Set & Drift is honored to bring the work of Kwangho Lee out from Korea for Current — an exhibition of hand-crafted design — this September. For the upcoming exhibition, Kwangho is building a large scale lighting installation, a transformative and sculptural piece knitted with power cords as his unconventional medium. Though born and raised in rural Korea, Kwangho now lives and works in Seoul, and he’s been sending us some tantalizing shots of his studio and work in process.

Below: Kwangho uses this table with a circular hole surrounded by pegs to knit some of his pieces. He says he created it after coming across a similar smaller scale tool used in metal jewelry making.

The creation that he’s dreamed up for Current has acquired the name Black Whale, a 7 foot long knitted lighting installation that’s coming to life and being prepared for its migration to San Diego. Read more about Kwangho’s process here and be sure to make a date for The Opening at The Bakery. {Full event details here!}

This September at Current – an exhibition of hand-crafted design, guests will experience the intriguing work and story of Korean designer Kwangho Lee. His rural upbringing inspired him to apply traditional hand-crafted techniques (knitting) to otherwise uninspired urban materials (power cables), to create transformative and sculptural lighting installations.

As a very young child, his grandparents looked after him on their farm in rural Korea, where the ability to transform everyday materials into useful tools and objects is a way of life. Lee’s grandfather worked stone, rope, wood, and clay into implements for growing vegetables, raising cattle, and supporting the family. His mother points out that from a very early age, Kwangho became adept at manipulating material with his hands, which led him to an interest in the arts.

When Lee moved to the city to begin primary school he continued to visit his grandparents in the country, splitting time between urban and rural environments, forming a pattern of duality that inspired his creative output. Prairie and parking-lot met and became his muse.

Between his grandfather’s farm tools and his mother’s habit of knitting (check out the sweater vest above), Lee started down a path with the thought that “works done by hands can bring new meanings and value to the ordinary things.”

We’re honored to present Kwangho Lee’s work at Current – an exhibition of hand-crafted design – with an Opening Reception on Saturday, September 4th, at The Bakery in Barrio Logan, San Diego, California USA. For details on the events, including the Patrons’ Night gathering September 1, click here.

LOOK: The work of Josh Higgins & Grant Brittain converge at Subtext this Friday, July 30th!

We’re so looking forward to this collaborative show featuring our fellow collaborator and San Diego based graphic designer Josh Higgins (you might recognize his posters from past Set & Drift events below!). He’s also the founder of The Haiti Poster Project, quite a monumental undertaking, which continues to raise funds for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti through sales of posters designed by artists and designers from around the world. He’s one insanely talented, hard-working, passionate, and wonderful guy! So come out:

Different artists, different mediums, different content. But the song remains the same (or at least similar). Friends and fellow artists Grant Brittain and Josh Higgins will grace the walls of Subtext. Brittain’s portraiture of some of skateboarding’s greatest names through the years features icons and underground heroes. Higgins’ poster-art focuses on his work with punkers, musical heros, and charitable causes.

The place will be packed, so get there early!

Oaxaca based artist and tattooist Dr. Lakra just got into town for tomorrow’s opening at MCASD. He’s painting into the night on the West wall of the Miriello Grafico building at the edge of the infamous Barrio Logan neighborhood. Some of you might recall the art show we held at this building a couple years ago.

Barrio Logan is an appropriate location for the artist with its rich tradition in Latin American street art including Chicano Park, one of the most densely concentrated areas of murals in the entire country and the site of a crucial show of civil disobedience by the local community.

Dr. Lakra was a very nice, soft spoken dude. With our studio just around the corner from “The Logan” building, we couldn’t be happier having his art so close. The full shot below shows what’s left to paint tonight, and apparently he’ll keep painting toward the right (if he has time).

The Survey Select Narrative Art Exhibition is now up — taking place July 15 to September 5, 2010 at the Wonderbread Factory in San Diego. Mark Murphy has gathered a truly admirable group of 65+ artists, including the likes of Jeff Soto, Dalek, Kelsey Brookes, and Bonnie Marie Smith (a Set & Drift favorite, shown above). The exhibition examines “a new tradition of storytelling”, and we are thrilled that it’s here in San Diego. Catch the public reception tonight! (And keep an eye out for the clever display pieces by local design-build firm Bells & Whistles.) Find artist and event details here.

There were plenty of onlookers during the second day of work on the OBEY GIANT mural in South Park (San Diego) by Shepard Fairey and his crew (day one here). The crowd was a good mix of photogs, hipsters, fixie riders, random curious ladies taking neighborhood walks…and along came a man who seemed to be plucked straight out of a Quentin Tarantino film.

He moaned some nonsense about how he “owned most of all this…” property next door to the mural, and whined, “I gotta look at this every day!?” The hipsters had some fun chatting with him as Grandpa Grumpypants kept staring up with fire in his eyes at the scissor-lift while Fairey & co. cut huge stencils of a cloaked figure.

It was interesting to see the artists cutting their stencils directly on the cinderblock building. Seems like a mundane detail, simply a time-intensive task required to get a huge mural up on the side of a building – and indeed it is.

But it’s also a reminder that the patronage of a museum like MCASD (or for that matter, lending our own wall to Mike Maxwell) can make a world of difference for what an artist is able to do with a public work. Having several days to underpaint, create background patterns, wheat-paste in several layers, and overlay figurative images with enormous grid-based stencils is a lot different than showing up at 3am with a pre-cut stencil and a couple cans of aerosol.

Both modes of operation have their owns merits, but they are vastly different when it comes to decorative complexity or the context created by risking arrest.

We’re pretty happy about the freedoms granted to the artists of Viva La Revolucion, and hope the extra time they’re spending on these pieces will open more dialogue with Grandpa Grumpypants or anyone else who’s a stranger to street art.

After putting up an enormous mural in Hillcrest (check Carly Ealey’s beautiful photos for Sezio here), Shepard Fairey and his crew were back at it, this time in the South Park neighborhood of San Diego. They have the underpainting and some stenciling out of the way, and we’re excited to see the progress in the coming days.

