Damian Ortega at the Boston ICA

I saw the Damian Ortega show that Boston's ICA last week. My thoughts, in a word: unimpressed. The biggest and best piece there was a deconstructed, suspended VW bug (above). I was able to walk through it and around it, some people were even knocking it a bit! He took apart every last piece of the car, resembling a diagram in a car manual. I'm not sure most artists would let people get within 1 foot of that piece, so I have a lot of respect for that. The other pieces included balancing chairs, blown glass and pieces of leather that were too abstract for me to comprehend. I went home and googled him, convinced that I had heard his name before, and I came across a piece that reminded me of something else I had seen. I went to Zurich a few years back and saw a piece that had all these weapons suspended in mid-air and forced the viewer to walk through them. There was also a soundtrack playing in the background of little clanging metallic sounds. Nothing too haunted-house-y, but just enough for me to think a gun might accidentally go off or a sword might come loose from it's hold. It was awesome and resembled the piece below. If anyone knows what artist I am referring to, please let me know because I have googled every possible combination of terms to no avail. Anyway, Google proved to me that Damian Ortega has a lot more meaningful and interesting work than was exhibited at the ICA, but at least it was Free Thursdays. ••••

Venice comes to Boston

Over the weekend, I finally made it over to see the MFA’s current exhibition, “Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese: Rivals in Renaissance Venice.” Three of the four Crew members (sorry, Colvin) studied and lived together in Venice about 5 years ago, and while we were there we spent a large portion of our time visiting churches and palazzos throughout the city, seeing the incredible works of these three artists in situ. Since then, I’ve seen a Titian here, a Tintoretto there— but I never imagined I would have another opportunity to recreate my Venice experience to this degree. By partnering together with the Louvre, the MFA was able to amass 56 grandiose canvases for this show, transporting you back in time to this pivotal period in Renaissance Venice.

These guys could PAINT. The show is organized thematically, so you can compare and contrast works by all three artists, side by side, as they tackle the same subject matter: the Last Supper and other devotional works, portraiture, the bella donna, and so on. The three men were rivals who competed for patrons, but also great admirers of one another’s work, and the final room is a touching testament to how greatly they influenced one another throughout their careers.

There is also a fascinating portion of the exhibit where the underpainting of a large-scale Tintoretto is examined, revealing that a nativity scene actually had been reinvented from the scraps of a Crucifixion. Talk about doing a 180...

The show is WELL worth seeing for lovers of Renaissance painting. Read more about the exhibit on Boston.com, and the New York Times— both give glowing reviews.

Found in Boston: Fort Point

Today's "Found In Boston" feature is the Waterfront neighborhood known as Fort Point, home to artists' studios, hip boutiques, and a charming mix of modern and vintage architecture. It is an area I was largely unfamiliar with until this year, but when I last visited I was struck by the dichotomy between new and old found on every street corner. Within an industrial building covered in faded signage, you might find a high-end furniture store. Turn the corner, and you are likely to come across some quirky graffiti nearly hidden in an alleyway. Notably, Shepard Fairey's handiwork was well represented on buildings in the area—this weekend, the Obey Giant seemed to be everywhere I looked (but maybe this has something to do with the fact that his one-man show is just a few blocks away at the ICA?)

It's a visually rich area, just a few minutes walk from South Station— hopefully you enjoy these snippets of the scenery as much as I enjoyed shooting them! ••••

An Interview with Niki Brown

The Crew is pleased to bring you an interview with Niki Brown, a designer and blogger over at Design O'Blog, who recently relocated to Boston from a small Midwestern city. Niki is a reader who responded to our call for creatives, and we couldn't be happier she did— her work is fun and fresh, and so are her ideas. Enjoy finding out more about Niki!

1. Who or what inspires you?
I just recently moved to Boston, so I've been inspired by how alive and diverse this city is. I'm constantly walking around, taking pictures and staring at strange things (and then getting lost!)

2. Do you have a favorite designer?
One of my favorite designers is an oldie but a goodie— (as in he's been dead for quite a while) El Lizzitsky - I've been obsessed with Russian Constructivism for quite a while. I can't seem to get enough of strong bold colors and dynamic diagonals.

