The People’s Printshop

Jon Hall, one our creative directors, put together a great post on some amazing Mexican artwork on display at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Thanks Jon! Enjoy.

I recently went to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and visited their new (and somewhat controversial) Latin American art exhibit. One element of the exhibit shows a number of works from what was called the Taller de Gráfica Popular (The People’s Printshop), also known as TGP.

Formed in 1937, TGP was a collective of artists in Mexico City. I was greatly moved by art by TGP. It made me see how a group of people, rallied around a cause of hope, truth and social justice, can leverage art to make a difference, especially for those with no voice.

There were a few things that were revolutionary about these guys.

1. Their Purpose
The founders were accomplished artists, rallied together and leveraging art to speak out against the oppression and exploitation of the poor in post-revolutionary Mexico.

2. Their Method
They used linoleum wood block to create works of art. After carving it, they would ink it and make multiple prints onto paper. This allowed them to cheaply and quickly get their art out to the masses. As a result, their message, through art, got into the hands of both the oppressed and the influencers, the poor and the wealthy, with equal effectiveness. Their art is considered didactic, sociopolitical art. It was purposeful and carried an important message. And since it was usually art and imagery, the message could be carried to any audience, illiterate or not (illiteracy was a real issue in 1930’s Mexico).

3. Their Inclusivity
Art, as well as many artists, tend to be an exclusive bunch. They stick to their own. TGP busted down these barriers, getting their message through art into the hands of a diverse audience. More than that, they were radically inclusive within their collective, including artists of all ethnic, cultural and economic status. 

A group of people rallied around a single cause. Their vehicle was simple, effective, and radically inclusive of people of all types, centered on helping those less fortunate. Kinda sounds like the early church to me. No wonder TGP was so effective. This also made me realize the power art and design can have, particularly for delivering a message of importance. Even more, the power of art through a collective, a group of people rallied around a common cause. 

Check out the exhibit at the LACMA website »

These are some hot shirts

You have put up with our art for the past couple months, now you can put up with some shirts. We are very excited to offer the first 3 shirts inspired by Not Art. Gospel. These aren’t your run of the mill shirts though, they are custom all the way. The prayer shirt has white printing and the line illustration is stitched in. The skull shirt has red printed eyes and a white vinyl skull. And last but not least is the wolf/sheep, that is a felt-like material made to feel like wool.

Eminence Clothing is selling the shirts for us, and they have been a blessing helping us set them up and giving us a great price. We are also happy to announce that all profits will be going to lifewater.org. God has blessed us with this project, and we hope that it can help others in need.

Go to the store, buy a shirt, and help spread the gospel.

Ministry Branding 101

As designers, Corey and I do a lot of work, both corporate and ministry, creating and maintaing brands. When creating a brand in the corporate world the process typically jumps to answering these three questions:

1. Who are you?
2. What are your gifts and talents?
3. What makes you unique and different?

Though answering these questions for a company can get the ball rolling, we’ve found that in a ministry setting it’s critical to first answer the questions, “What’s the point?” or “Why are you doing this?”. If a church or ministry can have a clear idea of why they are doing what they do, they’ll begin to discover the unique story that is theirs, and theirs alone.

It’s this story that is the brand.

Video Game Friday

OK, this game is a personal favorite of mine. Vector Runner just plain rocks. It couldn’t be any more simple or more addicting. Notice the challenges at the bottom, if you get the “Tunnel Vision Badge” take a screen shot and I will send you a small gift. This offer is only good for one week, and NO CHEATING!!!!

This website is on drugs.

This website is amazing on all levels. First, the design. Clean, dark, and to the point. The music matches the emotion of each drug. Next, the navigation. You must follow the path, but depending on your drug it gets hard. Last, the message. The site simulates the effects, and makes you want to read the text, because the longer you wait the harder it is to read.

I love seeing stuff like this. It breaks all the norms and pushes me to communicate better. Go to the site and spend the time to get to the end.

HT: Sell Sell

See the Kernal from Space

I just saw the today on the Serif. I guess it has been around for some time, I am slow at picking up on things. But if you are like me enjoy.

View Larger Map

I love this! Take a logo, make it gigantic, and make people check it out on google earth. Long live KFC.

Creepy Christian Music

I know this video has been around for the past couple weeks, but I had to post just in case you have not seen it. Get ready for some amazing Rock n’ Roll.

Not Art. Complete Set

Wow, we finally did it! For the past couple months God has blessed Kyle, Claire and I with this project. To be able to use our gifts to help communicate and spread the gospel through art is a true blessing. This project started as a way to point Christians and Non-Christians to the Sermon on the Mount using art as the discussion point. We didn’t want to just create art, but we wanted to share the gospel. Here is the complete list of posters, there are 20 in total. Feel free to ask for the files, share the art, and start conversations that will lead to our Lord.

CLICK ART FOR LARGER IMAGE.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD ALL THE HI-RES ART FROM OUR FLICKR GROUP.
All I ask is that you don’t change the art, or re-sale them.

Video Game Friday

The conventions are over, and the gloves are off. In this game you choose to be Barack Obama or John McCain, you build your campaign team, and battle to the death. Oh yeah, let the politics begin!

The Apartment Church

What do we do when a city become overpopulated, gas prices become so high no one will drive, and people feel distant from the idea of church. Well, one idea is brilliant, have church where people live.

In the greater Phoenix area Louis Spears is the church planting specialist for Vally Rim Association. He has thought of a creative way to tackle all the questions above. Louis partnered with an apartment complex to serve the tenants and build a sense of community. He provides free breakfast in the morning and uses that time to get to know and invite people to worship with them.

The concept is great. Louis works through an organization named Apartment Life, an outgrowth of Mission Arlington in Texas, to place teams in apartments to build a sense of community. The CARES Team, as they are known, consists of a married couple, family, or two single adults who move into a complex and work with management to assist them in building community and serving residents. The teams receive a free apartment and commit about 10 hours a week per team member to the community.

As unpaid staff they welcome new residents, plan social functions, and care for residents in times of need. And in the process they uncover spiritual needs that can be met by being involved in a Christian fellowship within the housing complex.

This is what Louis has to say. “I’m trying to help people see the value of saving gas and staying closer to home and getting to know their neighbors. And as they begin to slow down and get to know their community a little better, we plan to be there to share the gospel and invite them to church just a few steps from where they live.”

Read the full article here.

HT: Justin & Rebekah