I recently designed and launched a new website for ZIGZAG Marketing and am working on developing new collateral materials for them. On the flip side, I also just completed designs for new tour shirts for Michael Bolton and also The Funk Brothers. Never heard of these guys? The Funk Brothers are the Motown band behind *all* the Motown hits...they are greatest hit machine in the history of popular music. The 2002 film Standing in the Shadow of Motown is thier story. Amazingly, they have recorded more hit records than the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones and Elvis Presley combined yet remain relatively unknown to most people!

I recently designed and launched new websites for Parkey Organbuilders...makers of very fine pipe organs — very interesting stuff! www.parkeyorgans.com and for a special Israel Chamber Orchestra event www.theforceofmusic.com

I'm currently working on the design of Moanin' Michelle Malone's upcoming new CD release. It's gritty, roots-rockin' at it's southern best. If you've never heard her, you're really missing out on something very special. Visit her at www.michellemalone.com

There was an interesting piece in the AJC (Sunday, July 24) on the future of album art. "Who cares about covers?" You know what? I DO!

Is album cover art really a dying art form? Many think seem to think so and it will surely be a great loss. Album covers are works of art... evidenced today by the proliferation of pre-fab picture frames for those coveted LP covers. The legacy of the album cover art is so enduring that it has been anthologized in books. (Phonographics, Brad Benedict & Linda Barton, 1000 Record Covers, Michael Ochs). While cover art took a huge blow when cds replaced vinyl, it recovered, somewhat, and evolved into the CD packaging we see today. There is even a Grammy award for cover art & packaging.

Think about what we're losing... the covers, ...Andy Warhol's banana ("The Velvet Underground & Nico"), Nirvana's swimming baby ("Nevermind") the Pink Floyd prism ("Dark Side of the Moon"), The Rolling Stones wonderfully controversial and distasteful covers ("Let it Bleed," Sticky Fingers," and "Made in the Shade"). The Beatles included graphic design in their album conceptions as early as "Revolver," and with "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" they set a new standard that is still alive today...but threatened in the age of digital downloads where album packaging is disposable to many.

I grew up listening to the music of the 60's and 70s and was enthralled with the wonderful covers by artists such as Andy Warhol, Roger Dean, Storm Thorgerson, Reid Miles, etc. I feel very fortunate that I have had the chance to design CD covers for many artists (Michelle Malone, Caroline Aiken, Alix Olson, Reversing Hour, Terri Binion, Doria Roberts, Lift, etc.) and I hope that this art form survives and evolves for generations of artists and fans to come.

Friday, June 24, 2005

Working with my friends at mPRessions, I recently designed and launched the new website for Atlantic Station^®. Atlantic Station^® in Atlanta is set to become one of the city's premier live-work-play communities. A massive renovation has been undertaken on the former Atlantic Steel site, and what was once an industrial eyesore is now a completely transformed, "city within a city." The community was designed to improve the area’s water resources and regional air quality and to serve as a model for environmental sustainability and smart growth. Aside from all the info you would expect to find, the website also offers a lot of interesting "factoids" about Atlanta and the environment. Still to come are a comprehensive History/Timeline of the site and its development plus an interactive tour of the property.

Monday, June 13, 2005

The DVD "LEFT LANE — on the road with folk poet alix olson" (by Samantha Farinella) for which I designed the packaging and menus was recently awarded 2005 "Audience Award, Best Feature" at Newfest, the NYC Gay & Lesbian Film Festival! Congratulations to Alix and Sam.

A year in the making, LEFT LANE chronicles life on the road with Alix and her road manager/filmmaker Samantha Farinella as they tour the country connecting the dots from a high school visit in Lincoln, Nebraska to a cd release party in New York City. It's really a wonderful film. "She is a road poet who comes in person to offer her vision so different than the conformist messages that bombard us from the mass media" (Inside Out in the Hudson Valley). "(Left Lane) takes you on the road with fun, funky, and fiery Alix the Great: irresistible force... she may just infect you with optimism... Olson is running at full velocity" (The Advocate, May 24, 2005). "a candid look at a woman rake(ing) issues of race, class, gender, and sexuality through the coals is definitely inspiring" (Velvet Park Magazine).

The film is scheduled for screenings at Festivals across the country this summer and fall and can also be purchased online. www.alixolson.com

Friday, June 10, 2005

The Jig is Up...Working with my buddies Jonny D. and Casey Compton at Windburn Productions, I recently designed new tour shirts for legendary classic rockers Styx. Did you know they were the first band to have 4 consecutive triple platinum albums?. They have a new album of covers out called "Big Bang Theory" and these guys are still out there touring. styxworld.com

We've also recently designed & produced shirts for The Outlaws and REO Speedwagon.

Tuesday, May 17, 2005

Getting it together...Many of you know how I am focused on keeping my studio small and that I resist expanding so that I can continue to provide personal attention to each and every project and client. With a full client roster and an even fuller schedule, things can feel very overwhelming around here trying to keep up with it all. After 12 nose-to-the-grindstone years it occurred to me maybe there is a better way...Back in March I began working with a professional organizer, Sara Fisher. She has helped me tremendously and I highly recommend her services to everyone. She offers a free consultation with you to determine how she can specifically help you.

Sara Fisher, Organizing Consultant, 678-576-0266, Sara@A-Simple-Space.com
Member of National Association of Professional Organizers