Pilachi_Sketch [ BLOG ]

I have to say, having rented the movie “The Night Listener” from the meager pickings at the video club this Easter weekend, I was pleasantly surprised. Read more

When asked, the little man said the above image was a “sssower.” A Sewer? I asked in disbelief… thinking, how does he know what a sewer is, at 2 years old. Then he said, no… a Sssower. A shower. Then he looked at the picture of himself at the Africa Live! concert and asked “where is Labadi Brief?” [Labadi Beach].

Two is a good age. Interpretation is often based on association; and the frame of reference is usually positive.

Images like the one shown above, depict another side of the way the world presents itself. And from the perspective of a two year old… the interpretation is always good.

As the little man has shown, the world is beautiful in all its varied facets. These facets do not have to be high gloss, full sheen; although… based on the image presented, it is clear to see that gloss and sheen do not always translate to readily identifiable beauty.

Look long enough, and you will see, that real beauty invariable has little to do with luster.

In the spirit of shadows and the things that lurk in the dark recesses of our imagination, come images of gray and ochre and brown… muted tonal intensity and latent desires waiting to come into the light.

These images hold more intrigue than the colorful and the texture-filled and the bright and bouncy. These moments of discarded lurking, provide more photographic inspiration than a gay pride parade on a New York City street.

In the spirit of embracing textures and colors and points of view that may not be entirely our own, here are a few images from the soon to be forgotten interstitial spaces.

A few years ago, a friend with a heart of gold and the boldness of character to, let down her guard and really fight for what she believed in court, while defending a pregnant mother of two from going to Jail — ten years later — for shoplifting, because her abusive boyfriend called in a verbal threat which lead to her arrest on thanksgiving weekend… which meant she would sit in jail away from her family for the weeks leading up to Christmas… because she had not done 2 days of community service back then…. that remarkable young lawyer, ten years earlier, also had the razor sharp insight to cut through my masks and facades [including the giddy stutterings of a pseudo-valleygirl, and overly sexual allusions of the closeted dominatrix Fey]… and asked me — with a straight face, no less — why I found it necessary to pretend.

That conversation in a remote New Mexico cafeteria, cut to my core… at age 16… and I had never forgotten her for it [the saying nor the recognizing]. She was kind, stoic and brilliant. Showing an even keel even in the toughest situations. Always focused on the matters at hand… and never phased by anything.

My hero for today, with the name inspired by a nobler time, remains eponymous. Read more

It is a bit strange to make the distinction between branding and graphic design. Most people that approach me for design services…[ remember honey, if they pay you, it isn't love ]… ask me to solve a problem that they have NOT found an articulate way to err… articulate.

Maybe you see a trend in the way I write… err, ah… I do not stutter.

So the point.

Almost everyone that comes to me, presents a simple problem with a simple solution, that is often so heavily shrouded by the misgivings of an utter disregard for the subtle nuances of professional problem-solving, that invariably they know the answer, but just can’t quite put their finger on the solution.

Most of the time, I am asked for an answer that is not directly phrased by the question. Most of the time, by rephrasing the question and presenting more than what the client asks for, leads to a solution that is clear and often involves many other areas of expertise.

For instance, if asked for a press ad, where there is no corporate identity, is the project branding, industrial design, graphic design, architecture, or the invitation to provide a referal? That was not a real question by the way. The answer depends entirely on the people you are dealing with.
Now, I am beginning to see new connections across the design disciplines; connections that are forging new relationships… in the way that branding redefined graphic design.

What do you call the thing that involves branding, visual merchandising, store design, and industrial design? That was a real question.

I call it Pilachi. [ that was arrogant ] Arrogance adds to the appeal; because for those who know me, it is a device used for humor.

I am not a diva; although with spandex and a well oiled whip, that just might change.

Signed with Love,

- The dominatrix named Fey [ Another device used for humor ]

So here we are again, the middle of the night. Two weeks since I last played volleyball, three months since the last salsa night, three weeks since last riding the bicycle… and about eight years since the last painting.

It is time to get this vibe jump started again.

I have a friend who once described inertia as having molasses in a high octane engine. She should know… she was a rocket scientist with degrees in everything imaginable and a thesis on wireless networking before there ever really was wireless networking. That was an aside.

It is good to know smart people, it makes you feel good by association. You know, every hot girl in the movies has an uber geek friend. That sort of thing.

Well… It has been a long time since I spoke to my uber geek friend. [ Bet you didn't see that one coming. ] Just kidding… she is a beautiful woman with the intellectual capacity like no one I have ever met. Read more

It certainly has been a long time since I have written anything here; partially because there really is nothing to write; but then that has been the situation from the beginning.

While watching the film you know the sunshine one… little girl, child pageant… “Little Miss Sunshine.” Thats the one.

While watching the sunshine film, I remember what it was like living in New Mexico. That beautiful landscape filled with unending highways with a straight shot of smoothly paved roads for hundreds of miles. It made me think a lot about our current domicile… and just how much beauty lies outside of the confines of our Accresian existence. When it is your story, you are allowed to make up words. Read more

I just have to say, that in the middle of all of this woeful storytelling, some wonderful things have happenned.

Specifically, I had the opportunity to see Hugh Masekela perform, up close and personal a week ago. Not that personal… but really up close.

To capture the moment, in the crowded performance with an ocean of elbow-room-only photographers, I hade to climb up on the outside of a stairwell, wrap my foot in the cast iron railings, and dangle — supported only by my left calf and ankle, over the heads of an audience about ten feet below, as the night began to fall. It really was not as bad as it sounds; so I don’t see what everyone was all worked up about. You have to do what needs to be done to get what needs to be done… done.

I love sentences like that. They seem so poorly constructed… but are so carefully crafted that it is shameful.

Back to the point… Hugh Masekela is an amazing performer with tremendous presence… awe inspiring.

I have to say that there is nothing in the world better than a good tried and true wholesome I-got-your-back type friend. I am fortunate that in addition to my wife, I have six or so such friends. Read more

Environment has a lot to do with everything.

Much of the discontentment that plagues our every waking hour and culminates in the occasional discussion that does not end well… are based on the incredulity of the house we live in. Read more