lighting up this stark white container simply stating, “Boxed Water is better for the Earth.”

“What is this?” you ask.  “Bottled water in a box?”  Nope.  It’s boxed water, and it’s brilliant!  With 90% of the container coming from renewable resources and 20% of their profits reinvested in clean water and sustainable forestation initiatives, it seems like they’re living up to their claim).  Boxed Water is a much needed breath of fresh air in a world littered with plastic bottles saying the same thing the same way (i.e. Mountains and rivers on clear plastic containers that will exist long after we’ve turned to dust).  A great piece of design.  Did I mention they’re out of Grand Rapids.  Could it get any better?

For the last couple of weeks we’ve been working on the o-so-portable mural for our friends at Elevator Up.  I’m proud to announce that as of Saturday it’s been relocated to its new home.  Many thanks to Aaron for his patience and to the Collective for pouring in so much time and energy into the piece.  It has been an experiment in collaboration and we’ve learned a lot in the process.  One thing we’ll continue to flesh out is how to bring our individual talents to the collective table.  I’d like to hear your thoughts on what worked and what didn’t?  How can we c0-create more effectively?  What could we do better next time?

I love books.  New books.  Old books.  Books with pictures.  Books with words.  Books with words about pictures.  The downside of this literary affection has been a slimmer wallet and a thicker bookshelf…many of which idly gather dust while waiting for their semi-annual revisit.  As much as I love books, Jenna loves the library.  She says it confronts our culture’s (i.e. my own) rampant consumption and promotes communal life and ownership.  I agree.

This past month our library has hosted to a series of weekly luncheons focusing on energy conservation at home and as a community.  It featured a wide array of speakers (ranging from philosophers, pastors, professors, architects, policy makers + more) and was a much needed step towards building a stronger web of local resources and channels to effect change.  This February and March they look to continue the luncheon series with Great Decisions 09: A Series on World Affairs.

Seriously, where else can you get informed on problems like the global food supply, meet and talk with your neighbors who are making a difference, and walk away with a free lunch?  Herrick District Library, I salute you.

BEAUTIFUL LOSERS
Opens January 30 at the UICA
In the early 1990′s a loose-knit group of like-minded outsiders found common ground at a little NYC storefront gallery. Rooted in the DIY (do-it-yourself) subcultures of skateboarding, surf, punk, hip hop & graffiti, they made art that reflected the lifestyles they led. Developing their craft with almost no influence from the “establishment” art world, this group, and the subcultures they sprang from, have now become a movement that has been transforming pop culture.
Featuring Shepard Fairey, Margaret Kilgallen, Mike Mills, Barry McGee, Chris Johanson, Harmony Korine, Ed Templeton and a selection of artists who are considered leaders within this culture; Beautiful Losers focuses on the telling of personal stories. It speaks to themes of what happens when the outside becomes “in” as it explores the creative ethos connecting these artists and today’s youth.

Directed by: Aaron Rose
Running Time: 90 minutes
Origin: USA
Language(s): English

Visit beautifullosers.com

Showtimes
1/30 Friday – 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 8:00 PM
1/31 Saturday – 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 8:00 PM
2/1 Sunday – 2:00, 4:00, 6:00 PM
2/2 Monday – Closed
2/3 Tuesday – 5:00, 9:00 PM
2/4 Wednesday – 6:00, 8:00 PM
2/5 Thursday – 6:00, 8:00 PM Final Showing!