With MCASD commissioned works popping up all over town (officially or otherwise), it’s been like a street art Disneyland in San Diego over the past several weeks. Undoubtedly, the carpet-bombing from Space Invader, Barry McGee mural, Os Gemeos’ human step ladder, and the large-scale OBEY GIANT murals underway are creating tons of excitement leading up to the Viva La Revolucion exhibition opening this Saturday.

But the hype is a little uncomfortable, and immediately stirs up the dialogue that came out of the brilliant (mock or doc- umentary ?) Exit Through The Giftshop. But the excitement is also simply a good reminder that art should be a part of everyday life.

We also can’t help being stoked to live 4 blocks away from an in-process OBEY mural.

More updates from the field soon…

The upcoming exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD), entitled “Viva La Revolucion,” has generated a tremendous amount of dialogue around the idea of street art, and with that dialogue – controversy. This came to a head with Barry McGee‘s (TWIST) mural across the street from the city hall. Mike Maxwell has been documenting as well as contributing to the explosion of murals showing up on walls across the city, and caught some great footage of McGee’s team attacking an enormous wall while under scrutiny.

Although it’s a common practice to commission walls for artist murals, and we totally understand the value of MCASD grabbing some walls for these artists, we find it a little ironic that an exhibition specifically about the street art movement includes officially sanctioned walls for artists (especially if the MCASD backs down under local criticism).

The beautiful thing about the museum’s exhibition is that while some walls are “official”, some are very much unofficial works done by the artists under their own accord. You may be able to take the street artist off the street, but you can’t take the street out of the street artist.

We’re looking forward to watch this play out over the coming weeks (the exhibition opens to the public on July 18th), and see how MCASD handles ongoing criticism and subsequent education/outreach. One thing is for certain so far: this museum is doing their job by starting dialogue and pushing this city to consider what contemporary art is or should be.

Above: balloon installation by Jason Hackenwerth

The New Children’s Museum of San Diego has launched their first Open Call for Artists. The museum is a hybrid contemporary art museum / children’s museum, housed in a beautiful modern, sustainable building along the harbor downtown. They are looking for proposals for contemporary art installations in all media, for an audience of both children (toddler to teen) and families. They focus on works that are participatory and approachable, with opportunities for open-ended interpretation and play. Decisions will be made end of summer with installation this fall. Details and budget info here (deadline is July 30, 2010).

Below: Toy an Horse by Marcos Ramirez

Set & Drift Presents Current

Reception: Saturday, September 4, 2010 / 7 to 10 pm

VIP Preview Night: Thursday, September 2, 2010

Open Studio: September 3-5, 2010, in conjunction with the international San Diego Art Fair (downtown San Diego)

Set & Drift presents Current, an exhibition showcasing the blurry line between art and design. The working furniture design workshop of The Bakery will undergo a temporary transformation, to feature a sculptural knitted lighting installation by Korean designer Kwangho Lee. A pop up shop in the studio will also showcase limited edition furniture pieces, prints, and objects by designers including Miki Iwasaki (mi-workshop) and Josh Higgins. The Bakery is a historic building in Barrio Logan, which houses a creative studio and exhibiton space, as well as The Farm Proper, a mobile, urban farm experiment.

1701 National Avenue, San Diego, California USA

As a sequel to the Shaken, not Stirred show at Spacecraft Gallery in June 2009, a group of San Diego designers, architects and educators are coming together again to show recent projects and concepts under development. The exhibition will include sculptures, drawings, digital fabrications, and models to showcase fresh perspectives and a snapshot of the work being created in San Diego.

Artists & designers include: Ted Smith & Kathleen McCormick, Rinehart/Herbst, Hector & Adrian Perez, Miki Iwasaki, Rene Peralta, Megan Willis, David White, Jim Darroch, Christopher Puzio, Jose Parral & Tasi Paulson, Philipp Bosshart, Andy Ralph, Brian Dick, Jon Linton, Michael Hoffman, Daniela Deutsch, Cameron Crockett, Adriana Cuellar & Marcel Sanchez-Prieto, and Nathan Colkitt.

RSVP & more details

Saturday, June 26, 2010 (5-9 pm)

The Bakery / 1701 National Ave, San Diego, CA

It’s a busy night — Sezio drew up a handy bike route that hits on the events happening at The Bakery, San Diego Space For Art, & Suture!

See more photos here.

He also gave this wall a 70 foot mustache at 14th & J with his so-called “Everything That Has Ever Existed”. Awesome:

Photo by Carly Ealey (full photo set of the event here)

Much gratitude to Sezio for the review and insightful documentation of this month’s Liquidation Sale hosted by Set & Drift here at The Bakery!

Pop Zen and a Fort with The Vision at The Bakery in Barrio. Fear not, folks, this isn’t 2012. What may sound like an apocalyptic nursery tale was in fact Set & Drift’s latest collaborative event, presenting the work of Keikichi Honna and Wes Bruce, and including a performance by The Vision of a Dying World, hosted at The Bakery on April 3. This event marked The Bakery’s gallery debut… <more>

Update: Friday, April 23rd (that’s today, folks!) we’re opening up The Bakery to Wes Bruce to show the fort one last time before it’s dismantled. Drop by and get a tour with the artist himself.

More than just a movie about British graffiti artist Banksy, “Exit Through the Gift Shop” tells a story that reminds that art, in all its forms, is a constant, very human conversation.

The movie is an insiders’ look at the street art scene, which ends up documenting the journey of the impromptu filmmaker “Thierry Guetta” himself. It’s a study for everyone who’s both fascinated and confused by art. At the end of the movie, someone sums it up by wondering aloud who the joke is on… or whether there even is a joke. The story it tells is entertaining while it hits on some of the same issues as Ryan McGinness’s Sponsorship, which considers the complex consequences that are born from the mingling of money and art.

It’s playing in LA and comes to San Diego April 30: locations here.

A ‘thank you’ to all of you who came out for our most recent show at The Bakery — Liquidation Sale! by Keikichi Honna with Live-in-able Fort by Wes Bruce (detail pictured above).

