Sink or Swim

In order for there to be a "booming" economy there needs to be an unproductive economy. There has to be a balance in everything, and the stock market is no exception. Some times we do not make sense. When things are great we hold fast, when things are poor we want to sell. The stock market was never meant to perform like that, but just the opposite.

What I really want to touch on is the idea of sink or swim. Hopefully we have learned that financials will never be predictable nor always giving, because they are driven by human beings. The trick is to settle with the nonproductive as well as the non-devastating. Times can be just as challenging when life is simply idle. What I hope that we do during these times of neither sinking nor swimming, is think and prepare. Lets take this unproductive time as a gift of preparation.

Tonight!

Alright, tonight is the night. I love that we get a chance to "start over." Imagine if there was never a break. Whether it is a physical divider or simply metaphorical, it is nice to wipe the slate clean. This past year has been tough, especially for those of us here in Michigan. I think as the clock strikes midnight tonight, we need to all invest in the same resolution. We need to trust one another and ease up on survival mode. We will not improve if we only look out for ourselves. I believe everyone is beginning to work together now, and that is the only cure for the country's illness. Happy New Year to all who stop by. See you in 2009!!

On the Right Street

"We cannot have a thriving Wall Street without a thriving Main Street."
-Obama

We are all connected. When one falls.. all falls. This means it takes all of us to pick this country back up again. Please support your local businesses when shopping this Christmas.

Holiday Budget

I thought I would post some ideas on how to be creative during the holiday season. Even though your holiday budget may be tight, there are other ways of giving a priceless gift without overextending your wallet. Photo gifts are always a fantastic gift. Special photos are to be cherished, and have value aside from currency. A nice site to visit is Snapfish for this sort of gift. What else is great about this site is that you can upload your digital photos, create the gift online and have it shipped to you or the receiver in mind. The site even has a section dedicated to gifts under $20 to assist with holiday budgeting.

Another great economically modest gift is creating a cool mouse pad for someone. I am always on the search for unique mouse pads, and I don't know if you noticed but mouse pads can get expensive! For a fancier sort of craft you can visit this site. However, the drawback for this creation is you will need to be a bit computer and image savvy. So, for a more hands-on experience you can also follow these instructions. A mouse-pad is also something that someone will put to use and keep for an extended period of time. I have posted a photo of a creative pad for inspiration.



These are just a couple of ideas. You can browse online for more. Here is a site that offers some more creative ideas on making gifts. Remember if you do not feel comfortable solely giving hand-made gifts you can combine them with less expensive purchased gifts to raise the value of your overall offering. Good luck and happy holidays!!

Longing for Art

I have been so wrapped up in pushing my graphic and web design career forward that I have neglected my fine art. My friend, and one of my mentors, Anne Mondro has joined a new gallery in Chicago. The gallery, American Contemporary Gallery, hosts a handful of very talented and diverse artists. As I was browsing the artists and their work I stumbled upon these pieces that I have posted here.

These two paintings made me still. That is what happens when I encounter a piece of art that speaks to me - everything becomes still and for a moment I seem to understand it "all." Art, like these two paintings, whisper the secrets of life. They whisper things about connection and order. How amongst the day to day randomness there is a design that we can neither control or understand. These two pieces are very inspirational to me and they resonate to my inner artist and humanness.

Flash Exhibit

Gallery Project presents Flash, an exhibition of original graphic art of tattoo culture worldwide. What used to be reserved for warriors, carnival performers, and other people on the fringe of society, tattoos now adorn us all. Their decoration guides their wearers into life's chaos and helps to define their individuality in the face of its conformity. The images are chosen talismans that protect, evoke memories, capture emotions and express opinions. The artists responsible for these creations are unique. Their canvas is alive, ever changing and imperfect. Their canvas can feel pain, and these engravings are permanent marks on a dynamic surface. There is a unique synergy between the artist and their living canvas that leads to the creation of an artwork that is personal and unrepeatable. This sub culture of artists has founded, maintained and evolved its traditions without any mainstream support or recognition, a social network of artists, creators and collectors that has evolved outside the contemporary art context.

This sub culture of artists has founded, maintained and evolved its traditions without any mainstream support or recognition, a social network of artists, creators and collectors that has evolved outside the contemporary art context. This showing of paintings, drawings, and graphic art, reveals some of the imagery and iconography which describes this culture. Curated by Jeff Zuck, owner of Name Brand Tattoo in Ann Arbor, and Alexa Lee, former director of the Alexa Lee Gallery, these artists represent the current state of several living global tattoo traditions. The artists include: Adam Forman from LA, Mario Desa from Chicago, Chriss Dettmer from Hamburg, Jeff Zuck, Kerri Baker, Leo Zulueta, Jen Munford, Mike Aul, Ethan Zuck and Dianne Mansfield all from Ann Arbor, Mike Dorsey from Cincinnati, Bill Falsetta from Ann Arbor, Tomas Garcia from Barcelona, Adam Shrewsbury from Cleveland, and Jason June and Guy Ursitti from Fun City Tattoo in New York City. Flash is a tribute to tattoo creators and enthusiasts, and is recognition of their artistic and cultural contributions. Gallery Project is a fine art collaborative. Its mission is to provide a venue for contemporary art that is culturally aware, individualistic, courageous, and thought provoking. Gallery Project is located at 215 South Fourth Avenue in Ann Arbor. Gallery hours are: Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 9; and Sunday, noon to 4. The gallery is closed on Mondays. For more information, call 734-997-7012 or e-mail at galleryproject@gmail.com. Visit the website at thegalleryproject.com.

Halloween

The season is changing now, time to pull out the winter coat if you haven't already. A fun place to consider taking the family is Wiard's. Events include country fair, hayrides and a haunted house. We go every year. Another event I would like to promote is through an organization that Ann Arbor Designs actually does creative work for. I have posted the flyer, but it is strategic race of sorts - but on bicycles! The race, Night of the Living Tread, is a yearly occurrence with this being its third annual appearance. Check jimmyrigged.com for more details.