"I Hate Christian Laettner"

            I recently watched the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary “I Hate Christian Laettner”, which follows one of the greatest and also most hated collegiate basketball athletes of all time. Christian Laettner lead Duke to the Final Four in four straight years from 1988-1992 and won the National Championship twice. Although it would seem he should be remembered as a sports hero his name lives on in jeers and cheap t-shirts. What is it about Laettner that has caused so many to hate him for so long?

            Before changing the channel I questioned of my own dislike for Duke basketball, which I have retained since before I can remember, and failed to find a worthy reason. The only answer I had for rooting against them every March is because they’re good each and every year contending for the title. People voice their hatred for Duke, Laettner, and similar sports dynasties such as the New England Patriots or New York Yankees because of a cultural love for the underdog.

            Laettner unfortunately got a bad wrap for being the face of a basketball program that was just really good. Duke is hated across the nation because they beat almost every team they play every season and travel the country breaking the hearts of home fans. It was those angry fans and people rooting against Duke that lead to Laettner’s greatness, he fed off their energy and seemed to play his best on the biggest stages. Maybe sports need enemies, villains, Dukes, and Christian Laettners to feed the competition, but how far should it go? Should we really jeer the players and teams that are ultimately the best at what they do and chose to idolize others?

            Love him or hate him, Christian Laettner still holds the NCAA Basketball record in Most Points Scored, Most Free Throws Made, Most Free Throw Attempts, Most Games Won, and Most Games Played.

http://espn.go.com/30for30/film?page=ihatechristianlaettner

The Poetics of Money

            I’ll admit that I was hesitant to start reading The Genius of Money by John Bloom when it was first introduced in class. However, I quickly gained interest in the book, as I was lead into an investigation of money from a unique artistic perspective.  The opening section, “The Poetics of Money” follows selected artworks from Ancient Greece to Contemporary New York in order to better understand the iconic imagery of money in transforming generations.

            Bloom’s desire to shine a light on how ideologies and attitudes are formed about money both consciously and subconsciously is an engaging invitation into the psychological characteristics of business. In social psychology we are taught about social schemas, which are used in everyday life in order to help us understand and explore the world. From a young age social schemas are developed through experience to inform individuals what to expect in a variety of situations and are then stored in long-term memory for later recall. John Bloom’s analysis of renowned artwork highlights an avenue through which social schemas mold perspectives of money in early development.

            Before we are even old enough to have money we are taught about the necessity and desire to obtain money. John Bloom aims to support freethinking and hopes to inspire “our own consciousness”, but I have to question to what extent this is possible.  The first section of his book illustrates that for hundreds of years individuals have questioned the role and power of money in society, but have failed to spark any real change. Money only appears to gain ground in its constricting grasp and control over our lives with each passing generation.

Black Willow

            Inspired by professor Hansen’s tree tour a week ago, I felt the need to share my own favorite tree with you all. I’m from a rural town right outside of Philadelphia, home to some of the most beautiful trees I have ever seen. Lakes, rivers, and streams surround my house scattered with lush forest on the edges of the Appalachian Mountains. One of the most dominant trees in the landscape and oldest native trees to the region is the Black Willow Tree, which grow directly along the riverbanks and near water.

            The Black Willow, also known as the Weeping Willow, is the largest of North American willow trees growing to over 100 ft. in height. Originally from China, it was later cultivated and traded on the Silk Road to Southeast Asia and Europe. Later making its way to North America many hybrid willow trees and new species were introduced. 

            One of the Willow Trees most unique qualities is its soil binding nature. Most frequently found along rivers and banks the fibrous root system helps to prevent the soil and banks from washing away. The flowers are formed in long drooping catkins produced in the early spring and the leaves are small narrow spirally arranged changing from bright green to yellow and red in late autumn.

            They have a relatively short lifespan, averaging about 60 - 100 years. The large reaching branches and soft water soaked bark make the trees especially susceptible to lightning and storm winds that other trees avoid. I have yet to see a willow on campus or even in Southern California so far, but I’ll keep my eyes open and you should too!

What am I eating?

          After completing The Omnivore’s Dilemma is was interesting to follow Pollan’s transition in perspective regarding the ethics of eating animals. Originally he endorsed a more vegetarian focused diet after shadowing unhealthy big industry production. Then Pollan questions whether or not it’s sustainability that makes the perfect meal. It’s essential to question where our food comes from, what is it that we’re really eating?

            I was not sure how I felt about his claim that United States is victim to a lack of a dominant food culture, which effectively leads to increased cases of obesity and weight disorders. I’m sure there are hundreds of chefs across the country that would argue American cuisine is a thriving industry, full of healthy and sustainable options. I would agree that the fast food and many other quick eating options flood the contemporary diet however.

            I have to admit I got McDonald’s just the other day and did not feel the slightest remorse about it. The unfortunate truth is that eating a fully sustainable hand cooked meal day in and day out is just unrealistic. We can attempt to eat as healthy as we can within our means but location, income, and tradition continue the necessity for quick food options. Pollan’s book will force me to question more often and seek the healthier option whenever possible, but everything in moderation I was always taught.

Rainbow Lake

            I recently visited the Getty Center in Los Angeles, one of my favorite places to visit in the city, to see an exhibit entitled Rainbow Lake. Rainbow Lake is an experimental photography exhibit by artist Matthew Brandt. The show is a part of the Light, Paper, Process: Reinventing Photography collection showing until later this September. The exhibit focuses on the desire for constant exploration and experimentation with the photographic medium since it’s beginning in the early 19^th century.