3. One word to describe your design style:
Evolving.
4. What frustrates you most about design (or your biggest pet peeve)?
I get frustrated when the creativity just wont flow— this is when design gets really stressful for me. As i continue to mature as a designer I realize that sometimes you just need to walk away from a project for a bit and then come back to it with fresh eyes.

5. If you could travel anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go?
I would go back to Switzerland. Land of organization and Helvetica!

6. What is your favorite website to visit daily? Why do you like it?
This is slightly boring, but gmail— they just released gmail themes! I also use igoogle as my homepage and have designed two themes (office mouse, space mouse)

7. If you could design or redesign anything, what would it be?
I would re-design the interface and organization of my banks online account section - it's horrible!

8. What’s the strangest request you’ve received from a client?
Not really strange, but I've been asked to flat out copy stuff or steal images— had to educate the client on why that was a HUGE no no!

9. Favorite font?
I'm diggin veer's candy script— I used it on the header of my website and business cards:

10. Where do you usually work on your projects?
I usually work on my projects at home at my desk:
My workspace is filled with things i love— from my rock paper scissors posters, to my lovely little banana painting (did i mention i love bananas?)

11. Do you have any advice for people just entering the profession?
I would tell newbies to read everything they can get their hands on. Blogs, books, videos— eat it up. Find tutorials, ask questions. Attend design lectures. Always be curious! These are the things that will keep your creativity fresh.

12. If you were to change professions, what would you choose to do?
I can't see myself doing something other than design. I've been doing it since I was a kid: making imaginary newspapers and then eventually learning how to make websites in highschool.

13. What’s one thing you wish you knew when you started your career?
I wish I would have been pushed to design faster. Design seems to happen at the speed of light once you get out in the real world.

14. Describe your favorite project and why.
My favorite print project so far has been the invites I made for a going away party. The theme of the party was Bring Your Own Meat. It was fun to make since I'm a vegetarian.
My favorite web project has been bananasandcoffee.com— another personal project to keep track of my potassium and caffeine consumption. I'm getting more and more obsessed with information design and this is my playground to experiment with it!15. Tell us three things about yourself that no one else knows.
1: I like to cook, but am horrible at it.
2: I love squirrels.
3: I hate papyrus with everything that is in me and want to scream at designers that use it.

To see more of Niki's work, please visit her website: nikibrown.com

[CrewDesign is always on the lookout for creative talent. If you, or someone you know, would like to be a featured artist please email us at thecrewdesign@gmail.com] ••••

Found in the USA: Salem, MA

This Halloween, after 6 years of living in Boston, I finally made my first trip out to Salem to see the festivities firsthand. Salem, half an hour from the city and site of the infamous witch hunts of 1692, has managed to turn a tragedy into a tourist attraction— especially during the month of October. Equal parts kitschy and authentic, the town is a unique spot to visit at this time of year. Children and adults alike wander the street in their "holiday best," vendors hawk witch hats and kettle corn, and psychics approach you to offer their services. But beneath the hectic tourism lies a historic town with a unique past— so get yourself in the spirit of the season and enjoy these pictures of Halloween Town, USA. ••••

Found In Boston: Farmers Markets

Coolidge Corner Arts Festival

If you are in the Boston area this weekend, take advantage of the amazing weather forecast and stop by the Thirtieth Annual Coolidge Corner Arts Festival! I was scoping out the vendors, and although like many art festivals they are hit or miss, I did find some really great items— in particular, the jewelry below by Twigs and Heather. So, if you are in the market for something handcrafted, this is a great weekend destination for you— but even if you're not, a bit of browsing never hurt anyone! On Saturday, June 7th only. ••••

