daniel tosh - tulsa

If you missed Daniel Tosh in Tulsa last night, you should be ashamed. He was incredible! The event was at TU and... He might be the funniest person alive. We're such huge Daniel Tosh fans, it was great to see him here, of all places.
He had a fantastic jab at TU.
I'm paraphrasing here, but he said "I'm glad to see your [TU] mascot has downs..."
It's true. On all accounts it is a terrible mascot.
You should have been there.

[more] I love shoes.

I was looking for a photo on one of my harddrives and came across this photo. Shoes. I love shoes. GD I love shoes. This photo is from a year and a half ago. I was heading to North Carolina for an LFP event.

I love shoes.

photo: Top secret. I can tell you this, I took this photo within the last few months. She is a musician. Her shoes were hot.
I'm currently working on an interview with shoe designer Christian Louboutin. I can't wait.

the golden third

Photo: My very first business venture = Frequency - Record shop/Boutique circa 2001
I woke up this morning feeling extra inspired. I jumped online and started my Sunday morning ritual - catching up on all my friends blogs, sites and "what ups." That's when I caught this new post by jeffstaple: the golden third - RISKTAKERS
Here is a snippet [but I encourage you all to read the full post]:

Risk is not only a part of running a business, but it’s also a part of everyday living. Running Staple, I often feel like a gambler sitting at a table tossing chips into the mix. I used to stress out about every single decision and possible repercussion. But then I learned to let it go. And good things started to happen. I just a read an article in Wired that aligns the same thinking.
“Among our primitive ancestors, those who ventured farthest from their caves in search of better food or who overcame their fear of fire accrued significant advantages over their meeker kin. That’s why a lot of us like the idea of living on the edge: It’s in our DNA to take risks…Done artfully and wisely, living dangerously engages our intellect, advances society, and even makes us happier."

I had to comment, so I wrote:
Brilliant.
I think the more risk we take, the more accustomed to it we become. It becomes calculated.
It becomes a part of who we are.
I agree, everyday I feel like I’m gambling with everything I have.
I’ve also noticed that in the states, people have become much more complacent. The general population does not like risk, they want consistency, they want a steady paycheck and normalcy in their everyday lives. I see their point, but I couldn’t do it. I like the unknown, I know that I can’t get to where I want to go without risk.
I’d rather try and fail, then never try at all.
Here is to the explorers, the gamblers and those who do not settle for comfort.

Stay hungry, stay foolish.

life

Photo: From the Copeland/Relient K concert last night at the Cains Ballroom last night. low light super hi iso.
Do you ever think about how large this universe is?
I do. Often.
I just read an article about NASA and how some scientists believe that we shouldn't waste our time going back to the moon, been there done that, we should go somewhere new. Crazy. It's amazing how far we have come in science and technology. Yet, as a species, I think we are regressing. I think I might work on some type of visual to demonstrate human behavior, science and technology. I'm a freak for information.
One of my favorite questions to ponder: What is the purpose of our existence?
Is it narcissistic of me to think that we are meant for something greater than this. I just have thing nagging feeling like there is more. Thoughts?

Just remember that you're standing on a planet that's evolving
And revolving at nine thousand miles an hour.
It's orbiting at nineteen miles a second, so it's reckoned,
The sun that is the source of all our power.
Now the sun, and you and me, and all the stars that we can see,
Are moving at a million miles a day,
In the outer spiral arm, at fourteen thousand miles an hour,
Of a galaxy we call the Milky Way.

Our galaxy itself contains a hundred million stars;
It's a hundred thousand light-years side to side;
It bulges in the middle sixteen thousand light-years thick,
But out by us it's just three thousand light-years wide.
We're thirty thousand light-years from Galactic Central Point,
We go 'round every two hundred million years;
And our galaxy itself is one of millions of billions
In this amazing and expanding universe.

chit chat - tonight

I was asked to be one of the speakers at a YAF event. [Young Architecture Forum - a program of the AIA - American Institute of Architecture]
I will be showing 20 slides from a variety of work I have done over the last 5 years.
It will be random.
"20 slides for 20 seconds" is the theme.