Another thank you goes out to Keikichi and Wes, two very soulful artists and longtime collaborators of ours; Miki of mi-workshop; Jackson of The Vision of a Dying World; our supporters at New Belgium; and Brian Deppe, who caught the whole thing on film. And lastly, a very special thank you to all of you who purchased Keikichi’s work!

We hope you had a chance to explore the fort by foot but if not, peep some shots here. Voz Alta also threw a great show across the street, making it quite a night down here on the block in Barrio Logan. It was a pleasure hosting ye. ‘Til next time!

Update: Wes is hosting one more showing of the fort Friday, April 23, before it’s dismantled. Details here!

We are very much looking forward to Only In Your Fondest Dreams, the Brian Flynn opening next Friday (4/9/2010) at Subtext. While Flynn’s graphic edges couldn’t be more crisp, the line between art and design is starting to blur in a rather beautiful way, opening the door for new dialogue.

Talk amongst yourselves.

We love modern craftsmen. Whether you grow or cook food, design posters or grind down slabs of marble… it’s all about having an undeniable gravitation toward diving head-first into the process.

One such craftsman, Tim at Quality Letterpress, recently helped us print some posters for our upcoming LIQUIDATION SALE art exhibition (take a close look and feel when you see one around town). Tim is a true craftsman, with a horde of antique letterpress equipment and type that he’s collected from all over the country (and world!).

If you’re a designer, visiting Tim’s shop is a must, especially due to his policy with designers who want to get their hands dirty (through classes and shop rental time). There are several letterpress options in San Diego, but Tim’s been doing this much longer than most (25 years) and he approaches the work with the passion and curiosity of a mad scientist – e.g. his constant mumbling of calculations as he measures, searches for, saws down and places the “furniture” around hand-set type to create a tight-fitting plate.

If you’re a non-designer looking to get some incredible wedding invites, business cards, baby shower announcements, etc… look no further. Tim’s apprentice Brett happens to be a darn good designer with a burgeoning knowledge of the letterpress craft, making QL a one-stop shop.

Another note of interest for you audiophiles out there – Tim played in bands, toured Europe and has plenty of good stories from those days. When you head out to his shop, you’ll be greeted by the smell of ink and a constant playlist of deep cuts.

Happy pressing!

Did you catch Sezio’s show at the Boat House? We were delighted to partake as artists in this one-night takeover, and we were in quite good company too. Here are some shots of our eucalyptus bearded piano man – we hope you enjoyed him. Peep some more event pics including works by Mike Maxwell, Niko, Exist 1981, Tocayo, and so many more at Flickr. Thanks to Mr. Brian Deppe for the photos!

Installation by Set & Drift’s Stacy and Sean Kelley

Can’t help but finding Jules Buck Jones’s artwork interesting and endearing.

Heard of Kickstarter? He’s posted a project to document his artist residency in Everglades National Park in a multi-media art book. His stats as of today, Feb. 20:

+Raised $4,947 of the $7,500 goal

+42 backers

+82 days to go

How does it work? You give him money, and he makes a kick ass book to unleash on the printing press. You support creativity unadulterated and straight from the source, plus you get something in return. ($50 scores you a copy of the final book and an audio CD).

Kickstarter is a great way to gather small amounts of funds from various backers to get these projects off the ground. If the goal isn’t met, your donation is reimbursed. Set & Drift collaborator Acamonchi has a project for Sketching New York City going as well – check it out.

Browse the projects and be a patron! Your fellows will thank you.

Feat. Mike Maxwell, Niko, Exist 1981, Tocayo, Kelli Murray, Brent Sandor, Carly Ealey, Wes Bruce, Sean Kelley, Stacy Kelley, Sean Ward and Jane Weibel

More details from Sezio here, and the Niko/Mike Maxwell collab time lapse video here. 6-10pm // Musical acts include The Paddle Boat, Black Mamba & Dr. Popsicle

Here’s a peek at what’s going on over there right now.

Below: Sean Kelley’s piece

A collab by Carly Ealey & Brent Sandor (left) & Sean’s work in progress (right)

Tocayo, work in progress

Love this one by Exist 1981…

And this one…rar.

By Wes Bruce. (We have been up late…)

Hope to see you Friday!

Attention all artists and designers…

THE HAITI POSTER PROJECT
Just launched: A collaboration of artists and designers from around the world, benefiting victims of the earthquake in Haiti

Moxie Sozo, the organizer of the 2005 Hurricane Relief Poster Project, is teaming up with Josh Higgins, the organizer of the 2007 So-Cal Fire Poster Project to produce the 2010 HAITI POSTER PROJECT. We’ve had the great fortune of collaborating with San Diego based graphic designer Josh Higgins through Set & Drift events (remember his fantastic prints…) and we’re excited to spread the word and keep you updated. The deadline for submissions is March 15:

All designers and artists, please step up! THE HAITI POSTER PROJECT seeks limited edition sets of posters from artists, designers and design firms from around the world. The donated posters will be sold online to raise money for Doctors Without Borders. As designers, we have the collective ability to do what we love, AND to create a difference. THE HAITI POSTER PROJECT has been conceived as a collective effort by the design community to unite and effect change through our work. In order for this project to be successful, we are counting on designer participation.

Our goal is to raise at least $1,000,000 for Doctors Without Borders. Please help spread the word.

Website: thehaitiposterproject.com
Twitter: @haitiposters
Facebook: become a fan!

Josh Higgins prints from Set & Drift projects:

Set & Drift has moved to Barrio Logan — we’re sharing a studio space with mi-workshop {object & space design}. We opened the studio up the other night and are looking forward to hosting future events! Here are some shots, including our golden chihuahuas and a film screening of Jean Painleve’s Science is Fiction in the workshop {below}. Keep in touch for details on upcoming happenings.

Above: The Salk Institute {La Jolla, California}

What’s it like to be part of the design scene in San Diego (proclaimed “small but vibrant” by Dwell Magazine)? We could tell you, but we’ll give Dwell the honors since they’ve called upon local architectural talent Aaron Anderson to run through the stand out architecture of the city in this month’s issue. Congrats to our studio-mate Miki Iwasaki of mi-workshop for a shout out in the feature!

