Photo: Sabrien Amrov. Hundreds gather in downtown Montreal in solidarity with Gaza.

Sabrien Amrov’s photo essay here, and much more vital information on the Tadamon website.

Hel Grotesk Gothiq is featured in the second edition of Judith Schalansky’s ‘Bible of Blackletter’ Fraktur Mon Amour. Check out Armin’s review over at Speak Up! Congratulations and thanks Judith, it’s a beautiful book!

UPDATE 26/12/08: …it’s a beautiful book, which I now OWN! Thanks baby!!!

Festival TransAmériques Website

Yes, I have a day job… and at times, it’s a drag. The day to day grind to make a buck takes its toll on everyone I suppose, but I think I have a severe, innate aversion to the 9-5 (or 10-7). Yet sometimes, as was the case at last week’s Boomerang awards, that feeling subsides for a bit and I’ll step out to appreciate the rewards and recognition from my peers in the industry. I had the honour of being awarded two grand prizes for two very different websites I art directed/designed over the last year. The team behind both these projects, from IA to integration, gave a superhuman effort, so I think a little ego-stroking is in order…

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A typographic sketch I made for Issue 10 that never made it through the final cut. I still really like the idea behind the typeface and if anyone is interested in expanding the design into a full family, please let me know. I would give it a try myself, but can’t find the time right now. Any takers?

And now for something completely different…
It’s certainly not my habit to post sports news on this site, but hey, this is a blog, right? On that note, I want to give serious props to my former colleagues at Bluesponge for launching what I have to say is THE most amazing website out there for any hockey fan. Beautifully designed with engaging interactivity and extremely rich in content, this site is in a class of its own. Congratulations guys, I only wish I had been a part of it…

Check out Our History: The Historical Website of the Montreal Canadiens. Try and watch the footage of Saku’s return after a year of battling non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and the nine-minute ovation, without tears coming to your eyes… wow…

you,
dressed in a formica yellow flower-print skirt
dark eye’d long leg’d, sweet lip’d,
took a pull from the bottle and
blew a line of smoke into the sky,
laughing “fuck them!”
(it didn’t really matter who)
and I fell into it then…

The tenth issue of Four Minutes to Midnight explores the idea of radical beauty (a theme inspired from this year’s Memefest) interpreted through the words and images of over 30 artists. Our ‘anniversary’ issue is the thickest (and prettiest) one yet, clocking in at a tidy 180 pages.

Some of my personal favorites among the diverse work featured in the issue include a selection of poetry from American ‘outsider’ poet F.A. Nettelbeck, two collaborations between myself and Montreal photographer Dita Kubin, a series of beautiful, seductive portraits painted by Kevin Ledo, and the surreal illustrations from my former student Ilinca Balaban.

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WOW! what a weekend… I’ve been participating in Expozine for the last 4 years and I honestly think that this year was the best one yet. The atmosphere was really great, and though the place was packed, it seemed easier to circulate and socialise than previous years. We did really well at our tables and met a ton of great, creative, friendly people.

Before I give props to our awesome corner, I think it’s important to give due credit to the crew of Archive Montreal (both past and present) who have worked so hard to make it all happen over the last seven years (for what I’m sure has been little monetary reward). Their personalities and energy imbue this festival with such an open, supportive and progressive community spirit that will keep it from ever becoming a snooty, trendy, book fair. Expozine really is by the people, for the people in the best possible way. So, to Billy, Dave, MC, Louis, Andy and all the other volunteers that I’m unaware of, a heartfelt thank you. You represent exactly why I love Montreal.

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