Anish Kapoor at the ICA

Tonight I had the lucky opportunity to attend a sneak peek opening for Anish Kapoor's exhibit Past, Present, and Future at the ICA in Boston. I felt very fortunate to be able to hear the artist speak about his work tonight, and then to be one of the first to see this rather exceptional showing of sculpture. Although modern sculpture does not always interest me (sometimes I can't help but find it sterile or elitist), I truly loved this show. I think it was Kapoor's humble, playful, and genuine approach toward making art that most impressed me— he spoke about this tonight, but you also got a real sense of it just by looking at the work. It was a bit like being a kid in a fun house— the reflective surfaces on some pieces were like those crazy warped mirrors at a carnival (but times ten), and the "void" pieces were some seriously amazing optical illusions.The British Kapoor is perhaps best known in the US for his "Cloud Gate" in Chicago (pictured below), and from September 19th—October 7th, he will be temporarily showing a "Sky Mirror" in front of Rockefeller Plaza (simulated photo at bottom). As for the exhibit in Boston, this is his first show on the East Coast and it is a retrospective of 14 works made since 1980. It will be open to the public from May 30—September 7th. Thanks again to Chung for inviting me to see it with him early! ••••

Found in Boston: Vintage Postcards

A designer friend of mine was recently planning her Boston-based wedding, and found some amazing vintage postcards of the city that served as invitation inspiration. In turn, they were inspiration for this "Found in Boston" post. When you walk through the Public Gardens or throughout Beacon Hill, you can't help but get a sense of the city's rich history, and these postcards evoke a nostalgia for Boston's heyday with beautiful images printed in muted tones. I love the backs about equally— one is scribbled with a message about the "moving pictures" dated 10-11-12, back when postage was only one cent! On the other hand, the "Greetings from Cape Cod" postcard dates back only to the 80s, but I just couldn't resist a photomontage so wrong it's right.

A majority of the postcards I purchased came from a store on the lovely Charles Street, which is absolutely ripe with antiques and ephemera. But on the suggestion of my roommate (who contributed some postcards of her own to the slideshow), I also checked out the Cambridge Antique Market. I was absolutely blown away by what I found— 150 eclectic dealers and 5 floors of antiques made this quite the shopping experience. I snapped a few photos, but if you live in Boston or enjoy antiquing, you should definitely stop in. ••••

Opening Day

A very anxiously anticipated Apple store is set to open on Boylston Street this Thursday! Mac lovers will convene at 6 PM for the grand opening of the three -story glass facade building which, according to the Boston Globe, is Apple's largest retail venture in the United States.

In addition to the free t-shirts and paraphanalia distributed on Thursday night, Apple will be offering free four-week "Pro Lab" sessions and a free summer camp for kids in July. Check out a calandar of events here. ••••

Boston Branding

Northeastern University, following Boston University's lead, had decided to rebrand their image. What, you ask, why would prestigious east coast schools rebrand their image? To attract new students? Modernize? What if all the schools started doing this? Boston Magazine asked six top Boston design and advertising companies to give their shot at redesigning either the Harvard, MIT, or Boston College logo, just for fun.
Interesting work...see below.
"The designers agree that, like the school itself, Harvard's existing logo resonates with refined, storied history. However, the ornate crest is hard to reproduce in different sizes and on varied surfaces, which limits its potential as a marketing tool."
"This logo is only six years old, yet the designers feel it looks stale, particularly because of its rigid, boxy appearance. (As part of its efforts, Alphabet Arm Design interviewed alumni and was told, "MIT is a school full of nerds. The squarish logo kinda fits that mold.")
"BC has a more formal crest, but this is the logo it uses most often. The designers think it conveys aggressive athletic prowess rather than academic excellence, and describe it as "clunky" and "a varsity patch."

My own thoughts: Not crazy about any of the Harvard redesigns. I don't think anyone should mess with the Harvard logo. As far as MIT goes, I like what Arnold did, but its not very practical. I love what Verve Creative did with the BC logo; its much more elegant now. I would also suggest to use the initials " NC" instead, because Boston College is Newton, MA. (I'm kidding, just a a little Boston University fun). ••••

Prince Spaghetti Day in The North End of Boston

This old TV ad cracks me up, and its a nice shout out to Boston. ••••

An Interview with Blythe Russo

CrewDesign is pleased to bring you an interview with Blythe Russo, a Graphic Designer and Illustrator from Waltham, Massachusetts. Blythe is a good friend and a coworker of mine, whose work in the field of publishing and beyond never ceases to impress me. Enjoy reading more about Blythe, and when you're finished, you can view more of her work on her website: www.blythedesign.net

