The New BLK Gallery + Power to the Poster + Nicholas Burroughs proudly present…

POWER TO THE POSTER: THE EXHIBITION

34 POSTERS PROMOTING DISSENT, HOPE & IDEAS

An exhibition of posters selected from PowerToThePoster.org. The site exists to bring people together around a ready supply of well-designed, wild postings that comment on the issues of our time. The 11×17 posters in PDF format are for anyone, anywhere to download, print and post. The exhibition will showcase some of most compelling posters from 25 designers in 11 states and 8 countries.

Opens Thursday, September 9
6-9 PM
New BLK Gallery
1213 Jones St.
Omaha, NE
As part of Omaha Creative Week
After party at Havana Garage
1008 Howard St.

The large format 24×38 inch posters, generously printed by Photographics Imaging, will be available for purchase through September 24. Proceeds will go to Design Alliance OMAha, a group working to bring leading-edge design ideas that are shaping our world to the community.

I recently completed a design project with Share Our Strength for their No Kid Hungry Pledge. A great group of people and an extremely important effort:

I want this sticker to give people a way to show their individual support and get them excited about an America that is ending childhood hunger by 2015. We need a sustained effort. We need commitments made each and every day by all of us who have enthusiastically signed up, and that’s what I wanted to show with the repeating “I pledge” of the background. It’s like those sentences we used to have to write on the chalkboard in school when we did something bad. But this time, we’re doing something good. We’re pledging a better future. Over and over and over until it becomes reality.

You can still get the sticker by taking the pledge and making a small donation to the campaign. Please do, and put it in a high traffic area. Let it serve as a reminder that we all need to do our part to make NO KID HUNGRY a reality.

Read the full post. Make a donation. Spread the word, NO KID HUNGRY.

A COMMUNITY COLLABORATION

Here’s one for you: a designer, a programmer, a community organizer, a communications task force and a group of committed peace and justice types ranging from well-seasoned academics to bright-eyed progressives get together to advocate for a better world. It’s a collaboration of the first order with high-minded goals concerning matters of crucial importance.

The focus is how to make a peace and justice organization more effective at making peace and justice happen. In the back of a local coffee shop, huddled over the local paper with some veggie sandwiches and fair trade coffee, the plotting and scheming goes strong once a week for many months. Usually in good spirits, with lively discussion and debates about how a little non-profit organization moves forward, what has come out of the effort has been something quite remarkable. We certainly accomplished a streamlining our communications efforts, developing a new website, creating several media campaigns to stoke the political fires and training key staff members on technology that can be used to keep things current. But there’s also been a rejuvenation of the collective spirit. I saw what I thought was glowing from several people at one of the last meetings. It could be because we’ve finally seen the sun out here in the Midwest, but I like to think it’s been this whole “working together” thing that’s the root cause of the newly intense hues.

Hang out in Lincoln long enough, especially downtown, and you’ll come across several deep blue bumper stickers reading “Nebraskans for Peace.” It’s probably one of the most successful bumper sticker campaigns in American history. And a nice visual mark of identity in the community. (If anybody needs one, I’m sure I can get a couple dozen by the end of the day to whomever’s asking.) In the back of that local coffee shop, a rag tag bunch of liberal peaceniks responsible for those stickers got together to grow this organization. And in between deep conversations about the sad state of affairs for America’s foreign policy, I’d say success has been had. We set out many months ago to make Nebraskans for Peace the best damn peace and justice group it could be, building on the old school tactics of political organizing while embracing some 21st century digital activism. And today, we are moving ahead as planned. (more…)

This April at the Tugboat Gallery begins the third year of their space in the Parrish Studios in downtown Lincoln. Part of the First Friday Gallery Walk every month, these exhibitions are quite an expression of a flourishing downtown art scene while bringing people together for a night of community and celebration.

To go along with each exhibition, I work with owner Peggy Gomez to design a poster and do a print run of around 75. All totaled we’ve done 25 different poster designs that have become the voice of this non-commissioned art gallery visible on the streets of Lincoln throughout the year. For the two year anniversary we’re offering the hand-screened posters from this year. 12 posters, 100 bucks. You can reserve your set now by emailing Peggy. You’ll also be able to purchase a set at the gallery walk this Friday from 7 to 10 at Tugboat. (more…)

My wife and I like to make time to work on projects together. She’s more of a writer, myself more of a designer. Together, we’re a force to be reckoned with. Recently, as tragedy struck Haiti, and the world scrambled to find ways to help, we wanted to spend some of our time together making something that could be part of the effort to help the people living through such a horrendous situation.

With the goal of raising $1,000,000 for Doctors Without Borders, The Haiti Poster Project was conceived as a collective effort by the design community to unite and effect change. This collaboration of artists and designers from around the world benefitting victims of the earthquake in Haiti was an effort we whole-heartedly support. And we made this poster together for the effort. (more…)

A STORY OF VOLUNTEER DESIGN

This article is part of The Volunteer Design Chronicles appearing on Design Observer.