            Several artists are apart of the show, each similar in their investigation of light sensitivity and disturbing the natural chemical process involved with traditional photography. The exhibit gives a snapshot of past artists, as well as artists working today that are successful in thoroughly interrogating the medium and attempting to reinvent the art form. What is a photograph?

            My favorite room in the exhibit was Rainbow Lake, a room designated for Brandt’s work. He begins his artistic process by traveling the country photographing various lakes, cities, and natural scenes. His work then comes to life in disturbing the alchemy of the developing process and experimenting with the potential effects of chemicals, time, and color that other photographers have yet to question. Many of his photos were soaked in water from the lakes they depict or left to develop for months at a time, just to see what could happen. The exhibit is very unlike the standard conventional painting and drawing exhibits that the Getty is usually host to and I recommend it to anyone looking for a day trip in LA.

Corn Corn Corn

In the first quarter of Michael Pollen’s, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, I was surprised by the overwhelming use of corn in the United States with each turn of the page. Before reading this book I hate no idea of the extent to which corn dominates the agricultural industry, now harvesting over 10 billion bushels a year. I appreciate Pollen’s writing about traveling to specific farms in Iowa and Kansas. He spoke with farmers across the Midwest and appears to have thoroughly investigated the permeating influence of corn into the U.S. market.

Specifically the effects of Industrial Corn are staggering. Our diet exists of almost entirely corn. Americans feed their livestock with corn and corn products. Over 50% of the corn produced in the United States goes to feeding livestock at feedlots. The fact that stuck with me was that feeding livestock corn cuts the animal’s average lifespan in half. The drastic change in diet and consistent unhealthy conditions prevent their full growth.

The effect of using corn to an excessive amount is depicted most clearly in the health of the American people. Over 200,000 products in supermarkets, as well as the structural material of the supermarket itself come from industrial corn products. Creating and consuming processed foods has lead to a 60% obesity rate in American adults. Cheaper, faster options often beat out homegrown, organic, healthy food choices. After all it appears that as with everything else, money does mold and shape our diet whether we think we have a say in it or not. Corn is king and it’s going to take a mass boycott of corn products before we see a decline in corn products.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pI1S9-1Yak

Job Memo Post

R. Tyler Evans

Job Memo

Blog Post #1

June 2, 2015           

__________________________________

            I am currently a design intern at a small t-shirt and sublimation printing company called Artist Threads. The company is located in Costa Mesa, California just about forty minutes south of Los Angeles and started a few years ago by two brothers from Southern California. The company focuses on discovering, signing, and promoting artists through clothing and apparel.

            The employees of the company attend gallery openings, art walks, and attempt to meet as many people as possible in the art community. The Talent Acquisition Team works to sign artists to the brand and allow the company to use their work for manufacturing. There are three interns for the summer that all work closely with one another in the same office and often on the same projects.

           

            Artist Threads also manufactures and designs work for various skate and clothing companies such as Stussy and Adidas. The company currently owns a printing and cut & sow warehouse where most of the products are designed, manufactured, and shipped from. The company sells the majority of their work through their website and through selling mass orders to other larger companies. Although the company is relatively young, they are growing quickly and are planning to launch their official cell phone app this week.

           

            As an intern my job has a few specific responsibilities. I work as both a product design intern and as a graphic design intern. As a graphic design intern I focus on the online platform of the company and the branding of newsletters and social media material. I am responsible for selecting and photographing new products with my boss, one of the founders of the company.

           

            I then design newsletters and promotional print advertisements that are either emailed or given away at events, skate competitions, or galleries. It’s an important part of the business, especially early on, to promote and present the company correctly in order to attract a demanding market. The company is also about to release the official app this week and I have been working over the last month with another interns to design the layout.

           

            As a product design intern I work to come up with new ideas for potential products and sketch designs. After working on numerous designs and products the best ones are selected and discussed with the founders, other designers, and interns of the company. Only a few of my t-shirts have been selected so far, but it’s a start. Products include t-shirts, sweatshirts, socks, shorts, hats, bathing suits, and posters. I also work hands on in the printing process and learn how to operate the sublimation printing machines shadowing one of the co-founders, Zach.

            To create t-shirt designs, newsletters, posters or any other product that I may be asked to work on I sketch ideas and then use mostly Illustrator and Photoshop to edit and finalize printable graphics. A lot of my work as an intern includes editing and finalizing the illustrations of the main Artist Threads designers and preparing them for the printing process.

            Sublimation printing uses a dye-sublimation printer, which utilizes heat to transfer dye onto fabrics. Dye-sublimation creates images that do not fade or peel and are permanent. Designs are printed with continuous tones and gradients that cannot be achieved by other ordinary textile printing methods. With sublimation printing the company is able to print exceptional colors due to the special dyes.

            The company also hosts a cut & sow factory with hired workers to manufacture products on the other spectrum of apparel. The cut & sow industry produces a more handmade, authentic product than photographic imagery produced with sublimation printing. As a product design intern I get to work with various applications of design and a wide range of different fabrics.

           

            I work very closely with the other designers and founders of the company because the company is still very small and growing. As an intern it is a great opportunity to get to work hands on in every aspect from conception to production in running Artist Threads.