After 2 year of TMF.com being a dedicated blog of our interests and work projects, with an eye toward an ever-evolving future, we are retiring from the blogging world. As new opportunities and challenges continue to present themselves, we’re transitioning in 2012 and are uncertain what exactly that looks like. We just know we have lost interest in the whole “posting stuff we think is cool” thing. It’s been fun while it’s lasted. But new projects and situations now demand new responses.

The Match Factory as an idea has always been outside the realm of our day jobs. We want it to continue to be. While we work with inspiring clients, we are artists to a certain degree, and have that urge to make art. In some form, that is what the Match Factory will continue to be.

Initially, TMF.com will be our Big Cartel storefront. How it changes, well, that is still to be decided.

In closing, we thank you for reading. And wish you farewell, good tidings this winter solstice, and happy travels.

Until next time,
Justin and Jason.

justin kemerling, designer

The King of Limbs by Radiohead
Rise Ye Sunken Ships by We Are Augustines
The People’s Key by Bright Eyes
Kiss Each Other Clean by Iron & Wine
The King is Dead by The Decemberists
Arrows by The Lonely Forest
Nine Types of Light by TV on the Radio
Bon Iver by Bon Iver
Bad As Me by Tom Waits
Biophilia by Bjork

Additionally, the following are albums that didn’t come out this year, but were a big chunk of my listening in 2011 nonetheless:

The Year of Getting By by Kill County
Never Better by POS
Forever and Counting by Hot Water Music
The Story of the Clash by The Clash
VS. by Pearl Jam
Various Random Stuff by Macklemore
The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan by Bob Dylan

Finally, big props to the KEXP Song of the Day. Much love.

100 Days of Active Resistance

100 Days of Active Resistance is a beautiful compilation of images that “go deep in order to understand who we are, what the world is and how things could be better.” On Day 87 you’ll find the MAKE [THIS] BETTER poster.

Buy the book.

• In 2010 Vivienne Westwood and Lee Jeans launched an online manifesto-installation titled 100 Days of Active Resistance. The website invited people to submit an artwork, slogan or photograph responding to Westwood’s conception of Active Resistance to Propaganda, in which she argues for culture’s capacity to elevate humanity above self-destruction. It is not enough to follow world politics, see films and read the prizewinning bestsellers, she insists; this is superficial, you need to go deep in order to understand who you are, what the world is and how things could be better. This involves culture which can only be acquired by self-education: human beings should mirror the world. Starting on September 8, 2010, for100 days, one artwork was showcased online daily, ending with an exhibition displaying a selection ofthe best contributions. This volume gathers these works and commemorates the project.

Bold Nebraska is leading the charge to protect the Ogallala Aquifer from a pipeline full of dirty tar sands. Protect Our Aquifer, No Oil In Our Soil.

DOWN-UP | Power to the Poster {dot} ORG

OCCUPY TOGETHER The posters provided on this page were graciously donated by graphic designers and are free for you to download, print, and hang up within your community, not only to promote local efforts, but the solidarity of all occupiers around the country.

Stronger Together

Poster Show Friday the 28th at the New BLK. See you there!

From the Nebraska Appleseed blog: Build A Stronger Nebraska Together

Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish

A collaboration with TakePart.

LINCOLN: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7TH

October 7 · 6:00pm – 10:00pm

The Ink Spot at Parrish Studios
1410 O Street
Lincoln, NE

OMAHA: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28TH

October 28 · 7:00pm – 10:00pm

The New BLK
1213 Jones Street
Omaha, NE

A poster show benefiting Nebraska Appleseed featuring art from:

Paul Berkbigler
Doe Eyed
Ella Durham + Sam Rapien
Justin Kemerling
Peter Morris
Oxide Design Co.
Cathy Solarana
Jake Welchert

Historically, the poster has been a powerful means of communicating ideals and advocating for change.

Nebraska Appleseed called upon leaders in the graphic design community to envision how we can build a stronger Nebraska through greater equality, opportunity and justice for all.