On a random weekend evening my wife and I decided to sit down and write some lines about environmental stewardship. They turned into personal pledge cards for a community organization I got myself involved with called Lincoln Green by Design. The cards were designed in an eco-friendly way, made out of paper scraps from past print runs. The messages were both sustainable and witty. One of my personal favorites was “I will eat local. Food not people.” Right up there with “I will stop (using plastic sacks) in the name of love.”

Our small effort was just one part of a bunch of other small efforts by a handful of dedicated creative people who jumped in and helped make this loose collection of concerned citizens into something worthy of attention. (more…)

I’m in the process of making my piece for the Manifest Equality gallery in LA coming up this March. I answered these questions for the “meet the artist” blog on their site:

Why have you chosen to participate in Manifest Equality?

Being part of the push for a better, more equal place to live with such an inspiring group of culture creators is one of those things you just have to do.

Manifest Equality? Yes, of course. I’m in.

Describe a bit about your submission to the gallery or the creative process you are putting into it.

I’d say the artwork is bold and light-hearted. It’s called “HALFSIES or Dear Lovers Keep Loving”. At the most basic level, two halves make a whole, no matter what. So just keep lovin’. The art and design work I do always simplifies, is rather direct, and looks at the use of the piece. In this case, my wife and I have 2 other pieces I made hanging above our bed that say “always love.” She said to me the other day, that I’m her half. I totally love that. When it’s about love, that’s how it is. All else collides in a mishmash of politics, religion, prejudice, stereotypes, taboos, and whatever else is used to callously deny the expression of love between people. The process I went through ended on wanting to assure all of us that the issue is so simple we’ll get it sorted out. Until then, just keep loving each other.

Also, I like big type.

What else would you like to manifest?

Things that America doesn’t like to talk about. A couple of examples: A Department of Peace, a humane immigration system, and economic justice. Really, I see the momentum building from Manifest Hope to Manifest Equality as only the beginning. What this can be is a movement of culture creation so powerful it continues to break down walls and helps make the dream of a more fair and just society for ALL increasingly inevitable.

DESIGN IN THE DEBATE

There is certainly a lot of shouting these days. From left, right, above and below. It’s a strange thing, those moments when the white noise nonsense sends you spinning. Duck and run for cover. And please, let’s just talk about the latest blockbuster. And maybe that new tech gadget that will make our lives better. Just not the politics that remind us all of the blowhards and windbags. The pundits and politicians, crooks and liars, droners and deceivers. It’s just too painful. And not that entertaining, no matter how many sound effects a corporate news show adds to the discourse.

America’s great debates we’ve seen in the last year have been heated to be sure. At too many times incomprehensible. For the record, I don’t watch all that much of the cable news networks, but what parts I do pick up on are enough to shock me into a coma. The things people will say, and the volume at which they’ll say it. Everybody is supposed to want to have their say. From the all-powerful on one side to the average citizen on the other. Sloppy democracy at work. But it appears a good majority are opting out. Because the point people on our little operation of representative democracy seem to be crazy. I mean, if you want to get in on this debate, it would appear you have to either be really pissed or have just uncovered something so sinister the only thing that will save us all from it destroying every last man, woman and child is to unearth it in a spectacle of patriotic duty. Plenty of outlets will give you a brief glimpse of stardom for your offering. (more…)

The following is from the doers, dreamers, sketchers, crafters and mess-makers that congregated in the first two versions of The Match Factory. This running scroll is a snapshot of the artwork, propaganda, design, poetry, commissions, experiments, collages, brands, gifts, posters, documents, paintings, photos, screenprints, gig posters and so on. By some of our dearest friends and most admired fellow makers, consider this a shout out and a thank you for participating in something we care about deeply and think of far too often.

To all the better things everyone has moved on to, the fond memories we have of each of these projects and to one hell of a 2010. We feel honored to know you and grateful for being inspired by your hands. Until the next time we find ourselves drinking and plotting together, we hope, in the not-too-distant future, onward! – Jason and Justin

FUTURE – by Bil Johnson

1.18.08

boy
the last month
you’ve been put through the wringer
flu
cold
pink eye
ear infection ear infection
and still
that smile. that laugh.

1.21.08

jack was born an anarchist in the true sense of the word (aren’t all children?)
innocent. enlightened. anarchist.
authority figures are ignored with confidence. no rule-of-law no rule of class or race
no arbitrary self-righteous leader-figure holds sway over him.
he wishes no ill-will or harm he simply wants the shackles to dissolve.
he will disarm with a smile as he deconstructs a routine of days once believed to be
etched in stone. grinding ones focus until it is centered only on what is real what is tangible
what is truth. what is truth?
a look into jack’s arresting blue-eyes is a look into our deep past.
food shelter unconditional love. these are all that exist.
as it should be.