1. Who or what inspires you?
I find inspiration walking around Boston and taking photographs; flipping through design magazines; visiting galleries and museums; shopping in thrift stores and collecting vintage house wares; collaging and scrap booking; enjoying the amazing work that House Industries produces; getting turned on to new music; checking out cover designs on older albums, as well as book covers from the 50s/60s; studying decaying or distressed textures and surfaces; del.icio.us bookmarks; images posted on Ffffound and Drawn. I’m mostly a shut-in, and get a lot of joy spending time at home with my boyfriend. His constant support and dedication to his songwriting and recording keeps me focused, and our goofball cats are the source material for an animated project that’s in the works.
2. Do you have a favorite designer/artist?
Neville Brody – I’m very drawn to his design sensibility. He’s a British designer and typographer who started his career designing magazines and record covers in the early 80s. His layouts and typefaces have always been very radical and experimental. The Macromedia logo is probably his most recognizable work. I love the angles and shapes he creates with the placement of his type – lots of layered elements and bold colors.

3. What frustrates you most about design (or your biggest pet peeve)?
People with unrealistic expectations. I often look for freelance jobs on Web sites like craigslist to help build my portfolio. It’s difficult to not only find a decent job and client, but to get them to accept a reasonable quote. I learned early on not to low ball myself or get taken advantage of by people who ask for excess design changes they don’t want to pay for. I remember quoting a low $500 for a full identity package design and Web site creation a few years ago, only to hear back “Ohhh, wow … that’s MUCH higher than I anticipated. I’ve got several other designers who gave me lower prices. I will get back to you…” Total headache. The problem is that too many young professionals under price themselves, creating lower paying entry level positions which leads to a more competitive industry, but only in the negative sense of the word. Out of desperation, many designers end up devaluing the design process itself. Some clients think they shouldn’t just get professional services for under $100, but also feel that they can be overly demanding because they’re paying.

4. What is your favorite website to visit daily? Why do you like it?
I discovered The Consumerist about a year ago and visit several times a day. It’s a consumer affairs blog that posts reader-submitted tips and complaints about companies and corporations. I can stay informed, avoid scams, share my experiences, and occasionally find shopping deals and discounts. After reading that a customer found a metal machine bolt in their package of Perdue chicken breast, it boggles my mind why people choose to buy their produce at Wal-Mart. Yeck.
5. If you could design or redesign anything, what would it be?
The streets of Boston – traveling in town makes me crazy mad sometimes. The roads are all a giant mess of one-way loops, the Mass turnpike’s city exits get backed up for miles, and the commuter subway has the most inefficient, outdated system imaginable. I appreciate the colonial history of the city, but the street layout causes so much traffic everyday. It would be ideal to have Tokyo’s lightning fast on-time train systems combined with Chicago’s easy exit highways.

Also, I really like supermarket shopping – I think it would be interesting to redesign the layout and interior of one to see how it affects shoppers’ behavior.

6. What's the strangest request you've received from a client?
I’ve had a few bad experiences with clients that either ask for too many adjustments, or have no idea what they want from the beginning. The most annoying experience I had was with this woman who found me through craigslist. We signed a contract and I agreed to redesign a logo for her husband’s wedding photography business. She went on and on about how amazingly creative his vision was ... however the only proof of his supposed design brilliance was a desperately ugly black & white 8-ball (made up of two circles) with his initials in the middle. Again, this wasn’t for a pool-hall, it was a wedding photography business. Not a promising start.

Anyway, the visionary’s wife was disappointed with my initial designs, claiming that they “look like every other wedding logo out there – he wants something that stands out!” She even had the nerve to suggest that my work “couldn’t possibly have taken me as long as I had billed her for.” The fonts I used were “very typical and boring,” and my mock-ups were not far off from her husband’s existing logo. On top of that, it turned out that the logo redesign was to be a surprise birthday gift for her husband The Genius… so my instructions were based on what she thought he’d like!

