After posting the video below and thinking of Vic Chestnutt’s life and death, and independent music and culture generally, I think it’s about time I write a few words on the passing of FA Nettelbeck. Please don’t read this as any sort of obituary (Stephen Kessler has us covered on that front) or anything official from our press acting as the publisher of his last printed work. It’s just a personal reaction, having had a few weeks for the news to settle in.

Fred’s death hit me hard, it shocked, confused and angered me. I honestly didn’t know how to feel, or how MUCH to feel… Who was this person to me? Could I call him a friend? I never had the chance to meet him, though I’d been in correspondence with him for the last three years.

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Anecdotal Evidence – Vic Chesnutt from Constellation Records on Vimeo.

So much to love in here…

And more goodies from Constellation Records here…

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.

It is with deep sadness that I have to announce the passing of poet F.A. Nettelbeck. Fred passed away on January 20th, 2011 in Bend, Oregon. He was 60 years old.

For now, John and I have got no words. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.

“Throw down a few
against the darkness
brother”

from Kevin Opstedal’s remembrance poem.

[UPDATE] Obituary by Stephen Kessler.

Logo designed for Open Orchestra, a McGill based research project developing an innovative orchestra simulator for musicians. I worked closely with interaction designer Adriana Olmos, attempting to distill the essence of such a complex project into a simplified form.

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featured on Art Threat.

These beautiful snails remind me of Colin White’s Gigafauna series, although as he mentions, his are BIGGER!

Back in November, I was contacted by the brilliant Dutch photographer Aram Tanis with a series of striking photos he wanted to submit for the zine. We were in the process of finishing up Happy Hour at the time and weren’t taking submissions, but I really wanted to work with his images. So, I suggested a little experimental print project, inspired by Claire Fontaine‘s Capitalism Kills Love installation at Art Basel Miami (which was surprisingly taken down before the event).

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Happy New Year!!! Memefest is an amazing organisation/event/friendly competition that I’ve been partnered with for many years. Based in Slovenia, with nodes spread out internationally (remarkably and importantly, outside of traditional centres of “power”), Memefest explores the boundaries of communication practice, pushing for radical approaches that operate outside of the conventional/commercial/advertising model.

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