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Well, the season is upon us. And within this, the Citadel of Hockey, the Fury of Discursive Intercourse rages Forth!
As a favour for a good friend, I created this branding identity. Whether you worship at the Altar of the Blessed Blue Leaf; or, completely despise the Maple ‘Losers’ (Habs fan!); or, yet, have complete indifference (the only team of the Original Six, not to win the Cup in over 40yrs), there’s no getting around the Passion in Hogtown.
The best part of course, in creating this mark, was puttting the torch to the Leafs! Go!
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Way back in early 1990 something or other, I had the great privilege to work, in tandem with Kenn Waplington from Waplington, Forty, McGall, on the re-design of the Hockey Hall of Fame identity.
Originally the logomark had used a flame and torch. In no uncertain terms our creative brief mentioned NOT using flames; torches; hockey players (which would discriminate against goalies) or goalies (vica versa); hockey sticks (which would discriminate against goalie hockey sticks) missing teeth, etc.
Working through as many explorations with what was left, the majority of the work was subsequently rejected and then the idea of using the Stanley Cup came up, the Holy Grail of Hockey. It was pointed out naturally, that the cup, though the esteemed prize it is (and frankly the most aesthetically pleasing looking sports trophy in the world, bar none!) was not all there was to Hockey.
The above chosen solution was later finalized with an utterly superb scratchboard illustration of the Cup created by Damian Glass.
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Some time later, I found myself outside the Hall of Fame itself, gasping at the (unbeknownst to me) final FINAL logo, a mishmash of our earlier ideas, yet incorporating elements that were ruled out from the beginning – round and round it goes. I never did bother to find out who had created it, though I can understand their probable frustrations.
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And since no one has asked me, here’s my solution to the current dilemmas of the present logo, resolved below. Just think of all the new merchandizing …
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A working class hero is something to be.
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Ambigram created for the embattered yet confident President. No matter the twists and turns of Fate, the Obamagram will always land upright.
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Hot off the iMac, the memories are now finished, sizzling. Vol. II : Exile off Yonge Street soon to follow, hopefully.
Celebrating a twenty-fifth anniversary – wow, what did I do with that time? Putting this website together has reminded me, and reminded me of what‘s truly important. Thanks to everyone!
What a long and truly strange, co-incidental, synchronistic journey this has been these last six months. From equinox to equinox. How’s that for unintended symmetry.
So, this site represents my best culled from 25 years of artistic insanity. The only obvious things missing: that daily battle with them ‘black jaws’; that not-so-small lake of tears one has to cross to reach a new shore; and all those innummerable tricks of trickster gods leading one on a most unlikely trail of ‘breadcrumbs‘. Night of apophis ends, now breaking to dawn. It was a real act of love under will. Where does it all go?
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That then takes care of the book jacket, now – to write it!
Opening line, finally, finalized, at least:
It all began with a Karaoke.
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Please forward all gifts of silver (and/or gold) to: Save the Artist Foundation. We thank you. A talent is a terrible thing to waste.
Contact us here for further details.
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Heartfelt wishes for the people of Japan in these their tragic, challenging times.
Peace, blessings.
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To anyone who has seen Akira Kurosawa’s beautiful, magical film Dreams, the coincindences are unsettling. Along with the surreal episode featuring Martin Scorsese as Vincent van Gogh, the film is wonderfully bracketed by opening and closing processional dreams – the ending, hopeful and complete.
The haunting, closing music by Ippolitov–Ivanov, “In the Village” from his Caucasian Sketches, is reminiscent of Andrei Tarkovsky’s films.
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Masthead created for James Bradley’s much “trafficked” blog about one-term President Martin Van Buren.
From the blog:
“Van Buren was not a great man, but he was an important one. He is also an endlessly fascinating personality, a true political giant of his era, and he has accomplishments to speak of.”
“There has been a bizarre movement in recent years from the right-wing libertarian fringe to declare him a great president, but these people are wildly off the mark. I have great affection for the Little Magician, but he doesn’t merit a place on Mount Rushmore.”
James is owner of Sound Fix Records, and samples of creative work for the independent record store may be viewed here. James also has a new cd beauclerk out, you can order it here. If for no other reason, buy it for the fabulous artwork!
As an emerging artist, the Village Voice profiles James here. A good read.
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From beloved Saint Amadeus’ Die Zauberflöte. Here’s a more recent, hellacious ‘live’ version performed by Erika Miklosa. Wow. One comment mentions she could EAT YOUR SOUL, indeed! Those high Cs should tickle your kundalini.
Overture from same, from Ingmar Bergman’s joyful 1975 film production, a classic.
Is that Julian Assange at 1:34? Mostly likely not.
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“What if we’re soulmates, I thought while she sobbed. What if we’re the ones we’ve been looking for our whole life long. We’ve touched and we’ve shared this quick taste of what love on earth can be, and now, because of my fears, are we going to separate and never meet again? Will I go on the rest of my days looking for the one I’ve already found, and was too frightened to love?”
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“A soulmate is someone who has the locks that fit our keys, and keys to fit our locks. When we feel safe enough to open the locks, our truest selves step our and we can be completely and honestly who we are: we can be loved for who we are and not for who we’re pretending to be. Each unveils the best part of the other. No matter what else goes wrong around us, with that one person we’re safe in our own paradise. Our soulmate is someone who shares our deepest longings, our sense of direction. When we’re two balloons and together our direction is up, chances are we’ve found the right person. Our soulmate is the one who makes life come to life.” – Leslie Parrish-Bach
Excepts for Richard Bach’s The Bridge Across Forever
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“Eros, in the Socratic logos, can be defined as the longing for wholeness or completeness, a daemon whose aim is to reach wisdom…” Except from Wikipaedia article – Eros (concept)
Ambigram created as a gift. May all who seek, find!
Contact me here for a high resolution jpeg of this poster.