Below: The beloved Las Cuatro Milpas Mexican eatery, blocks away from the Set & Drift studio in Barrio Logan

2009 was a fine year for Set & Drift, as we followed the compass eastward and trekked it over to New York City. October in NYC was host to the Feast conference: an inspiring gathering presented by All Day Buffet that is definitely worth putting on your calendar. It’s an interdisciplinary happening of open dialogue and presenters that explores how creativity impacts business in a positive way.

We checked out the Ace Hotel (above). It was inspiring to see the creators behind this hotel putting artists to work to create individualized and soulful scenes behind the beds. Back at home in San Diego, we have been equally excited to see the work of up and coming artists grace the walls of local establishments (like the Tocayo murals featured at local eatery El Camino). We experience creativity in the everyday when business leaders in the community make conscious decisions to showcase it. Got to support that.

Which is why we loved this DIY ice cream truck kicking it in Brooklyn… Unicorns and hot pink bow tie included.

Another highlight was The High Line. The city reclaimed an elevated rail from the 1930′s and with the help of a talented team of architects converted it into a mile and a half long public park.

East Coast driftage…

And an undercover shot from the museum.

Set & Drift is proud to support The 2009 Gingerbread Collective: a charitable showcase of gingerbread houses built by over a dozen San Diego architects and designers. The event benefits local non-profit Second Chance, which provides job training and housing opportunities to assist with employment and self-sufficiency. Set & Drift’s Sean Kelley experimented with a little baking to design the event’s tasty 3-dimensional graphic (above). It’s a tricky material for us creatives, and we are super excited to see the masterpieces that come out of this multi-discipline exhibition of creativity and collaborative networking.

Above: Sculptor Matt Devine’s mid century modern “Case #22 Inspired Gingerbread House”, feat. a frosty pool, edible shrubbery, and some seriously creative furnishings.

Below: Furniture designer/architect Miki Iwasaki of mi-workshop unveils COLLECTIVE LANDSCAPE, which considers how we live on our landscape and what it means to be a collective. He’s crafted some reclaimed hardwood remnants to stand amongst a community of sculpted cookie and surreal candy living spaces.

A public showcase happens at Arclinea — a modern Italian kitchen design showroom — Thurs/Fri 12/10 & 12/11 from 6-9 pm.  Or, if you want a more intimate viewing, gather with the builders for a cocktail gala the evening of Saturday 12/12, where the jury will announce the winners and guests can bid on houses to call their very own. Gala tix are $25 with 100% of proceeds benefiting Second Chance. Added bonus: tasty treats from spots like Starlite, Cucina Urbana, & Stone Brew will be served up at the gala as you meander through the maze.

One of our favorite artists, Matt Stallings, unveils his show After the Bomb Popped at Subtext Gallery in San Diego this month. We’ve located an interview // photo preview of his work –> Muchas gracias to Sezio for the diversity of questions and the entertaining format, and for letting us ask him what his power animal is.

And so we tell you of the wonder-fulness that is Matt Stallings and remind you to meet him on your computer, and at Subtext, if you are in the area 12.11.09.

Matt Stallings’s DNA =

Coffee + Television + Fruit Loops + Cartoons + Bear Suites + Nostalgia + Comedy + 1+1=3 + Madonna Gap tooth + Beer + Kids + Tabloids + Love + Wife + Family + Red Beard = White. Medium height. Slightly hairy human.

Photos via Fecal Face (including one below), and watch the studio tour/interview by Sezio. (And if you really want to get crazy, there’s a preview of the upcoming show here.)

If there’s anything consistent about us creative types, it’s that we need inspired space — for architectural models, for interdisciplinary think tank meet-ups, for gallery shows, for filming. etcetera. We’ve seen a surge in the collaborative workspace concept here in San Diego, and over in London, they’ve created a non-profit version.

Village Underground is an innovative coupling: ex London Underground tube train carriages have become creative studios, piled above the expansive raw space of a restored Victorian warehouse below, which can be transformed into a flexible and multi-functional arena.

This Friday, October 2nd, San Diego based artist Mike Maxwell opens his new La Jolla studio to the public for the first time. Join Mike for drinks and hors d’oeuvres on the rooftop lounge over looking the Cove above his studio. And take a gander at his blog for the latest.

Make sure to mark your calendars for next Friday’s opening of Cereal Killer at Subtext, which promises a tasty exhibition of breakfast-mascot-inspired paintings by Patrick Ballesteros. There is mischief in those eyes, and as Stephen Colbert reminds us, bears are not to be trusted!

We recently visited the Lux Art Institute in Encinitas for the opening of Elizabeth Turk’s artist residency. The residency and show is a coming-home of sorts for the artist, who grew up in Orange County but until now has been working in New York. The Lux space seems to fit her work well, as the modern lines of the architecture and sculpture blend with the inherent organic atmosphere of her conceptual queries and the surrounding landscape.

Elizabeth’s stark white marble forms look convincingly skeletal, offering an inverse to the dark bio-mechanical world of H.R. Giger.

She’s a slender lady, but unleashes a plethora of power tools to create her intricate sculpture from such a hard material. Elizabeth grinds the marble with a wide range of diamond and carbide-tipped tools, from large power grinders to small metal files and dental instruments.

The corner of the gallery space will act as Elizabeth’s makeshift studio during her stay.

The studio space is filled with studies, images of inspiration, and notes on patterns in nature, evolution, and psychology.

One of Elizabeth’s sculptures is made from an immense marble slab, resting on the floor. These stalagmite-like water droplet forms had us glancing up at the ceiling… for what I’m not quite sure.

Elizabeth has created a series of collars that are intended to be “delicately monumental.” The time and physical exertion takes it’s toll on the artist, motivating her to find relaxation in graphite drawings. I’m not sure how relaxing it was to draw these highly detailed hair-like strands on two 45 foot rolls of vellum – I guess it’s all relative.

Elizabeth also creates intricate drawings and prints, mixing flora and fauna into semi-recognizable but otherworldly patterns.