We partnered with Justin Kemerling of The Match Factory and Lincoln screen printer Jason Davis of Screen Ink to produce an art exhibition with a collection of posters to inspire all people of our great state to work together to create a more inclusive, more vibrant community.

These powerful posters – eleven designs, hand-signed and numbered, twenty-five prints each on 18″x24″ silkscreen prints – give voice to Appleseed’s core values of Community, Democracy, Equality, Justice and Opportunity.

About TakePart

TakePart is the digital division of Participant Media. You can see exactly what they do above. They’re amazing people doing amazing work and are really a joy to work with.

View Larger Version

A project with MoveOn.org

Bold Nebraska is leading the charge with the Stand with Randy campaign to Stop the TransCanada Pipeline. Learn more about the issue from Jane Fleming Kleeb as activists meet in DC to put a Stop to the Tar Sands.

Get your T-Shirt and Stand with Randy.

When I first heard about this Wugazi mash-up I was skeptical. I’ve been a huge fan of Fugazi since I was 12 years old and, while I’m nowhere close to a Wu-Tang aficionado, I consider myself an admirer. More specifically I’m a lover of Ghostface Killah and ODB. So when I first saw this Wugazi project popping up, it made me nervous.  Nervous because I’m a bit obsessive when it comes to things like tidiness. Not in the sense of cleanliness, but more in the sense of leaving an untainted legacy. Basically, I wondered if this would add to the artists’ story or be an unfortunate anecdote to their otherwise fruitful contributions to our collective musical culture. In other words, would it be memorable because its a great and respectful re-imagining of their work, or because its clever and… funny?

Then I thought to myself, “Who gives a shit?” And cranked the volume.  I encourage you to do the same.

Wugazi • 13 Chambers by WUGAZI

And for the record, props to Cecil Otter and Swiss Andy for the care they took in putting this together. After many, many listens, their skill and effort is undeniable.

From the Wugazi site – “Wugazi is a labor of love by Cecil Otter & Swiss Andy. A year’s worth of cutting up every imaginable Fugazi record and trying out every Wu-Tang acapella they could get their hands on, resulted in Wugazi: 13 Chambers (a must listen for anyone who even looked at a skateboard in the 90’s).”

It is Saturday in San Francisco and that can mean only one thing. Its time for me to open the windows, make some breakfast and catch up with my favorite internet radio show Chances With Wolves. The show is described by East Village Radio as “repping hard for haunting beauty, magic, and the weird.” I assert that to be true and it always puts a smile on my face. Perfect weekend music.

The fellas behind Chances With Wolves were profiled in a video by Coolhunting awhile back. Watch the video below.

This was a project with MoveOn.org. It ultimately was not used. But it sure was fun to make.

Stand with Randy, Stop the Pipeline

Is the future of American energy a pipeline full of thick tar trudging its way from Canada to the Gulf cutting across the great plains in a tube constructed with corporate talking points and wishful thinking? Perhaps. But a group of stubborn Nebraska citizens think otherwise. They’re standing up to this dangerous oil pipeline that’s slotted to run over the largest underground aquifer in the world. And they’re not backing down.

You too can join the effort to the stop the pipeline. You too can Stand with Randy.

GREEN PATRIOT POSTERS (Project Green/NOMAD Films) is being made into a documentary short film. And you can help Kickstart it!

Justin Kemerling, Designer, for one year, officially in the books. Friday, July 1st, 2011 was the day. It came, was noted, and went, as year #2 is already off and running. Thanks to everyone who helped make it happen (you know who you are) and for all the support along the way from new friends, old friends and family. The work continues, and the beat goes on. Here’s to another 1, 2, or 3. Onward!

– Justin Kemerling, Designer. justinkemerling.com

Of course 1 leak is too many when we’re talking Oil+Water, but this corporation’s own estimates of 11 leaks is simply laughable. Worst Case Spills for TransCanada Pipeline put that number far higher.