I’ll be moderating an important panel discussion tomorrow evening on art and activism featuring artist/activists Coco Riot, Freda Guttman, Malcolm Guy, and Vincent Tinguely. After the panel presentations, we’ll open up the event to a general discussion amongst all participants, to hopefully start generating some ideas for action.

As the conservative agenda increases pressures upon artists and activists economically, politically, and ideologically, I feel it is becoming imperative that we organise together in resistance to it. I’d like to think of this event as a small first step in this direction (and as a continuation of the opening up of critical cultural space that we, as Howl! Arts, are trying to facilitate). The positive response we’ve received since announcing the event is very encouraging, and we’re sure this is just the beginning, the first event of many to come.

More info and RSVP on the Facebook event page.

Poster designed by Nazik of Howl! Arts

A year ago yesterday, the great american poet F.A. Nettelbeck passed away. You’re in my thoughts brother…

Eric Drooker for Artist Against Apartheid (Montreal) from Trust&Co on Vimeo.

I’m very excited to showcase this short film of Eric Drooker‘s performance at Artists Against Apartheid 17 last October in Montreal. As part of the Howl! Arts collective, I helped to organise the event, which I’d like to think was one of the highlights of the year for those interested in art and activism in this city.

The video is produced by Trust & Co., a new venture I am starting up with film maker/interactive producer (and all round amazing person) Isabella Salas. It marks our first project together!

I also conducted a short interview with Eric, where he speaks about the importance of artists using the streets as a canvas to express ideas. It can be seen on the Howl! Arts website here.

In the context of Patrice Loubier’s “furtive practices” residency at Skol, I designed the door-front signage for the gallery. Skol will be hosting Artivistic’s exhibition in March (some teaser images to come soon), so I was happy to help out and get a chance to test the detail of their vinyl lettering. Yum!

ink&paper from Ben Proudfoot on Vimeo.

A beautiful mini-documentary directed by Ben Proudfoot about the last letterpress and paper shops in Los Angeles. I really appreciate how the precarious situation of these traditional crafts is highlighted, counterpointed by the interviewees obvious love for them. If you’re in Los Angeles, please support these stores!

Some musical inspirartion for the new year from Lupe Fiasco.

The above photograph, taken just prior to Eric Drooker’s performance at the mighty Sala Rossa, does a pretty good job of summarising my feelings on the year that’s been, and my outlook for the one to come. The anticipation of an empty stage, the co-mingling of art, music and politics, and that damn nagging fear that people won’t show up, no matter how much work you put into something. In the end, that night was a beautiful night, but also a striking reminder of how much work still needs to be done.

2011 was an eventful, tumultuous year, personally, professionally, and obviously in the world all around us, filled with equal parts inspiration and tragedy. It was a year of transition for me, from full-time work to self-employment, from the world of corporate advertising and design to a renewed commitment to art and activism, from a long, grey heartbreak to finally feeling good about myself again, from Montréal to Europe (Berlin, how I miss you…) and back again.

Over the course of the year, I completed many design projects of which I am genuinely proud (e.g. see Cinema Politica, Comme des machines, Vox Versus, Bloom, and Cosmodome). With the Howl! Arts Collective, I helped to bring challenging new music to the community, putting on a series of concerts that I hope will become an integral part of the fabric of the independent arts scene here in Montreal for years to come.

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An early Christmas present from Barcelona-based design studio Atipus! They’re offering a free download of Blanch, a beautiful modular typeface that balances 50s modernism with a unique contemporary flair. Blanch was designed for the striking visual identity of organic fruit business Fruita Blanch, which you can check out here.

Thanks guys, I’m looking forward to using Blanch in future projects. Download the Blanch font family here.

Found via David Airey.

UPDATE: Blanch has just been released by the amazing Lost Type Co-op, which features a slew of stylish pay-what-you-can typefaces.

Vision Diversité came to us looking for a visual design for their musical project Arometis that would embody the diversity of the 17 Montreal musicians and composers that collaborated on the album.

Looking to move away from the stereotypes and clichés of the world music genre, we used scans of old wood type lettering, ink splatters and a unique colour palette to reflect the vibrancy of the music, paired with restrained and nuanced supporting typography. The art direction of the CD packaging has been extended across all platforms, giving a cohesive identity to this unique project that weaves musical styles, and musicians, together.

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