I agreed to call her husband to discuss his ‘vision.’ I remember the night I had planned to, I got in from work late and decided to shoot him an email explaining so and that I’d be able to chat tomorrow. He wrote back, “Hehe … party girl!” Gross – I don’t even know this man! Amazingly, he was just as vague and directionless as his wife. He was sure to mention how accomplished he was in Photoshop, and how impressed he was by his own lame 8-ball. I agreed that it was ‘unique’ and served a purpose (certainly not a positive purpose), but he couldn’t seem to grasp that an 8-ball had nothing to do with weddings. Instead, he agreed with his wife - my logos were too cliché and ordinary. And goody for me, he had designed more 8-ball logo variations that night, which he proposed I modify free of charge since his wife had already paid for my first round of ‘unusable’ mock-ups. It was obvious that no matter what I designed, this guy would be unhappy if it was too similar to his logo, and disappointed if it was too different. To avoid further hassle, I emailed his wife to say that I would not be able to help. Luckily we had a contract, and she paid the kill fee built into it. Always have a contract!

Unfortunately this guy has repeatedly sent me friend requests on Facebook and his mini-feeds fill up my home page. I’m sure he’ll find this post at some point, but for the sake of comedy and to top off a lengthy story, I have to post this image. Douche chills.
7. Favorite font?
Futura – and any sleek/thin font like Avant Garde

8. Do you have any advice for people just entering the profession?
Purchase this book: Pricing & Ethical Guidelines. Published by the Graphic Artists Guild, this is an essential reference book for people in the design and illustration field. It definitely helped me start my freelancing business. I love that it has standard invoice, contract and legal letter templates in the back that anyone can use with their clients. Most importantly, never sell yourself short - don’t underestimate the value and quality of your services. And always use contracts, no matter what the job is!
9. If you were to change professions, what would you choose to do?
A musician. I love to sing and want to get back into playing guitar.

10. Tell us three things about yourself that no one else knows.
I’m pretty open and share everything with my partner. I’ve wracked my brain and anything personal I’m keeping to myself. Sorry Crew!
Oh wait … I heart 8-balls.

[If you, or someone you know, would like to be a featured artist on CrewDesign, email us at thecrewdesign@gmail.com] ••••

Found in Boston: Brownstone Typography

Welcome to the first in a series of weekly CrewDesign posts. Each Wednesday a different blog contributor will post something art or design related about the city they call home— a show and tell of sorts! This week I am kicking it off with a Flickr set of Brownstone Typography (and other miscellaneous findings). Nothing quite says Boston to me like our iconic brownstones, and the type on each building is just as quaint, charming, and classic as the city itself. So beginning at 00 Marlborough Street, enjoy some local typographic flavor (and a few other architectural features, too– I loved stumbling across someone's iron pet dog). ••••

Bookbuilders of Boston

On Wednesday, BookBuilders of Boston presents the Annual New England book show— and this is an exciting day for me, because for the first time my work will be featured! I am a designer for Pearson Custom Publishing, where I make customized higher-ed book covers for specific college. The two covers that made the cut are below— one on the subject of Abnormal Psychology, and the other on Principles of Transportation Economics. All the winners will be on exhibit at the Fairmont Copley Plaza on April 9th and open to the public between 11-2. (Paid attendance then begins at 5:30). They also give away free (well-designed!) hard-cover books of all the winning entries to anyone who drops by and inquires. So if you work downtown or can take a long mid-week lunch break, come by and check out the show.

How do you like your sports advertisements?

With less than three weeks to go, Boston is in the grips of Marathon Fever yet again— and the advertisements throughout the city prove it. I'm not running the marathon, but I do love distance running at this time of year, mainly because the weather is gorgeous and the yearly Adidas poster campaign keeps me motivated every time I go past an inspirational billboard. Unfortunately, my camera was out of battery when I tried to take a photo in the Copley subway station this morning, but these ads from previous years give you the idea: every one has an image and a corresponding "Reason to Run" scribbled upon a marathon bib. Somewhat generic format? Maybe... but I need to say, it is still one of my favorite running campaigns. The best I saw today read: "The crowd screams louder than my legs."