The Pledge of Grievance – by Bil Johnson
you.
is what we never were.
silent.
we no longer are.
invisible.
no more.
stepping through the fog.
of fanatical nationalism.
can someone scream.
please.

i am first a husband and father.
son. brother. grandson nephew cousin uncle.
i can no more swear allegiance to a government.
than a government can swear allegiance to me.

Weston - by Craig Turnwall

I stayed up late, drank all the beers,
thought about my old-
man for no particular reason.
Imagine the living room where’d he be
sitting, he’s still awake tonight too,
wondering if anyone’s
wondering if he’s tired, restless of rusting shackles.
That naked
street, outside the small town picture window, the summer air is pensive and lazy,
of memories and unhealed
wounds which don’t escape the deep gravel, or the firehouse.
Where all the engines are cold, alarms
at half mast, all is on fire inside rather than rooftops
or property, he knows his legs don’t work
anymore, there’s nowhere left to run.
Ache, on the canopy, airs twisted and silent
ghosts, glance from a sitting expression
reflection back
against the panes of glass, all the hourglass beats
poured from extinguished wishes, false dreams and patch-work
cigarette burns that no cloth can carry.
This carpet and wood, these walls and patient
stares of my old-man linger, so we both stay up
late, and his
streets are alone and mine are
meant, meant to imagine cured concrete lonesome, but I just can’t
think that hard, that hard
at all – out Weston windows.

Where heart meets blood. - by Craig Turnwall
I think a man’s heart beats fast
when he thinks about the hour before him,
and the new,
a moment when he feels bent, or lapse,
night crept upon him like a bleeding wound, dream
woke with faded light, night on the creep,
mindless drum, anticipation of not finding a way again,
to make morning,
he wants heliocentric ideas, in a moon phased wanderlust,
all that is dark is long,
battered can be a cool breeze, men think with their souls wide open,
sidewalk is tragic, death is tragic, pain is not a fearless endeavor,
all scars remind of past achievements with regeneration, blood pumped
toward goals coursed during walk and sleep,
what wonderful conquests you entertain, adrenaline,
this palpitation and open window.

Youngasabean – by James Dunn
You at right now
Luck and love
Love will explode in these hills
Our beds will be ovens.
Dirt covers you
You are as young as a bean.

A City From Above – by James Dunn
The city is no different from above.
I see struggle.
People with sweet poor faces falling into a mess of numbers.
All they want, I think, is to kiss their kids.
The city from above,
Each brow a light.

By Midnight, Bullfight - by Adam Pomajzl
mornings blush
with light behind
curtains,
making sheets
impossible to unwrap-
I assure you,
it’s just bedposts,
tossed jackets,
poems on hardwood floors.

so this sunrise
salivates answers
from dashboard notes,
quotes lines
from park benches,
quip conversation
conversely arrogant
while
our divided attention
fell to turning phrases

The Up Side Of A Flip Coin – by Adam Pomajzl
keep your knees
buried in trenches
fingers dug in earth
in creases
expressions plastered
on this thin space
between we and window-

it’s back spasms
that’s holding us
up at night.

this day passes
in a withered wash
formulated by
a shelf of books binding back
a choke of tears
a white of knuckles
a furious glare
that snuck up
in the form of a glance
with first thought,
but shuddered

before blooming.

Development at the corner of Monterey and Country Club
(they’re watering dirt that used to have things growing in it) – by Dan Schreiber
they were allowed to tear out the date palms
native vegetation
that would have helped hold the dirt in place without any water
but are now required to run sprinklers all day
half a dozen or so on giant piles of dry earth
so the flow of petroleum-burning, carbon-emitting autos is not interrupted by blowing dust
in the desert
a large placard gives a number to call with complaints
where would a caller really begin?

Untitled 1 – by Dan Schreiber

in hills less black
we dig for teeth
giving them history
introducing timeline

their value now true
as assigned
their loss now of import
as found
we give them our grace
meaning
we give ourselves place
imparting gifts

d.schreiber
09.01.2005

Rememory – by Jacqueline Ostrowicki

I miss you in parts, as a whole,
and both in various combinations:
just the eyes
or sometimes the eyes
and the fingertips.

Blood River – by Mike Semrad

We built up this bridge so long and high
So we don’t get swept down the valley where the forgotten souls lie

Welcome to this well oiled machine
Where the poison of heartache is amongst us
Old mans leg is dangling through the bridge that we have built
To save us from the skies cry

We built up this bridge so long and high
So our children and theirs won’t ask why

Blood River

Tonight we watch out the window at the rain
We watched it rise up and go back down again
Down to the valley to soak in the lines
Where the harvest grows as high as the pines
The bridge we built holds strong through the weather
Cause the blood we shed holds it together