7:00 pm
Joe Momma's
112 South Elgin Ave
Tulsa Oklahoma

cody hudson's trip to tulsa

Here is a mini photo essay of Cody Hudson's trip to Tulsa.
It was an honor to have him here.

my people

This month is going to be crazy so you will have to be patient with me - Updates will be random.
Two weeks ago some of my closest friends came to visit me in Tulsa. I've said it once and I will say it a thousand times... I have the raddest friends of all time. On that Friday night we were about to hit the bars when they surprised me with a "theme" for the evening: We were all to dress as different Eras of Duane. (see photo above) Obviously they had planned this out ahead of time and they put a lot of effort into it. It was a very thoughtful idea.
From Right to Left, Matt was DJ Duane, Joel was a high school favorite Volleyball Duane, Tom was actually a future era of Duane - Tulsa Mayor Duane, I was actually Bun Huggers Duane (In the early college years I worked Bun Huggers Bar and Grill), and Parrott was Photographer Duane.
We went out to the bars in these incredible outfits.
There were rules too! You had to address everyone by their era appropriate Duane. (including introductions, which confused a lot of my Tulsa friends)
It was so much fun. Volleyball Duane (joel) had one of the best quotes of the weekend: "It's like these people have never seen an upside down visor before..."

My friends are amazing. I'm not sure where I would be without them.
"A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are."

cody hudson - tonight!

I interviewed Cody Hudson for the Left Field Project book over 5 years ago.
This morning I picked him up from the airport in Tulsa - Oklahoma.
We are about to have some lunch and discuss how awesome tonight's event is going to be...
You better be there.
Please come out and support the arts in Tulsa. Come out and be inspired!

Cody Hudson is a Chicago based artist, owner and creative director of the design firm Struggle Inc. His graphic work and paintings have been exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, New Image Art in LA, Rocket Gallery in Tokyo, and The Lazy Dog in Paris. Cody’s work has also been in lots of artsy publications like idN, Arkitip, Anthem & Juxtapoz.

Cody has a different view of the world and you’ll hate yourself if you miss him. And don’t come whining if you miss his poster and a few, oh, collectibles from French Paper. That’s right. Get your – expletive deleted (for Carly) – there. And be sure to thank our friendly sponsors Black Mesa Studio, Clampett, French Paper and Quik Print.

Thursday, September 17, 2009
6:30p Social | 7:30p Presentation
Tulsa Little Theatre, 1511 South Delaware
Members: Free | Students: $10 | Non-Members: $25

Learn more about Cody here.

SEEK - Bob Stoops

The Sooners need something...

The University of Oklahoma's football program is off to a rough start. This young team has been plagued by catastrophic injuries. I believe I can help. While I was enjoying my tasty breakfast this morning I had a vision...
I'm going to sacrifice two pieces before the college football gods this weekend, in hopes to bring some much needed mystic support to our young Sooner football team. I know, "sacrifice" is an interesting term: Sacrifice (from a Middle English verb meaning "to make sacred," from Old French, from Latin sacrificium: sacr, "sacred" + facere, "to make") is commonly known as the practice of offering food, objects (typically valuables), or the lives of animals or people to the gods as an act of propitiation or worship. The term is also used metaphorically to describe selfless good deeds for others or a short term loss in return for a greater gain.
In honor of the great Bob Stoops, I have painted two wooden boxes with his portrait. My friends at Spexton have offered additional pieces to complete this gift. I will hide these offerings in and around the ceremonial Sooner temple. With my sacrifice, I believe the football gods will grant the Sooners an incredible and mystical power that not even the holiest of Tim Tebow can stop.

I will be giving a few clues to assist you in finding these ceremonial pieces on Saturday. Be sure to follow me on twitter!

In Bob we trust.
*Learn more about my SEEK project here.

dave and willie

These are the pieces I did for the Dave Mathews Band and Willie Nelson.
The concert was Friday night and it was absolutely incredible... I actually did one more box for the fallen Dave Mathews Band mate: Leroi Moore, but I didn't have time to photograph it. The idea was given to me by my friend Brandes, who happens to be a huge DMB fan. He also helped pick out the perfect photos to use for each band member's stencil. The entire band was very kind and liked their pieces. I was told that they would place the Leroi piece in a shrine they have for him in the DMB studio.
Side note: Dave Mathews is much taller than I thought...

The second photo I posted is of Willie's famous guitar "trigger." It is a Martin N-20 nylon-string acoustic, which he has named after Roy Rogers' horse. Constant strumming (with a guitar pick) over the decades has worn a large sweeping hole into the guitar's body near the sound hole (there is no pick-guard on the Martin N-20 since classical guitars are meant to be played fingerstyle instead of with flat-picks). Willie once commmented it was caused by a little too much Whiskey River. Its soundboard has been signed over the years by over a hundred of Nelson's friends and associates, from fellow musicians to lawyers and football coaches. Nelson has often said that when the hole in Trigger's body makes the guitar unplayable he will retire.
Pretty awesome...

Photography was great that night, probably the most successful show I have ever shot...