I’d been waiting to see my favourite band in the world, Godspeed You! Black Emperor for well over ten years. I had given up hope when the hiatus that began in 2003 seemed to spell the end of the band until they announced last spring they were reforming. I was ecstatic then, and I am ecstatic now. I finally got the opportunity to see them, not once, but twice this past week and was completely and utterly blown away.
Emilie Grenier is a close friend and collaborator; a talented, multidisciplinary artist whose work focuses on narrative, interactive experience and materiality. For her application to Central St. Martin’s Textile Futures MA, I designed a limited-edition artist’s book/portfolio showcasing her multi-faceted work.
The book consists of a long 50-page accordian fold, allowing readers to pull out and lay out sections of pages, creating their own narrative through Emilie’s work. The pages were beautifully printed by Photosynthese and expertly bound into book form by Fran Sendbuehler at No Bar Code Press. The tactile qualities of the rich inks, paper and binding make it a pleasure to hold and to fold.
And yes, of course she got in! Congrats Emi!
Many more photos after the jump.
Launch of Four Minutes to Midnight Issue 11: Happy Hour by FA Nettelbeck
with the bands Nightwood and The Lindbergh Line
with readings by Moe Clark and Vincent Tinguely
Friday, April 22nd @ Cabaret Playhouse (5656 ave. du Parc)
Doors 9PM, $8 door/$15 with a copy of the issue
“…but what more could / you expect when you’re / the last of your kind /
living amongst the / incompetent others / in the light they waste”
— F.A. Nettelbeck
Four Minutes to Midnight is proud to announce the publication of its eleventh issue. The double issue features Happy Hour, the final collection of work by American poet FA Nettelbeck (1950-2011), lavishly illustrated by Montreal-based visual artist Sophie Jodoin, and Fugue XI, an epic typographic cut-up poem edited by John W. Stuart, Kevin Lo, Hillary Rexe and Sara McCulloch.
As I was going through my archives tonight, I realised I had never properly posted about this small pamphlet we produced and distributed back in 2008. Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the new directions I want to take the magazine in (and the 2356 project generally), and this is a telling touchstone from the past to some of these ideas.
The pamphlet is a transcript of the speech delivered by cultural critic Brian Holmes at the Democracy in America exhibition, presented by Creative Time in New York in 2008. In it he compellingly argues for artists to engage with the radical opportunities presented by the financial crisis. A message as relevant today as it was then.
I first met Brian as part of the Declarations of Interdependence and the Immediacy of Design conference at Concordia University almost ten years ago. It was a heady time for me, with a lot of thinking about the relationship between design, art and activism. As a decade since then rounds out, I find myself thinking deeply about this again, and the position I’m now in to enact those ideas. So, many thanks Brian, for inspiring me in the first place, and allowing us to publish this important work!
Download Financial Crimes by Brian Holmes.
Bloom Digital Platforms is a Montreal-based online advertising technologies company. Having worked with the team before while at Cossette, I was happy to have the opportunity to develop their brand identity and website. They’re some of the smartest people I know, and who doesn’t love smart clients…
Poster design in collaboration with Kirsten McCrea
Four Minutes to Midnight is excited to co-present the second Howl! concert, featuring saxophonist Jason Sharp, harp duet Sarah Pagé and Robin Best, and a quartet lead by Nick Kuepfer. The Howl! concert series highlights and celebrates Montreal’s fiercely independent arts communities and the strong ties they share with social justice struggles here and abroad.
The concert takes place next Thursday, March 24th, at the beautiful Sala Rossa, advanced tickets are only 5 bucks and available at the usual fine record stores/venues.
More information on the facebook event page.
UPDATE: Stefan talks with Vince about the musicians and ideas behind the Howl! concert series on CKUT.
I designed this typographic poster at the request of my good friend Sarah Boris, for SoUp (East London) and Joiners Arms “Make Soup Not War” exhibition/event at Cordy House. Given the theme, I was inspired by the revolutions happening in North Africa and the Middle East and decided to pay tribute with this design.
I’d been looking for an occasion to use Non-format’s Otto typeface for a while, and it does most of the work here, paired with a few well chosen words and a heart-felt sentiment. The A3 posters were beautifully Risograph printed by London’s Ditto Press.
New Visual is a newly launched “inspirational resource minimalist blog-a-thing” curated by Simon Carrasco, Philippe Laurent, Anne Laure To and myself. Expect a wide assortment of posts relating to art, design and contemporary visual culture. Follow and enjoy!
Join us on Monday night for a benefit concert in support of Imaging Apartheid: The Poster Project for Palestine.
As the submission deadline for the project approaches, we’re planning a series of local events in order to outreach to artists, build support and raise funds for the eventual printing, exhibition and distribution of the selected posters. Come out for some beautiful music and learn more about/support the project while you’re at it.
Featuring Jason Sharp, Adam Kinner, and the Erik Hove Trio.
Poster designed in collaboration with Hoda Adra.