In addition to the opportunity to interact with the artist and her art, the Lux property itself is most definitely worth the visit. The Lux building, which was recently LEED certified (the first art museum in California with that distinction), is nestled into a native California chaparral covered hillside just north of San Elijo Lagoon. Elizabeth will be working in residency at LUX through Oct. 3, but her work will be up through 10/31.

There are only a few spots in each city that define its culture, create neighbors out of strangers, and become a weekly part of life for everyone from grandpa to high school emoboys and girls. Lou’s Records, which has been around since 1980, is one such institution in North County San Diego. It’s part of what I like to call the Holy Trinity of Leucadia, which includes The Pannikin, Ducky Waddles and of course, Lou’s.

Record shops infamously employ some interesting characters and Lou’s is no exception. Neil McLean, the creator of this installment of Minstrel Fridays (and a loyal Lou’s employee), is from England, stands about eye-level with me (6’7″), and shares music knowledge with a humble and thorough passion. Never aloof, always generous, and naturally jovial, Neil is one of a kind. After walking – yes walking– 6 miles to attend one our Sanctuary143 art events, he waltzed into the gallery with a smile and proceeded to jot down about 30 or 40 bands he suggested I check out. His hand-writing is shitty, but that list was like a gold mine for me.

But Neil McLean is more than that – he’s also a creative genius who’s hard at work creating a stop-motion animation series in his garage. This “televisual situation comedy” entitled DUNGEON is 6 years in the making, and the disturbingly funny trailer shows signs of greatness with Adult Swim written all over it. Like any creative pursuing an ambitious feat (or what he calls “my idea”), Neil has moments of doubt about the project, stemming from his lack of funds to the validity of spending 6 years building animatronic puppets and miniature sets.

That’s where you come in. This mixtape is obviously a shameless plug for Lou’s, keyword shameless. Many of you will recognize several tracks, but there are plenty of obscure gems that only Neil could dish out. Enjoy the mix, support a noble record store, and in the process, Neil’s project!

[Audio clip: view full post to listen]

So where’s the tracklist?

It’s up to you to uncover the tracks! We’re giving away a Josh Higgins print for the first person to get the entire tracklist correct. Take a guess in the comment field below. Or go visit Lou’s and ask Neil… he’s always happy to share.

Winner’s Choice!

The winner gets to choose between these two limited edition hand-screen prints by Josh Higgins. Both are out of print and impossible to find.

It is the pleasure of Set & Drift to publish this interview with Oliver, we hope you enjoy his images and insight.

S&D

What draws you to photography?

OW:

Photography, in my quite personal style, has become my elixir of life. It gives me strength and it makes me happy. Every little moment is important in itself and every photograph has its own little story in my head. The photo is not in the foreground but rather quite a lot of human interactions and meetings that originate from it.

S&D

Could you tell us the story behind one of your photos? How do you begin a conversation with the people you photograph?

With this man, I spent almost a whole afternoon in his modest home. I was invited by him, and we drank tea and entertained ourselves with our hands and feet. In the end I asked him if I could take a picture of him. What I want to say is: there are situations in photography which need time. In other situations, you have to be more quick.

This is a typical street scene. The group of children passed me. Here I was able to make eye contact with a child. Within seconds, there it was, the photo.

As a general rule, I drift along on the streets; things don’t come to me at a hectic pace or in a rush. Photography is not actually at the forefront of my mind, rather it’s about having a lot of human interaction. The image through the viewfinder creates a sense of eagerness in me, as well as a sense of relaxation at the same time. All events condense around me in one moment. Then it’s a matter of capturing it in such a way that it becomes something special. My photos aim to reveal deep insights into human lives. The situations embody what develops while watching people’s lives and tell unmistakable small stories. I’m never an outsider to the story. Photography is, for me, a picture language that everyone all over the world can understand. This makes it valuable as well as inimitable and this is why I love it so much.

What brought you from Germany to your current home in the Canary Islands?

My work as a doctor.

You are like a modern storyteller, documenting the lives of others through photography and human interaction. Why do you find this an important role for today?

Thank you for the “modern storyteller”. In our crazy world, there is such a hurry and bustle.
Since 2002, I’ve pursued photography, if you want to put it this way, seriously. The so-called “street photography” has arisen through my creating different cycles. It comes to life through spontaneity and the feelings and recognition of situations and moods. You never know what will happen next. The art is to use foresight to grasp the right moment and take the picture. Once the moment is over, it is lost for good. If you have managed to capture this unique moment that makes you rest for a moment, then the picture has its justification.

If you were a mythological creature, what would you be?

Honestly I have not given this much thought. So I took a test on the Internet.

The result: I would be a Griffin: “Loyal hardworking, winged beast, the fierce griffin is a trustworthy friend. One of the more famous creatures, you should be proud of scoring this. You are valued as a tough fighter but are also dexterous in the ways of the world. You will look to the light to know what to do. You can become sulky and secretive if left without guidance though.”

What is inspiring you this week?

I am inspired by the crazy world we live in day to day.

What would your dream assignment be? Where would you like to go next?

I would like to make a picture story about my neighbor, a man who lives a very modest and hard working life. But he is happy and content with his life. Perhaps I will manage to carry this happiness through in my pictures. I will go out today and ask him…

What more do you feel you need to accomplish in this life?

My vocation is being a doctor, and my passion is taking photographs; the two together is my dream combination. There is nothing better than connecting work and hobby. The one can’t be without the other for me. For me personally, there is no absolute “need” to accomplishing something in my life. I am content as long as I have ideas in my head and the power to implement the ideas.

You can see more of Oliver Weber’s work on his website.

All photos © Oliver Weber – from the series Marrakech and other collections.

Los Angeles artist Megan Whitmarsh has a show coming up on September 12th at K___R____E_T___S, an art gallery/project room in Malmö, Sweden. KRETS shares our common vision, seeking to show contemporary art in a way not bound to the conventional and commercial art market. KRETS works with diverse media and happenings, such as art exhibitions, workshops, film screenings, and music performances.

The upcoming show, “YETI CRYSTAL RAINBOW”, is up through October 11, 2009, and includes an opening with the artist on September 12th. The exhibit features Megan’s signature embroidered canvasses, soft sculpture, and a site specific wall mural, communicating her desire “to synthesize an optimistic vision of the future with the detritus of modern life.”