Now, on the flip side you have last year's Reebok running campaign. The tag line, "Run Easy," took a very different approach, and I'm just going to come out and say it: I hated it. Design wise, maybe the distressed type was more interesting than the Adidas approach, but I don't think it is a smart move for any serious sports company to take this route. The middle ad above specifically targets Nike's "Just Do It" tag, beloved by runners everywhere. Does Reebok really want to set themselves apart by being the choice for the non-competitive athlete? I'm not particularly fast or competitive, but even I was turned off by this! However, I know many people liked the ads, and I can see why— not everyone wants to kill themselves for a sport, and this is more welcoming to the casual athlete. But at the same time there is something amazing about what competitive marathoners do that certainly wins my respect, and I don't like seeing Reebok downplay that. How do you feel about this semi-controversial campaign?

Boston Exhibits: Pepper and Robert Klein Galleries

Nearly hidden away amongst some of Boston's loveliest shopping destinations are two of my favorite gallery spaces: the Pepper Gallery and the Robert Klein Gallery, both located on the fourth floor of 38 Newbury Street. This month, they are host to two terrific shows. Above is the work of BU professor and beyond talented painter Harold Reddicliffe, whose meticulous compositions of everyday objects are hung in the Pepper Gallery until May 3rd. His color choices and rendering are completely spot-on. Overheard at the opening– "I just want to lick it." Which sounds odd, sure, but if you have the opportunity to check out the show I think you will agree: these paintings are decidedly tasty.

And right across the way in the Robert Klein gallery, you can find the photographs of Larry Fink (up until June 2nd). His work really captures the drama sometimes found within everyday moments. Above: Pat Sabatine's Eighth Birthday Party. Below: George Plimpston, Jared Paul Stern, and Cameron Richardson, Elain's, NYC.

British Prints at the MFA, Boston

I went to the MFA last weekend because word on the street was that there's a printmaking show there. Obviously I needed to go. Rhythms Of Modern Life, British Prints: 1914-1939 exhibits the impact of Futurism and Cubism on British modernist printmaking. From the beginning of WWI to the beginning of WWII, the first inherently abstract British art movement of the 20th century arose; Vorticism. I never thought I would say the words "wow, look at that linocut!"...I am a printmaking snob, openly...but these linocuts were amazing. Dynamic, colorful, textural, these little gems really surprised me. Below are two Lill Tschudi linocuts. For the print on the left, she used the underside of the linoleum block to provide a tweed-like texture to the clothing. Oh, hey Genius.Also exhibited are some incredible drypoint etchings by C.R.W Nevinson (right, below) and woodcuts by Edward Wadsworth (left). Their take on bleak, industrial subject matter is graceful and clean.If you have the chance, go check it out!

HOW Design Conference in Boston

If you subscribe to Print or HOW, you've likely already found this Boston themed poster in both magazines this month- a promotional piece for the HOW Design Conference, which will take place in my city this year from May 18-21. I truly wish I had the the necessary funds to attend this event (the tickets are- no word of a lie- $995. At their Early Bird Price). But if you are a wealthy designer (do those exist?), or if your company is willing to foot the bill, this conference would be pretty amazing: there are dozens of noteworthy speakers, workshops, portfolio reviews, and yes, invaluable "networking" opportunities. Link here to a full schedule. For now, I think I'll just enjoy their free poster of fun Boston references, hanging in my cube. Wicked.

And FYI, the poster was made by Stoltze Design, who apparently also created the identity for TypeCon 2006, Boston T Party, which I admired at the time (and still do).

CraftBoston 2008

Yesterday in South Station I happened to see a poster for CraftBoston 2008, and after some research today I discovered that 175 Contemporary Craft Artists will be descending upon the Seaport World Trade Center from Friday the 28th-Sunday the 30th for the event. I checked out some of the vendors on the website, and it looks as though there are a few gems (mostly in the jewelry department- no pun intended), but many booths seemed a bit new-agey for my taste. But decide for yourself! If you are in the market for some handcrafted work (and don't mind dishing out the $15 admission to browse) the time is ripe. I really am into that flower ring...