KAREL MARTENS, DUTCH TYPOGRAPHIC MASTER I first learned about Dutch designer Karel Marten's work just a couple months back while flipping through an issue of Dwell Magazine. I feel like I'm a bit late in that I'm just now finding out about this incredible designer. I guess better late than never!



Karel Marten occupies a unique place in the present European art and design landscape. While working in the tradition of Dutch modernism, he maintains distance from the main developments of his time: from both the practices of accustomed Modernism and the facile reactions against it. His work is personal and experimental, while at the same time publicly answerable, it's simply beautiful to look at.











Karel's Studio Workspace











Karel Martens is the founder of the Werkplaats Typografie, a post-graduate graphic design school in the Netherlands, as well as a lecturer at the Yale School of Graphic Design, and the Jan Van Eyck Academy in Maastrict.

UP THERE  

Directed by Malcom Murray, Produced by Mekanism with music by The Album Leaf.



‘Shot high above the streets of New York City, UP THERE reveals the dying craft of large-scale hand painted advertising and the untold story of the painters struggling to keep it alive. Capturing a trade that is equal part artistic precision and grueling labor, the film presents a painting tradition pre-dating modern advertising. A craft that today finds itself dangling precariously on the brink of extinction.‘



Well, there you go. That pretty much sums it up.

CITIES, BICYCLES AND THE FUTURE OF GETTING AROUND An upcoming event here in the fine city of Minneapolis features some pretty great people. A forum featuring musician David Byrne, author Jay Walljasper, Mayor R.T. Rybak, and bike advocate Steve Clark, Radio Host at 89.3 The Current, Steve Seel will lead a discussion on the new Twin Cities bike share program, Nice Ride MN, and our capacity for healthy, sustainable transportation.

The fantastic people at Mono created the poster for the event, we offered our screen printing skills to help produce them. Here's how they turned out!