Not in Sweden? We hear ya. Check out her embroidered yetis and other fanciful creations here.

Pictured below – (Not necessarily in this show but one of our favorites nevertheless) –

King Kong Shares Kit Kat

San Diego’s Subtext Gallery+Bookstore celebrates its third anniversary this Friday, September 4th (6-10 pm), with “Wanderlust”: new works by Art Center colleagues Brody Albert and Demetrius May.

It seems like human nature to hold onto our youth, continue exploring, and to pursue paths not yet traveled. Yet, in true human fashion, we process these emotions in different ways...

Thank you for the memories, Subtext, and cheers to many more to come!

<The exhibition will be open by appointment September 4th-27th, 2009.>

Acamonchi is moving to NYC next week! As a tribute to Acamonchi’s creative influence on San Diego, we asked him to create a mixtape. Rock out to it on your way to Streetscene or as a pre-Critical Mass warmup.

A big thanks to Acamonchi for giving back to the community through punk, bicycles, art, and positive messages about food (he’s vegan). You will be missed!

Connect with Acamonchi: Website | Facebook | Flickr

[Audio clip: view full post to listen]

1. The Misantroph – Neoangin
2. Dog Days – Matthew Dear
3. Actionist Respoke – Mouse On Mars
4. Strateface/Kcl0 (07/10/99) – Lackluster
5. Tanino – Latinsizer
6. La Torre Y el Diablo – Ford Proco
7. Bad Natured (Vocal Reprise) – Styrofoam
8. Brothel Trainbox. – Sindri
9. Pax Romana II – Si.Da
10. Out There Somewhere (Part 2) – Orbital

I guess you saw the first wall painting.  But it wasn’t finisched stage.  So here comes its entire picture.  Also I’ll write down each word.
I can tell you the meaning, too. Here is a list of the word.

1 Eichhornchenschwanzspitze
The very first word I got from a visitor.  “tip of the tail of a squeal.”

2 Oberschenkelknochen
I can’t remember the meaning.  rather short, but good practice.

3 Telekommunikationsdiensteleisungen
Someone found this word on an old phone bill.  So this word is legit.

4 Betaubungsmittelverschreibungsverordnung (2-bit a)
regulation requiring a prescription for an anesthetic

5 Muhlenstillgugsdurchfuhrungsverordnung (2-bit u’s for the first and fourth)

6 Konstantinopelitanischerdudelsackspfeifenmachersgesellschaft
From Mark Twain’s Connecticut Yankee.  He invented this word as a magic spell to scare people at King Arther’s Court.
Bagpipe Maker’s Union in Constantinople

7 Niedergeschwindigkeitswidkanalversuchsergebnis
Results from low-speed wind tunnel testing

8 Rindfleischetikettierungsuberwachungsaufgabenubertragungsgesetz
Specially mentioned at Germany’s word of the year ceremony. This is a legit legal term, regarding to regulations on labeling on beef.

9 Donaudampfschffahrtsgesellschaftskapitan
Every German knows this or other variations. Danube Steamboat Company Captain

10 Schneckengrunerfeuerwehrdrehleiterverantwortlichrinreservestellung
Someone told me, or just made up in front of me.  Something about a position at a small village’s fireengine, or something like that.

There are some misspelling, which I can’t remember where.  And  can’t keep mentioning “2-bit” this time.  It became way too cumbersome.

And the last but not least, here is a quote from Mark Twain again.  It’s nice reading, and my last work is from this anecdote. Here goes.

A Dresden paper, the Weidmann, which thinks that there are kangaroos (Beutelratte) in South Africa, says the hottentots (Hottentotten) put them in cages (Kotter) provided with covers (Lattengitter) to protect them from the rain. The cages are therefore called Lattengitterwetterkotter, and the imprisoned kangaroo Lattengitterwetterkotterbeutelratte.

One day, and assassin (Attentäter) was arrested who had killed a hottentot woman (Hottentottenmutter), the mother of two stupid and stuttering children (Stottertrottel). This woman, in the German language, is entitled Hottentottenstottertrottelmutter, and her assassin takes the name Hottentottenstottertrottelmutterattentäter. The murderer was confined to a cage – Beutelrattenlattengitterwetterkotter – whence a few days later he escaped, but fortunately was recaptured by a hottentot, who presented himself at the mayor’s office with beaming face:

“I have captured the Beutelratte”, he said.

“Which one?”, asked the mayor, “we have several”.

“The Attentäterlattengitterwetterkotterbeutelratte”.

“Which Attentäter are you talking about?”

“About the Hottentottenstottertrottelmutterattentäter”.

“Then why don’t you say at once the
Hottentottenstottertrottelmutterattentäterlattengitterwetterkotterbeutelratte”?

Here’s an excerpt from his always hilarious emails:

This is painting of “Data Matrix,” or 2D barcode, which encodes German text translated from my following Englisch writing.

In German
Every letter has right and duty
Every word is pronounced as it should be
Let Knopf be Knopf

In German
Typeface is as black as a night at a forest
No legal limit is set for word length
Let them call for Mississippi Steam Boat Company Captain (this would be one long hell of a word in German) in the dark

In German
Vowels have crowns (or 2-bit in my own term)
Consonant are strong and clear
Don’t let me say a German word
I’ll spit in your face

97″ x 97″ acrylic on the wall
no more straight lines on uneven walls!

Sezio has officially launched their Artist Exchange Program and is getting the party started by bringing Brooklyn-based artist Morgan Blair out to San Diego. A recent RISD graduate and Brooklyn-based artist, Morgan Blair is spending the week living and working at the Luce Loft in downtown San Diego.  The exhibition will be opened up to the public both Friday and Saturday nights with “Brain Glamor – Morgan Goes Pacific”. Check out Sezio’s interview with Morgan here!

When: August 14th & 15th (6-10pm)
Where: Luce Loft (1037 J. St – SD, 92101)
Details: Free & All Ages

Amy Stein describes the photographs of her “Domesticated” series as “modern dioramas of our new natural history.”

She observes and captures certain “artificial spaces” that she considers as both a “passage and barrier between domestic space and the wild.”  The concepts for her photos are based on news and stories of human-animal interactions, and most of the animals shown are stuffed.

As humans, Amy says, we seem to “at once seek connection with the mystery and freedom of the natural world, yet we continually strive to tame the wild around us and compulsively control the wild within our own nature.” :via Amy Stein

Vienna-based art collective Gelitin crafted the rabbit and has classified the project as a solo show, spanning 2005-2025.  After almost 5 years of knitting, the straw-stuffed toy rabbit has found its home in the Italian Alps. Visitors are encouraged to climb on the comfy 200 foot rabbit (which has been spotted by Google Earth).

The artists explain, “Behind a hill, as if knitted by giant grandmothers, lies this vast rabbit, to make you feel as small as a daisy.” See their full project description below.

Rabbit from the sky:

Rabbit under construction (with visitors):

The creators, Gelitin:

“The things one finds wandering in a landscape: familiar things and utterly unknown, like a flower one has never seen before, or, as Columbus discovered, an inexplicable continent;
and then, behind a hill, as if knitted by giant grandmothers, lies this vast rabbit, to make you feel as small as a daisy.
The toilet-paper-pink creature lies on its back: a rabbit-mountain like Gulliver in Lilliput. Happy you feel as you climb up along its ears, almost falling into its cavernous mouth, to the belly-summit and look out over the pink woolen landscape of the rabbit’s body, a country dropped from the sky;
ears and limbs sneaking into the distance; from its side flowing heart, liver and intestines.
Happily in love you step down the decaying corpse, through the wound, now small like a maggot, over woolen kidney and bowel.
Happy you leave like the larva that gets its wings from an innocent carcass at the roadside.
Such is the happiness which made this rabbit.
i love the rabbit the rabbit loves me.”

-Vienna-based art collective Gelitin

There’s a north county happening this Saturday that has the makings of a legendary event. The Burning of Rome is playing live at Speakeasy Studios with guests Judgement Day, spoken word by Ed Dekker & live art.

But that’s not all…

The darkhorse of the evening is a puppet art show from the mind of visionary North County-import Neil McLean of the UK. While at Lou’s Records in Encinitas, we picked up a limited edition DVD sneak preview of Neil’s “televisual situation comedy” DUNGEON that he’s making in his garage. There aren’t many left so hurry over. Your purchase will be made under the watchful gaze of one of the puppets from DUNGEON, who resides on the wall behind the register.

Keep a weather eye on a Minstrel Fridays mixtape from Mr. McLean, coming soon to the Set & Drift blog!

Though freshly baked goods are delicious, no rice to eat sucks.  There is tiny Asian store and buy Tofu, but a little old.  But when there is no other choice, I buy old tofu with a little sour taste. I work in old distillery.  Dark and dump, but no long skinny legged spiders and other crowlies.  Try to go for walk in the morning, otherwise I’m confined in that building in a small area of not much larger than 0.125 sqare mile.  Which is central part of Hann. Munden (period after 2nd n, and 2 dots over u)
No Starbucks, but many Cafes.  No tattoo parlor, no check cashing service, but so many cell phone stores.  I mean So Many, 5, 6, or 7 stores on main street of 1/4 mile long.
Someday I’ll go to Berlin to see wild hogs, or maybe Knoot or whatever polar bear.
TV without Billy, Paris, and all the juicy celebrity crap is boring.  Not much music choice, neither.  I’ve been listening Classic FM station.  Bach, Mortzalt, Beethoven and so on all day and every day.  I can’t wait to spend another fabulous day on the ladder to make fuckin’ cunst!

The first few days were warm and humid, then about a week of cold rainy days followed.
Now I see sun shine again, and I can heal my vitamin D deficiency.  I should probably go for walk to McD in 5 kilo from my resident.

Also into this painting by Kevin Taylor.

If anyone’s down for a nautically themed art show, it’s the crew over here at Set & Drift. Cruise down this Saturday to see new work by several Yeller artists at the Wharffice.

Get a preview of the show plus directional coordinates here.

UPDATE: Poster deadline extended to Monday, August 10, 2009. Submission info here.

Here’s an excerpt from ParkerWhite’s call for entries:

The donated posters will be sold exclusively online, and all profits will go directly to the San Diego Food Bank. Our goal is to raise at least $10,000 to help feed the hungry.

The theme is “Help End Hunger.” We are looking for uplifting art that will help educate the public about hunger-related issues.

Set&Drift in conjunction with AIGA San Diego and Subtext is proud to present Objectified, a documentary film by Gary Hustwit.

If you haven’t already heard, Gary Hustwit’s latest documentary Objectified is coming to town July 10 at the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla. The film dives into the world of products we’ve surrounded ourselves with, and the designers that create them. It’s a must see for any creative, so get it on the calendar.

Hustwit also directed Helvetica, a documentary about graphic design and the typeface that’s become a ubiquitous part of human visual communication across the globe. Judging from his directorial debut, Hustwit’s films should probably be required watching for all humans. So if you haven’t seen it yet, rent Helvetica as a warm-up to Objectified.

And as if the screening wasn’t enough, Subtext Gallery is bringing some added radness with an after party featuring a live performance by El Ten Eleven (who rock the soundtrack for Objectified and Helvetica).

Believe you me, this screening will sell out. Get your tickets now and we’ll see you July 10!

Our friend Linsey snapped this shot in NYC this week… enjoy.

We’ll be cruising down to Subtext this Friday for the opening of Origins. The show features new work from Kyung Soon Park, Francis Vallejo, & Austin McCormick, focusing on their interpretation of heroes/heroines.

See you there!

A big thanks to Miriello Grafico for hosting Set & Drift as we prepare for the Thread Show this weekend. MG was kind enough to provide space in The Logan warehouse to stage our Native Curiosities installation this week.

Here’s a glimpse at the staging that began on Saturday…

In addition to housing Miriello Grafico’s design studio and LJG, The Logan will soon be home to video production company DV creations, rounding out a strategic partnership anchored in Barrio Logan that forms an incredibly capable creative powerhouse.

Here’s a preview of our installation at the upcoming Thread Show on May 30/31 in San Diego. This old school silo in the Wonderhaus is our blank canvas.

The inverted cone on the inside looks like something from the set of THX-1138.

See more photos of Native Curiosities at FLICKR

A big thanks to Carly and Zack from Sezio…
… for cruising up to Oceanside for the Native opening at Swiv Tackle Circus. Carly took some great photos and wrote up a review of a fun night filled with art, music, and urban garden-grown snacks.

We’ve also uploaded some tasty photos of the urban garden bounty, and a short video featuring Tocayo’s NATIVE sign painting.

Native will be up at Swiv Tackle Circus through May 23rd, including this Saturday for THE COLOR INK BOOK, ISSUE 3 release party, so check it out if you missed the opening!

Photo credit: Carly Ealey

Here’s a little footage behind the sign that Tocayo created for the Native exhibition at Swiv Tackle Circus in Oceanside, CA. Stacy and Sean Kelley of Set & Drift helped paint out the sign lettering while Tocayo built up the black edges of his dream-catcher illustration.

Photo credits: Carly Ealey, Tracy
Music by Orishas, from the Tocayo Time mixtape.
More info on the exhibition here.

The Color Ink Book is the third installment of a coloring book series with some rad illustration. Check it out this Saturday, May 16th at Swiv Tackle Circus for live art, music, drinks, eats, and giveaways!

And if you missed the NATIVE opening, this is a good time to see the exhibition before it’s gone on May 23rd!

Thanks so much to all of you who helped and came out to celebrate at NATIVE Saturday night! There was great energy, and we are so thankful to SWIV for their creativity and positivity and for hosting us in their amazing gallery space. The exhibit is up through May 23, so stop by and check it out!

Check out some great photos at King Bee, and we’re updating our flickr set in the next couple days. Send your photos our way if you have ‘em.

xoxo SET & DRIFT

Below: One of our favorites, Josh’s design for the Hurricane Poster Project, a project that encouraged collective action from the design community to ignite change. All proceeds from limited run posters went directly to Red Cross to assist those affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Josh in turn established the So Cal Fire Poster Project, which compiled designs donated by designers and artists around the globe. Funds from these poster sales have gone towards Salvation Army for the victims of the wildfires that devastated Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Diego Counties.

You’ve established yourself as a musician — as bass player for fluf — and as an award winning graphic designer. How do you balance it all?

It seems to be pretty easy. i think because i love every minute of each thing so it does not seem like a “job” and because i dig it i am motivated to be better and try harder. organization and scheduling is the key. i got lucky with that gene as i feel i am pretty organized and have good time management skills. that helps balance it all.

Best creative memory?

oh man, thats a tough one. as a musician it was touring with Jawbreaker, one of my all time favorite bands and got to spend many weeks with them, became good friends that still talk and hang to this day, plus lots of high-jinks ensued. as a designer, it was getting a job at miriello grafico. i had wanted to work there since i was in school and 6 years later, Ron gave me a chance. there are many others but those stick out the most.

What’s inspiring you this week?

Car print ads. i am working on Yamaha’s 2010 campaign/collateral. we have a photo shoot coming up and i am being inspired by car photographers’ lighting techniques. beautiful.

What has being in a band taught you about approaching graphic design and vice versa?

i think the band taught me to be organized. i was always in a “manager” roll as well as a bass player and marketing a band is much like marketing any other product or service. i don’t think design has helped the music – just hurt it as i play less now.

What’s your power animal? Explain.

Ferdinand the bull ::  Because I would rather smell flowers than fight in bullfights.

What would your dream assignment be?

i have always wanted to figure out how to earn a living doing non-profit work. (hurricane poster project, so-cal poster fire project) my dream assignment would be to do great work while helping a cause i believed in.

What do you feel you still need to accomplish in this life?

A bunch. i am constantly learning and never feel content with my abilities. until the day i do, i will have something to accomplish.

In Roman mythology, individuals were said to have a “genius”, a guardian spirit that granted them intellectual and creative powers. Do you have a little guy?

no. i wish i did. i could really use him or her right now. i just have my dog “Fender” who i think is genius.

Who do you admire most?

Designers? Reid Miles because he was one of the most underrated designers ever: the simplicity and exercise of restraint. The use of type was very progressive for its time. The photo cropping creates a single focal point in the composition. His record covers defined a whole genre of jazz with a look. In his time, he completely defined visually a music style. His cover design for Blue Note Records blended modernism and photography. His most memorable covers incorporated dynamic typography with Francis Wolff’s eloquent photography. His cover for a Freddie Hubbard album was the first of his covers I ever saw. Even after buying every book on his work that I could ever can get my hands on, it remains my favorite. and Paul Rand because his work was simple, innovative and rebellious. He employed a wide variety of design techniques including typography, collage and photography.  This combination of elements produced distinctive design across many media, such as a poster design, editorial design and corporate identity. But simplicity was the common element across everything he created, no matter what the medium.  in general, people who are driven. i am inspired when i see people with a mission and are doing whatever they can to make it happen.

Words of advice on being a creative human being?
never be satisfied. always seek to learn. give until it hurts. and remember, what comes around goes around.

If you could board any ship any time, what’s the date and destination on the ticket?

the date would be June and headed for Hawaii. Maui in particular. my favorite place on earth.

While we’re working hard on the NATIVE show at Swiv Tackle Circus on April 25, we wanted to dish out a preview of one of the artists from the show.

Hit play and delve into the work and life of designer/architect/teacher Miki Iwasaki. Through an intimate series of introspective ponderings, Miki explores how the small objects in our life shape the big picture of how we live. Check out more of the work from his studio, Mi-Workshop.

This beautiful little gem of a film, entitled SCALE: furniture/architecture/society, was shot and directed by filmmaker Jeffrey Durkin of Breadtruck Films, and debuted at the Pearl Hotel in February. We’ll have a mini-theater setup for the film at NATIVE.

Make sure to cruise up to Swiv on 4/25 to see the latest wood works from Miki.